Day 1 - Casablanca - Fes

 

8:40AM: Arrive Casablanca Airport - Proceed through customs and meet with your Casablanca Tours representative for your private limousine transfer to Fes with a stop in Meknes, “The Moroccan Versailles,” founded at the end of the seventeenth century by Moulay Ismael. Visit Bab El Mansour, El Hari Berrima and the Mellah (Jewish quarter), which stands next to the medina. Also, enjoy visits to the Moulay Ismael stables, the new and the old medina. Continue on to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, built in approximately 25 BC, during the reign of Juba II, a Berber prince appointed as the ruler of the region by the Emperor Augustus. Juba II was married to the daughter of Anthony and Cleopatra. The fortifications of Volubilis were erected in approximately 168AD, during the rule of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, known as Caracalla. One of the most famous structures at Volubilis is the Triumphal Arch of Caracalla, built for the Roman Emperor upon his death in 217 AD. The Triumphal Arch of Caracalla is very well preserved, and although the top section is now gone, it is still an incredibly impressive structure. Proceed to Fes.

​

Riad Fès is renowned for its luxury, impeccable service and fine restaurant. Restored to its original glory, Riad Fès Relais & Châteaux is located in the heart of the ancient city of Fez. It has succeeded in combining refinement with inspiration and invites you to relax and enjoy your stay in a serene atmosphere with decor reminiscent of Arabian Nights. Riad Fes provides guests with the opportunity to travel back in time and enjoy
the splendor and authenticity of the lifestyle of Fassi nobility.

​

Day 2 - Fes

​

9:00 AM: You will be met by your private guide and driver for a tour of Fes, the most complete medieval city in the Arab world. The most ancient of Morocco's imperial cities, it exists suspended in time. Descending into the labyrinthine alleyways of the Medina is like taking a giant step back to the middle-ages. Preserved by the French for its historical value, this preservation also led to the decline of the city's importance, as both government and financial centers were set up elsewhere in the country. A citadel of magnificence, this age-old city is irresistible as it unfolds - in its every narrow - alley, wide street, old or new medina, palatial houses or its hillside - the story of a whole civilization’s treasure, similar to Florence or Athens. You will explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets and many other objects of art in Morocco. A visit to the Kings Palace, the tanneries, and potters are just a few places you will experience. Explore dramatically beautiful Fes, the oldest Imperial City, founded in 790 A.D. Seeming to exist somewhere between the Middle Ages and today, the Soul of Morocco stimulates the senses with its visual details, haunting sounds and rich aromas. Fes’s medieval Medina, Karaouiyne Mosque, Attarine and Abou Inania Medersas (Islamic Universities) and the elaborately tiled Nejjarine Fountain intrigue and dazzle travelers.

 

Afternoon at leisure to explore the Medina, shopping or relax in the hotel’s spa and hammam

​

Dinner at Leisure - restaurant suggestions available

​

Day 3 - Fes - Errachidia - Merzouga 

​

9:00 AM: Meet your driver and head to the Deep South, where the sands invade the wadis such as Draa, Dades and Ziz. These sights will mesmerize you with their vividly contrasting landscapes. When you reach the desert, switch to a 4x4 vehicle, which takes you to the Merzouga sand dunes, the northernmost edge of the Sahara’s vast expanse of sand, which continues far to the south all the way to Timbuktu. Here you can
walk or ride ATV or take a camel ride up the sand dunes to watch the sunset (or the sunrise in the morning). After dinner and Berber dance and songs, enjoy a fire amongst the dunes and a dazzling display of stars. The night is spent in a Berber nomadic encampment in spacious luxury tents with wall-to-wall rugs, solar-powered lighting and handcrafted furniture. Each tent has private bathroom facilities. This is a wonderful setting evoking
images of the Arabian Nights.

​

Located in the middle of the big dunes of the Erg Chebi Desert, Merzouga Luxury Camp offers a spectacular nomadic experience. Especially unique are the Khaimas, the traditional tents made of camel skins used by the nomadic people. Enjoy your special night under the stars at this beautiful oasis; experience a camel ride at sunset and an authentic Moroccan dinner under the stars.

