Grand Tour of Morocco

Your dedicated driver and your guide will pick you up from the airport. You will find our driver carrying an Experience Morocco sign with your name on it. From Casablanca airport, you’ll head north towards Rabat for an hour and a half drive. You’ll stop for lunch (not included) and then check out the city’s key sights. You’ll stop at the Chellah Necropolis. Established originally as a Phoenician colony, the ruins feature remnants of Roman settlements from the 2nd century, and early Arab rebuilds as early as the 7th century. You’ll also head to the Yacoub al-Mansour Esplanade, which is home to two must-see monuments. First, the King’s Mausoleum, which was built in 1971 and which houses the remains of the late King Hassan II, Prince Abdallah, and their father King Mohamed V. In front of the Mausoleum, you will find the Hassan Tower, an incomplete red sandstone minaret which began construction in 1195AD. You’ll also see the Kasbah des Ouadayas, an Almohad fortress built in 1150AD. From the Kasbah des Oudayas, you can take a stroll through the winding blue streets, and enjoy a mint tea at the Cafe Maure overlooking the Bou Regreg River. In the evening, you’ll have dinner (not included) and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

After an early breakfast, drive four hours from Rabat to Chefchaouen. Have lunch (not included) and then meet your guide for a tour of the stunning blue city. Known for its signature powder-blue walls and its calming charms, the village was founded in 1471 AD. You will be spending a day in discovery of the strikingly photogenic village! Your guide will lead you to his favorite haunts as well as the signature locations of Chefchaouen, starting with the Kasbah in the center of town offering breathtaking panoramic views from the top of the tower. You can also meander up the town’s waterfall, where locals meet to chat and do laundry, where you can relax with your toes in the water at one of the river bank’s small coffee shops! Spend your evening at your leisure either relaxing in your riad or taking one last peek at the lovely blue streets, dinner (not included).

After breakfast, you’ll depart for 4 hour drive to Fes with stops in Meknes and the Volubilis ruins. Your driver will take you to the splendid roman ruins of Volubilis. Imagine Morocco in the 1st Century: an epoch of tumultuous transformation, where people from all over the Mediterranean and Northern Africa were migrating to the fertile Middle Atlas Mountains. Volubilis, located about 30 kilometers from Fes, is an ancient Berber and Roman city considered by many as not only the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania but also the administrative center of Roman Africa. You’ll wander among the dramatic ruins up-close-and-personal through the homes, temples and public buildings of the Greek, Syrian, and Jewish city dwellers. Exceptionally well preserved, the ruins offer beautiful and colorful mosaics adorning many of the floor spaces, and you can just picture what it was like to wander the cypress-lined city in its Golden Age! You’ll enjoy lunch (not included) and then head out for a tour of the stunning imperial gates that dot the neighboring city of Meknes. After seeing the imperial entry to Meknes, you’ll continue to Fes, you will arrive by the late afternoon and check into your riad and have the rest of the day at leisure to relax and enjoy dinner (not included).

After breakfast, you’ll depart for a jam-packed day of touring Fes with your guide! Founded in 781AD, Fes is now considered the world’s largest car-free urban zone. Beware of mule-drawn carriages that speed through the alleyways, and check out a local pharmacy with its mysterious canisters of roots, flowers and powders. Your tour will include stops at the medersas, and the legendary tanneries, where ancient techniques are still used to prepare Moroccan leather which is then used in a variety of goods from clothing to bags and other handicrafts. In addition, you’ll also stop by the world’s oldest and longest operating learning institution, the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859AD. You’ll stop for lunch (not included) and then continue your exploration of the souks and the medina in the afternoon. After a productive day of touring Fes, you’ll return to your riad and enjoy dinner (not included) and your evening at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast and then head out for a pottery workshop with a local artisan. You learn and even try your own hand at crafting in the time honored methods and traditions of local craftsmen in Fes. Lunch is at your leisure and not included on this day, but later in the afternoon, you’ll enjoy the Tasting Tour of Fes in which you’ll visit three different food souks, allowing the chance 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, you’ll be able to taste an array of delicious wild honeys, discuss their flavors and health-giving properties and find out why honey is so important

