Casablanca Arrival, Visit Hassan II Mosque and Jewish Heritage Sites, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, and onward to Rabat

Rabat Old Town - Arrive in Casablanca and visit the Hassan II Mosque. This mosque, designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, is located on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, visible through a vast glass floor accommodating 25,000 worshipers. Its minaret, at 210 meters, is the tallest in the world. This architectural marvel is the second largest religious building globally. Overnight stay in Rabat.

Rabat Guided Historical Tour, then continue to Meknes, and the Roman Ruins of Volubilis en route to Fes

Fez Mellah - Explore the Imperial Cities of Rabat and Meknes, followed by the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. During the morning tour, discover Rabat’s history and admire its domes, minarets, wide avenues, and green spaces. A guide will lead a walk around the picturesque Almohad northern walls of the Oudaïa Kasbah. Visit the Royal Palace and the Hassan Tower, which overlooks the Wadi Bou Regreg. Explore nearby gardens and visit the Palace of Rabat and the Necropolis at Chellah/Kasbah of Chellah.

Proceed to Meknes. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic view of Meknes, including the old Islamic medina with its numerous tall minarets. Explore the Old Medina and Bab el-Khemis. Pass through the ancient medina walls and the Islamic cemetery, extending to the Jewish quarter and the Old Mellah (Jewish neighborhood). Enter through Bab el-Khemis, a large decorated gate from the 17th century, often called “Thursday Gate.” Visit the 17th Century Kasbah, known for its military scale, with extensive walls and monumental gates, reflecting the historical achievements of Sultan Moulay Ismail.

Continue to the Royal Stables and Agdal Reservoir. The Royal Stables are impressive, built to house twelve thousand royal horses. Pass the Bab el Mansour Gate, considered one of Morocco’s most beautiful gates and Meknes’ most important gateway.

Take the National road to Volubilis. Visit the Roman Ruins of Volubilis, a breathtaking archaeological site once occupied by the Romans. Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, Volubilis gained fame when Martin Scorsese used it in his film, The Last Temptation of Christ. Discover the fascinating Roman ruins adorned with mosaics and colorful tiles depicting Roman mythology. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Fes.

Fes Guided Historical Tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site & City

Fez Mellah - Fes Historical Tour: Islamic Architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Historic Monuments, Jewish Heritage (Synagogue and Mellah), Craft Making, and Shopping in the Souks.

Start the day in Fès, the world’s oldest working medina, often called a living museum. Visit the 14th Century Palace Gates of the King. The Royal Palace in Fes is one of Morocco’s oldest (14th Century) and largest. Next, visit the Jewish Mellah, a Jewish quarter in Morocco’s old cities, usually with a walled boundary. Continue to the Ibn Danan Jewish Synagogue. Fes was once home to a thriving Jewish community in the 17th century and housed two well-known temples: Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Danan Synagogue, built by the Ibn Danan family. Cross the local fruit and vegetable market, witnessing local traders and people buying daily goods. Explore the Dyers souk of silk, wool, and cotton.

In the afternoon, visit:

• The Tannery
• Weavers Cooperative
• Mausoleum (Zaouia Sidi Ahmed Tijani)
• University of Kairouine
• Mausoleum (Zaouia Moulay Idriss)
• Nejarine Square

Cross the carpenter area and enter Attarine Street, filled with Fes scents like spices and oils. Shop and explore for carpets, scarves, and local handicrafts. Antique and Modern Carpets is a place in Fès el Bali where a Berber carpet demonstration can be seen. Visit The Bou Inania Medersa, a madrassa founded in AD 1351-56 by Abu Inan Faris, who also founded the Madrasa Bou Inania in Meknes. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Fes.

