Colors of Morocco - 2021

Day 1 Overnight Flight

On a captivating adventure through a land of centuries-old culture and customs, discover the “Land of Sunset” and “Gateway to Africa” – the place they call Morocco.

Day 2 Casablanca, Morocco - Rabat - Tour Begins

Welcome to Morocco! After you land in Casablanca you will transfer to Rabat. Depending on your arrival flights, you may join your local Tour Manager on a vicinity walk to get acquainted with the area around your hotel in Rabat, your home for the next two days.

Day 3 Rabat

Come to know Rabat on an in-depth tour* with a local guide who will share his knowledge of this city and its architectural wonders. Visit the Chellah Necropolis, a walled town containing both Roman ruins and a medieval necropolis. Explore the Mausoleum of Mohammed V., the epitome of modern Moroccan design. The mausoleum’s ornate woodwork, marble, and bronze ornamentations make this a tomb truly fit for a king. See the Kasbah de Oudaias and its whitewashed buildings. Enjoy free time to explore on your own in the afternoon. At the end of your day, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4 Rabat - Fes

Depart Rabat for Fes this morning. En route to Fes, stop at a winery estate for a tour, tasting and lunch. Explore the winery’s lovely grounds on a guided tour through the vineyard and cellar, taking in sweeping views of vines and tasting some of the vintages. End your tour with a lunch in the estate. Then continue on to Fes where you will spend the next three nights at your riad.

Day 5 Fes

Get ready to discover Fes, one of the holiest cities in the world. Learn about its history as a center of government, philosophy, medicine, and religion. Visit the Royal Palace and the Al-Qarawiyyin University, the oldest continuously-operating university in the world (UNESCO), admiring its high arches and Andalusian influences. On a walking tour of the 9th-century medina, explore the alleyways and stalls of this ancient market.

Day 6 Fes

Enjoy your day at leisure in Fes. Explore the city further, strolling through marketplaces or visiting a museum. Perhaps you will join an optional tour to Volubilis and Meknes. On this full-day tour, experience Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its impressive and well preserved Roman ruins. Then travel to Meknes, one of four Imperial cities in Morocco where you will see the Bab Mansour gate and have an included local Moroccan lunch.

Day 7 Fes - Midelt - Erfoud

Cross some of Morocco’s most breathtaking desert landscapes on the way to the Sahara. En route, pause in Midelt to bask in majestic views of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Arrive in Erfoud, called “Door to the Desert,” and where many famous movies were filmed, including The Prince of Persia and The Mummy.

Day 8 Erfoud - Sahara Desert

Enjoy your morning at leisure in Erfoud, taking in the peaceful desert landscape. Later in the day, visit a local date farm. Here, you will have the opportunity to interact with the farmer and learn about the process of farming in the desert. This evening, make your way by 4x4 jeep to your tented camp for a magical 2-night stay in the Sahara Desert.

Day 9 Sahara Desert

Rise early to watch the sun illuminate the Sahara in stunning hues of orange, yellow and red. View the expanse of the desert via camel this morning. Then, continue your day by traveling to the village of Khamlia. Meet with locals to have an eye-opening and meaningful discussion before experiencing traditional sub-Saharan Gnawa music. Continue on your desert expedition and meet a nomadic community where we will learn more about this ancient way of living and how their traditions have changed. Return to your camp as the sun sets over the dunes. This evening, reflect on the serenity and beauty of the desert under a tapestry of twinkling stars.

Day 10 Sahara Desert - El Khorbate - Boumalne du Dades

Return to the edge of the desert this morning and marvel as the sun illuminates the vast sands. Visit the fortified village of El Khorbat Oujdid. Dating back to the 17th century, this village showcases Jewish and Muslim architecture and artifacts. Learn more about Berber culture while visiting the museum within the village. Later, arrive in Morocco’s “Grand Canyon,” Boumalne du Dades, where a golden sun lights up the gorge’s river valleys, palmeries and burnished mud-brick homes.

Day 11 Boumalne du Dades - Ksar Ait-Ben-Haddou - Marrakech

Follow the rugged “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” where turreted fortresses rise up like sandcastles along this ancient trading route. Arrive at the UNESCO site of the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou and discover the earthen buildings, defensive walls, and corner towers that make the ksar a striking feat of Moroccan architecture. Before you reach the exotic city of Marrakech, continue along the Tizi n’Tichka Pass in the High Atlas Mountains, a scenic route through lush oasis valleys, imposing mountains and several Berber villages.

Day 12 Marrakech

Among the mosques and palaces, souks and riads, visit the ancient El Bahia Palace, whose architecture is a distinct blend of both Islamic and Moroccan styles. Embark on a walking tour with a local guide, stopping at shops along the way, or perhaps walk into the Jemaa El Fna Square, Marrakech’s main square. Then it’s your choice! Visit the Jardin Majorelle and the Berber Museum, two iconic sites that showcase the beauty and ingenuity of Morocco’s cultural heritage -OR- explore the Musée Yves Saint Laurent and discover how the colors and textures of Morocco inspired this iconic designer.

Day 13 Marrakech

Today, join a local women’s training center in an interactive cooking class. Head to le jardin to source your own herbs and vegetables and learn the secret to making the country’s most celebrated dish: the tagine. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. This evening, perhaps you will join an optional horse-drawn carriage through Marrakech, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 14 Marrakech - Casablanca

Depart Marrakech for Casablanca this morning. Upon arrival in Casablanca, visit the largest functioning mosque in Africa, the Hassan II Mosque. Learn about the history and the significance of this mosque on a privately-led tour. Gaze upon the intricate, colorful artistry of ceramic tile and hand-carved stone of this architectural wonder. Then bid farewell to your Tour Manager and fellow travelers during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 15 Casablanca - Tour Ends

Your tour comes to a close this morning.