The Experience

Sample Moroccan hospitality when a Marrakech family welcomes you into their home for dinner, experience life in medieval Fez and visit the mountain-dwelling Berber people in their small village of Imlil. Day 1: ARRIVE IN CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to your hotel. Gather tonight for your welcome dinner at Rick’s Cafe, a tribute to the classic Casablanca gin joint.,

Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche | Meals: D
Day 2: CASABLANCA / Roman Volubilis
Start the day by exploring Casablanca’s most important site, the Hassan II Mosque, which houses 25,000 worshippers. Before lunch, drive to the city of Meknes, built in the 17th century to rival the court of Louis XIV. Continue to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Morocco,™s largest and best-preserved Roman ruins with excellently preserved mosaic floors. At day,™s end, arrive in Fez.

Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï | Meals: B L
Day 3: FEZ / The Medieval City
Step back in time to the Middle Ages in ancient and remarkably untouched Fez el-Bali (Old Fez,), the cultural heart of Morocco. Wander among the 9,000 lanes, alleys and souks that comprise its old quarter, where locals conduct their day-to-day business. At Nejjarine Square, pause at an elaborate mosaic-tiled fountain. After lunch, discover Fez el-Jadid (New Fez,), built in the 13th century. Fez el-Jadid is home to the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, which boasts traditional Jewish architecture of wrought iron-decorated windows and carved wood balconies. Tonight, dine at a traditional Moroccan riad with a special guest who shares insight into life in Fez.

Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï | Meals: B L D
Day 4: RABAT / Morocco’s Capital
After breakfast, drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Explore the city’s highlights, including the superbly preserved, 12th-century Moorish Hassan Tower, the incomplete minaret of a great mosque. View the mausoleum of Mohamed V, founder of modern Morocco, and visit Oudaya Kasbah, built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic. Note the carvings on the kasbah,™s gate, among the most beautiful in the Moorish world.

Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses | Meals: B L
Day 5: MARRAKECH / The Red City
Travel overland today to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon. Considered the Pearl of the South,, Marrakech was once the capital of an empire that stretched from Spain to Senegal, and is sometimes known as the red city, for the distinctive hues of its brick buildings.

Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa | Meals: B
Day 6: MARRAKECH / Palaces & Performers
Spend the day discovering captivating Marrakech, starting at its ancient medina, the old walled section of the city. Explore the Saadian Tombs displaying intricate stucco and Granada-style carvings and the Dar Si Said, a former palace known also as the Museum of Moroccan Arts. Continue to El Badi Palace and the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret, the most perfect Islamic religious structure in North Africa. Stroll through the fabled Djemaa el-Fna square where fire-eaters, mime artists and street musicians perform at every turn. Return to your hotel on a private horse-drawn carriage ride. This evening, enjoy a personal Culinary Connection, as you share a special dinner with a local family.

Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa | Meals: B L D
Day 7: MARRAKECH / Atlas Mountains
Today, choose to remain in Marrakech or enjoy a full-day excursion to the High Atlas Mountains, North Africa’s greatest mountain range. Visit a picturesque village at Imlil Valley, meeting with local Berbers and visiting them in their home, making for an authentic Neighborhood Connection. Your farewell dinner tonight is held at the Palais Soleiman, a lovely Moroccan riad.

Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa | Meals: B L D
Day 8: DEPART MARRAKECH
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: B