We travel on local buses and trains through scenic countryside to the cultural heart of Morocco. We explore the port city of Tangier and discover the blue-rinsed architecture of Chefchaouen, an Andalucian walled town nestled in the Rif Mountains. We ride by rail from the medieval city of Fes through coastal Casablanca to the souk-lined streets of Marrakech.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:
Join tour Tangier
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Day 2:
Optional guided tour of Tangier; bus to Chefchouan
One of the oldest cities in Morocco, Tangier has a long and rich history. Colonised by Romans, fought over by Byzantines and finally taken by the Arabs in the 8th century, the city has alway been staunchly Berber at heart. This morning there will be an opportunity to explore something of the old city, with an optional tour of the medina in the company of a local guide. Early this afternoon we then board a public bus south, towards the dramatic mountain stronghold of Chefchaouen, located at the base of the Rif Mountains.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 3:
Mountain walk
This morning we will take a walk up into the mountains that surround Chefchaouen, spending some 2-3 hours exploring the hills above the Oued Laou Valley. Returning to the city, the afternoon is then free to explore more of Chefchaouen. Isolated for generations and distinguished by its blue-rinsed houses and cobbled streets, the old town and the medina still evoke the unique atmosphere of its Arabic and Jewish origins.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 4:
To Fes
Boarding another public bus this morning we continue our journey south, crossing through the Djebala Mountains to Fes. Morocco’s cultural heart and probably the oldest of the country’s imperial cities, Fes is home to the Fes el Bali, the largest and most undiminished medieval city anywhere in the Arab world.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5:
Optional tour of Fez
Following breakfast you have an opportunity to take an optional guided tour of Fes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fes el Bali comprises a fascinating collection of meandering back street and covered bazaars that are crammed with shops, spice stalls, mosques and ‘medersas’ (Islamic colleges). There is the option to pay a visit to Medersa Bou Inania, the 14th century Merenid structure built by the Sultan Abou Inan, whose exquisite carvings and tile-work is considered amongst the finest examples of its kind anywhere in Morocco. This afternoon is then free.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 6:
Optional day trip to Meknes and Volubilis
Today offers a chance to visit Morocco’s former capital at Meknes and the Roman ruins at Volubilis. Travelling by train to Meknes, you can take a tour of the old city in the company of a local guide, visiting the old granaries of the Heri es Souni and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, before taking a taxi on to the nearby site of Volubilis, once the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana. Returning to Meknes, you will then take the afternoon train back to Fes.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 7:
Train to Marrakech
We will walk to the railway station after breakfast, to catch the morning train to Marrakech. Travelling aboard the ‘Marrakech Express’, we will first head to the coast, passing through Casablanca, before turning inland towards the High Atlas Mountains and the architectural grandeur of Morocco’s famous ‘Red City’. Arriving in Marrakech this afternoon we will transfer to our hotel, located a short distance from the Djemaa El Fna.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8:
Optional walking tour
This morning there will be an opportunity to explore something of the rich heritage of Marrakech, with an optional sightseeing tour of the city’s old quarter. The spectacular Djemma el Fna is not to be missed and the city can boast a staggering array of imperial architecture, including the great 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. Rising some 70 metres above the surrounding city, this impressive minaret presents us with one of the blueprints for future Moroccan architectural design. After the tour the rest of the day is free to continue exploring at your leisure.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 9:
Tour ends Marrakech
Included meals: Breakfast
