Morocco Private Tour – Tangier & The Imperial Cities – 7 Days

Thanks to our guides’ expertise and itinerary, you can live a new, fairy tale-like adventure through the magical land of Morocco and its wonders. In a complete 7-day tour, you will discover a whole new world, full of amazing traditions and breathtaking landscapes. The tour will start from the Gibraltar coast, with the beautiful city of Tangier and then will visit all the spectacular cities, which have been the location for the immense Empire, like Chefchaouen, with its picturesque medina and unique architecture, Volubilis with its historical value and the archaeological sites from the Roman Empire, Meknes, Rabat, Fes with its intricate and artistic historic city centre, the immortal Casablanca, famous for its never ending culture and magic, perfectly depicted in the homonymous movie, to the last stop, Marrakech, where you will dive in a sea of culture, magic and life. These majestic cities will bring you to a whole new world, where you will discover new incredible food with exquisite taste and amazing experiences of its culture, such as snake enchanters.

This private tour is built around your pace throughout, starting in Tangier: personalized attention from your driver-guide, hidden gems alongside the iconic landmarks, and the flexibility to linger wherever catches your eye, from the Kasbah to the bustling medina markets.

Highlights

• Experience the charm of Chefchaouen’s medina and its alleys
• Visit Volubilis, the last stronghold of the Ancient Roman Empire’s beauty
• Be amazed by the labyrinthine Medieval medina of Fes
• Live your dreams and live in a nostalgic movie in the streets of Casablanca
•  Discover the many wonders that the city of Marrakech has to show you

Day 1: Tangier & “The Blue City” of Chefchaouen

At the start of this wonderful trip, you will be welcomed at the gateway of Africa, in the stunning Tangier. Then, you can spend some time wandering around the city centre of Tangier and discovering its wonders, or you could go on with your journey up to Cascades d’Akchour (Waterfalls of Akchour) to enjoy the stunning blue water pools and explore the surrounding area of the Rif Mountains. There you can hike for a couple of hours and enjoy the nature around you, with unforgettable landscapes.

Later, you can keep exploring and, in a while, you will move on to the city of Chefchaouen. You will be amazed by the beauty of the city and its spectacular architecture, known all over the world for its medina, full of unique buildings from the countless shades of blue and its little streets, which intersect one another in a mysterious and almost labyrinthine journey.

The city has many wonders, full of historical and cultural values: first of all, one of your stops must be the most famous square of the city, Place Outa el Hammam, which has been recognised in the all world by an unusual characteristic, the fact that it was surrounded by a big range of hammams (public baths). Nowadays, it is populated by hundreds of local shops and cafés, where you can stop for a bite and try the local cuisine or explore the typical community and buy some souvenirs. Every tourist visiting the city should also admire the Grand Mosque, constructed in 1560 (which is unfortunately not accessible to non-Muslim public on the inside, but you could explore it from the outside and appreciate its architecture) and the kasbah, the majestic fortress of the centre, which offers a tour of the building, of its surrounding garden, the museum and some of the old cells nearby.

At the end of the day, you can continue walking around, bathing in the magical sunset’s light of the city and its wonderful colours, passing just around one of the most splendid buildings of the city, the Spanish Mosque, which rises from the streets in its splendour.

Day 2: Roman Ruins at Volubilis, Meknes, and the Cultural Capital of Fes

On the second day, you will have a last chance of looking at the beauty of Chefchaouen, in its quietness at the rise of the day, before the trip begins again with another amazing stop. First, you will be guided through a magical site in Volubilis to visit the Roman ruins. You will be able to wander around in one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a real jewel in the middle of the quiet territory. Its history goes back to the 3rd century BCE, when it was founded and built by the Ancient Romans, but later, in the 11th century, it was abandoned. Up to these days, it has been kept intact and preserved, so that the public could admire its temples and the picturesque mosaics in the buildings, the merchants’ homes. One of its wonders is the amazing work of art, entitled The Labours of Hercules.

The next stop will be the quiet and charming village of Meknes, where you can roam around the medina and relax in its quiet streets, away from the chaos of the more touristic cities. The area, however, is mainly famous for the Ville Impériale (The Imperial City), which astounds thousands of tourists.

At the end of the day, you will arrive in the city of Fes, where you will still have a little bit more time to wander through the old city centre, the medina, and discover its intricate and maze-like streets. You will also have the chance to visit the ancient Merenid Tombs, before reaching a wonderful riad, in order to spend the night there.

Day 3: Fes: Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina

The city of Fes is one of the most valuable and spectacular places in all whole Morocco, so full of historical value and amazing cultural experience, that it is sometimes depicted as one of the country’s capitals. You can spend the day discovering all its beauty and the most famous and interesting sites. At first, you can simply walk around the historical city centre, which is car-free, in order to save and preserve the huge cultural value that it hosts, as it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The two oldest areas, the medinas Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, are worth exploring, as also the Ville Nouvelle. Thanks to our guide’s expertise, you can learn everything about the history of these beautiful streets and their secrets.

