Classical Morocco

Upon arrival in Casablanca, please proceed through customs and immigration formalities. Our representative will meet you outside the Arrival Terminal with a sign. A brief review of the tour during your transfer to the hotel. Check in and relax.

In the afternoon, your diver will meet you at the hotel to enjoy a half-day guided tour of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest metropolis and industrial hub (subject to your time of arrival). Highlights include the old French quarter of Habous with its beaches lapped by green-blue water. During your tour, you’ll visit the Hassan II Grand Mosque (exterior). The mosque is among the largest in the world with its minaret, the tallest religious structure in the world, and its dimension, it can house as many as 25,000 worshipers! Continue to your hotel for dinner.

Overnight in Casablanca | Meals: Dinner

After breakfast, depart towards Rabat, driving along the main highway which links these two major cities. Embark on a brief tour that highlights Rabat’s cultural influences and the superbly preserved relics of its Moorish past. Rabat’s most famous site is the 12th-century Hassan Tower (an excellent example of the gorgeous Moroccan style), the incomplete minaret of the great mosque built at the beginning of the 12th century. Alongside is the mausoleum dedicated to Mohamed V, the grandfather of the current king. You’ll also enjoy a visit to the Kasbah of the Udayas, which was built on a cliff overlooking the city and the Atlantic ocean. Its gate is one of the most beautiful illustrations of the Moorish architecture. Within its walls, you’ll discover a wonderful Moroccan garden, with melodious fountains and sweet-smelling orange trees. After your sightseeing, continue inland to Fez (approximately a 3-hour drive) and to your hotel for dinner.

Overnight in Fez
 Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

Today you take a step back in time to the Middle Ages with the visit of one of the imperial, timeless, and untouched cities in the world, the cultural heart of Morocco, Fez El Bali (Old Fez). Enjoy exploring some of the 9,000 narrow lanes and alleys in the souks (open-air markets) that make-up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, originally founded in the 8th century. The Imperial capital was a renowned medieval learning center, and at its heart remains the Karaouine, one of the oldest,
still functioning universities in the world. Nearby is the Attarine Medersa (Koranic college), a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th century. Then you’ll visit Nejjarine Square, with its beautiful fountain, a mosaic of elaborate tile-work, and the Fondouq (Caravanserai) that has been Centre Koutoubia 2, converted to a Museum of Carpentry. In the 13th Century, the Merinide Dynasty built Fez El Jdid (New
Fez) with its Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas (Koranic schools), souks, and the city walls. Most notably, Fez El Jedid is home to the Mellah (Jewish quarter), which provides an interesting insight into Jewish architecture. The wrought iron decorated windows and splendidly carved wood balconies
of the old mansions are particularly outstanding. The medieval Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to your hotel for dinner.

Overnight in Fes
Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we drive to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis to explore its stunning ruins.
Impressive stone arches and columns, some tumbled down and others still standing tall against the
vivid blue sky. Only about half of the 40 hectares of UNESCO World Heritage site have been excavated.
The better-known monuments are in the northern part of the site, farthest from the entrance in the
south which is: the Capitol, dedicated to the Triad of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, dated 218AD, the
Basilica, and the 1,300 m2 Forum. Pay attention to the floors of what were once family dwellings that
are still covered with decorative tile mosaics depicting mythological beings, such as Orpheus
charming animals with his lyre and Hercules performing his legendary 12 labors. That so many of
these tiles are still in place and exhibiting their colors after centuries of exposure to the elements, which is
astonishing.
Next, we will visit the whitewashed town of Moulay Idriss, about two miles from Volubilis. It sits
astride two green hills in a cradle of mountains, where Morocco’s first Arab conquerors settled. Then
off to the Imperial city of Meknes, the one-time home of the Moroccan sultanate with its Medina all winding narrow streets and grand buildings that justify its stamp of Imperial City. Remnants of three
fortifications, ingeniously incorporated into the city road network, emphasize its past
importance and glory. The king’s tomb sits at the heart of what remains of the original city, flanked
by an almighty royal granary, the magnificent Bab el-Mansour. Drive back to Fez for dinner and
overnight at the hotel.

Overnight in Fez
Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

Today we experience the natural and wilder landscapes outside Fez: Drive to the high alpine region of Ifrane, filled with cedar and oak forests, and home to the world’s largest population of Barbary macaques, hundreds of animals, birds, and the oldest tree in Morocco’s the Middle Atlas, the 130-feet Gouraud’s Cedar. The largest cedar forest in the world is found in this park, and several Lakes or Dayats abound in the nearby area. The Lion of Ifrane sits majestically in the city center and is certainly one of the most photographed sites in the region. Ifrane feels more like Switzerland with its clean air, scrubbed streets, and leafy outlook. The French built this city in 1930, deliberately trying to re-create an alpine-style resort. It is a popular day trip for picnickers during summer and the site attracts the skiers in the winter. Stop for lunch (on your own). Continue to Marrakech via the highway for dinner and overnight.

Overnight in Marrakesh
Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

Unearth the secrets of Marrakech, starting with the Medina, the old walled section of town and a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. This thousand-year-old city was long a political, economic, and cultural
center. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret. Continue to the
Bahia Palace is an exemplary specimen of privileged life in the 19th century. Your next stop is Tiskiwin
Museum (MaisonTiskiwin), which houses an impressive collection of North African arts and crafts.
The museum, which was founded by a Dutch anthropologist, is organized into geographically themed
exhibits, with each room focusing on artifacts from different towns and regions along the ancient
trade route Marrakech-Timbuktu. The works on display include exquisite hand-woven carpets and
textiles, traditional Berber clothing and jewelry, intricate basketwork, and tribal handicrafts. Later
you’ll visit Marrakech’s main square Djemaa el-Fna, which is filled with orange juice stalls and
vendors, along with fire-eaters, mime artists, snake-charmers, fortune tellers, magicians, and street
musicians performing at every turn. You may also take the opportunity to explore the city’s fabled,
labyrinthine souks, their bustling alleyways brimming with all manner of wares. Following your visit,
return to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, a perfect opportunity to freshen up and
get ready for dinner in a local restaurant. Return to your hotel overnight.

Overnight in Marrakesh
Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

Day at leisure. Wander around on your own or sign up (own expenses - please inquire for pricing) for a full-day farm retreat
with cooking class, an excursion in Agafey Rocky Desert or Essaouira, or a Day with a Berber
Family at Imlil Valley. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Overnight in Marrakesh
Meals Included | Breakfast, Dinner

Meals Included | Breakfast