Morocco Northern Explorer – Private Tour – 9 Days

We depart early this morning for our journey to Fes. We will have a stop for midday meal in Meknes and have a guided city tour to explore Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities. Visit the spectacular 12th century Grande Mosque with its impressive green tiled roof and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail where you can see the magnificent tomb of the sultan Moulay Ismail.

After midday meal, we move on to the Roman settlement of Volubilis for a guided tour. It is the largest ancient site in Morocco and is UNESCO listed dating back to AD 40. It is a well-preserved Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire. We also stop at the holiest city of Moulay Idriss, which only opened to non-Muslims in 2005. It was here that Moulay Idriss arrived in 789, bringing with him the religion of Shiism, and starting a new dynasty. In addition to founding the town named after him, he also initiated the construction of Fes, which continued later by his son Moulay Idriss II.

We then move on to Fes tonight where we will stay overnight.

Overnight – Fes (Breakfast included).

Today, we take the guided tour of Fes. Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. Its medina, home to 400,000 inhabitants, with only donkeys and bikes as a means of transportation, is a heady mix of aromas, sights and sounds. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit but be aware that only Muslims can enter Mosques in Morocco. After exploring the dye-pits, tanneries, pharmacy, pottery and restaurants, we return to our hotel to freshen up for tonight, where we have the chance of an optional local cuisine in the city with live Moroccan entertainment including traditional music, belly dancing and magicians.

Overnight Fes (Breakfast included).

After our morning meal we head for Chefchaouen. A midday meal stop in Ouazzane offers us the opportunity to explore this picturesque town which is well known in Morocco, and the Islamic world, as the spiritual capital, for it was home to many of the pillars of Sufism. Many Jews also consider Ouazzane to be a holy city and make pilgrimages there to venerate the tomb of several Moroccan saints. We reluctantly must leave this historic place, but we look with anticipation to continue to our arrival in Chefchaouen.

High up in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen boasts a beautiful blue door and white-walled medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah (built back in the 18th century), central mosque and cafes with authentic menus. The busy market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist fare. On arrival, you will have time to explore the town and find yourself a nice restaurant in the lively square for dinner.

Overnight Chefchaouen (Breakfast included).

Today you have a full day to explore Chefchaouen, visit the market, enjoy a coffee at the square, meander through the steep cobbled lanes with blue washed buildings, watch the leather and weaving workshops and soak up the atmosphere of this unique town.

Alternatively, you can take the optional tour of a visit to the Akchour falls, a 2-hour beautiful drive which will take you to Cascades d’Akchour. From the bottom, you can do a 2-hour leisurely hike to the top of the falls where the views are unforgettable. Feel free to bring a bathing suit to have a lovely swim.

Overnight Chefchaouen (Breakfast included).

We must bid a fond farewell to Chefchaouen this morning to leave for Tangier.

Tangier, the gateway between Africa and Europe, is a major city in the northwest. It is located on the Maghreb coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernization. This city has inspired such artists as Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac and the Rolling Stones. Even Matisse found inspiration here.

Its blend of cultures and influences is unique in Morocco and you will have enough time to explore this beautiful Moroccan port. You can visit the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that is now a museum of Moroccan artefacts, visit the old and new medina’s or just sit and enjoy some fantastic people watching.

Overnight Tangier (Breakfast and Dinner included).

Today, we must return to the South of Morocco. After morning meal, we set off on our travels to the capital Rabat. We have a guided tour of the city where we will be visiting the Oudaia Kasbah in the oldest part of the city and we can see the Hassan Tower - Rabat’s most famous landmark. The Royal Palace is also a must see whilst we are here.

After midday meal, we will continue to Casablanca where we will arrive in time for you to head into the heart of the city to enjoy the night life and an optional evening meal.

Overnight Casablanca (Breakfast included).

This morning, you will have an option to visit the Hassan II Mosque. This spectacular mosque is worth a visit. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and the second largest in all of Africa, with the world’s tallest minaret of 210 meters. At the top of the minaret is a laser whose light is directed towards Mecca. The walls are handcrafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 25,000 worshippers can gather for prayer inside and 80,000 outside. It really is a sight to behold!

*NB: Hassan Mosque tour is not available during Ramadan.

We then head to Marrakech and arrive in time for midday meal. You may wish to book yourself onto our guided city tour this afternoon. It’s well worth it as this city has so much to offer. Its great pride and landmark are the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the UNESCO-listed medina and Djemâa -el -Fna, an extraordinary gathering and marketplace.

If a city tour isn’t your thing, feel free to relax by the pool, do some shopping or enjoy a hammam experience before we meet up in the evening for our last group meal.

Overnight Marrakech (Breakfast and Dinner included).

Your adventure tour ends after morning meal. (Breakfast included).