Fes Food Tour, Discover Street Food & Souk Tasting Tour, at Leisure or a Guided Visit to Palaces and Andalusian Gardens

Fez Mellah - Embark on a Fes Food Tour. This Souks Tasting Trail in the historic Fes medina offers a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of Fes and discover local delicacies of the Fassis people. On this Fes Food Tour, visit three different food souks to try traditional Moroccan street food, including dried meats, milawi, harsha, briwats, spicy sardines, spicy potato cakes, soups, olives, and more. At the honey souk, taste a variety of delicious wild honeys, discuss their flavors and health benefits, and learn why honey is vital in Moroccan cooking and Islamic culture.

Afternoon Visit of Majestic Palaces and Andalusian Gardens

Visit the Dar el-Batha Museum and Andalusian Garden. Next, visit the Batha Museum and Andalusian Gardens. The Musee Dar el-Batha offers a great collection of pottery, leatherwork, wood, books, and manuscripts from the nineteenth century centered around a green spacious courtyard.

Visit Palais Mokri. Palais Mokri, also known as “El Mokri Palace,” is a landmark in Fes. Built around 1906 by If Tayeb El Mokri, son of the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the king and himself Pasha of Casablanca, this residence covers about 220 meters of Fasis architecture and gardens.

Visit Jnane S’bil Garden and Les Jardins De Biehn, an Andalusian Garden built by a French artist. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Fes.

Departure to the Merzouga Sahara Desert. Travel the Middle Atlas passing Ifrane, Azrou, and Midelt

Merzouga Desert - A Journey through the Middle Atlas to the Sahara Desert, Passing Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland,” Midelt, Erfoud (the Capital of Fossils), and Rissani, Arriving in Merzouga for a Sunset Guided Camel Trek and Arabian Nights in the Great Sahara Desert.

En route to Merzouga, pass Ifrane, stopping to see the cedar tree forest and the local Barbary monkeys. Also, pass the American-Moroccan University, built by the Saudis. Upon arrival in the Saharan Desert, explore the capital of fossils, Erfoud. Then continue to a remote region to see The Musicians of Khemlia in Merzouga. The Musicians of Khemlia are a century-old Gnaoua group that performs ancient trance music. Tea and nuts will be served. Arrive in Merzouga before sunset and take a Sunset Camel Trek into the Erg Chebbi Dunes. Enjoy a 1001 Arabian Nights Dinner & Overnight in a Luxury Desert Camp in Merzouga.

Merzouga Departure to Skoura. En route visit the Sahara desert town of Rissani, and have lunch with a Berber Family

Museum-Theatre, Memory of Ouarzazate - Explore the Merzouga Sahara Desert’s flora and fauna. Then continue to the Sahara Desert town of Rissani, known for one of Morocco’s oldest souks and its ancient bread-baking tradition called Mafouna. Continue the road via Alnif and the region of the Saghro Mountains to Ait Ouzzine. Departure from the Region to the Saghro Mountains for Lunch in a Berber Village Enroute to Skoura.

Visit the old ksars in the Berber Village of Ait Ouzzine, located between the Saghro Mountain and Tamlalt Mountain region, which surround the village and N’kob. Aït Ouzzine is a Berber village inhabited by over 300 families who live in beautifully painted crenulated kasbahs, with their own henna fields, water wells, livestock, and gardens. This peaceful village is tucked away along an impressive desert route connecting the Draa Valley (Tansikht) and Rissani.

Meet a local Berber family, sip tea in the Sagro Mountains, and dine on couscous. Then explore and tour the village on foot. Walk in the green fields and see how the traditional Berbers live with their gardens of herbs, livestock, and henna plants. After lunch, have your hands and feet painted with henna or your hair adorned with saffron by a local village artist and relax. Experience the tradition of Berber perfume made from musk and amber along with the village’s own spices. End the afternoon in Ait Ouzzine with mint tea and almonds.

Drive through the Draa Valley back to Ouarzazate or the Skoura Palmeraie before sunset. The Draa Valley is the road of the old caravans that once transported dates and other goods from the Draa Region to Marrakech. Overnight at a Boutique Riad in Skoura.

