UNDER CONSTRUCTION
TOUR AVAILABLE SOON

RMC Presents

MOROCCO
February 14 – 22, 2025

Morocco has all the spices and flavors of life.

Perhaps nowhere else on earth is so near, yet so far as Morocco. Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the sands of the Sahara, Morocco has served as a portal between Europe and Africa since the days of antiquity. With natural beauty only matched by its stunning architecture, a visit to Morocco is as much a feast for the soul as it is for the senses. It’s a country where fragrant gardens mesh with ancient turreted cities to form a fantasy world of dreams. It has the splendor and majesty of Africa, with the magic and intrigue of the Arabian nights all wrapped up with a flavor of France. Gorgeous hotels, Kasbahs, palaces, fabulous markets, extraordinary bargains, delicious cuisine, an African heritage, staying in hotels, local Riads – even an overnight in a deluxe Berber tent under the Desert stars. Travel back in time to the Imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Marrakech and so much more.

Highlights:
* Take in Casablanca Hassan II mosque
* Visit Morocco’s capital – Rabat
* Visit the Medina of Meknes
* Indulge in the vibrant city of Marrakech
* Marvel at the beautiful medieval city of Fez.
* Discover the 1000 Kasbahs of the scenic south and learn about the Berber culture of Morocco
* Explore the Sahara Desert at sunrise with the nomads.
* Take a camel trek through the golden dunes of Erg Cheb
* Experience sleeping in a luxury nomad tent in the middle of the dunes under the sky of the Sahara Desert.

Tour Includes:
* Roundtrip transfers from and to the airport and hotels
* 7- nights accommodations at comfortable First Class & Deluxe hotels and a Riad**
* Hotel taxes and service charges
* Breakfast every day
* Additional lunches and dinners as per itinerary
* Sightseeing including entrance fees
* Transportation throughout
* Welcome and farewell dinners

** A Riad is a traditional Moroccan house, usually located within an ancient medina (walled city), which is designed around a central courtyard and/or garden. These beautiful homes have been restored to reflect traditional Moroccan décor, yet also to provide guests with many of the modern amenities found in 4 and 5-star hotels.

 

Itinerary

DAY 1, Friday, February 14 – DEPART FOR MOROCCO
Depart this evening for Casablanca via your own air transportation.

Day 2, Saturday, February 15 – ARRIVAL – CASABLANCA (D)
Arrival at Casablanca airport. After clearing Immigration and Customs, meet your driver for transfer to the city of Casablanca and check-in to your hotel and take some time to relax. Dinner at your hotel.

DAY 3, Sunday, February 16 – IN- CASABLANCA (B)
Meet your guide and depart for a morning sightseeing tour of Casablanca. Start with a visit to the United Nations Place, followed by Mohammed V Square and the Central Market before continuing to the Habbous quarter to admire the Royal Palace from the outside. The Royal complex featuring impressive architecture and meticulously landscaped surroundings has limited public access, so while you can’t enter the palace itself, you can still stroll around the grounds and admire the external architecture. Next visit the Mehkama and the Cathedral Notre Dame de Lourdes before heading to the famous Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco and the seventh largest in the world. Admire the exterior of this beautiful structure overlooking the ocean – be sure to visit this more in-depth after your tour! Your last stop is the Ain Diab Corniche, where you’ll have free time to walk down the promenade lined with restaurants and swimming pools before returning to the hotel. Or stay in town for some independent exploration and return to the hotel on your own. Dinner this evening is your own to try some of the exciting Casablanca restaurants. Ask your guide for some suggestions.

DAY 4, Monday, February 17 – CASABLANCA – RABAT – MEKNES – FEZ (The Imperial Cities) (B/D)
Meet in the lobby and check-out as you meet your driver and start your journey for a panoramic viewing of Rabat and seeing this first Imperial City on the journey, which nowadays is the administrative and political capital of Morocco. You will see the imposing Royal Palace (from outside), residence of the king and seat of the government since 1912, the Hassan Tower, dominating what should have been one of the greatest mosques in the Muslim world, the Mausoleum of the late King Mohamed V, architect of Moroccan Independence in 1956, the Oudaïas Kasbah, this fortress of the unvanquished Andalusian corsairs in the XVIIth century, and finally the necropolis Chellah. Then continue to Meknes and short visit to the second Imperial City: The Imperial City of Meknes, built by Moulay Ismaïl, with its monumental gates and its mighty ramparts, resembles a fortress. There is the mausoleum of Moulay Ismaïl, the famous main gate ‘Bab al Mansour’ which is the finest in Morocco, the storage vaults and the ancient horse stables. Then toward the end of the afternoon you’ll discover the lush and peaceful countryside of Meknes, where the ancient Roman City of Volubilis has slumbered for more than two thousand years. On the way between Meknes and Volubilis you pass by the Mount Zerhoun on which is perched the holy city of Moulay Idriss. After a short visit of Volubilis, continue to Fez for your stay. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5, Tuesday, February 18– IN FEZ (B/D)
Meet your guide and start your tour of Fez, the oldest and “the most Imperial of all the Imperial Cities.” It is the spiritual and cultural center of traditional Morocco and at the same time it is the centre of Morocco’s craft industry. Characteristic for Fez is the fact that it consists of three different parts that date from different epochs. But the most charming part is the life in the ancient Medina. While strolling through the districts of the carpenters, the dyers, the tanners, the tailors, the engravers and past the steady hammering of the coppersmiths you will feel as if you were taken back to medieval times. You also will see the Attarine Medressa (School), the Koran University Karaouine, the Nejjarine Fountain and the Blue Gate before returning to your hotel for dinner.

