Casablanca Airport Pickup

Casablanca - Arrival at Casablanca airport, transfer to your hotel for check-in and relaxation.

Casablanca – Rabat – Asilah

Casablanca - Depart from your accommodation to Asilah via Rabat, visiting the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammad V.

Hassan Tower - Overlooking the Oued Bou Regreg and surrounded by lush gardens, this is Rabat’s most iconic landmark. The Almohads’ grand project was to build the second-largest mosque of its time, after Samarra in Iraq, but Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour passed away before its completion. The intended 60m minaret was left unfinished at 44m. An earthquake in 1755 destroyed the mosque, leaving only a forest of broken pillars as a testament to Al-Mansour’s grand vision. The tower shares its design with the Giralda in Seville and the Koutoubia in Marrakech.

Mausoleum of Mohammad V - Adjacent to the tower, this marble mausoleum is built in traditional Moroccan style. It is the resting place of the current king’s father, Hassan II, and grandfather. Despite its intricate mosaic and carved plaster, the decoration exudes tranquility.

Asilah - Arrive in Asilah by early evening. The town feels reminiscent of a Greek island, with Spanish influences evident in the tapas and paella on restaurant menus and the wrought-iron windows on white houses. Asilah has a rich history as a strategic port since its beginnings as the Carthaginian settlement of Zilis. With over 50 resident artists, five galleries, and several artist studios, Asilah is celebrated as a city of arts. This artistic tradition began in 1978 when Moroccan artists were invited to conduct workshops for local children and paint walls in the medina during town celebrations. The town’s famous landmark is its Ramparts & Medina, surrounded by sturdy stone fortifications built by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Asilah.

Asilah - Tangier - Chefchaouen

Tangier - Continue exploring the magnificent northern town of Morocco. The next stop is Tangier city to visit its historical landmarks such as St Andrew’s Church, Tangier American Legation Museum, and more.

St. Andrew’s Church - A charming oddity, built between 1894 and 1905 on land granted by Queen Victoria. The interior of this Anglican church is Moorish in style, with no graven images and the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic. Behind the altar is a cleft indicating the direction of Mecca, with carved quotes from the Quran. A true interfaith experience! Outside, the church graveyard features fascinating wartime headstones, including one for a fighter pilot shot while escaping, reading ‘Good Hunting, Tim,’ and the moving sight of entire downed aircrew, their headstones shoulder to shoulder.

Tangier American Legation Museum - Morocco was among the first countries to recognize the fledgling United States, and this was the first piece of American real estate abroad. It is also the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil. Touring the museum feels like stepping into an exotic historical novel!

Musee de la Kasbah - Perfectly located in Dar el-Makhzen, the former sultan’s palace (also home to Portuguese & British governors), the museum has been recently renovated.

Caves of Hercules - The cave has two openings, one to the sea and one to the land. The sea opening is known as “The Map of Africa.” It is believed that the Phoenicians created the sea opening, which resembles Africa when viewed from the sea. There are also markings on the wall shaped like eyes, said to be made by the Phoenicians, forming a map of the local area. The cave is both natural and man-made. The man-made part was used by Berber people to cut stone wheels from the walls to make millstones, thus expanding the cave considerably.

Chefchaouen - Arrive in Chefchaouen by early evening. Nestled beneath the rugged peaks of the Rif, Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s prettiest towns, an artsy, blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own world. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Chefchaouen.

Chefchaouen Sightseeing + Excursion to Akchour Waterfalls

Chefchaouen Medina - After breakfast, a local guide will take you to visit Chefchaouen and the Akchour waterfalls. Chefchaouen medina is one of Morocco’s loveliest. Small and uncrowded, it’s easy to explore, with enough winding paths to keep you entertained, but compact enough that you won’t get too lost. Most buildings are painted a striking blue-white, giving them a clean, fresh look, while terracotta tiles add an Andalusian flavor. The heart of the medina is the shady, cobbled Plaza Uta el-Hammam, lined with cafes and restaurants serving similar fare. It’s a peaceful place to relax and watch the world go by.

