Imperial Morocco & The Blue City
Journey through Morocco on this 8 day group tour. Setting off from Casablanca, discover the Roman ruined city of Volubilis and the imperial cities of Fes and Rabat. Explore Morocco’s beautiful “blue city” Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains, before ending in Marrakech.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Casablanca
Day 1 Casablanca
Welcome to Morocco! Upon arrival at Casablanca airport, you'll be met and transferred to our hotel where you have the remainder of the day at leisure. Perhaps take a stroll around the souks in the new medina or sit back and watch the world go by with a pot of tea at Rick's cafe.
Day 2 Casablanca & Rabat
Day 2 Casablanca & Rabat
Casablanca - Rabat. This morning after breakfast, we visit the incredible Hassan II Mosque, rising 210 meters into the air, the third largest mosque in the world is covered in ornate traditional tile work.
After exploring Casablanca, we make our way to Rabat, Morocco's charming capital, which is ours to explore this afternoon. Take a stroll along the long stretch of beach that starts behind the medina, or just up the hill from the medina is the well-preserved Kasbah of the Udayas, dating back to the 12th century.
Please note: For those who have opted to start in Marrakech you will be transferred to Casablanca on the morning of day 2 to meet the rest of the group.
Day 3 Volubilis & The Blue City
Day 3 Volubilis & The Blue City
Rabat - Volubilis - Chefchaouen. Departing Rabat this morning we visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Dating back to 40AD we take time to explore the triple arched Tingis gate, the columns of the Capitoline temple, the Basilica, the courthouse and much more. We'll then continue to Chefchaouen, nestled in the heart of the Rif Mountains, the city boasts incredible blue-washed buildings and majestic views of the surrounding landscape. The rest of the afternoon is ours to independently wander round the Plaza Uta el-Hammam in the heart of the Medina, or perhaps try some of the local street food and watch the sun set.
Day 4 Rif Mountains & Talassemtane National Park
Day 4 Rif Mountains & Talassemtane National Park
This morning, we make our way to Talassemtane National Park. Located on the eastern side of the Rif Mountains, Talassemtane boasts a wide range of landscapes, as well as housing a number of plant species and mammals including the Barbary macaques and the otter. We make our way to the Akchour Falls and God's Bridge where we can relax and soak up the breath-taking views. Return to Chefchaouen for a late lunch and afternoon at leisure to further explore the Blue City.
Day 5 UNESCO listed Fes el Bali
Day 5 UNESCO listed Fes el Bali
Chefchaouen - Fes. Bordered on the foothills of the Atlas Mountains lies the imperial city of Fes, the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. On arrival we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el Bali - the old walled city, absorbing the chaos of the souks and getting lost in the medina's labyrinth layout. During the tour visit one of the pungent leather tanneries that Fes is famous for and see the giant dye pits. The remainder of the day is at leisure - why not take part in an optional Tagine Making Class or a night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town (both payable locally).
Day 6 High Atlas Mountains
Day 6 High Atlas Mountains
Fes - High Atlas Mountains. Departing Fes this morning, our journey takes us past the Middle Atlas Mountains and the orange groves around Aforer before we ascend into the rugged High Atlas Mountains to the picturesque lake of Bin El Ouidane. Upon arrival relax by the swimming pool, or on the terrace at your lake-shore hotel and enjoy the spectacular views.
Day 7 Marrakech & Djemaa el Fna
Day 7 Marrakech & Djemaa el Fna
High Atlas Mountains - Marrakech. We continue our journey through the Atlas Mountains this morning, where almond trees and juniper covered rocky ridges abound. We stop to admire the spectacular Cascades d'Ouzoud, - the highest waterfall in North Africa, before travelling on to Marrakech via the berber town of Demnate.
This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Marrakech's old medina. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the city. Djemaa El Fna springs to life in the evening so be sure to return to the square this evening and experience it in all its glory!
Day 8 Goodbye Morocco!
Day 8 Goodbye Morocco!
Our amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. An included onward departure transfer to the airport in Marrakech will be provided. You can also choose to pay a small supplement for a transfer to Casablanca, if you would prefer to end your tour here.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
Offering an excellent location right in the heart of the city, this recently-renovated hotel is nestled between Casablanca’s cosmopolitan business district and the amazing architecture of the Art Deco neighborhood. You’ll find the guestrooms to be spacious and fully-equipped with modern amenities including high-speed WiFi. The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Bloom, offers tasty Moroccan and international cuisine, whereas in the Torero bar you can enjoy a buzzing atmosphere with live music and delicious Spanish tapas.
Boasting a fantastic location, just a short walk from the entrance to the Kasbah of the Udayas, Riad Dar Alia is wonderful choice for a stay in the capital. It offers a number of uniquely decorated rooms in a traditional Moroccan style. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property and a restaurant serves a variety of Moroccan specialities.
