8 Nights - 8-Nights/9-Days Morocco - Imperial Cities Luxury Tour

Day 1

10 November 2022

Arrive Casablanca

Meals: D

Pick up time: according to your flight details

Welcome to Morocco! After clearing completing customs and immigration procedures you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Casablanca is Morocco's largest metropolis and its industrial hub. Discover the city's rich architectural heritage made from a blend of French-colonial design and traditional Moroccan style which is known as Moresque architecture. Developed back in the 1930s and heavily influenced by Art Deco, it embraced decorative details such as intricate tile work and ornate iron balconies. You will notice that some of the era's gems have been magnificently restored, whilst others lie in disrepair.

Accommodations: Le Casablanca
ROH Room - Twin/Double

Day 2

11 November 2022

Casablanca - Fes

Meals: B - L

Pick up time: 08:30

Today’s journey starts with a visit of Hassan II mosque, the landmark and the highlight of the city, this phenomenal building is one of the world’s largest mosques. It was built to commemorate the former king’s (Hassan II) 60th birthday and opened in 1993. Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over the Atlantic Ocean; taking literally the verse from the Quran that states: God's throne was built upon the water. Next, you visit the Jewish museum, created and managed by the Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage Foundation. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism was opened in 1997. It is considered the first museum of the city of Casablanca, and the only Jewish museum in the Arab region. Then, visit the Central Market, the District of Habbous, and a photo stop at the Nation’s Square. You will end up the tour with a walk at Aïn Diab Corniche (subject to good weather). After lunch, you depart overland to Fes. Founded in the 8th century, Fes is home to several famed historical monuments. It is one of the most complete medieval cities in the world, the sprawling medina that is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site will take you a step back in time to the middle Ages. Arrive to your hotel in the late afternoon, check-in and time at leisure.

Accommodations: Le Sahrai Fez
Deluxe Room - Twin/Double

Day 3

12 November 2022

Fes

Meals: B - L - D

Pick up time: 09:30

Today you will take a step back in time to the Middle Ages when you will visit Fes El Bali, the largest living medieval medina-city and the cultural heart of Morocco. You will explore some of the 9000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks that make-up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, originally founded in the 8th century AD by Moulay Idriss I. The medieval Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Enjoy a walking tour through the Medina will start from Bab Boujloud down to the former house of Maimounid to see the water clock. The route continues via Talaa El Kebira & down to the Nejjarine Square, with its beautiful fountain made up of mosaic and elaborate tile-work. The nearby Funduk (caravan serial) has been converted to a museum of carpentry artifacts. The promenade in the souks will be highlighted by specific Culinary Encounters and Gastronomic Wonders such as preserved lemon, Bissara - dried fava beans soup - or Lham Ras - a cooked sheep head. One of the many specialties Fes is renowned for is Khlea - a preserved beef - the strips of meat are marinated with cumin, coriander and garlic and then dried in the sun for days before being cooked in a mixture of animal fat. The meat, once cooled, will keep for a couple of years when packed in its own fat. Moroccans use it to make fried eggs and usually eat it for breakfast. The Imperial capital was a renowned centre of medieval learning and at its heart lies the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still-functioning universities in the world. You will be treated to visit this iconic structure.

From here you will head to Fez Jdid (the new Fez), an extension to Fez El Bali (the old medina). Fez Jdid was the first new town developed by the Merinids from the 13th century! The quarter also includes the Mellah, former Jewish quarter, with its cemetery and the Royal Palace which is not open to the public but whose impressive main gate can be admired on the Southern side (Place Des Alaouite).Afterwards, you will drive to “El Fekhara” (pottery workshop) to learn about the famous Moroccan pottery. For over 6 centuries Fez has been proud to produce the finest Moroccan pottery. The beauty of this pottery comes from complex knowledge passed from father to son. All pottery is hand crafted in the centuries’ old traditional way. Back to your hotel in the late afternoon, time at leisure.

