Imperial Cities of Morocco

Day 01: Casablanca

Arrival in Casablanca and after passing through customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met by your qualified English Speaking guide, Assistance and transfer to Casablanca downtown. Start the city tour of Casablanca : the chief port, the financial, commercial and manufacturing center of the country. Visit the great Hassan II Mosque (interior), a real master piece of Moroccan architecture. Situated on the edge of the Atlantic in the easternmost point of Morocco, the mosque is truly an architectural masterpiece. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau, the mosque is the second largest religious edifice in the world (after Mecca) and has the tallest minaret at 689 feet.  It can accommodate 25,000 worshippers inside, and an additional 80,000 in the courtyard perimeter. Drive along the wide boulevards, United Nations Square, the residential area of Anfa and Ain Diab. Check in & Overnight at your hotel.

Day 02: Casablanca – Rabat

After breakfast, drive to Rabat (1hour drive). Start the tour ” the Imperial “garden city” of Rabat. The well-planned city consists of broad tree-lined avenues, a landscaped central park, and impressive quarters for the foreign embassies and ministries. See the Kasbah of the Oudayas. It is located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river. See Chellah (outside), a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis located in the metro area of Rabat, the south side of the Bou Regreg estuary.  The ancient ruins of Chellah, where Jews are believed to have lived during the time of the Phoenicians.  Visit the unfinished Hassan Tower and Mosque, and the distinctive and elegant Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Check-in & Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 03:  Rabat-Fes

After breakfast, drive to Fes. Balance of the day at leisure. Check in & Overnight at your (B).

Day 04: Full day city tour of Fes

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day city tour.  Fes, founded in the 8th century, is arguably Morocco’s most fascinating city. This metropolis, sited in a valley, was Morocco’s first capital, and is today the kingdom’s intellectual, religious and cultural center.  The university here is one of the oldest in the world, and the city’s handicrafts are admirable (look for handmade items like rugs, fabrics, ceramics, leather goods, as well as copper, brass, and silver pieces). Fes street life in the medina may be the most memorable you’ll ever experience.  The souks in the medina are an open-air department store, with the spice shops next to the   carpet sellers, across from the fishmonger. This is the hub of  Moroccan life, filled with vitality.  Sightseeing includes the monuments and historical sites of the ancient medina.  Walk to the Karaouine Mosque and University. Visit the Attarine Medersas constructed in the early 14th century by the Merinides At the center of the square stands the Nejjarine fountain, which is completely decorated with tiles. It is considered to be the finest example of geometric ornamentation in the city. In back, there is the Nejjarine Museum, dedicated to the extraordinary woodwork and carpentry of the artisans of Fes. Optional Lunch at a restaurant within the medina. In the afternoon visit the various markets of the souks and the tanneries with time for shopping. Return to the Riad for Overnight. (B)

Day 05: Fes

Breakfast then drive to the Imperial City of Meknes. Located in the center of a rich agricultural region where olives, grain, vegetables, and grapes are grown, the history goes back to the 8th century, when it was developed as a hilltop kasbah. Another Stop at the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis.  During the period between 45-285 AD the city reached its peak of prosperity as the capital of the province of Mauretania Tingitania, but had in actuality been in existence centuries before the first Roman proconsul arrived.  From this tranquil site you can view the Holy City of Moulay Idriss – a national pilgrimage site the town holds the tomb of Moulay Idriss . Return to Fes for the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 06:  Fes/Marrakech (via Highway)

After breakfast, depart to Marrakech via the highway and enjoy Optional Lunch en route. Check-in and Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 07: Full Day City Tour of Marrakech

