Compare Moroccan Discovery by Odysseys Unlimited
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 4,479 |
| Price Per Day | $ 320 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
31 Meals: 12 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 11 Dinners |
| Description |
This land of dramatic contrasts invites us to encounter its ancient ruins and sacred mosques, endless desert and storied mountains, imposing kasbahs and spirited souks. As we travel from the imperial cities of Rabat, Fez, and Marrakech to the High Atlas and vast Sahara, we open our eyes, and hearts, to a truly foreign land, an age-old culture, and genuinely hospitable people. |
Day 1
Depart U.S. for Casablanca, Morocco
Day 2: Arrive Casablanca/Rabat
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival this afternoon in Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco, we transfer by coach to Rabat and our hotel located near famed Hassan Tower. We have time to relax and refresh before dinner tonight at the hotel.
Day 3: Rabat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
One of Morocco’s four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is again the country's capital, at once historic and contemporary, as we discover on today’s tour. We visit the fortified Kasbah of the Oudaias, the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, and the necropolis of Chellah, built on ancient Roman ruins. Then we cross the river to Sale for lunch in a private home followed by a visit to the new Mohammed VI contemporary art museum and a walk through the medina. We return to our hotel late afternoon; tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Moroccan fare at acclaimed Dinarjat in Rabat’s Old Town.
Day 4: Rabat/Meknes/Volubilis/Fez
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we depart Rabat for Fez, stopping along the way in Meknes, Morocco’s youngest imperial city (and 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 Volubilis, known for its intricate and colorful mosaics. Late afternoon we reach Fez and our elegant hotel adjacent to the medina, another UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 5: Fez
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we explore Morocco’s oldest imperial city, considered the “Athens of Africa” for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. We begin with a walking tour of Fez’s fascinating medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, focusing on the artisans’ quarters, the 14th-century Koranic schools, and Al Karaouine, the medieval theological university. After lunch together in the medina, we tour the old mellah (Jewish quarter) and its 17th-century synagogue, the royal gates, and the Museum of Fez. Tonight we enjoy a private dinner at an intimate family-run riad in Fez.
Day 6: Fez
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
This morning we return to the medina to discover some hidden treasures, including the Blue Gate, the most picturesque of all the Old City’s historic gates; the medieval school of Bouanania; and the 12th-century home of Jewish scholar Maimonides. We also visit the traditional quarter to watch artisans craft the acclaimed Fez pottery and ceramics. The remainder of the afternoon is free for independent exploration and lunch on our own.
Day 7: Fez/Midelt/Erfoud
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Traveling inland today, we cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. We 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 kasbah-style hotel in Erfoud late in the day. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.
Day 8: Erfoud/Rissani/Merzouga
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. We enjoy 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 watch the sun set over the desert as we take a camel ride along the erg.
Day 9: Erfoud/Tinehir/Todra Gorge/Ouarzazate
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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 riverside 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” ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated façades. Late afternoon we reach the town of Ouarzazate (the “door of the desert”) where we spend the night.
Day 10: Ouarzazate/Ait ben-Haddou/Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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 scenic villages that is often used as a location for fashion and film shoots. 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 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. We arrive in Marrakech late this afternoon and dine tonight at our hotel.
Day 11: Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
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 visible from miles away; the lovely Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace (part of which is still used by the royal family); and the ruins of 16th-century Palais El Badii. After lunch at our hotel, mid-afternoon we embark on a walking tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charmers, entertainers, storytellers, musicians, barbers, and sellers of fruit, water, and spices. Dinner tonight is on our own in this exotic city.
Day 12: Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
This morning we travel by horse-drawn carriage from Menara Park to Majorelle Gardens, a private botanical garden with some 15 species of birds native to North Africa and known for its cobalt blue accents. Following a tour of the gardens we visit the newly renovated Berber Museum here, with art and artifacts reflecting Berber culture in Morocco. The afternoon is at leisure before dinner tonight at a local restaurant in the city’s Old Town.
Day 13: Marrakech/Casablanca
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
We leave Marrakech this morning by coach for storied Casablanca, Morocco’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After a brief orientation tour of the city, we visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s only functioning mosque open to non-Muslims. Tonight we celebrate our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 14: Depart for U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.
