Morocco Tours
Luxury Imperial Cities and Sahara Tours in
Morocco
Most complete
holidays in Morocco
A walking, hiking and trekking tour in Morocco
Morocco
offers the ultimate quest for those in search of new horizons for best
Travel and holidays in Morocco. To
travel in Morocco is to take a journey that
will forever change one’s perspectives and perceptions.
With its ever-changing natural beauty and
intricate, rich history, Morocco
is the ideal catalyst for the curious and open-minded. This the
ultimate Morocco tour that features all aspects of Morocco landscapes
and people.
Day 1: New York
– Casablanca
You will begin your exotic tour to Morocco on a Royal Air Maroc
carrier. With exceptional service and
Moroccan hospitality, you will enjoy beverages, a delicious dinner, and
a
complimentary movie on your flight.
Day 2: Casablanca
Upon your arrival at the Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, you will meet
your guide, who will take you immediately to check in to your hotel in
Cassablanca. That afternoon, you will
explore Casablanca,
the
largest
port of the Maghred, and “capital in all but administration.” You will conclude your day with dinner at
your hotel.
Day 3: Casablanca
– Rabat
In the morning, you will depart for Rabat,
the capital of Morocco. Styled in a spaciously elegant European grid,
yet slightly self-conscious of its modernity, Rabat has an ancient legacy that
spans
hundreds of generations. Each
civilization that has inhabited the city has left its mark, resulting
in a wide
variety in architectural styles including those from the Phoenician and
Roman
eras. You will spend your day
discovering the delights Rabat
has to offer, ending with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 4: Rabat
– Meknès – Fez
You will travel to Meknes on
an excursion that embodies a large part of Morocco’s
early history. First you will travel
through Volubilis,
Morocco’s
Roman provincial capital for an archeology guided tour, and then
through Moulay Idris, a creation of
the
country’s premier Arab dynasty. You will
then continue onward to Fez,
where you will be provided with dinner and accommodations at your hotel.
Day 5: Fez
Undeniably fascinating, Fez
stimulates the senses with its haunting
yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of imperial capitals and the
most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of
a city
suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides
its walls,
owing nothing to the Western world save electricity.
Time spent in Fez
will reveal much about the sophistication
of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience
to those
who cross its path. Your morning will be
spent visiting the Medina. Fully escorted and guided tour of Fez Medina.
You will break for lunch at a typical
Moroccan restaurant and will continue to explore and shop for the
remainder of
the day.
Day 6:
Fez
– Azrou – Midelt – Erfoud
You will spend your day discovering the rural environs of
the Atlas Mountains’ Berbers. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar
trees, and poplars, and laced with flowing streams, your first view of
the
Middle Atlases will appear oddly un-Moroccan.
You will soon come across the first real town of the Middle
Atlases,
Azrou, an important market center for the region’s Berber tribes that
is
located at a major junction of mountain routes.
At Midelt, the Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas
Mountains,
whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. You will stop in Midelt for lunch, enjoying
the dramatic sight before you. You will
then continue to Erfoud, one of the most delightful southern regions
consisting
of a dry, red belt of desert with a sudden drop into the lush valley of Ziz,
with copious date palm groves and flowing streams.
You will conclude your day with dinner in
your hotel.
Day 7: Merzouga Dunes – Rissani – Erfoud
With its
indescribable beauty, watching the sun as it rises over the spectacular
Merzouga dunes is an experience that should not be missed.
Afterward, you will eat breakfast with the Toaregs and continue
onward, transported in Land Rovers, to explore the ancient, holy oasis
of Rissani. There, you will visit the
ruins of Sijilmassa, remnants of the first Arab and Islamic city of Morocco,
and the prehistoric fossils present throughout the desert.
You will then return to your hotel for the evening.
Day 8: Erfoud –
Tinghir
Only 15 kilometers from Tinghir, you will find the Todras,
the highest, narrowest gorges in the region.
You will travel through the Dadès valley, where in the
spring, thousands
of Persian roses bloom in hedgerows, filling the air with their
heavenly
perfume. You will also see the thousands
of Kasbahs scattered along the Dadès River,
majestic
sandcastles with a visually appealing, timeless beauty.
