Day 1: Welcome to Morocco! A local guide will be awaiting your arrival at Casablanca International airport where you will be escorted to a private vehicle and transferred to the hotel for evening.
Day 2: After breakfast, enjoy a highlight tour of Casablanca that will cover an inside visit of the Hassan II mosque, the largest mosque in the country and the 7th largest in the world. Drive along the coastline to the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum where mosaics rise from the marble floor to a ceiling of gold leaf and hand-carved cedar wood, while the three ground-floor tombs are carved from white onyx. Journey through the Imperial city of Meknes until reaching Fez for the evening.
Set within the walls of a medieval medina, this regal all-suite riad
features traditional Moroccan tiles and woodwork.
A lavish, open-air restaurant offers a terrace with panoramic city views. There’s also a serene spa with a hammam and massages. The next two-night evenings will be spent here.
Day 3: This morning you will be met at your hotel for a guided city tour of the spiritual capital of Morocco, Fez. The first stop of the morning is a visit to the entrance of the biggest royal palace in Morocco. Continue the tour at Bab Boujloud, Mellah, Jamaa Al-Karaouine the oldest continually operating university in the world. Visit The Batha Museum (a former Royal Palace converted into a museum in 1916 with over 6,000 items in their collection). The Chaouwara tanneries offer the city’s most iconic sights and smells, providing a unique window onto the pungent, natural process of producing world-class leather by methods that have changed little since medieval times. Time permitting, visit clay workshops, artisan quarters, the souks of the largest and oldest medina in Morocco before returning to the hotel for the night.
Day 4: After breakfast, a driver will transfer you to Fez international airport for a domestic flight to Marrakech. Upon arrival a driver will meet and assist you to the hotel.
This afternoon head to the beautiful Jardin Majorelle; Yves Saint Laurent gifted the Jardin Majorelle to Marrakesh, the city that adopted him in 1966. The psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents continues to be preserved. The garden is also home to the Berber Museum, which houses a small but spectacular collection of authentic Moroccan garments, weapons and jewelry, dating to the 19th century and before. The craftsmanship and artistry, particularly of the women’s dresses, had surely not been lost on Yves Saint Laurent, who arranged to have his ashes scattered in the garden, where a small monument marks his passing.
After Majorelle, witness the astonishing spectacle of Djemaa El Fna Square. Used equally by locals and tourists, find juice stalls, water sellers and snake charmers by day and dancing boys, storytellers and magicians by night.
Day 5: An exciting day awaits as Marrakech’s sights and sounds will dazzle and enchant. The morning city tour with private guide will include the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. Marrakesh is a city steeped in ancient artistry that continues to thrive, kept alive by the modern craftspeople of the souks and the contemporary art and design scene of the new town. Begin to stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets in the Medina and visit the famous Souks, selling everything from leather to clothing to spices.
Day 6: Today, discover the gorgeous Atlas Mountains, North Africa’s greatest mountain range. Admire majestic views of snow-capped mountains and spy the tiny Berber villages nestled in the hills. First stop in Asni, a small town on the way to Toubkal Mountains and then Imlil, a favorite hitching post for mountain trekkers. Exchange the car for a mule and ride to hilltop Imlil, where you will be greeted by a local and his family and invited into their home for traditional Berber bread and mint tea.
This evening is a real treat. Located in the spectacular Atlas Mountains in Morocco, the award-winning Kasbah Tamadot was bought by Sir Richard Branson during one of his famous ballooning expeditions. Each of the 28 rooms and suites has been individually decorated to reflect the beautiful architecture of the building and features antiques from all over the world. The evening is at leisure to simply relax in the luxurious surroundings. Kasbah Tamadot has been named Best Resort Hotel, North Africa and the Middle East in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2017.
Day 7: Breakfast is served on the terrace next to the pool bar (weather permitting). In addition to freshly baked bread and pastries, juices and fruit, you are welcome to order cooked dishes and Moroccan specialities from the à la carte menu. It can also be arranged for breakfast to be brought to your room on request.
Journey today to Essaouira but first visit the women’s Argan Cooperative to learn about the production of Argan Oil and its beauty products from start to finish including the many benefits and uses including culinary and cosmetics.
Nestled on the Moroccan Atlantic coast, Essaouira is a city of culture and art and has been a source of inspiration for countless artists located on the Atlantic coast.
A seaside hotel for the next two evening stay is charming.
Day 8: Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the town on your own. Watch the local fishing fleet unload their catch. Perhaps even pick a fish from their haul, and take it to a local restaurant where the cooks will prepare it for your lunch! Other optional activities include indulging in a hammam (a traditional spa and steam bath) a stroll along the beach or a surfing or sailing excursion.
Day 9: After a leisure morning a driver will journey to Casablanca and stop at a few seaside villages along the way. Check back in to Hotel Odyssee for your last night in Morocco.
Day 10: After breakfast the Moroccan journey comes to a close as a driver will transfer you to Casablanca airport for your flight back home.
Cairn Travels 