Tour – Mesmerizing Morocco in Fall

The Kingdom of Morocco invites encounters with ancient ruins and sacred mosques, endless desert, and storied mountains, imposing kasbahs and spirited souks. Travel to seaside Rabat to tour both the historic and contemporary Moroccan capital. View famed UNESCO World Heritage sites including the Roman ruins at Volubilis and the Aït ben-Haddou village. Explore Fez, Morocco’s oldest imperial city. Pass through the Middle Atlas mountains and set out on a sunset camel excursion to Merzouga’s breathtaking sand dunes on the Sahara’s edge. The architecture seen in Marrakech includes the Koutoubia Mosque, cobalt blue-accented Majorelle Gardens, the Yves St. Laurent Museum, and the medina. The tour fittingly ends in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, where highlights include the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, the French-designed Habous Quarter, and the Royal Palace.

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Architectural highlights

• Enjoy an exclusive visit to the new Studio KO-designed Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
• Take in the medieval school of Bouanania, built by Sultan Abu Inan Faris between 1350-1355.
• Visit the fortified Kasbah des Oudaias, built in the 12th century during the reign of the Almohad Caliphate.
• Enjoy visiting Volubilis, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mauretania.
• Discover Rissani’s striking architecture including its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys.
• Admire the uninhabited Aït ben-Haddou, one of southern Morocco’s most recognizable villages.
• Visit the Grand Mosque of Hassan II, the world’s second largest Islamic house of worship, with a 656-foot minaret.
• Walk through Rabat’s impressive new Mohammed VI Modern and Contemporary Art Museum.

More highlights

• Become mesmerized by the breadth and beauty of the Sahara Desert.
• See the old Jewish quarter, the Mellah, and its 17th-century synagogue.
• Explore UNESCO World Heritage site Meknes, Morocco’s youngest Imperial City.
• Enjoy the labyrinthine medina of Fez, regarded as Morocco’s cultural, spiritual, and intellectual heartland.
• Explore the the city’s souks, including those of yarn dyers, wrought iron and lantern makers.
• Learn the history of Morocco from prehistory to the Islamic period at the Museum of Moroccan History and Civilization.
• This trip qualifies for 22 AIA learning units (3 of which are HSW learning units).

Also included

• 12 nights accommodations in listed properties
• 31 meals: 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners
• An experienced Tour Director, in addition to the Architectural Adventures Educational Expert.
• Entrance fees for all included visits
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout the trip
• Gratuities for local guides, bus drivers, porters, airport, hotel and restaurant staff
• Luggage handling for one bag per person

Accommodations

• La Tour Hassan – Located near the Hassan Tower, the landscaped gardens of Chellah, and the Kasbah of the Oudaias.
• Hotel Sahrai – Set in a stone-built, Moorish-style building. This luxurious, contemporary hotel is near the 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and the Marinid Tombs.
• Le Palais du Désert Hotel – Experience luxury while enjoying views from its numerous towers overlooking the landscape and a glamorous pool.
• Le Berbere Palace – Located in the Ouarzazate town centre, also known as the Moroccan Hollywood. This Berber-style hotel is near both the Cinema Museum and Taourirt Kasbah.
• Sofitel Marrakech – Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-capped Atlas mountains. Nearby are the tranquil Menara Gardens.
• Hyatt Regency Casablanca – Located a short distance from the Station marché central train station and the Hassan II Mosque.

Day 1 Begin your journey

Day 2 Arrive in Casablanca, Morocco

Day 3 Rabat, the imperial city

Day 4 Sultan Moulay Ismail’s Meknes

Day 5 Athens of Africa: Fez

Day 6 A history of education in Fez

Day 7 Travel to the gateway of the Sahara

Day 8 Architecture of the Sahara

Day 9 Route of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate

Day 10 Aït ben-Haddou

Day 11 Marrakech, the city of art and culture

Day 12 The natural beauty of Marrakech

Day 13 Explore Casablanca

Day 14 Return Home