MOROCCO
IMPERIAL CITY TOUR
Day 01 DEPARTURE
Departure from your home to Morocco.
Day 02 ARRIVAL INTO CASABLANCA
Casablanca rose to prominence under French rule in the early 20th-century. At the colorful open-air markets, or "souks", you can see that Casablanca retains a special charm despite its modern-day role as the commercial and industrial center of Morocco. You are met at the airport and escorted to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. This evening enjoy a authentic Moroccan dinner at a local restaurant.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Dinner
Day 03 RABAT
You are met by your private Mercedes and English-speaking driver who will pick you up at your hotel for your short drive to Rabat located approximately 60 minutes north of Casablanca. Touring this afternoon will include the 12th-century Tower of Hassan which contains the green, gold and white Mausoleum of King Mohammed V. Visit the Antiquities Museum, containing the magnificent Museum of Moslem-Art. Enjoy lunch before continuing to your hotel for check-in.
Hyatt Regency Rabat Breakfast-Lunch
Day 04 MEKNES / VOLUBILIS / FEZ
Travel to Meknes by way of Moulay Idriss, sacred village of Muslims. At Meknes, visit the Bab Mansour Gateway & El Hedim Square. Continue to Volubilis to see the well preserved ruins of the 2,000 year old capital of Roman Mauritania. The structures in Volubilis are comparable to other Roman ruins found throughout the Mediterranean area, but the Mosaic floors are among the finest in existence. Continue to the city of Fez for overnight.
Palais Jamai Hotel Breakfast-Lunch
Day 05 FEZ
Enjoy a full day tour of Fez today. Three separate towns comprise Fez; the two ancient walled areas - Fez el Bali (the old town) and Fez el Jedid (the new town) - and the more modern, French-built Ville Nouvelle. The contrast between the sections makes the old areas seem all the more fascinating. You truly feel as if you are stepping into the past when you enter the walled sections. The walled cities are the main attraction of Fez. The Fez el Bali is a formidable maze of winding alleys with guildings displaying exceptional architecture. Attractions to watch for are: the Great Gate, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Medersa Attarine, Medersa Cherratine and Medersa Seffarine, three beautiful old buildings near the center of the maze (the equally attractive Medersa Bou Inania is at the western edge). Wander by the pits where fabric is dyed and walk past the tanning yards. Visit the beautiful mosques and the Boujeloud Gardens should time permit.
Palais Jamai Hotel Breakfast-Lunch
Day 06 HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS/MARRAKECH
Depart Fez after breakfast and travel through the scenic High Atlas mountains by way of Berber villages stopping for lunch along the way. Continue to Marrakech, "the Red City" probably the most famous of the Imperial Cities and founded in the year 1070AD. Continue to the superb La Mamounia Hotel. La Mamounia boasts a unique regal heritage that has drawn the rich a famous for decades. The original building was indeed once a royal palace! Winston Churchill is among the noted who stayed here. The hotel draws even further fro a colonial background with service, cuisine and wines recalling the time when French colonial influences were at their peak.
La Mamounia Hotel Breakfast-Lunch
Day 07 MARRAKECH
Spend a full day exploring Marrakech with your guide. Walk through the "court of Marvels" an experience unique unto itself. It is a market scene straight out of the movies, with snake charmers, musicians, acrobats and storytellers. Other items of interest are the impressive Koutoubia Minaret, the Ben Youssef Medersa, the Saadian Dynasty tombs, the ruined 16th century El Badi Palace, the Dar Si Said Museum and the colorful camel market (on Thursdays only).
La Mamounia Hotel Breakfast-Lunch
Day 08 MARRAKECH
Today is at leisure to re-explore some of the areas of the city on your own.
La Mamounia Hotel Breakfast
Day 09 DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight from Marrakech to Casablanca. Connect with your continuing flight home.
