7-day tour of Morocco's imperial cities

Arrival in the morning at Casablanca airport. Please note that there may be a time difference depending on the time of year. After passport control and baggage claim, we will meet our driver who will accompany us throughout the tour. Upon arriving in the country's economic capital, we will take a panoramic tour of the most emblematic sites: the remains of the city walls, the New City, the Corniche (the seaside promenade), and a guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque, which boasts the tallest minaret in the world.

The driver will recommend a restaurant by the sea where we can enjoy fresh fish. After lunch, we will depart for Rabat. The journey is 100 km on the highway, approximately one hour. Accommodation and dinner at a 4-star hotel or riad in Rabat.

This morning we will visit Rabat, the capital of Morocco, with a local guide. Among the sites we will visit are the Kasbah of the Udayas, a well-preserved fortified quarter built on a cliff overlooking the neighboring city of Salé. We will continue to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and also visit Chellah, an ancient Roman city now a necropolis.

In the afternoon, we will head towards the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the largest Roman archaeological site in Morocco: the triumphal arch, the capitol, the House of Bacchus... all form this open-air treasure. On our way to Meknes, we will pass through the holy city of Moulay Idriss, who converted the local Berber population to Islam before founding Fez. The city unfolds its beautiful white houses around the mausoleum and remains a spiritual center, a protected place that transports the traveler to another era.

Arrival in Meknes, one of the most beautiful and powerful imperial cities in Morocco. Accommodation and dinner in a 4* Hotel or Riad.

This morning, we will visit Meknes with a local guide. Its medina is smaller and more relaxed than its neighbor Fez, but no less important. Founded in the 10th century by a Berber tribe, it became the capital of the country in the 17th century. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even today, it is protected by some 40 kilometers of walls, among which the Bab al-Mansour stands out—a massive gate considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved in the country. The city boasts imposing monuments, including many mosques, hence its nickname, "the city of a hundred minarets." We will visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the Heri es Souani granaries, and the underground prison of Habs Qara. In the afternoon, we will travel to Fez. Accommodation and dinner at a riad in the medina or a 4-star hotel.

Today we will visit Fez el Bali, or the ancient Medina of Fez, one of the most authentic and best-preserved in the entire Arab world. We will wander through its labyrinthine medieval alleyways where, amidst the bustle of its people, artisan workshops, mosques, and palaces are hidden.

Fez is undoubtedly the holiest of Morocco's Imperial Cities, as well as the most culturally rich. Strolling through the Old City is like stepping back into the Middle Ages. We will be accompanied by a local guide, always on foot, as motor vehicles are prohibited in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, we will continue our visit, exploring the layout of the different neighborhoods, always centered around everyday scenes such as the Mosque, the Fountain, the Oven, the Baths, and the Koranic School. We will have the opportunity to see the famous tanneries, where leather is tanned, and climb to a viewpoint where, before sunset, we can hear the final call to prayer. Accommodation and dinner in a Riad in the Medina or a 4* hotel.

Today we have a long day ahead of us, but the variety and contrast of landscapes will more than make up for it. We'll travel through the Middle Atlas Mountains towards Marrakech. We'll pass through Ifrane, "Little Switzerland," where, if we're lucky, we might spot the Barbary macaques that inhabit its giant cedar forests. We'll continue through Azrou and Khenifra, enjoying all the Berber villages we pass along the way. Beni Mellal, one of the oldest inhabited places in North Africa, will be our next stop before arriving in Marrakech, the quintessential tourist capital. Accommodation in a riad in the Marrakech medina or a 5-star hotel.


Check out optional alternatives for making this journey by plane or extending your stay by one night and spending it at Lake Bin el Ouadine to spread the kilometers over two days.


It is recommended to make your first contact by visiting the "unparalleled" Djemaa el-Fna Square; around this time the square fills with reciters, fortune tellers, jugglers, tooth pullers, dancers, snake charmers and much more… As night falls, small illuminated food stalls begin to appear outdoors where you can taste their typical dishes.

This morning we'll take a walking tour of the Marrakech Medina with a local guide. We'll begin by admiring the Koutoubia Minaret, the twin of Seville's Giralda, and continue with a visit to the Bahia Palace. We'll wander through the narrow streets of the souk, where we'll have the opportunity to see various artisans at work, weaving carpets, making babouches (traditional slippers), and discovering an endless variety of high-quality handicrafts. We'll visit a Berber pharmacy where they'll share their "secrets."

We'll then head back to Djemaa el-Fna Square, where the atmosphere is completely different by day than by night. The afternoon is free for you to practice your bargaining skills or explore the Medina's hidden corners at your leisure. Overnight stay in a riad in the Medina or a 5-star hotel.

The guided tour of Marrakech can be extended upon request to include the Ben Youssef Madrasa and Museum, the Saadian Tombs, the Majorelle Gardens, and more.

At the agreed time, transfer to Marrakech airport to catch your return flight.