8 Day Imperial Cities from Marrakech

We will pick you from Marrakech airport and take you to your locally owned riad in the magical medina of Marrakech.

Founded in the 11th century and renowned for its treasure trove of mosques, palaces, and museums, Marrakesh is the most visited of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities. At its heart is the medina, the original walled settlement around which the rest of the city was built. A maze of narrow streets and magical souks, its cobblestone streets are traversed by pedestrians and donkey carts instead of cars, and have changed very little in the hundreds of years since they were first laid out. Feel like you have stepped back in time!

Today you will enjoy a walking tour of some of Marrakech medina’s historical and cultural sites with a guide, including the Koutoubia Minaret, the beautiful Palace of Bahia and the Ben Youssef Quranic School.

This afternoon, wander around the souks for a shopping experience like no other, relax on your terrace, or go for a traditional Moroccan spa treatment such as hammam or massage.

Overnight in your riad.

After breakfast in your riad we will head to Rabat, Morocco’s capital city. In Rabat we will visit the historical sites including the Chellah where you will see a breathtaking combination of Roman and Merinid remains.

In the afternoon we can visit the Kasbah des Oudayas, a UNESCO heritage site and haven of tranquility, with its flower-filled little streets, Andalusian garden, and Moorish café. The Kasbah has been home to many Andalusian immigrants, Arab tribes, and some of the most powerful sultans of Morocco.

You’ll have free time to stroll around the kasbah, see the rugged Atlantic coastline or visit Rabat’s sleepy medina.

We will leave Rabat this morning stopping first in Ifrane. Situated in the northwestern slope of the Middle Atlas at 1630 meters above water level. With its broad avenues, wooden ski-style chalets and manicured gardens, this city is called ‘the Switzerland of Morocco.’ It was built by the French during the colonial period to mimic the ski resorts back in Europe.

As we continue through the Middle Atlas, we will reach Azrou. Stopping at the Cedar forest of Azrou, the largest one in Morocco, if we are lucky we will see some Barbary apes. Here you can take a walk through the forest with our mountain guide Salah.

Overnight in a beautiful chalet-style lodge in Azrou, with stunning countryside views.

We will leave Azrou this morning making the short journey to Fes. In Fes you will begin your day of exploration in the old medina of Fez where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about.

Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will also view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah,” where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco.

Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes.

Leaving Fes this morning, we will travel to discover Volubilis. The archeological roman site includes remains of astonishing mosaics, hundreds of Latin inscriptions and artistic materials.

After visiting Volubilis we will head through the stunning Rif mountains to the ‘Blue Pearl’ of Chefchaouen. Uniquely located in a natural reserve high in the Rif Mountains, this blue and white painted village is a haven of peace and serenity.

You will spend today exploring this mountain village in the heart of the Rif, known for its Moorish architecture and blue and white painted homes. With our guide Hicham, you will visit the medina to enjoy its cultural and historical heritage, wander the streets, see the picturesque Uta el Hammam square and, of course, the colorful shops filled with local crafts.

After your guided tour you can do some shopping, stroll the medina alone or drink traditional mint tea at a cafe terrace while relaxing and watching people come and go.

We also recommend taking a walk up to the Rass el Maa Waterfall and the Spanish Mosque that offers a spectacular view of the town, particularly at sunset.

We will leaving the mountains this morning, traveling to Meknes. We will start our visit to Meknes with the granary Sahrij Swani, used to store food and water for the ‘black Army’ of Sultan Moulay Ismael. We will visit the mausoleum of the Sultan and admire its Arab-Andalusian style. We will also see the tremendous gate of Bab Mansour.

In the afternoon we will continue to Casablanca where you will spend the night.

We will start our day with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, the landmark of Casablanca which is the only mosque open for non-Muslims. Built by King Hassan II between 1987-1993, over 25 thousand worshipers can pray inside and 80 thousand worshipers outside in the big square of the mosque.

After visiting the Mosque, we will return to Marrakech where our adventure ends!