Solar Eclipse in Morocco: Totality in Tangier

Depart on an overnight flight to Morocco. Upon arrival in Tangier, you’ll be met for the transfer to your beachfront hotel. In the early evening, gather with fellow travelers and your Smithsonian Journeys Expert for a festive welcome reception and dinner. (R,D)

Set out for a full day of exploration in Tangier, beginning with guided visits to the city’s historic medina and imposing Kasbah, a fortified citadel and former political and military center located on one of the highest points overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. Continue to Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. See its lighthouse, the largest in Africa, perched about a thousand feet above the shore, and venture into the nearby Caves of Hercules. Intriguing for their geology as well as their mythology, the coastal caves have yielded archaeological finds and are said to have hosted the Greek god Hercules. Enjoy an evening at leisure back in Tangier. (B,L)

Head out on a full-day excursion to the fabled “blue city” of Chefchaouen, nestled on the slopes of the Rif Mountains. Wind through the medina, painted bright shades of blue every year, and visit the lively Uta el-Hammam Square and the kasbah on a guided walking tour. You’ll have free time to explore the town further and enjoy lunch at your own pace. If you wish, join a guided walk to the Spanish Mosque, which offers sweeping views of the city and surrounding landscape. In the evening, return to Tangier and gather with fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

The day begins with a guided visit to Villa Harris, a beautiful 19th-century Moorish-European mansion set amid lush gardens. Now an art museum, the villa houses works by the likes of Delacroix and Miró as well as some of Morocco’s most renowned modern artists. After lunch, learn about the historic diplomatic relations between the United States and Morocco at the Tangier American Legation Institute, a museum and cultural center. Granted to the U.S. in 1821, the institute served as a transit point for early American trade and later a hub of U.S. intelligence during World War II and is the only U.S. National Historic Landmark in a foreign country. The evening is yours to discover Tangier’s dining scene on your own. (B,L)

Rise early and head to the hotel’s rooftop terrace for a private watch party, witnessing the total solar eclipse over Tangier in the company of an astronomy expert. Savor a breakfast buffet with live music, sipping coffee or a mimosa as you take in beach views and keep an eye on the sky. The spectacle begins at approximately 8:40 a.m., culminating about an hour later in nearly five extraordinary minutes of totality*. As totality sets in and otherworldly darkness envelops the ancient medina, the marina, and the Strait of Gibraltar, you’ll have a prime spot for experiencing the magic of the moment. When daylight returns, enjoy the rest of the day to relax at the hotel pool or the beach, or delve back into the winding streets of Tangier. Gather in the evening to toast your journey to totality at a farewell reception and dinner. (B,R,D)

*Note that visibility of the eclipse depends on weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

After breakfast, depart for the airport for individual flights home (B)