DAY 6, Wednesday, February 19 – TO MERZOUGA (The Desert) (B/D)
After breakfast you leave the Imperial City of Fez and head for the desert as you traverse the Middle Atlas Mountains via Ifrane and Azrou with its beautiful cedar trees. There will be a stop at Midelt for lunch (not included). Then continue to Erfoud on the boarder of the desert. From here switch to a Jeep which is waiting at the Hotel Kasbah Xalcua and which will bring you to your deluxe tents in the bivouac La Belle Etoile. After settling down, towards the end of the afternoon you can take a camel ride (voluntary but easy to do) through the dunes and admire the sunset over the colorful desert. Afterwards return to the camp for dinner in special dining tents. Then enjoy the rest of the evening and the tranquillity of the desert around a campfire as you watch the stars in the night sky which is simply breathtaking! Overnight in one double and one triple bedded tent with mattresses, cushions and blankets.

DAY 7, Thursday, February 20: MERZOUGA TO QUARZAZAE AND ONTO MARRAKECH (B/L/D)
Wake up before sunrise and after a glass of tea, walk to the dunes to admire the sun rise over the desert. Then board your Jeep that will bring you back to Merzouga, where you will have breakfast. Back to civilization as you continue to Ouarzazae, on the trail of the thousand Kasbahs. On the way, a visit of the breathtaking Todra gorges, two sheer, almost perpendicular cliffs, over 600 feet high and separated by a narrow corridor only 60 feet wide. This is an unforgettable sight and certainly among the most impressing landscapes in Morocco. After a short visit of Ouarzazate. you’ll visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, the ancient residence of the pasha el Glaoui. You leave South Morocco and now travel over the High Atlas Mountains towards the North. On the way, there will be a visit to Aït Ben Haddou. This most impressing fortified ksour (mountain village) is still very well preserved and was constructed on terraces that nestle into the steep slope of a hill. Continue through fantastic mountainous landscape to the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (6,500 feet) from where you have a breathtaking panoramic view over the summits and massifs of the High Atlas Mountains. This is one of the most beautiful routes through Morocco’s mountains. After crossing the fertile plain of Haouz, arrive in the early evening to Marrakech for dinner and your overnight at your hotel.

DAY 8, Friday, February 21 – IN MARRAKECH (B/D)
After breakfast, meet your guide for a visit of Marrakech: Characteristic for the fourth of the Imperial Cities are its 100.000 palm trees that grow in palm groves outside the city walls. Marrakech is the trading center of southern Morocco. It’s lively with buzzing bazaars, huge palm tree oasis and its red clay buildings; all that make Marrakech a city in the desert. The town was founded in the 11^th century and provides an outstanding monument in the hispano Moorish style from the 11^th to the 19^th century. On your tour you will see the ‘Koutoubia’ Mosque, a masterpiece of Moorish architecture, the ‘El Bahia’ Palace, the ‘Saadia’ Tombs, the ‘Agdal’ and ‘Menara’ Gardens, as well as the wildly beating heart of the town – the famous marketplace ‘Djemaa-El-Fnaa’ and … of course its souks. Here the tour part will end, and you can wander about the marketplace before returning to your hotel on your own. Walk around as you find juice stalls, water sellers and snake charmers, storytellers and magicians plus some unique shopping and colorful spice stalls. In the evening, meet in the lobby as you depart for dinner and a show at the restaurant Chez Ali located outside Marrakech on a 7 ½-acre site (duration of the transfer about 20 minutes). You will be welcomed by men on horseback and have dinner and entertainment performed by 10 to 15 Berber folklore groups from all over the country. Moroccan specialties will be served under Caidal tents. After dinner, on the central square, you witness the highlight of the evening performance – the fantasia (eight horses with their horsemen), where you will admire their incredible Berber horsemanship skills on their pure-bred Arabian horses. After the show, transfer back to the hotel for your overnight.

DAY 9, Saturday, February 22 – DEPARTURE (B)
Meet in the lobby with your luggage for the transfer to Marrakech airport. Depart for your connecting flights back to the USA.

 

Hotels or similar

Casablanca: Barcelo Anfa (2 nights)

Fes: Hotel Jnana Palace (2 nights)

Merzouga Desert: Luxury Tent (1 night)

Marrakech: Barriere Le Naoura Raid (2 nights)

 

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour

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PRICE PER PERSON – Land Only

PRICE PER PERSON – Land Only Per Person in Double Occupancy room:

 

 

 

Hotel Supplement for Single Occupancy Room:
$399 payments via check or money order
$419 payments via credit card

Add to the above costs:
Prepaid Gratuities $80 ($89 via credit card)

INITIAL DEPOSIT- Due right away
$750 ($800) by credit card) Non-Refundable deposit due to guarantee space.

FINAL PAYMENTS
Due on or before January 2, 2025

 

If you already registered online and want to access the Payment Information page, click here.

Travel Insurance
RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance.

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Photo credits
Fez Blue Gate: Hiroki Ogawa, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Berber horsemen: Anderson sady, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Marrakech snake charmer: Pseudolounge, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons