Authentic Morocco by Private Car

Day 1: Casablanca | Rabat
Meet at airport and transfer to Rabat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for a city tour. See the Royal Palace (exterior) and areas where royal ceremonies are held. Continue to the ruins of Chellah, a 14th-century necropolis built on the archaeological site of a Roman city. Enter the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a rich decorated monument made of white marble considered by many as the most beautiful architectural monument in the whole country. Tour the Archaeological Museum, with the most extensive collection of archaeological artifacts found in Morocco.

Day 2: Rabat | Chefchaouen
Drive to the delightful town of Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains, 2000 feet above sea level. Founded in 1471, it was heavily populated by Muslim and Jewish refugees from Spain. Enjoy the city’s blue and white lime-washed houses and cobblestone medina. See the Tarik-Ben-Ziad Mosque whose octagonal minaret is inspired by that of the Torre de Oro in Seville. Visit the small museum in the kasbah and see collections of embroideries and colored and varied pieces of clothing like those worn by the region’s women. Continue to a traditional oil mill (there are more than 1500 of them) or a craftsman’s workshop. The town is renowned for its basket-making and its pottery. (B)

Day 3: Chefchaouen | Fes
Enjoy a scenic drive across the Rif mountains to the Archaeological Site of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This ancient Roman cite is the most important archaeological site in Morocco. Continue to the nearby Meknes, an imperial city that served as the capital of Morocco in the 17th century. Explore the historic city center, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, including the Royal granaries and stables and the Mausoleum of the King. (B)

Day 4: Fes
Tour the 9th-century Fes, the oldest royal city in Morocco, said to be the most complete medieval city of the Arab world. Start your tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site at the city ramparts, then continue to the food and spice markets, handicraft quarters, auction markets and colorful souks. Visit a school and meet a teacher and student. The highlight of your morning visit will be inside a 14th-century medersa (theological school) with its most intricate architecture and Al-Karaouine, founded in 859, it is the oldest existing, continually operating higher educational institution in the world. In the afternoon, visit Fez El Jedid (New Fes) for a stroll in the Jewish quarter. Visit a 17th-century synagogue and have some time in the jewelry market. (B)

Day 5: Fes | Marrakech
After an early breakfast, depart for your scenic drive to Marrakech, crossing the cultivated and fertile valley, past typical Berber towns and through magnificent cedar, pine and oak forests. Many stops will be made along this itinerary for pictures, breaks or lunch. (B)

Day 6: Marrakech
City tour of Marrakech, where you will see an exciting blend of modern architecture surrounding an ancient walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stand by the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque with its 282-foot high minaret. Then enter the narrow alleyways of the Kasbah to visit the historical and beautifully ornate Saadian necropolis, the Badi Palace and the Koutoubia mosque. Continue to the 19th-century Bahia Palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans. Stroll inside the Jewish quarter and visit the historic synagogue built in 1492 by Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain. After lunch, enjoy a “Hidden sides of Marrakech” tour. Before sunset, visit Jemaa El Fna, the city square where hundreds of locals and tourists come to spend the end of the day watching traditional street performers and tasting street food. (B)

Day 7: Marrakech
Enjoy a cooking class of traditional Moroccan cuisine, such as pastilla, couscous, and the broad variety of tajines (stews usually made with lamb or chicken. Then visit a nearby spice market and communal bread oven, where neighborhood families bake their bread. Enjoy a charming horse carriage ride around the majestic ramparts of Marrakech and the crowded streets of the Medina to the enchanting  Majorelle Garden. Stroll in the famous garden created by the orientalist painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920’s. The Garden houses a collection of plants from the four corners of the world which flourish amidst elegant ornamental ponds, more than 15 bird species that are endemic to North Africa and has an amazing collection of cacti. Visit the beautifully designed Berber museum displaying Yves Saint Laurent’s personal collection of Berber antiques and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum dedicated to his career’s artistic design and creation. The two museums showcase a collection made up of 5,000 articles of clothing and 15,000 haute couture accessories. (B)

Day 8: Marrakech | Departure from Casablanca
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)