​

​

Day 4 - Merzouga - Skoura

​

After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Skoura through the spectacular Todra Valley and Gorges. The magnificent Todra Gorge is a major fault in the plateau dividing the High Atlas Mountains from the Jebel Sarhro, with a crystal-clear river emerging from it. The gorge rises to 300 meters at its narrowest point. The landscape is vibrantly beautiful - a range of unique greens and yellows, dominated at times by red volcanic rock. You will
pass through many Berber mud villages while driving in the valley you will receive a true feel for the people and their culture. Continue to Sekoura along the “Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs” route, which is strewn with terre pisé (earth and straw) fortifications dating from the turbulent period when the Berber chiefs refused to recognize a central power. Another architectural representation from this period are the ksour, which are entire
villages built within mud walls to keep out marauders from the desert.

​

Dar Ahlam owners Vanessa from Belgium and her French husband bought the land 7 years ago and built the amazing property from scratch. The property consists of a main house, pretty gardens, olive trees that produce quite a bit of olive oil per year, plots of various herbs and the guest house. The Mountains in the distance and the whole property is so tranquil.

​

​

Day 5 - Skoura

​

Enjoy a day relaxing by the pool or joining Dar Ahlam Activities

​

Day 6 - Skoura - Marrakech

​

9:00 AM: Depart for Marrakech with a stop in Ouarzazate. A notable spot for the film making industry including setting the backdrop for films such as Laurence of Arabia, Gladiator, the Sheltering Sky, and Jesus of Nazareth, Ouarzazate will dazzle you with its stunning scenery of the surrounding areas and proximity to both the desert and the Atlas Mountains. Visit the lively Kasbah of Tifoultoute in the morning. Also visit the School of Handicrafts, where you can view silver jewelry, pottery, stone carvings, and wool carpets created by local craftsmen. Then continue to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou for more sightseeing. Continue to Marrakech

​

AFTERNOON: Enjoy the afternoon visiting Djemaa el Fna, undoubtedly an unforgettable introduction to bustling Marrakech where you can wander through the singers, drummers, dancers, snake charmers, fortune tellers, tooth pullers, storytellers, jugglers and even medicine men, who all make up what has been dubbed the greatest spectacle on earth.

​

Day 7 - Marrakech

​

Churchill described it to Roosevelt in 1943 as the “loveliest spot in the world.” If your appetite for the exotic is not yet satisfied then there is no better place than Marrakech to fulfill that need. Even its name evokes excitement. An imperial city that stands as eternal as the snows in the highest peaks, as steeped in history as the palm trees are rooted in earth, it was founded in 1602 AD and became the capital of an empire stretching from Toledo to Senegal. Marrakech is a feast for the senses. Be enticed by the alluring scents and brilliant colors of the spice markets, the sounds of the musicians, the richly colored carpets, delectable foods, acrobats and perfumed gardens. Explore the amazing Medina and the seemingly endless mosaic of souks. Each is devoted to a separate trade: pottery, woodwork, copper, leather, carpets and spices. A stroll amongst them is a sensory delight.

​

The monuments of Marrakech are numerous and range from the well-known 12th century Koutoubia Mosque and its superb minaret - famous throughout the Islamic world and the 'sister' to the Giralda in far-away Seville. Visit the Ben Youssef Medersa, Bahia, and El Badie, Palaces, the Saadiens Tombs Dar Si Said Museum, the Menera and Aquedal gardens.

​

Day 8 - Marrakech

​

5:50 AM: Meet your driver and drive to la Palmeraie for your Hot Air Balloon to watch the sunrise over the dessert (optional)

10:00 AM: Visit the gorgeous Jardin Majorelle, a botanical garden created by the 1920’s by the French painter, Jacques Majorelle. It is now owned and splendidly maintained by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The Museum of Islamic Arts within the garden walls house an exquisite collection of artifacts including Saint Laurent’s personal collection of North African carpets, pottery, furniture and doors.

​

​

Day 9 - Marrakech - Casablanca

​

8:30AM: Transfer to Casablanca Airport for your flight back home

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

   Inclusive of the following:

• Luxury accommodations in deluxe category rooms

• Dinners in Merzouga and Sekoura

• Lunches (1 in Casablanca, 1 in Fes and 3 in Marrakech)

• Private deluxe van from arrival to departure

• Professional English-speaking driver/guide

• Guided city tours & monument fees

• Excursion to Merzouga by Land Rover

• Camel Ride

• Sand Boarding

• Cooking Class

• Taxes & service charges

• Meet & Greet at the airport

 

 

* exclusive of airfare, all extras (beverages & meals) hot air balloon and gratuity for driver and guide. Prices based on group of 10 with double occupancy rooms.  Supplements for single occupancy available upon request.  Supplemental charge for groups under 10 travelers.

Alternate dates available upon request - may change per person cost.

​