Road to Morocco

•   An inside look at daily life in the maze of souks in the ancient medina in Fes, led by a local guide, and a stay in medina-side rooms at Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï

Day 1: Arrive Casablanca
A transfer is included from Casablanca Mohammed V Int’l Airport to the Hyatt Regency Casablanca in the heart of Morocco’s largest city, where past meets present in a colorful kaleidoscope of cultural treasures. Your adventure begins with tonight’s welcome reception and dinner.
Overnight: Hyatt Regency Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: City Sightseeing / Journey to Rabat
Put your walking shoes on for today’s guided sightseeing, beginning with a look at the modern side of Casablanca, Morocco’s economic center. View the United Nations Square and local neighborhoods, and go inside the Hassan II Mosque, extending out over the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1993 by King Hassan II, evoking Spain’s Alhambra and La Mezquita, it is today the third-largest mosque in the world – and one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims; your tour includes the hammam and the absolution room. Casablanca has been forever romanticized by the 1942 film of the same name; so what could be better than lunch in Rick’s Café – a re-creation of the mythical saloon owned by Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart. Continue on to Rabat along the Atlantic coastline; a walking tour of the impregnable Oudaya Kasbah and the Andalucían gardens offers a glimpse of the city’s rich history. Dine à la carte tonight at a fine Moroccan or French restaurant – your choice. 
Overnight: La Tour Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Roman Ruins & Markets in Rabat
Domes and minarets grace the skyline of oceanfront Rabat, while its cliff-top kasbah, imposing medina, sweeping terraces and wide tree-lined boulevards invite discovery within. Rabat is the political, administrative and financial capital of Morocco, the country’s main university town and its second-largest city. Visit the mausoleum of the revered King Mohammed V, and see the towering 12th-century minaret of Hassan. Your walking tour takes you by the walled grounds of the Royal Palace, then for a walk through the Necropolis of Chellah, sheltering the ruins of a 13th-century mosque and royal burial complex. Have lunch at a local restaurant featuring Moroccan-style seafood and sea views. Spend the rest of the day exploring Rabat on your own.
Overnight: La Tour Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4: Imperial Meknes / Volubilis / Fes
The agricultural landscapes of Morocco’s “breadbasket” provide the backdrop for a full day’s journey to Fes, with stops in historic Meknes and Volubilis. Founded in the 10th century, Meknes is nestled between mountains and desert; today it is a dynamic economic center known for its olives, wine and mint tea. Remnants of powerful sultans chronicle the history of this imperial walled city in elaborate gateways or babs, and the Granary and Stables, built in the 17th century to house up to 12,000 horses, feature engineering innovations that were remarkable for their time. See them up-close before visiting the Musée Dar Jamaï, showcasing Moroccan art amidst the intricately painted interior décor and courtyard gardens. Continue on to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; guided sightseeing reveals vestiges of Roman urban planning at the Forum, Basilica and the Triumphal Arch. View the stunning bright-white town of Moulay Idriss en route to Fes; your landmark hotel is set in a perfumed Andalucían garden, overlooking Fes el-Bali.
Overnight: Sofitel Fes Palais Jamaï, Fes, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Founded in 808?AD, Fes is the best-preserved medieval city of the Arab-Islamic world; Tauck’s rooms at the Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï overlook the Fes medina (Fes el-Bali), barely changed in a thousand years. Your day begins with a lecture on the role of women in Morocco by a noted university professor of women’s studies. A guided tour of the city includes the Fes el-Jedid, the Imperial City of the Merinides, the Mellah, and of course, the famous medina; over 300,000 people still live within its ancient walls. Your local guide navigates you through this labyrinthine maze of souks (shops), navigable only by foot, offering an “inside” look at daily life. See the Bab Boujeloud (the medina’s principal gate), the Bou Inania Medersa and the Tanneries; and take a peek inside the gates of the Karaouiyine Mosque, established in 859 AD. During your stay, you’ll dine at a fabulous local restaurant, La Maison Bleue, and at the hotel.
Overnight: Sofitel Fes Palais Jamaï, Fes, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Middle Atlas Mountains / Marrakech
Take in awe-inspiring views of North Africa’s Middle Atlas range on a drive to Marrakech that begins a long but interesting day. Rural landscapes continually change from fruit orchards and farms to country villages and lush alpine valleys; above them, mountains that are home to ski resorts and forests of cedar, cork oak and maritime pine thrive. Arrive early evening in Marrakech, the “Pearl of the South,” where Africa meets Arabia under the shadow of the High Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by lush gardens and fountain-filled courtyards, your accommodations for the next three nights at the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa are located in the heart of the city, close to the ancient medina.
Overnight: Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa, Marrakech, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Souks & Gardens of Marrakech
Encircled by ochre-hued ramparts, Marrakech is an exuberant city of elegant palaces and ornate mansions, snake charmers and colorful souks, where daily life unfolds before you in a parade of sensory delights. Sightseeing today includes the ornate Saadian Tombs, renowned for their fine Islamic architecture; a visit to 19th-century Palais Bahia; and an opportunity to see Koutoubia Mosque, one of the largest in the western Muslim world. Visions of a lush desert oasis become reality during a morning visit to Le Jardin Majorelle. A small botanical garden of bamboo thickets, giant cacti, palms, bougainvillaea and electric-blue gazebos created by the painter Jacques Majorelle, this colorful acreage was more recently owned by the late designer Yves Saint-Laurent. You’ll have an opportunity to tour the painter’s former home, Villa Majorelle, which is now a museum, to see its collection of Moroccan art and crafts. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk inside the Marrakech medina to peruse myriad craft shops displaying everything from kilims, slippers and leatherwork to baskets of henna, rainbow-colored herbs and pink, green and black olives. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. A carriage ride through the palm-lined streets of Marrakech leads to Djemâa el Fna Square, with Gnaoua musicians, cobra charmers, water carriers and veiled dancers.
Overnight: Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa, Marrakech, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 8: Ourika Valley / Berber Home Visit
Travel outside Marrakech today to charming Ourika Valley, the ancestral home of ancient Berber villages. These isolated villages appear to cling to the hillsides with plots of cultivated land laying along the river valley. Go inside a typical home to experience a Moroccan tea demonstration, a rich cultural tradition that’s centuries old, and have lunch in a restaurant managed by local Berber villagers. Back in Marrakech, spend the afternoon exploring as you wish. Cocktails, canapés and an elegant farewell dinner at a local riad this evening mark a fitting end to a most memorable Moroccan journey.
Overnight: Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa, Marrakech, Morocco
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Journey Home
Tour ends: Marrakech. Fly home any time. A transfer from the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa to the Marrakech-Menara Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
4/6/2011 - 4/15/2011	$3,790
4/15/2011 - 4/24/2011	$3,790
4/27/2011 - 5/6/2011	$3,790
5/6/2011 - 5/15/2011	$3,790
5/27/2011 - 6/5/2011	$3,590
6/8/2011 - 6/17/2011	$3,590
9/23/2011 - 10/2/2011	$3,790
10/5/2011 - 10/14/2011	$3,790
10/14/2011 - 10/23/2011	$3,790
10/26/2011 - 11/4/2011	$3,790
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Tauck Tour Deals

Tauck Single Specials

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