IMPERIAL CITIES TOUR / 5 DAYS
Day 1: Casablanca / RabatArrive at Casablanca Mohamed V Airport.
After welcoming formalities, enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of fabled Casablanca, Africa’s second largest city, where an elegant blend of Art Deco and Neo-Moorish buildings line spacious avenues. Visit the mosque hassan II , the second largest mosque in the world and a pearl of the moroccan architecture. Later have a nice drive along the beach Ain Diab. Next it’s on to Rabat, Morocco’s capital, where the bustling Medina (old city) still resembles the town created ages ago, and home to the minaret of the Hassan Tower. Sightseeing will also include the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the striking and evocative Oudayas Kasbah, and the ramparts of the Mechouar surrounding the Royal Palace.
Lunch in rabat. Continue the drive to Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco.
Fez medina is believed to be the biggest car-free urban area in the world with 9400 streets and alleyways UNESCO listed Fes el Bali as a world heritage site in 1981 under the name Medina of Fez.It is home to the oldest university in the world, mosques, medrasas, (theological colleges), tanneries and souks and an enormous contrast of sights, sounds,colors and smells. Fez also is the spiritual, religious and cultural capital of Morocco, capital of handicraft and cooking.
Day 3: Meknes / Volubilis / Moulay Idriss.After breakfast, we drive to Volubilis, which is one of the most well preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. It is said that Moulay Ismail, king of Morocco in the 17th century, brought the stones from here to build his palace in Meknes city. Still, you can see the pillars of temples and beautiful mosaic on the floor. This place is also the UNESCO World Heritage site. Only 4 km drive from Volubilis , Moulay Idriss city is on the top of two hills and takes the shape of a camel. Moulay Idriss is the Moroccan first Islamic city, where exists the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss 1.
We continue the tour to Meknes,where you will have your lunch in a local restaurant. The city was once a capital of the kingdom of Morocco under the rule of powerful sultan and leader Moulay Ismail. First, you will see the famous gate Bab lakhmis, Hri souani and the stables and granaries of the sultan Moulay Ismail, whose mausoleum and mosque are open to non muslims. In the courtyard, there is a famous sun clock and through the quiet atmosphere, you’ll understand that you entered a very sacred place.
Enjoy the beauty of the Islamic architecture. After, is the square El Hdim, where you can see monkey and snake charmers and there stands the giant monumental gate Bab Mansour. The ruler Moulay Ismail built this fascinating gate which is amazingly decorated with the zellij and mosaics , one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can have a nice walk in the souks if you wish.
We drive back to Fez. Overnight there.
Early morning pick up from your hotel to Marrakech via Ifrane, Azrou, and Beni Mellal.
On the road to Marrakech, you will stop in Ifrane,the Moroccan switzerland, where the University Al akhawayn is located in the midst of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Next stop will be Azrou to have a look at the Barbary apes that run through the cedar forest. Continue on the road through Khenifra, passing Beni Mellal, a small town located at the foot of the Middle Atlas Mountains and surrounded by orange and olive groves .
The nearby Bin el Ouidane Dam is used to irrigate the groves and other cultivated crops like beetroot and sugar cane. on the edge of the Great Tadla Plain where cereals are cultivated. The town has also an interesting Kasbah Belkouche, which was inhabited by the Berber Jews before the arrival of Islam. In the 13th century, Beni Mellal stood on the border between the kingdoms of Fes and Marrakech, which were the objects of dispute between the Merinid and Almohad dynasties. Continue the road trip and arrive in Marrakech in the evening.
In the morning, we will pick you from your hotel for a Marrakech sightseeing tour.
Jemaa El Fna square: It is a UNESCO site and one of the famous squares in the world. you will see many story tellers, snake charmers, musicians and water sellers mostly in the morning. In the afternoon, the square gets full with food stalls with different kind of Moroccan food. Around the sunset, it is amazing to go for a drink in one of the Cafe terraces overlooking the Jemaa Fna square that gets illuminated by the lamplights and panels with the number or names of stall owners.
Next, a nice walk in the souks and Medina alleyways to explore how talented Marrakechi handcrafters are. See how hard and proud they work to make objects as they their ancestors have, from metal such as lamps, from wool skin such as leather bags...Etc
Later, you will explore with your guide the main Marrakech Landmarks: Bahia and Badi palaces , Majorelle & Menara gardens, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia mosque,Marrakech Museum...Etc.
FEZ - SAHARA
Early Pick up from your hotel in Fes and drive to the south of Morocco and enjoy the best scenery of the country. You will have a stop in Ifrane, known as Moroccan switzerland to enjoy ...
MEKNES - CHEFCHAOUEN
First, you will visit Fes El Jadid, the Jewish quarter, the synagogue or cemetery and the famous gates of the royal palace. Then, we continue to the Borj Nord for a panoramic view ...
FEZ - DESERT
In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel or Riad and start the tour of the medina ramparts. First, you will visit Fes El Jadid, the Jewish quarter and ...