Long Stay in Sunny Portugal: April 6th, 2024

March 30th to April 7th, 2024

9 Day/8 Night Morocco Post Extension – $3399 CAD per person based on twin share | Singles Add $900 (pricing based on 5+ passengers) – Trip is limited to 24 Guests Maximum

Terms and Conditions: 

Deposit Due:

$500 CAD per person due upon reservation ($250 is non-refundable | The remaining $250 is converted to a future travel credit valid for up two years beyond the original date of travel up until December 1st, 2023. After December 1st, 2023 the entire $500 CAD per person deposit becomes 100% non-refundable)

Final balance Due:

February 1st, 2024 (100% non-refundable after final payment)

Highlights: Including Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis, Fez, Bin El Ouidane, Ouzoud Waterfalls, Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains

Includes: All meals and sightseeing as per itinerary, all taxes, tour guide from start to finish, all tipping for tour guide and locals guides, transportation, arrival transfer and hotel transfer, gratuities on all included meals and luggage handling

Not Including: Airfare, all other items not listed above.

Day 1. Saturday, March 30th: Casablanca Airport – Hotel in Casablanca.

Upon arrival into Casablanca airport we will be met by our English speaking tour guide and will make our way to the Hassan II mosque.

Hassan II mosque, built partly on the sea, is a religious and cultural complex, built on nine hectares and includes a prayer room, ablution room, baths, a Koranic school (madrasa), a library and a museum. The Hassan II mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world, and has a minaret with a height of 210 m, the highest in the world.

We will then be transferred to our hotel for check-in. After some time at leisure we will be taken to our welcome dinner at Rick’s Cafe.  (Drinks not included)

Where we will savour a fine dinner at one of the most iconic restaurants of the city. Rick’s Café is totally inspired by the notorious Hollywood movie “Casablanca” and will take you back in time to the 1940’s.  Enjoy your meal while enjoying live music.

Accommodation: Hotel Idou Anfa Casablanca, Casablanca (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2. Sunday, March 31st: Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Fez

After breakfast we will make our way to the coastal city of Rabat (about a 90 minute drive).

Visit the Hassan Tower. Towering above the Bou Regreg estuary witnessing on the Almohad dynasty since the 12th century. Then walk into the Mohamed V Mausoleum, the burial place of the present King’s grandfather. Then stroll in the Consults Street, the artisanal souk of the city of Rabat. Finally we visit the Kasbah des Oudayas with its enormous Almohad gate of Bab Oudaia, built in 1195.

After Rabat, we depart for Meknes, Volubilis and Fez. We will travel to Fez via Meknes, where we will have a panoramic tour of this former Imperial city of Morocco. We will have the chance to see the old ramparts; the Agdal Basin, which was used to water the royal gardens; the Moulay Ismail royal stables, granaries and House of Water (Dar el Ma) which were built in the 17th and 18th centuries to house, feed and water the sultan’s twelve thousand horses. We will see the Bab el Mansour, one of the most beautiful gates in Morocco.

We will transfer to Volubilis (if time permits)

Continuing on your route we will visit Volubilis, the Roman capital of North-Western Africa with its impressive and well-preserved Roman ruins, including approximately 30 mosaic floors dating back to 25BC.

We will continue to Fez to check in at our hotel.

After some time at leisure we will enjoy an included dinner at Dar Roumana restaurant. The remainder of your evening will be at leisure.

Accommodation: Riad Lamine (Premium Rooms) or Le Grand Alcazar (Suites), Fez

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3. Monday, April 1st: Fez

After breakfast we will have a full day guided city tour of Fez.

Fez, is the religious capital of Morocco. The city tour includes visits to the old and new medinas, the 14th century religious school (Medersa) Attarine. The Medersa Bou Inania, the finest of Fez’s theological colleges. It was built by the Merenid sultan Bou Inan between 1351 and 1357, and has been impressively restored with elaborate zellige (colourful geometric mosaic tilework), carved plaster, beautiful cedar mashrabiyyas (lattice screens) and massive brass entrance doors.

Visit the Nejjarine Museum. This museum is in a wonderfully restored ancient inn that was used by travelling merchants back in the 17th century to store their goods. Centered on a courtyard, the rooms are decorated with impressive wooden art displays, traditional artifacts of craftsmen’s tools, prayer beads, Berber locks, chests and musical instruments.

Continue to explore the impressive labyrinth of souks in Fez, declared by UNESCO to be one of the world’s great cultural treasures. The tour also allows photo stops at the imposing gate of Bab Boujloud, the splendid fountain at Place Nejjarine, the ancient ramparts, and the beautiful façade of the Royal Palace.

Accommodation: Riad Lamine (Premium Rooms) or Le Grand Alcazar (Suites), Fez

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4. Thursday, April 2nd: Fes – Bhalil – Sefrou – Fes

After breakfast we will begin today’s excursion to explore the quaint villages of  Sefrou and Bhalil, which are located at the foot of the Middle Atlas Mountains.

The first stop will be the Bhalil Village, set on the side of a hill. The village of Bhalil is notable for its unique cave houses located in the old part of the village, and for its eclectically coloured homes that are linked together by a network of bridges. Some of the cave houses in Bhalil are routinely open to tourists to visit, but are rapidly disappearing as the village modernizes. Bhalil is also known for its production of Djellaba Buttons.

