TOUR OF MORROCO
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Duration : 07 Nights / 08 Days
Places to Visit : Casablanca- Rabat - Meknes -Fez - Marrakech- Casablanca
From Casablanca every Saturday Guaranteed Departures With multilingual speaking guide
Choice :on Half or Full Board basis
Day 01 : SATURDAY: CASABLANCA
Welcome at Mohammed V airport . Delivery of your vouchers and your trip documents. Brief review of the tour during your transfer to the hotel. Check in , dinner and accommodation.
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Day 02 : SUNDAY : CASABLANCA/RABAT (95 km)
Visit of the economic capital of Morocco :the central market, the Habous district, the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V square, the residential area of Anfa and the outside of the mosque Hassan II. Fish lunch at one of the seafront restaurants. Continuation to Rabat , city tour : the Royal Palace, (Mechouar), the Oudaya Kasbah, the Mohamed V mausoleum, the Hassan Tower. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 03 : MONDAY : RABAT / MEKNES / FEZ (220 km) Departure to Meknes and visit of the Ismalian capital famous for its 40 km long walls, visit of the Bab Mansour, the Royal stables and the Jewish quarter.
After lunch, continuation to the holy city of Moulay Idriss, and via the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis, continuation to Fez. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 04 : TUESDAY : FEZ The whole day is devoted to the city-sightseeing of Fez, the religious capital of Morocco : the medieval Medina with its Attarine and Bou Anania Medersas, the Nejjarine fountain, the Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the Karaouine mosque.
Moroccan lunch at a traditional restaurant in the Medina. Afternoon, visit of Fez Jdid. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. In the evening, possibility to attend the magnificent « sound and light » show .
Day 05 : WEDNESDAY : FEZ / BENI MELLAL / MARRAKECH (485 km)
Departure to Marrakech passing by the Berber village of Immouzer du Kandar and Ifrane. Lunch and a moment of relaxation in Beni Mellal one of the agricultural centres of Morocco . Arrival in Marrakech in the late afternoon. Check in at the hotel, dinner in a typical Moroccan restaurant with Oriental show and overnight.
Day 06 : THURSDAY : MARRAKECH
Visit of historical Marrakech : the Menara garden, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia and the Dar Si Saïd Museum. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, visit of the famous Djemaa El Fna square with its surrounding souks and handicraft quarters. Dinner with fantasia show. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 07 : FRIDAY : MARRAKECH/ CASABLANCA (250 km)
Morning at leisure. Lunch at the hotel, then departure to Casablanca. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 08 : SATURDAY: CASABLANCA/ DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport, with departure assistance formalities.
END OF OUR SERVICES
NOTA BENE
For clients arriving on Sunday, the following arrangements are made :
» For arrivals at apt till 12.00 : direct transfer to the restaurant in Casablanca to join the group.
» For arrivals after 12.00 : direct transfer to the hotel in Rabat. In this case sight seeing of Rabat takes place early the next day before leaving to Fez. P rice per pax for special transfer to Rabat is -- DH, minimum 2 persons.
» The sightseeing of Casablanca will take place upon return on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon is at leisure, HB at the hotel Sunday : transfer to the airport.
DATES OF OPERATION
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Medium season |
High season |
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| Tour on half board basis |
Low season |
Medium season |
High Season |
| CATEGORY 4* : |
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| CATEGORY 5* : |
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| CATEGORY 5* L: |
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T- For 06 days / 07 days with arrival on Sunday, please deduct :
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4* |
5* |
5*L |
| Per person |
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| Single supplement please deduct |
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THE HOTELS TO BE USED OR SIMILAR
| City |
4* |
5* |
5*L |
| Casablanca |
Farah (ex Safir) |
Sheraton |
Royal Mansour |
| Rabat |
Belere |
Diwan |
Hilton |
| Fez |
Sheraton |
Merinides - Meridien |
Jnane Palace |
| Marrakech |
Atlas |
Sheraton |
Mamounia Koutoubia view |
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ABOUT MORROCO
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Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Full country name: Kingdom of Morocco
Area: 447,000 sq km
Population: 29 million
Capital city: Rabat
People: 55% Arab, 44% Berber, 0.7% foreigners
Languages: Arabic (officially) with Berber dialects, as well as French, Spanish and English.
