Essence of Morocco
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Highlights:
If you are looking for a tapestry of Moroccan Culture within a limited timeframe, consider a combination of the Euro-Arab sophistication of Marrakesh, the quiet beauty of the desert and the friendly people who inhabit the Atlas Mountains.
Of course, Casablanca is included if only to say you’ve been, but the best news is that you can do it in an extended week.
If you are looking for a tapestry of Moroccan Culture within a limited timeframe, consider a combination of the Euro-Arab sophistication of Marrakesh, the quiet beauty of the desert and the friendly people who inhabit the Atlas Mountains.
Of course, Casablanca is included if only to say you’ve been, but the best news is that you can do it in an extended week.
SKU:
Explore: Morocco
Customizable Itinerary - 9 Days (from $3,462 / person)
Day 1: Depart USA
Tonight you leave for the airport to catch a flight to Casablanca and the beginning of your Moroccan immersion.
Day 2: Welcome to Casablanca
You arrive in Casablanca and you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you to the coast and your elegant hotel on the beach. Enjoy the beach and the coastal views as you adjust to your overnight flight. Fresh seafood for dinner is one option before turning in for the night.
Dinner
Day 3: Marrakesh, Madrasa and Jardin Majorelle
After a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast you will ready to meet your guide for the drive to Marrakesh. Upon arrival you will be taken to your charming Riad which is located just inside the walls of the medina. After settling in you meet your guide who will begin to introduce you to the highlights of Marrakesh. You will visit Madrasa Ben Youssef which was established in the 14th Century and is noted for the geographic patterns of its decorations which have attracted the attention not only of artists but also mathematicians as they exhaust the catalogue of all possible geometric figures. In a more contemporary mode you take a horse carriage ride which includes a visit to the Majorelle Gardens named for the French ex-pat painter Jacques Majorelle. He built a house and added acres to create a great garden but ill-health made him sell in 1961. In 1980 Yves Saint-Laurent bought the house which was called Villa Oasis and invested in bringing the garden back to perfection.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: The Legacy of Marrakesh
Today you will meet your guide for an in-depth exploration of this fascinating city. Marrakesh was founded in 1062 by one of the chieftains of the Almoravid King Youssuf Ibn Tashfin. The Almoravid were desert warriors very much attached to their Islamic religion. They used Andalusian craftsmen to give the city its unique architecture. They also erected the city walls and created a complex system of underground irrigation canals to bring water from the High Atlas. At its height, Marrakesh was the capital of the Almoravid Empire which stretched as far as Senegal, most parts of Spain and Algiers. Your guide will show you buildings relating to this period.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Driving to the Desert
In the morning you will be picked up by a 4WD vehicle and taken to the desert of Agafay. Unlike other locations the dunes are more solid, giving the area a lunar landscape feel. Upon arrival you have lunch and take some free time to swim in the large pool. In the afternoon take a drive over dunes and then mount a camel for a sunset caravan followed by a gourmet dinner with wine. Your individual tents are both luxurious and spacious with private toilet and showers. You have the option of sleeping in the tent or under the desert night sky.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: From the Desert to a Kasbah in the Atlas Mountains
Rise early to enjoy breakfast as the sun rises over the desert. You will then be transferred back to your hotel to pick up the rest of your luggage and then drive to the Village of Imlil in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Your luggage will be loaded on mules and you will take a walk to your elegant Kasbah with spectacular views over the mountains and the valley. After settling in you can take in the view from the top of the Kasbah. Enjoy an authentic dinner before turning in.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Hiking the Berber Villages
Today your guide will take you hiking through the beautiful Atlas Mountains where you have the chance to meet the hospitable Berber people. In addition to your guide, a “muleteer” will accompany you with the mule carrying the ingredients that will be used to prepare a tasty picnic lunch for you along the way. After visiting several villages return to the Kasbah.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Winding Down
As your visit to Morocco winds down you have the choice in the morning of staying at the Kasbah and soaking in the mountain views or taking one more hike into the foothills. After lunch you and your luggage are transferred to Imlil where your driver will be waiting to take you back to Marrakesh where you have the chance to dine in that charming restaurant that you have had your eye on for an intimate farewell dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Return to USA
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for the return to the USA.
Breakfast
Tonight you leave for the airport to catch a flight to Casablanca and the beginning of your Moroccan immersion.
Day 2: Welcome to Casablanca
You arrive in Casablanca and you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you to the coast and your elegant hotel on the beach. Enjoy the beach and the coastal views as you adjust to your overnight flight. Fresh seafood for dinner is one option before turning in for the night.
Dinner
Day 3: Marrakesh, Madrasa and Jardin Majorelle
After a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast you will ready to meet your guide for the drive to Marrakesh. Upon arrival you will be taken to your charming Riad which is located just inside the walls of the medina. After settling in you meet your guide who will begin to introduce you to the highlights of Marrakesh. You will visit Madrasa Ben Youssef which was established in the 14th Century and is noted for the geographic patterns of its decorations which have attracted the attention not only of artists but also mathematicians as they exhaust the catalogue of all possible geometric figures. In a more contemporary mode you take a horse carriage ride which includes a visit to the Majorelle Gardens named for the French ex-pat painter Jacques Majorelle. He built a house and added acres to create a great garden but ill-health made him sell in 1961. In 1980 Yves Saint-Laurent bought the house which was called Villa Oasis and invested in bringing the garden back to perfection.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: The Legacy of Marrakesh
Today you will meet your guide for an in-depth exploration of this fascinating city. Marrakesh was founded in 1062 by one of the chieftains of the Almoravid King Youssuf Ibn Tashfin. The Almoravid were desert warriors very much attached to their Islamic religion. They used Andalusian craftsmen to give the city its unique architecture. They also erected the city walls and created a complex system of underground irrigation canals to bring water from the High Atlas. At its height, Marrakesh was the capital of the Almoravid Empire which stretched as far as Senegal, most parts of Spain and Algiers. Your guide will show you buildings relating to this period.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Driving to the Desert
In the morning you will be picked up by a 4WD vehicle and taken to the desert of Agafay. Unlike other locations the dunes are more solid, giving the area a lunar landscape feel. Upon arrival you have lunch and take some free time to swim in the large pool. In the afternoon take a drive over dunes and then mount a camel for a sunset caravan followed by a gourmet dinner with wine. Your individual tents are both luxurious and spacious with private toilet and showers. You have the option of sleeping in the tent or under the desert night sky.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: From the Desert to a Kasbah in the Atlas Mountains
Rise early to enjoy breakfast as the sun rises over the desert. You will then be transferred back to your hotel to pick up the rest of your luggage and then drive to the Village of Imlil in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Your luggage will be loaded on mules and you will take a walk to your elegant Kasbah with spectacular views over the mountains and the valley. After settling in you can take in the view from the top of the Kasbah. Enjoy an authentic dinner before turning in.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Hiking the Berber Villages
Today your guide will take you hiking through the beautiful Atlas Mountains where you have the chance to meet the hospitable Berber people. In addition to your guide, a “muleteer” will accompany you with the mule carrying the ingredients that will be used to prepare a tasty picnic lunch for you along the way. After visiting several villages return to the Kasbah.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Winding Down
As your visit to Morocco winds down you have the choice in the morning of staying at the Kasbah and soaking in the mountain views or taking one more hike into the foothills. After lunch you and your luggage are transferred to Imlil where your driver will be waiting to take you back to Marrakesh where you have the chance to dine in that charming restaurant that you have had your eye on for an intimate farewell dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: Return to USA
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for the return to the USA.
Breakfast
