Morocco
Departures & Prices
Airport
Departing
Time
Returning
Time
Cost
Availability
Heathrow
24 Sep 17
18:10
06 Oct 17
16:50
£2030
Good Availability
Heathrow
05 Nov 17
17:10
17 Nov 17
15:50
£2030
Good Availability
Heathrow
25 Feb 18
17:10
09 Mar 18
15:50
£2070
Good Availability
Heathrow
18 Mar 18
17:10
30 Mar 18
15:50
£2200
Good Availability
What's Included
Direct scheduled flights to Casablanca returning from Marrakech
Twelve nights’ accommodation in four & five-star hotels
Full board throughout
Moroccan pastries with tea/coffee on three days
Porterage
Hosted drinks receptions on arrival and departure
Lunch in Rick's Cafe 'of all the bars in all the world'
Lunch in a Marrakech Medina palace
Dinner and cultural shows in the the Fez and Marrakech Medina’s
All excursions and entrance fees
4x4 Jeep Safari to watch the sunset over the Sahara Desert
Services of a local English speaking national guide
Services of a One Traveller Tour Manager
Excursions as follows:
Casablanca city tour
Rabat and Kasbah Oudaias
Meknes
Fez Medina
Volubilis and Moulay Idriss
Middle Atlas Mountains
Rissani
Sunset over the Sahara
Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and trail of the Kasbah’s
Ait Ben Haddou & the High Atlas Mountains
Horse & Carriage (Caleche) ride in Marrakech
Marrakech
Majorelle Gardens
Not Included
Holiday Insurance
You need to arrange your own but we can help. For more information, please see our suggested
insurance services.
Itinerary
Key:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drink
Afternoon Tea
Longer walks and steps may be involved on this day
1 Travel to Casablanca
Depart from the UK on your scheduled flight to Casablanca
accompanied by your One Traveller Tour Manager. On arrival in the
evening meet your Moroccan national guide and transfer to your hotel
in the centre of the city for an overnight stay.
Evening: get to know your fellow travellers over an included welcome
drink and dinner in the hotel.
2 Casablanca
Casablanca is the largest city and economic centre of Morocco and
you will start with a tour inside the Hassan II Mosque. Completed in
1993, this Mosque is the largest in the world and can hold 25,000
people inside and up to 80,000 in the square outside. As you enter the
huge bronze and titanium doors you will witness the incredible work
35,000 craftsmen created’ with onyx columns, marble, intricate stucco
work, cedar carved ceiling, Venetian glass and elaborate ceramics.
Afterwards, we will pause for included morning refreshments at ‘Ricks
Café’ immortalised in the movie ‘Casablanca’ with the famed line ‘of all
the bars in all the world……'The city tour will then continue, including
stops at Place Mohammed V, Boulevard Mohammed V the city’s chic
shopping street with its French Renaissance style architecture, and
the Central Market area before lunch.
After lunch you will then visit the Habbous area; a souk built by the
French in the 1930’s to blend both Moroccan and French styles. In the
late afternoon you will transfer to the capital city Rabat and check-in to
your hotel for a two night stay.
Evening: Dinner in the hotel.
3 Rabat
The Moroccan capital enjoys an atmosphere of calm and a
picturesque position overlooking where the Bou Regreg River opens
out to the Atlantic Ocean. Today you will visit the Hassan Tower and
the Royal Mausoleum of Mohammed V, built in the ornate Moroccan
style, which also houses the present Kings father (Hassan II) and
grandfather.
We include a tour in the gardens and areas surrounding the Royal
Palace and visit one of Rabat’s most evocative sights, the Merenid
necropolis of Chellah built on the site of a Roman fortification and
surrounded with towers and a defensive wall. The ruins are amidst
fragrant fig and olive groves and surrounded by numerous nesting
storks that lord over the site.