Religion: 98% Muslim, 1% Christian, 1% Jew
Government: Constitutional monarchy
King: King Mohammed VI
Prime Minister: Abderrahmane El Youssoufi
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GDP: US$107 billion
GDP per head: US$3,200
Annual growth: 6.8%
Inflation: 6%
Major industries: Agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, tourism
Major trading partners: EU, US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: All visitors require a passport. Citizens of the UK, EU, US, Australia and New Zealand do not need visas. Three-month visitor's stamps can be extended by Immigration or Bureau des Etrangers in most large towns.
Health risks: Malaria lurks in the northern coastal reaches of Morocco, but generally the country is one of Africa's least daunting healthwise. Medical treatment, however, can be very expensive.
Time: GMT/UTC
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz (110V in some older places)
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go :
On the coast the weather is tourist-friendly pretty much all year round, although winter can bring cool and wet conditions in the north. In the lowlands, the cooler months from October to April are popular among visitors. This time of year is pleasantly warm to hot (around 30°C) during the day and cool to cold (around 15°C) at night. Winter in the higher regions demands some serious insulation. If you're heading into the hills, the ski season usually lasts from December to March. For most trekking trips you should book in the high season (June 15 to September 15) or you may find areas full.
Events :
.jpg) This is one of those religious frontiers where orthodoxy and local custom have met and compromised. The veneration of saints is frowned on by the orthodox Sunni Muslims but Islam, like Christianity, is made up of many sects and such festivals continue. It's worth asking around for details of festival dates because many don't take place at any fixed time in the western calendar.
Around May there's the Mousseum of Sidi Mohammed M'a al-Anim, an occasion to see the 'blue people' (Moors of the Sahara) and the commercial gathering of tribes. The National Folklore Festival of Marrakesh is a 10-day tourist event well worth attending for the dancers, musicians and other entertainers from around the country. In October, the little Northern town of Erfoud hosts a festival in honour of the quintessential desert fruit, the date. Independence Day, one of five national secular holidays, is celebrated on 18 November.
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PLACES OF ATTRACTION
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Rabat
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The fourth of the imperial cities, Rabat is a curious mix of a long past and a highly modernised present. The city's glory days were in the 12th century, when the then sultan used the kasbah (citadel) as a base for campaigns against the Spanish. It was during this time that the city's most famous landmarks sprang up. A haven for Muslims driven out of Spain in the early 17th century and a capital city only since the days of French occupation, Rabat's ambience comes from Islam and Europe in fairly equal proportions. For every place of worship there are three or four European-style cafes. Few of Rabat's residents are involved in the tourist racket, which means you can stroll through the markets without having to brace yourself against too much high-pressure salesmanship.
The city's most famous site is the Tour Hassan, the incomplete minaret of the great mosque begun by Yacoub al-Mansour. An earthquake brought construction to a halt in 1755. Alongside is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the present king's father. The Kasbah des Oudaias, built on the bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, houses a former palace which is now a museum of traditional art. Beyond the city walls are the remains of the ancient city of Sala. Also known as Chella, it has Morocco's best Archaeology Museum.
Between the city's landmark central park (Jardins Triangle de Vue) and the main train station, you'll find most of Rabat's hotels and eating spots. The most obvious cluster of cafes and bars here offer up all the beer, kababs, pizza, olives and ice cream you might need. The Mohammed V international airport is a short ride east of the city and there are plenty of shuttle buses.
Casablanca
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Of all the cities in all the world, Hollywood chose this one to immortalise as the classic exotic colonial outpost. Those looking for a latter-day Humphrey Bogart round every corner will be disappointed. This is no sleepy dive. Morocco's largest city and industrial centre, it's a huge brash metropolis where traditional Moroccan burnouses (cloaks) seem out of place among the natty suits and designer sunglasses.
This port city was deep in decline until the French decided to remodel it with wide boulevards, public parks and imposing Mauresque (Moorish) civic buildings. Casablanca's medina, or ancient quarter, is worth a look and the Hassan II Mosque here is one of the largest in the world. At the square known as the Place Mohammed V you'll find the country's most impressive examples of Mauresque architecture. 'Casa' shares the Mohammed V airport with Rabat, and regular flights are available to and from Europe and the Middle East.
Marrakesh
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One of Morocco's most important cultural centres, Marrakesh is a lively former capital famed for its markets and festivals. Its wildly beating heart is the Place Djemaa el-Fna, a huge square in the old city. Rows of open-air food stalls are set up here and mouth-watering aromas fill the air. Jugglers, storytellers, snake charmers, magicians, acrobats and assorted benign lunatics take over the rest of the space. The souqs (markets) here are among the best in Morocco and a large budget hotel strip makes exploring the old city area cheap and easy.
