Upgraded - Discover Morocco and the Atlantic Coast

Our tour of Morocco starts in Rabat, the political and administrative capital of Morocco since 1956. With its palm lined streets, manicured boulevards and easy going pace of life, Rabat is the perfect place to start our Moroccan adventure.



If you arrive to the city early, there are plenty of sights to keep you occupied. In contrast to other cities in Morocco, Rabat has a relaxed, European feel to it. The city is easy to navigate, with Hassan II avenue dividing the new town and the old medina which is crammed full of craft shops, exotic spices and food stalls.



At 7pm, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception for a welcome meeting. If you want to, there'll be the chance to go out for dinner afterwards. If you arrive later, our tour leader will catch up with you the following morning before we check out.

A transfer from Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) to Villa Mandarine is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your arrival day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to departure. The journey from the airport to our hotel is around 90 minutes.



Our first night is based at a family run hotel set in beautiful gardens with a swimming pool. The hotel features a sun terrace and has a restaurant, offering a choice of freshly prepared French and Moroccan dishes. The homely bedrooms are well appointed with air conditioning, free wifi and have a private small terrace on the ground floor or balcony on the first floor overlooking the expansive gardens.

Our first stop is Rabat's historic centre. After taking in the views across the city including the Oued Bou Regreg river estuary, we'll walk over to Rabat's most famous landmark, the intricately carved Hassan Tower. The marble interior of the Mausoleum of Mohammed V lies directly opposite the tower. Our next stop is the royal palace, which we'll view from the outside, after which we'll head to the Kasbah des Oudaias, a fortified area of the city perched on top of a cliff with commanding views of the city behind it and the ocean in front. The Kasbah has a distinctive Andalusian flavour, with whitewashed houses and narrow winding streets surrounded by imposing fortified walls. There's time to enjoy a refreshing glass of mint tea or orange juice before we stroll around the Andalusian gardens, a haven of tranquillity, offering a shady retreat.



After a break for lunch, we bid farewell to Rabat and drive to Chefchaouen. It's a drive of around five hours which will take most of the afternoon with a stop or two along the way, and we'll arrive into the famous 'blue town' in the early evening. Our base for the next two nights is a bright and spacious riad in the heart of the medina. Featuring a traditional Moroccan hamman, a large roof terrace with fine views of Chefchaouen and an indoor swimming pool and a spa with a wide choice of massages and treatments available, it's the perfect spot to relax and take a break from the bustling streets outside.

Set beneath the towering peaks of the Rif Mountains, we have a full day to delve into the treasures of Morocco's 'blue town', Chefchaouen, one of the most attractive towns in Morocco. After breakfast, accompanied by our tour leader we'll take a stroll into the medina. With its stacked white and blue houses set against red tiled roofs, the town is a photographer's dream.



Our walking tour of the medina takes in the narrow, winding lanes of Chefchaouen, which give you an idea of Andalusia's influence over Morocco. There's time to discover many of the artisan stalls and stop for a glass of mint tea in a shaded café watching the world go by. The heart of the medina is the Plaza Uta El Hammam, with a backdrop of the commanding red walls of the kasbah and the Grand Mosque. It's not hard to appreciate why Chefchaouen draws visitors from all over the world with is easy going charm.



Lunch is included today at a local family's house. After being welcomed by our hosts, we'll have a short tour of their home and then settle down to enjoy a delicious home cooked three course traditional Moroccan meal followed by tea and pastries. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. You may wish to hike up to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views or head back to our riad to use the hamman or relax on the terrace with a good book.

Crossing the Rif Mountains, we make our way to the ancient ruins of Volubilis. Morocco's best-preserved Roman site, Volubilis was once the capital of the province of Mauritania Tingitana and home to 20,000 people. We'll take the chance to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site with a local guide. Spanning several hectares, the site has remarkably well preserved mosaic floors, carved columns and avenues, giving a sense of what life would have been like in this once bustling Roman outpost.



The area around Volubilis is blessed with rich fertile plains ideal for wine production. The combination of clay and limestone soil with a Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters, enables growers to produce high quality wines including rich, full bodied reds made from imported grape varieties including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. We'll be greeted at the vineyard by our resident wine guide who will accompany us on a short tour of the vineyard and production facilities, before we get the opportunity to taste three different wines.



Today's final destination is Morocco's cultural capital, Fes. Steeped in history, Fes has played an important part in Moroccan trade, culture, religion, and politics throughout the centuries. We'll arrive at our riad located in a quiet corner of Fes' historic medina. Lovingly restored using intricately carved cedar wood, with mosaic floors, it is set out in a traditional manner with rooms arranged around a central courtyard. It's the perfect base from which to explore this vibrant city.

Today, we'll wake up in the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities, Fes. In its golden age, Fes was a hub of art, philosophy and trade and is still referred to as Morocco's artisan capital.



This morning, we'll delve into Fes el-Bali, the oldest quarter of the city, with a guided tour of the old medina. The day starts with a short drive to the viewpoint at Borj Nord for a look at the sprawling city from above to get our bearings; we'll then visit the royal palace in the Fes El Jedid district, see the palace from the outside and take a short stroll around the historic Jewish quarter.



The highlight of the day is the chance to head into the old medina and souks. Nothing quite prepares you for your first visit - you'll see weavers, coppersmiths and tanners all hard at work, the narrow winding streets and covered bazaars are a riot of noise, colour, smells and life and rolled into one. During our walking tour we'll also get to see the famous tanneries and dye pits where leather products are still produced by timeless traditional methods used for hundred of years.



