DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1: CASABLANCA - FEZ
Upon arrival in Casablanca you will be met by at the airport by your private driver and guide and taken on a tour of the city including inside the ornate Hassan II Mosque, the largest in the world and the only Mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims. When the interior of the Mosque is closed to non-Muslims on Fridays for prayer, you'll tour the breathtaking exterior. You'll see some other sights around the city such as the Pasha's palace (now city hall), the gates of the royal palace, the Nouvelle Medina, Place des Nations Unites (United Nations Square), Anfa district, Arab League Park and the art deco district built by the French during their occupation. Then transfer to the Casa Voyagers train station for the 4-hour train ride to Fez.

Upon arrival in Fez you will be met at the train station and transferred to your hotel for the night.

Day 2: FEZ

After breakfast at your hotel your guide will meet you in the lobby and take you on a private walking and driving tour of Fez.

If you had to choose one city to embody Morocco, it would be Fez. Founded in the 9th century, Fez reached its height in the 13th–14th centuries. The urban fabric and the principal monuments in the medina – madrasas, fondouks, palaces, residences, mosques and fountains - date from this period. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fez has retained its status as the country's cultural and spiritual center.

Inside of 8 kilometers of fortified walls is the tangled maze of narrow streets that make up the Fez medina, the world’s most complicated labyrinth city. Designed to thwart invasions, today it mostly thwarts the independent tourists from finding their way. Rest assured, with your guide, the secrets of the city will be be revealed and you'll miss none of the sights.

One of our favorite places is to get away is the shop Dar Zaouia. A carpet shop located in a restored villa deep it the old city, the Zaouia is the only shop offering more learning experience then sales pitch. While you relax in the cool quiet of the Dar and enjoy a glass of mint tea, you'll be given a lesson in Moroccan rugs from wool to spinning, dying to tying, and know the differences between a kilim and imperial which is only talked about by serious rug collectors. And if you're interested, they'll of course be more than happy to sell you a rug or two.

Day 3: MEKNES & VOLUBILIS
After breakfast at your hotel you'll start your tour in the region around Fez. An hour drive from Fez is the imperial city of Meknes. Founded in the 11th century, the city is home to sights such as the tomb of Moulay Ismail, Bab (gate) El Mansour, Bab Jemaâ En Nouar, Place El Hedim, Bab El Khamiss, the Mellah, Heri es-Souani granaries, and the Agdal basin.

Not far from Meknes, the next stop is the Roman ruins of Volubilis. A thriving settlement until the 4th century, its fine mosaics and remnants of the city's architectural splendor still survive. Oddly enough, many of the columns and much of the marble that you saw in Meknes were looted from these ruins.

Practically across the road from Volubilis lies the holy city of Moulay Idriss, harboring the sanctuary of the founder of the Idrissid dynasty and is now the destination of a yearly pilgrimage.

Return to your hotel in the early evening.

Day 4: FEZ – MARRAKECH

This morning after breakfast you will be taken to the train station for the ride to Marrakech via Rabat. Enjoy the spectacular scenery while sipping tea for your first or second class carriage.
Upon arrival in Marrakech you will be met at the train station and taken to your riad for the evening. For dinner we always recommend the greatest adventure in Marrakech, the Djemaa el-Fna, a square filled with musicians, story tellers, snake charmers, dancers, and almost every variety of food to be found in Morocco.

Day 5: MARRAKECH
After breakfast at your riad, your guide will meet you for a private walking tour of the city.

While Fez was the center of learning and culture, Marrakech to the south was more of a Berber camp behind high walls. It was transient, colorful, and exciting, a sprawling country market set in the middle of a palm-fringed plain. As time passed, focus shifted from Fez to Marrakech filling the city with palaces, monuments, gardens, and tourists. But through it all, the city stays true to its colorful roots.

Your guided walking tour of the city will include admissions and guided tour of the significant sights in Marrakech. Starting when the guide meets you at your accommodations, you'll see the Saadian Tombs and the Bahai Palace, the Koutoubia mosque, the famous souks and the historic medersas, ending at the Djema el Fna square by lunch. From there you can continue to explore and discover Marrakech on your own. Armed with a feel for the city, you'll find Marrakech a much easier city to navigate than Fez. If you want to escape the rush, the Garden Menara is the place with its tranquil basin and olive groves set against the Atlas Mountains.

Day 6: MARRAKECH
Today is your day to get up close and personal with the city. After breakfast at your accommodations, the rest of the day is yours. Head back into the souks for some shopping adventures, or take a break at the Garden Majorelle.

Take a day trip into the Ourika Valley of the High Atlas Mountains to explore at a leisurely pace or head to Essaouira, the walled city perched on the rocky shores of the Atlantic. Designed by a European hired by the Sultan, it was once a major trading port, but with its sheltered long white beach, quaint fishing harbor, and excellent seafood, it’s now known as a tourist destination. With its bright, airy, narrow streets with whitewashed buildings and blue doors, Essaouira seems strangely out of place. Its laid back atmosphere is a stark contrast to other historical cities in Morocco, making it a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.

Day 7: MARRAKECH - CASABLANCA

Depending on what time your flight departs Casablanca you may spend the morning continuing to explore Marrakech or you may need to return to Casablanca as early as possible. If you have a very early flight than it is advisable to spend the evening at a hotel conveniently located near the Casablanca Airport instead of in Marrakech.

Price includes:
• 6 Nights accommodation boutique hotels and riads
• All private guided touring as shown
• Airport and Train Station Transfers
• All admission fees during tours
• 8 Meals
• First or Second Class Train Tickets
• One way flights from Aswan to Cairo
• All entrance fees, local taxes and fees

Price does not include:
• Tips for drivers and guides
• Airport departure taxes
• Items of a personal nature