Welcome to Morocco! Today you arrive in Marrakech and meet your guides at Menara Airport. After collecting baggage and introductions, enjoy a sumptuous meal and some much-needed rest after traveling.

This morning, depart Marrakech and travel to the seaside town of Essaouira. The city of Essaouira has long been a haven for artists, musicians and writers, and you will see why as you independently explore its quiet streets flanked by blue trimmed white buildings, sidewalk cafes, and well preserved Portuguese ramparts. From the fishermen’s wharves to the seaward battlements and along the streets where myriad craft worker shops host local painters, carpenters and wood carvers, you’ll discover that the European architects who designed Essaouira created a pleasant town much different from elsewhere in Morocco. You may choose to spend the day exploring independently, or arrange to take time to enjoy the surf and warm sea breezes at the nearby beach of Sidi Kaouki, where camels can be hired to take you along the long strand of scenic beach. There is a free dining night scheduled for you on this day in which you have a chance to choose from the numerous menus of Moroccan and international restaurants that Essaouira has to offer.

Depart in the morning from Essaouira and head to Safi, another seaside city of Portuguese origin and home to the oldest pottery kilns in all of Morocco. Continue northward to Oualidia where a late lunch can be had at one of the restaurant cafes lining the golden beach of its protected harbor. Oualidia is also home to first class oyster beds. Time permitting, you may be able to visit and sample from Oyster Farm #7, one of the oldest and best known.

The drive from Oualidia passes by Cap Beddouza and reveals to you stunning seaside cliffs and wide views of the Atlantic. Upon arriving in El Jadida, visit the famous underground cisterns of the city, which were once gun powder magazines now flooded by seawater. These were used by Orson Welles in his film version of Othello. From the cisterns, it is a short walk to the ramparts by the sea to enjoy a leisurely stroll. Then it’s off to Casablanca for a short visit to the Great Mosque of Hassan II, where you can also view the el Hank Lighthouse in the distance. After a brief visit in the city’s historic downtown, continue on to Morocco’s current capital, the stately city of Rabat.

This morning, tour Rabat, whose history is rooted in antiquity. On the outskirts of the city, visit the Necropolis of the Chellah, which its ancient and medieval ruins. Other places to visit include the never-completed Hassan Tower, and the Mausoleum of Muhomad V, and the National Museum of Archeology, where incredible examples of pre-historic and ancient artifacts are on display. Before your day ends, journey to the peaceful mountain town of Chefchaouen to spend the night.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of the picturesque town of Chefchaouen. The Spanish and Portuguese influence are deeply felt here, most noticeably in the shade of ‘Portuguese blue’ in which much of the town’s structures are painted. Highlights of this day include a visit to where the city’s fresh water springs from the mountain, a stroll through the wonderfully restored 16th-century Kasbah, and time to explore the medina on your own. Spend your free time shopping, indulging in pastries at a local café, or making the short hike further up the mountain to visit the ‘Spanish’ mosque and experience the panoramic view of the town.

Leave Chefchaouen and head for the ruins of the Roman outpost of Volubilis. Once the seat of Roman provincial authority for hundreds of years, the cite was populated well into the Middle Ages and up to the 17th century, when an earthquake made it uninhabitable. Many mosaics and other structures from its Roman heyday are still very much intact. A stone’s throw from Volubilis is the holy town of Moulay Idriss, the final resting place of a grandson of the prophet Mohamed after whom the town is named. A short distance from Moulay Idriss is Meknes, famed for its olive groves, vineyards, and wheat fields. Meknes is home to a grand palace constructed by Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 12th century, the ruins of which now dominate the center of the town. See Bab Mansour, the impressive gateway to the city that was built with marble pillaged from the nearby ruins of Volubilis, before spending time in the medina of the city. The day ends with a short trip to Fes.

Spend a full day here, exploring the oldest of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Fes boasts the largest medina in Morocco, with no fewer than 187 quarters, each with its own mosque, Koranic school, fountain, public bath, and communal bread oven. Your walking tour starts at the beautiful Bab Boujloud, and wind your way into the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the city’s medina. Here, you have the opportunity to visit the souks of various artisans and craftsmen, the al-Attarine medersa, the Karaouyine Mosque, the Jewish quarter of the city known as the Mellah, and the front entrance of the Royal Palace. End your tour at the tombs of the Merinid Kings, which overlook the city. You have an option to dine this evening at al-Fassia, one of the famous palace restaurants of Fes serving a traditional banquet accompanied by local musicians and entertainment.

Depart from Fes after breakfast and start your day of travel, heading first to the Berber village of Azrou. After spending some time interacting with the local people, continue through cedar forests and into the Atlas Mountains, along scenic roadways to the city of Beni Mellal. A crossroads town between Fes and Marrakech, Beni Mellal receives no shortage of travellers making their way through the country. Add yourself to that historic totatl as you seek overnight respite from your travels.

After breakfast, continue further into the High Atlas Mountains to the picturesque Cascades d’Ouzoud, the highest waterfalls in North Africa. Enjoy a stroll through the adjacent olive groves that are home to the curious macaque monkeys, known locally as Barbary Apes. Departing Ouzoud, head onwards to the heart of Morocco’s south, Marrkech. Surrounded by red adobe walls, the setting sun hits the ruddy structures of the city and makes the city seem as though lit by an indescribable fire. Before retiring for the night, take in the spectacle of Djmaa el Fna, where storytellers, snake charmers, henna artists, magicians, musicians, and others entertain the crowds every night of the year.

After breakfast this morning, set out to discover the last of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Spend the morning on a guided walking tour, visiting such sites as the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, the Ali ben Youssef Medersa, and the Bahia Palace. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon on your own to explore the many wonders of Marrakech, such as the botanical beauty of Les Jardins d’Majorelle and the Menara Gardens. You may choose to simply wander in the souks, or take a horse-drawn caleche ride around the city. Your evening is capped with a meal at the historic restaurant Dar Essalam, where portions of Alfred Hitchcock’s film, The Man Who Knew Too Much, were filmed.

Your adventure draws to a close! Today you head back to the airport to check-in for your flight home.