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- Imperial cities (Fez, Meknes, Marrakech)
- Seaside cities, Essaouira and El Jadida
- Volubilis site
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Day 1  |
Marrakech |
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Arrival in the Red City. We take you to your
hotel. |
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| Day 2 |
Marrakech - Beni Mellal |
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We stop at the Ouzoud cascades, to admire these
one hundred metres waterfalls. The way going down to the river
is shadowed with trees hosting many Berber Apes. Still making
our way through the “Moroccan Swiss” we pass by
Azilal and the huge Bin-El-Ouidane dam to reach Beni-Mellal,
where we visit the Aïn-Asserdoune sources and admire the
panoramic view from the Borj. |
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| Day 3 |
Beni Mellal - Meknes |
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Another source, of the Oum er-Rbia river, where
sweet waters and waters salted by Atlas rock salts simultaneously
flow. Along the way, tents have been set up, and it is a very
nice and very cool place when the weather is really hot. We
then cross the cedars forest of the Middle Atlas, populated
with Berber Apes, and large green agricultural plains. Passing
by Azrou, we reach Meknes. |
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| Day 4 |
Meknes and Volubilis |
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In the morning, visit of the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
The city was formerly the capital of Tingitania Mauritania (Western
Africa), and remains a monumental Triumph Arch, facing the Plain
of Rarb, and many mosaics. In the afternoon we visit the medina
of Meknes, whose fortified walls have the largest doors in Morocco.
Inside, we see the splendid Moulay Idriss Mausoleum, the House
of Water (Dar-el-Ma), the former granaries of Moulay Ismaïl
(Heri es-Souani) and the large Agdal water pool. |
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| Day 5 |
Fez |
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We visit the medina of Fez,
the oldest of all imperial cities. Founded in 789, it grew
in 818, welcoming the Muslims chased out of Cordova, and continued
growing in concentric circles till the XVII° century,
when the Alawites abandoned Fez for Meknes. Listed as a World
Heritage, Fez medina has some of the most beautiful Muslim
monuments, like Karouiyine Mosque, Koranic schools (medersa)
Bou-Inania and El-Attarine, zawiyas Moulay Idriss, and the
foundouk (hotel) El-Najjarine, now a museum. You can also
visit the tanneries. We go back to Meknes, where we sleep.
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| Day 6 |
Meknes - El Jadida |
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From Meknes, we go to Rabat,
where we visit the Kasbah des Oudayas and the Hassan Tower.
In the evening, we arrive in the former Portuguese Mazagan,
now called El Jadida. |
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| Day 7 |
El Jadida |
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Portuguese left a fortified city of the XVI°
century, which highlight is a large underground cistern, discovered
again by sheer luck at the beginning of the XX° century,
by a merchant who wanted to extend his caves. After visiting
the medina and the fortified walls, you can enjoy the beach
and the sunset. |
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| Day 8 |
El Jadida - Essaouira |
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Along the coastal road, we drive southwards to
Essaouira. We pass by Oualidia, a very nice and charming sea
resort, whose beach offers a wonderful and protected lagoon.
It’s an area with oysters farming, and you’ll see
the parks along the seaside. We reach Essaouira, formerly called
Mogador. |
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| Day 9 |
Essaouira - Marrakech |
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We visit Essaouira, whose strong walls remind
us of the city of St Malo and protect a typical medina. Essaouira
is a city known for its artists, craftsmen (especially wood
sculptors and inlayers working mainly with thuja and citrus)
and sport opportunities (winds are a real treat for surfers),
and has a very active fishing harbour. We drive back to Marrakech.
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| Day 10 |
Departure |
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We transfer you to your airport or another place
when you stay in Morocco (in that case, possible extra costs,
please ask us). |
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