Skoura Visit of the Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs, visit the Valley of Nomads, the Valley of Roses, and Boumalne Dades

Middle Atlas - Visit Skoura and its “Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs.” Skoura is a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves that provide great views of the Atlas Mountains alongside desert landscapes. It is renowned for the cultivation of roses.

Continue towards the perfumed Valley of Roses, just north of El Kelaa Des Mgouna. On the way to the Valley of Roses, the driver will stop to view the Capp et Florale distillation factories in the small kasbah town that manufacture the entire nation’s production of eau de rose. The rose water and other products such as hand and body soaps, oil, cream, perfume, and dried flowers are for sale and are also popular among Moroccans.

En route, go by pise to the region of Mount Mgoun and the Valley of Nomads. Visit and break bread with a Nomad family and see how cave dwellers have lived in this mountainous region for centuries, isolated from the outside world peacefully. Sip tea with the Nomads in this region of Bouthgrar before heading towards the magnificent Dades Valley and the region of the Dades Gorge. Lunch will be at a well-respected guest house in the Dades Valley with views of a Gorge.

The journey will then take you through the Dades Valley, which covers 125 km between Ouarzazate and Boumalne du Dadès in the High Atlas Mountains. Upon reaching Boumalne, notice the limestone cliffs with uniquely shaped erosions and superb scenery and the valley’s pise (windy roads). Overnight at a Boutique Riad in Skoura.

Skoura Departure to Ouarzazate to visit this region and the Ancient Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, Kasbah Telouet to Marrakech

Oasis Lounge Royal Air Maroc - Visit the Adobe Village of Ait Benhaddou. During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town and became the administrative center of the Zagora region. Ouarzazate gained fame when its nearby Kasbah, Ait Benhaddou, appeared in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. Ait Benhaddou Kasbah is 32 km from Ouarzazate, situated in a picturesque village in Souss Massa Draa on a hill along the Ouarazazate River. Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here, and Orson Welles used it as a location for Sodome and Gomorrah; for Jesus of Nazareth, the whole lower part of the village was rebuilt. After visiting Ait Benhaddou, take the road to Visit Kasbah Telouet, of the Pascha Glaoui.

Pass the olive groves of the Oued Zat as you ascend onto the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass Road. Built by the French in the 1920s, the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass can be described as having mountainous barriers, Mediterranean and oceanic influences, and desert borders. Lunch Recommendation: Dine on local Moroccan fare made with fresh argan oil from the local cooperative run by women.

Visit an argan cooperative where argan oil, butter, and cosmetics are made with the argan nut by hand as Berber women crack the nuts and grind them one by one. Enjoy a complimentary tasting. This cooperative is run entirely by women. Continue on to Marrakech.

Marrakech Guided Historical: Yves Saint Laurent Gardens, Mosques, Monuments, Souks, Gardens

Jardin Majorelle - Marrakech Guided Historical Tour of the Yves Saint Laurent Moroccan Gardens and Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens. Explore Historic Sites, Monuments, and the Grand Medina with its Lively Souks.

Visit the Majorelle Gardens. The Majorelle Gardens, previously the Jardin Bou Saf, are named after their original creator, Jacques Majorelle, a French expatriate artist born in Nancy, France, in 1886. Jacques Majorelle was the son of the celebrated Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. In 1947, the son opened his gardens to the public and, during this time, also painted a magnificent ceiling at La Mamounia, a five-star hotel with exquisite gardens and the place where Alfred Hitchcock wrote The Birds.

See the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens. The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. Experience the Jewish Mellah. Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter in Marrakech. Shop in the Old Spice Market.

