Imperial Cities and Desert

Welcome to the land of the setting sun, “Marhba” as they say here in Morocco! Arrival at Casablanca airport. We are warmly welcomed and transferred to our hotel. During our visit to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, we dive into the heart of the art, faith and history of Morocco. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it impresses with its grandeur. Here, the silence imposes even greater respect on this cult place. For 2 hours, we wander through the vast, richly decorated prayer rooms and discover the subtleties of every corner of this place of worship. Although considered one of the major monuments of the Arab world, its construction was fraught with challenges and obstacles, which adds to its charm and powerful character. Night at the Melliber hotel, located in Casablanca near the Hassan II Mosque. Bronze Superior Room. Included: arrival transfer, private transport, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, local guide, guided activity (grouped), room and breakfast

We leave Casablanca towards Rabat. This highway is the most traveled in the entire country and bears witness to the urban development of Morocco. Rabat, administrative capital of Morocco, is a historic and modern city at the same time. We discover the Mohammed V Mausoleum, where King Mohammed V and his sons rest, before stopping at the foot of the Hassan Tower which stands proudly in front of us. After crossing the medina and its souks, we stroll through the Andalusian gardens of Oudayas, a small peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. Rabat is also home to the Royal Palace or Dar el-Makhzen, the official residence of the royal family of Morocco. Only visitable from the outside, the imposing doors and mosaics take us far into the past.   We extend this day by visiting the Chellah necropolis and its ancient ruins. The site gives a view of the Bouregreg river where locals often come for a walk at sunset. Night at the Dar Shaan hotel, located in the medina of Rabat. Deluxe suite. Included: private transportation, local guide, guided activity (private), room and breakfast

We leave Rabat towards the imperial Meknes. Leaving the Atlantic coast, we move inland, passing fields and rural hills. We visit the archaeological site of Volubilis, listed as a UNESCO Heritage site and exceptionally well preserved. Following in the footsteps of the ancient civilization of Volubilis, we delve into the history of the Roman era for approximately 1 hour. The triumphal arch that stands before us is the first element we notice. Walking along the cobblestone streets, we admire mosaics that once decorated Roman homes. Our exploration continues with a visit to the basilica and the Capitol before ending our visit with the discovery of the Temple of Saturn. We leave Meknes to join the neighboring imperial city, Fez. The road passes through the middle of agricultural fields, until the horizon is marked by the historic ramparts of Fez.   Night at the Riad Laaroussa hotel, located in the medina of Fez, close to the Aïn Azletin parking lot. Standard Room (Nadim or Ghizlane). Included: private transport, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, local guide, guided activity (grouped), room and breakfast

Let's go for a day dedicated to visiting the city of Fez, the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities. We discover the imposing ramparts and the exterior of the Imperial Palace before entering the heart of the Jewish quarter. Arriving at the top of the hill, the Borj Sud Fortress offers us a breathtaking view of the city, then we descend to the ceramics district on the outskirts of the medina. Deeply immersed in the heart of the medina, we take a step back in the history of Fez by visiting the neighborhoods of dyers, cabinetmakers and artisans of Place Seffarine, without forgetting the sprig of mint to camouflage the smells of tanners' district. The city is full of architectural gems, including Al Qaraouiyine, one of the oldest universities in the world. We see its 14 doors before entering the Medersa Al Attarine, an ancient Koranic school founded in the 14th century. In Fez, the “fassis” welcome us warmly, renowned for their art of hospitality! Night at the Riad Laaroussa hotel, located in the medina of Fez, close to the Aïn Azletin parking lot. Standard Room (Nadim or Ghizlane). Included: private transport, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, local guide, guided activity (private), room and breakfast

Nothing better than a 3-hour group cooking class to discover the mysteries of Moroccan cuisine. Meet in the heart of the medina in a café with a warm atmosphere. Our chef takes us to select products at a local market and, once in the kitchen, we handle the ingredients and spices brilliantly. A sweet aroma with fragrant smells rises in the kitchen. It’s time to taste the fruit of our labor: a real treat! Free afternoon. Night at the Riad Laaroussa hotel, located in the medina of Fez, close to the Aïn Azletin parking lot. Standard Room (Nadim or Ghizlane). Included: private transport, guided activity (grouped), dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast, local guide

We leave Fez to drive towards Merzouga. We spend the day on the road for a very long journey, crossing the country while noting the changes in scenery, from the mountains to the desert. Dinner and overnight at the Riad Serai hotel, located in the Merzouga desert, in the village of Hassilabied. Standard room. Included: private transportation, dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast, local guide

