Combine Imperial Cities Tour & The South

Hassan Tower
Hassan Tower
The Casablanca Hassan II Mosque
The Casablanca Hassan II Mosque
Archaeological Site of Volubilis
Archaeological Site of Volubilis
Jemaa El Fna
Jemaa El Fna
Oudaya Kasbah
Oudaya Kasbah
Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
Dadès Valley
Dadès Valley
Ifrane
Ifrane
 

Informazioni generali

DurataDestinazionePartenza
11 giorni e 10 notti
Marocco (Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, Erfoud, Ouarzazate, Marrakech)
Marocco (Casablanca)

Descrizione

Partenza privata minimo 2 partecipanti con guida multilingue

Categoria

 
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Programma

Day 1: Mohamed V Airport / Casablanca: 37 Kms
Arrive at Mohamed V Airport. Welcome to Morocco! You are met by our representative in the arrival area of the airport, after you clear all immigration and customs formalities. Drive to Casablanca. Check in at your hotel. Dinner & overnight.

Day 2: Casablanca / Rabat: 90 Kms
Breakfast at your hotel. Visit of the most important places in the city.
Including:
The Casablanca Hassan II Mosque: is located on the Corniche waterfront. It is one of the few mosques that is open to non-Muslims, the only one in Morocco, and he must go through Due tour, otherwise we can only see from the doors open a few views from inside, outside of prayer times. The mosque was built in 1989. The minaret measuring 200m in height, but the muezzin who comes to make the call to prayer has an elevator to go up. It is the second largest mosque in the world after Mecca! It was built by the French architect Pinseau and Bouygues. Half the course is actually on the ocean atlantique. On visit the prayer room and then ablution places where we wash before d'aller pray 5 times a day. This place also has modern touches, chandeliers descending from the ceiling all alone, the sunroof or the protection against earthquakes. Stop at the Ain diab Corniche With its scenic promenade bordering the western seafront of Casablanca and a cluster of stylish hotels and beach resorts, the Ain Diab Corniche is one of the city’s most fashionable districts. The coastal suburb is traversed by the 3km-long Corniche Boulevard. Your lunch will be at a nice restaurant with ocean view. Continuation of the visit including the malls for shopping or having a drink somewhere. Check in at your hotel for Dinner & overnight at hotel. Almost one hour drive, and start explore the main points that mark the Capital of the kingdom “Rabat”: Morocco’s political & administrative capital may be short on top-drawer tourist attractions, but it compensates with plenty of charm.
Hassan Tower: Towering above the Bou Regreg estuary and surrounded by well-tended gardens, this 44m tower is Rabat’s most prominent landmark. It was originally part of an ambitious Almohad project to build the world's second-largest mosque (after Samarra in Iraq), but its patron Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died before the building was complete. The mosque was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, and today only this tower and a forest of shattered pillars testifies to the grandiosity of al-Mansour’s plans.
Mausoleum of Mohamed V: The present king’s father (the late Hassan II) and grandfather were laid to rest in this marble mausoleum, which is decorated with patterned zellij and carved plaster. Its carved cedar ceiling is covered in gold leaf, and is quite magnificent. Visitors must be respectfully dressed, and can look down into the tomb from a gallery.
Oudaya Kasbah: Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name. Predominately residential, its narrow streets are lined with whitewashed houses – most of which were built by Muslim refugees from Spain. There are scenic views over the river and ocean from the Plateforme du Sémaphore at its highest point, and the attractive Andalusian Gardens at its southern edge are a popular relaxation and meeting point for locals. Arrival at your hotel for check-in. Dinner & overnight in your hotel.

