MOROCCO CULTURE AND HISTORY
5 Days Tour - Casblanca - Rabat - Meknes - Fez - Beni Mellal - Marrakech
Dates Valley, Boulemane Dades, Morocco Morocco-tours-holidays-trips-vacations
Tour Details:
Culture and History - 5 Days Tour
This tour is interchangeable for pickup from Casablanca, Marrakech or Fes
Day 1 - Casablanca - Rabat
Arrive at Casablanca international airport where we will meet you and drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. In Casablanca you will see the Hassan II Mosque, the largest Mosque (and extremely beautiful) outside of Mecca and experience the coastal Cornish seaside with a drive or walk along the Corniche. Afterwards, we will travel to Rabat. Here you will see the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah, before you check in to your Riad in the Medina.
Day 2 - Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fes
After breakfast in your Riad, you will travel to Fes via Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, another significant imperial city in Morocco, known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, you will see the famous gate Bab Mansour, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch, your journey continues to the Roman city of Volubilis, where you will to see the wonderfully preserved original mosaics, Roman road, and city layout. As you travel through the Moroccan countryside we will pass by the Holy City of Moulay Idriss for a photo opportunity. You’ll arrive in Fes at the end of the afternoon and check in to your Riad within the oldest and largest Medina in the world.
Includes breakfast.
Day 3 -
Full day exploring Fes.
Breakfast in your Riad and then start an explorative journey of the Medina where you will visit the many hidden treasures that only the inhabitants of the place know about. Fes served as the capital of Morocco for more than 350 years and is home to the University of Al Karaouine, the oldest operating university in the world. Your guided tour will take you to Moulay Idriss mausoleum, the Nejjarine Fountains and the Tanneries. After lunch you will also view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famous Jewish quarter “the Mellah”, where you will have the option to visit one of the few living synagogues in Morocco. Your tour of Fes includes a short visit to the famous ceramic factory, and then you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over the whole Medina of Fes. In the afternoon we will visit the new city for a drink and dinner.
Overnight in Riad in Fes, includes breakfast.
Day 4 - Ifrane - Azrou - Beni Mellal
Today we travel to Ifrane, the Swiss Mountain village in Morocco. Here you can explore the mountain town that will give you the impression of being in Switzerland. Then we travel to Azrou and Beni Mellal, across the middle Atlas Mountains. Beni Mellal is conveniently located between Fez and Marrakech. Here you will visit El Kasbah Ain and the local souk as well as Ain Asserdoune. You will stay in traditional Riad in Beni Mellal.
Overnight in Riad, includes breakfast and dinner.
Day 5 - Ben el Ouidan - Ouzoud - Marrakech
Today we travel from Beni Mellal to Marrakech. On the way we will visit Ben Elouidan. Where we will explore the dam and maybe take a boat ride. Then we travel to the beautiful Ouzoud waterfalls. The souk and cafes at the falls are vibrant, interesting and good to explore. There will be photo opportunities along the way across the mountains, of the broad panorama of the plains.
Then travel to Marrakech and end of tour.
Inclusions:
4 breakfast, 1 dinner, all transportation costs. Pick up and drop off at your prebooked accomodation or airport.
All of the following is NOT INCLUDED:
in general, entrance fees to various sites, alcohol and tips, air fares.
Moroccan Dirham currency can be obtained at airport on arrival and at any bank, of which there are many in Morocco using your Credit Card or Travel card.
Reduced cost for groups of 10 or more.
A Snippet of information about Marrakech
The Saadian Tombs were built in the 16th century as a mausoleum to bury numerous Saadian rulers and entertainers. It was lost for many years until the French rediscovered it in 1917 using aerial photographs. The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River. It is located next to the south wall of the Almohad mosque of the Kasba, in a cemetery that contains several graves of Mohammad's descendants. His own tomb, richly embellished with decorations, was modeled on the Nasrid mausoleum in Granada, Spain. The building is composed of three rooms; the best known has a roof supported by twelve columns and encloses the tomb of al-Mansur's son. The room exemplifies Islamic architecture with floral motifs, calligraphy, zellijand carrara marble, and the stele is in finely worked cedar wood and stucco. Outside the building are a garden and the graves of soldiers and servants.
