Welcome to Morocco! Today you arrive in Casablanca and meet your guides at Mohammed V International Airport. After collecting baggage and introductions, you’ll be given a short driving tour of the city to get you acquainted with your surroundings, time permitting, before turning in for the night.

Begin your journey this morning to the town of El Jadida. Best known as the setting for Orson Welles’ film Othello, spend the morning strolling the 17th century battlements and exploring the underground water cisterns of the city. After lunch, head to the ceramics capital of Morocco, Safi. Spend the afternoon visiting this renowned ceramic-makers quarter, and taking in the sights of the Great Mosque and the Portuguese chapel, a stone’s throw from one another. The day is capped off by traveling the short distance to Essaouira, where you stay the night.

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 working fisherman’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 old 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.

After breakfast, travel from one unique coastal city to another as you pass through the region of Morocco known for its argan trees. If you’re lucky, you may spy a herd of goats that have climbed its way into the branches to nibble at the flesh surrounding the argan nuts. Upon arriving at Agadir, we find a city unlike any in Morocco. Rebuilt after an earthquake nearly demolished it completely in 1960, Agadir is a distinctly modern city in both architecture and attitude, crowned with some of the best stretches of beach in the country. Stroll along the golden beaches, or visit the Nouvelle Talborjt, the city center, to do a little shopping or have some tea at a café. Or you may choose to visit the Folk Art Museum, or the open-air zoo right in the center of town, the Valley of the Birds.

Depart from the modern ambiance of Agadir after breakfast, and head inland, to Tiznit. As any Moroccan native will tell you, Tiznit is the place for metal jewelry, and if you’re even thinking of purchasing any, this is the place to do it! A former Jewish settlement during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, the Jewish refugees brought their knowledge of goldsmithing and craftsmanship to this region. A crossroads of the south, Tiznit is also known for its silver tribal jewelry, as well. In the afternoon, take the short route back to the coast to spend the night in the seaside Spanish town of Sidi Ifni.

Awake to the peaceful sounds of local people beginning their day in Sidi Ifni. It is hard to believe that this small coastal town was once the capital of all of Spain’s territory in West Africa! Today’s trip is certainly a unique one, as you journey to Legzura Beach to not only have a day of relaxation at the shore, but also to explore the naturally occurring tunnel along the side of the cliffs. Wind and water have eroded and wormed their way deep into the rock face, resulting in the tunnel that exists at Legzura Beach today. Spend the night once more in Sidi Ifni.

Awake and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading inland to Taradount. This lively town is steeped in a caravan past, where it was a strategic location for traders travelling to or from Marrakech. Indeed, behind its well-preserved and impressive city walls, the atmosphere is colorful and convivial. There are many gardens that dot the medina, and the souks overflow with goods from all over Morocco, just as it has done in centuries past. In the fondouk el-Harare, you can observe craftsmen caring the soft limestone that is so abundant in the area, it is simply called ‘Taradount stone.’

Awake and head out at your leisure, heading towards Marrakech via the Tizi-n-Test Pass. Second in altitude only to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, the Tizi-n-Test is considered by most to offer the more beautiful views. Along the way, stop at various Berber villages for rest and refreshment, including a stop for lunch. Arrive at Marrakech in the late afternoon or early evening, just as the rays from the setting sun are hitting the red adobe walls and casting a magnificent glow over the city. Dinner is at the main square of the city, Djmaa el Fna, where you'll be entertained by musicians, story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, and magicians.

Spend your morning on a guided tour of the myriad souks and historical monuments, such as the Ben Youssef Medressa and the Saadian tombs, final resting place of the rulers of the Saad Dynasty. In the afternoon, explore the town on your own! You may revisit the workers’ souks as they craft every type of item imaginable, or take in the natural beauty at a botanical garden, like the Jardins Majorelle or the Menara Gardens. Your day closes with your choice of culinary spectacle: another entertaining evening at Djmaa el Fna, or at Chez Ali, a dining and entertainment complex just outside Marrakech that offers song, dance, horseback stunts, fireworks, and belly dancers as accompaniment to your meal.

This morning is spent traveling, as you make your way through the mining country of Morocco where the country’s main export, phosphates, are coaxed from the earth and produced. There will be stops along the way for rest and refreshment, enjoying your lunch en route. Arrive in Rabat in the afternoon, and spend some time taking in the sights of the city, such as the mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Hassan Tower, and the Oudaya Kasbah, home to nearly 2,000 of Rabat’s citizens.

Today, continue your exploration of Rabat, as well as its sister city across the Bou Regreg River, Salé. Much like Rabat, Salé’s ramparts are expansive and impressive, and within them lie a charming, quintessentially Moroccon medina. This picture of calm, however, belies a swashbuckling past, as the area was renowned for piracy in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Salée Rovers, in fact, were named after the city. Rreturn to Rabat for the night.

Your adventure draws to a close! Today you depart from Rabat to arrive and check-in for your onward flights from Casablanca.