After a relaxed lunch you will visit the Kasbah Oudaias along with its
gardens, stopping to enjoy mint tea and Moroccan pastries, as well as
to wander the quaint blue and white-painted narrow streets that lead
to a view of the city and the Atlantic Ocean that is breathtaking.
Evening: Dinner in the hotel
4 Journey to Fez via Meknes
Leaving Rabat today you will journey to Fez (only a 2.5 hours’ drive)
through the surprisingly lush, rolling fertile, Zerhoun hills adorned with
vineyards and olive groves. Before Fez you will visit the imperial city of
Meknes founded during the Alawite dynasty by Moulay Ismail who
made Meknes his capital for 55 years and surrounded the city with
imposing walls and monumental gates such as the Bab el Mansour
that lead to the Place el Hedim, old medina and its covered markets,
the Palace of Dar Jamai Museum with its collection of Beaux Arts and
the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Tour the city before lunch and after
enjoy free time to wander at your leisure before continuing to Fez to
view a traditional Moroccan mosaic and ceramic workshop, the Jewish
quarter, city walls, Royal Palace and new city of Fes el Jadid before
checking into your hotel for a relaxing three night stay.
Evening: Dinner in the hotel
5 Fez - Medina ‘Fes El Bali’
Morning: the walled medina of Fez, ‘Fes el Bali’, evokes all the
senses. Narrow alleys lead to souks where traditional crafts are still
practised today. The air is full of the aroma of freshly squeezed
tangerines, spices from across Africa and the Orient, scented steam
rises from the hammam and the famous tanneries, making today a
true portrait of Morocco both past and present. You will be guided
through this twisting maze with a pause for morning tea/coffee before
exploring other sites in the medina such as the Kairaouine Mosque
and University, Medersa el Attarine and the Nejjarine Fountain.
Afternoon: after a late lunch in one of the ornate palaces within the
medina, reminiscent of a thousand and one nights, return to the hotel
to relax and read by the pool or indulge in a luxury private hamamm
with spa treatments.
Evening: dinner in the hotel.
6 Half day to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss
Morning: Volubilis was the Roman capital of Morocco and the site,
excavated during the French occupation, covers several acres that
are strewn with monuments and broken sculptures. The two
preserved grand archways tell of the grandeur of the old city.
Moulay Idriss is considered the holiest town in Morocco, named after
the great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, and the country's
most revered saint. You will also have lunch here and enjoy time to
explore this picturesque small town.
Afternoon: return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon to relax.
Evening: dinner with traditional Moroccan music and entertainment in
a restaurant inside the medina.
7 Fez – Erfoud: Middle Atlas Mountains
Morning: today you’ll take a fabulous scenic drive, experiencing
different Moroccan landscapes. First into the Middle Atlas Mountains,
pausing for a break in Ifrane at 5,460 ft. Developed by the French, the
architecture resembles a French mountain resort. Afterwards you’ll
drive the high plains, with a barren, moon-like landscape and the
snow covered peaks of the High Atlas Mountains in the distance, to
Midelt, where you stop for lunch.
Afternoon: the road to Er-Rachidia reveals the spectacular Jurassic
geography of the Ziz Valley, where the road passes lush palm oases
towards the rolling dunes and azure skies at Erfoud, where you checkin to your hotel for a two-night stay.
Evening: dinner in the hotel.
8 Rissani and Sunset over the Sahara
Morning: excursion to Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Its
location at a crossroads between north and south gave the city a
certain importance in earlier times. A former major desert caravan
centre, Rissani remains a major commercial centre in the region, with
a large souk, and numerous crumbling kasbahs.
Afternoon: after lunch return to the hotel for the afternoon to relax in
the desert sunshine. Tea/coffee and pastries will be served poolside
before a late afternoon venture in 4 x 4 vehicles into the Sahara to
catch a magnificent sunset.
Evening: dinner in the hotel.
