Riviera Travel Imperial Cities Of Morocco

• Explore Marrakesh and its medieval medina.
• Experience the vibrant souks and the iconic Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
• Visit the enchanting Jardin Majorelle, once owned by Yves St Laurent.
• Discover the colonial charm of Casablanca.
• Explore the vast Hassan II Mosque.
• Visit the elegant Moroccan capital, Rabat.
• Take a guided walking tour through an ancient medina.
• Tour Fez and delve into its extraordinary medina.
• Admire the intricate decor of the Al-Attarine Madrasa and witness the iconic tanneries.
• Explore the historical Roman site of Volubilis.
• Uncover architectural treasures in Meknes.

• 7 nights in three- to five-star accommodations
• Daily breakfast and 7 dinners (2 at local restaurants)
• Daily tours and visits with an Expert Tour Manager
• Return flights and transfers
• Checked luggage
• Includes all local taxes

Day 1 – Arrival in Marrakesh

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Marrakesh, where you’ll be transferred to the four-star superior Hotel Opera Plaza for an overnight stay.

Day 2 – Marrakesh and Casablanca

In the morning, we’ll visit the Jardin Majorelle, formerly owned by Yves Saint-Laurent, showcasing bamboo, bougainvillea, cacti, and exotic plants. The Berber Museum within the garden explores Berber culture and history. Marrakesh’s beauty also includes Moorish buildings in intense blue, burbling streams, and water lily-filled pools.

After leaving Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains foothills, arrive in Casablanca. The city, founded by Berbers, has been influenced by Arab, Portuguese, Spanish, and French cultures. Its distinctive Mauresque and Art Deco architecture is visible along Boulevard Mohammed V. The Hassan II Mosque, one of the world’s largest, rises above the Atlantic Ocean. Our evening includes dinner at Rick’s Café, a tribute to the classic film, Casablanca, in a renovated riad with a 1930s atmosphere and live piano music.

Day 3 – Rabat & Fez

After breakfast, head north to Rabat, Morocco’s current capital. Explore French-influenced boulevards, then take a guided walk through the 12th-century walled medina with its blue houses. After the tour, enjoy free time to stroll along Rue des Consuls or savor mint tea by the Atlantic. Later, we proceed to Fez and our four-star Barceló Fés hotel for a three-night stay with two dinners included. The hotel, conveniently located near the medina, offers comfortable, air-conditioned rooms and a bar for relaxation after sightseeing.

Day 4 – Fez

This morning, explore Fez, Morocco’s spiritual and cultural heart, by coach and foot. With our local guide, we’ll explore the ancient ramparts, gates, and the car-free medina. Inside, discover traditional crafts, including silversmiths, potters, weavers, leatherworkers, and tailors, alongside community hammams, bakeries, and markets.

Visit the 14th-century Al-Attarine Madrasa, the Royal Palace, and the iconic tanneries to witness leather production. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. In the evening, dine on Moroccan cuisine in a charming riad.

Day 5 – Volubilis, Meknes & Fez

After breakfast, we drive through farmland to Volubilis, Morocco’s best-preserved Roman ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We explore this ancient city, originally a Berber settlement, with its temples, villas, bathhouses, and beautiful mosaics. The visit to the museum helps us understand its significance.

Continuing our journey, reach Meknes, an impressive imperial city from the 17th century, known for its palaces, gardens, and mosques. Admire Bab el-Mansour, the grand imperial gateway, visit Heri es-Souani, and explore the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. Meknes is renowned for its ironware craftsmanship. After the guided tour, you have free time to explore before returning to Fez.

Day 6 – Fez to Marrakesh

After breakfast, return to Marrakesh via major roads, making comfort stops for a smoother journey. Reach Marrakesh in the late afternoon and stay for two more nights at Hotel Opera Plaza, including dinner.

Day 7 – Marrakesh and Free afternoon

This morning, embark on a sightseeing tour, visiting the Saadian tombs, renowned for their Moorish architecture adorned with gold leaf and stucco work. Explore the Bahia Palace, celebrated in its time as the world’s most beautiful palace with its 50 marble columns. Our journey continues to the famous souks, where skilled craftsmen create intricate leather goods, jewellery, and furniture.

The afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure. After dinner at the hotel, venture to Jemaa el-Fnaa square at dusk, a vibrant hub of Moroccan culture featuring musicians, dancers, fortune-tellers, and snake charmers in a mesmerizing display of colour and tradition.

Day 8 – Return Home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight

Hotel Opera Plaza, Marrakesh
The four-star superior Hotel Opera Plaza, designed in Arab Moorish style, offers modern rooms with amenities including television, air conditioning, ensuite facilities, a safe, hairdryer, and telephone. The hotel features three restaurants, including international, Italian, and Moroccan cuisine, a lounge bar, café, spa, a large outdoor pool surrounded by palm and olive trees, and various facilities such as a fitness centre, 24-hour front desk, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Conveniently located in its private grounds, the hotel provides easy access to the attractions of the old city.

Odyssee Center, Casablanca
This contemporary hotel in the heart of Casablanca offers fully air-conditioned rooms with a choice of King, Queen, or twin beds. Room amenities include a minibar (local charges apply) and a safe. The hotel features a lounge, restaurant, 24-hour front desk, complimentary Wi-Fi, and laundry service. Its central location allows easy access to the Old Town Medina and the Hassan II Mosque.

Barcelo Fes Medina, Fez
The  four-star superior Barceló Fès Medina hotel features urban-style décor and offers a range of facilities for guests to enjoy, including a restaurant, lounge and bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, sauna, and hammam. Situated near the medina, it serves as an ideal base for further city exploration, with local shops, restaurants, parks, and gardens nearby.

Fact File

• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• Flight time: Approx. 3 hrs 40 mins
• Language: French, Arabic
• Time zone: GMT-1 to GMT+1 depending on the clocks changing in both the UK and Morocco
• Country: Morocco
• Plug type: Standard European 2-pins round

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic