Imperial Cities of Morocco from Marrakech
- 8 Days
- From : Marrakech
- To : Marrakech
- Tour
- Guide : English, French
- Minimum age : 10 Years Old
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The magic and mystique of Morocco come to life over eight fascinating days exploring the impressive imperial cities of North Africa’s last kingdom. Visit the awe-inspiring cities of Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca. Discover the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Volubilis and experience the rustic charms of the Atlas Mountains’ market towns. Accommodation is in choice hotels on a half- or full-board basis, with plenty of opportunities to savour the best in traditional Moroccan cuisine, including a spectacular dinner show in a historical palace in the Marrakech Medina.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Casablanca: Enjoy a tour of this cosmopolitan city and admire the magnificent Hassan II Mosque.
Rabat: Discover the capital’s many attractions, including the Royal Palace, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Hassan Tower and the Oudayas Gardens.
Meknes: Behold the ancient city gates of Bab Mansour and Bab El-Khemis
Fez: See the magnificent Moulay Idriss Zaouia, enjoy lunch in the Medina, explore the historic Jewish quarter and take in the panoramic views from the Royal Palace and fortifications.
Marrakech: Admire the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the beautiful Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and wander through the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa market.
What’s included?
TOUR GUIDE:
- Operated with bilingual French- and English- or English- and Dutch-speaking guide for the duration of the tour
ACCOMMODATION:
- 7 nights’ accommodation
MEALS:
- Half board option: 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners (if optional Morrocan dinner selected on day 6, included dinner replaced by lunch at the hotel)
- Full board option: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners including a Moroccan dinner show (lunch on day 7 not included)
TRANSPORT:
- Air-conditioned bus during the tour
- Private Transfers from the airport to the hotel and vice versa
ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES:
- Admission to all museums and monuments mentioned in the itinerary: panoramic tour of Casablanca with visit exterior of Mosquee Hassan II, panoramic tour of Rabat, the Kasbah Oudayas, panoramic tour of Meknes, Dar el Ma, Bou Inania or Attarine madrasah in Fez, exterior visit of Quaraouiyine Mosque, Royal Palace exterior; Koutoubia mosque exterior, Bahia Palace, Heritage museum, Medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech.
OTHERS:
- Tips in hotels and restaurants
Exclusions
- Visas and international flights, and airport taxes (clients pay direct)
- Driver-guideTips
- Personal travel, baggage and medical insurance
- Telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature such as drinks
Please note
- Once you have collected your luggage, the driver will be waiting for you outside the airport, in front of the arrivals exit holding a sign with your name. Please do not leave the pick-up area without having met the agent/driver first
- Unmarried couples with Moroccan nationality, please inquire about locale legislation concerning accommodation.
- Please note that some of the hotels do not serve alcohol.
- Please note that local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to tour contents without prior notice, including possible change of hotels and/or itinerary
What do I need to bring?
Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting religious or official buildings in Morocco. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1 Marrakech:
- Superior Hotel Category = Zalagh Kasbah or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Adam Park or similar 5*
Day 2 Casablanca:
- Superior Hotel Category = Best Western Toubkal or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Farah or similar 5*
Day 3-4 Fez:
- Superior Hotel Category = Zalagh II or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Ramada or similar 5*
Day 5-7 Marrakech:
- Superior Hotel Category = Zalagh Kasbah or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Adam Park or similar 5*
Cancellation policy
- Once ordered, this tour cannot be cancelled or refund or amended at any circumstances.
Day 1 : ARRIVAL MARRAKECH
Arrive at Marrakech Airport and once you have collected your luggage, you’ll find the driver/agent waiting for you in the Arrivals hall with your name on a board. Please do not leave the pick-up area without having met the driver/agent first. Then transfer to your hotel, where you will check in and have dinner.
- Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 2 : MARRAKECH – CASABLANCA (250 Km – 3 hrs)
After breakfast at the hotel, depart to Casablanca, where you will be treated to lunch (optional) upon arrival. Then, enjoy a guided panoramic tour of the economic capital of Morocco, which will take you to the central market, the charming Habous district, the Royal Palace, Mohamed V Square, the residential area of Anfa, the majestic Hassan II Mosque looming high over the city by the sea (exterior visit), and will allow you to contemplate the formidable exterior of the Royal Palace, which stands by the sea and the Corniche, the coastal walkway of Casablanca.
- Overnight in Casablanca
Day 3 : CASABLANCA – RABAT – MEKNES – VOLUBILIS – FEZ (355 Km – 5 hrs)
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel before departing to Rabat, the capital city of the country. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided panoramic tour of the Royal Palace (Mechouar), the Kasbah of Oudayas, the Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower. After an optional lunch, continue your route to Meknes, where you’ll go on a tour of this former imperial capital, the glory days of which were under the reign of Moulay Ismail in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Such was the grandeur of the city that he built, that Meknes became known as the ‘City of a Hundred Minarets’ and is today a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. See the imposing city walls and the beautifully decorated gates of Bab Mansour and Bab El-Khemis, the vast El Hedhim Square, the Dar El Ma souk and much more. It’s then time to continue, passing by the ruins of the ancient Phoenician city of Volubilis (entrance not included) and past the holy city of Moulay Idriss, before finally arriving to Fez.