Place Outa el Hammam - The plaza of Uta el-Hammam is dominated by the red-hued walls of the kasbah and the adjacent Grand Mosquée. Noteworthy for its unusual octagonal tower and recently restored, the Grand Mosquée was built in the 15th century by the son of the town’s founder. The kasbah is a heavily restored walled fortress that now contains a lovely garden, a small Ethnographic Museum, and an even smaller art gallery. The ethnographic museum offers fascinating views of old Chefchaouen, including the plaza and the kasbah.

Akchour - Morocco’s hidden paradise, Akchour waterfalls, is a stunning turquoise waterfall oasis at the end of an easy 5.5km drive in the Rif Mountains, near Chefchaouen. Return to Chefchaouen by early evening. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Chefchaouen.

From Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis - Moulay Idriss - Meknes

Volubilis - The Roman ruins of Volubilis are situated in the middle of a fertile plain about 33km north of Meknes. The city is Morocco’s best-preserved archaeological site and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Its most remarkable features are its many beautiful mosaics preserved in situ. The site was originally settled by Carthaginian traders in the 3rd century BC. As one of the Roman Empire’s most remote outposts, Volubilis was annexed around AD 40. According to some historians, Rome imposed strict controls on what could and could not be produced in its North African possessions, according to the needs of the empire. One result was massive deforestation and large-scale wheat planting around Volubilis. As neighboring Berber tribes began to reassert themselves, the Romans abandoned Volubilis around 280. Nevertheless, the city’s populations of Berbers, Greeks, Jews, and Syrians continued to speak Latin until the arrival of Islam. The buildings were felled by the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.

Moulay Idriss - The picturesque whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss sits astride two green hills in a cradle of mountains slightly less than 5km from Volubilis and is one of the country’s most important pilgrimage sites. It is named for Moulay Idriss, a great-grandson of the prophet Mohammed, the founder of the country’s first real dynasty, and Morocco’s most revered saint. His tomb is at the heart of the town. We head to a terrace that provides a vantage point high above the mausoleum and most of the town for pictures.

Bab Mansour Gate - The focus of the Place el-Hedim is the huge gate of Bab el-Mansour, the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. The gate is well-preserved with lavish Zellij and inscriptions across the top. It was completed by Moulay Ismail’s son, Moulay Abdallah, in 1732.

Heri es Souani - Moulay Ismail’s immense granaries and stables, Heri es Souani, were ingeniously designed. Tiny windows, massive walls, and a system of underfloor water channels kept the temperatures cool and air circulating. The building provided stabling and food for an incredible 12,000 horses, and Moulay Ismail regarded it as one of his finest architectural projects.

Sahrij Swani - Immediately north of the granaries and stables lies an enormous stone-lined lake, the Agdal Basin. Fed by a complex system of irrigation channels some 25km long, it served as both a reservoir for the sultan’s gardens and a pleasant lake. There are plenty of benches to break our stroll around the water, and a giant Giacometti-like statue of a traditional water seller.

Fes - Fez attracted scholars and philosophers, mathematicians and lawyers, astronomers, and theologians. Craftsmen built them houses and palaces, kings endowed mosques and Medersas (religious schools), and merchants offered exotic wares from the silk roads and sub-Saharan trade routes. Although Fez lost its influence at the beginning of the 19th century, it remains a supremely self-confident city whose cultural and spiritual lineage beguiles visitors. Overnight stay in Fes.

Fes Sightseeing

Fes - Following breakfast at the hotel, an accredited local guide will accompany you on a walking tour of Fes to learn more about the culture and history. Visit rich historical landmarks like the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter, Borj Nord, Madrasa Bou Inania, Chaouwara Tanneries, and much more.

