Splendors of Morocco

Casablanca to Fes via Rabat

This morning, drive to Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco and the seat of its government.

Start our tour with Hassan Tower, or Tour Hassan is Rabat’s most famous sight. The massive minaret dates back to 1195 and towers over the city and the incomplete mosque below, which was largely destroyed in an earthquake in 1755.

Continue our city tour of Rabat with a visit to Kasbah des Oudayas, a picturesque palace guarded by an impressive arched gate. Inside the Kasbah are some beautiful Andalusian gardens, as well as a broad terrace, where we can enjoy beautiful views of the river and sea while sipping a mint tea.

Next, continue on to the Mohamed VI Museum of Modern Contemporary art, a great introduction to Moroccan history and contemporary Moroccan artists.

At the conclusion of our tour, continue to the cultural heart of Morocco, the magical Fes. Founded in the eighth century, it is home to several famed historical monuments, among them the Karaouine, the world’s first university.

Overnight: Riad Fes

Fes

Take a step back in time to the Middle Ages with a visit to Fez El Bali, the world’s largest living medieval medina-city and the cultural heart of Morocco. Explore some of the 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys, and souks that make up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter. The medieval Medina is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fes was a renowned center of medieval learning and at its heart lays the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still-functioning universities in the world. In the neighboring building is the Attarine Medersa (Koranic college) (Closed), a jewel of Hispano-Moorish architecture, built in the 14th century.  Continue on to Nejjarine Square, whose centerpiece is a beautiful fountain, made up of mosaics and elaborate tile-work. The nearby Fondouq (Caravanserai) has now been converted into a museum of carpentry artifacts.

Visit Dar Batha and the Museum of Moroccan Arts, which houses historical and artistic collections of wood carvings, embroidery, tribal carpets, and ceramics. Then, it is on to Fes El Jedid (New Fes), built by the Merinid Dynasty in the 13th century. Admire the Royal Palace, mosques, madrasas (schools), souks, and the city wall. Most notably, Fes El Jedid is home to the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, which provides an interesting insight into Jewish architecture.

Finally, visit a pottery factory to discover how the beautiful zellij tiles are made. These tiles are fantastic examples of Arabo Andalusian decor and are also used in the manufacture of the famous tagines.

Overnight: Riad Fes

Meknes & Volubilis

Depart overland to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. With its triumphal arches, basilicas, and capitols, the Volubilis skyline is peppered with examples of Roman architecture. However, the greatest treasures of Volubilis are the superb mosaic floors, which have been excellently preserved and left in situ.

From here, continue on to Meknes, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s great Imperial Cities. In Meknes, the impressive monuments recall the splendor of a city first built in the 17th century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail to rival the court of his contemporary Louis XIV of France. During our visit, we will see the monumental Bab Mansour gateway, considered one of Morocco’s finest gates, as well as the Granaries and the Royal Stables, which were built to accommodate some 12,000 horses. We will also have the chance to see Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum, one of the few shrines in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims.

Although it’s not the most obvious choice, Morocco is considered to have the best natural potential for producing high-quality wines, due to its high mountains and cooling influence of the Atlantic. Today you have the opportunity to visit one of our stunning vineyards located between the foothills of the Rif, the Middle Atlas Mountains and between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight:  Riad Fes

Fes to Merzouga

Today, we travel into the desert, passing through the impressive Atlas Mountains, and discover the Tafilalet region, famous for its savory dates and gorgeous scenery.

Erfoud is a largely French-built administrative center and is known for its delightful palm dates. Take a look at Erfoud’s quarry, where fossils have been found from the sea that used to lie here. Nowadays, the mining of these fossilized rocks is a growing and popular industry in this part of Morocco, and the fossilized rocks excavated here are used to produce beautiful decorative objects ranging from crockery to furniture.

Upon arrival to Erfoud, we head south traveling by four-wheel-drive vehicle along the desert dunes to your tented campsite. For the final part of our journey to the camp, we will exchange our four-wheel drive for a more traditional mode of transportation as we cross the final dunes on camelback to reach our camp. On arrival, we will enjoy a reception of mint tea and pastries followed by a sundowner drink in the dunes.

Later this evening, we’ll savor a mouth-watering dinner served around a campfire, or in a tent, complete with traditional entertainment.  Watching the sunset over the high dunes of the Sahara Desert is a highlight of Merzouga Luxury Camp, set in the middle of the golden sand dunes.