Village women can often be found in alleyways, chatting while they diligently work through hundreds of strings and buttons in the creation of traditional Djellaba.

The village is also known for its olive oil production and traditional bread ovens.

We will attend a tea ceremony hosted by a local family in the heart of Bhalil village.

Then we continue driving to Sefrou the “Cherry Capital” of Morocco. Which has become an increasingly popular day trip from Fez, especially for those looking for a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

In this excursion you will have the chance to visit the Mellah or Jewish quarter, and stroll through its narrow alleys to discover its unique architecture style, the synagogue and the Jewish cemetery.

Sefrou is one of the oldest towns in Morocco. Moulay Driss II stayed there in 806 before the founding of the city of Fez, at a place called Habouna (in Arabic ‘‘ they loved us ‘‘). Surrounded by ramparts pierced by seven gates dating from the 18th century, Sefrou was an important hub in the caravan trade.

Take a walk through the Sefrou’s old Medina and enjoy the airy feeling given by the Oued Aggai that passes in its centre. Enjoy free time for lunch before continuing back to Fez for the evening. The remainder of your evening is at leisure.

Accommodation: Riad Lamine (Premium Rooms) or Le Grand Alcazar (Suites), Fez

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5. Friday, April 3rd: Fes – Azrou – Khenifra – Beni Mellal – Ouzoud

After breakfast we depart for Bin El-Ouidan (appox 5 1/2 hours), traversing the Middle Atlas Mountains, Berber villages and enjoying scenic vistas along the way.  Stop in Beni Mellal for lunch on your own (Not included).

A short tour of the city includes its beautiful gardens “Ain Asserdoun” with its refreshing waterfalls and the Magnificent Kasbah which towers over the city.

Enjoy an included dinner at our hotel this evening.

Accommodation: Borjs Des Cascades Hotel, Borjs Des Cascades (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Saturday, April 4th: Ouzoud – Marrakech 

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel overlooking the water falls.

Afterwards enjoy a guided visit to the village of Ouzoud. We will proceed to the huge waterfalls that is over 100 metres high and watch the water plummet in full force forming a panorama of magic & rainbows. At the foot of the waterfalls, lunch can be taken at your own leisure (not included) in one of the local cafes which serve delicious Tagines. Then you can hike to the top of the falls, where you may come across families of monkeys that have grown accustomed to tourists. Enjoy the landscape of the green valley, the shaded orchards, the traditional bridges and water mills.

This afternoon we will make our way to Marrakech (about a 2 1/2 hour drive) and then check into our hotel and enjoy dinner at a prestigious restaurant in Marrakech called “ La Maison Blanche”.

Accommodation: Hotel 2 Ciels, Marrakech

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7. Sunday, April 5th: Marrakech

• Breakfast at your hotel.
• Leave for a full day guided discovery of the ochre city of Marrakech.

After breakfast, we leave for our full day guided discovery of the ochre city of Marrakech.

First we will visit the Majorelle’s botanical gardens, one of the most popular sites in Morocco that was once owned by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. Then enter the Berber Museum, which is located on the ground floor of the villa-studio of Jacques Majorelle. Showcasing a rich panorama of the various indigenous Moroccan tribes. We will also have an included visit to the “Yves Saint Laurent Museum”.

Carry on with your tour to the old medina. Stop at the foot of the famous Koutoubia Minaret, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Continue to the Kasbah, the 16th-century monument site of the Saadians tombs.  Afterwards, visit the aristocratic Bahia Palace with its lush Moorish-style courtyard garden and beautifully painted residential rooms. We also visit the museum of dar El Bacha one of the most beautiful palaces of the city and a former residence of one of the most influential governors of the 20th century in Morocco.

Enjoy an included BBQ Lunch at Dar Moha restaurant. (Drinks not included)

In the afternoon, explore the souks through the narrow alleys filled with shops offering handmade crafts, a great place if you’re looking for souvenirs. End the tour at the Jemaa El-fna square enjoying it’s magical ambiance with its variety of street performers; monkey trainers, snake charmers, storytellers, folkloric bands and henna tattooists.

Transfer back to your Riad in the late afternoon and  enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel 2 Ciels, Marrakech

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8. Monday, April 6th: Marrakech – Asni – Imlil – Marrakech

After breakfast, we depart for a full day touring in the countryside including a short stroll at the foot the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Enroute you will see old water mills and cross the village of Tahnaouet. Then continue to Asni village where the Saturday weekly market takes place, before proceeding to Imlil village.

The High Atlas, is the greatest mountain range of North Africa and is perhaps the most beautiful and intriguing part of Morocco. It has retained a remoteness, which until recent decades was virtually complete, and contains villages where the way of life has changed little for centuries.

Meet with your local mountain guide then leave for a soft trekking around the Kasbah. Walk through the village of Mzig and enjoy the views of Imlil with its beautiful terraces.

Enjoy an included lunch at Kasbah Du Toubkal.

In the late afternoon transfer back to Marrakech and enjoy some leisure time before we head out for our farewell dinner at Dar Zellij restaurant! (Drinks not included)

Accommodation: Hotel 2 Ciels, Marrakech

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Tuesday, April 7th: Airport transfers for your flight to Lisbon

Enjoy your breakfast and then transfer to Marrakech Menara airport according to your flight schedule.

Meals Included: Breakfast