Royal Palace of Fez - The entrance to the palace is stunning, an example of modern restoration, but the 80 hectares of palace grounds are not open to the public. We must suffice with viewing its imposing brass doors, surrounded by fine zellij and carved cedarwood. After breakfast, a licensed guide takes you on a journey to visit Fes starting with the royal palace. The entrance to the palace is stunning, an example of modern restoration, but the 80 hectares of palace grounds are not open to the public. We must suffice with viewing its imposing brass doors, surrounded by fine zellij and carved cedarwood. Walk through the Jewish quarter (Mellah). In the 14th century, Fes became a refuge for Jews, thus creating a Mellah (Jewish quarter). Their old houses remain, with their open balconies looking onto the streets, a marked contrast to Muslim styles.

Borj Nord - Head up here for one of the best panoramas of the city. Like its counterpart on the southern hills (Borj Sud), Borj Nord was built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour in the late 16th century to monitor the potentially disloyal populace of Fes.

Bou Inania Medersa - It is the finest of Fes theological colleges. Built by the Marinid sultan Bouinan between 1350 and 1357, the madrasa underwent extensive restoration a few years ago, and the results are amazing: elaborate zellij and carved plaster, beautiful cedar, and massive brass doors.

Chouara Tannery - One of the three tanneries in the city of Fez, Morocco. It is the largest tannery in the city and one of the oldest. The tanning industry in the city is considered one of the main tourist attractions. The tanneries are packed with round stone vessels filled with dye or white liquids for softening the hides. The leather goods produced in the tanneries are exported around the world.

After the guided visit, enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Fes.

Fes - Ifran - Midelt - Errachidia - Erfoud - Merzouga

Fes - After breakfast, depart early for the Merzouga desert through Ifran, Midelt, Errachidia, and Erfoud.

Ifrane - Tidy and modern, it feels more like Switzerland relocated to the Middle Atlas than North Africa. The French built Ifrane in the 1930s, deliberately trying to recreate an alpine-style resort. It has neat red-roofed houses, blooming flower beds, and lake-studded parks, all kept impeccably tidy. Ifran’s famous landmark is the stone lion that sits on a patch of grass. It was carved by a German soldier during WWII when Ifrane was briefly a prisoner-of-war camp and commemorates the last wild lion, which was shot near here in the early 1920s.

Azrou Cedar Forest - The Cedar forests are notable as a habitat for a sub-population of Barbary macaques. You might be lucky to spot a troupe foraging in the woods.

Midelt - Midelt sits in apple country between the Middle and the High Atlas. The landscape offers some breathtaking views, especially of the eastern High Atlas, which seem to rise out of nowhere. Midelt consists of little more than one main street (Ave Mohammed V in the north, which becomes Ave Hassan II to the south), and a modest souq.

Errachidia - Garrison towns are not generally known for their hospitality or culture, but Errachidia is trying to change that with the hospitality of its people. Besides being home to a sizable military population stationed here to keep an eye on the nearby border with Algeria, it is also home to the enormous theatre that hosts performers from throughout the Sahara at the Festival du Desert.

Erfoud - Fossilized bathtubs and moist, sweet dates are Erfoud’s current claims to fame, though it was once the end of the road. In September or October, Erfoud hosts an increasingly well-attended date festival, with dancing and music. The market at the southern end of town sells local dates alongside fresh produce.

Merzouga - Once among the dunes, you will be welcomed into a charming Kasbah where you can relax beside the swimming pool and enjoy the tunes of a desert blues band well into the evening.

Desert Culture + Tea with Nomads + Camel Trek

Erg Chebbi - Watching the sunrise among the dunes is a magical experience, not to be missed. Your breakfast will be waiting for you upon your return, after which you will have the opportunity to visit the nomadic communities around Merzouga, stopping for tea in the souks, and enjoying traditional Gnawa music. As the midday sun wanes, mount your camels and trek into the pink sands of the Moroccan Sahara; here, you will have ample free time to explore and take in the beauty and vastness of the desert dunes. Once the sun sets, a Moroccan dinner will be served alongside live music around the campfire, after which you are free to explore again - this time in the company of a million stars exploding against the pitch-black sky, and the all-encompassing silence of the Sahara at night.

