On this tour of the 4 imperial Cities of Morocco – Marrakesh, Fes, Meknes, and Rabat, you will learn about Morocco’s history and witness its cultural diversity. You will also be introduced to Morocco’s wonderful cuisine which has been described as a mix of Arab, Berber, Andalusi and Mediterranean cuisines. Accommodations on this tour will be in 5-star hotels and all meals are included. Join us for this all-inclusive tour and you will meet new people, make new friends plus have a lot of fun.
Day 1 : Pick up at Casablanca airport
On your arrival at the airport, you will be met by the tour manager and a representative of SJ-Tours. After your luggage has been transferred into the bus, you will be driven to your hotel.
After some rest, enjoy your first evening with dinner in the hotel.
Casablanca to Marrakesh
After breakfast, your tour manager will meet you to start your half day tour of Casablanca. For this city tour, you will also have a private tour guide. You will first visit the Hassan II Mosque. This Mosque, one of the largest in the world, was built by Moroccan artisans from all over the Kingdom. The minaret is 60 stories high and has a laser pointing to Mecca on the top. Guided tours are offered at the entrance of the Mosque. After your tour, you will tour the Corniche which is the promenade by the beach.
After lunch, you will start your journey to Marrakesh which takes 3-4 hours depending on the number of stops you make. If you leave at 2pm, you will be at your hotel around 5 pm. There are several stations along the highway with coffee shops where you can stop for a cup of coffee and snack.
When you get to Marrakesh, the tour guide will take you to your hotel where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3 : Marrakech City Tour
After breakfast, you will start your tour of the city of Marrakesh. You will have a private tour guide for Marrakesh in addition to the tour manager. Marrakesh, the first Imperial City on your tour, is known as the ‘Red City’ due to the pervasive red color of the buildings. These buildings were made from local red sandstone from the nearby foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
On the tour, you will explore several historical palaces such as the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs plus several sites, such as the Old Jewish Synagogue, the Koutoubia Mosque and the Menara Gardens. You will walk through the old Walled Medina with your guide and will visit the Jemaa el Fna Square, the heart of the city, which is lively 24 hours per day and the Ben Youssef Madrasa plus the famous souks of Marrakesh.
You will have lunch before heading to the Marjorelle Gardens, which was once owned by the fashion designer, Yves St. Laurent. Your final stop will be the Palmeriae, an oasis outside of town. There you can ride a camel amongst the palm trees and enjoy views of the High Atlas Mountains.
At the end of the day, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4 : Drive to Fes
After breakfast, your tour manager will meet you at your hotel and you will start your journey to Fes. You will drive along the highway and the trip will take about 8 hours. You will have lunch at a rest stop along the highway.
When you reach Fes, your driver will take you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5 : City Tour of Fes
After breakfast, you will start your tour of the city of Fes. You will have a private tour guide for Fes in addition to the tour manager. They will pick you up and you will start your tour from the Fes-Jdid.
In Fes, the second Imperial City on your tour, you will visit historical sites such as the Royal Palace, one of the oldest and largest in Morocco, the Mellah or Jewish quarter founded in 1438 and the first in Morocco, as well as the famous Merinid Tombs dating from the Merinid dynasty.
Later, you will enter the winding old and fortified city of Fes el Bali, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. There you will see the magnificent mausoleum of Moulay Idriss and the medieval University of al-Qarawiyyin, as well as the leather tanneries which have changed little in the last 1000 years.
After the tour, you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 : Tour of Volubilis
After breakfast, the tour manager will pick you up and you will drive to Volubilis, one of the best-preserved excavations in Northern Africa dating from the Roman Empire and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This archeological site provides you an opportunity to explore an ancient Roman city which is full of archaeological treasures with revelations about an ancient way of life.
Then you will drive to Meknes, the third Imperial City on your tour and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour of Meknes will include the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the Bab Mansour, a famous landmark, and the Royal Palace. After your tour, you will have lunch in the Old Town.
Then you will head to Rabat and drive along the highway. When you reach Rabat, your tour manager will take you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7 : Tour of Rabat
After breakfast, you will start your tour of the city of Rabat. You will have a private tour guide for Rabat in addition to the tour manager. You will then embark on a sightseeing tour in Rabat, the 4th Imperial City in Morocco and its Capital. You will see one of the oldest monuments in the city, The Chellah, a medieval fortified necropolis located on the outskirts of the city, and then one of the newest, the Museum Mohammed VI of Modern and Contemporary Art which opened October 2014. You will also visit the old Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower with a 12th century minaret.
After the tour, you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8 : Transfer to the Casablanca Airport
Today, after breakfast, your tour manager will pick you up at your hotel. You will be transported to the Casablanca Airport in plenty of time for your return trip home.
