Medinas of Morocco
8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
Day 1. CASABLANCA.
You will be met on arrival Casablanca airport and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, and dependant on your time of arrival, you have the rest of the day free in this bustling commercial capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. D
Day 2. CASABLANCA / RABAT / VOLUBILIS / FEZ.
After breakfast we visit the Hassan II Mosque, the largest Mosque outside of Mecca. On to Rabat to visit the main monuments including the Hassan Tower and the Mohamed V Mausoleum where Hassan II is also buried alongside his father; the Kasbah of the Oudayas and the Oudaya Gate. Travel on to Volubilis, our window into the Roman history of Morocco – the mosaics there are wonderfully preserved, finishing our day in Fez for dinner and overnight stay. BD
Day 3. FEZ.
After breakfast we have a full day in Fez to explore this, the best living example of a medieval Arab city and the religious capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. See the 9th century Karaouine Mosque and university; the bustling souks, tanneries and the Islamic architecture. Light lunch in a local restaurant and dinner and overnight in Fez. BLD
Day 4. FEZ / MEKNES / AZROU / BENI MELLAL / AFOURER.
Drive to Meknes for city tour of the ancient capital of the Sultan Moulay Ismaël. His Royal stables there once housed 12,000 horses. Time for a photo stop at the famous Bab Mansour then we’re off through the Middle Atlas mountains to Azrou, famous for its woodcarvings, then on to the fruit growing region of Beni Mellal and dinner and overnight in Afourer, a quiet Berber town nestling in the foothills of the Middle Atlas Mountains BD
Day 5. AFOURER / MARRAKECH.
After breakfast, we continue with a morning drive along the Oum er Rbia valley to Marrakech. After checking in at our hotel we have the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in our Marrakech hotel. BD
Why not add Chez Ali Fantasia Dinner & Show?
Our journey this evening takes us out of the heat of the city on a road to palm groves, where twinkling lights beckon us out of the darkness to a magnificent spectacle. As the evening progresses, various folklore groups pass through the nomad tents singing and dancing to their throbbing music as you dine on your Tagine Feast. The highlight comes at the end of our meal when we are invited to witness charging robed horsemen in a display of their old tribal power as they shout and fire off their muskets and muzzle-loaders, bringing their horses to a sudden halt before us. Above us, in the night sky, Scheherazade and her Prince fly to the heavens on their magic carpet ride whilst fireworks light the sky as our evening of magical splendour comes to an end.
Day 6. MARRAKECH.
Day at Leisure. BD
Or add an optional Full Day to Essaouira.
Set out towards the west, to the Atlantic coast and the ancient Phoenician town of Mogador – now called Essaouira. A charming artists’ town with its old port and cannons overlooking the fishing fleet, Essaouira invites you to wander through the narrow alleyways which make up the Medina to witness artisans at work making their wooden tables, boxes and sundry items in lemon or briar wood inlaid with mother of pearl. Purple dye produced by these crushed shellfish were exported by the conquering Romans to colour the togas of the rich back home. Perhaps a dip in the waters of the ocean before returning to the bustle of Marrakech? A camel ride along the beach? Lunch is not included, but you’ll enjoy Essaouira’s famed seafood, either on the quayside or in one of the several quaint cafés that decorate this charming historical town before returning back to Marrakech.
Or an Optional Full Day in 4×4 to Ouarzazate, Aît Ben Haddou & Telouet.
We set out up and over the winding Tizi n’Tichka High Atlas pass (2260m) to the colonial city of Ouarzazate for a visit of the Kasbah Taourirte, located at the old part of the which city served as the stronghold of the Pasha Glaoui. Then onward for around thirty kilometres to the old village of Aït Ben Haddou which houses the most authentic and best preserved Kasbah of all the South and the atlas Mountains. Several significant movies were filmed there such as Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth & Gladiator. Now the village is classified as the site of a UNESCO project for restoration of its ancient architecture. Stop here for lunch (included) with views over the Kasbah before continuing along a small road to the village and the Pasha Glaoui Kasbah Telouet. From here continue along the unpaved road where you will see the traditional Berber farmers using the terraced style of planting for their farms on the mountains side along the way. Rejoin the Tizi N’Tichka pass for the drive back to Marrakech.
Day 7. MARRAKECH / CASABLANCA.
The morning takes in the historical sights of this, perhaps the most famous of the Imperial cities of Morocco – the 16th century Saadian tombs, the Medersa Ben Youssef, the 12th century Menara gardens and the Koutoubia Mosque. After lunch in a local restaurant back into the Medina for the souks visit terminating in the fabulous Djmâa El Fna square with its myriad of street performers – soothsayers, story tellers, tooth pullers, snake-charmers and many, many more. Leaving Marrakech early afternoon to Casablanca for dinner and overnight. BLD
Day 8. CASABLANCA / HOME.
After breakfast and in accordance with your flight schedule we shall leave for the airport and your return flight – or stay on with us in Morocco to explore more of our wonderful country. B
B = Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner