Imperial Cities & the Moroccan Coast
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Highlights:
This program provides a contrast between Imperial cities and a laid back contemporary resort. You will visit all the key cities and explore Roman ruins.
Spend the night in luxury at a desert camp and then make your way to the coast which served as the location for Orson Welles’ “Othello” and segments of Game of Thrones. Not to mention being one of Jimi Hendricks’ favorite hangouts.
This program provides a contrast between Imperial cities and a laid back contemporary resort. You will visit all the key cities and explore Roman ruins.
Spend the night in luxury at a desert camp and then make your way to the coast which served as the location for Orson Welles’ “Othello” and segments of Game of Thrones. Not to mention being one of Jimi Hendricks’ favorite hangouts.
SKU:
Explore: IMPERIAL CITIES & THE MOROCCAN COAST
Customizable Itinerary - 12 Days (from $3,964 / person)
Day 1: Depart USA
This evening you will head to the airport for the overnight flight to Casablanca, city of mythical intrigue.
Day 2: Welcome to Morocco
You arrive in Casablanca and you are met by one of our guides who will escort you to the car that will take you to your hotel. On the way you will see some of the sights of Casablanca keeping in mind that this is a commercial city not really for tourists. One exception is the Hassan II Mosque one of two mosques open to non-Muslims. Built by the late King Hassan II and the end of his 40 year reign the building is larger than Saint Peter’s in Rome and is capable of handling 80,000 worshippers. The rest of the day is at leisure before dinner at the hotel.
Dinner
Day 3: Volubilis and Meknes
Today you will be traveling to Fes making a couple of interesting stops along the way. Your first stop will be the ancient roman ruins of Volubilis. Excavated by the French in 1915, the extensive ruins, which date to the 3rd Century AD are spread out over a hillside and make an impressive display. You will stop for lunch and then proceed to the Imperial City of Meknes known as the Moroccan “Versailles”. It was founded in the 17th Century by King Moulay Ismail. The city is known for its walls stretching for 25 miles around the town. After a tour you proceed to your destination the city of Fes.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: The Cultural and Spiritual Centre of Fes
Fes el Bali was founded in the 9th Century and is home to the oldest university in the world. Fes reached its height in the 13th and 14th Centuries under the Merinid, when it replaced Marrakesh as the capitol of the kingdom. The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina date from this period. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fez has retained its status as the country’s cultural and spiritual centre. On your tour of the Medina you will visit artisan workshops as active today as they were 100 years ago. Trades such as metal and leather working, ceramics, silk, tapestries and sculpting are still practiced in these workshops. Finish the day with dinner at a local restaurant in the Medina.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Fes, Rabat and Marrakesh
In the morning you will leave Fes and stop in the capital of rabat where you will visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V which commemorates the sultan who enabled Morocco to obtain its independence. You will also see the Hassan Tower and the Koutoubia Minaret and the Kasbah Oudaya and its gardens. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue your journey to Marrakesh and your elegant Riad in the heart of the Medina.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Marrakesh Old and New
Today your guide will take you on a full day exploration of Marrakesh. The city was founded almost 1,000 years ago and is the most famous city in Morocco. The city is split in two with the Medina being the old part of the city and Gueliz, built by the French as the more contemporary part of the city. You will start with a visit to the Medina and the souks with a wide variety of merchandise some authentic, some not. Your guide will advise. You then move out of the medina and visit Jemaa el-Fna the main square in Marrakesh. Enjoy a Tagine lunch and then move to the modern part of town with wide boulevards and parks. Visit Jardin Majorelle which was restored by Yves Saint-Laurent who had a vacation home next to the gardens. In the evening you may want to return to Jemaa el-Fna which transforms to a venue for alfresco dining and entertainment including Berber acrobats, storytellers, acrobats and dancers.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: Glamping in Agafay
In the morning you will be picked up by a 4WD vehicle and taken to the desert of Agafay. Unlike other locations the dunes ae 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 s 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 the tent or under the desert night sky.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: From the Desert to the 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 9: 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 10: From the Mountains to the Sea
In the morning you return to Imlil where your guide will be waiting to take you to the fishing port of Essaouira. It was originally started by the Portuguese who called it Mogador before becoming French then part of Morocco. The Port fortifications were built in the 17th Century and were recently featured in the series “Game of Thrones’. More recently the town was the location for Orson Welles’ movie of “Othello”. It was also the place where Jimi Hendrix wrote “Castles made of Sand”. Check into your hotel facing the ocean and enjoy views from the rooftop. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: A Day in Essaouira
Today you are free to explore the town. The fishing port creates a backdrop to the white painted buildings of the Medina. The souk is small by comparison to Marrakesh and easy to navigate. Essaouira is a haven for artists and handmade works of art are abundant. Being a fishing port, fresh fish readily available and lunch on the port is a must as the day’s catch is cooked in front of you. The wide sweeping beach offers windsurfing, kite-surfing, camel and horse riding and quad bike excursions.
Breakfast
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning your driver will take you to Casablanca for the flight to the USA.
Breakfast
This evening you will head to the airport for the overnight flight to Casablanca, city of mythical intrigue.
Day 2: Welcome to Morocco
You arrive in Casablanca and you are met by one of our guides who will escort you to the car that will take you to your hotel. On the way you will see some of the sights of Casablanca keeping in mind that this is a commercial city not really for tourists. One exception is the Hassan II Mosque one of two mosques open to non-Muslims. Built by the late King Hassan II and the end of his 40 year reign the building is larger than Saint Peter’s in Rome and is capable of handling 80,000 worshippers. The rest of the day is at leisure before dinner at the hotel.
Dinner
Day 3: Volubilis and Meknes
Today you will be traveling to Fes making a couple of interesting stops along the way. Your first stop will be the ancient roman ruins of Volubilis. Excavated by the French in 1915, the extensive ruins, which date to the 3rd Century AD are spread out over a hillside and make an impressive display. You will stop for lunch and then proceed to the Imperial City of Meknes known as the Moroccan “Versailles”. It was founded in the 17th Century by King Moulay Ismail. The city is known for its walls stretching for 25 miles around the town. After a tour you proceed to your destination the city of Fes.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: The Cultural and Spiritual Centre of Fes
Fes el Bali was founded in the 9th Century and is home to the oldest university in the world. Fes reached its height in the 13th and 14th Centuries under the Merinid, when it replaced Marrakesh as the capitol of the kingdom. The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina date from this period. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fez has retained its status as the country’s cultural and spiritual centre. On your tour of the Medina you will visit artisan workshops as active today as they were 100 years ago. Trades such as metal and leather working, ceramics, silk, tapestries and sculpting are still practiced in these workshops. Finish the day with dinner at a local restaurant in the Medina.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Fes, Rabat and Marrakesh
In the morning you will leave Fes and stop in the capital of rabat where you will visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V which commemorates the sultan who enabled Morocco to obtain its independence. You will also see the Hassan Tower and the Koutoubia Minaret and the Kasbah Oudaya and its gardens. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue your journey to Marrakesh and your elegant Riad in the heart of the Medina.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Marrakesh Old and New
Today your guide will take you on a full day exploration of Marrakesh. The city was founded almost 1,000 years ago and is the most famous city in Morocco. The city is split in two with the Medina being the old part of the city and Gueliz, built by the French as the more contemporary part of the city. You will start with a visit to the Medina and the souks with a wide variety of merchandise some authentic, some not. Your guide will advise. You then move out of the medina and visit Jemaa el-Fna the main square in Marrakesh. Enjoy a Tagine lunch and then move to the modern part of town with wide boulevards and parks. Visit Jardin Majorelle which was restored by Yves Saint-Laurent who had a vacation home next to the gardens. In the evening you may want to return to Jemaa el-Fna which transforms to a venue for alfresco dining and entertainment including Berber acrobats, storytellers, acrobats and dancers.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 7: Glamping in Agafay
In the morning you will be picked up by a 4WD vehicle and taken to the desert of Agafay. Unlike other locations the dunes ae 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 s 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 the tent or under the desert night sky.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: From the Desert to the 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 9: 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 10: From the Mountains to the Sea
In the morning you return to Imlil where your guide will be waiting to take you to the fishing port of Essaouira. It was originally started by the Portuguese who called it Mogador before becoming French then part of Morocco. The Port fortifications were built in the 17th Century and were recently featured in the series “Game of Thrones’. More recently the town was the location for Orson Welles’ movie of “Othello”. It was also the place where Jimi Hendrix wrote “Castles made of Sand”. Check into your hotel facing the ocean and enjoy views from the rooftop. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: A Day in Essaouira
Today you are free to explore the town. The fishing port creates a backdrop to the white painted buildings of the Medina. The souk is small by comparison to Marrakesh and easy to navigate. Essaouira is a haven for artists and handmade works of art are abundant. Being a fishing port, fresh fish readily available and lunch on the port is a must as the day’s catch is cooked in front of you. The wide sweeping beach offers windsurfing, kite-surfing, camel and horse riding and quad bike excursions.
Breakfast
Day 12: Return to USA
In the morning your driver will take you to Casablanca for the flight to the USA.
Breakfast
