Best of Spain & Morocco (14 Days)
Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid, Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh
Ryads of Morocco
(11 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis) Essaouira, Marrakesh, Fez
On this tour, visit three of Morocco's most interesting cities, and stay at deluxe ryads (traditional guesthouses) in the center of each town.
Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to Essaouira, a relaxed coastal town and millennia-old trading post. Explore narrow streets lined with whitewashed buildings designed in Moroccan, Portuguese and Berber vernacular styles, and enjoy the relaxed waterside cafes and local artisan studios.
Next, drive to Marrakesh, an ancient city of weathered pink buildings and orange groves at the base of the Atlas Mountains. Tour the most interesting local souks (markets), palaces, gardens and monuments. See the Djemaa el-Fna, a carnivalesque public square where water sellers, snake charmers, magicians and storytellers compete for an audience. Also see the Jardin Majorelle, stunning gardens created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s; the Palais de la Bahia; the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts; the Palmerie and the beautiful Jardin Menara, with its reflecting pools surrounded by a large grove of olive trees. Browse the city's most stylish shops and galleries, and dine at the finest restaurants. Take an excursion to the nearby Atlas Mountains to visit a morning market where Berber nomads and local villagers shop for livestock and daily goods.
Continue to Fez, the intellectual and religious heart of the nation. Tour Fez el-Bali ("Fez the Old") and its medieval medina (old town), a UNESCO world heritage site crammed with narrow, winding streets, tiny squares and artisan workshops. Visit centuries-old mosques and universities, see the multi-colored vats of the open-air tanneries, and shop for traditional wares made from copper, ceramics and leather. Also visit Fez el-Djedid ("Fez the New"), built in the 13th century. Visit the Royal Palace and the mellah (Jewish Quarter), the largest in Morocco. Stay in a luxury ryad in the heart of the medina. If desired, spend a day exploring the ruins in nearby Meknes and Volubilis.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1
Arrive Casablanca - Essaouira
Private arrival transfer to Essaouira for 3 nights
Days 2 & 3
Essaouira
Flexible half-day touring each day
Day 4
Essaouira - Marrakesh
Private transfer to Marrakesh for 4 nights. Afternoon private touring in Marrakesh
Day 5
Marrakesh
Full-day private city touring
Day 6
Marrakesh
Private excursion to Atlas Mountains and Berber market
Day 7
Marrakesh
Flexible private shopping and sightseeing
Day 8
Marrakesh - Fez
Private overland transfer via Ifrane and Berber villages to Fez for 3 nights
Day 9
Fez
Full-day private touring of Old & New Fez
Day 10
Fez
Private excursion to Meknes and Volubilis or continue Fez touring
Day 11
Depart Morocco
Private transfer to Casablanca for city tour en route to airport
