Marrakech’s weather can be energy sapping, hot or surprisingly cold depending on the time of year. Either way, give yourself time today to acclimate to the temperature as well as to the city’s general hustle and bustle. An afternoon ride on the double-decker City Sightseeing Bus is a perfect, hassle-free way to get your bearings and absorb the atmosphere, passing the city’s iconic sights such as the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el Fna. Later this afternoon, make your way to the incomparable cuisine and entertainment spectacle-taking place on Jemaa el Fna.
Today is the day to enter the fray and discover this city’s heart and soul. Begin your morning with a guided walking tour, taking in one or two historical sites. Stopover at some of the souks, visit a herboriste (herbalist), take time out for a mint tea. Along the way you will no doubt be guided to a few shops, it’s a good opportunity for taking mental notes of each item’s general price and quality, in preparing yourself for a return visit should you be seriously interested in something. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to head to Jemaa el Fna for the late afternoon and evening show. Perhaps treat yourself tonight with dinner at one of the medina’s romantic and ambience-filled restaurants such as Cafe Arabe or Narwama, or try Al Fassia in Guéliz should you prefer to “go local.”
It’s a long day’s travel, but self-drivers should have time to break the journey with a visit to the Cascades d’Ouzoud. Arriving into Fes after dark can be a little challenging, so ask your accommodations for clear directions.
Spend the next 2 days wandering around the ancient city of Fes el Bali. Giving yourself this much time allows for both a guided morning walk — visiting sights such as the Bouinania Medersa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, and Chouwara Tannery, and a look (from the outside) of the spiritual Kairouine Mosque — as well as plenty of time to explore on your own. Perhaps pre-book an evening cooking lesson and enjoy your very own homemade dinner of traditional Moroccan cuisine.
Visit the ruins in the Roman city of Volubilis early in the morning to beat both the crowds and the heat. Have lunch in the nearby spiritual village of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, watching the pilgrims as they come to visit the shrine of the founding father of Morocco. Arrive in Meknes in the early afternoon and visit another important shrine, that of the country’s longest-serving ruler, Moulay Ismail. Stay the night in one of Meknes’s few medina riads.
Rabat has been the capital since the beginning of the French protectorate in 1912. It’s a pleasant city, cooled by afternoon from the Atlantic sea breeze, lacking the general noise and commotion of Morocco’s other major cities. This afternoon, visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the burial place of the current king’s father and grandfather. On the same site is the imposing 12th-century Hassan Tower, looking out over the mouth of the Oued Bou Regreg. Stroll through the medina and up along Rue des Consuls to the charming Kasbah des Oudaïas.
South of Rabat is the nation’s economic capital, Casablanca. Stroll downtown (largely a French creation) to admire the many Art Deco buildings still standing.
Hassan II Mosque, finished in 1993 and located on a platform overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the iconic Hassan II Mosque is the second-largest mosque in the world, and one of few open to non-Muslims (through selected guided tour opportunities lasting around an hour each). The Quartier Habous is a version of a traditional medina, with neat little rows of streets and shop stalls. The district was built by the French in the 1930s as an attempted solution to the ongoing housing shortage. It marries the best of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities and French ideals – even the mosque fronts onto a strip of grassy lawn just like a village church. La Corniche is located in the same region as Hassan II Mosque, La Corniche is a beachfront district offering an array of dining experiences, as well as pools and beach access. The Old Medina, unlike in many Moroccan cities, is surprisingly easy to pass-by in the old part of town in Casablanca. There is the temptation to head straight out to the seaside to visit the Hassan II Mosque and beach area, however discovering the charm hidden behind the old city walls is a must on any trip to a Moroccan city. Museum of Moroccan Judaism is a unique museum, being the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, and it offers an insight into the history, religion, traditions, and daily life of Jews in a Moroccan Civilization. Visit Place Mohammed V, the administrative hub of Casablanca, for a chance to experience first-hand the work of architect Henri Prost. Parc de la Ligue Arabe Just south of Place Mohammed V lays the Parc de la Ligue Arabe. Designed in 1918, this park, complete with a palm-tree-lined avenue, is Casablanca’s biggest open space.
A new highway has made today’s travel faster and easier. Arrive back in Marrakech for any last minute shopping or for another fix of people watching on Jemaa el Fna. Prepare to leave early to late morning the next day.
