Moroccan Discovery – From the Imperial Cities to the Sahara

Dates: September 22 – October 5, 2008

Day 1 - Depart U.S. for Casablanca, Morocco

Day 2 - Casablanca/Rabat
After arriving in Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco (and of all North Africa), we travel to Rabat, where we check in at our hotel near the Royal Palace. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3 - Rabat
One of Morocco's four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is again the country's capital, at once historic and contemporary. We encounter this intriguing combination on today's tour, which includes the Royal Palace, Hassan Tower, the magnificent Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the fortified Kasbah of Oudaias, and the peaceful Andalucian gardens.

Day 4 - Rabat/Volubilis/Fez
This morning we depart Rabat for Fez, stopping along the way in Meknes, Morocco's youngest imperial city (and a UNESCO World Heritage site). We visit the Bab el Mansour gateway and the ruins of the imperial stables before lunch in a local restaurant. Then we continue on to the ancient Roman ruins at the UNESCO site of Volubulis, known for its intricate mosaics, and at the holy town of Moulay Idriss. In the late afternoon we reach Fez and our hotel adjacent to the medina (old city), another UNESCO site.

Day 5 - Fez
Today we explore Morocco's oldest imperial city, considered the "Athens of Africa" for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. Highlights include the 9th-century Kairouyine Mosque, one of the most important in all Islam; the sacred tomb of Moulay Idriss; and Nejarine Square, with its great fountain. Lunch is in a local restaurant in the Old City, a medieval maze of alleys and lanes lined with souks (shops), mosques, craft guilds, and residences. Finally, we tour the old mellah (Jewish quarter), where Muslims now live in the charming old homes with colored façades.

Day 6 – Fez/Midelt/Erfoud
Traveling inland today, we cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. Densely forested slopes of cedar, cork, and pine give way to arid steppe, as we follow historic routes well worn by Berbers fleeing Arab invaders. We'll stop in the small town of Midelt for lunch. Continuing on, we cross the Ziz River, passing rows of sky-scraping palm trees and fortified villages, before reaching our hotel in Erfoud late in the day.

Day 7 - Erfoud/Rissani/Merzouga
This morning we visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys, then continue on to the ruins of 17th-century Ksar Abbar fortress. Experience a tour highlight this afternoon as we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga, on the edge of the Sahara. In the enormous silence we'll watch the sun set over the desert as we ride camels along the dunes.

Day 8 - Erfoud/Tinehir/Todra Gorges/Ouarzazate
Our destination today is in the snow-topped High Atlas. The day features one beautiful scene after another, including the village of Tinehir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of river-side terraces lush with palm trees, and the spectacular 984-foot Todra Gorge, home to a variety of rare bird and plant species. Following lunch here, we visit El Kelaa des Mgouna, known for its roses, then set out on the fabled "Route of a Thousand Kasbahs," an ancient caravan route. In the late afternoon we'll reach the town of Ouarzazate, where we'll spend the night.

Day 9 - Ouarzazate/Ait ben-Haddou/Marrakech
En route to Marrakech today, we stop first at uninhabited Ait ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of southern Morocco's most interesting and scenic villages. Its old section consists of deep red kasbahs packed together so tightly they appear to be a single unit. Then, as we begin our descent from the High Atlas, we'll pass through typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. In Tizi N'Tichka, we traverse the Pass of the Pastures (alt. 7,415 feet), where life is much as it was centuries ago: shepherds bring their flocks to the high pastures every summer, then return with them to their villages in autumn. Arriving in Marrakech in the late afternoon, we'll take a horse and carriage ride before dinner.

Day 10 - Marrakech
Once the capital of southern Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is an alluring oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sights. Our day-long tour includes the beautifully proportioned Koutoubia Mosque with its distinctive 282-foot minaret, the Andalucian-style El Bahia Palace, and lush Majorelle Garden. Next we'll visit the heart of Marrakech, Place Djemaa el Fna, crowded with snake charmers, entertainers, barbers, and sellers of fruit, water, and spices. In the maze of narrow alleys in the heart of the medina here (also a UNESCO site), we'll visit the city's renowned souks, stall after stall selling goods of all types: fresh produce, basketry, dried fruits and spices, textiles, carpets and wool, leather and jewelry.

Day 11 - Marrakech/Essaouira
Today we travel to the fortified city of Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic coast. Known especially for its white-washed homes trimmed with blue shutters and doors, Essaouira is considered one of Morocco's loveliest cities; its medina and city ramparts have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we explore we'll see traces of Essaouira's Phoenician, Berber, Portuguese, Jewish, and French past in the well-preserved architecture, souks, marketplaces, harbor, and artisans' workshops. After a full day of touring we'll return to Marrakech in the late afternoon.

Day 12 - Marrakech/Ourika Valley
This morning we travel to lush Ourika Valley in the High Atlas, where we'll visit a typical Berber village; here we'll enjoy mint tea and a henna ceremony in the home of a local family. We'll return to Marrakech in time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure. Tonight we'll dine on traditional Moroccan fare at one of the city's local restaurants.

Day 13 - Marrakech/Casablanca
We leave Marrakech by coach this morning for Casablanca, then tour the city this afternoon. Highlights include the harbor area, corniche, city hall and tribunal, and the magnificent Hassan II Mosque. Tonight we celebrate our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner at our hotel.

Day 14 - Depart for U.S.
After breakfast this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight.

This itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. An updated itinerary will be sent with final documents.

Back to 2008 destination list