You will be surprised by the astounding architecture of the buildings and their secular traditions, born from the many populations that have lived there and how their arts intertwined with each other, like Spanish and Tunisian. Some examples of this wonderful mix are Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque’s interiors(although non-Muslims are not allowed), its university, which is the oldest in the world, and Al Attarine Madrasa, with its exquisite woodwork. Through the streets of the city, you will have a taste of a whole new world, full of amazing traditions and novelty, and all of these just by roaming around the local shops of the centre, looking at artisans at work with your own eyes. You could also admire the Chouara Tannery and a leather shop, where you could find an encompassing view of the many round stone wells filled with dye and people at work. A stop that you certainly can’t miss, the Mellah in Fes el Jdid, the ancient Jewish quarter with its cemetery, where you can dive into the magic of history.

Day 4: To the Coast: Rabat and Casablanca

You can stop in the morning and have a second chance to visit Fes and discover its traditions, such as the tile and mosaics arts in places like the Ceramics and Tilework Collective.

Then, it will be time to travel to Rabat, not only the capital of the country, but also one of the most wonderful centres ever, caressed by the gentle wind and the crystal clear water of the Atlantic sea and the Bou Regreg River. The city hides many beautiful secret spots to visit, and the only way to embark upon this journey is to step over the Kasbah des Oudaias and walk through the entrance of the old city of Rabat. Although the city is nowadays a residential area crossed by many charming local shops, for centuries it has been the shelter of different cultures, which have merged in a surprising mix. The Andalusian Gardens, a big and sumptuous garden immersed in the quietness, which was built by the French in the 20^th century, lies between the light-washed buildings of the city centre, across the Hassan Tower, an ancient minaret nearby the mosque and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, a great example of Islamic architecture. The building is made of a majestic red sandstone tower, followed by almost 200 columns, but unfortunately, it was left unfinished in the 12th century.  The jewel of the city, however, is the Chellah Necropolis, where two different societies, like the Roman and the Islamic ones, merge to create a wonderful and ancient medieval fortified city, now regarded as a memorable historical site. At the end of the day, you can look one more time at the beautiful landscape of Rabat, to arrive in Casablanca and find rest in your accommodation.

Day 5: Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, onwards to Marrakech

As soon as you are ready to step into the stunning Casablanca, your first visit should be the Hassan II Mosque. It is an ancient minaret, renowned as the tallest building in Morocco.  It is an exquisite work of craftsmanship with its spectacular mosaics and fine exterior, which will charm with its majestic and breathtaking beauty. It is also one of the few mosques available for tours and visits by non-Muslims, so you can take advantage and discover the impressive details and structures of the area, surrounded by a picturesque ceiling.

In the afternoon, you can roam through the centre of the city, the Habous Quarter, and savour the touches of French architecture that surround the buildings and the spice shops. Walking around the Boulevard de la Corniche, the famous beach promenade of Casablanca, you will be welcomed by the tasteful art that embraces the city and the flourishing nature that will sprout on the streets. A very important stop is also Rick’s Cafè, which many nostalgic souls can remember and appreciate. It is, in fact, the rendition of the famous restaurant in the movie Casablanca, and up to these days, tourists and aficionados can sit at those tables for a little break, tasting the local cuisine and pretending to relive the memories of this unforgettable movie. At the end of the day, you may be ready to leave the city and embark on the journey to the Red city of Marrakech.

Day 6: Marrakech: Exploring the Red City

The journey will continue in the economic heart of the country, Marrakech. Known as the Red City, it lies in the Atlas Mountains and has been the symbol of the meeting of different cultures, as for centuries it has welcomed tribes from all over the country for trade. It has also been heavily influenced by the Berber culture, which has been more dominant than the Arab one. The city is dotted with amazing buildings and sightseeing places: the start of your journey through the city should be the Jemaa el-Fna Square, which will lead you to all the most important places, such as the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens to the west, the Kasbah area with the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace to the south. A welcoming place to relax and restore your body and soul is also the Ville Nouvelle, with its flourishing Majorelle Gardens.

During the day, you will have the opportunity to explore the most local and picturesque zones of the city in Souk el-Attarin (Spices), Souk Haddadine (blacksmiths), and Souk Smata (slippers). Walking around, you will see a large number of courtyards, which to the locals are known as Fondouks or Caravanserai. In history, these big open spaces were used as accommodations for merchants, who, as soon as the working day ended, would find comfort in the upper floors, leaving to rest their animals on the ground floor.

The city will surprise you as soon as the sunset comes, when the Jemaa el-Fna Square will be populated with many different wonders, such as musicians and storytellers, acrobats and dancers, and even snake charmers that will enliven the space. The air will be suddenly impregnated with the smells of spices, thanks to the food stalls and the restaurants that will offer you every sort of meal or drinks, to shake your day and leave you with endless memories and experiences.

Day 7: Depart Marrakech

On your last day, you may take the chance to roam freely through the city and explore the hidden gems it has to offer, such as the Bahia Palace, a 19th-century palace that perfectly blends Islamic and Moroccan styles into an exquisite and impeccable work of art. The vast building offers a beautiful and colourful garden, with many rooms opening onto the courtyards. After this last splendid stop, you can relax through the trees one last time, and then you will be ready to go to the airport with the amazing memories made in this lifetime and magical trip.