Overnight Merzouga Luxury Camp

Merzouga to Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate was once a stopping point for African traders en route to the cities of Morocco and Europe. We will pay a visit to the Todra Gorges and the even more impressive picturesque oases that they hide. Travel through the southern slopes of the High Atlas range, following the Dades Valley and passing flourishing crops, irrigation canals, and palm trees. Following the 1000 Kasbahs road, we will marvel at the breath-taking vistas of impressive, ancient Kasbahs nestled in lush palm groves.

Along the way, we’ll make a stop to visit an amazing, small private museum in a Ksar near Tingherir, which houses exhibits that showcase the local art, culture, and history.  Ouarzazate was built as a French garrison in the 1920s. Now, it is a regional trade center known for pottery and carpets.

Overnight:  Berber Palace

Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou

Today, we travel through the stunning Atlas Mountains to reach the thrilling and colorful city of Marrakech. En route, stop in the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, the most exotic and best-preserved Kasbah in the whole of the Atlas region.  The village has starred in an array of movies, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, Gladiator, and The Mummy.

Continue by road over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest in the region at a height of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet), and stop to marvel at the panoramic views. As our journey continues, take note of the picturesque villages, passing by travelers going from one village to the next on foot or by mule.

Finally arrive in Marrakech. Pearl of the South, Jewel of the South, The Red City – just a few of the nicknames Marrakech has acquired over the years. Part Berber, part Arab, and part African, Marrakech is the heartbeat of Morocco where palaces and monuments of unrivaled refinement sit calmly alongside snake charmers and Gnaouan drums, pulsing constantly from Djemâa el Fna Square – the most exuberant marketplace in the world.

Overnight:  Villa des Orangers

Marrakech

Today, we discover the Mysteries of Marrakech and the city’s architectural attractions, the majority of which are located inside the Medina, the old walled section of the town.

Together, we begin by exploring the labyrinthine souks and perhaps indulge in some shopping! Souk Smarine is an important thoroughfare, traditionally dominated by the sale of textiles, clothing, and Moroccan handicrafts. This maze of colorful alleys and small squares is home to a bewildering array of stalls and ateliers devoted to specific crafts. 

Next, we will explore Jemaa El Fna, the city’s main square, which is home to a multitude of street artists and food stalls. Over the years the square has become the beating heart of Marrakech, where fire-eaters, acrobats, snake charmers, and street musicians perform at every turn.  

We’ll continue to the Koutoubia Mosque, an emblem of Marrakech. It is not possible to enter the mosque, but its beauty can be admired from the gardens and the square. Built-in the 12th century, the Koutoubia’s minaret is one of the highlights of Islamic religious structures in North Africa and the inspiration for the architects of the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. This famous landmark dominates the local skyline and can easily be spotted from all over Marrakech.

Our small LGBTQ+ group will take a look at the Dar El Bacha. 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 is 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.

Overnight: Villa des Orangers 

Marrakech

This morning, we will each take a seat in a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through Marrakech’s famous, beautiful gardens, which are dotted around the city. The area is fed by a basin created to irrigate the surrounding gardens and orchards using a sophisticated system called Qanat. The basin is supplied with water via an old hydraulic system that conveys water from the mountains nearly 20 miles away. 

We begin with a visit to the Menara gardens, which date back to the 12th century and are set among extensive orchards and olive groves. At the center is a rectangular pool with a fabulous view of the Atlas Mountains. 

From here, it’s on to visit the 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, verdant exotic groves, lily-covered pools, and enormous sculptural cactuses. 

These peaceful garden settings offer a variety of exotic plants such as bamboo, cacti, bougainvillea, and palms.  Streams and fish-filled pools also flow through the tranquil gardens. 

Near the Majorelle Gardens is the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, where the most precious YSL works are gathered. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé fell in love with the colors of Marrakech and, therefore, resided here for some of the most beautiful years of their lives.

The Museum, a 43,000-square-foot building, was designed by the Paris-based firm Studio KO. Inspired by contemporary and Moroccan architecture, the entrance hall is adorned with blues and greens on one side and reds and tangerines on the other.  

The museum has a bookshop, research library, an auditorium, and a cafe serving French-leaning fare with a terrace overlooking a reflection pool. 

Overnight:  Villa des Orangers

Departure Marrakech

Today, we bid farewell to magical Morocco as we each depart for the airport, where our international departure flight awaits. Our representative collects us from our hotel and accompanies us to the airport, where we are assisted with the check-in formalities.