From Merzouga to Skoura via Tinejdad, Todgha Gorge, Boumalne Dades

Todgha Gorge - Being stuck between a rock and a hard place is a sublime experience in the Todra Gorge, where the massive fault dividing the High Atlas from the Saghro mountain is at some points just wide enough for a crystal-clear river and single-file trekkers to squeeze through. The road from Tinghir passes green palmeras and Berber villages until, 15km long, high walls of pink and grey rock close in around the road. The approach is thrilling and somehow urgent, as though the doors of heaven were about to close before you.

Boumalne Dades - Nomads crossings, rose valleys, and two-tone kasbahs: even on paper, the Dades valley stretches the imagination. From the daunting High Atlas to the north to the rugged Jebel Saghro range south, the valley is dotted with oases and mudbrick palaces that give the region its fairytale nickname - Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs.

Kasbah Amridil - Morocco’s most coveted kasbah is this 17th-century wonder, which appears on Morocco’s 50-Dirham note. Signposted just a few hundred meters from the main road, this living museum shows that traditional kasbah life hasn’t changed much over the centuries, with hand-carved door locks, an olive-oil press, still-functioning bread ovens, and goats bleating in the courtyard.

Skoura - By the time caravans laden with gold and spice reached Skoura, the camels must have been gasping. After a two-month journey across the Sahara, blue-robed Tuareg desert traders offloaded cargo from caravans in Skoura, where Middle Atlas mountaineers packed it onto mules headed to Fez. Ouarzazate is now the region’s commercial center, but Skoura’s historic mudbrick castles remain, and desert traders throng Monday & Thursday souqs brimming with intensely flavorful desert produce. When market days are over and palm-tree shadows stretch across the road, no one seems in a hurry to leave. Elsewhere, life goes on as usual - but in Skoura, it remains a wonder. Overnight stay in Skoura.

From Skoura to Marrakech via Ouarzazate & Ait Benhaddou Kasbah

Ouarzazate - After breakfast, drive to Marrakech via Ouarzazate. Strategically located, it has thrived on its wits rather than its looks. For centuries, people from Atlas, Draa, and Dades valley converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling Taourirt kasbah, and a modern garrison town was established here in the 1920s to oversee France’s colonial interests. The movie business gradually took off in Ouarzazate after the French protectorate left in the 1950s, and ‘Ouallywood’ movie studios have built quite a résumé providing convincingly exotic backdrops for movies supposedly set in ancient Rome, Somalia, and Egypt.

Taourirt Kasbah - Unlike other Glaoui kasbahs, Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as a Hollywood backdrop and attracting the attention of UNESCO, which carefully restored small sections of the Glaoui inner sanctum.

Atlas Studios - The first ‘Oullywood’ studio displays sets and props from movies filmed here, including Jewel of the Nile, Kingdom of Heaven, and Kundun.

Ait Ben Haddou - The UNESCO-protected kasbah seems suspiciously frozen in time: with Hollywood touch-ups, it still resembles its days in the 11th century as an Almoravid caravanserai. Movie buffs recognize this red mudbrick kasbah 32km from Ouarzazate from Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth (for which much of Ait Benhaddou was rebuilt), Jewel of the Nile, and Gladiator.

Marrakech - The drive continues via Tishka pass, reaching an altitude of 2260m. Enjoy free time and an overnight stay in Marrakech.

Marrakech Sightseeing with Official Local Guide + Transfer to Essaouira

Marrakech - Breakfast will be served at your Riad, after which a knowledgeable local guide will lead you through the labyrinth of Marrakech’s winding alleyways, hidden gardens, and secret souks. Visit many historically and culturally rich landmarks such as Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Dar Si Said, Jardin Majorel, and more.

Bahia Palace - What you could build with Morocco’s top artisans at your service for 14 years, and here you have it: The Bahia Palace. The palace is a 19th-century building, consisting of rooms decorated with stunning stuccos, paintings, and mosaics, and a set of gardens located in Marrakech, Morocco. Intended to be the greatest palace of its time, the name of the Bahia Palace means in Arabic “brilliance.” As in other buildings of the period in other countries, it was intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style. There is a 2-acre (8,000 m²) garden with rooms opening onto courtyards.

