Imperial Cities tours from Casablanca

You will be privately transferred between Casablanca and Rabat by a professional driver and an English / German -speaking guide. Approximate travel time is one hour and 30 minutes.

Lunch not included in tour price. Your driver and/or guide will assist you for lunch options on the way.

A private vehicle with English / German speaking driver will provide a transfer between Rabat and Fez. During the transfer, explore the Imperial City of Meknes along with the Roman city of Volubilis. In antiquity, Volubilis was an important Roman town situated near the westernmost border of Roman Empire. It was built on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement from the third century BC. Volubilis was the administrative center of the province in Roman Africa called Mauretania Tingitana. The fertile lands of the province produced many commodities such as grain and olive oil, which were exported to Rome, contributing to the province’s wealth and prosperity. Discover the Imperial city of Meknes known as the “Moroccan Versailles.” Meknes was founded in the 17th century by King Moulay Ismail. It is famous for its 25-mile-long walls. Upon arrival into Fez, a hotel drop-off is provided.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby this morning, then set out to explore Fez, the cultural and spiritual center of Morocco. Also known as Fez el Bali, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in the 9th century and is also home to the world’s oldest university, founded in 859 CE. The city of Fez reached its true economic and cultural height through the 13th and14th centuries under the Merinids, at which time it replaced Marrakesh as the capital of the kingdom. Although the political capital of Morocco was transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fez has retained its status as the country’s artisan centre. Workshops hosting master craftsmen in the medina are as busy today as they were hundreds of years ago, and strongly contribute to the city’s industrial economy. Trades such as blacksmithing, leather working, ceramics, silk weaving, and sculpting are still practiced, and you’ll sure to witness this firsthand throughout the day. The tannery of Fez, colorful and pungent, is a must-see; here, workers labor in small pools filled with specific dyes to treat their wares. The original ramparts still protect this ancient city, and its estimated 9,000 passageways and bustling streets are a joy to explore. With a private driver and expert guide at your side, discover the essential highlights of Fez over the course of this full-day tour.

This afternoon set out to tour the labyrinthine souks of Fez with your private guide. Among the many shops and stalls are artisan workshops and studios where traditional skills, passed down by Moorish émigrés from Andalusia for generations, are still practiced by master craftsmen. Metal and leather workers, ceramic, silk, tapestry, and sculpting masters all congregate in the area, just as in centuries past. Highlights of the tour include visiting a vast open-air tannery and the spice souk known as El Attarine, undoubtedly the most vibrant in Fez, as well as the henna and wood-working souks located in the Nejjarine neighborhood where the heavy scent of cedar lingers in the air. Here, the main plaza is lined with trees that provide a welcome respite from the warm sun and is also where you can the city’s best fabric dyers. Wool and cotton are treated in colorful dyes here, and small streams of excess pigments float down the streets as finished garments are completed and rinsed. After a few hours navigating the Artisan’s Quarter, you will be returned to your hotel.

Travel in a privately driven vehicle from Fez to Marrakesh, making a lunch stop en-route. Explore the rugged terrain of the Middle Atlas Mountain range, boasting towering cliff faces, and incredible passes. Drive by the scenic Berber villages of Immouzer de Kandar and the university town of Ifrane for a glimpse into rural living in Morocco. Explore the Kasbah of Ras El Ain and mingle among the merchants to find the perfect gift. The approximate travel time is seven hours and 30 minutes.

The sweeping and dynamic history of Marrakesh – an imperial capital in centuries past – is best appreciated with the help of a private guide. Today, begin your tour of the Ochre City with a visit to the Koutoubia Mosque. Constructed in the 12th century, it’s known for its a beautiful minaret which can be seen from nearly every approach to the city due to a long-standing ordinance that forbids any other building in the old city to rise above the height of a palm tree. After viewing Koutoubia Mosque, visit nearby El-Bahia Palace. Translated to English, the El Bahia Palace means “Palace of Brilliance,” and this incredible, ornate and meticulously crafted property is endowed with some of the finest ceramics in the country. This 19th century palace was built over a seven-year period for Ba Ahmed, the son of the Grand Vizier Si Moussa. Featuring a trapezoidal garden, tiled courtyard, and many hidden treasures in the form of antique objects d’art and the palace’s convergence of Andalusian and Moorish architecture, it is a must-see site. Your next stop is one of most coveted archeological sites in Morocco: the Saadian Tombs. Opened to the public in 1917, they are accessed through a narrow passage which leads to an enclosed garden and into two mausoleums that host more than one hundred mosaic-decorated tombs. The Musee De Marrakesh, your next stop, is an important example of Moorish architecture, and the main courtyard and chambers are host to impressive feats of design; elaborate archways, gorgeous stained glass, and a collection of ceramics that are sure to dazzle. Finally, wander through the mesmerizing souks of Marrakesh. With 18 souks selling a dizzying array of handicrafts, textiles, spices, foods, electronics, antiques and everything in between, the souks of Marrakesh are the perfect place to find a keepsake to bring home, or to simply get in touch with day-to-day life in the Red City.

Enjoy a guided walking tour through the Gardens of Majorelle, a property acquired in 1922 by painter Jacques Majorelle. After spending nearly 40 years creating his “Ochre City”, the ownership of the garden changed to the families of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge in 1980. An oasis in the city, the expansive gardens feature an impressive collection of cacti, exotic plants and unique tree species carefully placed to emphasize their beauty. Pools, streams and fountains add to the charm, as does the birdsong of the many winged creatures that call this place home. Carry on to the Gardens of Menara; an area which has in its center an immense pool dating from the 12th century. At the edge of the water, among the various plants and olive trees, is a small Saadien house which over the last century has been rebuilt and resorted back to its original beauty. Enjoy the remainder of the excursion exploring the nearby monuments that surround the gardens. After exploring the gardens and Yves Saint Laurent Museum, you’ll make the 20-minute drive to the nearby Palmery Museum. Featuring exotic plants and flowers, impressive sculptures and works of art, it is a joy to explore. Once you have had ample time to tour the Palmery Museum, you will be returned to your hotel.

A private vehicle with English / German speaking driver will provide a transfer between Marrakesh and Casablanca. The approximate travel time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.