9 Dades Valley - trail of the Kasbahs
Morning: a relaxed start with a scenic drive along the trail of the
Kasbahs. The Todra Gorge is recognised around the world as one of
the most spectacular canyons and here you have a leisurely lunch
while enjoying the dramatic setting, with cliffs over 500 ft. tall on either
side.
Afternoon: you will drive through the Dades Valley, passing
numerous kasbahs, en route to Kelaa M’Gouna famous for its rose
water production, and Skoura where you visit the ornate Kasbah
Almredil. Continue to Ouarzazate and check-in for an overnight stay.
Evening: dinner in the hotel.
10 Ait Ben Haddou & the High Atlas
Morning: visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou,
a fortified town and castle amidst almond trees that is so stunning it
has been used as the setting for Lawrence of Arabia, Indiana Jones,
Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many other films. Afterwards you’ll
continue on a breathtaking drive across the High Atlas Mountains via
the Tichka Pass, which ascends to over 8,000 ft, with great views over
the Souss Valley. Here you stop for lunch.
Afternoon: the final stage of your journey in Morocco is to the
legendary Imperial City of Marrakech. On arrival you will be driven
directly to the famous Jemaa el Fna Square to take a calèche (horse
and carriage) ride to view the walls of the medina, finishing at your
hotel where you will stay for your final three nights.
Evening: dinner in the hotel.
11 Marrakech
Morning: Marrakech was founded in 1062, and its prosperity at this
time made it a fitting capital for an empire which stretched from Algiers
to the Atlantic and from the Mediterranean almost to Senegal. Most of
the city’s unmissable sights are to be found within the city walls, where
mud brick homes nestle alongside classic French colonial buildings.
Today you visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the sumptuous Bahia Palace
and the Merdersa Ben Youssef, which is a jewel of Moroccan
architecture.
Afternoon: after lunch in a medina palace take a walk through the
artisan souks, watching craftsman work as they have done for
hundreds of years, before finishing in the bustling Jemaa el Fna
Square where you’ll have free time to explore.
Evening: dinner and cultural show in the medina.
12 Marrakech - Majorelle Gardens
Morning: enjoy a leisurely breakfast, followed by a mid-morning
departure for one of Marrakech’s most splendid gardens. The painter
Jacques Majorelle laid out his famous garden in 1931 with exotic
plants, bougainvillea, cacti and ornate fountains. He painted the walls
of his art deco villa a vibrant ultramarine to match the Marrakech
skies. The property now belongs to the estate of the late Yves Saint
Laurent and houses a museum of Islamic art.
Afternoon: after lunch the rest of the day will be free to explore the
souk at your leisure before returning to the hotel.
Evening: transfer to Jemaa el Fna square to witness it come alive at
night with an exotic medieval ambience with musicians, conjurers and
street artists, before a farewell dinner in a beautiful Marrakech
traditional house (riad).
13 Depart for UK
After breakfast a short transfer to Marrakech airport for your return
flight (via Casablanca) to the UK.
Included excursions
Casablanca city tour
Casablanca is the largest city and economic centre of Morocco, tour inside the Hassan II Mosque, the
largest in the world that can hold 25,000 people. Afterwards, we will include lunch at ‘Ricks Café’
immortalised in the movie ‘Casablanca’ with the famed line ‘of all the bars in all the world…'The city tour
will then continue, including stops at Place Mohammed V, Boulevard Mohammed V the city’s chic
shopping street with its French Renaissance style architecture as well the Central Market and Habbous
souk area.
Rabat and Kasbah Oudaias
The Moroccan capital enjoys a picturesque position overlooking the where the Bou Regreg River opens
out to the Atlantic Ocean. Visits will include the Hassan Tower, Royal Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the
Royal Palace and one of Rabat’s most evocative sights, the Merenid necropolis of Chellah built on the site
of a Roman fortification and surrounded with towers and a defensive wall. Also you will see Kasbah
Oudaias along with its gardens.
