Best of Morocco - 9 Days

Morocco is a colourful mix of Islamic, Arabic and African influences. Spain and France have left their mark too, making for a rich and unique travel experience.

Included Premium Highlights

    * In Meknes, visit one of the very few Islamic religious buildings open to non-Muslims

Included Personal Insights

    * Visit a Moroccan family home to witness a traditional mint tea preparation ceremony

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * View the Royal Palace, Mohammed V Mausoleum & Hassan Tower in Rabat
    * Visit the Bab el-Mansour Gate in Meknes
    * Visit the Medina & shop for Moroccan carpets in Fes
    * Visit the pottery workshops of Fes
    * See the Ziz Gorges & the Oasis Region of Tinehir
    * View the spectacular scenery of the High & Middle Atlas Mountains
    * Visit the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou
    * Visit the Saadi Tombs & see the Koutobia Minaret in Marrakesh

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 9
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Highlight Dinner & Folklore Show with belly dancing in Fes (HD)
    * 8 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 2 Lunches (L), 6 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - ARRIVE CASABLANCA

Welcome to Morocco, considered the 'Jewel of North Africa'! Known to the Arabs as "the farthest land of the setting sun!", it is a land so intrinsically beautiful and rich with heritage, it has attracted seekers of the exotic over the centuries. Even for the most seasoned travellers, there is much to see & do. On arrival at Casablanca Airport, your airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00. Then relax & settle in. Tonight join your Tour Director & fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Sheraton Casablanca. (D).

Day 2 - CASABLANCA - RABAT - MEKNES - FES

After a sightseeing tour of Casablanca, depart for the capital Rabat to see the mausoleum of King Mohammed V & the Royal Palace. Now on to one of the kingdom's imperial cities, Meknes, dating back to the 11th century, its surroundings remaining unchanged for centuries. Make a rare highlight visit inside the mosque & see Bab el-Mansour gateway before continuing to Fes.

Hotel: Ramada. (BB,D).

Day 3 - FES SIGHTSEEING

A day packed with fantastic sights & smells as you tour this carefully preserved university city, which had its golden age in the fourteenth century, during the reign of the Merinides dynasty. Visit the medina of Fes & walk through its old streets. See one of the oldest universities in the world, taking time to haggle in the Bazaar & see Moroccan pottery. Oriental rugs are an attraction for bargain hunters - witness this most important handicraft of Fes. Enjoy a superb Moroccan dinner & a folklore show with drums & belly dancing. (BB,HD)

Day 4 - FES - ZIZ GORGES - ERFOUD

Leave the bustle of the city behind & head for the spectacular snow-capped High Atlas Mountains. Pass through Ifrane before reaching the great cedar forests of Azrou. Travel up through the magnificent Ziz Gorges, past palm fringed towns to Er Rachidia, built by the French at an important crossroads. Your destination is Erfoud, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. This evening there is the option to witness the glorioussunset in the Sahara.

Hotel: Chergui Kasbah. (BB,L,D)

Day 5 - ERFOUD - TODRA GORGE - DADES VALLEY - OUARZAZATE

Venture towards the oasis of Tinehir, noted for its silver & jewelry workshops. Take a detour to explore the Todra Gorge - the Grand; Canyon of the Sahara. At Boumalne-du-Dades, encounter the dry rugged Dades Valley, dotted with oases of figs, olives, date palms & with castellated mud houses hugging the slopes. The route concludes at Ouarzazate, film capital of Morocco, with everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Star Wars being filmed here.

Hotel: La Berbere Palace. (BB,L,D)

Day 6 - OUARZAZATE - AIT BENHADDOU - MARRAKESH

Get your cameras ready as you stop at the village of Aït Benhaddou, boasting one of Morocco's finest kasbahs. Continue via the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass before descending past charming mountain villages, dense woods & green fields to the ochre coloured city of Marrakesh.

Hotel: Atlas Medina & Spa. (BB,D)

Day 7 - MARRAKESH

Sightseeing includes an exploration of the fascinating Medina (old town), the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret dominates the Marrakesh skyline, & a visit to the secluded tombs of the Saadi dynasty, hidden behind high walls. After some time to watch the dancers, storytellers & acrobats at the bustling Djemaa El Fna Square, take a scenic drive south of Marrakesh to the beautiful Ourika Valley. Visit a Moroccan family home to witness a traditional mint tea preparation ceremony before returning to your hotel. Tonight, maybe consider an optional horse & buggy ride to the magical Jemaa el Fna Square to enjoy the sights &sounds by night, followed by dinner in a typical Moroccan restaurant? (BB)

Day 8 - MARRAKESH - CASABLANCA

Heading towards the Atlantic coast, say goodbye to the snake charmers of Marrakesh & drive back to Casablanca. Now you've experienced the traditional charms of the country, Casablanca is a fascinating place to return to, offering a unique insight into modern Morocco. In many ways, the economic capital represents the hopes & dreams of the country. Spend your last afternoon at leisure, enjoying this vibrant city at your own pace.

Hotel: Sheraton Casablanca. (BB,D)

Day 9 - CASABLANCA

Our Moroccan adventure comes to an end with departure transfers arriving at Casablanca Airport at 07:00, 10:00 & 12:00 hours. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately DIR 1055 for optional excursions.

FEZ03 - SEFROU + BHALIL
An opportunity to visit two unique communities. We will see the village of Bhalil, where local people still live in dwellings carved from the rock face. Warm in winter but cool in the searing summer heat, these houses are perfect adaptations to the local climate. Sefrou was once a thriving Jewish community. The synagogue remains as a small memorial, and can be visited. (The synagogue may be closed on some occasions). DIR 250

ERF01 - DAY BREAK IN THE SAHARA
We take jeeps from our hotel and travel 50km (30 miles) to the sand dunes of the Sahara. Here we mount camels, 'the ships of the desert', which take us to a point where we can witness the glorious daybreak in the Sahara. DIR 490

MRR04 - MAJORELLE GARDENS + BAHIA PALACE
No visit to Marrakesh is complete without some time in the lovely Majorelle Gardens, bought and restored by the late Yves St. Laurent. We will see the interior of the only Royal Palace in Morocco which is open to the public - the Bahia Palace; with its courtyards and pavilions decorated with exquisite wood carvings and tiles. DIR 250

MRR03dir - MARRAKESH BY NIGHT & DINNER
We take a horse and buggy ride to the magical Jemaa el Fna Square to enjoy the sights and sounds by night. Then we have dinner in a typical Moroccan restaurant. DIR 565