Day 3: Rabat / Meknes / Volubilis / Fes: 210 Kms
Breakfast in hotel. Departure towards Fes but before, stop at 2 measure spots; Meknes and Volubilis.
Meknes: Quieter and smaller than its grand neighbour Fez, Meknès feels rather overshadowed and receives fewer visitors than it should. It’s more laid-back with less hassle, yet still has all the winding narrow medina streets and grand buildings that it warrants as an imperial city and one-time home of the Moroccan sultanate. Sultan Moulay Ismail, the architect of Meknès’ glory days, might be a little disgruntled at the city’s current modesty, but visitors will find much to be enchanted by. Remnants of no less than three sets of fortifications, ingeniously incorporated into the city's road networks, make it clear how important this city once was. The king's tomb sits at the heart of what remains of the original imperial city, flanked by an almighty royal granary, the magnificent Bab el-Mansour – the likes of which even Fez can't compete with – and Pl el-Hedim, a local mini-me of Marrakesh's popular Djemaa el-Fna.
Bab Mansour: The focus of Pl el-Hedim is the huge gate of Bab el-Mansour, the grandest of all imperial Moroccan gateways. The gate is well preserved with lavish (if faded) zellij and inscriptions across the top. It was completed by Moulay Ismail’s son, Moulay Abdallah, in 1732. The two white columns either side of the bab are Corinthian marble, plundered from a Marrakesh palace. They were acquired by Moulay Ismail during his lifetime but only added to the bab by Moulay Abdallah after his father's death. Along the top of the gate, the Arabic inscription extols Bab el-Mansour's virtues with a confidence befitting of the king.
It reads: 'I am the most beautiful gate in Morocco. I'm like the moon in the sky. Property and wealth are written on my front.'Heri Souani: The king's immense granaries and stables, Heri es-Souani, were ingeniously designed. Tiny ceiling windows, massive walls and a system of underfloor water channels kept the temperatures cool and air circulating. Incredibly the building provided stabling and food for 12,000 horses, and Moulay Ismail regarded it as one of his finest architectural projects. The giant vaults are impressive and atmospheric – particularly in the darkest corners – with original cedar wood doors leaning against the walls.
Continuation to the Archaeological Site of Volubilis: The Mauritanian capital, founded in the 3rd century B.C., became an important outpost of the Roman Empire and was graced with many fine buildings. Extensive remains of these survive in the archaeological site, located in a fertile agricultural area. Volubilis was later briefly to become the capital of Idris I, founder of the Idrisid dynasty, who is buried at nearby Moulay Idris. Volubilis contains essentially Roman vestiges of a fortified municipium built on a commanding site at the foot of the Jebel Zerhoun. Covering an area of 42 hectares, it is of outstanding importance demonstrating urban development and Romanisation at the frontiers of the Roman Empire and the graphic illustration of the interface between the Roman and indigenous cultures. Because of its isolation and the fact that it had not been occupied for nearly a thousand years, it presents an important level of authenticity. It is one of the richest sites of this period in North Africa, not only for its ruins but also for the great wealth of its epigraphic evidence. Last stop at Fes. Transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Fez
Breakfast in your hotel. Day devoted to the spiritual capital of the Kingdom. Fes is a supremely self-confident city with a historical and cultural lineage that beguiles visitors. Fes’ medina can seem like it's in a state of perpetual pandemonium; its charms are many. Seemingly blind alleys lead to squares with exquisite fountains and streets bursting with aromatic food stands, rooftops unveil a sea of minarets, and stooped doorways reveal the workshops of tireless artisans. However, you will explore more aspects of this masterpiece;
Karaouyine Mosque & University: One of Africa’s largest mosques and possibly the oldest university in the world, this complex is the spiritual heart of Fez & Morocco itself. It's so large that it can be difficult to actually see: over the centuries the streets and houses of the Kairaouine quarter have encroached on the building so much they disguise its true shape. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but the university library has recently been impressively restored and opened to the public in 2016.
Merinides Tombs: These tombs are dramatic in their advanced state of ruin, although little remains of their fine original decoration. The views over Fez are spectacular and well worth the climb. It’s best at dusk as the lights come on and the muezzin's prayer calls echo around the valley, although you wouldn't want to hang about here after dark.
Medina: The old part of Fès with its numerous souks is a paradise for craftsmen whose timelessness will charm you. You must stroll through its alleys in order to truly appreciate the architectural marvels found there. Adobe and brick walls, pillars decorated with zelliges (mosaic tiling) and climbing patios are among the gems of the medina's refined architecture. Fez el-Jdid (the “new part of the city”, which is still a few hundred years old) and Ville Nouvelle (French for new city, constructed under the French Protectorate era in the first half of the 20th century). Though most of the activities and sites of interest to travelers is in the old city, many travelers do find themselves venturing into Fez el-Jdid to visit the Jewish Quarter, and to take a stroll in the Jnane Sbil gardens while most avoid the Ville Nouvelle altogether. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Fez / Ifrane / Midelt / Erfoud: 500 KMS / 8 Hours
The next adventure will be the south starting with Erfoud leaving Fez after your breakfast, a stop at the unique Ifrane city.

Ifrane: Tidy, ordered and modern, it feels more like Switzerland relocated to the Middle Atlas than North Africa. Its clean air, scrubbed streets and leafy outlook make it popular with tour groups. The French built Ifrane in the 1930s, deliberately trying to re-create an alpine-style resort. It has neat red-roofed houses, blooming flower beds and lake-studded parks. It is a popular summer day trip for picnickers; in the winter, the affluent flock here to ski, and the hoi polloi come for the pure fun of throwing snowballs.
Midelt: It sits in apple country between the Middle and the High Atlas and makes a handy break between Fez and the desert. Coming from the north, in particular, the landscape offers some breathtaking views, especially of the eastern High Atlas, which seem to rise out of nowhere. Midelt consists of little more than one main street, a modest souq and a number of oversized hotel-restaurants, which cater to the tourist buses whistling through on their way south. The town itself is of little interest to tourists, but it makes a good base for some off-piste exploring of the Jebel Ayachi region.

Grilled Fish Lunch will be served at a nice hotel in the city.

Continue after Midelt till Erfoud. Dinner & Overnight. (Possibility for a nice experience in the desert of Merzouga. Dinner with overnight under tents)

Day 6: Erfoud - Todra Gorge - Boumalne Dades/Ouarzazate: 310 KMS/6 Hours
If ever you go for a sunrise excursion to the splendid dunes of Merzouga, you should get ready for an early wake-up to witness the rise at time. You get inside then climb the dunes walking or riding camels to witness the sunrise fully. An unforgettable view and experience for sure. Back to your camp for breakfast.

You will be heading to Todra Gorge for a photoshoot then stop at Tinghir and continue till Boumalne Dades which is almost 2 hours far from Ouarzazate.

Todra Gorge: Being stuck between a rock and a hard place is a sublime experience in the Todra Gorge, where a 300m-deep fault splits the orange limestone into a deep ravine at some points just wide enough for a crystal-clear river and single-file trekkers to squeeze through. The road from Tinerhir passes green palmeraies and Berber villages until, 15km along, high walls of pink and grey rock close in around the road. The approach is thrilling, as though the doors of heaven were about to close before you. The best time to visit is in the morning, when the sunshine briefly illuminates the gorge in a golden moment of welcome. Souvenir vendors and tour buses clog the centre in afternoons, until it suddenly turns dark and bitterly cold.

Berber Lunch will be served at a nice typical restaurant in the region.

Nomad crossings, rose valleys and two-tone kasbahs: even on paper, the Dadès Valley stretches the imagination. From the daunting High Atlas to the north to the rugged Jebel Saghro range south, the valley is dotted with oases and mudbrick palaces that give the region its fairy-tale nickname – Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs. Some of the best views are only glimpsed when travelling on foot, along hidden livestock tracks between the Dadès and Todra Gorges and nomad routes across the Saghro.

Skoura: is a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves that provide great views of the Atlas Mountains alongside deserted landscapes. It is renowned for the cultivation of roses. The palm groves were laid out in the 12th century by the Almohad sultan Yacoub el-Mansour and named after its original inhabitants, the Berbers of the Haskourene tribe. The most beautiful kasbahs in southern Morocco can be found here. Many of them are still partially inhabited.

Ouarzazate: Strategically located Ouarzazate (war-zazat) has gotten by largely on its wits instead of its looks. For centuries, people from the Atlas, Drâa and Dadès Valleys converged to do business at Ouarzazate’s sprawling Taourirt Kasbah, and a modern garrison town was established here in the 1920s to oversee France’s colonial interests. The movie business gradually took off in Ouarzazate after the French protectorate left in the 1950s, and ‘Ouallywood’ movie studios have built quite a resume providing convincingly exotic backdrops for movies supposedly set in Tibet, ancient Rome, Somalia and Egypt.

Check-in. Dinner & Overnight in your hotel.

Day 7: Ouarzazate / Marrakech: 205 KMS/5 Hours
Breakfast in your hotel, and start visiting the most importants and nice kasbahs of the city:

Taourirt escaped ruin by moonlighting as a Hollywood backdrop (Sheltering Sky, Gladiator, Prince of Persia) and attracting the attention of Unesco, which has carefully restored small sections of the inner sanctum. Follow the maze of stairwells to the top floor, where you’ll find a prayer room through keyhole archways, traces of stucco and an original tataoui ceiling.

Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou: With the help of some Hollywood touch-ups, this Unesco-protected red mudbrick ksar 32km from Ouarzazate seems frozen in time, still resembling its days in the 11th century as an Almoravid caravanserai. Movie buffs may recognise it from Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth (for which much of Aït Benhaddou was rebuilt), Jewel of the Nile (note the Egyptian towers) and Gladiator. A less retouched kasbah can be found 6km north along the tarmac from Aït Benhaddou: the Tamdaght kasbah, a crumbling Glaoui fortification topped by storks’ nests.

Lunch in a very nice restaurant front of the Kasbah.

The next adventure is the most awaited as it includes the famous city in the Tourist world; Marrakech. You will leave Ait Ben Haddou heading to the Red city through the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka pass 7,410 ft above the sea level.
Marrakech: Founded by the Almoravides in the 11th century, Marrakech is the home of prestigious monuments bearing witness to history. Marrakech is the teeming medina, the permanent friendliness of its inhabitants, the elegance of its men, the delicate beauty of its women, the delicious taste of its cooking, and the permanent spectacle of Jamaâ El Fna Square, a forum of the imagination conjuring up dreams and witness to the fleeting daily discourse of its inhabitants.