Your day begins as you embark an early morning scenic drive that will lead you to the golden dunes of the Sahara! With several panoramic vistas as well as a lunch break (not included) en route, your drive will take a total of roughly eight hours hours and will lead you to the very end of the paved roads where you’ll hop out of the car and onto the camels that will take you on a beautiful path through the tall sand dunes arriving into your luxury camp. Mint tea will be served as you arrive, after which you’ll have some time to enjoy the camp and contemplate the peaceful quiet of the Sahara. Dinner (included) will be served at your convenience, followed by a campfire and some live music by the camp’s staff who will perform tribal music for you. You can then enjoy the starlit sky before going to sleep in the comfort of your well-appointed tent.

After enjoying a breathtaking sunrise over the Saharan sand dunes, you’ll set out for Dades Gorges. During your four hour drive from the Sahara to the gorges, you’ll stop along at the Todgha Gorges to take in the exceptional environment before having lunch en route (not included). You will then continue your drive and take in the scenic beauty of the area. You will then arrive at your property and have free time to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and dinner at your convenience (not included).

Fresh from a good night’s sleep, you’ll depart in the morning for a six hour drive to head to the vibrant city of Marrakech. You’ll first stop at the ancient fortress of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddo-- A UNESCO world heritage site located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. The fort of Ait-Ben-Haddou is a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. The fort is a mainly collective grouping of dwellings, with imposing defensive walls that are reinforced by angle towers and pierced with a baffle gate. It is an extraordinary ensemble of buildings offering a complete panorama of pre-Saharan earthen construction techniques. After lunch near the Kasbah (not included), you’ll continue towards Marrakech on one of the most scenic drives you’re likely to take in your life, venturing through the Tizi N Tichka peaks and back down into the dry flat plains of Marrakech. You should expect to arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon, you will then check-in at your hotel and have some time to relax and have dinner at your leisure (not included).

We won’t judge you for wanting to linger at your breakfast table, but we hope you’ll be ready to go to tackle your jam-packed day of sightseeing in Marrakech! Your day will break up into a morning and afternoon block, with a stop for lunch in between (which is not included). In the morning, you’ll see the Koutoubia Mosque (the iconic sight of Marrakech), the Bahia Palace (a stunning example of traditional Moroccan architecture), and the Saadian tombs. Afterwards, you will head for lunch at Terrasse des Epices (included), followed by afternoon visits of the medina and the souks. As you walk through the medina, you will also see medersas or religious schools, and delve into the myriad pathways of the Souk. The term Souk refers to the markets, and the markets of Marrakech are located in a serpentine set of alleyways with twists and turns that can confuse even frequent travelers to the city! Your expert guide can give you an overview of how the souk is laid out and where the different sections are located, each focused on a different set of goods (Clothes, spices, lamps, shoes, traditional crafts, etc). As day turns to night, you’ll head to Djemaa El Fna square for a spectacle unlike any other - with snake charmers, musical performances, and henna artists combining for a circus of activity. The final activity of the day will be dinner at your leisure (not included), where you will relax and unwind after an exciting day of taking in the vibrancy of Marrakech!

After breakfast, head out for an hour and a half drive to our hiking spot and meet your local Atlas guide who will be your guide in your exploration of Berber culture. He’ll lead you through a myriad of hiking paths that lead to small Berber villages you can explore. Take a short break from your hike to drink some tea with a local Berber family. You’ll join them in their home with your guide to help translate and learn about the traditions and customs of the region first hand. You’ll then enjoy a lunch (included) at a Berber restaurant with a panoramic view and take some leisure time to discover the area before hiking your way back down. You’ll then drive an hour and a half to return to Marrakech and enjoy a traditional ritual of Moroccan Wellness in the Royal Hammam Treatment. Hammam means “spreader of warmth”, and walking into a Hammam is like walking through time in a spacious and ornate sanctuary, a quiet retreat in an atmosphere of half-light, silence, seclusion and