Accommodations: Le Sahrai Fez
Deluxe Room - Twin/Double

Day 4

13 November 2022

Fes – Meknes & Volubilis – Rabat

Meals: B - L

Pick up time: 08:30

Today you will depart to Rabat, chosen to be the Capital of the Almohad Empire in the 12th century, the Royal city still fulfills that role today as the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco and seat of its government. On your way will stop at Volubilis which was originally inhabited by the Phoenicians, this was a key Roman outpost looking over the valleys and mountains. The evocative ruins include a Roman olive factory with storage facilities and foundations of the luxurious house of Orpheus showing sophisticated plumbing and heating systems as well as finely preserved mosaics. The Forum was the center of life in Volubilis with the arches of the Basilica and the columned Capitol still standing. Visit the stately landmark of the Triumphal Arch and the main street lined by the remains of houses and palaces. The mosaics at Volubilis are what make this site so spectacular, it was subscribed as a UNESCO patrimonial in 1997. Afterwards, you will visit Meknes; one of the Imperial Cities of Morocco where the monuments reflect the splendor of this 17th century. You will begin with a visit to the Bab Mansour gateway one of the best known and admired of Meknes' grand gates. The Gate leads from the Imperial City and Lalla Aouda esplanade to El-Hdim Square. The city was subscribed as a UNESCO patrimonial in 1996. You will also visit the granaries and stables of the great Moulay Ismail. The city walls of Meknes stretch for 25 kilometers interspersed with ceremonial fortress-style and utilitarian gates. The most spectacular gate is Bab Mansour named after the architect a Christian slave converted to Islam. Also, peer into his lavish mausoleum. Arrive to your hotel in the early evening, check-in and time at leisure.

Accommodations: Ls Tour Hasan Palace
Superior Room - Twin/Double

Day 5

14 November 2022

Rabat – Marrakech

Meals: B - L

Pick up time: 09:00

This morning, you will embark on a city tour which highlights the city’s cultural influences and the superbly-preserved relics of its Moorish past. The city boasts several historical sites flanked by large avenues and lush parks of oak trees. The most famous site is the 12th Century Hassan Tower, with its incomplete minaret of the great mosque built by Yacoub al-Mansour. Located alongside is the Mohamed V mausoleum. Visit the Mohamed VI museum of Modern & Contemporary art, the first museum in Morocco dedicated entirely to modern and contemporary arts. The Museum aims to cover the evolution of Moroccan artistic creation in the visual arts, from the beginning of the 20th century to our days. You will also pay a visit to the Ouddaya Kasbah which is built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Its gate is one of the most beautiful surviving in the Moorish world. After lunch, you will travel towards Marrakech; the ochre city that gave the country its name, this exotic and friendly gem of the south is a complete change of scenery. Known also as the Pearl of the South, Marrakech showcases all the magic and diversity that Morocco has to offer. It is also the Ochre City that gave the country its name, this exotic and friendly gem of the south is a complete change of scenery. Arrive to your hotel in the late afternoon, check-in and time at leisure.

Accommodations: Naoura Barrière
ROH Room - Twin/Double

Day 6

15 November 2022

Marrakech

Meals: B - L - D

Pick up time: 09:30

Today you are invited to Explore Marrakech - through a walking tour; renowned for its architectural wonders, historical monuments, the mystical medina and its thrilling souks. Start your tour with a stop at the garden of the Koutoubia mosque and admire its gorgeous minaret, an emblem of Marrakech. Koutoubia’s minaret went on to inspire the architects of the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat (the mosque cannot be visited). Built in the 12th century, the Koutoubia minaret is considered to be the most perfect Islamic religious structure in North Africa. This famous landmark dominates the local skyline and can easily be spotted from all over Marrakech. Then, visit Dar El Bacha Palace; formally the private residence of Thami El Glaoui (who ruled over Marrakech from 1912 to 1956), Dar El Bacha Palace has historically hosted magnificent celebrations and receptions in the presence of the Greats of this world, including Winston Churchill and Jacques Majorelle. After several years of heavy rehabilitation work, the palace was reopened by his Majesty King Mohamed VI in 2017. The colorful, geometric tiles, painted ceilings and carved cedarwood are an exhibition on their own, but the palace also boasts an area for the Art of Islam, an international collection of Patty Cadby Birch that represents the four continents as well as a private, temporary, exhibition space. Enjoy a fascinating walk in the beating heart of Marrakech “The Medina”, Far from the touristy areas, your guide will take you to the real Moroccan life amid the neighbourhoods, where “Marrakchis” still leave in simplicity. The Medina of Marrakech is one of the largest medina in Morocco and the most populated in North Africa. walk through the Labyrinth of Souks. This maze of colorful alleys and small squares is home to a bewildering number of stalls and ateliers. Every section of the souk has its own specialty, with alleys devoted to everything from spices and ironwork to the ingredients necessary for casting magic spells. Emerging, you find yourself in the famous Jamaa el Fna, the city’s main square. No one is really certain how it came into being, but over the years the square has become the beating heart of Marrakech, where fire eaters, mime artists, snake charmers and street musicians perform at every turn.

