Wonders of Morocco: From Souks to the Sahara

Situated on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Casablanca pulses with a modern energy, yet whispers of its romantic past — immortalized in the classic Humphrey Bogart movie (set here though filmed in Hollywood) — still linger. Met at the airport, you check in to your luxurious hotel and relax.

While the port city of Casablanca is Morocco’s largest metropolis and its commercial hub, there are connections to the rich local culture close at hand. Visit the expansive Hassan II Mosque; its minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world. Travel to the Moorish city of Rabat, capital of Morocco, to visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, dedicated to the founder of modern Morocco, grandfather of the current king. View the Hassan Tower and Oudaya Kasbah. Continue to Fez for a special cocktail reception. Tonight, at your welcome dinner, meet a female professor who shares her insights on the role of women in modern Morocco, another example of the kind of insider access possible with A&K.

Explore Fez el-Bali (Old Fez), the cultural heart of Morocco and a renowned center of medieval learning. Stroll the old quarter, with its 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks, on a lively market visit. Watch local craftsmen work with bronze and pottery, and then proceed to the intricately detailed Karaouine. Built in AD 859, it is one of the oldest still-functioning universities in the world. After a stop at Nejjarine Square, visit Fez el-Jadid (New Fez) to visit the Royal Palace, madrasas (Islamic schools) and mellah (Jewish quarter).

Journey overland to explore Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. With its triumphal arches, basilicas and capitals, the Volubilis skyline brims with iconic examples of Roman architecture. Among its greatest treasures, however, are the mosaic floors of former family dwellings, depicting figures from epic mythology. A winery outside Meknes offers a chef-led experience at an onsite restaurant set among olive groves.

Travel to small, desert-fringed Erfoud, pausing for lunch en route and observing everyday life as you pass Berber villages, date palm plantations and the majestic Atlas Mountains. After this scenic drive, your hotel welcomes you and hosts dinner.

Discover the fortified desert town of Rissani before heading out into the desert dunes of the Sahara, first by four-wheel-drive vehicle amid stunning reddish-hued sand dunes and then by camelback, to your nomadic tented camp, where a reception with mint tea and pastries awaits you. As the sun sets over the Saharan dunes, celebrate the moment with a thirst-quenching sundowner. Return to your camp for a traditional meal before a campfire, along with distinctively Moroccan entertainment.

Journey overland to the city of Ouarzazate, built as a French garrison in the 1920s. Once a stopping point for African traders, it is today a regional trade center, noted for its pottery and carpets. Along the way, absorb stunning views of the High Atlas Mountains and the flourishing Dades Valley on the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.”

Admire the Kasbah of Tifoultoute, a majestic 17th-century fortress, and continue to Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the region’s most exotic kasbahs, some of which have been featured in famous films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Journey over the High Atlas Mountains, observing everyday life in remote rural towns, to the fascinating “Red City” of Marrakech, where you visit El Amane Association for Women and Children, a community initiative supported by A&K Philanthropy.

Unearth the secrets of Marrakech, starting in the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia Minaret. Then visit Ben Youssef Madrasa, once the largest Islamic college in the Maghreb. Later, walk Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, populated by vendors, acrobats, dancers and street musicians performing at every turn. You may also stroll the city’s labyrinthine souks.

Walk the Jardin Majorelle, a picturesque garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by design legend Yves Saint Laurent. Stop at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum nearby for an up-close look at some of the famed designer’s creations. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:

• Learn to Cook with Moroccan Spices with a cooking demonstration and tasting.
• Explore the Souks of Marrakech with an expert guide, walking narrow streets lined with centuries-old shops.
• Uncover Marrakech's Rich Jewish Heritage on a guided walk through the Jewish

Tonight enjoy a special farewell dinner.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight or join your post-tour extension.