Meknes
The imperial city of Meknes, founded during the Alawite dynasty by Moulay Ismail made Meknes his
capital for 55 years. He surrounded the city with imposing walls and monumental gates such as the Bab el
Mansour that lead to the Place el Hedim, old medina and its covered markets, the Palace of Dar Jamai
Museum with its collection of Beaux Arts and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail are not to be missed.
Fez Medina
You will be guided through this twisting and fascinating maze with a pause for morning tea/coffee before
further exploring sites in the medina such as the Kairaouine Mosque &University, Medersa el Attarine and
Nejjarine Fountain. You will enjoy lunch in one of the ornate palaces within the medina.
Volubilis and Moulay Idriss
Volubilis was the Roman capital of Morocco, and the site, excavated during the French occupation, covers
several acres that are strewn with monuments and broken sculptures. The two preserved grand archways
tell of the grandeur of the old city. Moulay Idriss is considered the holiest town in Morocco named after the
great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, the country's most revered saint. Spread amidst olive groves
in the Zerhoun hills, you will also have lunch here and enjoy time to explore this picturesque small town.
Middle Atlas Mountains
A fabulous scenic drive, witnessing different Moroccan landscapes. In the Middle Atlas Mountains, Ifrane
at 5,460 ft. Developed by the French to escape the summer heat, the architecture resembles a French
mountain resort. The high plains, with a baron, moon-like landscape and the snow covered peaks of the
High Atlas Mountains in the distance.
Rissani
Morning excursion to Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet. Its location as a crossroads between north
and south gave the city a certain importance in previous times. A former major desert caravan centre,
Rissani remains a major commercial centre in the region, with a large souk, and numerous crumbling
Kasbahs.
Sunset over the Sahara
Venture in 4 x 4 vehicles into the Sahara to catch a magnificent sunset over the rolling golden red dunes.
Truly memorable!
Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and trail of the Kasbah’s
The Todra Gorge is recognized around the world as one of the most spectacular canyons and here you
will have a leisurely lunch while enjoying the dramatic setting, with cliffs over 500ft tall on either side. After
lunch you will drive the Dades Valley, passing numerous Kasbahs, en route to Kelaa M’Gouna famous for
its Rose Water production, before continuing to Skoura where you will visit the ornate Kasbah Almredil.
Ait Ben Haddou & the High Atlas Mountains
The UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou, a fortified town and castle amidst almond trees has been used as
the setting for ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Indiana Jones’ ‘Gladiator’, ‘Game of Thrones’ and many more
movies. Afterwards you will continue on a breathtaking drive across the High Atlas Mountains via the
Tichka Pass, which ascends to over 8,000ft, with great views over the Souss Valley.
Horse & Carriage (Caleche) ride in Marrakech
From the famous Jemaa el Fna square take a scenic Caleche (horse and carriage ride) to view the walls
and squares of the Medina in relaxed comfort.
Marrakech
Most of the city’s ‘unmissable’ sights are found within the city walls where mud brick homes nestle
alongside classic French colonial buildings, and today you will visit the Koutoubia Mosque, sumptuous
Bahia Place and the Merdersa Ben Youssef, which is a jewel of Moroccan architecture. After lunch in a
Medina palace you will then take a walk through the artisan souks, watching craftsman work as they have
done for hundreds of years, before finishing in the bustling Jemaa el Fna square.
Majorelle Gardens
Visit to the painter Jacque Majorelle’s famous garden laid out in 1931 with exotic plant life, bougainvillea,
cactus and ornate fountains. He painted the walls of his art deco villa a vibrant ultramarine to match the
Marrakech skies. Today the property now belongs to Yves Saint Laurent and houses a museum of Islamic
art.
Hotels
Rabat: Hotel Rabat (5 star)
The centrally-located, Hotel Rabat is near the old Medina and the
business district. This hotel features a spa and large indoor swimming
pool. The interior is designed in the Art deco style and features live
music nightly in the lounge bar which is ideal for a cosy drink of an
evening. There is a bank opposite and a small convenience store and
coffee shop within a two hundred yard walk in this suburb.
