Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be met by our driver / guide. Depending on arrival time, you can visit the city of Casablanca ("the white city"). Begin with an orientation tour through its broad avenues, stroll through the narrow streets of the medina, the United Nations Square, the Place Mohammed V, the Central Market District Endowment, Boulevard of the Corniche, and Hassan II Mosque, the second largest mosque in the world. It contains many beautiful works of art, and it is one of the rare mosques that is opened to non-Muslims. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in the hotel.
Depart early towards Meknes. We will stop to visit Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, which overlooks the sea. We will see the crenellated Red Ocher Walls, which are more than 6 km long in total and built in the period of the ruling sultan Yacoub el Mansour. We will cross the medina (old city) and its souks, which are more authentic than others because the products of shops are marketed to local customers. Then we go to visit the Kasbah of Oudayas, erected by a terrible tribe of predators in the twelfth century, and the royal palace, residence of the king from the Merinide dynasty. Enjoy lunch in a nice restaurant. Afterwards, we continue our journey to Meknes, where you stay overnight in a Riad or hotel.
In the morning, your English speaking driver will take you to Meknes, one of the Moroccan imperial cities. You will start your visit by Heri Essouani, the granaries of Moulay Ismail, designed to store feed for 12,000 horses for up to 21 years; the Bassin De L'agdal, a water reservoir built to supply water not only to the palace but to the entire city as well. Habs Qara, a section of Moulay Ismail, was used as an underground prison for Christian sailors captured by pirates and used as forced labor for many of Moulay Ismail's grandiose projects. The sultan mausoleum is a calm sanctuary with beautiful curved archways and Zellige tile work. Currently, Meknes is home to the Haras de Meknes, one of the largest national stud ranches and stables.
After lunch, depart to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss Zerhoun to enjoy the wonderful nature of the region that is known for agriculture and farms of olive trees and grapes. Stop by the Roman ruins of Volubilis (UNESCO-listed world heritage site) after lunch and spend some time exploring the 2000 year old ruins, getting a picture of life during the Roman Empire. Then we continue our journey to Fez, where you can enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a Riad or Hotel.
In the morning, your guide and driver will take you on a tour of the medina ramparts (2 hours). First, you will visit Fes El Jadid (14th century section), the Jewish quarter (Mellah), and the famous tour of the royal palace. Then, we continue to the Borj Nord for a panoramic view and end your outside tour in the pottery section, where you will visit the artisans making mosaics and tiles. Later, you can explore, with an expert, the old medina called Fes El Bali (9th century section). You will visit one of the famous Madrassa (Quranic school) of the 14th century, the tanneries, the Najjarine (Carpenters) Souk, the Nejjarine Fountain and Fondouk, and the mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, the founder of Fez. Enjoy lunch in a Moroccan restaurant.
Take the road to Marrakech via Ifrane, Azrou, and Beni Mellal.
On the road to Marrakech, you will see the city of Ifrane, where the American University is located that was built by the Sauds. Enjoy tea or lunch in Ifrane and possibly have a look at the Barbary apes that run through this Swiss-looking Moroccan town. Continue on the road through Azrou, Khenifra, passing Beni Mellal, a small town surrounded by orange and olive groves . The nearby Bin el Ouidan Dam keeps the groves and other cultivated crops like beetroot and sugarcane well-watered.
Enjoy the landscape en route. Pass Beni Mellal, which is located at the foot of the Middle Atlas Mountains, on the edge of the Great Tadla Plain where cereals are cultivated. The town has an interesting history of also being called Day and Kasba Belkouche and was inhabited by the Berbers and Jews before the arrival of Islam. In the 13th century, Beni Mellal stood on the border between the kingdoms of Fes and Marrakech, which were the objects of dispute between the Merinid and AlMohad dynasties. In 1680, Moulay Idriss built a Kasbah in Beni Mellal.
Continue the road trip and arrive in Marrakech in the evening, where the tour concludes with an overnight stay.
Duration: | 5 Day / 4 Night |
lOCATION: | Casablanca - Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fez - Marrakech |
Price: |
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