Moroccan Discovery

DAY 2, Saturday: CASABLANCA (D)
Arrival at Mohamed V airport, where you will be met by our local personel. During the transfer to your hotel, you will be given a brief orientation and an overview of your trip. Check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3, Sunday: CASABLANCA - RABAT (B, D)
DAY 3, Sunday: CASABLANCA - RABAT Visit of the financial capital of Morocco: the central market, the Habous district, the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V square, the residential area of Anfa and see the mosque Hassan II. Fish lunch at one of the seafront restaurants. Continue to Rabat for a local city tour visiting the Royal Palace (Mechouar), the Oudaya Kasbah, the Mohamed V mausoleum, and the Hassan Tower. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4, Monday: RABAT – MEKNES
Departure to Meknes. Here visit the old Medina, which is surrounded by triple thickness walls 40 km long, and preserves the most beautiful gate of Morocco, the Bab Mansour. Also visit of the Royal stables of Moulay Ismael, and the Jewish quarter. After lunch, continue to the holy city of Moulay Idriss, where the founder of Islam in Morocco is buried, and visit of the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5, Tuesday: MEKNES – FEZ - MEKNES
After breakfast, the whole day today will be devoted to the sightseeing of Fez, the most ancient of the Imperial Cities, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idridd II. Visit the medieval Medina with its Attarine and Bou Anania Medersas (religious Islamic universities), the Nejjarine Fountain, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the Karaouine Mosque. Moroccan lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Medina. In the afternoon visit of Fez Jdid, and then return to Meknes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 6, Wednesday: MEKNES – MIDELT - ERFOUD
Departure to Erfoud via the mountains and the cedar woods of the middle Atlas passing by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou, an important handicraft centre. Stop in Midelt for lunch. Continuation to Erfoud via Errachidia and the Ziz valley dotted with palm trees, which are the source for the yearly Festival in Erfoud. Dinner and accommodation in Erfoud.

DAY 7, Thursday: ERFOUD – TINGHIR - OUARZAZATE
Early morning, an optional jeep excursion will take you to see the sunrise over the sands-dunes of Merzouga. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Then, leave for Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty, is buried. Visit the kasbah of the 17th century and the Ksar Abbar ruins, and continue on to Tinghir via the Tinjdad Road. Visit the magnificent Todgha canyons where rocks reach an altitude of 250 meters. Lunch at a restaurant situated at the foot of the canyons. Depart for the Dades canyons for a visit, and then on to Ouarzazate via the road of the thousand kasbahs and the Dades valley. Visit of the kasbah of Taourirt. Dinner and accommodation in Ouarzazate

DAY 8, Friday: OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU - MARRAKECH
Visit the kasbahs of Taouirt Tiffeltout and Ait Benhaddou, the most spectacular fortress in the south of Morocco, which has served as decor for many films like "Laurence of Arabia." Lunch at the terrace of the restaurant facing the kasbah. Depart for Marrakech via the Tichka Pass, offering an impressive landscape in the heart of the Atlas mountain range. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 9, Saturday: MARRAKECH
The entire day will be devoted to the visit of Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city, known as the Pearl of the South. The city was founded by the Almoravides at the end of the 11th century. The historical sightseeing includes the Menara garden, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia palace, the Koutoubia and the Dar Si Saïd museum. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the souks and handicraft quarters displaying a variety of items and the famous place Djemâa El Fna with its non-stop entertainment. Enjoy a Fantasia tonight. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10, Sunday: MARRAKECH - ESSAOUIRA
Late morning departure to Essaouira, where you will have fish lunch at a local restaurant. Visit of this idyllic fishermen town known as the former Mogador, a Portuguese stronghold famous for its woodcarving handicraft. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 11, Monday: ESSAOUIRA – SAFI – EL JADIDA - CASABLANCA
Depart to Safi, another former Portuguese fortress, famous for its pottery. After local sightseeing, continue on to Oualidia via the picturesque coastal road. Lunch at a local restaurant in Oualidia with view on its superb bay. Depart for El Jadida for sightseeing of the town, including the famous citadel, a reminder of the Portuguese occupation of the 16th century. Continue your trip to Casablanca. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel

DAY 12, Tuesday: CASABLANCA - DEPARTURE
Departure transfer to the airport of Casablanca for your flight home.