After you start your day with breakfast, you will head to the stunning Majorelle Gardens. Global fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent made his second home in Marrakech for many decades, and his vision drove every detail behind the lush Gardens, accompanied by a small but must-see Berber Museum! After your visit to the Majorelle Gardens, you can head next door to the Yves Saint- Laurent Museum, which honors the fashion icon’s love of Marrakech and builds upon the collections housed at the Majorelle gardens. The building itself if a work of art and houses a permanent collection of some of YSL’s best known designs along with rotating installations dedicated to themes about which he cared. You’ll take in the beauty of the gardens and museums before enjoying your lunch (not included). You will then take part in a traditional Moroccan tagine cooking class. At 3PM, you will head to La Maison Arabe to enjoy an immersive and fun cooking experience!! Accompanied by a local “dada”, or expert cook, you will dig into all of the key components of a Moroccan meal, starting with how to prepare the famous Moroccan mint tea. Next, you’ll sample some tasty local bread and here all about how we cook traditional Moroccan bread. From there, the hands-on portion of the course begins as you will prepare two different staples of Moroccan starters, a tomato and cucumber salad and a second salad using eggplant (please note: the exact salads may change depending on the day’s ingredients). After that, you’ll finally learn to prepare your main course, the famous Moroccan Tagine of chicken with preserved lemons. While your tagine is cooking over the fire, you’ll also prepare Moroccan cookies with almond paste. The class ends with a dinner where you eat your very own masterpiece! You’ll then enjoy your evening at leisure.

After breakfast, you’ll drive three hours to the charming coastal town of Essaouira. Along the route is a great local vineyard, where you’ll stop to enjoy lunch at a local vineyard. Then continue to visit an Argan Oil Cooperative and learn about how this nut is turned into a luxury beauty project and how its production is a tool for women’s empowerment. Finally, you’ll arrive at your property Essaouira and have the rest of the evening at leisure. Dinner this evening is on your own (not included).

After breakfast,, join your guide to explore Essaouira. You’ll see the city’s old ramparts, the medina, the artisan cooperatives, and the Jewish heritage sites. With its brilliant blue and white architecture, windswept beach and easy-going charm, Essaouira is a lovely change from the hectic pace of Marrakech. On your guided visit, you'll learn all about the city's history and the influence left over the centuries by the Carthaginians, Romans and Portuguese. Behind the 18th century sea walls are thuya wood workshops, artists’ enclaves and silent alleyways where cats sun themselves and veiled women emerge from studded doorways. The harbour is a photographer’s dream, with fishing nets laid out on the quayside, boats unloading their catches and the smell of freshly-grilled sardines and lobster in the air. You’ll enjoy lunch at leisure (not included) and the rest of the afternoon and evening free to explore and relax. Dinner is not included tonight.

After breakfast, you’ll head out on a five and a half hour drive to the bustling metropolis of Casablanca. You’ll stop for lunch (not included) before setting off for a guided tour of the stunning Hassan II Mosque. The great Hassan II Mosque was commissioned by its namesake, King Hassan II, in part to provide Casablanca with an impressive landmark monument. On his birthday, July 9th, the Mosque was completed in 1993 after great expense and artistic labor. The result is one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world. Its gleaming newness and tremendous wealth is a stark contrast against the otherwise commercial aesthetic of Casablanca. The most distinctive characteristic of the Hassan II Mosque is its spectacular location on a platform over the Atlantic Ocean. Uniquely, part of the Mosque's floor is made of glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea. After your visit of the mosque, you will continue your visit of the city with exploring the Habbous (Islamic Quarters) and the medina, where the guide will lead you through this traditional neighbourhood in the now bustling metropolis of Casablanca. Dinner is at leisure (not included) as you savor your last night in Morocco!

After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive approximately 1 hour to Casablanca Airport for your departure flight.