Grandeur Morocco Tour of 10 Nights

Day 1

Arrive in Marrakesh

• Welcome to Marrakech. On arrival at the airport, our representative will transfer you to the hotel.
• Enjoy free time until your tour starts.
• Information about the meeting place and start time can be found on the boards in the hotel reception area.
• At the end of the afternoon, experience a traditional Kalesa ride up to the famous Djema square.
• Relish dinner buffet (included).
• Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 2

Marrakesh

• Post breakfast we will proceed on the guided city tour.
• We will visit the great walls of the city, the bustling Jemaa Square, walk through the colourful Medina and see the Kutubia Tower.
• We will visit the Bahia Palace (ticket included).
• Enjoy lunch (included).
• Spend your free time relaxing by the pool or discovering the famous Mar­rakech Souk (local market).
• In the evening, experience a Fantasia dinner and a cultural show (optional).
• Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 3

Marrakesh - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Boumalne Dades

• After a delicious breakfast, the tour journeys across the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains. Say goodbye to Marrakech as we proceed with small Berber villages perched on the side of chasms.
• We stop at the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, a place where several films have been filmed. Admire the biblical landscapes en route.
• We will spend some time in Ouarzazate city with its impressive Kasbah.
• We will continue towards the valley of roses, Boumalne Dades.
• Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the hotel.

NOTE: On infrequent occasions (during winter), the roads may be closed due to snowdrifts. If necessary, this section of the itinerary will be resched­uled with an alternative itinerary. (our visit to the Sahara will depend on the road access).

Day 4

Boumalne Dades - Todra - Erfoud

• Today, after breakfast, the tour proceeds on an off-road excursion of the Sahara De­sert dunes.
• We continue to the Valley of the Kas­bahs - river valleys containing thousands of palm trees, stone plains fol­lowed by oasis and adobe villages, with powerful fortresses defending the thoroughfares.
• We will visit the stunning Todgha Gorge. En route, we stop at a small town built of adobe next to Khorbat. Here, learn about this desert community .
• Overnight stay in the hotel.

(Note: Due to weather conditions, such as river flooding, access may not be possible at times).
The tour continues towards Erfoud, where we enjoy lunch (included). There is an optional field trip to the dunes of the Sahara Desert to experience dusk among the desert scape.

Day 5

Erfoud - Fez

• Relish breakfast this morning and leave Erfoud early, crossing the Atlas between powerful gorges and stunning landscapes.
• The tour proceeds along a cold plateau area inhabited by nomadic shepherds.
• We stop at Midelt, in the centre of this region.
• After lunch, we continue towards the Middle Atlas where the landscape changes completely, in a region with forests with snowy winters.
• Near Azrou in the National Park, we visit "the house of the cedars", a small museum that illustrates the region. Notice the colonies of monkeys that inhabit this area.
• We continue to Bhalil, a small and quiet town inhabited by Berbers of the middle Atlas. It has a picturesque old city centre and colourful streets. The original inhabitants lived in caves, which are now houses.
• The tour continues to Fez, where we will admire the view of the city from the Saadian tombs.
• Relish dinner (included) and a pleasant overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 6

Fez - Volubilis - Moulay Idriss - Meknes

• After breakfast, we head out to Fez as we enter through the bronze doors of the Royal Palace, the Jewish quarter, its lively souks, and the tanners´ quarter.
• The oldest university in the world is in the country's cultural capital. Founded in the ninth century, Fez is known for its impressive Medina, which has preserved traditional Arab culture like no other.
• At the end of the visit, lunch is included in an old Medina palace
• We then travel to the archaeological site of Volubilis, a World Heritage Site, founded in the third century BC. Volubilis, the capital of Mauritania Tingitana, was an essential military outpost of the Roman Empire in which multiple monuments of great beauty were erected (entrance included). It is very close to Moulay Idriss, a holy city and place of pilgrimage for Muslims in Morocco (the city was closed to non-Muslims until 2005 when non-Muslims were not allowed to spend the night). Here is buried Moulay Idris, great-grandson of the prophet Muhammad, founder of the first royal dynasty of Morocco.
• We continue to Meknes, with dinner included.
• Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 7

Meknes - Rabat - Casablanca

• Enjoy breakfast and proceed to tour Meknes, another fascinating city declared a World Heritage Site, founded for military purposes in the eleventh century by the Almoravids.
• It was the capital of the kingdom at the time of Sultan Muley Ismaíl (1672-1727), founder of the Alaouite dynasty. This sovereign built an impressive city of Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with monumental doors.
• We will be astonished by the immense gate of Bab el Mansur, and the activity in the square el Hedim (reminiscent of the Jemaa square of Marrakesh).
• We include in the tour the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
• After the visit, free time and continuation by motorway it is time for lunch.
• Arrive in Rabat for a panoramic tour of the capital of the Kingdom.
• We visit the Fortress of the Oudaia, the Hassan Tower - home to the mausoleum of King Mohamed V, the walls of the Andalusians, the outer enclosure of the Royal Palace and the modern quarters of embassies.
• After our visit, enjoy some free time and continue to Casablanca.
• Arrival at the end of the day.
• Dinner and an overnight stay are included.

Day 8

Casablanca - El Jadida - Safi

• Relish breakfast this morning and proceed on a guided tour of Casablanca. Wander its great avenues; admire the beautiful square of Mohamed V with its fountain, Moorish buildings and palm trees to continue to the park of the Arab league.
• We also see the little Medina (entrance included). Visit the huge mosque of Hassan II (the only mosque in Morocco where non-Muslims are allowed to enter), located next to the sea, with its 210-meter-high minaret and laser lights on top pointing to Mecca.
• Enjoy free time for lunch in the pleasant maritime area of "la corniche".
• After lunch, we travel to El Jadida, its citadel (Mazagan) has been declared a World Heritage Site. The Portuguese built it in the sixteenth century.
• Its powerful walls dominate the ocean and its picturesque streets preserve numerous traces of the Portuguese era -such as the church of the Assumption of Manueline.
• Stroll to the old cistern of the sixteenth century (entrance included).
• We then continue to Safi, arriving late afternoon.
• Dinner and an overnight stay are included.

Note: the old cistern of El Jadida is closed for restoration. It is expected to reopen throughout the season.

Day 9

Safi - Essaouira - Agadir

• After breakfast, our guided tour then visits Safi, a city known for its famous brightly coloured ceramics.
• Take photographs of the castle by the sea with its strong fortress walls.
• Walk through its attractive Medina and visit the "hill of the ceramists" with its numerous shops.
• We continue towards Essaouira with its walled Medina, facing the sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnificently preserved city is famous for its artists and painters.
• Spend free time for lunch.
• Stroll through the narrow streets amid whitewashed houses and powerful walls lashed by the waves.
• After lunch, we continue following the Atlantic coast.
• Take a brief stop at Taghazout, a picturesque small fishing town famous for surfing.
• We continue to Agadir.
• Upon arrival, we relish dinner (included).
• Relax during an overnight stay.

Day 10

10: Agadir - Marrakesh

• Post breakfast, enjoy leisure time in Agadir, famous for "beach tourism" in the country.
• You can enjoy its immense beaches, stroll along the promenade or go shopping in its many shopping areas.
• After lunch we continue along a magnificent highway crossing the Atlas mountain range.
• Arrive at Marrakesh ..
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Day 11

Departure

• Post breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight back home.