Back to your hotel and time at leisure.

Accommodations: Naoura Barrière
ROH Room - Twin/Double

Day 7

16 November 2022

Marrakech

Meals: B

Pick up time: 09:30

Upon arrival to Marrakech, you will visit the famous Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Gardens), originally designed in 1924 by French artist Jacques Majorelle. After taking up residence in Marrakech, Majorelle transformed the property’s existing garden into a tropical paradise, surrounded by vivid cobalt blue buildings with verdant exotic groves, lily-covered pools and enormous sculptural cactuses. After Majorelle’s death, the property was purchased by the famous Couture fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent who established a trust to protect the future existence of the gardens.

The peaceful garden settings offer a variety of exotic plants such as bamboo, cacti, bougainvillea and palms. Babbling streams and fish-filled pools also flow through the tranquil gardens. Then visit YSL museum, new in Marrakech, near to Majorelle Garden, it is a place where the most precious YSL works are gathered. 50 years after they discovered the colors of Marrakech, Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé fell in love with the colors of the city and where they spent the most beautiful years of their life. The Museum, a 43,000-square-foot building, was designed by the Paris-based firm Studio KO. Inspired by the contemporary and Moroccan architecture, blues and greens on one side of the entrance hall, reds and tangerines on the other. After being carefully selected by Pierre Bergé, the museum will gather thousands of articles of clothing and haute couture accessories, more than 5000 dresses and 15000 Haute couture accessories. The museum has a bookshop, research library, an auditorium and a cafe serving French-leaning fare with a terrace overlooking a reflection pool. Enjoy the remaining of your day at leisure.

Accommodations: Naoura Barrière
ROH Room - Twin/Double

Day 8

17 November 2022

Marrakech – Atlas Mountains - Marrakech

Meals: B - L - D

Pick up time: 09:00

Today, unearth another side of Morocco, the gorgeous Atlas Mountains, North Africa's greatest mountain range, and experience two different worlds: traditional Berber and modern luxury. Along the way, admire the stunning views of the snow-capped mountains and the little Berber villages nestled in the hills. Discover the villages of Asni and Imlil in the foothills of Djebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in the Atlas Mountain range. Upon your arrival in Imlil, meet your private mountains guide and exchange your car for a mule, the traditional method of transportation in this region, as you embark on a journey to discover the fascinating Berber culture. Berbers are the original inhabitants of North Africa and they are composed of several tribes scattered throughout the region. Known as very proud and hard-working people, they have their own dialect, customs and traditions. Arrive at a village located on a small hill, where you are met by a local family and welcomed in to their home. Visit their humble house and dive into Berber culture through a Berber breakfast, discover how houses in the region are built and how locals live, while sipping on your Moroccan Mint Tea. Afterwards, enjoy a walk along a narrow road marveling the fantastic view of the village and the mountains in front of you. After lunch, drive back to Marrakech and time at leisure.

Accommodations: Naoura Barrière
ROH Room - Twin/Double

Day 9

18 November, 2022

Marrakech - End of Trip

B

Pick up time: According to your flight detail.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Marrakech airport for your flight home. Our team will assist you during your check-in formalities.Clients should be at the airport 2hrs prior to take-off time.