Morocco's Imperial Cities and the Sahara: A Tailor-Made Journey

Arrive in Marrakech and meet your driver for a private transfer to the hotel. Relax at the hotel or take a walk to get acquainted with this effervescent city. (B)

Join a guide for a private tour of the historic sites of Marrakech, including the beautiful El Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. See Koutoubia Mosque, and venture into the souk, where merchants hawk everything from spices and nougat to cut brass lanterns and kitchenware. As night falls, visit the Djemaa el Fna, the main square and cultural heart of Marrakech, where locals flock to be entertained by snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats, and more. Wander through the lively food stalls to see what’s cooking, and find a spot on one of the café terraces that surround the square for a great view of the action. If you wish, return to your riad to learn how to cook Moroccan dishes during a cooking class with the chef. (B)

Today is unscheduled so that you can experience Marrakech as you wish on your final day. We recommend a visit to the Jardin Majorelle, where you can stroll through the exotic botanical gardens of Yves Saint Laurent and visit a gem of a museum dedicated to Amazigh (Berber) culture. Located near the French Quarter, the garden offers a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and a delightful place to stop for lunch. If you wish, learn how to cook Moroccan dishes during a cooking class with a local chef.  (B)

This morning, experience astonishing landscapes as you set out along “The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs." Travel over the scenic Atlas Mountain range, then detour to the historic kasbahs of Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou to learn about these ancient caravans stops along the Trans-Saharan trade route. Continue to your accommodation in Skoura, where you will stay for two nights. (B,D)

After several busy days, enjoy a day at leisure to relax by the pool at your hotel, or venture out into the surrounding red-rock country to explore oasis villages and historic kasbahs. (B,D)

Drive through the Dades Valley, stopping to explore the Todra Gorge en route to the oasis town of Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara. Travel by 4x4 vehicle to a traditional Berber-style tented camp, then set out on a short camel trek to the top of the dunes to watch the sunset. Enjoy a chance to stargaze under dark desert skies tonight. (B,D)

Experience an astonishing range of landscapes today as you drive north, passing through the lush cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains and the dry, scrub-covered High Atlas Mountains on the way to the ancient city of Fez. Settle into your traditional courtyard home, or riad, in the Fez medina this afternoon. (B)

Delve into enchanting Fez on a full-day tour, discovering Fes Jdid, the 13th-century so-called “new city,” as well as the legendary souks of the old city. Peer into magnificent mosques and madrassahs to see their carved Moorish arches and mosaics. Watch artisans plying timeless trades, from tanners straddling vats of lye to ceramicists painting delicate designs in glaze. At the end of the tour, sip a mint tea on the rooftop terrace at your riad, listening to the call to prayer echo over this medieval city at dusk. (B)

Visit the imperial city of Meknes, which became Morocco’s capital in the late 17th century during the reign of Moulay Ismail. Also a World Heritage site, Meknes still boasts its original fortifications as well as the stunning Royal Stables, a remarkable feat of architecture and engineering built to house some 12,000 horses. Continue to Volubilis and enjoy a tour of this ancient Roman city, where colonnades and an impressive arch stand out on the surrounding plains. (B)

Depart by road for Casablanca, upon arrival visit the Hassan II mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world—and one of the few mosques in Morocco that allow non-Muslims to enter the interior. While the mosque was built in the 1990s, it is a stunning tribute to traditional Moorish architecture, with exquisite mosaics and carved stucco as well as remarkable technological innovations. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport this morning for your return flight to the U.S. (B)