Among the many attractions of the ancient quarter is the rare Almoravid-style Koubba Ba'adiyn mosque annex, the magnificent Koutoubia mosque and the Palais Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts). Trains and buses to this inland city run regularly from Casablanca and Rabat.
Fès
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The oldest of the imperial cities, Fès is arguably the symbolic heart of Morocco. Its labyrinthine streets and crumbling grandeur add to its air of intrigue and self-importance. The medina of Fès el-Bali (Old Fès) is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world and the gates and walls that surround it make it all the more magnificent. Unlike many walled cities of this vintage, Old Fès hasn't burst its banks. The population has instead exploded out towards the south-west and spread to the hillsides in an arc stretching north and south of the new city.
Within the old city, tucked among roughly 9,400 streets and alleys, is the towering Medersa Bou Inania, a theological college built in 1350. Not far from here the henna souq is a market specialising in the dye used for colouring hair and tattooing women' hands and feet. Next door to the old walled city is Fès el-Jdid, home to the city's Jewish community and many spectacular buildings. In between the two self-contained cities is the Dar Batha, now the Museum du Batha. Fès is best reached by train from Rabat, Marrakesh or Tangier.
Tangier
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While it's a compelling sort of city and a popular port of entry for tourists, Tangier is also home to some of the world's best hustlers. Perched on Morocco's northern tip, its international flavour remains strong; as does its reputation for inspiring shady deals and foreign misfits.
The city's central Petit Socco is the focus of attention. Back in the days when Tangier was a neutral international zone, this area provided the background for the seediest of lifestyles and it hasn't completely lost this air. Paedophile scenes aside, it is the kasbah that interests many visitors. It contains the 17th-century Dar el-Makhzen, the former sultan's palace and now a good museum. The nearby American Legation Museum is a fascinating reminder that Morocco was the first country to recognise American Independence. Tangier is five hours from Rabat by train, and an easy ferry ride from Spain or Gibraltar.
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FACTS FOR TRAVELLERS
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Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakesh...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologised, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the 'real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. The truth lies somewhere in between.
Full country name: Kingdom of Morocco
Area: 447,000 sq km
Population: 29 million
Capital city: Rabat
People: 55% Arab, 44% Berber, 0.7% foreigners
Languages: Arabic (officially) with Berber dialects, as well as French, Spanish and English.
Religion: 98% Muslim, 1% Christian, 1% Jew
Government: Constitutional monarchy
King: King Mohammed VI
Prime Minister: Abderrahmane El Youssoufi
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GDP: US$107 billion
GDP per head: US$3,200
Annual growth: 6.8%
Inflation: 6%
Major industries: Agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, tourism
Major trading partners: EU, US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil
Facts for the Traveler
Visas: All visitors require a passport. Citizens of the UK, EU, US, Australia and New Zealand do not need visas. Three-month visitor's stamps can be extended by Immigration or Bureau des Etrangers in most large towns.
Health risks: Malaria lurks in the northern coastal reaches of Morocco, but generally the country is one of Africa's least daunting healthwise. Medical treatment, however, can be very expensive.
Time: GMT/UTC
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz (110V in some older places)
Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go :
On the coast the weather is tourist-friendly pretty much all year round, although winter can bring cool and wet conditions in the north. In the lowlands, the cooler months from October to April are popular among visitors. This time of year is pleasantly warm to hot (around 30°C) during the day and cool to cold (around 15°C) at night. Winter in the higher regions demands some serious insulation. If you're heading into the hills, the ski season usually lasts from December to March. For most trekking trips you should book in the high season (June 15 to September 15) or you may find areas full.
Events :
.jpg)
This is one of those religious frontiers where orthodoxy and local custom have met and compromised. The veneration of saints is frowned on by the orthodox Sunni Muslims but Islam, like Christianity, is made up of many sects and such festivals continue. It's worth asking around for details of festival dates because many don't take place at any fixed time in the western calendar.
Around May there's the Mousseum of Sidi Mohammed M'a al-Anim, an occasion to see the 'blue people' (Moors of the Sahara) and the commercial gathering of tribes. The National Folklore Festival of Marrakesh is a 10-day tourist event well worth attending for the dancers, musicians and other entertainers from around the country. In October, the little Northern town of Erfoud hosts a festival in honour of the quintessential desert fruit, the date. Independence Day, one of five national secular holidays, is celebrated on 18 November.
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