Saadian Tombs - Anyone who says you can’t take it with you hasn’t seen the Saadian tombs, near the Kasbah mosque. Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahbi spared no expense on his tomb, importing Italian Carrara marble and gilding honeycomb muqarnas (decorative plasterwork) with pure gold to make the Chamber of 12 Pillars a suitably glorious mausoleum. Al Mansour died in splendor in 1603, but a few decades later, Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail walled up the Saadian Tombs to keep his predecessors out of sight and mind. It was the French who opened them up again in 1917.

Dar Si Said Museum - A monument to Moroccan maalems (master artisans), Dar Si Said showcases Marrakech’s graceful riad architecture and regional craftsmanship. Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed had the power, but his brother Si Said apparently had the master artisans to make his home a model of quiet elegance.

Jardin Majorelle - Other guests bring flowers, but Yves Saint Laurent gifted the entire Jardin Majorelle to Marrakech, the city that adopted him in 1964. After a sequence of events that included, in rather unfortunate order: launching hippie fashion, and an obligatory stint in the French Military. Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought the electric-blue villa and its garden to preserve the vision of its original owner, landscape painter Jacques Majorelle, and keep it open to the public. Per his instructions, Yves Saint Laurent’s ashes were scattered over Jardin Majorelle upon his June 2008 passing.

Ben Youssef Madrasa - The Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic madrasa functioning today as a historical site. The Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college in Morocco at its height. The madrasa is named after the adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque founded in the 14th century by the Almoravid Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf. “You who may enter my door, may your highest hopes be exceeded” reads the inscription over the entryway. This Quranic learning center was once the largest in North Africa and remains among the most splendid.

Koutoubia Mosque - The Koutoubia serves a spiritual purpose, but its minaret is also a point of reference for international architecture. The 12th-century 70m-high minaret is the prototype for Seville’s La Giralda and Rabat’s Le Tour Hassan, and it’s a monumental cheat sheet of Moorish ornament: scalloped keystone arches, jagged merlons (crenellations), and mathematically pleasing proportions. When the present mosque and its minaret were finished by Almohad Sultan Yacoub el-Mansour in the 12th century, 100 booksellers were clustered around its base - hence the name, from Kutubiyyin, or booksellers.

Jemaa el-Fnaa - Think of it as live-action channel-surfing. You will discover drama already in progress. The hoopla and halpa (street theatre). The daily performance is underway. Snake charmers blast oboes to calm cobras hissing at careening Vespas; henna tattoo artists, water sellers in fringed hats, and musicians tune up their instruments.

Essaouira - After the guided tour, transfer to Essaouira. Overnight stay in Essaouira.

Essaouira at Your Leisure

Essaouira - Breakfast is served at your riad, and it’s time to explore Essaouira at your leisure. Meet local artists in their studios and browse their artwork, or head to the lively fish market for a savory lunch of fresh grilled fish caught just this morning. A short walk along the beach at low tide reveals the crumbling ruins of the fort of Borj El Barod, and a boat ride to the island of Mogador offers glimpses of the rare Eleanora’s falcon. Should you fancy watersports, you may even want to try one of the many offered on the popular local beaches, including surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking. If you are feeling somewhat tired from your travels, Essaouira is a perfect place to recoup - simply sit in one of the many beachside cafes on Place Moulay Hassan, relax, and watch the waves roll in with a mint tea and a Moroccan pastry. Spend another night in your Essaouira riad.

Essaouira to Casablanca

Casablanca - On this final day of your Moroccan adventure, leave Essaouira and journey back to the bustling city of Casablanca, continuing up the coastline through quiet coastal towns to El Jadida where you may visit the citadel and see the underground cistern. Overnight stay in Casablanca.

Transfer to the Airport

Casablanca - Transfer to the Casablanca airport.

• Camel Ride
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast

• Lunch & Beverages
• Dinner x 10

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.