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Imperial Cities and Northern Morocco |
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11 days / 10 nights (*see notes) - can be done in reverse |
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Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
Tour summary
A cultural private tour of Northern Morocco that reveals Hispano-Moorish historical links in the Mediterranean port of Tangiers, the Berber charm of Chefchaouen’s pretty blue medina in the Rif Mountains and the Imperial Cities of Morocco that encompass Morocco’s dynastic heritage: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fes, Meknes and Marrakech. The tour also allows for free time for your own exploration and relaxation. With guided visits, stays in comfortable traditional riads and small guest-houses, we set an easy daily pace and plenty of downtime. This is a perfect tour for couples, families, students, friends and people of all ages and fitness levels.
Or call us now on +212 (0)615 647918 (Morocco) or +44 (0)208 123 7969 (UK)
Please note: All our Morocco tours can be customised to allow extra days for shorter daily car journeys, extra activities, relaxation days, exploration days etc. We can also adapt tours to connect with different start/end locations in Morocco. Let us know your wishes and we will build your perfect Morocco tour itinerary.
Price: Contact us for a personalised quotation.
Prices will vary according to number of people travelling in vehicle, number of days, time of year, category of accommodation chosen and activities requested.
NB Our Morocco tours are private tours organised upon request.
Day-to-day tour itinerary
Day 1
Tangiers
Meet & greet at TANGIERS airport or ferry terminal (Tangiers Port or Tangiers Med). Depending on your arrival time you will then have the rest of the day to explore Tangiers city, ‘the gateway to Africa’ that has attracted great writers and painters since the 19th century. It sits to the east of Cap Spartel, the point where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean. A guided visit optional. There are number of sites well worth exploring here including the old medina and souks, the Tangiers kasbah and museum, the American Legation library and exhibition, many bookshops, contemporary art galleries and cafes around the main squares of the Grand Socco and the Petit Socco - and not of course forgetting the fishing port from where you can walk the length of the beach along a boardwalk with its cafes, clubs and ice-cream parlours. Depending on your arrival time, you will also be able to drive to the beach at Cap Spartel and visit the Hercules Caves before returning to your hotel in time for evening dinner.
Stay: Guesthouse/boutique hotel in Tangiers
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2
Tangiers - Tetouan - Chefchaeoun
Departure from Tangiers to head east towards the Hispano-Moorish medina of Tetouan. Here, in the Ensanche area, you stop for lunch and a chance to see the striking Andalucian architecture and white buildings which have been restored to their former glory. At the edge of the medina and the new town there is the small Tetouan Museum of Archaeology with ancient artefacts from the Phoenician and Roman settlements of Tamuda and Volubilis. After a brief stop in Tetouan the journey continues across verdant landscape of the Rif Mountains, heading due south to reach the picturesque ‘blue’ medina of Chefchaouen. This evening you are free to explore the small medina and choose your own restaurant serving local Rif specialities including locally produced goats’ cheese.
Stay: Guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 3
Chefchaouen
The day is free for you to explore this charming, blue and white-washed medina, nestled in the Rif Mountains. The town gets its name from the Berber words for “look” or “chauf” and “horns” or “chaoua” as the town resembles a pair of goats horns perched as it is on two neighbouring hilltops. A local guide can be offered if required. It’s easy to navigate and you can explore the main points of interest: the winding streets of the medina, the 18th century kasbah and museum, the 15th century Grand Mosque and the Plaza Uta el-Hammam. In the afternoon you can opt to drive 30 mins north from town to visit Akchour and hike for about 2-3 hrs to visit the natural rock formations of God’s Bridge or the Akchour waterfalls. You may prefer simply to stay in the medina and shop for local handicrafts and typical woollen textiles and colourful rugs specific to Chefchaouen region. You are free to choose your own lunch and dinner restaurants this day.
Stay: Guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 4
Chefchaouen - Fes
The day’s journey takes you south from Chefchaouen, via the Ketama region. You pass through breathtaking scenery and forests with plenty of opportunities to stop for photos. Lunch en route and you reach the spiritual capital of Morocco - Fes - by late afternoon after a 5-6 hours’ drive. Dinner is served at the riad this evening.
Stay: Riad in Fes old medina
Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner
Day 5
Fes
Full day private guided walking tour of Fes old medina - Fes El Bali with an English-speaking city guide. The guide will walk you through the maze of souks and sights visiting some of the highlights including the famous Fes pottery souks, the musical instrument makers, metalworkers, carpet souks and the Chaouwara tanneries. There are over 9,000 cobbled medieval streets weaving their way through markets, mosques, Koranic schools, riads and hidden fountains. Worth visiting are the Moulay Idriss Zaouia or shrine, Bab Bou Jeloud ornamental gate, Al-Kairaouine Mosque and University - the oldest university in the world, Al-Attarine Madrasa, Nejjarine fountain, King’s Palace, the Dar Batha Museum, Nejjarine Museum of Arts & Crafts and the Jewish quarter or mellah. Your guide will include as much as possible in your day. You are free to make your own plans for dinner this evening.