Arrive in your hotel. Dinner & overnight.

Day 8: Marrakech
Breakfast at your hotel. All the day will be devoted for city tour of the Red Imperia city:

Marrakech: Founded by the Almoravides in the 11th century, Marrakech is the home of prestigious monuments bearing witness to history. Marrakech is the teeming medina, the permanent friendliness of its inhabitants, the elegance of its men, the delicate beauty of its women, the delicious taste of its cooking, and the permanent spectacle of Jamaâ El Fna Square, a forum of the imagination conjuring up dreams and witness to the fleeting daily discourse of its inhabitants.

Saadiens Tombs: Anyone who says you can’t take it with you hasn’t seen the Saadian Tombs, near the Kasbah Mosque. Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahbi spared no expense on his tomb, importing Italian Carrara marble and gilding honeycomb muqarnas(decorative plasterwork) with pure gold to make the Chamber of the 12 Pillars a suitably glorious mausoleum.
Bahia Palace: Imagine what you could build with Morocco’s top artisans at your service for 14 years, and here you have it. The salons of both the petit riad and grand riad host intricate marquetry and zouak (painted wood) ceilings while the vast grand courtyard, trimmed in jaunty blue and yellow, leads to the Room of Honour, with a spectacular cedar ceiling. The harem offers up yet more dazzling interiors with original woven-silk panels, stained glass windows and rose-bouquet painted ceilings.
The Koutoubia Minaret: The hall-type mosque has 17 aisles and 112 columns covering a total floor area of 5400 square meters and is thus among the largest of its kind. The square minaret, which wasn’t completed until the reign of Yacoub el Mansour (1184-1199), was the direct model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. It is considered the ultimate structure of its kind. The tower is 69 meters in height and 12, 8 meters in length. Six rooms one above the other, constitute the interior, leading around them is a ramp, by way of which the muezzin could ride up to the balcony. In the afternoon, ballad in the old city and tour in Djemaa El Fna square.

Jamaa El Fna: You’ll discover drama in progress. The hoopla and halqa (street theatre) has been non-stop here ever since this plaza was the site of public executions. By midmorning the soundtrack of snake-charmer flutes has already begun, but the show doesn't kick off until sunset when restaurants fire up their grills, cueing musicians to tune up their instruments. Unesco declared the Djemaa el-Fna a 'Masterpiece of World Heritage' in 2001 for bringing urban legends and oral history to life nightly and although the storytellers who once performed here have since given way to acrobats, musical performers, and slapstick comedy acts, Djemaa's nightly carnival continues to dazzle. Berber musicians strike up the music and Gnaoua troupes sing while henna tattoo artists beckon to passersby and water-sellers in fringed hats clang brass cups together. Dinner & overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Marrakech / Essaouira / Marrakech: 180 Kms per way
Breakfast at your hotel. All the day will be devoted for an excursion to Essaouira city:

Essaouira: It is the coastal wind – the beautifully named alizee, or taros in Berber – that has allowed Essaouira (essa-weera, or es-sweera in Arabic) to retain its traditional culture and character. For most of the year, the wind blows so hard here that relaxing on the beach is impossible, meaning that the town is bypassed by the hordes of beach tourists who descend on other Atlantic Coast destinations in summer. Known as the ‘Wind City of Africa’, it attracts plenty of windsurfers between April and November, but the majority of visitors come here in spring and autumn to wander through the spicescented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country's best hotels and watch fishing nets being mended and traditional boats being constructed in the hugely atmospheric port.

Day 10: Marrakech / Casablanca: 250 Kms
Breakfast at your hotel. Free morning at leisure for shopping, or personal discovery of the city, or relaxing by the swimming pool .... Drive to Casablanca: 250 Kms during around 3 hours. Check in at your hotel for dinner & overnight.

Day 11: Casablanca / Mohamed V Airport: 37 Kms
Your last breakfast before check-out and transfer to flight departure at Mohamed V airport with the assistance of our staff wishing you a safe trip.

La quota include

- 10 Nights/11Days at the suggested hotel or similar on half board
- Transportation by deluxe Minivan with A/C
- Services of Portuguese or Spanish or speaking local guides
- All currently applicable entrances at the monuments as per program. Except inside of Hassan II Mosque = 15 Usd per person (pay onsite)
- All taxes

La quota non include

- Pranzi
- Bevande ai pasti
- Extra in genere e tutto quanto non menzionato nella quota include

Itinerario

Giorno Pernottamento Informazioni addizionali
1 Casablanca   Casablanca - Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN)
2 Rabat
3 Fez
4 Fez
5 Erfoud
6 Ouarzazate
7 Marrakech
8 Marrakech
9 Marrakech
10 Casablanca
11   Casablanca

Sistemazioni previste in ciascuna località

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