Arrival Airport: Casablanca International Airport (CMN),  Morocco

Introduction: Few places in the world are as unique and beautiful to travelers as the country of Morocco. Desert fortresses rise out of the sands of the Sahara, sapphire oceans caress white sandy beaches, and purple mountain glitter with snow. Visit Morocco to see all of these sights and more! Behind every city wall exposes you to rich experiences in art, architecture, and cuisine. The winding alleyways of the Medina give way to bustling souks, and tent after tent is filled with brightly colored silks and baskets of spices. Morocco is made up of four different areas: the Sahara Desert, full of Berber towns and oases; the Atlas and Rif Mountains, perfect for hikers; the plains which are home to the imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez; and finally, the sandy coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, graced by small beach towns and the cities of Rabat and Casablanca.

Arrival: Arrive at Casablanca International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco. After clearing customs and immigration, please proceed to the baggage claim area to collect your belongings. Given the recent airport policy change, your driver is not able to meet you in the arrival hall and instead will be waiting to greet you just outside the main doors by the tented area (which has some shade) outside. For any assistance in locating the driver pickup area, please ask the airport help desk. Your driver will be waiting by the tented area with a sign reading "ACANELA EXPEDITIONS".  Your driver and/or guide will greet you and assist you with the transfer to Rabat. If you have any difficulties finding your driver or if your flight is delayed please contact your in-country director (number above) for assistance. In each of the primary locations throughout your tour you will have a local guide to introduce you to the main sights and places to visit in addition to your driver who will support you throughout your journey.

Afternoon: Dive into our experience in Morocco with a short Casablanca city tour, experiencing this incredible city at its finest (and seeing a few of the sights from the famous Oscar-Award Winning Movie Casablanca). Continue on a 1-1.5 hour private van ride, enjoy the stunning view as rolling hills meet the beautiful city of Rabat.  Rabat is the stunning capital of Morocco and is full of incredible adventures! Upon arrival, you will check into the hotel and meet up with the rest of the group (as everyone is arriving at different times throughout the day). The drive from Casablanca to Rabat will take about 1.5 hours.

Dinner | 8:00 - 10:00pm: Following check-in, we will dive into our experience in Morocco with a delicious welcome dinner. Our accommodations are located in the lovely medina of Rabat, so if you arrive early  feel free to explore the markets.

Evening: After dinner feel free to explore the city or to rest and relax in your lovely riad.

Accommodation: Dawliz Resort & Spa

Address: Avenue Du Prince Heritier, 11010 Sale, Morocco

Breakfast | 8:00 - 9:00am  Enjoy breakfast at your Riad - together as a group as we get to know each other and prepare for the incredible journey ahead of us!

Morning After a delicious breakfast at your hotel accommodation, prepare to depart to your next destination, Fez. En route to Fez, we will have the option to stop at the RIF Mountain pass and visit Volubilis and Meknes to discover ancient Roman ruins in these cities that were established in the 3rd century BC. Alternatively, we will continue straight to Fez in order to get a jump on exploring the local markets and the city square.

Lunch Local restaurants surround the medina, offering smells that we won’t be able to resist at lunchtime. After a delectable meal, we will finish our journey to Fez. The entire journey will take 2.5-3 hours.

Afternoon: We will arrive in Fez, after which we will check into our Riad and set out to explore the local markets & souks..

Dinner: Enjoy Dinner at your beautiful Riad

Evening: There is plenty to see and do in Fez as it is the ancient home to scholars, artisans, and more! The cultural lineage of Fez, coupled with its unique charm make it a great destination. At night we will spend the evening at our beautiful Riad trying the delicious foods that make Morocco a culinary delight.

Accommodation: Riad Dar Guennoun

Address: 70, Diour Jdoud Klakleyinne (Rcif) Medina, 30200 Fez, Morocco

Breakfast:  Enjoy Breakfast at your Riad

Morning: After a morning breakfast at your accommodation, we’ll head out to visit the colorful and complex tanneries of Fez, learning about the century-old techniques that are still used today. We’ll visit the honey souks, carpet weavers, bustling markets, and maze-like passageways of this imperial city.

We’ll also have the opportunity to stop by the Ech Cherabliyine Mosque (Mosque of the Slipper makers), and visit many souks to learn about how a variety of local products are made, such as: henna, slippers, caftans, silks, spices, and jewelry.

Fez is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and also the largest city in the world that doesn’t permit cars. Because of this, Fez’s streets are famously narrow and warped, creating dusky markets that feel untouched by the passing centuries, which produce brilliant opportunities to take beautiful photos. You will be given a tour of the city and experience a local lunch from one of the many delicious restaurants.

Lunch:  Enjoy lunch in a delicious traditional local restaurant

Afternoon: The first stops on your afternoon tour will be the Royal Palace, Moulay Abedallah Quarter, and the Mellah (Jewish Quarter). Continue on to visit Fez el –jadid, to visit the monumental Kasabah in the city center and the southern Tower to visit the “Musée des Armes”, a fortress that is used to shelter Fez city. Visit the Rue Talaa Kebira, the main street leading to the old legendary medina. Due to the narrow streets, cars cannot pass through and so you’ll see many merchants and porters using donkeys and mules for transport. As you reach the old medina, you will visit the Karaouiyne mosque. This is one of the oldest mosques in the world, that historically operated as one of the largest universities in the Moroccan Empire. You will also stop by Fondouk El Najjarine - identified as a UNESCO locality.