This cosy little riad is perfectly located on the outskirts of Rabat in the Medina District, close to the beach with a multitude of incredible sites just a meandering walk away. It’s the perfect base to explore the Hassan Tower Minaret, the Royal Palace of Rabat and the Rabat Central Mosque. Once you have discovered the delights of the area, why not head back to the property to enjoy its seasonal outdoor pool, summer terrace, spa and sauna facilities. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant which serves a delicious breakfast and there are plenty of eating options close by too.
Surrounded by nature, with a large swimming pool, Dar Ba Sidi offers a quiet oasis for guests to relax. Bright spacious rooms are decorated in the traditional Riad style with ornate architecture and mosaics. You can also sample some Moroccan cuisine at the Moulay Ismail restaurant.
Hotel Atlas Saiss Fes is a popular 4 star hotel, conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from Nouvelle Ville. The hotel offers spacious and comfortable guest rooms, equipped with free WiFi, flat screen TVs, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms. Facilities include a restaurant, 24 hour room service and a sauna (at an additional cost). Start the day with a generous continental breakfast before heading out to explore the enchanting imperial city of Fes. After a busy day, relax on the hotel terrace, enjoy a tasty meal at the restaurant or rejuvenate in the sauna.
Sitting on the shore of Lake Bin El Ouidane in the High Atlas Mountains, the location of this 4 star hotel is simply spectacular. Guests can enjoy wonderful views of the lake from the hotel lounge, the terrace and the large outdoor pool, which has a bar. All of the guest rooms have a balcony with views of the lake and are equipped with en suite bathrooms and air conditioning. The hotel restaurant serves Moroccan and international cuisine and there are a range of treatments available at the hotel spa.
Guests can expect a very comfortable stay at the Adam Park Hotel & Spa. Each of the elegant rooms feature a patio or balcony with views of the surrounding area. Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. Several restaurants offer a variety of options including Italian specialities, Moroccan favourites and international cuisine. There are also plenty of ways to unwind after a day exploring Marrakech, with an outdoor pool, fitness centre and a spa offering rejuvenating massage treatments.
Tour Reviews
Honestly, I’m getting a bit annoyed with male tour guides. They have no concept of women’s needs to shop. Racing through a Medina on a ‘tour of the Medina’ is just not good enough. The women in our tour had to stage a coup just to get a couple of hours shopping in Marrakesh on the last day. Apart from that, our guide was lovely and so was our driver. However - there is way too much time on a bus in this tour. I booked this tour because there seemed to be plenty of leisure time and minimal bus time. This was not the case. On our second to last day we had to spend 10 hours driving to a dry lake in the mountains. We arrived at 7pm, had a drink and went to bed exhausted. Up early the next day to sit in the bus again to drive to Marrakech. What a nightmare. Why? That section could have been eliminated to allow an extra day in Marrakech. The hotels in Rabat and Fes were fantastic. The hotel near Chefchaouen was filthy and too far away for us to shop unsupervised. Marrakech- good, Casablanca- very strange, cold not lock the balcony door. The hotel at the dry lake was pretty good apart from the shower head where most jets were clogged. The Moroccan people were friendly and patient. Overall this tour tries to pack too much into the time available.
Omar was a fantastic tour guide, friendly, informative and engaged with the whole group. The tour was great except for the following: Our first night was supposed to be in Marrakesh but we were transferred straight to Casablanca without being told . Would like to have tea/coffee facilities in hotel rooms. Some of the lunches were really late and too close to dinner. Enjoyed Rabat, Chefchouen & Marrakesh the most. Was glad we booked a couple of extra nights at the end in Marrakesh as just an afternoon and evening there is not enough. The only thing I liked about Casablanca was the famous cafe and the mosque. Would be useful to be able to change up notes for small coins for toilets and tips, maybe advised on how to do this on arrival. Advice on tourist scams in Marrakesh would be helpful, as we fell for a couple on our last 2 days, which left a disappointing view of some Morrocan people after having such a nice tour previously.
We had the most fantastic tour guide and driver. The level of service, knowledge, and care was unlike anything we have experienced before and I can highly recommend the tour to anyone who wants to get the most out of Morocco. Jamal and Hussien were amazing.
I thought the tour was excellent. For me, the weakest day was the long drive from Fes to the Lake Country. Given the drought, i could have probably skipped that day... but it was to meet Jamal's family and have tea together. The resort in Chefchaouen was beautiful but the toilets did not work. People were trying to help but it was not a good situation. Other than that, I thought everything was excellent. We all agreed that Jamal took the trip from really good to absolutely fabolous. It''s apparent how much he loves his job by the way he respects and treats everyone. He's an absolute 10+. I appreciate your suggestion on the tipping amount, but he is worth so much more. Our driver was Hassan and he was also wonderful. I can't image driving that big van on those narrow roads and the concentration that takes.
Our tour guide was Abdefatah and the driver was Sulleiman. I was very impressed with Sulleiman. His driving style was calm and confident. Abdefatah did not always appear overly engaged with the tour.
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