This afternoon is free to enjoy meandering at your own pace. You might like to head into the new town and take a seat at one of the European-influenced cafes that line the pavements in the French Ville Nouvelle district. Alternatively, stay in the medina and get lost in Fes' addictive pandemonium or return to the tranquillity of our riad to use the hamman, have a massage or relax on the terrace with fine views overlooking the city.

After breakfast, we'll leave Fes driving along the foothills of the Atlas mountains to Ouzoud. Today is a longer travelling day with around six hours of driving. Along the way we'll make a stop for a short walk in the Atlas cedar forest in Azrou, where there's a good chance we will get to see a troop of Barbary apes that inhabit the woodlands. During our drive to Ouzoud, we'll also make a break for lunch.



We'll reach our home for the night mid afternoon. Tonight we stay in a traditional guesthouse on the outskirts of the peaceful village of Ouzoud, far removed from the hectic streets and medina of Fes. The guesthouse is surrounded by olive groves, almond and fig trees and features a swimming pool and terrace with views of the Atlas mountains. Dinner is included at our guesthouse tonight.

A leisurely start to the day, we take a fifteen minute walk from our guesthouse to the Ouzoud waterfall (for those that don't wish to walk, there is the option to take the bus to the falls). After seeing the waterfalls we'll drive directly to Marrakech, arriving around lunch time.



With its dusty rooftops, maze-like streets and bustling souks, Marrakech encompasses the essence of Morocco. The afternoon will be free to spend as you wish. Should you wish, you can join our tour leader for a short stroll through the medina to the Jemaa el-Fna (the main square), the beating heart of the city for a late afternoon wander. The square comes alive at night with food stalls offering all sorts of delicacies.



Our riad in Marrakech is centrally located in the medina with a roof terrace overlooking the city.

Today we'll dive straight into the heady delights of Marrakech with a guided tour of the city. Marrakech is a destination like no other, offering a vibrant new sight, sound, or scent at every turn. We'll pass by the rose-coloured Koutoubia (booksellers) Mosque on the way to the Saadien Tombs and Bahia Palace, famous for its decorated stucco walls and marble floors.



We'll fuel up on fresh pastries from a traditional bakery before continuing to the medina on foot. There, we'll be guided through the labyrinth of spice-scented souks, passing by craftsmen selling rugs, leather goods and crockery, before dropping by a spice shop to sample ripe dates and almonds. Finally, we'll navigate our way out and into the energetic Jemaa el-Fna Square where we will get to enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice or a hot drink, after which we have free time to do some last minute souvenir shopping or further explore the souks.



On our last afternoon in Morocco we'll head out into the Agafay desert, a distance of around 30km from Marrakech. A world away from busy city life, Agafay has a similar landscape to the Sahara with dramatic rocky outcrops and a backdrop of some of Morocco's highest peaks in the Atlas mountains. Arriving around 5pm, we'll be welcomed by our hosts with a drink, followed by a three course dinner served under the stars. After dinner we turn our attention to the night sky as a blaze of stars emerge - free from light pollution, the full majesty of the galaxy we call home can be seen unfold as the skies darken. A telescope is provided and we'll be accompanied by a local guide who will point out the constellations, with a tour of the night sky. We return to Marrakech for our last night, arriving back at our riad around 10.30pm.

Heading west after breakfast, we'll reach the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the quaint port town of Essaouira. Set inside 15-century Portuguese fortifications, Essaouira is a charming seaside spot to recoup after a busy few days. We'll aim to arrive around lunch time and have the rest of the day free to explore or relax.



Our riad for the next three nights is located on the edge of the old town. The riad features a large roof top terrace, traditionally furnished en suite bedrooms and is ideally located to make the most of our stay in Essaouira.

This morning our tour leader will help us get our bearings with a two to three hour orientation tour. The town has a rich and somewhat colourful history and its importance as a trading port during the 18th and 19th centuries saw it prosper, attracting British, French, Arab and Jewish merchants and sailors to its shores. These influences are still reflected in the architecture and layout of the town, which is divided into the old town (including its medina) and the new town. We will visit the ramparts, with its cannons facing out to the sea, head into the medina and take in the Mellah (the old Jewish Quarter) where we can witness skilled silversmiths at work.



The rest of the day is free to spend the day as we wish, uncovering the colourful coastal town. Head into the old walled medina and the maze of streets lined with craftsmen selling souvenirs from handmade leather belts to jewellery to wooden boxes inlaid with mother of pearl. Outside of the medina, sink your feet into the golden sands of the beach and watch the fishermen return to shore with their day's catch.

The morning is left free. With a near constant sea breeze coming off the Atlantic, even in the hottest months of the year taking a stroll along the town's expansive beach is a very pleasant experience. Visit the port to see the fishermen land their catch or wander through the old town browsing the wares on sale or pop into one of the towns many art galleries or workshops. The wood products are particularly good quality in Essaouira and the traders more laid back and relaxed compared to other towns and cities in Morocco.



This afternoon we have a cookery class, our tour leader will accompany us to our cookery school where we'll prepare a three course meal with freshly purchased ingredients. It's a chance to refine our cookery skills to impress friends and family back home and enjoy a delicious meal together.

Our tour of Morocco ends at our riad in Essaouira after breakfast.



A transfer to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) from Dar Loussiya is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your departure day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to your tour departing.