Morocco: Tangier & the Blue City

Arrive in Casablanca, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner.

Begin the day in the port city of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest metropolis and its commercial hub. Visit the stunning Hassan II Mosque, which accommodates up to 25,000 worshipers; its minaret stands as the tallest religious structure in the world. Then, explore the Museum of Moroccan Judaism to learn about the region’s lasting Jewish legacy. Later, board a high-speed train to Tangier, the storied city that helps define the north of Morocco and serves as a gateway to Europe. Appealing and cosmopolitan, with mixtures of Moroccan, African and European influences, Tangier is a melting pot of cultures. Contrary to popular belief, the movie Casablanca was actually based on Tangier, due to its reputation as the city of spies, well earned during various conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Today your journey takes you to the kasbah, in Tangier’s old citadel, where you visit the newly renovated Kasbah Museum, built in the former Sultan’s Palace. View collections that document the history of Morocco as well as priceless treasures such as a gilded, illuminated Koran, and don’t miss the large mosaic works on display in its open courtyard. Afterward, stroll through the Old Medina and enter the bustling Grand Socco (souk). Stop at the American Legation, a museum that traces the history of the relationship between the United States and Morocco. Continue to Moshe Nahon, one of the most beautiful synagogues in Morocco, located in heart of the Medina. Finally, visit Cap Spartel, a promontory covered with rockrose and cork oaks.

Set out for Chefchaouen, where the streets and most of the buildings in the medina (old town) are painted a brilliant sky blue. View the medina lined with cafés filled with locals and tourists alike, mingling easily and absorbing the unique atmosphere of Morocco’s Blue City. Then, continue to Fez, an imperial gem long considered the spiritual heart of the country. Fez, founded by Moulay Idris I in the eighth century and Morocco’s capital until 1912, became home to Arab emigrants from Spain and Tunisia, whose influence is still felt today. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel, a former palace. Tonight, gather for dinner with your fellow guests.

Step back in time to the Middle Ages as you visit Fez el-Bali (Old Fez) – the cultural heart of Morocco. Explore some of the 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks (open air markets) that make up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, which was also a renowned center of medieval learning. View the Karaouine, one of the oldest still-functioning universities in the world, and Nejjarine Square, with its beautiful fountain and elaborate tile mosaics. Continue to Fez el-Jadid (New Fez), where you see the Royal Palace, madrasas (Islamic schools) and mellah (Jewish quarter).

Journey overland to explore Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. Among its greatest treasures are the amazing mosaic floors of former family dwellings, which still colorfully depict Orpheus charming animals with his lyre, nine dolphins signifying good luck and a portrait of Amphitrite in a seahorse-drawn chariot. Continue to Meknes, one of the imperial cities of Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the 17th century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail, Meknes was envisioned to rival the court of his contemporary, Louis XIV of France. Proceed to a local winery for a gourmet lunch made from locally sourced, organic ingredients and enjoyed among the region’s sunbathed vineyards and olive groves — a refreshing Chef ’s Table experience. Afterward, continue to Rabat.

Explore Rabat, the political capital of the kingdom, observing its cultural influences and the superbly preserved relics of its Moorish past. Visit historical sites flanked by wide avenues and lush parks, including the 12th-century Hassan Tower, an excellent example of Moorish architecture, and the nearby mausoleum dedicated to Mohamed V, the founder of modern Morocco and grandfather of the current king. Venture into Oudaya Kasbah, built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Its gate is one of the most beautiful surviving artifacts in the Moorish world. Explore a delightful Andalusian Garden, complete with a melodious fountain and sweet-smelling orange trees. Discover the national Museum of Parure, perusing its collection of Moroccan jewelry. Round out your introduction to Rabat at the Mohamed VI Museum of Modern Contemporary Art, a wonderful repository of Moroccan history and modern artworks. After lunch, drive to Marrakech where you enjoy a Scenic Sundowner at your hotel, with views of the Atlas Mountains.

Unearth the secrets of Marrakech, beginning in the beguiling 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. Continue your explorations in the walled medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at its architectural jewels, including the soaring Koutoubia minaret. Next, explore Bahia Palace — a masterpiece of design adorned with marble, stucco and mosaics and featuring an open courtyard filled with fountains and plants — for insight into how the privileged lived here during the 19th century. Then, discover Ben Youssef Madrasa, a Koranic school was built around 1570 that is likewise renowned for its magnificent architecture. Later visit Djemaa el-Fna, Marrakech’s main square, to experience its heady milieu replete with vendors, acrobats, dancers, street musicians and even snake charmers performing at every turn. You may also opt to stroll the city’s fabled, labyrinthine souks.

Today, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities: Unearth Another Side of Morocco, viewing daily life amid the gorgeous Atlas Mountains. Discover the Agafay Desert of Stone, taking in its serene red-rock splendors outside Marrakech. Learn to Cook With Moroccan Spices during a cooking demonstration and tasting; also visit Marrakech’s souks. Later, gather for a special dinner featuring entertainment by a traditional gnaoua band, savoring once more the distinctive tastes and sounds of Morocco at its most authentic.

After breakfast, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.