The Magic of Morocco Luxury Tour

History, Culture, Art, and Architecture in Morocco

jamaa elfna One of Africa’s most geographically, culturally, and socially diverse areas, Morocco is spectacularly beautiful. Possessing some of the highest mountains on the continent, and is laced with fertile plateaus and plains giving way to the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco is home to the ancient cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains. The mélange of cultures, including African, Berber, Jewish, Islamic, and European, is added to the influences of the early Egyptians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans, making the history and culture of Morocco undeniably fascinating and remarkably exotic.

Guests will enjoy an itinerary incorporating some of the most distinctive and diverse areas in Morocco, studying the history, art, and crafts with the most qualified, well-known indigenous experts. Trips to private palaces, homes, and art collections will be combined with major cultural attractions, as well as the opportunity to study and purchase Moroccan crafts, which have been famous for their variety and quality for centuries. Join us as we venture amongst the mosaics of the Roman City Volubilis, the exotic Mellah, the Medina of Fez, and the romantic, scented gardens of Marrakech. Morocco is a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and culture – an experience not to be missed.

Day 1: New York - Casablanca

You will depart in the evening from John F. Kennedy Airport, in New York, and will fly non-stop on a Royal Air Maroc flight to Casablanca. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight.

Day 2: Casablanca - Rabat

You will arrive in the morning at Casablanca’s Mohamed V Airport. Your guide will meet you there, and assist you in transferring your belongings from the airport to your hotel in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Rabat possesses an exotic legacy that spans centuries, resulting in an exciting visual tapestry of many architectural styles, which depict its historical development. You will spend your afternoon exploring the city, with a tour highlighting the Mellah (Jewish quarter), the Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Oudaya Kasbah, and the Andalous Gardens.

Day 3: Rabat - Volubilis - Meknes - Fez

You will spend your day en route to Fez via Volubilis and Moulay Idris. You will visit the Roman ruins in Volubilis, the Roman capital of Northwestern Africa. You will then stop for lunch in the city of Moulay Idris, which is relished for its centuries-old legacy, dating back to the 8th century, when it was the capital of the premier Arab dynasty. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Fez, where you will visit many of the city’s distinctive sights, including the Andalous quarter, the Jewish quarter, and the Bat’Restarantha Museum of Moroccan Arts. You will return to your hotel, La Maison Bleue, for dinner and other accommodations.

Day 4: Fez

You will spend your day exploring the magical city of Fez. In the morning, you will take a walking tour of the Medina, a walled city of medieval origin, replete with a maze made up of twisting alleyways, blind turns, and stoic arches. Within this architectural masterpiece, you can find a plethora of mosques, shrines, fountains, workshops, and markets. You will eat lunch at a typical Moroccan restaurant, which has been converted from a Moorish home. You will spend the afternoon continuing your exploration of the Medina, ending your day with dinner and entertainment at the restaurant Asmaa.

Day 5: Fez - Afourer

You will depart Fez in the morning, journeying through the Middle Atlas Mountains via Azrou and Khenifra. You will visit one of the most distinguished craft cooperatives in the country, and follow paths where you might see bands of Barbery apes. You will eat lunch in Khenifra, a place with inhabitants that remain predominantly nomadic. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at the Hotel le Tazarkount, in Afourer.

Day 6: Afourer - Marrakech

You will depart in the morning for Marrakech, where you will visit the Majorelle gardens, owned by Yves St. Laurent and complete with a private museum. The gardens were recently renovated by Yves St. Laurent, although they were originally designed by the French painter Majorelle. You will have lunch in the colonial Gueliz, and spend your afternoon visiting the Menara Pavilion, the Saadian Tombs, and Dar Si Said Museum. The tour will conclude at the Jemaa el Fna Square during the height of its activity, complete with musicians, clowns, and street entertainers. You will end your day with dinner at Yacout, Marrakech’s finest traditional restaurant.

Day 7: Marrakech - Telouat

In the morning, you will venture into the High-Atlas Mountains, to visit the Telouat fortress. The fortress is what remains of a strongold belonging to the Berber chieftain El Glaoui (the Lord of the Atlas). You will stop for lunch in Taddert, eating at the highest pass in Morocco, Tizi n’Tishka. In the afternoon, ou will return to Marrakech in order to visit the private art and craft collection of Bert Flint.

Day 8: Marrakech

You will spend your morning visiting the Mellah, the Synagogue, the Koranic School, and various Marrakech bazaars. You will have the afternoon to yourself, and will spend the evening enjoying the overwhelming beauty of Marrakech after sundown, riding in a Renaissance carriage.

Day 9: Marrakech - Essaouira

You will depart Marrakech in the morning for the picturesque seaside city of Essaouira. Upon your arrival, you will tour the colorful port that was once used by Orson Welles in his production of “Othello.” You will stop for lunch at the Chalet de la Plage, and spend your afternoon visiting the Mellah, the Medina, and various art galleries. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at the romantic Hotel Villa Maroc.

Day 10: Essaouira - Taroudant

In the morning, you will travel to Taroudant, where you will feast on a typical Berber tagine lunch, seated high above a banana plantation. You will pass through forests of the indigenous Argan and Thuya trees, where you may see the region’s notorious tree-climbing goats. You will break for afternoon tea at the Hotel Gazelle d’Or, Morocco’s most exclusive resort. Finally, you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at the Palais Salam, formerly a Pasha’s guest house, nestled into the city’s massive walls.

Day 11: Taroudant

You will spend your morning touring the city of Taroudant. Surrounded by red ochre walls, Taroudant is one of south Morocco’s most elegant towns, with its rich bazaars reflecting a strong tradition of arts and crafts. You will eat lunch at the Tioute Oasis, and then stroll leisurely through this desert’s paradise. You will conclude your day with a farewell dinner at your hotel.

Day 12: Taroudant - Agadir - New York

You will depart for the Agadir Airport early in the morning. There you will catch a flight connecting you to Casablanca, where you will board your plane for a non-stop Royal Air Maroc flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport with a lifetime’s worth of memories packed neatly into your suitcase.

Cost per person baseed on double ocupancy: $2650.00

What is included:

Round trip air tickets between New York and Casablanca
10 nights accommodations in four and five star hotels with full bathrooms
Half board (breakfast and dinner daily)
Land transportation in an air conditioned vehicle
Services of English-speaking guides and tour leader
Fees for monuments and museums
Hotel tax and service charges

Hotels Used:

Rabat: Hotel Tour Hassan, 1 night
Fez: Hotel Riad Yacout, 2 nights
Afourer: Hotel Tazarkount, 1 night
Marrakech: Hotel El andalous, 3 nights
Essaouira: Hotel Riad Oussia, 1 night
Taroudant: Palais Salam, 2 nights

Maximum of 12 participants, departs any Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday.