11D10N Treasures Of Morocco

Join your Travel Director and fellow guests for dinner, enjoying an evening of good food and great company.

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Begin your day viewing the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, one of the largest in the world, dramatically set on the Atlantic shore. Drive along the Corniche before travelling to Rabat. See the Royal Palace, then visit the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V, a masterpiece of Alaouite architecture housing the tombs of the king and his two sons. Nearby, view the Hassan Tower, the incomplete minaret of a 12th-century mosque. Continue to Meknes, one of Morocco’s imperial cities. Pause at Bab el-Mansour, the monumental city gate currently under restoration, its intricate tilework and scale still impress. Arrive in Fes for a traditional Moroccan dinner in an ancient palace near the Medina, accompanied by live music and folkloric entertainment.

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Led by your Local Expert, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to the non-profit American Fondouk, speak with the volunteer veterinarians who care so passionately for the welfare of the animals. Wander the maze of streets that make up one of the largest thriving ancient Medina’s in the world, here you can admire traditional Moroccan handiwork during a visit to a carpet cooperative. Pass one of the world’s oldest universities and visit Medersa El Attarine, founded in 1325 located at the heart of the medina. Continue through the souks where an array of vendors sell food, clothes, leather goods and beautiful lights.

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Leave the bustle of the city behind as you journey into the snowcapped High Atlas Mountains, passing alpine Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou, home to Barbary macaques. Enjoy lunch in Midelt before continuing through the dramatic Ziz Gorges and palm-fringed towns to Errachidia, once a strategic French outpost. Arrive in Erfoud, where red-earth buildings meet desert and oasis. This evening, choose between two Insight Choice experiences: enjoy stargazing beneath unpolluted Sahara skies, or unwind in a traditional hammam with a centuries-old Beldi Black Soap ritual rooted in Moroccan and Berber traditions.

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Today, discover the authentic desert town of Rissani. See the Tomb of Moulay Ali Cherif, one of the founders of the Alaouite family who reigned during the second half of the 17th century. Next, a visit to the quarries of marine fossils with an antiquity of 360 million years. Stop at the famous Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim. This afternoon experience a traditional lunch of Madfouna, also known as ‘Berber Pizza’, this dish is a delight for the senses with seasonal fillings and spices. The rest of the afternoon will be free time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. In the evening, there is an Optional Experience to marvel at the glorious Sahara sunset on a four-wheel drive vehicle. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

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Venture towards the oasis of Tinehir and explore the Todra Gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of the Sahara. Stop at a traditional farm to learn how local produce is cultivated using time-honoured methods. Then, enjoy a Farm-to-Table lunch of traditional Moroccan cuisine at Restaurant Yasmine. At Boumalne du Dadès, take in the stark beauty of the Dades Valley, where oases of figs, olives and date palms punctuate the slopes, dotted with castellated mudbrick houses. Later, meet the locals as you visit a traditional Nomad house and share authentic Berber tea. The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs concludes in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s film capital, where epics like Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars were filmed.

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Marvel at and photograph the architectural wonder of Ksar of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your journey continues via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass, before descending past charming mountain villages, dense woods and green fields to the ochre-coloured city of Marrakesh. With the rest of the day at your leisure, why not relax and enjoy the immaculate facilities of your hotel?

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In the morning, visit Dar El Bacha – an iconic landmark in the city of Marrakesh.
Meet your Local Expert and wander the maze of the Medina and see the Koutoubia Mosque, with its minaret dominating the Marrakesh skyline. Next, to the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where you can take a moment to watch the dancers, snake charmers and storytellers. With time at leisure, you are free to continue exploring: enjoy the sensorial experience of strolling through the souks or maybe visit a museum. In the evening, perhaps choose to join fellow guests at a vibrant restaurant on Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Here, you will enjoy a slew of classic Moroccan dishes as you absorb the ambience and watch twirling belly dancers balance plates of lit candles on their heads.

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Venture to the west coast of Africa to reach the laid-back fishing town of Essaouira. After an orientation with your Travel Director, explore the busy fishing port where you could sample the local seafood and wine at a waterside restaurant. Continue to the port city of El Jadida with its unique architectural mixture of Moorish-Portuguese-French influence.

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Once you’ve experienced the traditional charms of the country, Casablanca is a fascinating place to return to and offers a unique insight into modern Morocco. Perhaps visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque famous for its intricate Islamic architecture and one of the largest in the world. In the evening ‘of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world’ there really is only one place to be. Join your Travel Director at Rick’s Cafe, recreated from the famous movie. Enjoy a hearty dinner with drinks and no doubt a rendition of ‘As Time Goes By’. Here’s looking at you kid!

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Today, bid farewell to your journey through Morocco as you transfer to the airport.

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