Magic Of Morocco

Guests arrive in Casablanca today. With our VIP Arrival Service, you'll be assisted through all immigration and customs formalities and chauffeured to our luxury hotel to enjoy your pre-tour overnight in Casablanca.

After breakfast, guests have this day to enjoy as they wish. After our other guests arrive later today, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the city. Explore the lively and colorful Central Market and see the Royal Palace. On a platform that extends over the ocean, the impressive Hassan II Mosque is built from exquisite materials like creamy marble from Agadir, Cedarwood from the Middle Atlas Mountains, and gleaming granite from Tafroute.

Depart Casablanca and travel to Rabat to explore the Oudayas Kasbah, a walled city within the city; founded in the 12th century, it's still home to 2,000 of Rabat's citizens. We'll also see the splendid Mohamed V Mausoleum and marvel at the Hassan Tower, an unfinished but impressive minaret started nearly 1,000 years ago. Sit down to a delightful lunch and then continue to Fès where you check in to our enchanting riad.

Today's excursion begins with a scenic drive to Meknès, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally founded as a military settlement before emerging as the capital of the Alaouite Dynasty. Renowned for its blending of Spanish and Moorish architectural styles of the 1600s, Meknès is further distinguished by its high and thick walls - punctuated by gracefully arched gates. Chief among these is Bab Mansour, a magnificent gate with superb Zellij tilework, sturdy columns of fine Corinthian marble and an imposing door of wood and iron. You'll also explore the ancient Jewish quarter and visit the Royal Stables, large enough to hold 12,000 Arabian horses; although the stables have fallen into an evocative state of disrepair, it offers further insight into the wealth and power wielded by Morocco's ancient rulers. Continue to Moulay Idriss, a sacred hilltop city, and then explore the archaeological site of Volubilis. Dating to the 3rd century BCE and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these ruins are among the best-preserved in North Africa. Return to Fès where the evening is free to relax, enjoy and dine at your leisure.

Founded in the 9th century, this is the best preserved medieval city in North Africa. Home to one of the world's oldest universities, it reached its peak of influence and glory in the 13th and 14th centuries when it replaced Marrakech as the capital of the Kingdom. Although the modern capital was transferred to Rabat nearly 100 years ago, Fès remains the cultural and spiritual heart of the country. Setting out with our engaging guide, today's sightseeing includes the ancient Medina and two medieval institutions of learning. With their extravagant style, these Madrasas stand in striking contrast to the timeworn cobblestones and simple market stalls of the souks that surround them. In el-Nejjarine (Carpenter's Square), where skilled artisans still chisel and sculpt indigenous cedar wood, you'll admire the much-photographed Nejjarine Fountain, famed for its exquisite ceramic mosaics. Also on the day's program is the Kairaouine Mosque with its graceful 1,000-foot minaret. Founded in the 9th century, it is the second largest mosque in Morocco and home to one of the world's oldest universities.

After an early breakfast in your hotel, leave Fez and head south, traveling across the cultivated and fertile valleys of Saiss, up to Imouzzer de Kandar with the gorgeous nearby Lake Dait Aoua, and Azrou, a typical Berber town with its flat-roofed earth houses. The road goes through magnificent cedar, pine and oak forests. This particularly varied itinerary from north to south offers a diversity of impressions through the Middle Atlas Mountains where nomad shepherds live in black tents and move with their herds of goats and sheep across these mountains in the hot season down to the desert land areas in the winter. As soon as you start seeing the first palm trees of the oasis in the outskirts of Marrakech, you will know that you are not far from the red city of Morocco. Upon arrival, check in to the exceptional Les Jardin de la Koutoubia. Set inside the walls of an 18th century riad, our 5-star property provides a romantic haven in the heart of the ancient medina.

Today you'll enjoy a comprehensive guided exploration of this marvelous city, founded 800 years ago by the Almoravid Dynasty. Begin with the lavishly decorated Saadian Tombs, dating to the late 16th century. The gravestones of these Saadian princes and members of the royal household are embellished simply and elegantly with colorful ceramic tiles, each with a short epitaph and a quote from the Qur'an. The next stop is the Dar Si Said Museum, an unparalleled collection of Moroccan art exhibited in an exquisite former palace. Continue to the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque and the lovely Bahia Palace, built in 1880. Then experience the exotic atmosphere of the city's famed souks; exploring with your guide through this labyrinthine maze of shops and vendor stalls, you'll emerge in lively Djemaa el Fna Square, undoubtedly the heart of the Marrakech medina. Next up, in contrast, is the tranquility of Le Jardin Majorelle – a botanical oasis of rare plants and vibrant blooms – created by a painter and more recently owned by the renowned designer Yves Saint-Laurent.

Leave behind the bustling pace of Marrakech and travel into a tranquil land of olive groves and citrus orchards. As the peaks of the Atlas Mountains draw near, you enter the timeless Ourika Valley. At an innovative Berber cooperative, you'll observe and learn more about the production of Argan oil – highly prized for its hydrating and beautifying effects. The process from tree to oil is time consuming and done almost entirely by hand. Employing local women, this cooperative is an important community resource and promises an enlightening visit. Dine tonight at one of the finest restaurants in Marrakech.

We take you to the airport for your onward flight. Or ask about adding the 4-day Sahara Desert Adventure!