Imperial Morocco

Day 1 London to Marrakech
Today you’ll fly to Marrakech, the Pearl of Morocco where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Marrakech
You’ll venture into Marrakech today on a guided morning tour. This enigmatic city is filled with mysticism and charm. It’s a wonderful combination of Moroccan colour and French influences, with other cultures added into the mix as people from all over the world, throughout history, have flocked here to live or to explore. You’ll visit the Menara Gardens; authentic Marrakech greenhouses where families and couples gather to enjoy summer sunsets and cool evenings. At the end of the avenue you’ll find the Koutoubia Minaret, which was designed by the same architect who built the famous Giralda tower in Seville Cathedral. This tower can be seen from anywhere in Marrakech and is used to summon people to prayer.
The tour then moves on to the old quarter. You’ll drive through the Jewish quarter, stopping at the Bahia Palace where you can visit a noble house dating back to the last century. This building housed four wives and a hundred or so concubines. You’ll stop for lunch in a restaurant in Djemaa el-Fna Square. Then, in the afternoon, prepare for one of Marrakech’s most iconic and most intense experiences; the souks and bazaars in the Medina. As you wander the maze-like streets, through the various neighbourhoods that divide the city, you’ll see the different trades, arts and crafts practised by craftsmen and women, including potters, spice vendors, leather tanners and woodworkers. You’ll be expected to haggle for any purchases you want to make, which can be great fun. After the thrilling hustle and bustle of the Medina, you have some free time to roam the famous Djemaa el-Fna Square. Expect the unexpected; you may see snake charmers, monkey trainers, psychics and the dentist!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 3 Marrakech to Casablanca and Rabat Just the word
‘Casablanca’ has an air of mystery and romance, thanks to the film classic. On your morning tour, you’ll visit the Mohamed V Plaza, the United Nations Plaza, Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral and the Corniche. You’ll also go on a board walk tour and see inside the fabulous Hassan II Mosque, which was built on the sea front and has an impressive minaret.
You’ll then head out of Casablanca, towards the capital, Rabat, where you’ll be taken for lunch before your sightseeing tour continues. The places of interest you’ll see include the Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Hassan Tower, the Oudayas ruins and the Royal Palace, where you can admire the impressive façade, with its intricate mosaics on the palace gate.

Meals: Breakfast Lunch.

Day 4 Rabat to Fez
After breakfast this morning, you’ll travel to the Imperial city of Meknes to see the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, The Bab El Mansour Door and the Kasbah. You’ll also visit Volubilis, the best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, which sit in the westernmost reaches of the Roman Empire. Built on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement, which itself overlay an earlier Neolithic site, Volubilis has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, you’ll continue on to Fez, where the old walled city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 5 Fez
On your morning tour of Fez, you’ll really get a feel for this atmospheric town as you see the Royal Palace façade and visit the Jewish neighbourhood, known as Mellah, and the Bab Jeloud door, which is one of the city gates. You’ll then head to the old quarter, known as Medina; a large traffic free area which is a fascinating place to explore. You can admire the Medersa Bouanania, a 14th century Korannic school, and the outside of the Moulay Idriss Mausoleum. You’ll also experience the aromatic bustle of the spice and leather markets.
In the afternoon, you’re free to explore Fez at your own pace, and soak up the atmosphere. Then, this evening, you’re invited to a special dinner in a 17th century Arabian Palace. You’ll be served typical Fez cuisine, including ‘Pastilla’, among other delicacies, and you’ll also watch performances by local folk music groups.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 6 Fez to Erfoud
Today you’ll embark on an astonishing drive of contrasts, heading southwards through the Mid Atlas and High Atlas ranges, passing cedar forests and palm tree valleys then continuing into desert landscapes. You may see snow at the Col du Zad, at an altitude of over 2,100 metres. You’ll stop to take in the wonderful views over the Ziz river valley, then travel on as the landscape changes into desert sand dunes with copper tones and palm tree forests as you approach the city of Erfoud. During the journey, watch out for barbary apes and camels strolling along the desert plains.
After your long journey, relax in your hotel in Erfoud, one of the gateways to the Sahara.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 7 Erfoud
A desert adventure awaits today. We’ve planned an exhilarating four-wheel drive trip to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes; an area which has been used for some stages of the Paris-Dakar rally. This is the highest and the biggest sand dune range in the whole of Morocco and reveals the silent and beautiful landscapes of the Sahara. On your tour, you’ll also visit the village of Merzouga and the surrounding oases nearby.
In the evening, you’ll watch the sun set over the golden dunes, lighting the desert with a remarkable glow. If the sky is clear, which it is 350 days of the year, you’ll see the most incredible display of stars glittering in the inky depths of the night sky. In this inspirational setting, you’ll take your seat in a spacious Nomad tent for an authentic desert dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

Day 8 Erfoud to Ouarzazate
Travelling on routes used for centuries by nomads and North African traders, you’ll head along the south of the Atlas mountain range today, viewing the strikingly beautiful mountain and desert landscapes. You’ll see the Todra Gorge, which is very narrow in places, and pass Kasbahs (old fortified villages) as well as small farms and palmeries which are dotted along the valley. Later in the day, you’ll arrive in the town of Ouarzazate, sitting on the edge of the desert, which was a major garrison town under French rule.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 9 Ouarzazate
This morning’s short tour of old Ouarzazate takes in various sights including the Taourirt Kasbah and the old Medina. You’ll also visit the cinematographic centre; Ouarzazate has become a key location for the film industry due to the quality of the light and the climate. Many desert epics have been filmed here, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

For the rest of the day, you’re free to relax in this
quiet and scenic town.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10 Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Heading back into the mountains again, you’ll stop
en route at the impressive Kasbah of Ait Ben
Haddou, which is one of the best examples of a
Berber fortified village in a scenic location. You’ll
continue into the High Atlas mountains and travel
over the dramatic Tiz’n Tichka pass, stopping to
take in the mountain views before you descend
down the other side towards the city of Marrakech,
where you’ll arrive later in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 11 Marrakech
To round off your non-stop adventure, you have a free day in Marrakech to absorb the culture, relax in the hotel, or head back to the Medina to haggle for some more souvenirs.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 Marrakech to London
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home; alternatively, extend your stay in Essaouira, an attractive coast town.

Meals: Breakfast.

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”