Next, explore the El Bahia Palace in Marrakech, a beautiful building and an excellent example of Eastern Architecture from the 19th century, representing trends and standards of the wealthy who lived at that time. Explore the Saadian Tombs. The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date back to the time of Sultan Ammad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were only recently discovered (in 1917) and were restored by the Beaux-Arts service. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

Marrakech Cooking Class with a Dada Chef, Afternoon Gardens & Palaces

Jemaa el-Fnaa - Marrakech Morning Cooking Class in Marrakech with a Dada Chef. The Marrakech Cooking Class is conducted by a dada (traditional Moroccan cook) or a chef and held at a kitchen in the medina or in a palmeraie garden setting. Classes last 4 hours, with an option to add wine tasting accompaniment. Small groups of up to 10 participants work alongside a translator (Arabic/English/French), using easy-to-use modern equipment found in everyday kitchens. At the end of each class, participants dine on the meal they have prepared.

Afternoon at leisure or choose to visit the Mamounia Hotel and Gardens for tea and lunch or evening drinks. La Mamounia is where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the movie The Birds. It is situated on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech and is named for its 200-year-old gardens, which were given as an 18th-century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father.

Evening – Visit Djemaa El Fna Square for an evening of adventure at dusk. Beneath the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in the city center of Marrakech lies Djemaa el Fna, a famous UNESCO-recognized city square. During the daylight, Djemaa el Fna is every Moroccan traveler’s shopping paradise. As the sun sets, the real excitement starts. Enjoy a bowl of steamed snails in a local spice broth or, for the adventurous, sheep’s head. Enjoy the nightlife of Gnaoua trance-healers, Andalous musicians, and exotic snake charmers. Easily, this mysterious place can be compared to a land of Arabian fantasies. With its wild and colorful characters, Djemaa el Fna will bedazzle and astound you. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Marrakech.

Marrakech Departure to Essaouira, often referred to as Old Mogador

Essaouira Ramparts - Depart Marrakech for the Atlantic Coast of Essaouira. Take the road from Marrakech to seaside Essaouira. En route, visit the winery in Ounara. Embark on a local culinary experience lunch and a wine tasting or Le Fromagerie. Continue to Essaouira. Evening at Leisure.

Essaouira Guided Historical Tour of the Ramparts, Medina, Jewish Mellah, and Heritage Sites.

Essaouira Fishing Port - Essaouira is a seaside medieval town. Visit this charming artist colony that boasts lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries, and mouthwatering seafood. Once called Mogador by European sailors and traders, Essaouira is known for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival in June. Take a stroll along the town’s sunlit pedestrian main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan, and the Skala du Port, the fishing harbor, offering breathtaking views of the Portuguese ramparts. The medina of Essaouira is a UNESCO World Heritage listed city, as an example of a late-18th century fortified town.

Stop by the fish market. Visit the jewelry market and the cooperative of Thuya wood. Thuya is a wood indigenous to Essaouira, unique for its earthy, menthol, and woody smell. Visit Orson Welles Square. Explore and shop for local musician instruments. Option to visit Jewish Heritage Sites in Essaouira: the Synagogue and Mellah. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at a Boutique Riad or Hotel in Essaouira.

Essaouira Departure to Casablanca. Coastal Touring. En route visit El Jadida and the Lagoon of Oualidia

New Medina of Casablanca - Morning at Leisure in Essaouira. Coastal touring if departing from Casablanca. Visit Oualidia, El Jadida/Lagoon with oyster lunch and cistern en route to Casablanca. Overnight at a Boutique Hotel in Casablanca.

Casablanca Departure

Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport - Breakfast at your Hotel. Casablanca Departure.

• Private transportation
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast

• Personal fees

Immerse yourself in supreme comfort on our Grand 14-day trip through Morocco. Dive into the splendor of royal cities, embark on a captivating journey into the Sahara Desert, and discover the concealed gems of northern Morocco. Treat yourself to lavish lodging, traverse the spectacular Atlas Mountains, and marvel at the captivating blue city of Chefchaouen. From a camel expedition through the desert to roaming bustling markets and ancient city centers, this voyage offers an unforgettable mix of comfort, cultural engagement, and stunning scenery. We can craft a custom experience that will leave you with enduring recollections of an exceptional Moroccan escapade.

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