Majestic Morocco Tour 13 Days 12 Nights ~ Roundtrip ~ Casablanca

Upon arrival at the Casablanca airport, our driver will be there with a personalized sign to welcome you.  Alternatively, you can be picked up from your hotel.  This port city, on the Atlantic Ocean, is the commercial hub of western Morocco.  In this bustling city, you will first visit the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa, and the 7th largest in the world.  We will continue the tour to see the famous Rick's Cafe from the movie “Casablanca”.  As an option you might visit the Jewish Museum.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or Riad.  BB

After breakfast you will be driven by the famous Corniche of Casablanca - Ain Diab.  Here you may choose to have a walk before the drive to Marrakech.  This drive will take approximately 3 hours and we will arrive in the afternoon at your hotel or riad.  The rest of the day is at your leisure.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB.

After breakfast in your hotel, a knowledgeable local guide will meet you at your accommodation to begin a day full of fascinating sights.  Marrakech, a former imperial city, is a major economic center and home to many Mosques, Palaces and Gardens.  The densely packed, walled medieval city dates from the 12^th century of the Berber Empire.   Your guide will take you through the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to experience the sensory stimulating souks - exotic spices, vibrant materials, and beautiful metal works - are just a few of the items in the many souks you will see.   You will also visit sites with historical and cultural interest, including the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Koutoubia Mosque, and of course, the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.  Lunch will be at a recommended restaurant nearby.  After lunch you will be driven through the new city to visit the beautiful Majorelle Gardens.  You will be driven back to your accommodation at the end of the day. BB

After breakfast you will drive approximately 3 hours to the charming coastal town of Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador.  During the drive we will pass through Argan forests, stop, and see goats in trees and visit one of the women’s cooperatives which produce argan oil for cosmetic, medical, and culinary use. After arriving in Essaouira you will be met by our local guide for a wonderful tour of the town.  You will visit the Skala fortress, see the magnificent canons and watch falcons, and gulls hover above the nature reserve on the Purpuraires Islands.  To the north of the Skala you may see surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers all taming the waves.  Be sure to ask your guide to show you the many places in Essaouira immortalized in film.  Your guide will take you to the fishing port with its bustling fish market and through the medina where you will learn more of the town’s fascinating history and see many artisans at work including the Thuya (a local wood) carvers.  Essaouira is rated by UNESCO, as the most beautiful city in Morocco.  And the beaches surrounding Essaouira are rated as ‘Blue Flag’ meaning they have met high environmental and quality standards.   In the late afternoon, we will return to Marrakech.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB.

Today you have chosen 1 of 2 activities for the morning: Cooking Class You will be picked up by one of our team for your Moroccan cooking class at 10 AM.  This unique cooking class experience will teach you the techniques for preparing Moroccan dishes such as Tagine and couscous.  You will learn to prepare either an appetizer and a main dish or a main dish and a dessert.  The cooking school is designed with easy-to-use modern equipment found in every kitchen.  (More details upon request). Quad Biking After breakfast, you will be picked up and driven beyond the bustling streets of Marrakech into the countryside.  You will spend 3 hours enjoying a self-drive Quad-Biking experience through thousands of palm trees.  (More details upon request). The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or to do some shopping on your own at the medina market. Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.   BB.

From your accommodation in Marrakech, we will travel across the High Atlas Mountains and over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with views of Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.  There will be opportunities to take pictures along the way.  Upon reaching the village of Aït-Ben- Haddou, we will stop for lunch before visiting the site.  Aït-Ben-Haddou is the most famous Ksar in Morocco and is one of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites.  The drive then continues through Ouarzazate and Skoura where there are numerous ancient kasbahs amongst the palm trees.  You will visit a famous kasbah in the region called Amridil kasbah, a historic fortified residence in the oasis of Skoura.  It is considered among the most impressive kasbahs of its kind in Morocco and was built during the 17th century.  Here the famous movies “Ali Baba and 40 Thieves” and “Lawrence of Arabia” were filmed.  The drive continues to cross the Dadès Valley through beautiful Berber villages such as Kalaa Mgouna, the ‘rose town’, famous for the cultivation of roses.  By late afternoon we will arrive in the town of Boumalen Dadès.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel.  BDB.