Your room will be equipped with mini bar/fridge, hairdryer, shower
over bath, in room safe, bathrobe, complimentary toiletries and
complimentary Wifi.
Erfoud: Kasbah Hotel Xaluca (4 star superior)
Erfoud is known as “the Door to the Desert”. The Xaluca hotel
overlooks the dunes and has both indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzi,
Moroccan style soft furnishings and a wonderful ambience making this
oasis on the edge of the desert a great place to stay and pamper
yourself.
The Kasbah is listed as unique in Morocco due to its distinctive
characteristics. The hotel Xaluca was built with adobes, the traditional
Moroccan building bricks, and it is a great place to relax and enjoy the
surroundings. Rooms are located in a village bungalow style within the
outer walls.
Your room will be equipped with air conditioning, mini bar/fridge,
hairdryer, walk-in shower, in room safe, complimentary toiletries and
complimentary Wifi.
Ouarzazate: Hotel Karam Palace (4 star)
Situated across from the Ouarzazate Kasbah with its many cafes that
are perfect to watch the sunset over the Dades Valley, the Karam
Palace offers accommodation around the outdoor pool and mosaic
fountain with standard modern amenities.
The hotel bar has live music nightly. Your room will be equipped with
mini bar/fridge, hairdryer, walk in shower or bath tub, complimentary
toiletries and complimentary Wifi.
Marrakech: Hivernage Hotel & Spa (5 star)
Situated in the heart of Hivernage, a modern hub neighborhood in the
Imperial city of Marrakech, just 10-15 minutes walk away from “Jemaa
el-Fnaa square” and the Medina. Intimate and friendly, the hotel
attracts both business travelers and tourists with 85 comfortable
rooms and attentive staff.
The award winning restaurant, the bar the lobby with a cozy
atmosphere, the Fitness Center & Spa, the outdoor pool, the lounge
and coffee bar are all substantial assets that make Hivernage a place
of unique and uquestionable charm in bustling Marrakech.
Your room will be equipped with mini bar/fridge, hairdryer, shower
over bath, in room safe, bathrobe, complimentary toiletries and
complimentary Wifi.
Fez: Palais Medina & Spa (4 star)
Palais Medina & Spa is a luxurious Moroccan 5-star hotel set in a
prime location in the centre of Fes. Local tourist attractions such as
the Royal Palace (Fes) and Jewish Cemetery are not far from the
hotel. All rooms have balconies with views across the forest and
Medina. The indoor and outdoor pools with padded sun
loungers make a welcome relax on early afternoon returns to the
hotel. The lounge bar and dining rooms are decorated combining
modern elegance with Moroccan traditions.
Your room will be equipped with air conditioning, mini bar/fridge,
hairdryer, shower over the bath tub, in room safe, bathrobe,
complimentary toiletries and complimentary Wi-fi.
Casablanca: Kenzi Tower Hotel (5 star)
This 5-star hotel offers panoramic views of the city, port and Hassan II
Mosque. All rooms are furnished with luxury fabrics. A continental
breakfast and gourmet international cuisine are served in Kenzi
Tower’s 3 restaurants. Afterwards, guests can enjoy cocktails and
panoramic views in the stylish Sky28 bar.
Guests have free access to the hot tub and indoor heated swimming
pool. Magnificent views of Casablanca are offered in the rooms at
Kenzi Tower. Other facilities include a free fitness centre. Massage
and beauty treatments are some of the relaxation facilities, also
available in the Kenzi’s Spa Themae.
All rooms are equipped with king size beds, safe, fridge, tea and
coffee making facilities, hairdryer, bathrobe and slippers and
complimentary WiFi. All bathrooms have Italian design bathrooms with
both walk-in shower and bath tub.