Tour itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Casablanca.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Idou Anfa.
Day 2: Casablanca
Drive along the seaside road to admire the magnificent architecture and Moroccan handicrafts of the monumental Hassan II Mosque, the second largest mosque in the world, and the only one in Morocco that non-Muslims are permitted to enter. Visit the Musée du Judaisme Marocain (Jewish Museum). There will be a tour of the museum, a one hour presentation on the Jewish history of Morocco and time for social interaction with local Moroccan Jews. Afterwards we drive into the city center for a panoramic tour. Lunch and afternoon drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Rabat
Morning visit the Center for Cross-Cultural Learning. Next we take a stroll around the Oudayas (Oudaias) Kasbah, overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg River and the Atlantic Ocean. Inside are winding narrow streets of faded colors and rich textures. Most of the houses here were built by Muslim refugees from Spain. There are great views over the estuary and across to Salé from the viewing platform.
Day 4: Rabat
Full day to explore the city. Visit to the mausoleum of the late King Mohammed V, a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, then Hassan II and the Hassan Tower. A visit to Salé -the sister city across the river which used to be a stronghold for sea pirates and is now famous for the pottery center in the village Oulja. The pottery center is very modern and commercialized. In the afternoon, visit the Necropolis of Chellah, built by the Merenids in the 13th century. The site is surrounded by walls and exudes a a serene beauty. Paths lead through the ruins of a triple arched entry and past the ruins of Jupiter Temple.
Day 5: Fes
Morning drive to Fes the spiritual capital of Morocco. We visit Nouvelle Ville, the Modern City, along with the more recent part of the Medina and the old Jewish section.
Day 6: Fes
The whole day will be devoted to an in-depth visit of Fes, which dates back to the 9th century. We visit the Old Medina, Fes el Bali, and its small winding and paved alleys. We see the old Koranic Bou Inania Madrassa, the Quaraouyine Mosque (from the outside only), the Shrine of Moulay Idriss II, founder of the city, Nejjarine (wood products) and Seffarine (copper products) squares and the huge doors of the Royal Palace
Day 7: Fes
Meet the Berbers-the indigenous people. The Berbers were once described as colorful people who like spangles and bright colors and the women had different tribal tattoo markings on their faces. Sometimes the elderly women still have the tattoos. We will first drive to the small village of Bhalil. The village was founded in the 14th century by two or three Berber families who decided to settle in the caves permanently. We will meet one family and be invited to tea inside their cave. Next we’ll visit the picturesque ancient Jewish city Sefrou on the return. Sefrou once contained Morocco’s largest Jewish community. This city predates Fez by a thousand years. We will then visit the shrine of Sidi Lahcen Al Yussi, a well venerated Sufi master considered to be the custodian of this ancient outpost.
Day 8: Fes – Midelt - Erfoud
Start early with a full day drive across the cedar forests and picturesque scenery of the Middle Atlas Mountains to Erfoud. Stop at Midelt for lunch then drive through the Ziz Gorge and Er Rachidia to reach Erfoud. Situated amongst the impressive sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, it is one of the largest oases in Morocco. In Erfoud, we have dinner and stay overnight at Kasbah Xaluca.
Day 9: Merzouga – Tineghir - Boulmane
We depart for Tineghir through the beautiful Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. Tineghir, a former military outpost built on terraces above a magnificent palm grove, is the gateway to the awesome Todra Gorge. A little further on, we pass a holy spring believed to cure sterility in women and continue into the gorge. Then we continue to Boumalne du Dades, a large town and local administration center at the foot of the gorge, followed by a series of Kasbahs. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ksar Kaissar in Boulmane.
Day 10: Boulmane – Ouarzazate - Marrakech
We depart to El Kellaa des Mgouna and Skoura. Then a mini tour of Ouarzazate, including the 17th century Kasbah Taouririt, which served as the home of the Pasha Glaoui. Next, we drive to the ancient Kasbah complex of Ait Ben Haddou for lunch. A photographer’s wonderland, Ait Ben Haddou remains home to five families. Next, we set out through a mountainous and semi-desert landscape and continue over the High Atlas Mountains to Tizi N’Tichka Pass. We proceed across the fertile countryside of the Haouz Plain to the pink city of Marrakech. We arrive at the hotel for dinner and stay overnight at Riad Alida.
Day 11: Marrakech
The south is quite different in feel and architecture than the north. Enjoy a full day sightseeing--the sequence of activities is subject to change. In the morning, we visit the synagogues in the Jewish quarter. Afterwards we visit these historical monuments: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace. In the late afternoon, we discover the labyrinth of souks with their numerous tiny shops bustling with activity and Djemaa el Fna square with its open-air entertainment. In the evening, optional Moroccan dinner with folk show and Fantasia under the Caid’s tents in the Palmgrove.
Day 12: Marrakesh:
Day excursion to The Ourika Valley. The green valley of the Ourika River and the lazy meandering torrent of the river, combined with the small red adobe Berber villages hanging on the slopes, will enchant you. We can visit a local country market, held every Monday and Friday, where butchers and barbers, vegetables, cereals and olive oil sellers, blacksmiths and medicine-men gather under canvas & reed shelters, along with a number of small restaurants scattered around in the open air.
Day 13: Essaouira
Drive to Essaouira a coastal town and quite different again. Here we enjoy a leisurely pace, browsing traditional handicrafts and observing daily life. Check in will be at the Hotel Riad Al Madina, in the medina. Dinner and overnight accommodations.
Day 14: Casablanca
Return drive to Casablanca. Dinner at hotel & overnight accommodations.
Day 15: Transfer to airport.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes: Accommodations, daily breakfast, two lunches, seven dinners, escorts throughout trip, transport by air-conditioned mini bus, entrance fees and all activities, meeting with Simon Levy, all taxes and surcharges. Hotels are 3-4 star with private bath, centrally located and have a local Moroccan atmosphere in architecture and decor. Hotels based on availability: 2 N Casablanca/ Idou Anfa, 3 N Rabat/Hotel Mercure, 3 N Fes/ Riad Mabrouka, 3 N Marrakech/Riad Alida, 1 N Erfoud/Kasbah Xaluca, 1 N Boulmane/Ksar Kaissar, 1 N Essaouira at Riad Al Madina.
Price Excludes: International flight, Airport taxes, Travel insurance, Tips to guides and drivers. Any expenses of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, phone calls.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Morocco
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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