Classic Morocco

Arrive Casablanca. Casablanca is the largest and most populated city in Morocco. The atmosphere is more cosmopolitan than in other parts of the country, with Western dress and fashions predominating. With Art Deco architecture dating back to the French protectorate, this beautiful city features several historical monuments, including the second largest mosque after Mecca. This evening, we get together for our welcome dinner at the hotel
Accommodations: Idou Anfa Hotel & Spa

Our day begins with a tour of Casablanca that introduces us to this sprawling cosmopolitan city, Morocco’s commercial and financial center. Highlights will include the medina (old quarters), the residential suburbs, the Hassan II mosque, Place Mohamed V and the Gates of Royal Palace of King Mohamed VI.

We travel north along the coastline to Rabat, the capital of the kingdom where we explore the pleasant and tranquil Chellah, both a Roman ruin and Islamic burial place atop the ancient Roman town of Sala Colonia.
Accommodations: Hotel Rabat

After breakfast, visit the picturesque Kasbah des Oudaias overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V. It was Mohamed V who achieved independence for Morocco in 1956.

We will set out for Meknes via the cork-forest road to visit the massive ramparts and King Moulay Ismael mosque and stables built to accommodate 12,000 horses. Continue east towards Volubilis and visit the splendid Roman ruins and the nearby town of Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in Morocco. We will end our day in Fes. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodations: Barcelo Fes

The most ancient of the Imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Arab world, Fes stimulates all the senses: a barrage of haunting and beautiful sounds, infinite visual details and unfiltered odours. It has the French-built Ville Nouvelle of other Moroccan cities – familiar and modern in looks and urban life – but a quarter or so of Fes’s 800,000 inhabitants continue to live in the extraordinary Medina-city of Fes el Bali, which owes little to the West besides electricity and tourists.

When Fez was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980, the organization’s Director General described the city as a “single example of what men, moved by the same faith and the same ideal, and coming together from different horizons, have been able to achieve.” To start our full day walking tour of Fez, we set out to a hill for a panoramic view of the city. Next we head to Fez el-Bali (Old Fez) and visit Kairaouine Mosque and University, one of the world’s largest mosques and possibly oldest university. Afterwards we head to Chaouwara Tanneries, one of the city’s most iconic sights (and smells). From here we proceed to New Fez and explore the Mellah, the former Jewish quarter and have a view of the Royal Palace. Our last stop is at a pottery workshop, where we learn about the famous Moroccan pottery. We travel back to our hotel at the end of the tour.
Accommodations: Barcelo Fes

This morning, depart Fes. Pass through many amazing cities and villages, the first of which are Ifrane, nicknamed “Morocco’s Switzerland,” is a charming ski town populated by European-style chalets. Continue on to Midelt, which serves as the commercial center of a large agricultural hinterland. It is also one of Morocco’s principal cities for the mining of several minerals.

You will have some free time in Midelt, before you continue your journey through the dramatic Ziz Gorge to arrive in Merzouga. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodations: Riad Madu

After breakfast, a 4×4 vehicle will be waiting for you to continue your adventure by heading towards the dunes of Erg Chebbi, possibly the largest dunes in the Sahara desert. En route, visit the villages in the surroundings area for a closer contact with the Berber culture, before arrival to Rissani.

Visit a camel milk cooperative, then continue to Rissani and visit one of the best traditional markets in the Sahara, a place where they sell donkeys, goats and cows and other market items for ships,. Stop at El Khamlia village for lunch included. Continue to the African village or “Gnawa village”. Then continue to Erg Chebbi. The dunes of Erg Chebbi are a strikingly strange natural formation. On the top of the flattest area you could imagine, suddenly a long mountain of sand rises. This mountain is surrounded by flat and desolate nature on all sides, and you could end up wondering if it really is real. But so it is, even if its existence is so weird that it has given rise to legends and myths among the locals. Upon arrival at the camp you will witness the sunset from over the desert dunes and be astounded by the peace and calm as well as the changing colors of the landscape.
This evening, get onto the back of a camel and venture into the desert for a chance to see one of the most beautiful sunsets of your lifetime. Traverse the golden sands of the Sahara until you reach a perfect viewing spot for one of the Nature’s greatest shows. As another day comes to an end, watch the skycome to life with a fiery glow and the rays playfully change the colors of the endless dunes around you. Continue to the desert camp and enjoy your dinner under tent then overnight.
Accommodations: Madu Camp

Today is an early wake-up. We will board our camels to the dunes to watch the sunrise over the Sahara Desert. Return to our camp for breakfast. We will then go through the scenic Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley, wonderfully sculpted by Mother Nature. Hugging the lush riverbed are many of Morocco’s most scenic Kasbahs and Ksours.

We continue down the route of Kasbahs past acres of roses, and stop for a walk at a date oasis, one of the largest, most decorated Kasbahs in Morocco. The day concludes at Ouarzazate at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, film capital of Morocco, with everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Star Wars being filmed here.
Accommodations: Riad Dar Chamaa

After breakfast, we will leave for Marrakech. Visit on route the Kasbah Taourirt, a UNESCO-restored Kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou, a Berber village which conserves the most impressive ksar of Morocco, where no change has occurred since the Middle Ages, and a stop at an oil cooperative run by women.

In the afternoon, we will explore exotic Marrakech museums: Dar Si Said Museum, Maison Tiskiwin and Souks and Djemaa El Fna square. We will have dinner (including one soft drink pp) together at the hotel.
Accommodations: Le Kech Boutique Hotel and Spa

Our full day explorations of Marrakesh will be on foot and vehicle. We start at Djemaa el Fna, the central square and Marrakesh’s heartbeat surrounded by bazaars, mosques, terraced cafes, snake charmers, fire-eaters, and fortune-tellers. After the visit, we stop at the Bahia Palace, a marvelous display of painted wood, ceramics, and symmetrical gardens.

We then proceed to Saadian Tombs followed by a walk through the old medina and the labyrinth of souks.
At 3PM, an exceptional gastronomic experience with an award-winning Executive Chef awaits you. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of North Africa’s rich food culture, the chef has curated a custom tour of his culinary world. Join him as he walks you through the mind of a Moroccan chef. From picking out fresh produce in the souks of his hometown of Marrakech, to sampling spices for the perfect flavor, to watching artisanal fillo dough made from scratch in front of your eyes, the chef will unlock the secrets of the recipes he’s mastered over the years. You’ll leave with an inside perspective on one of the world’s most highly cherished cuisines, dinner with the chef (cooked class food will be served). Back to your hotel for overnight.
Accommodations: Le Kech Boutique Hotel and Spa

Breakfast at the hotel. It’s on to a special place where you will enjoy belly dancing class. You will join a belly dancer to practice this old eastern tradition. If you have bought a Bedlah (Belly dancing outfit) you can change into it for the belly dance lesson. Enjoy your lunch at the medina (own expense).

Back to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant in the heart of the Medina. Back to the hotel for overnight.
Accommodations: Le Kech Boutique Hotel and Spa

It is time to say good-bye to this beautiful destination and fabulous new friends. Transfer to the airport to fly home as required.