Medinas of Morocco 

Day Three: Explore ancient history in Meknes & Volubilis

Leaving Rabat after breakfast, we drive on to Meknes, the old capital of the Sultan Moulay Idriss – his stables there once housed 12,000 horses! We stop at the Bab Mansour - a monumental gate in the city of Meknes, before continuing to the Roman city of Volubilis renowned for its remarkably preserved mosaics. We then travel on to Fes where dinner will be enjoyed at our hotel.

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Four: Enjoy the sights of Fes

Today we have a full day to visit the oldest Imperial city in Morocco with the oldest university in the world! We will also see the old Medina - Fes El Bali, the Andalusian and the Karaouine quarter, with its dyers, tanners and artisans working in the style of their forefathers. After lunch, we visit the Mellah, the Jewish quarter, with its old cemetery and the Royal Palace. We are sure to have a fascinating day before heading back to the hotel for dinner.

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Five: Venture through the Atlas Mountains

Today we enjoy a journey of contrast, leaving behind Fes and its bustling Medinas to travel through the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping at Ifrane with its Alpine type scenery and the Cedar Forests of Azrou. After lunch, we continue our journey on to Marrakech, stopping along the way. When we reach Marrakech, we check-in to our hotel and have dinner.

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Six: Experience the gardens, souks & palaces of Marrakech

Today, we get a full introduction to this Garden City. We visit the dramatic Almohad Koutoubia Minaret and the lavishly-decorated Saadien Tombs, some dating from the middle 1550s. We also spend some time in the tranquil Menara Gardens and the Bahia Palace before walking through the labyrinth of narrow alleyways making up the renowned cool, colourful and aromatic Souks of Marrakech. The Dyers’ Souk is our final stop, emerging into the famous Djemâa el Fna Square (which translates as ‘Assembly of the Dead’), where, until the 19th century, the severed heads of criminals were traditionally displayed. We see stalls of goods from fruit to intricate lanterns, snake charmers and water sellers, fortune tellers and public scribes, tumblers and nakkachat and gnaoua musicians.

Day Seven: Discover the ancient town of Mogador

After breakfast, we leave the city and set out west towards the Atlantic coast and the ancient Phoenician town of Mogador – now known as Essaouira. Abandoned by the Portuguese in 1541, it was not until 1765 that Mogador was turned into a fortified city. The ramparts were never that effective in keeping out the marauding tribesmen but now, it is a charming artists’ town with its old port and cannons overlooking the fishing fleet. Essaouira invites us to wander through the narrow alleyways which make up the Medina to witness artisans at work making their wooden tables, boxes and sundry items in lemon or briar wood inlaid with mother of pearl. We will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with some leisure time to take in this port city - known to have a slower pace of life before returning to Marrakech in time for dinner.

Day Eight: Departure Day

After breakfast, we get ready to head back to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

• Breakfast included