8-Day Imperial Cities Tour from Casablanca

Highlights

• Hassan II Mosque and the Ain Diab corniche in Casablanca
• Hassan Tower, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat
• Bab Mansour and the royal granaries of Meknes
• The Roman city of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Full-day guided tour of the Fes medina
• Full-day guided tour of Marrakech
• Choice of the Ourika Valley or Essaouira

Photo gallery

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Casablanca – Rabat

   Pick-up from Casablanca Mohammed V Airport. Visit the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors, and walk along the Ain Diab corniche. Drive to Rabat, the capital (about 1 hour 30 minutes), to explore the Hassan Tower — the minaret of an unfinished 12th-century mosque — the Kasbah of the Udayas with its ocean views, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.

   Overnight:

   Rabat

2. Day 2

   Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

   Depart for Meknes, one of Morocco's imperial cities, to see the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the Heri es-Souani royal granaries and stables, and El Hedim Square. Continue to Volubilis, a UNESCO-listed Roman site with fine mosaics, a basilica and a triumphal arch, and arrive in Fes in the evening (about 210 km in total).

   Overnight:

   Fes

3. Day 3

   Full-day guided tour of Fes

   Explore the UNESCO-listed Fes medina with a local guide — Al Quaraouiyine, widely regarded as one of the world's oldest continuously operating universities; the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa; the tanneries, where leather is still made by hand; the Nejjarine fountain; and the golden doors of the Royal Palace. Time to explore the souks and artisans' workshops.

   Overnight:

   Fes

4. Day 4

   Fes – Ifrane – cedar forest – Beni Mellal – Marrakech

   A long travel day (about 500 km) through the Middle Atlas. Stop in Ifrane, Morocco's "Little Switzerland", and in the cedar forest near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques. Continue past the olive groves of Beni Mellal and arrive in Marrakech in the evening, with free time to relax.

   Overnight:

   Marrakech

5. Day 5

   Full-day guided tour of Marrakech

   Visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Majorelle Garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, and experience Jemaa el-Fna square with its performers and food stalls. Free time in the souks for crafts, spices and carpets.

   Overnight:

   Marrakech

6. Day 6

   Day trip – the Ourika Valley or Essaouira

   Choose between two excursions. Ourika Valley (about 1 hour 30 minutes each way): visit a Berber village, walk to the Setti Fatma waterfalls and have lunch by the river. Essaouira (about 3 hours each way): walk the Skala ramparts above the Atlantic, the UNESCO-listed medina and the fishing port, with fresh seafood for lunch. Return to Marrakech.

   Overnight:

   Marrakech

7. Day 7

   Marrakech – Casablanca

   A free morning for shopping or relaxing in Marrakech, then the drive back to Casablanca (about 3 hours 30 minutes). Visit Rick's Café, inspired by the film Casablanca, and enjoy a free evening.

   Overnight:

   Casablanca

8. Day 8

   Departure from Casablanca

   Transfer to the airport according to your flight time.

Practical information

Tour type

Private round trip from Casablanca

Pick-up

Casablanca Mohammed V Airport or your accommodation

Guides

Local guides in Fes, Meknes, Volubilis and Marrakech

Longest drive

Day 4, Fes to Marrakech (about 500 km)

Frequently asked questions