Imperial Cities Tour – 8 days

Land in Casablanca, a bustling city famed for its cute medina alleys, art deco buildings, and beautiful mosques. After the transfer from the airport to the hotel, you will have time to relax and get over the jet lag. In the evening, you can have dinner at the popular Rick's Café and enjoy delicious Moroccan and international food. Film buffs will be delighted to visit this lovely restaurant that offers a faithful reproduction of the cafe in the famous movie Casablanca.

In the morning, our local guide will take you on a panoramic tour of Casablanca. Our first stop is the iconic Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest mosque in the world. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau, the mosque can accommodate up to 25,000 worshipers and is open to non-Muslim travelers. Admire the beautiful architecture from the spacious courtyard and enjoy spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Next on our list of places to visit in Casablanca is the Temple Beth-El, the Jewish Synagogue. Considered as the centerpiece of the Jewish community, the synagogue is a popular tourist attraction. After all the sightseeing, it’s time to stop for lunch at the Jewish Club with local representatives of the Jewish community.

In the afternoon, you will be visiting the Jewish Museum which offers an insight into the traditions, daily life, and history of Jewish people in Morocco. Expect to see many interesting exhibitions rooms fitted with clothing, ornaments, and paintings. We will end the day with a 3-hour transfer to Fes.

You have arrived in Fes, the former capital of Morocco and the third-largest city in the country. Home to the world’s oldest university, Fes is an important cultural and religious center with a population of about 150,000 residents. You will be accompanied by our local guide who will take you on a full-day tour of the fascinating Fes Medina (Old City).

Visit Medersa Bou Inania which used to serves as a theological college. Nowadays, the medersa is home to beautiful zellij mosaics and stunning stucco-work. The mosque itself is not open to the public, but you can view the incredible minaret from one of the medina’s rooftops. We will be passing by Bab Bou Jeloud, an ornate city gate decorated with mosaic tiles. No visit to Fes el Bali would be complete without stopping by the spending fountain at Place Nejjarine. Covered in zellij tilework, the fountain was used for ablutions where visitors would come to wash their hands and feet for ritual purification.

Our guide will take you to Jewish Fes - the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) which is home to a lovely 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and a tranquil Jewish cemetery. The melah itself dates back to the 14th century and is full of history and Jewish-style architecture. Not to be missed is Chouara Tannery, the world’s oldest tannery which dates back to medieval times. Although the smell can be overwhelming from all the archaic ingredients, watching men make a leather like it was done in medieval times is a memorable experience.

Later in the day, we will be paying a visit to the city’s souks markets where carpet markers, weavers, and snail sellers are practicing their trade. For lunch, our guide will take you to the beautiful Le Patio Bleu Restaurant which is situated inside a former Riad and boasts a rather interesting courtyard with blue and while zellige tiles. We will end the day with a visit to the local leather and pottery factories.

We start the day with a breakfast transfer to Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities that is well-known for its well-preserved medina, ancient infrastructure, and lots of historical monuments. Get ready to be fascinated with the city’s architecture and history as our guide takes you to some of the city’s most popular attractions.

Our first stop is the main gate between Imperial City districts and Menkes’ Medina that is also known as Bab al-Mansour. We will be visiting Meknes Medina (Old Town), a vibrant place packed with twisty lanes and shopping souks. In the heart of the Jewish Quarter, you will see an incredible 12th-century Grand Mosque with a green-tiled roof. Our local guide is taking you to the Royal Stables in Meknes which used to be home to twelve thousand royal horses. Although most of the stables are in ruins because of the earthquake in the 18th century, you will be amazed by the sheer size of the stables.

Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail is our next stop. Home to the tomb of Sultan Moulay Ismail, the mausoleum boasts a truly breathtaking interior with an abundance of Moroccan religious decorations. It is possible to enter the outer parts of the complex and the tomb hall, while the actual mosque is only open to Muslims. Later in the day, you will be visiting the Roman ruins of Volubilis which are located just a short drive from the city. Sitting atop a hill, the surviving columns, remarkable mosaics, and temple remnants are a sight to behold. Drive to Rabat for overnight awaits you.

The country’s capital city, Rabat is a lovely city to explore. With wide boulevards, several historical attractions, and a beautiful medina, it’s easy to see why this coastal city is a popular tourist destination. You will start your day with a visit to the glittering Mausoleum of King Mohammed V that features an opulent tomb chamber with zellige tilework. The unfinished Hassan Tower is just a short walk away.

Originally, the tower was supposed to become a minaret but never did. However, this 45-meter high tower boasts lovely motifs and designs and is worth visiting. Later in the day, our local guide will take you to a medieval fortified city that is buried in the center of Rabat. This city is called Chellah and features many Roman and Islamic ruins including abandoned buildings and bathing pools. We end the day with a visit to the Andalusian Gardens where you will have a chance to see Andalusian flowers and orange, lemon and banana trees. This is an excellent place to wander and admire the nature.

In the morning, you will be departing from Rabat to travel to Marrakech, the most popular tourist destination in Morocco. There will be plenty of opportunities for breaks during the trip and we will be passing by some picturesque areas. Once we arrive at the Red City, you can check in your riad and go on a horse-drawn carriage around the city's walls. In the evening, watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace in the main square. Make sure to rest, as we have plenty of fascinating places in Marrakech to discover tomorrow.

Check also our Majestic Morocco Tour – 9 days

After breakfast, our local guide is taking to the Majorelle Gardens which were rescued from desolation by Yves St Laurent. Expect to see lush greenery, tranquil streams, and nearly 200 species of plants. The garden is named after the French painter, Jacques Majorelle, who spent most of his life creating these remarkable gardens. As soon as we enter the old city, you will see Bab Agnaou, one of Medina’s fascinating gates. This is the main entrance to the Kasbah and probably the most unique of Marrakech’s nineteen gates. You will be visiting the Saadian Tombs which are a burial ground to 55 members Saadian dynasty. These tombs were sealed for centuries before being rediscovered in 1917. Well-preserved and carefully restored, the tombs are one of the city’s most popular attractions.

The synagogue of the Mellah is your next destination Built in 1492, Slat al-Azama Synagogue originally served to accommodate the Jewish community. Nowadays, the synagogue has a lovely central courtyard and is a great place to visit while exploring the streets of Marrakesh. One of the city’s most beautiful buildings is the Bahia Palace. It took 60 years to complete this masterpiece. You can walk through the massive marble grand courtyard and check out the nicely decorated rooms that are open to the public. We are taking you to the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts where you can see a nice collection of musical instruments, embroidered leather, pottery artifacts, and costumes put together by the famous Dutch art historian Bert Flint.

No visit to Marrakesh's labyrinthine medina (old city) would be complete without visiting some of the souks (markets) including the Babouche (shoe) Souk, Chouari (carpenter's) Souk, and the Cherratine (leather) Souk. Our last stop will be the famous Djemaa El Fna market where you listen to live music, try local delicacies from the food stalls, and observe various shows taking place.

On the last day, you will be transferred to the airport for departure. As we say in Morocco, you are always welcome back to your second home.