Day 1 Casablanca, Rabat Our adventure begins in Casablanca - the largest city in Morocco. If you arrive early, you can go sightseeing in Rabat and visit the Hassan II Mosque, which is famous for its Minaret (tallest in the globe). If you arrive late, you may have to rest the night in the beautiful city of Casablanca and visit Rabat the next day. Overnight in a charming riad including bed and breakfast.
Day 2 Rabat, Chefchaouen If you didn’t get the opportunity to explore the intriguing marvels of Rabat on Day 1, you can do that in the morning before traveling towards Chefchaouen, nestled in the foothills of the Rif Mountains. Arrive during the afternoon, check-in at your guest house, and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Explore the captivating medina on foot. There will also be time tomorrow morning for the town, before setting off for Fes. Overnight in a charming guesthouse including bed and breakfast.
Day 3 Chefchaouen To Fes Enjoy your morning at leisure in the blue citadel of Chefchaouen.
Depart for Fes early afternoon. Check-in at your Riad on arrival.
Day 4 Day Trip To Volubilis and Meknes Volubilis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is home to the largest and most well-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. With its triumphal arches and basilicas, the skyline is peppered with examples of Roman architecture.
However, the greatest treasures of Volubilis are the superb mosaic floors, which have been excellently preserved and left in situ. Three outstanding examples include Orpheus charming animals with his lyre, nine dolphins signifying good luck, and a portrait of Amphitrite in a chariot.
From Volubilis to Meknes (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In Meknes, the impressive monuments recall the splendor of a city first built in the 17th century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail to rival the court of his contemporary, Louis XIV of France.
During your visit to Meknes, you will see the monumental Bab Mansour gateway, considered to be one of the finest of the great gates of Morocco, the Granaries, and the Royal Stables, which were built to accommodate some 12,000 horses. You may also see Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum, one of the few shrines in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims.
Return to Fes and rest of day at leisure.
Day 5 Fes Sightseeing With Local Guide The ancient Fes medina is purported to be the largest, urban car-free zone in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fes has significant religious importance in Morocco as it was the seat of the founding Muslim dynasty. It is also the seat of the al-Karaouine University, which has its origins in the 9th Century; one of the oldest universities in the world, it was once one of the leading intellectual centers of the Mediterranean and Arab world.
The medina also offers an insight into traditional Moroccan craft-working and Moorish architecture (influenced by emigration from the Iberian peninsula). There are the leather tanneries that may be photographed, and numerous other craft-working districts in the medina. You may be able to visit the Medersas Bou Inania and el Attarin (14th Century) but the other religious buildings are not open to non-Muslims.
Final night in Fes.
Day 6 Fes to Desert Camp Early departure for the day’s journey to the desert frontier. Gaining altitude, via part of Morocco’s cedar forest region, cross the Middle Atlas mountains and descend via the Ziz Gorge and river. Drive through the Tafilalet region (which the Ziz irrigates) of verdant date palms bordering the Sahara. This region, of historical importance, once marked the crossroads of the West African caravan routes and is the origin of the establishment of the Alaouite dynasty (17th Century), the dynasty that still holds power in Morocco today.
You will meet your camel caravan at the end of the road and make the 1-hour trek* to reach your desert camp for the night. Enjoy the sunset at the dunes and dine before enjoying the campfire and star-gazing.
*Alternatively, request your driver to take you to camp with the jeep.
Day 7 Desert Camp, Todra Valley, Skoura Leaving the Sahara desert behind, travel westwards to visit the foothills of the Atlas mountains and the famous natural Gorges, the Todra and Dades Gorges. Follow the direction of the Dades River west to reach the palm oasis of Skoura, with the Atlas mountains still visible to the north. Overnight at Skoura in one of its tranquil lodge
Day 8 Skoura, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech Visit some of the south of Morocco’s most intriguing kasbah monuments, en-route to Marrakech, before crossing the High Atlas mountains. The Kasbah Amridil at Skoura, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, and the Telouet Kasbah. Enjoy the patchwork of Berber villages in the river valleys in this region and the contrast of colors as the scenery changes; from arid pre-Saharan to alpine to farmland and olive groves. Cross the mountains at the Tichka Pass and gradually descend to the plain of Marrakech, expecting to arrive late afternoon. Overnight at a riad in the medina.
Day 9 Marrakech sightseeing Tour With Local Guide Optional activities would be a Moroccan cookery course at a cookery school and/or a traditional Moroccan ‘hammam’ (bathing/cleansing ritual in a heated room). Visit the Maison de la Photographie, the Musee des Confluences (next to the Dar el Bacha), the Bahia Palace (19th Century), and le Jardin Secret. The afternoon can be spent in the ‘souks’ (the marketplace for Moroccan crafts such as leather, carpets, pottery, and spices) or at the botanical Jardins Majorelle in the new town. The gardens at La Mamounia are also noteworthy.
*If you want to get out of town, go to the Anima Garden on Ourika Road.
Day 10 Optional Day Excursion to Essaouira Possible excursions away from Marrakech would be to Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast (6-hour round journey), or to the foothills of the High Atlas mountains (via an animal rescue shelter, up to 5 hours round journey).
Day 11 Departure day - Airoport Transfer Transfer to Marrakech airport or Casablanca for departing flight.
Morocco.11 days $1,380.00
