Day 1 – To Rabat: Fly from London
Heathrow to Casablanca with Royal Air
Maroc. Drive to Rabat and spend 2 nights at
the Le Diwan Rabat. Evening welcome dinner
at the hotel. (D)
Day 2 – Rabat: Full-day tour of Rabat. Visit
the Kasbah of the Udayas, built under the
Berber Almohad dynasty in the 12th century.
See the Hassan Tower minaret, before
continuing to the outskirts of the city to the
ancient Roman Chellah complex. . e close
proximity of the Bou Regreg river made this
an important settlement with excavations
showing the activity of a vibrant port city with
a principal Roman way, forum and triumphal
arch. The site was later added to by the
Almohads in the mid 14th century. (B)
Day 3 – To Fez via Meknes & Volubilis: This morning, drive to Meknes, Morocco’s
third imperial city. Tour the quiet winding
medina streets lined with grand buildings and monumental gates. See the Mausoleum of
Moulay Ismail, a lavish tribute to the sultan
who made Meknes his capital in the 17th
century, before walking through the bustling
markets in Place Hedim, originally used for
royal announcements and public executions.
Continue after lunch to the Unesco world
heritage site of Volubilis for a half-day tour of
the Roman ruins and mosaics. Drive to Fez
and stay 2 nights at Barcelo Hotel (B)
Day 4 – Fez: Spend today exploring Fez,
the oldest of the imperial cities and the
country’s religious and cultural heart. See
the old medina, the largest living Islamic
medieval city in the world, before visiting
the Kairouine mosque, where a meeting
with a senior cleric in the private library
has been arranged. Continue through the
Jewish quarter to the Nejjarine Museum of
Woods & Crafts and the nearby fountain.
After lunch, visit the Bou Inania madrassa,
an excellent example of Marinid architecture and one of the few religious sites accessible
to non-Muslims. Finish the day with a short
drive to the Merenid tombs. Formerly a 16thcentury
palace and necropolis, the ruins offer
panoramic views of the city ramparts. (B)
Day 5 – To Marrakech: Drive south to
Marrakech passing through the Middle Atlas
and traditional Berber villages en route. Stay at
the Palm Plaza Hotel for 3 nights. (B)
Day 6 – Marrakech: Full-day city tour of
Marrakech. Spend time in the fascinating
central square, the Djemaa el Fna, with its
myriad street musicians, snake charmers,
storytellers and fire-eaters. Continue to the
Saadian tombs with its fine cedar wood,
marble and stucco decoration. After lunch,
visit the Koutoubia mosque, the Ben Youssef
madrassa, a former Islamic college and the
largest madrassa in Morocco, and the Menara
Gardens. (B)
Day 7 – Tin Mal: Full-day tour to Tin Mal, a
small village in the wonderfully scenic Atlas
mountains. The village is considered to be the
spiritual and artistic home of the Almohad
empire and one of the most important
historical sites in Morocco. Visit the simple
and elegant Tin Mal mosque, built in 1156
to honour the Almohads’ spiritual leader
Mohammed Ibn Tumart, renowned for its
cedar ceilings and soaring arches. Return to
Marrakech this afternoon. Farewell dinner at a
local restaurant. (B, D)
Day 8 – Marrakech: Morning airport transfer
for a return flight to London Heathrow with
Royal Air Maroc. (B)
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
