Road
to
Morocco
Left, go inside King
Hassan II Mosque in
Casablanca, thirdlargest mosque in
the world; above,
traditions are an
intricate part of
Rabat’s cultural fabric
Tauck Value Includes:
• An inside look at daily life in the maze of souks in the
ancient medina in Fes, led by a local guide, and a stay at
Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï in rooms overlooking the medina
• A carriage ride aboard a horse-drawn caleche around the
ochre-colored ramparts of Marrakech
• Traditional tea demonstration at a private home in a Berber
village within the lovely Ourika Valley
• Lunch at Rick’s Café in Casablanca, a re-creation of the
mythical saloon featured in the famous 1942 film
• Visit to Le Jardin Majorelle, once owned by designer Yves
Saint-Laurent, with admission to Villa Majorelle
• Services of a Moroccan national guide and your Tauck
Director in every destination, as well as local guides
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• 21 meals (8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners); gratuities to
local guides and drivers, service charges, admission fees,
taxes, and porterage
54
1. Arrive Casablanca
Tour begins: Hyatt Regency Casablanca at 6:00 PM. A transfer is
included from Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport to
the Hyatt Regency Casablanca in the heart of Morocco’s largest
city, where past meets present. Your adventure begins with
tonight’s welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
2. City Sightseeing / Journey
to
Rabat
Put your walking shoes on for today’s guided sightseeing,
beginning with a look at the modern side of Casablanca,
Morocco’s economic center. View the United Nations Square
and local neighborhoods, and go inside the Hassan II Mosque,
extending out over the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1993 by King
Hassan II, evoking Spain’s Alhambra and La Mezquita, it is
today the third-largest mosque in the world – and one of the
few in Morocco open to non-Muslims; your tour includes the
hammam and the absolution room. Casablanca has been forever
romanticized by the 1942 film of the same name; so what could
be better than lunch in Rick’s Cafe – a re-creation of the mythical
saloon owned by Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart.
Continue on to Rabat along the Atlantic coastline; a walking tour
of the impregnable Oudaya Kasbah and the Andalucían gardens
offers a glimpse of the city’s rich history. Dine à la carte tonight at
a fine Moroccan or French restaurant – your choice. Meals BLD
“ Our Moroccan national guide was fantastic – extremely knowledgeable and entertaining, great energy and warmth; brought
everything to life, and he was always there for us... We loved seeing things we had only read about in books... Really enjoyed
Marrakech and our city guide... Liked the private home visit in the Berber village...
”
– Excerpts from guest comment cards
SPAIN
3. Roman Ruins & Markets
in
Rabat
Domes and minarets grace the skyline of oceanfront Rabat,
while its cliff-top kasbah, imposing medina, sweeping terraces
and wide tree-lined boulevards invite discovery within. Rabat
is the political, administrative and financial capital of Morocco,
the country’s main university town and its second-largest city.
Visit the mausoleum of the revered King Mohammed V, and see
the towering 12th-century minaret of Hassan. Your walking tour
takes you by the walled grounds of the Royal Palace, then for a
walk through the Necropolis of Chellah, sheltering the ruins of a
13th-century mosque and royal burial complex. Have lunch at a
local restaurant featuring Moroccan-style seafood and sea views.
Spend the rest of the day exploring Rabat on your own. Meals BL
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Volubilis
Rabat
The agricultural landscapes of Morocco’s “breadbasket”
provide the backdrop for a full day’s journey to Fes, with stops
in historic Meknes and Volubilis. Founded in the 10th century,
Meknes is nestled between mountains and desert; today it
is a dynamic economic center known for its olives, wine and
mint tea. Remnants of powerful sultans chronicle the history
of this imperial walled city in elaborate gateways or babs, and
the Granary and Stables, built in the 17th century to house up
MOROCCO
Casablanca
Middle Atlas
Mountains
Marrakech
Ourika Valley
(6,920 ft.)
4. Imperial Meknes / Volubilis / Fes
Fes
Meknes
High Atlas
Mountains
ALGERIA
Maximum Elevation: 1,529 ft.
to 12,000 horses, feature engineering innovations that were
remarkable for their time. See them up-close before visiting the
Musée Dar Jamaï, showcasing Moroccan art amidst the intricately
painted interior décor and courtyard gardens. Continue on to
Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; guided sightseeing
reveals vestiges of Roman urban planning at the Forum, Basilica
and the Triumphal Arch. View the stunning bright-white town
of Moulay Idriss en route to Fes; your landmark hotel is set in a
perfumed Andalucían garden, overlooking Fes el-Bali. Meals BLD
One of the words that comes to mind about Morocco is “colorful”; from ornate mosaics to varieties
of olives at a market in Meknes and the Royal Palace in Rabat, the imagery is striking
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825
www.tauck.com
55
UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE SITES
HISTORIC CITY OF MEKNES
Founded in the 11th century as a military settlement, Meknes
experienced an impressive rebirth as a 17th-century Maghreb
capital. This walled city, rebuilt in the Spanish Moorish style
and exceptionally well-preserved today, is renowned for its
harmonious blending of Islamic and European design.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF VOLUBILIS
Extensive remains from the Roman Empire are found throughout
3rd-century Volubilis, including 55 olive presses, the communal
Baths of Gallienus, a wide paved street leading to the Capitol,
the Basilica, the Forum and beautifully preserved mosaics in the
town’s great houses.
MEDINA OF FES EL-BALI
Home to the oldest university in the world and one of its
largest living medieval cities, Fes was founded in the 9th
century and reached its height in the 13th to 14th centuries.
