DAY 1: Arrival in Tangier → City Sightseeing

Whether you're arriving by ferry or plane, we will meet you upon arrival and take you to your hotel to settle in before exploring the ancient city of Tangier, a seaport and coastal city that has for centuries been the gateway between Africa and Europe. A local guide will be waiting to take you on a private tour around Tangier and help you discover the historical and modern-day charms of this bustling Moroccan city.

Our trip will start at the city's famous kasbah. Located at the highest point in the city, the Dar el-Makhzen, or former Sultan's Palace, overlooks Tangier's Medina from behind its 17th-century stone walls. You can stroll through the palace gardens and pay a visit to the Museum of Antiquities and Moroccan Art. Afterwards, a wander through the medina will give you a feel for life in the city, both past and present-day. Your guide can take you to an authentic Berber souk and help you bargain for something special to take home with you. We will spend the night at our hotel in Tangier.

DAY 2:

Tangier → Tetouan → Rif Mountains → Chefchaouen

After breakfast we will leave Tangier and head west along the beautiful coastline on a hilly road towards Ceuta (Sebta to the locals). From there you will have a fantastic view over the ocean, and you'll even be able to climb the rocky peak of Jebel Musa, which stands directly opposite the Rock of Gibraltar. After stopping for lunch in the city of Tetouan, which lies at the foot of the Rif Mountains, our road will take us up into their ridges and valleys and to the beautiful and isolated mountain town of Chefchaouen, set like a gem between two Rif Mountain peaks.

Chefchaouen is renowned for the distinctive blue-washed facades of its houses, painted that way by Jewish refugees who lived there in the 1930s, and is an unreal and unmissable destination for any trip to Morocco. The Chefchaouen medina features a Spanish-style plaza surrounded by numerous cafes, rooftop restaurants, and crafts stores that sell items unique to the Moroccan highlands. We will explore Chefchaouen in the afternoon and settle into our hotel, from which we will be able to enjoy the relaxed environment and spectacular mountain views of this one-of-a-kind town.

DAY 3:

Chefchaouen → Rif Mountains → Fes

After breakfast in your hotel in Chefchaouen, our journey will take us further into the Rif Mountains. These dramatic peaks are still largely unexplored by visitors due to their remoteness and the hashish industry that flourishes in its hidden valleys. Our road will wind through the tranquil and unspoiled reaches of these ancient mountains before descending back down to the foothills and arriving at Fes, the spiritual and intellectual capital of Morocco, where we will settle into our hotel and spend the night.

DAY 4: Fes Sightseeing escorted tour by a local guide

After breakfast you will enjoy a guided half-day city tour of Fes, Morocco's spiritual and intellectual capital and home to the largest old medina in the world. There you will visit Jemaa El Karaouine, the first university to be established in the world. As you enter the shady souks, you will encounter aromas from the market stalls where countless spices and perfumes are traded.

In stark contrast, you'll brave the stink emanating from the leather tanneries where men often stand up to their waists treating leather in noxious baths in the same way that it has been done for centuries. Despite the smell, the ethnic leather products produced by these craftsmen are world-class and are the perfect thing to take home with you. In the evening you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants and spend the night at your hotel. (BB)

DAY 5:

Fes → Volubilis → Moulay Idriss → Meknes → Rabat

After having breakfast in Fes, we will travel to Volubilis, the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Despite the damage caused by an earthquake in the year 1755, this important Roman town features some detailed and gorgeous mosaics that give you an inspiring window into Morocco's ancient history. Nearby is the town of Moulay Idriss, named after Emir Moulay Idriss I, who brought Islam to Morocco in the 8th century.

From here we will continue to another city important to the Roman Empire - the imperial city of Meknes, originally known as Miknasa after the Berber tribe settled here in the 10th century and often called the "Versailles of Morocco" due to the grandeur and intricacy of its buildings and monuments. From Meknes we will continue to Rabat, the current capital of Morocco and the home of its King. In Rabat we will visit the famous Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Hassan Tower, and take a break to relax at the spectacular Kasbah des Oudayas, after which we will go to our hotel and spend the night.

DAY 6:

Rabat → Casablanca → Marrakech

After breakfast we will leave Morocco's political capital for the bustling streets of its economic capital, Casablanca. THere we will visit the grounds of Rabat's iconic Hassan II Mosque, which features the world's tallest minaret and displays some of the finest Islamic craftsmanship ever produced. There we will learn about how historically important Casablanca has been for Morocco over the centuries. In the early afternoon we will board our way for a four hour journey to Marrakech.

Through the plains that will give us some time to reflect on the historical and cultural richness of the North, and prepare for a completely different facet of Morocco. In the evening there will be time to stretch our legs and visit the famous Djemaa el Fna Square, around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means "Place of Death", as it was where Sultans would historically display the heads of their enemies. Now, with food stalls, snake charmers, traveling musicians, and acrobats, it has become a place of entertainment for both Moroccans and overseas visitors. We will spend the night in our hotel in Marrakech. (BB)

DAY 7: Marrakech Sightseeing

In the morning after breakfast we will set off on a guided tour of Marrakech, which has for centuries been an important stop for traders and travelers. Our tour will take us to the Bahia Palace and the 16th-century Saadian tomb. You will have some free time to have some lunch and visit the Koutoubia Mosque, whose 77 meter minaret dominates the center of Marrakech, and wander through the winding alleyways of the old medina.

We will continue to the Djemaa el-Fna Square where you can try bartering with the locals or have a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice on one of the many rooftop terraces overlooking the square. After the sun sets you will witness Djemaa el Fna becoming even livelier and overflowing with food vendors. We will spend the night in Marrakech. (BB)

DAY 8:

Marrakech → Essaouira

In the morning we will take a bus from Marrakech to the town of Essaouira for a quick tour to introduce you to this delightful old Portuguese fishing port on the Atlantic Ocean. The settlement dates back to the 15th century, but the present town was constructed around 1760 by Sidi Mohammed ben Abdullah, who needed a base from which to quell a revolt in Agadir. Today, Essaouira is conspicuously relaxed, and its whitewashed houses with their painted shutters, artisan's workshops, boatyard, and busy fishermen provide a marked contrast to Marrakech.

In the afternoon you will have plenty of time to explore for yourself and do some shopping, take a walk or a camel ride along the beach, walk along the ramparts and harbor and see the local catch, or even take a boat trip to the storied island of Mogador in the bay. We will spend a night in relaxing accommodation in Essaouira.

DAY 9:

Essaouira → Back to Marrakech

After breakfast in the morning we will have some time to continue exploring the winding backstreets and ramparts of Essaouira before we return to Marrakech around midday. In Marrakech we will have plenty of free time to do some last minute shopping, or maybe to take a Calèche ride (bright green horse drawn carriage) to the Majorelle Gardens, decorated in indigo blue and housing a small museum of Islamic art. As a final treat you may want to pamper yourself at a local hammam, a traditional steam bath and the perfect way to cap off your Moroccan experience. We will spend the night in our hotel in Marrakech. (BB)

DAY 10:

Marrakech at Leisure → Transfer to the Airport

Today we will make as much use of our time as possible, wandering around the souks of Marrakech and finding souvenirs or last-minute gifts for friends before we take you to Marrakech Menara airport with plenty of time to catch your departure flight.