Northern Moroccan Adventure

We'll start the trip in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, but you’ll want to fly into Casablanca international airport. After customs and baggage claim, you’ll be welcomed to Morocco by our driver and guide, who will drive you to Rabat to begin our Moroccan adventure (approx. 1 hour driving time).

You’ll check into our lovely hotel – Riad Kalaa – and have some time to relax and settle in. We’ll meet in the evening for a welcome dinner at our charming riad!

This morning, we will explore Rabat’s highlights beginning with Chellah Necropolis. From Chellah, we’ll then head to the Yacoub al-Mansour Esplanade, which is home to two, must-see monuments: the King’s Mausoleum, which was built in 1971 and houses the remains of the late king Hassan II, Prince Abdallah and their father King Mohamed V, and the Hassan Tower, an incomplete red sandstone minaret which began construction in 1195 AD.

We’ll wrap up our visit of Rabat at the Kasbah des Oudayas, an Almohad fortress built in 1150 AD. From the Kasbah des Oudayas, we’ll head to lunch at Dar Naji, a Moroccan restaurant that is not to be missed. Watch out for the tea pouring performance at the end of the meal!

This afternoon, we’ll embark on the 4.5-hour drive to Tangier. After arriving and checking in at our hotel – Riad Mokhtar – we’ll have dinner on the property.

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head out to see Tangier’s sites, beginning with the American Legation Museum. Fun fact: Morocco was the *first* country to recognize the USA’s independence back in the 1700s! We’ll tour the museum, have lunch, and walk-through Tangier’s blue-and-white medina before heading to Cap Spartel in the late afternoon. The drive along the coast is not to be missed, and the cape is spectacular at sunset. We’ll get to see both the cape and the Cave of Hercules, with an Africa-shaped opening that leads out to the sea.

After a day’s worth of excursions, the rest of the evening and dinner will be at your leisure.

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head off to the famous blue city of Chefchaouen (approx. 3 hours driving time). Upon arrival, we’ll embark on our guided exploration of the town. Known for its signature powder-blue walls and its calming charms, Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 AD and has recently become famous for its cerulean streets.

Our guide will lead us to their favorite haunts as well as the signature locations of Chefchaouen, starting with the Kasbah in the center of town, which offers breathtaking panoramic views from the top of the tower. After lunch in the medina, we’ll be joined by a professional photographer who will take shots of us in the blue streets!

After we get some memorable photos, we’ll have some free time to wander up to the town’s waterfall or through the hidden charms of the medina. We’ll meet up for a delicious dinner all together. Note: Chefchaouen is a dry city – no alcohol.

Overnight stay at Lina Ryad & Spa

In the morning, we’ll bid farewell to the “Blue Pearl” and head over to Fes, Morocco’s ancient cultural capital. Founded in 781AD, Fes is now considered the world’s largest car-free urban zone and is a UNESCO World Heritage site!

The drive is about 5-hours, so we’ll break up the drive with a stop en route at Volubilis, the Roman ruins located outside of the city, and will then enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local vineyard.

We’ll check into our riad and enjoy a group dinner there. We’ll need a full night’s rest before our action-packed visit of Fes in the morning!

Overnight stay at Riad Myra.

After breakfast, we’ll begin our exploration of the ancient city of Fes. A trip to Fes is like a step back in time, so make sure to take in all of its unique sights, smells, and sounds.

Our day will include stops at the medina, the Medersa (old school), and the legendary tanneries, where ancient techniques are still used to prepare Moroccan leather, which is then used to produce a variety of clothing, shoes, and bags. We’ll also stop by the world’s oldest and longest operating learning institution, the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859AD.

We’ll break for lunch in the medina and will continue our tour of the souks and artisan quarters after eating.

This evening you’ll have to yourself. Take the opportunity to try a meal at a local restaurant of your choosing, and our guide will definitely have great recommendations!

Overnight stay at Riad Myra

Today, we’ll have a leisurely breakfast and morning to enjoy more of the city.

For those more inclined to a little pampering, we have an optional hammam and spa experience planned to get you scrubbed and relaxed. The traditional hammam ritual involves several steps to cleanse, detoxify, and help in relaxation. You’ll experience one of the world’s most ancient traditions, a black-soap cleanse, followed by a cascading cold-water rinse. This prepares your skin for an invigorating scrub, which leaves you soft and free of accumulated toxins and impurities. After another rinse, a mask of Moroccan volcanic clay is applied to the body, face and hair.  The last step of this centuries-old practice of purification is the relaxing massage using pure oils, Morocco’s precious youth elixir!

After a tasty lunch, we’ll get creative with a DIY craft workshop with a local artisan. Here, we’ll be able to learn ancient craft techniques firsthand from some of the country’s most skilled artists!

Finally, we’ll conclude our stay with a farewell dinner before heading back to our riad for the night.

Overnight stay at Riad Myra

After breakfast, those ending their trip here in Fes will bid farewell to new friends made who we will surely count as friends for life, along with all the sights and sounds of the past week’s adventures. 

We’ll transfer you back to the Casablanca Airport for your departure flight. It’s a 4-hour drive, so please make sure your return flight is in the late afternoon or evening to ensure plenty of time to get to the airport, and for customs and security. 

For those choosing to extend their trip, we’ll head to the Fes Airport to catch our domestic flight to Marrakech. We’ll check into our fabulous hotel – La Maison Arabe. We'll then enjoy a self-guided visit of the Majorelle Gardens and YSL Museum. The gardens are filled with exotic plants and trees from all over the world. Next door sits the YSL Museum, home to original work of the internationally renowned designer. Once we’ve made our way through the gardens, we’ll take some time to check out the museum and learn more about Yves Saint-Laurent.

In the evening, we’ll head to the famed Djemaa el Fna Square, which comes alive at night. Storytellers hold audience's captive; juice vendors call out the flavors they have available and live musicians perform in the middle of the square. After our visit, we’ll head back to La Maison Arabe for a delicious dinner.

We’ll wake up for breakfast and head out to explore Marrakech’s old city. Our guide will take us on a walking tour of the most notable monuments, followed by a lunch break in the medina. We’ll then continue with a visit of the souks, where every imaginable good is sold, from spices to shoes to floor-length carpets. If needed, our guide will be able to help us negotiate at the souks for anything that catch our eye!

After exploring the medina, we’ll head to our tagine cooking class! This class is hands-on and is taught by an expert chef, who will walk us through the process of how to make a traditional tagine. After prepping our tagines and side salads under the chef’s guidance, we’ll all get to enjoy our homemade creations for dinner!

Overnight Stay at La Maison Arabe 

Bid farewell to your new friends, driver and guide. If flying home from Marrakech, the airport is a short drive. If you're returning from Casablanca airport, its a ~4.5-5 hour drive, so please make sure your departing flight is in the late afternoon or evening to ensure plenty of time to get to the airport, and for customs and security.