Exotic Morocco Royal Cities Tour

Embark on this cultural Islamic journey in Morocco as you meet your guide upon arrival at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca. Your guide will swiftly accompany you to your hotel in Rabat, just a scenic 45-mile drive away.

Explore Rabat’s best historical landmarks, a city blending elegant European style with a touch of contemporary style of architecture. Rabat is separated from its twin city, Sale, by a river with distinct historical landmarks. You will visit the Mellah, the Jewish quarter at place Sidi Makhlouf, where you will witness the 12th-century ramparts overlooking the elegant city of Rabat. We will walk to Chellah Gate, which leads to Souk Laghzel, known for its textile trade. Venture into the Oudaya Kasbah, a medieval Moorish citadel, to admire its garden, textile museum, and view over the Atlantic.  Your local guide will then take you to Mohamed V Mausoleum to explore some of the best traditional Moorish architecture.  Return to your hotel for a sumptuous dinner. 

You will meet your guide to begin your journey to the holy Fez, stopping at various noteworthy places.  Today is the day of time travel! This journey will take you from imperial Rome to the ninth century A.D. Unlike the movies, this temporal voyage will take almost the entire day.  (Of course, there will be stops for prayers and ziyarats along the way.)

The first stop will be the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Volubilis was a critical city in the imperial Roman department of Mauritania (modern-day Morocco and the Western Sahara) during the reign of Caracalla. Volubilis is impressively well preserved, and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact.  The two central integral streets in every Roman castrum, the Cardo and Decumanus, are prominent.  The Cardo is the north-south boulevard, and the Decumanus is east-west.  The intersection of the two is the heart of every Roman city.  There, you will find the ruins of the ancient forum. Here is where Islam was first introduced, and it took its way to the birth of the first Islamic City just a mile from this Roman capital.

Jumping forward in time and just a few minutes away is the venerated citadel of Moulay Idriss, founded in the 8^th century by Moulay Idris Al Akbar, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s).  This citadel is the cradle of Sufism in Moroccan society and the first Islamic capital for the premier Arab dynasty.  The city was created primarily for the indigenous population that migrated with Moulay Idriss from the Umayyad’s persecution.  We will pray Asr in this holy Mosque and continue to Meknes.  

You will drive around 15 miles to the next stop, the imperial city of Meknes. Meknes is a 17th-century city built by The Pious Muslim King Moulay Ismail to rival Fez’s intellect and Islamic architecture. It is also considered the Versailles of Morocco, a city of many beautiful gates and palaces. Visiting this sophisticated spiritual city of Meknes is a delight.

Finally, you have reached your destination, the ninth-century city of Fez, Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual capital.  In the evening, you will taste the greatest of the Imperial Cities. You will visit the sights outside the ancient walled city, including the ramparts, the gates, and the Borjs (Moorish Forts).  After this introductory aperitif to Fez, you will dine in your hotel and prepare for day three: Fez, The city of Islam, and a thousand Sufi Maqams.

This wonderful Islamic City is undeniably fascinating; Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside of its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world except electricity.

Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Muslim musings and Moroccan spiritual culture, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path.  Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina (old city).  Our specialized guide will take you on a historic Islamic discovery of Fez, starting at the King’s Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.

Next, you will explore the citadel of Fez el Jadid, a 15th-century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory. Visit Bab Semmarine, its main gate that leads you to Bab Sbaa, among mosques and a vibrant souk; those are the lights of this part of town.

Then, we will drive to the Merinides hill to visit their necropolis. Here, you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the old walled Medina, brimful with countless minarets to call for prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter an ancient world. Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle is able to be used as a tool of transportation. Only donkeys, mules, and horses can help move all that the city produces and needs as supplies.

The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribesmen who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs.  Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far.  With its various activities, this walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square. From there, you will wind your way to the Sgha square, leading you to Attarine, then Souk el Henna.  We will stop for a ziarat of Maqam Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine Square with its famous fountain, its Guild of Carpentry, and the Museum of Folk Arts at the Fondouk.

You will walk to the tannery and visit the Great Mosque University of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemma’ine, the dried fruit market. After that, you will visit the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of bookbinders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passersby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for Dhuhr Prayer at the Quarawiyyine Mosque, lunch, and then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouani, and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani, a great Sufi scholar and revered Holy man in Sub-Saharan Muslim countries.

You will spend your day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains, Berber villages, wards, and nomadic settlements. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars and laced with flowing streams, your first view of the Middle Atlas will appear oddly un-Moroccan.  Passing by Imouzzer, with a quick stop at the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, you will soon come across the first real town of the Middle Atlas, Azrou.

Azrou is an important market center for this region’s Berber tribes, located at a major junction of mountain routes. Your driver will take a little detour in a cedar forest to introduce you to one of the oldest inhabitants of this region, the Barbary apes. This may also coincide with the encounter of a nomadic family at its temporary encampment. As nomads are hospitable people, we are invited at least for a mint tea under their tents whenever we encounter them.

We will take a detour by El Hajeb to connect with the highway to Marrakech, Finally arriving in the foothills overlooking the magnificent oasis city of Marrakech Alhamra. Some of the stops above will include visits to Berber villages, scenic views, and traditional markets. You will conclude your day with a Halal dinner and other accommodation at your hotel.

You will devote your morning to exploring Marrakech’s many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice. It was constructed in 1866 for dignitaries who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop.  The pool also functions as an innovative irrigation system that serves dry life in the desert.

Your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain) and the Saadian tombs, demonstrating Moorish Islamic architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Dhuhr will be at the Koutoubia Mosque.  Asr Prayer and ziyarat will be at Maqam Sidi el Ghazouani one of the seven Holy Maqams of Marrakech.   Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal and then the Marjorelle. Finally, you will return to your hotel for a Halal dinner and other accommodations.

It is your day with free time to do whatever you wish, explore Marrakech your way, and shop in the Souks. However, an optional cultural excursion to the Ourika Valley is offered for those who would like to discover the beauty of the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech. 

In the morning, your driver will meet you at your hotel to assist you with your luggage and transport you to Mohamed V Airport. Then, your driver will help you with your check-in and bid you farewell.