You will have breakfast at your hotel before you head on the road for another amazing journey.  You will begin with a drive to a fascinating area in the valley where you will be amazed by the rock formations known as “monkey toes” and the sandcastles that cover the area.  Next you will visit the Todra Gorges, the highest narrowest gorges in Morocco where you will have the opportunity to hike for an hour in the area. After lunch, the drive continues to Merzouga where you will be accommodated overnight in a hotel.  BDB

After breakfast in your hotel, we will explore the area around Merzouga. Seven kilometers south of Merzouga is the village of Khamliya.  These village inhabitants are direct descendants of the slaves that been brought from Sudan.  You will spend time enjoying their Gnawa music.  Nearby is Dayet Srij - a seasonal salt lake.  It is often dry in summer but when full it attracts a wide range of migratory and desert birds, including desert warblers and flamingos.  This area attracts photographers from all over the world when the birds are present.  You may also visit the souk in Rissani which occurs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.   Locals come to trade necessary items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dates, nuts, crafts, spices and even donkeys, sheep and goats.  This fascinating souk is also a social meeting place where the local communities come to meet each other and hear news of the area.  Lunch will be at one of the local restaurants in the area. In the afternoon, you will start the guided camel ride, led by an experienced camel driver.  He will lead you across the sand sea of Erg Chebbi and make sure you watch the best sunset of your lifetime.  Overnight accommodation is at a desert luxury camp equipped with flush toilets and hot showers.   Dinner and Berber drumming entertainment are included at the camp.  BDB.

Today your camel driver will wake you up to watch a beautiful sunrise. You will see the sun cover the golden sand dunes of Merzouga and the rocky barren Sahara Desert.  After breakfast at the camp, you will return to Merzouga by camel, or opt for a 4-wheel drive return trip. You will then travel to Midelt and the Ziz Valley with stops for photographs along the way.  Lunch will be at your discretion when you choose.  You will arrive in Midelt in the afternoon.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel.  BDB.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will begin the journey to Fes.  The drive will continue through the beautiful landscape of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Throughout the day you will be amazed at the stunning contrasts in scenery.  As you will pass many traditional Berber villages, there may be opportunities where you can interact with the local inhabitants.  There will be a stop at the cedar forest in Azrou to watch Barbary apes.  And another stop will be the town of Ifrane.  With its alpine style architecture and nearby slopes and forests it is known as the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’.  There can be more stops wherever necessary.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB.

After breakfast, our local informative guide will take you on an adventure through Fes (or Fez) the intellectual, cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco.  Fes is primarily known for the Fes El Bali, or walled medina, another UNESCO site, with its medieval architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere.  We start outside the medina to see the royal palace gate, then walk through the Jewish quarter or “the mellah”, the first Jewish quarter built in the country.  Following that, you will enter the most famous of medinas to experience more sensory stimulating souks.  As well as spending the morning wandering by the many souks, you will visit sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Medrasa Bouanania, the el-Karaouine Mosque and University, the oldest in the world (and built by a woman).  You will also visit the famous tanneries and the Najjarine Fountain.  After a Moroccan lunch, at a local restaurant in the heart of the medina, you will be driven to one of the fortresses to experience an amazing panoramic view of the entire medina.  From there we will visit a pottery cooperative.  Time permitting, we will take a drive through modern Fes drive to experience a different atmosphere.  Overnight accommodation at your hotel or riad.  BB

In the morning after breakfast, we drive through the foothills of the Rif mountains to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.  On your visit to this historical site, you be accompanied by a local guide.  Volubilis was a part of the Roman empire and dates to 225 BC.  Here you will see the most beautiful mosaics in Morocco from the same period.  Your guided tour will increase your knowledge of the Roman Empire.  After leaving the ruins we continue our drive to Meknes, the Ismaili capital in the 17^th century.  Here you will see the 17^th century gate of Bab Mansour built by the sultan My Ismail.  You will also see a granary and the Sahrij Souani, used for irrigation and planting.   After a stop for lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco.  Depending upon your departure time, you will either see Rabat this afternoon or tomorrow morning.  Among the many sights to be seen will be the Kasbah des Oudayas with its beautiful Andalusian gardens located at the mouth of the river Abu Regrag.  The Kasbah was originally built in the 12^th century by the al Mohades dynasty.  A highlight will be your visit to the Hassan Tower, another UNESCO site in Rabat, which is part of an incomplete mosque also built by the same dynasty in the 12^th century.  At the same location is the mausoleum of Mohamed V and Hassan II with its own amazing architecture.  While at this site you will also walk to have a view of the stunning performing arts center.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB.

After your breakfast and depending upon your departure time, we will drive you to the airport in time for your flight.  Here we say goodbye and your tour ends.