Description:
This itinerary is big on culture, bypassing the Saharan side of the Atlas mountain ranges to visit Morocco’s present and past imperial capitals. Although Casablanca was never the country’s capital, it has become the economic heartbeat of the country and is worth a stop if only to visit the Mosque of Hassan 2
Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech
Marrakech’s weather can be energy sapping, hot or surprisingly cold depending on the time of year. Either way, give yourself time today to acclimate to the temperature as well as to the city’s general hustle and bustle. An afternoon ride on the double-decker City Sightseeing Bus is a perfect, hassle-free way to get your bearings and absorb the atmosphere, passing the city’s iconic sights such as the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el Fna. Later this afternoon, make your way to the incomparable cuisine and entertainment spectacle-taking place on Jemaa el Fna.
Day 2: Discover the Medina
Today is the day to enter the fray and discover this city’s heart and soul. Begin your morning with a guided walking tour, taking in one or two historical sites. Stopover at some of the souks, visit a herboriste (herbalist), take time out for a mint tea. Along the way you will no doubt be guided to a few shops, it’s a good opportunity for taking mental notes of each item’s general price and quality, in preparing yourself for a return visit should you be seriously interested in something. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to head to Jemaa el Fna for the late afternoon and evening show. Perhaps treat yourself tonight with dinner at one of the medina’s romantic and ambience-filled restaurants such as Cafe Arabe or Narwama, or try Al Fassia in Guéliz should you prefer to “go local.”
Day 3: Marrakech to Fes
It’s a long day’s travel, but self-drivers should have time to break the journey with a visit to the Cascades d’Ouzoud. Arriving into Fes after dark can be a little challenging, so ask your accommodations for clear directions.
Days 4 & 5: Fes
Spend the next 2 days wandering around the ancient city of Fes el Bali. Giving yourself this much time allows for both a guided morning walk — visiting sights such as the Bouinania Medersa, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, and Chouwara Tannery, and a look (from the outside) of the spiritual Kairouine Mosque — as well as plenty of time to explore on your own. Perhaps pre-book an evening cooking lesson and enjoy your very own homemade dinner of traditional Moroccan cuisine.
Day 6: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, & Meknes
Visit the ruins in the Roman city of Volubilis early in the morning to beat both the crowds and the heat. Have lunch in the nearby spiritual village of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, watching the pilgrims as they come to visit the shrine of the founding father of Morocco. Arrive in Meknes in the early afternoon and visit another important shrine, that of the country’s longest-serving ruler, Moulay Ismail. Stay the night in one of Meknes’s few medina riads.
Day 7: Rabat
Rabat has been the capital since the beginning of the French protectorate in 1912. It’s a pleasant city, cooled by afternoon from the Atlantic sea breeze, lacking the general noise and commotion of Morocco’s other major cities. This afternoon, visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the burial place of the current king’s father and grandfather. On the same site is the imposing 12th-century Hassan Tower, looking out over the mouth of the Oued Bou Regreg. Stroll through the medina and up along Rue des Consuls to the charming Kasbah des Oudaïas.
Day 8: Casablanca
South of Rabat is the nation’s economic capital, Casablanca. Stroll downtown (largely a French creation) to admire the many Art Deco buildings still standing.
Hassan II Mosque, finished in 1993 and located on a platform overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the iconic Hassan II Mosque is the second-largest mosque in the world, and one of few open to non-Muslims (through selected guided tour opportunities lasting around an hour each). The Quartier Habous is a version of a traditional medina, with neat little rows of streets and shop stalls. The district was built by the French in the 1930s as an attempted solution to the ongoing housing shortage. It marries the best of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities and French ideals – even the mosque fronts onto a strip of grassy lawn just like a village church. La Corniche is located in the same region as Hassan II Mosque, La Corniche is a beachfront district offering an array of dining experiences, as well as pools and beach access. The Old Medina, unlike in many Moroccan cities, is surprisingly easy to pass-by in the old part of town in Casablanca. There is the temptation to head straight out to the seaside to visit the Hassan II Mosque and beach area, however discovering the charm hidden behind the old city walls is a must on any trip to a Moroccan city. Museum of Moroccan Judaism is a unique museum, being the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, and it offers an insight into the history, religion, traditions, and daily life of Jews in a Moroccan Civilization. Visit Place Mohammed V, the administrative hub of Casablanca, for a chance to experience first-hand the work of architect Henri Prost. Parc de la Ligue Arabe Just south of Place Mohammed V lays the Parc de la Ligue Arabe. Designed in 1918, this park, complete with a palm-tree-lined avenue, is Casablanca’s biggest open space.
Days 9 & 10: Back to Marrakech
A new highway has made today’s travel faster and easier. Arrive back in Marrakech for any last minute shopping or for another fix of people watching on Jemaa el Fna. Prepare to leave early to late morning the next day.