Morocco Design Tour Itinerary
(tentative dates)
March 2 to 15, 2008
Sunday to Saturday
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Day 1
(Monday) |
- New York - Casablanca
- Special business class fares are available to the group.
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Day 2
(Tuesday)
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- Casablanca to Rabat
- Upon your early morning arrival, we will drive north directly to Rabat
Rabat, which began in the 10th century began as a ribat (a military post) is the royal capital city of Morocco.
- After check in at our hotel, we have time to rest and at about 2pm, our tour program begins. For about 2.5 hours we will visit the city's sites such as the Chellah Roman ruins, the Oudayas Gardens, the Craft Museum, Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Kings Palace area.
- Driving time: 1.5 hours.
- Lunch and dinner on own.
- Four star luxury hotel t/b/a
Mohammed V Mausoleum (Rabat)
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Day 3
(Wednesday)
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- Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Moulay Edriss - Fez
- After breakfast, we will leave Rabat for Meknes (UNESCO World Heritage Site) famous for its 25 mile long walls, about 100 miles away and considered the 4th imperial city in Morocco. Meknes is known as the intellectual center and craft workshop capital of Morocco. We will visit the Sultan Maulay Ismail's 17th century granary and his former horse stables, the craft museum, Maulay Ismail mausoleum, and the great Bab Mansour gate.
- We continue the drive north east to Volubilis, the home of Antony and Cleopatra's daughter, and in 25 BC the former capital of Mauritania Tanjitania. We will visit the 1st century Roman Volubilis Ruins (1 hour walking tour and UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- On the way to Fez, we will stop for quick photo op session at one of the oldest Islamic towns in Morocco, the holy city of Maulay Idriss. We should arrive in Fez at about 6 pm.
- Driving time about 2.5 hours with stops along the way.
- Lunch and dinner on own.
- Five star luxury Riad el Yacout or similar.
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Day 4
(Thursday)
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- Fez
- Our sightseeing tour begins after breakfast in the oldest imperial city in Morocco - the spiritual and intellectual capital of Islam in Morocco resting alongside ancient Jewish quarters. We will visit the Andalusian quarter which includes the 9th century Andalusian Mosque, the 14th century Koranic school Medrassa Essahridi, and then via a walking tour, to a tannery and weaver, the Karraouiyine, one of the oldest universities in the world and now a mosque.
- We continue on to visit Foundouk, an old inn or caravanserai, which was restored and turned into a museum. We will explore the Mellah - the old Jewish quarters famous for antique goods and handcrafted jewelry and visit the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue - the oldest extant synagogue in Fez.
- A visit to Riad Ababou, a 19th century private home being renovated is included. Most of the sites are we are seeing are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
- Lunch and dinner on own.
- Five star luxury Riad el Yacout or similar.
In the vicinity of Fez |
Day 5
(Friday)
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- Fez - Ifrane - Errachidia - Erfoud - Merzouga
- After breakfast we begin our early morning drive to explore the mystical Saharan landscape. We pass through Ifrane, a winter ski resort in a totally un Moroccan style built by the French in the 1930's to resemble a Swiss village; drive through the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara desert, and outside of Erfoud we switch to 4x4 vehicles that will take us over the sand dunes to Merzouga - Erg Chebb I- genuine Saharan dunes in Berber country. The Berbers have been in Morocco for at least 4,000 years, engaging in trade throughout the region and practicing sedentary farming in the surrounding mountains and valleys. Strong tribal structures remain in this matriarchal society.
- Driving time about 6 to 7 hours with stops alongs the way.
- Lunch on own.
- Dinner included.
- Four star luxury Auberge / Kasbah du Sud or similar.
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Day 6
(Saturday)
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- Merzouga - Sahara Desert Experience
- The Sahara desert stretches across North Africa - about the size of the US. Only 25% of the desert is sand - the remainder is volcanic hills and rocks with some vegetation, and home to many birds and animals.
- Optional tours for the day: sunrise or sunset excursions; camel riding; land excursions to Kasbahs and picturesque villages and souks; picnic in the desert; visit a Touarag family.
- Or .... overnight in a tent in the desert instead of spending the 2nd night at a hotel! This option needs to be arranged in advance. In Merzouga this alternative may be made possible but is subject to availability.
- Lunch on own.
- Dinner included.
- Four star luxury Auberge / Kasbah du Sud or similar.
The souks |
Day 7
(Sunday)
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- Merzouga - Tinghir - Boumaine du Dades - Kelaa M'Gouna - Ourzazate
- Our journey of discovery continues after a special Berber breakfast as we continue on through some spectacular countryside made famous as a caravan route, known for the turreted sand castles, and the popular location for some Hollywood films. This central region has a very dramatic and varied landscape and is considered one of the most exciting and romantic destinations in Morocco. Rich river valleys, palmeries, mud brick homes, flowers, dramatic escarpments and plunging gorges.
- A barbecue lunch at a local village is optional.
- Driving time about 4.5 hours.
- Lunch on own.
- Dinner included.
- Four star luxury Hotel Hanan Club or similar.
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Day 8
(Monday)
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- Ourzazate - Kasbah Ait Benhadou - Marrakech
- After breakfast, a brief morning tour of a small touristic city famed for film shoots with scenic highlights of Kasbah Tifoultoute and Palace Glaoui. A special visit is planned for the famous Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou (UNESCO World Heritage Site) made of mud clay from the neary banks of the Draa River and beautifully decorated.
- We continue our journey though the High Atlas Mountains via a scenic route of Tizi n'Tichka (Tichka Pass 7000'). This area is very popular with trekkers.
- We will make a stop for lunch (optional) at one of the Berber villages on our way through the mountains. In the Berber village of Anrar, we will stop to have tea with a Berber family.
- Driving time about 5 hours.
- Lunch and dinner open - Marrakech has many exciting dining options for you to explore on your own!
- Five star luxury Riad t/b/a
Jamai el Fna square (Marrakech) |
| Day 9, 10, 11 |
- Marrakech
- Marrakech is one of Morocco's jeweled Imperial Cities along with Fez, Rabat and Meknes. For our 4 day stay, we will explore Marrakech's historical buildings, gardens, private homes, museums, art and antiques galleries, and markets where bargaining is in itself an art!
- Included in our tour will be the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Badia Palace, Dar Si Said Craft Museum, Majorelle Garden with the Islamic Art Musuem, Medrassa Ben Youssef and the Menara olive grove garden.
- In the evening, spend time in the old city's famous square, Djemaa el-Fna with its open air market filled with mystical snake charmers, hustlers, mischievous monkeys, Berber acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and engaging storytellers. Wind your way through the serpentine labyrinth of the bustling souk with its spice filled air unchanged for over 1000 years. Here, you will discover the best of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.
- We are arranging a schedule for private visits to meet designers and artists at their studios or workshops, and also to visit a short distance from the medina (center of town), Sidi Ghanem, the city's zone industrielle, is a hotbed for young design talent in Marrkech.
- During our stay, special arrangements will be made for a Henna Party for females (men may be invited too). Henna decoration was meant for special occasions such as weddings and other festive events, Henna appeared first in North Africa. This is an opportunity to celebrate, to visit and to talk....and to bring good fortune and luck to all those who participate.
- There will be plenty of leisure time to explore on your own.
- Lunch and dinner on own etc.
Essaouira |
Day 12
(Friday) |
- Marrakech - Essaouira
- On this day we drive for about 2.5 hours to get to Essaouira, a well known seaside resort for many rock stars. In the afternoon we will visits the streets and markets of the city and especially the crafts from woodworking.
- Driving time about 2.5 hours.
- Lunch on own.
- Dinner at a seaside restaurant is included.
- Four star luxury Riad t/b/a
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Day 13
(Saturday)
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- Essaouira - Safi - El Jadida - Casablanca
- After an early departure, we head north along the wild and splendid Atlantic Ocean coastline. At this time of year, the countryside is green and with wild flours.
- We will stop enroute in Safi of sardine fish importance, and visit the National Museum of Ceramics in an old Portuguese fort.
- We will also have time to pass through El Jadida, formerly a Portuguese city named Mazagan.
- Driving time about 3 to 4 hours.
- Lunch and dinner on own.
- Four star luxury Riad t/b/a
Moroccan cuisine |
Day 14
(Sunday)
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(Program subject to change)
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