Imperial Cities

Discover the most famous and the secret destinations for history and culture.

This trip starts in Casablanca, home of the unforgettable Mosque of Hassan II, the third biggest mosque in the world.

We spend the next few days by exploring the Imperial Cities and some sites in the northern part of Morocco: Rabat, Volubilis, Meknes and Fes. All are fascinating in their own right, and also offer an interesting insight into the historical and religious background of the country – in particular the Roman and Islamic roots.

Later we will discover the beauty of Middle Atlas as we drive it through towards Marrakech. On the way we spend a night near Bin el-Ouidane and have breakfast with a Berber family.

Before we reach the last destination of our tour, we stop at the beautiful Ouzoud Waterfalls, the highest (110m) waterfall in Morocco.

We finish our trip in Marrakech, home city of the famous Djemaa el-Fna, the square of vibrant atmosphere and colourful open-air shows. 

Next departure: as requested

Extension possibility:

Mountains and Dunes Adventure (RTMDA)

Roses and Dunes (RTROS)

Essaouira Extension (RTESX) 

Similar tours:

Best of Morocco (RTBES)

Discover Morocco (RTDIS)

Highlights of Morocco (RTHIG)

From North to South (RTN2S)

Day 1 / Arrive in Casablanca

Arrive in Casablanca – the economic capital of Morocco – anytime and meet your guide in the hotel.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: -

Day 2 / Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes

Before leaving for Rabat we visit Mosque Hassan II, the third largest mosque in the world, the landmark of Casablanca.

Then we continue with a short drive (roughly 1.5h) to Rabat, the governmental capital of Morocco and have a city tour including the Royal Palace (Mechouar), the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan tower, as well as the Oudaya Kasbah. Later – after lunch – we continue to Meknes for overnight.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: breakfast

Day 3 / Meknes – Volubilis – Fes

In the morning we have a short orientation by bus to know where the sights are. Later you will be free to discover the town’s main important sights (such as the granary, Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and Bab Mansour) by your own rhythm. After lunch we leave towards Fes passing by Volubilis (roman ruins) where we make a visit.

Lodging: hotel or riad

Provision: breakfast

Day 4 / Explore Fes

In the morning we visit the oldest living Medina in the world: the souqs (markets), the gateway of the Royal Palace, the Karaouiyine Mosque (dating from the 9th century) and the University. We also visit the tomb of the city founder, Moulay Idriss II. After having lunch in one of the traditional restaurants in the Medina, we continue our tour to visit one of the city’s famous tanneries, the el-Nejjarine Fountain and the ceramic production school. On the way back to the hotel, we stop to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Lodging: hotel or riad (same one as the night before)

Provision: breakfast

Day 5 / Fes – Bin el-Ouidane

After breakfast we start our long journey (500 km) in the Middle Atlas. We drive through picturesque landscapes and we stop couple of times to admire the stunning view of the Middle Atlas Mountains. We spend the night in a gîte near to Bin el-Ouidane Dam. 

Lodging: gîte (mountain hut)

Provision: breakfast, dinner

Day 6 / Bin el-Ouidane – Marrakech

We will have a traditional Moroccan breakfast with a Berber family in Azilal. After breakfast we continue our tour and we visit beautiful Ouzoud Waterfalls, the highest (110m) waterfall in Morocco.

In the afternoon we head for the ‘Red City’ of Marrakech. The city is famous for its bustling bazaars, palaces and mosques and it is a great place to buy some souvenirs as well.

In the evening we can visit the heart of Marrakech (the Djemaa el-Fna) and have a dinner in one of its food stalls. The square – with its snake charmers, water-sellers and acrobats – is a place of night-time entertainment for both tourists and local people.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: breakfast

Day 7 / Explore Marrakech

In the morning in order to soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city, we have a guided tour to sample some of the popular sights of Marrakech including the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque (from outside). The tour is finishing up in the well-known open-air central square, the Djemaa el-Fna.

The afternoon is free to explore more of the ‘Red city’ like visiting the Badia Palace and the museum Dar Si Said or spend some time in the labyrinthine souqs (markets) looking for souvenirs. You can also take a half-hour Calèche ride (a green horse-drawn carriage) to the Majorelle Garden. This peaceful garden decorated all over in blue was built by Jacques Majorelle, a French painter who fell in love with Morocco and later was bought by Yves Saint-Laurent. You can finish the day by relaxing in a hammam, a traditional Moroccan steam bath.

Lodging: hotel (same one as the night before)

Provision: breakfast

Day 8 / Leave Marrakech

End of trip and we say goodbye. Have a nice flight back to home.

Please note that we are able to organise a post-trip accommodation if you wish to extend your stay for a few more days.

Lodging: -

Provision: breakfast

• In gîtes (mountain huts) there is shared accommodation and shared facilities (shower and toilet) are available.

Services Included

• All transport within Morocco, except from and to the airport: comfortable minibus, Four-Wheel Drive vehicles (4WD) or taxi (depending on the size of the group)
• All accommodations: hotels/riads, gîte (mountain hut)
• All breakfasts, one dinner (7B, 1D)
• Professional tour leader and local staff during the whole trip:
  • Berber mountain guide certified by Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism to give you interesting information about the places you visit, the history and the culture of the country
  • a devoted team of experienced drivers and local guides
• City tours/Programs: Mosque Hassan II, Volubilis, Fes tour (full day), Marrakech tour (half-day)

Services NOT Included

• Flight ticket to and from Morocco
• Airport transfer (available for extra charge)
• Insurance covering all your adventure activities (obligatory, please bring a copy with you)
• Meals – except breakfasts and one dinner (allow EUR 10 to 15 for each meal)
• Soft drinks and personal purchases all over the trip
• Entrance fee to monuments (except city tours/programs) and optional activities (e.g. hammam)
• Tipping local staff (tour guide, local guides, driver) – not obligatory, only if you are satisfied

Food/Provision

• All breakfasts and one dinner (in the gîte) are included
• All other meals and drinks (e.g. water) will be for your expenses. Your guide will help you to discover the local restaurants
• Please inform us of any dietary, vegetarian or special meal requirements at the time of reservation

For further information please check ‘General trip info’.