Your day will end with dinner and other
accommodations at the Hotel in Tinghir.
Day 9:
Tinghir – Ouarzazat
You will explore the Dades Valley,
traveling through El Kelaâ De Mgouna and Boumalne to view the
inimitable
natural vistas and unusual rock formations.
You will then continue onward to Ouarzazate, where one large
oasis
intercepts the flow of water between the Dadès, the Drâa
valleys, and the
majestic High Atlas Mountains. You will
conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations in your hotel.
Day 10: Ouarzazate – Marrakesh
You will spend most of your day en route to Marrakesh, exploring the legendary
Kasbah of
Aït-Benhaddou, a renowned architectural marvel, and stopping in
Taddart and
Tizi Tishka pass, at an altitude of 11,000 feet. The
pass divides the mountains into two
distinct facets: the harsh, stark side
acting as a shield that protects the hinterland from the harsh, dry
expansion
of the Sahara, and a lush side, soft and evergreen, which collects the
moisture
from the Gherbi winds of the Atlantic Ocean. You will arrive in Marrakech, a city of
pleasure
for both visitors and locals, where southern tribesmen and Berber
villagers
bring their goods to market and find a variety of entertainment. To tourists, the city is a feast for the
imagination, full of incomparable beauty, situated before the towering
mountains that provide a thrilling backdrop.
After a visit to the bustling Jemaa El Fna square, you will
conclude
your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 11: Marrakech
You will devote your morning to the exploration of Marrakech’s
many historical sites, including the Menara, a magnificent pool
surrounded by
flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice,
constructed
in 1866 for the dignitaries, who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the
ethereal Atlas Mountains as a
backdrop. The pool also functions as an
innovative
irrigation system that is adapted to life in the desert.
Your tour will cover many impressive sites,
including the Koutoubia Minaret (which is identical to la Giralda, a
tower
found in Sevilla, Spain), and the Saadien
tombs,
which demonstrate Moorish architecture at its best.
The tombs consist of sixteenth-century
mausoleums, which lay walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. You will then return to your hotel for the
night.
Day 12: Marrakesh – Ourika
Valley
You will begin your day with an excursion to the Ourika Valley,
where you will visit the traditional Berber Souks, as well as the
Jewish
shrines. After lunch, you will discover
the workshops of the local artisans, enjoying their sophisticated,
hand-made
products. You will return to Marrakech
for dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 13: Marrakech
– Essaouira
You will begin your day by traveling to Essaouira (Mogador),
a picturesque city with a rich history.
With a fascinating antiquity, Essaouira was occupied by the
Phoenicians
and Carthaginians, supplied essential purple dyes to the Romans,
absorbed the
sophisticated Jewish arts of silversmithing, and spent centuries as a
Portuguese enclave. Despite the obvious
influence of these civilizations, Essaouira has managed to remain a
small,
authentic Berber town. Alive with the
breath of fresh air provided by the Atlantic,
Essaouira is a jewel nestled in the ragged coast, with a vast expanse
of empty
sands trailing back along the promontory towards the South. After an introductory tour, you will conclude
your day with dinner in your hotel.
Day 14: Essaouira
– Casablanca
You will travel to Casablanca,
stopping at El Oualidia for a seafood lunch.
You will continue onward to El Jadida, where you will visit the
citadel,
evidence of the 11th century Portuguese occupation. Finally, you will arrive in Casablanca,
having completed a journey that
has led you through immeasurable antiquity.
You will conclude your day with a farewell dinner and spend the
night at
the Hotel.
Day
15: Casablanca – New York
In the morning, you will travel to the Mohamed V Airport for
your transatlantic return flight to New York.
