Private Journey Details

Trip Highlights

• Explore the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Encounter the colorful Berber culture of the Atlas Mountains in the 17th-century walled Kasbah of Beni Mellal.
• Witness artisans ply their age-old crafts in the vibrant medina of Fez.
• Ride a horse-drawn carriage to the royal Menara Garden in Marrakech.
• Take an optional extension into the desert to the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes, and spend the night in a traditional Berber tent.

Itinerary - 9 Days

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Casablanca/Rabat, Morocco

Depart on an overnight flight to Casablanca, meeting your private guide upon arrival. Stop to see the Hassan II Mosque before departing for Rabat, Morocco's seaside capital. See the incomplete 12th-century Hassan Tower and the remains of its mosque, once intended to be the largest in the world. This afternoon, continue exploring Rabat on your own or relax at the hotel.
La Tour Hassan (B)

Day 3 — Rabat/Meknès/Fez

This morning, accompanied by your private guide, visit the Muhammad V Mausoleum, and wander through the stunning Andalusian Gardens of Oudaya Kasbah. Then set out for Meknès, one of Morocco's four imperial cities, which served as the capital beginning in 1673. Enter the thick city walls-dating back to the 17th century-and take a walking tour of the old city. Continue to Volubilis, the largest and best preserved Roman ruin in Morocco, and explore the triumphal arch, basilica, and mosaic-covered floors. Arrive in Fez late this afternoon and check into your hotel.
Sofitel Palais Jamai (B)

Day 4 — Fez

Long a draw for poets and philosophers, Fez is considered one of Morocco's cultural capitals and served as the country's intellectual center for centuries. During a full day of exploration with your guide, delve into the lively bustle in the narrow streets of the thousand-year-old walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, vendors hawk their wares, potters fashion famous blue ceramics known as Fakhari, and tanners plunge leather into vats of bright dye. Continue to Nejjarine Square to see its elaborately tiled fountain. This afternoon, visit the Dar Batha Museum, housing historical and artistic collections of wood carvings, carpets, and ceramics. Continue to Fez El Jedid (new Fez), and wander through the old Jewish quarter to see the splendidly carved wood balconies of its old mansions.
(B)

Day 5 — Fez

Today, step off the beaten path with your private guide on a half-day excursion to Sefrou, a small city with a picturesque walled medina. Stroll through the warren of narrow streets, and visit the cemetery and the synagogue. Continue to the village of Bhalil, and venture into fascinating troglodyte cave houses, where families have lived since the Middle Ages. Return to Fez and take advantage of an afternoon to explore on your own.
(B)

Day 6 — Fez/Marrakech

Journey into North Africa's Middle Atlas mountain range with your guide today, passing through Berber villages nestled on the slopes. Stop in Beni Mellal to see the 17th-century walled casbah before continuing southwest and crossing the Haouz Plain towards Marrakech. Check into your hotel, located conveniently near the center of Marrakech.
Le Méridien N'Fis (B)

Day 7 — Marrakech

Discover the mystique of Marrakech on a day spent meandering through its walled medina and visiting its architectural treasures with your private guide. See the 12th century Koutoubia minaret, the model for Rabat's Hassan Tower and the famous Giralda in Seville. View the exquisite Saadian Tombs, a mausoleum built for the sultans of the 16th-century Saadian dynasty. Then admire the graceful arches and delicate stucco work of the 19th-century Bahia Palace. This afternoon, let acrobats, jugglers, and snake charmers entertain you as you walk through the Djemaa el Fna, and, if you choose, try your hand at bargaining in the souks.
(B)

Day 8 — Marrakech

This morning, explore Marrakech on your own or learn how the exotic flavors of Morocco's cuisine come to life during an optional cooking class with a local chef. Following lunch, travel with your guide by calèche (horse-drawn carriage) to the royal Menara Garden, and stroll through its rolling olive groves and fruit orchards. Later, tour the Majorelle Garden, created in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle and once owned by the late couturier Yves Saint Laurent.
(B)

Day 9 — Marrakech/U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to the Marrakech airport for your return flight to the U.S.
(B)

Optional Extension

• The Sahara Desert - Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days

National Geographic Private Journeys are unique itineraries designed for independent travelers. You'll explore fascinating places with private guides, and wherever possible, meet National Geographic experts at work in the field.

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