After breakfast, enjoy a full-day tour of Marrakech to discover it rich history. Being  for  many  successive  dynasties,  the  prosperous  capital  of Morocco,  Marrakech is known for architectural masterpieces , slender  minarets  like  the  Koutoubia,  which dominates  the  ancient  Medina. Marrakech’s prestigious past is evoked as well by the historical monuments, which remain intact in their splendor, with their brilliant mosaics, carved woodwork and gorgeous marble which can be found in Bahia Palace. Optional Lunch at  a local restaurant near the square. Afternoon visit of the legendary  Majorelle Gardens.  This enchanting place, filled with bougainvillea, coconut, banana, bamboo and  palms, was created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques  Majorelle. At the heart of lush vegetation, he built a large workshop, pergolas and arbors completely covered with a bright blue distracting. Neglected after the painter’s death in 1962, the property was restored a few years ago by fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Discover local souks and the medina.  Drive deep into the soup of fantastic sights and smells of a Moroccan folklore! In the evening, visit of Djemaa-El-Fna Square : the beating heart of the city, a permanent display of folklore, magicians, and storytellers –  cue the snake-charmers, storytellers, fortune-tellers, potion vendors, Gnaoua musicians, henna artists, monkey performers, acrobats,  transvestite dancers and more. Overnight at  your hotel. ( B)

Day 08: Excursion to Ourika Valley – Marrakech

After breakfast at your Riad, enjoy a half day touring in Marrakech, visit of the legendary  Majorelle Gardens.  This enchanting place, filled with bougainvillea, coconut, banana, bamboo and  palms, was created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques  Majorelle. At the heart of lush vegetation, he built a large workshop, pergolas and arbors completely covered with a bright blue distracting. Neglected after the painter’s death in 1962, the property was restored a few years ago by fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent.

Optional  visit of Yves Saint-Laurent museum. Tour of the rampart of Marrakech.  The ramparts dominate this medieval city with their characteristic red stone walls and superb nine gates dating back to different eras with rich history that is both surprising and unseen. Flanked by 202 towers, you will pass through the Agdal Gardens. located south of  Marrakech and facing the snowy peaks of the Atlas. Drive to  High Atlas Mountains (Ourika Valley), approximately 60km from Marrakech, and spreading between the first foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The Ourika Valley is one of the most beautiful and best preserved valleys in Morocco. The region is without a doubt the perfect tourist destination for people who seek a Moroccan adventure, discovery, relaxation, and meditation. There is the Ourika Valley itself with its beautiful river, Berber villages, and waterfalls. Upon arrival, enjoy Lunch on own.

Optional visit of the beautiful village of Seti Fatma which is famous for its seven waterfalls. Here we will start a gentle walk to reach the waterfalls. Return to Marrakech. Tonight we invite you to have  an optional  farewell dinner at the spectacular Moroccan Palace “Al Fassia”. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 09: Marrakech Day at leisure or (optional) Excursion to Essaouira

Enjoy the day at leisure OR Following early breakfast, drive to Essaouira, a coastal City located 175 Km from Marrakech on the Atlantic Coast. Behind its purple ramparts and inside its whitewashed medina with blue doors, lies a city that has been influenced by various cultures (Berber, Carthaginian, Portuguese, Arabs, to name a few. En route,  visit an Argan Oil Factory  – The Marjana Cooperative: a little compound found along a road lined with Argan trees in whose twisted boughs, goats climb looking for lunch. The Argan Tree is an indigenous tree which only grows in the harsh environment of southwestern Morocco, and nowhere else in the world! This oil has a huge demand worldwide, primarily in the beauty and health industry as a multi-purpose beauty product: from argan based creams, soaps and shampoos.  Argan Oil is used also as culinary product for many famous Moroccan dishes such as couscous, salads and amlou spread (argan oil, almond paste and honey). Continue to Essaouira, the White Pearl of the Atlantic,” and one of Morocco’s most enchanting coastal cities—a refreshing blend of history, culture, sea breeze, and artistic spirit. Wander through artisan-filled alleyways, explore the historic port, and enjoy the city’s serene beach and refreshing ocean breeze. A relaxed, artistic escape with a distinctive Moroccan–Mediterranean flair. Enclosed within majestic 18th-century ramparts, its UNESCO-listed medina reveals a picture-perfect world of whitewashed walls, bright blue doors, lively souks, and winding alleyways filled with artisans, woodworkers, jewelers, and painters.  Overnight  at your hotel. (B)

Day 10: Marrakech – Casablanca

After Breakfast, transfer to Casablanca including a panoramic tour of Casablanca. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 11: Departure

After breakfast, departure to Casablanca International  airport  for your flight back home with unforgettable memories.

This is a sample itinerary which can be further customized to suit your preference. Prices will be quoted upon request according to the date of travel and the number of passengers in your vehicle.