We leave for a day in 4x4 around the desert dunes. Colloquially called “Merzouga dunes”, each one has its own name. These dunes are the highest and longest in Morocco. Today, we will always have them on our right or left. This day allows us to better understand life in the desert, its water wells, and see its manganese mines called “kohl”. Our path leads us to houses of real desert nomads. We spend a humble moment with Ahmed or Bertha, the family who gave their name to one of the dunes. We bring them the few groceries we did this morning to offer them. Further south, the village of Khamlia has great importance in the history of the desert and the caravans coming from Sudan. In a typical small house, it is their gnaoua music that takes us on a journey. A quite captivating sound, we don't hesitate to follow the rhythm! It is also in this village that we are having dinner today. It is on the back of a camel that we enter the deep Sahara. We go for a walk in the middle of the dunes before reaching our camp. Little by little, we begin to feel the calm and serenity of this place... Dinner and overnight at the Madu Premium Camp hotel, located in the dunes of the Merzouga desert, a pocket of the Kemkemia area. Standard Tent Room. Included: private transportation, guided activity (private), dinner (excluding drinks), dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast, local guide

From Merzouga, you take the road towards the Dadès valley. The landscape is diverse, leaving sand dunes to arrive at rock wall canyons. Dinner and night at the Chez Pierre hotel, located in the Dades Valley, 35 minutes from Boulmane Dades. Standard room. Included: private transportation, dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast, local guide

We leave to explore the canyons of the Dadès valley. Immersed between the walls dug by the river, we discover astonishing rock formations, the best known of which is called "monkey fingers". In certain places, rocks are balanced between two walls. We feel small passing through the middle of these giant canyons. A small spring next to the trail is welcome on very sunny days. We spend half a day walking through these landscapes before returning to our starting point. Free afternoon. Dinner and night at the Chez Pierre hotel, located in the Dades Valley, 35 minutes from Boulmane Dades. Standard room. Included: private transportation, guided activity (private), dinner (excluding drinks), room and breakfast, local guide

We leave the Dadès valley to drive towards the Skoura palm grove. The landscape passes between the High Atlas and the Saghro mountains. Lunch included. We have a nice encounter in Skoura, with a potter. He opens the doors of his artisanal pottery workshop to us. We observe the entire process of making a terracotta object. Step by step, from collecting the clay to designing the imagined piece, the potter explains to us all the ancestral techniques still used today. It's our turn to play our role by trying to create our object. We sit in front of the table which we turn using our foot or hand. Taking the example of our master, we remove or add soil in order to work on our humble work and give it a beautiful shape. Cup, candle holder, bowl... it's up to us to choose. It's a friendly moment that we share, and of course with one (or more!) glass of mint tea never far away. Night at the Sawadi Ecolodge hotel, located in the Skoura palm grove. Luxury Room (Standard category). Included: private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), guided activity (grouped), room and breakfast, local guide

During this visit, we walk in the footsteps of this ancient commercial crossroads of Ait Ben Haddou, a kasbah now listed as a UNESCO heritage site. We stroll through the narrow streets of this ancient fortified medina. Discovering the architectural details, we understand why this kasbah is one of the most famous in the Ounila valley. We reach the heights where a panoramic view of the mountains is offered to us. Having served as a setting for cult films and series, visiting the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou adds a cinematic touch to our experience. From Ait Ben Haddou, we pass through the Ounila valley to arrive in Marrakech. The road, lightly traveled, crosses many small villages, making us want to stop at every turn to capture the landscape in photos. Night at the Le Jardin des Sens hotel, located in the medina of Marrakech, close to Parking Aguerzam. Superior room. Included: private transportation, guided activity (grouped), room and breakfast, local guide

This day in Marrakech offers us a cultural and historical mosaic, starting with its medina delimited by 19 km of ramparts. We quickly dive into the vibrant heart of Marrakech, starting at the foot of Koutoubia, heading towards Jemaa El Fna square where storytellers, musicians and snake charmers capture our attention. Then, during the visit to the Bahia Palace, we travel back in time to the era of the sultans. We also discover the Saadian tombs and take the time to get lost among the narrow streets in the Mellah district. Let's get away from the center and let ourselves be carried away, for a visit, to the Majorelle Gardens. Strolling through one of the most beautiful gardens in Morocco, the paths with lush plants and the walls painted in Majorelle blue take us on a journey through time and regions. The day continues in the medina with the imposing Medersa Ben Youssef, a true architectural work, and finally the colorful streets of the old town and its souks, where each stall reveals artisanal treasures to haggle with the advice of our guide.   Note: there are many museums and monuments to discover in Marrakech. If you would like to visit one specifically, let us know. Night at the Le Jardin des Sens hotel, located in the medina of Marrakech, close to Parking Aguerzam. Superior room. Included: private transport, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, local guide, guided activity (private), room and breakfast

An expression of body and mind, calligraphy sublimates the Arabic language while reflecting the richness and beauty of Moroccan art. We take our place around a large table, for this interlude offering us a real journey through history. We learn more about the origins and different techniques of this art. It is time for us to start handling the calame, a reed cut into a point that calligraphers used in the past. We then draw our first lines, under the wise advice of our teacher. We let ourselves be carried away by the curves of the Arabic letters which are translated through the ink, asking us for precision and flexibility of the wrist... Free afternoon. Night at the Le Jardin des Sens hotel, located in the medina of Marrakech, close to Parking Aguerzam. Superior room. Included: private transportation, guided activity (private), room and breakfast, local guide

Departing from Marrakech, we drive to reach Casablanca. It is one of the major highways used in Morocco. Transfer to Casablanca airport. Included: private transport, departure transfer, local guide