Includes:
-
Round-trip flights between New York and Casablanca
via Royal Air Maroc
-
13 Nights accommodation in 4
and 5 star hotels
-
Breakfast and dinner daily
-
Land transportation in an
air-conditioned,
chauffeured vehicle
-
Services of English-speaking
guides and tour
leader
-
Entrance fees to monuments and
museums
- Hotel tax and service charges
Hotels
used, Deluxe
Tour of Morocco (5 Stars):
-
Casablanca: Anfa Palace
Hotel, 2 nights
-
Rabat:
Tour Hassan Hotel,
1 night
-
Fez: Royal Mirage
Hotel, 2 nights
-
Erfoud: Kasbah Dar El
Janoub, 2 nights
-
Tinghir: Kasbah Lamrani,
1 night
-
Ouarzazate: Berber Palace
Hotel, 1 night
-
Marrakesh:
El Andalous Hotel, 3 nights
-
Essaouira: Hotel riad
Loussia,
1 night
Cost
per person,
based on double occupancy: $2,885
Hotels
used, Good Holidays in Morocco
(4 stars):
-
Casablanca:
2 nights, Hotel Suisse
-
Rabat:
1 night, Hotel Chellah
-
Fez: 2 nights, Riad
Pacha
-
Erfoud: 2 nights, Hotel
Belere
-
Tinghir: 1 night, Hotel
Bougafer
-
Ouarzazate: 1 night,
Belere Kenzi
-
Marrakesh:
3 nights, El Andalous
-
Essaouira: 1 night, Hotel
Des Iles
Cost
per person,
based on double occupancy: $2,485
Maximum 12 participants
| Your camel
awaits you in Marrakech. |
Sight Seeing:
UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Fez Medina, Volubilis Roman ruines, Bab el
Mansour in Meknes, Kasbah Glaoui, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Jamaa el Fna
Square, Berber Villages, Atlas Mountains, Souks,
Shopping Formal Gardens, Holy Sites, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Sidi Ahmed
Tijani, Nomads in their migration or tents, Historical Sites.
The Karawiyyine Mosque:
Founded in 670, Kairouan flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the
9th century. Despite the transfer of the political capital to Tunis in
the 12th century, Kairouan remained the Maghreb’s principal holy city.
With its rich architectural heritage, it includes the Great Mosque,
with the marble and porphyry columns, and the 9th-century Mosque of the
forteen Gates. It is a center of learning for all islamic world
and first university of Morocco.
Bab Semmarine:
A large Almohad door that leads to Fez Jdid. The construction of this
city took place in the 13th century, around 4 centuries later after
Medina was founded. Much alike to Bab Guissa, the door was believed to
adore with inside domes and was a curved one, which later altered to
contain pedestrians.
Bab Boujloud:
Here, where the minarets of the Bou Inania Medersa and the Sidi Lazaz
Mosque stand out against the sky, is the main entrance to the Medina.
Hispano-Moorish in style and built in the 13th century during the reign
of the Almohads.
Borj Nord (North Borj):
Live the golden age of weaponry: And every civilization is represented:
Indian, European or Asiatic. Nevertheless, the grand exhibits are of
Moroccan civilization. For example, there are daggers coated with
stones or the rifles with their inlaid butts. Undoubtedly, they are the
attraction of the exhibits with their sheer size and weight in
comparison with others.
Place Nejjarine:
Museum of Wood and Carpentry, once an 18th-century foundouk, is now
beautifully restored. Apart from its interesting collection, it shows
the sophistication of a Fassi mansion, with its inner courtyard, its
décor of intricate stucco, the finely carved panels of cedar and
the
mosaics and layouts of tiles.
El Attarine Medersa:
The Medersa el-Attarine or Attarine Medrasa as some locals calls it.
Situated at the end of "Attarine Souk" spice and perfume market, this
architectural splendor was created in 1325. Sultan Ya’qub Abu Said
Othman II who also had a hand in several other buildings around the
city of Fez initiated construction.
We
are a luxury Morocco travel agency that provides custom Morocco tour to
suit your convenience. We also provide tailor-made packages and allow
you to customize your Imperial Cities and Sahara tour according to your
budget
and preferences. The cost of the trip can be adjusted according to your
budget and similarly duration of the trip can also be altered to suit
your schedule. So sign up for a Cultural Tour with us and travel the
beautiful
places of Morocco at your own pace.
Activity
level: Easy to Challenging, depending on your
preference.
For 2010 Luxury Tour Information and
Reservations
contact:
Sarah Tours, Inc.
Call: (800) 267-0036 or (703)
619-0777
Fax: (703) 619-9399
Email: sarahtur@erols.com
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