Discover Morocco - 12 Days

Arrive at Marrakech International Airport where you will be met by a guide. Transfer to your first accommodation which will be at La Sultana Marrakech where you will stay for three nights. This is a hotel which is conveniently located within the walled medina of the old city. Spread across five riads, the hotel has a superb restaurant, luxuriously pampering spa and top-notch accommodation and service: the perfect place to start your tour.

Wind up in the authentic Djema El Fna, part market, part travelling fair. Here you will find a spectacular array of entertainers, be they jugglers, fortune tellers or snake charmers. Enjoy some local food and freshly squeezed orange juice, find a rooftop terrace overlooking the square and sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere. Depending on the circumstances we may include an excursion to Essaouira. Before you leave, rejuvenate at your hotel hammam, making the most of the luxury treatments they have on offer.

The herbaceous and sweet aroma of mint tea mixed with honey accompanies breakfast. The warm sun washes over the medina and elements of the new city come to light. Depart Marrakesh this morning for a journey outside of the pearled city and over the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. Climb aboard a 4x4 that will take you deeper into the landscape to find desert treasures off the beaten path. The wind blows through your hair as the mountainous landscape transforms into a backdrop. The nearby Salt River provides pink salt that was once used as currency around the area.

The mountainous foothills sweep down into gorges. Caves open up the cliffs and the remnants of an ancient slave village sit near the old Telouet Kasbah. The fortress was constructed with red earth and stands against the open bright blue sky for a dramatic contrast. The interior is open to the wind. Much of the fortress has fallen into disarray; however, you can’t help but be enchanted by what remains. The interior has a maze of locked doors and interconnected halls. Spend overnight in your hotel at Ouarzazate.

Transfer after breakfast to your next stop. You will stay in a magical camped desert escape in Merzouga which seems to come directly out of ‘Arabian Nights’ with a different setting at every turn. Explore the area on foot, camel or donkey and make sure you stargaze from your tent at night.

After breakfast, transfer to Fez where you will spend three nights at the Riad Fes. Situated in the heart of Fez, this hotel features a blend of Hispanic-Moorish architecture with bold and colourful interiors. With panoramic views over the Rif Mountains and the Medina below, the Riad Fes is the ultimate luxury city hideaway. Be sure to sample their outstanding fine dining restaurants, one of the few in the city, before your busy day of sightseeing tomorrow!

A guided tour of Fez is an absolute must as there is a real danger of getting lost in the medina if not orientated. A guided tour will take you through the maze-like souks including a visit to the Zaouia (sanctuary) of Moulay Idriss II. Founder of Fez, he rapidly achieved cult-status after his death. Another Islamic monument which can be seen but not entered is the Kairaouiyne Mosque. It is such an integral part of the city that its shape cannot be distinguished, so many buildings have been built onto its walls. If you have time, pay a visit to the Moulay Yacoub thermal baths and the next day go horse riding around the area.

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before heading to Chefchaouen. Chaouen, Xaouen or Chefchaouen? You may take your pick. Chefchaouen is situated at 600m in the er-Rif Mountains. Chefchaouen’s appearance will immediately jump out at you. Houses are generally simple but decorate with bright white, turquoise, teal and powder-blue walls, made by mixing lime and water with paint, and doors on bright or cobalt blue. Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination for tourists as the delightful town offers some native handicrafts that simply cannot be found in most other places in Morocco. 

Our guided walking tour of this delightful blue and white village, reputed to be one of the most picturesque towns in the world, takes in the Palace El Makhzen and the famous (3000m2) square Outta el Hammam; the maze of alleyways with fine doorways in the medina, the crumbling ochre and toffee-coloured Kasbah, the exterior of the Masjid El Andalous with its octagonal mosque, so characteristic of Northern Morocco. Head to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before a morning drive to Tangier, the gateway to Europe and Africa. Occupied over time by the Greeks, Romans, Spanish, Arabs, Berbers and Portuguese, Tangier today shows visitors a fascinating blend of cultures and traditions. Afternoon guided tour through the market, visit Cap Spartel and the Grottoes of Hercules.

Enjoy dinner at your hotel before an overnight stay.

Today, transfer to Rabat via the imperial city of Meknes and the impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis. Both sites have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites and are well worth the diversion.

Arrive in Rabat and spend one night at your hotel. 

Wander around Rabat which, still untouched by mass tourism, is an easygoing and lively city. The beaches are only a few minutes away, or if you’re not souk’ed out, explore the Medina and the Kasbah of the Oudayas.

Leave Rabat for Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, which brims with the energy of the country’s modern economic and cultural capital. After you settle into your hotel your guide meets you in the lobby to take you on a half-day exploration of the city.

Located northwest of the Corniche is the wondrous Hassan II Mosque. The stunning structure was consecrated in 1993 and can hold up to 105,000 worshippers between the main hall and the outer grounds. The minaret is the tallest in the world, standing at 689 feet. Outside, the Atlantic Ocean splashes quietly against the shore and fishing boats idly wade on the cobalt water. The central hall contains a succession of domes. Glass chandeliers made of Murano glass add prisms of delicate light to the gallery. The mosque is an image of grace and discipline, providing just enough embellishment for elegance

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before we transfer you to Casablanca airport. See you soon!