Best of Morocco | Kasbahs, Souks and Camels

Travel to the kingdom of Morocco located on the northwestern edge of the massive African continent. Our destination is the fabled city of Casablanca. Upon arrival, settle in at our hotel before we get together for a welcome briefing with our Tour Director.

After breakfast, we will depart for a tour of Casablanca, the largest city and one of the most modern seaports in Morocco. Our first stop is a visit to the magnificent Mosque of Hassan II, one of the ten largest in the world that dominates the entire city. The mosque has a sliding ceiling to let the sea breeze cool down the building and a minaret that stands 655 feet tall.  The mosque is a treasure trove of artistry decorated with the exquisite work of more than 10,000 master artisans from Morocco. This enormous building can accommodate up to 25,000 people and is the only mosque in the city that non-Muslims are permitted to visit. We will have a guided tour of the mosque and the ablution hall with a local specialist. Before leaving Casablanca we will visit the Old Medina and the New Medina where we will see a maze of Moroccan tradespeople for a taste of authentic residential life. After lunch we will depart for Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. Here we will have time to explore Rabat’s old town and admire the Moorish and Andalusian architecture. Our local guide will also take us to the Jewish Quarter before we continue to the busy souk where we may want to sample local goodies like Harsha, a semolina bread with a special almond paste. After checking into our hotel we will meet for a welcome dinner. 

Please Note: To visit a mosque knees and upper arms must be covered for both men and women.

Today, we head over the fertile northern plains toward the walled city of Mekenes (two hours), known for its imperial past. We will meet our local guide for a walk through the maze-like streets of the medina, known as the “Versailles of Morocco,” passing crumbling ramparts built in the Moorish-Spanish style. Entering El Hedim Square through Bab Mansour,  a gate considered to be one of the masterpieces of Spanish-Moorish architecture we will see the art of damascening on vases, plates, jewelry, and other arts and crafts made locally. The beauty of the medina has earned it a UNESCO recognition. After lunch on our own, we will take a 45-minute ride to Volubilis, once a large Roman town and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating to the third century this is one of the best-preserved ruins of a fortified Roman city in the world that once existed on the frontier of the Roman Empire.  Wandering through these ruins we will see the remains of houses, baths, shops, aqueducts, and more. After exploring the site we will continue on to the ancient imperial city of Fez (2 hours) where we will check into our hotel and after freshening up, we will meet for dinner.

Fez is an imperial city with an illustrious past. It is home to many palaces, mosques, madrasas, ( theological colleges), and souks that make up its medina which became a World Heritage Site in 1995. After breakfast, we will meet our local guide for a tour of this magical city. Our first stop is to tour the Royal Palace and then drive to a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit the Al Qarawiyyin University, one of the oldest in the world to admire its high arches and Andalusian architecture. A highlight of the day is to enter the medina through the historic Bab Bou Jeloub gate which is like stepping back in time. Fez’s medina is one of the largest in the world and is home to hundreds of skilled craftsmen with tiny shops opening into a labyrinth of alleyways. Our local guide will take us through some of the most interesting sections of the souk including those that sell leather, pottery, brass, copper, and more. A visit to the tanneries is both a colorful and pungent experience that is unforgettable. The rest of the day is free time to have lunch and explore the mysteries of the medina on your own. 

After an early breakfast, we will depart Fez for Marrakesh. Along the way, we will stop for lunch in the city of Ifrane located in the middle of the Atlas Mountains. The town is known for its alpine architecture and National Park of cedar trees. Arriving in Marrakesh we will check into our hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. We will meet for a festive dinner at a local restaurant. 

This morning, we embark on a half-day tour of the “red city,” Marrakesh. We will visit the Minaret of Koutobia built in the 12th century, the Saadian Tombs,  the Menara Gardens, and the Bahia Palace, an excellent example of Muslim Medieval architecture. We will stop in at a spice and argan oil vendor before finishing our tour at Jema el F’naa Square. The rest of the day is on your own to have lunch and bargain for souvenirs.  To get away from the hustle and bustle, try sipping mint tea from a rooftop cafe overlooking Jema el F’naa or experiencing a traditional hammam (bath).  If time allows you may want to visit the Musee Yves Saint Laurent that opened in 2017. Tonight we will meet for a special dinner in the Medina at the Dar Essalam Restaurant (or similar) that includes entertainment.

After an early breakfast, we depart for a day trip to Essaouira, a beautiful city on the Atlantic coast with a stunning beach and UNESCO-listed medina. We will meet with our local guide to have a tour of this seaport town with plenty of time to explore the historic medina and have lunch. After lunch, we will depart for Marrakesh where you will have the rest of the day and evening on your own. 

Today, we say goodbye to Marrakesh. Our drive takes us through some of the country’s most picturesque landscapes and over one of the most famous Atlas Mountain Passes, Tizi N’ Tichka. Our first stop is at the fortified UNESCO village of Ait-Ben-Haddou, where we will meet our local guide to explore this iconic red mudbrick city that was once a stop on a caravan route. Many movies have been filmed here including Gladiator, Game of Thrones, the Prince of Persia, and Lawrence of Arabia. After lunch, we will depart for Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Saraha Desert. After checking into our hotel, we will meet for dinner.

After breakfast, we will meet our local guide for a tour of Ouarzazate. We will visit the Kasbah Taourirt, an impressive 19th-century fortress with nearly 300 rooms and 20 traditional houses. Our next stop will be the Cinema Museum which is packed with authentic sets, props, and equipment used to make films. Our final stop is at the Atlas Film Studios which is said to be the largest in the world where we will see many famous sets. The rest of the day and dinner is on your own.

After breakfast, we will meet with our local guide and head to the Tinfou Dunes. We will be greeted by a relaxing glass of traditional tea and other refreshments before our much-anticipated camel ride around the sand dunes of Tinfou. We will be back in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon. Tonight we will meet for our farewell dinner.

After breakfast, we will transfer to the Marrakesh airport where our tour comes to a close.