Stay: Riad in Fes old medina
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 6
Fes
Free day in Fes for shopping and exploring unaccompanied. You may wish to opt for a cookery class, a medina food tour or other activity outside the city this day such as hiking in the Middle Atlas Mountains.
Stay: Riad in Fes old medina
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 7
Fes - Volubilis - Meknes - Rabat
Morning departure from Fes and drive for about an hour to reach the Roman ruined city of Volubilis, Morocco’s most important archeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You enjoy a guided walking tour and see the incredible mosaic floors that have survived for centuries and learn of the significance of this city when Romans advanced into Africa and were defeated by the indigenous Berber tribes. The tour then continues to the Imperial city of Meknes which sits on fertile plains of the Middle Atlas Mountains and is one of Morocco’s famous regions for wine-growing. Moorish palaces, mosques, ramparts and beautiful Moorish arhcitecture are all to behold in the city that served as the capital during the 17th century. The main points of interest are the Bab el Mansour gate, the Medersa Bou Inania Koranic School, the Place El Hadim square, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the covered markets. You will lunch in Meknes followed by a short guided tour. The journey then continues for about two hours by road to reach Morocco’s capital and residence of the current King - Rabat. You arrive in time for dinner and spend the night in the popular Kasbah Oudayas area of the Rabat medina.
Stay: Riad/boutique guesthouse
Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner
Day 8
Rabat - Casablanca - Marrakech
3 hrs’ morning tour of elegant Rabat city with official English-speaking guide. You will explore the picturesque Kasbah Oudayas on the northern fringes of the medina, dating from the Almohad dynasty. Also you visit the nearby Hispano-Moorish Andalucian Gardens and the Chellah necropolis which was once a Roman garden and olive grove. It subsequently became a royal cemetery with the addition of lush, exotic gardens and terraces which are now open to the public and it is a beautiful, peaceful haven. The tour also includes views of the Royal Palace, where the King Mohammed VI is in residence, the Hassan Tower - a half-built minaret which was intended to be the tallest minaret for the largest mosque in the world when construction began at the end of the 12th century under the reign of Almohad Sultan, Yacoub el Mansour. Nearby, on Yacoub al Mansour esplanade, is the Mohammed V Mausoleum which holds the remains of Mohammed V and Hassan II - kings of the subsequent Alouite dynasty. Then by road you continue to Morocco’s industrial and economic hub, the fabled city of Casablanca. Arrive by lunchtime and we suggest lunch first of all by the port or on the Corniche, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Time to visit the Hassan II Mosque, the tallest in Morocco and the second largest mosque in the world, with capacity for 25,000 worshippers. It sits on a promontory rock jutting into the ocean and in one area there is a glass floor to view the sea below. After visiting the mosque, you journey south by highway for about 3 hours to reach the exotic Imperial city of Marrakech. Dinner awaits at your hotel/riad.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse
Meal plan: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9
Marrakech
Half-day morning tour with city guide of Marrakech - also known as the ‘red city’ for its famous pink-hued ramparts. Our English-speaking city guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning and take you through the souks of the medieval medina, introducing you to artisans, bakers, carpenters, spice merchants, apothecaries and also including visiting the landmark monuments of Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. Your tour ends at the famous Place Jemaa el Fna square where you can enjoy lunch from a roof terrace overlooking the bizarre activities of the acrobats, storytellers, musicians and snake-charmers. Rest of the day is at leisure and we suggest you return to the square for an evening dinner at one of the outdoor food grills to sample anything from grilled meats, fried fish, fried aubergines, boiled snails, harira soup, spiced ginger tea, boiled sheep’s head and other local delicacies. Even if you decide to eat elsewhere, the experience of the Place Jemaa el Fna at night is an intoxicating one - with smoke swirling up from the grills, the pounding rhythms of the street musicians, the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques as the excited crowds gather for this nightly ‘circus’.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse (standard or luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 10
Marrakech
Free day in Marrakech to explore the medina and sights or perhaps take a horse-drawn carriage to visit the famous Majorelle Gardens in the new town. You may wish to enjoy add-on activities this day such as: cookery class, hot-air balloon ride, horse riding, camel riding, quad biking, golf, hammam/spa treatments.
Stay: Riad/hotel/boutique guesthouse (standard or luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 11
Departure
Departure transfer to Marrakech airport or you can choose to continue your holiday in Morocco with us by adding-on one of our Suggested Morocco Adventure Tour Itineraries.
Stay: N/A
Meal plan: Breakfast
- This tour can be reduced to 9 days / 8 nights if required so that just ONE full day in both Fes and Marrakech.