Many of its most impressive palaces, residences, mosques
and fountains date from this period. The labyrinthine souks
of Fes el-Bali have changed little in a thousand years.
MEDINA OF MARRAKECH
Its ochre-colored battlements date back to 1070, as does
the Koutoubia Mosque, boasting a 12th-century prayer pulpit
with intricate gold, silver and ivory marquetry. More than 20
babs (gates) are built into its walls, many bearing triumphant
skill in bas-relief and trompe l’oeil artistry. Its ornate Saadian
Tombs are considered architectural jewels, and Bahia Palace
awes with opulent mosaics and inlaid woodwork ceilings.
5. Fes,
a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Founded in 808 AD, Fes is the best-preserved medieval city of
the Arab-Islamic world; Tauck’s rooms at the Sofitel Fès Palais
Jamaï overlook the Fes medina (Fes el-Bali), barely changed in
a thousand years. Your day begins with a lecture on the role of
women in Morocco by a noted university professor of women’s
studies. A guided tour of the city includes the Fes el-Jedid, the
Imperial City of the Merinides, the Mellah, and of course, the
famous medina; over 300,000 people still live within its ancient
walls. Your local guide navigates you through this labyrinthine
maze of souks (shops), navigable only by foot, offering an
“inside” look at daily life. See the Bab Boujeloud (the medina’s
principal gate), the Bou Inania Medersa and the Tanneries;
and take a peek inside the gates of the Karaouiyine Mosque,
established in 859 AD. During your stay, you’ll dine at a fabulous
local restaurant, La Maison Bleue, and at the hotel. Meals BLD
56
Must-see-to-be
believed – the
Roman ruins at the
archaeological site of
Volubilis; right, a local
guide offers invaluable
insights in Fes
6. Middle Atlas Mountains / Marrakech
Take in awe-inspiring views of North Africa’s Middle Atlas range
on a drive to Marrakech that begins a long but interesting day.
Rural landscapes continually change from fruit orchards and
farms to country villages and lush alpine valleys; above them,
mountains that are home to ski resorts and forests of cedar, cork
oak and maritime pine thrive. Arrive early evening in Marrakech,
the “Pearl of the South,” where Africa meets Arabia under the
shadow of the High Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by lush gardens
and fountain-filled courtyards, your accommodations for the next
three nights at the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa are located
in the heart of the city, close to the ancient medina. Meals BLD
7. Souks & Gardens
of
Marrakech
Encircled by ochre-hued ramparts, Marrakech is an exuberant
city of elegant palaces and ornate mansions, snake charmers and
colorful souks, where daily life unfolds before you in a parade of
sensory delights. Sightseeing today includes the ornate Saadian
Tombs, renowned for their fine Islamic architecture; a visit to
19th-century Palais Bahia; and an opportunity to see Koutoubia
Mosque, one of the largest in the western Muslim world. Visions
of a lush desert oasis become reality during a morning visit to
Le Jardin Majorelle. A small botanical garden of bamboo thickets,
giant cacti, palms, bougainvillaea and electric-blue gazebos created
by the painter Jacques Majorelle, this colorful acreage was more
recently owned by the late designer Yves Saint-Laurent. You’ll have
an opportunity to tour the painter’s former home, Villa Majorelle,
which is now a museum, to see its collection of Moroccan art
and crafts. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk inside the
Marrakech medina to peruse myriad craft shops displaying
everything from kilims, slippers and leatherwork to baskets of
henna, rainbow-colored herbs and pink, green and black olives.
The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. A
carriage ride through the palm-lined streets of Marrakech leads to
Djemâa el Fna Square, with Gnaoua musicians, cobra charmers,
water carriers and veiled dancers. Meals BL
8. Ourika Valley / Berber Home Visit
Travel outside Marrakech today to charming Ourika Valley, the
ancestral home of ancient Berber villages. These isolated villages
appear to cling to the hillsides with plots of cultivated land laying
along the river valley. Go inside a typical home to experience
a Moroccan tea demonstration, a rich cultural tradition that’s
centuries old, and have lunch in a restaurant managed by
local Berber villagers. Back in Marrakech, spend the afternoon
exploring as you wish. Cocktails, canapés and an elegant farewell
dinner at a local riad this evening mark a fitting end to a most
memorable Moroccan journey. Meals BLD
9. Journey Home
Yves Saint-Laurent helped fashion Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech
Tour ends: Marrakech. Fly home any time. A transfer from the
Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa to the Marrakech-Menara
Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for
flight check-in. Meals B
9 Days from $3,590 plus airfare
(8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches & 6 Dinners)
Begins Casablanca
Apr 6, 15, 27
May 6, 27
Jun 8
Sep 23
Oct 5, 14, 26
Dates in red indicate special departures where the single price is from $4159;
see General Information for details. Specific dates apply.
Go to www.tauck.com for up-to-the-minute space availability; additional
departure dates may become available as these sell out.
Price Per Person
April – May 18; September – October
Double $3790
Single $4659
Triple $3838
Double $3590
May 19 – June
Single $4459
Triple $3638
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for international air for travel
originating in the United States (subject to availability).
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before or after
your tour and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Product.
So many interesting dining
experiences, from Rick’s
Cafe in Casablanca, to
a typical Moroccan tea
demonstration
Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825
Fine Hotels / Great Locations
Night
Night
Night
Night
1
2,3
4,5
6-8
Hyatt Regency Casablanca
La Tour Hassan
Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï
Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa
Casablanca
Rabat
Fes
Marrakech
www.tauck.com
57