Dinner: Tonight dinner will be held at a local restaurant featuring delicious Moroccan food. To many travelers, Fez has become the ‘new’ culinary capital of Morocco and you’ll experience this in the many dishes you’ll get to try.

+ Optional Cooking Class: Morocco’s rich culture and geographic location have given birth to a diverse cuisine that is known as one of the top cuisines in the world – a fusion of Andalusian, Mediterranean and Arabic gastronomy. Head straight towards the Medina, visiting the traditional markets (also known as souks) to learn about the local ingredients and spices that make up traditional Moroccan cuisine. In the afternoon visit one of the top local restaurants in the city for a hands-on cooking class. With the help of an expert chef, learn how to prepare authentic dishes such as couscous, tagine, and delicious Moroccan breads.

Evening: To watch a large assortment of pottery leather-products, wood arts we recommend visiting Dar el-Batha Musée.

Accommodation: Riad Dar Guennoun

Address: 70, Diour Jdoud Klakleyinne (Rcif) Medina, 30200 Fez, Morocco

Breakfast: Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your Riad before setting off for Chefchaouen for the day (3-4 hour drive)

Morning: By the time we arrive to Chefchaouen the markets are vibrant with activity, thus we will venture out into the markets to see the variety of native fruits and vegetables, handmade breads, hand-woven carpets, medicinal herbs, and other artisan goods. Chefchaouen is known for its turquoise buildings, topaz walls, and rich navy cobblestone streets. As we walk the streets, we will become acquainted with one of the most visually stunning and unique cities in all of North Africa.

Lunch: Enjoy a guided tasting tour through the markets as you have the opportunity to discover a variety of new foods, restaurants, and having the opportunity to meet the local culinary artisans.

Afternoon: The markets of Morocco have been used by locals for hundreds of years and the afternoon will give us time to wander the winding streets, and shop for world-famous textiles (rugs, carpets, scarves, etc.) as well as Moroccan lanterns, leather, woodwork, and pottery. Many local Artisans do not operate professional shops, choosing instead to use their homes as storefronts. The guide knows many of the artisans and your travel experience will be enriched by interactions with the artisans in their homes.

Dinner: We’ll have dinner while watching the sunset from a viewpoint overlooking the rolling blue city before retiring at our Riad accommodation.

Accommodation: Ryad A&B

Address: Quartier Administratif, Rue 16 Novembre, 91000, Morocco

Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at your Riad.

Morning: We will spend the day continuing our exploration of Chefchaouen and visiting many of the city districts we did not stop by from the previous day. Chefchaouen has a wonderful array of berber carpets, silver jewelry, artisan workshops, handmade shoes, and tanneries. Be sure to purchase any souvenirs you want to take home as this will be a wonderful opportunity to bring the treasures of Morocco back with you.

Lunch: Take in the aromatic smell of Moroccan food as we stop for a delicious lunchtime meal!

Afternoon: We will depart Chefchaouen for Tangier (approximately 2.5 hours) in the afternoon. Tangier is a famous Moroccan port city on the opposing side of the Strait of Gibraltar and has been known as a major gateway between Africa and Europe. This location is home to whitewashed hillsides and a wonderful Medina and is home to the Dar el Makhzen (a Sultans palace that has since become a museum of Moroccan artifacts. We will have a couple of hours to explore the city, acquaint ourselves with our surroundings.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and savor some local favorites!  After dinner, enjoy the stunning sunset over the city and prepare for the amazing day ahead of you tomorrow.

Accommodation: Palais Zahia

Address: 76 Rue de la Marine, Tangier, Morocco

Breakfast: Fuel up on a delicious breakfast before setting off early for our flight between Tangier and Marrakech. Our flight is scheduled to depart at 8:00am and so we will aim to have the group at the airport no later than 6:45am in order to ensure a smooth check-in for our inter-country flight. We anticipate our arrival will be at 9:10am local time.

For those departing this day, your transfer to the airport will be arranged (departure from Marrakech International Airport), however for those staying longer we will take time to visit the city of Marrakech and explore the many markets and shops in the Medina.

Lunch: Stop by a local restaurant for a burst of local flavors!

Afternoon: Enjoy an incredible afternoon exploring the local markets of the Medina and visiting some of the famous city sights before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, retire at your accommodation. For those leaving late tonight - or tomorrow - your transport will be arranged in advance and communicated to you by Imad or Jamal.

Evening: Overnight in your riad (in Casablanca or Marrakesh)

Accommodation: Riad Dore or Riad Tanuer

Breakfast: Fuel up on a delicious breakfast at your riad before heading out for the day’s adventures!

Morning: Pack up your bags and meet up with your driver for a transfer to Casablanca (or Marrakesh)  airport where you will catch your international flight back home.