Mountains of Morocco

Mountains of Morocco Trip.

Day 1 – MARRAKECH

Arrive at Marrakech Airport. Before we head for the Morocco Mountains, we’ll introduce you to one of its flamboyant cities. Your guide will be waiting at your riad to discover Marrakech and its treasures with you. We’ll start with the Bahia Palace and the ruined Badi Palace. Next door, the imposing marble columns of the golden dynasty, the Saadis, adorn the mausoleums. The small, yet very richly decorated Douiria is a fine example of crafts and architecture from two centuries ago. In the afternoon, stroll around Jemaa El Fna square and watch the acrobats, food stalls, musicians, snake charmers and story tellers in action.

Day 2 – COOKING CLASS

A different way to discover Marrakech is by through a cooking class complete with a tour of the medina to discover the various ingredients that make up the staple of Moroccan cuisine: the preserved vegetables, the smmen butter, the farnatchi, the herbalist, the souika market, mechoui ovens and more.

Day 3 – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS

Pick up at your riad and transfer to the High Atlas Mountains. The guide will meet you as you arrive to continue on exploring the nearby areas. Learn about the life in the Berber villages of the mountains, explore the valleys and observe the agriculture of the High Atlas. Don’t forget to take in the beautiful surroundings.

Day 4 – ATLAS MOUNTAINS – MARRAKECH – DEMNATE – OUZOUD WATERFALLS

Depart from your hotel in the morning, leaving the Atlas Mountains behind. Travel back towards Marrakech. From here take the route to Fes via the Middle Atlas Mountains. We will travel to Demnate, driving over the natural bridge of Imi Ifri. Finally, we will arrive at Ouzoud waterfalls, the most well-known waterfalls of North Africa. There are many trails possible if you are interested in a little hike. Dinner at your riad.

Day 5 – OUZOUD WATERFALLS – BENI MELLAL – AZROU – IFRANE – FEZ

We will be traveling via the Middle Atlas Mountains with changing scenery. It is on today’s drive that we will view the cascading rivers, limestone plateaus and the forested hills covered by the impressive cedar trees. Close to Azro that we will encounter Barbary apes. In the late afternoon we’ll reach Fez.

Day 6 – FEZ

Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital, is one of the most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Walking through the gates and walls into the passages almost brings you back in time. Perhaps only the satellite dishes will remind you of today’s world. The streets are very much as they were when they were built in the 8th century, with high walls that defend the courtyards inside from the heat of the midday sun. Vast theosophical colleges, stunning mosques and mesmerizing souks dripping their merchandise onto the street are all part of the picture. You will have a walking guided tour to some of the more notable sites.

You’ll visit the Place an-Nejjarine, where an ancient caravanserai overlooks a fountain; wander outside the great Qayrawan mosque, pass the 14th century merchant’s shops; or head to the tanneries – where leather is tainted in array of colored dyes. In the souk al- Attarine, the smell of exotic spices pervades the air. We will also include a visit of the Jewish quarter here.

Day 7 – CHEFCHAOUEN

After breakfast, take the road and leave Fes behind to cross lush agricultural plains and then breast the Rif Mountains. The road twists and turns for the next couple of hours as you arrive in Chefchaouen around lunch time. Spend the afternoon getting lost around the fairy tale- like village and its white- and- blue alleys. Inside the ancient gated medina nearly every building is painted an arresting shade of cerulean or azure, the sky blues juxtaposed with white trim and terra-cotta rooftops. Twisting cobblestone paths lead up and up, around the ocher-colored casbah to a landscape of green hills and mountaintops, uninterrupted sky extending beyond.

Day 8 – RIF MOUNTAIN HIKE

In the morning, head to the nearby Rif Mountains, for a few hours or a whole day, along the river and up to the waterfalls, or further on, to the Bridge of God. In the afternoon, we’ll take you on to Tangiers.

Day 9 – TANGIERS

Meet your guide at the hotel for a tour of Tangiers. Begin with a panoramic tour of the cities’ different Quarters, Palaces and Gardens. Drive to the Atlantic shore to visit Hercules’ Caves and the lighthouse. Take a short camel ride. Finish the day with a walk through the souk. In the afternoon, catch a short flight back to Marrakech. We’ll have a driver take you to the same riad.

Day 10 – DEPARTURE

Meet your driver for the ride to the airport.

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