- Overnight in Fès.
Day 4 : FEZ
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a day exploring the fascinating city of Fez. Boasting more than 12 centuries of history, as well as a medina that is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and the oldest university on the planet, Fez is a multifarious city renowned for the splendour of its faded glory. The medina, Fez el Bali, is a vast network of winding alleys hemmed in by ancient walls. Despite being car-free, the bustle, noise, shouting, and the smells of tanned leather, oriental perfumes, barbecues and sweet pastries create a sense of movement and vibrancy that draws you deep into its soul. Head to the Bou INania or Attarine madrasah (depending on availability), both of which showcase exquisite central courts. Then see the Quaraouiyine Mosque as well as the Nejjarrine fountain and smell the cedar from the carpenters’ district. The alleys are lined with places of study or prayer such as madrasahs or the magnificent mausoleum of Moulay Idriss Zaouia, the most important saint’s shrine in Morocco. In the afternoon, continue through the rustic narrow streets of the Mellah, the former Jewish district, and head to the outskirts to see the Royal Palace and enjoy the extraordinary panoramic view of the whole city offered by the fortifications of the north. Return to the hotel.
- Overnight in Fez
Day 5 : FEZ – BENI-MELLAL – MARRAKECH (550 Km – 7 hrs)
Depart Fez after breakfast at the hotel, heading southwest towards Marrakech. Today’s road journey provides an enormous range of landscapes and allows for many enticing photo stops as we drive along the foothill of the Atlas Mountains. Pass the quaint mountain town of Ifrane (1,650 metres high), the Berber villages of Azrou and Khenifra, and make an optional in Beni-Mellal. Surrounded by beautiful orange and olive groves, the town of Beni-Mellal is a rendezvous point for nature and mountain lovers, as well as for adventure seekers. Later arrive in Marrakech and check in to your hotel.
- Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 6 : MARRAKECH
Discover the top monuments charting the history of Marrakech after a delightful breakfast at the hotel. Admire the famous Koutoubia Mosque, everlasting proof of Hispano-Moresque art, whose 70-metre-high minaret is the city’s most famous landmark. It dates from the late 12th century, when most of northern Africa and the southern Iberian Peninsula were part of the Almohad Empire. Behold the Bahia Palace, with its exceptional cedar and marble decorations, and discover the beautifully decorated Heritage Museum. After a delicious lunch in the hotel, continue to the walled Medina and its maze of alleys and side streets. Browse the souks and admire the rich craftsmanship of their wares before arriving at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the beating heart of Marrakech. Marvel at this bustling hive of activity as the sun sets over this vast space packed with stalls and heaving with snake charmers, Gnawa musicians and myriad colourful characters. Also enjoy a visit to a Moroccan herbalist, where you can purchase quality herbal products and remedies, a traditional way for curing and/or improving ailments. Return for an optional dinner accompanied by a folkloric show in an old palace in the Medina.
- Overnight in Marrakech
Day 7 : MARRAKECH
After breakfast at the hotel, get ready for a free day of relaxing or exploring Marrakech at leisure. Alternately, you can join one or more of our optional excursions. “Traditional Hammam in Riad”, for instance, invites you to experience the traditional Moroccan Hammam. After being picked up from your hotel at 10:00, you can begin by exploring the Riad (optional) or by heading straight to the Hammam for a relaxing session of skin hydrating, body scrubbing and wearing softening herbal masks. Then, enjoy a 30-minute massage with essential oils. Have a cup of mint tea before returning to your hotel at 12:30. Another option is joining the “Cooking Class”, organised in one of the oldest houses in Marrakesh. Here a traditional cook will teach you the secrets of Moroccan cuisine. Pick-up from the hotel is at 10:00. After a welcoming tea in the Riad, learn to prepare three traditional recipes and then taste the results. Return to hotel at 15:00. Lastly, if you’re looking for something to do in the evening, “Prestigious Riad” offers the chance to try a Moroccan meal in a truly charming location: the Riad. Relish your meal while listening to Andalusian music and watching oriental dances; a dream-like atmosphere that will awaken all your senses.
- Overnight in Marrakech
Day 8 : DEPARTURE MARRAKECH
Wake up to one last day in Morocco and, with it, one last breakfast at the hotel. Then check out and bid farewell to Morocco as you are transferred to the Marrakech Airport, where you’ll arrive in time to catch whichever flight you have scheduled to reach your following destination.
- Breakfast included.