All Stories

Moroccan Discovery

Registration is closed
October 22- November 4, 2023

October 22- November 4, 2023

On this one-of-a-kind 14-day small group journey, you open your eyes and heart to a truly foreign land, an age-old culture, and genuinely hospitable people.聽

Dates: October 22- November 4, 2023


On this one-of-a-kind 14-day small group journey, you open your eyes, and heart, to a truly foreign land, an age-old culture, and genuinely hospitable people. Begin by touring the Moroccan capital, seaside Rabat, and enjoy lunch in a private home. See imperial Meknes and Volubilis鈥 Roman ruins, two of the itinerary鈥檚 five featured UNESCO sites. Next is exploration of Fez with its fascinating medina, and dinner in a family-run riad.  After crossing the Middle Atlas mountains, reach Erfoud and experience a tour highlight: a sunset camel ride along the Sahara鈥檚 breathtaking dunes. En route to Ouarzazate, encounter the spectacular, snow-topped High Atlas, including dramatic Todra Gorge. Traverse the fabled 鈥淩oute of a Thousand Kasbahs鈥 and visit scenic Ait ben-Haddou village. In alluring Marrakech, tour the medina and the city鈥檚 heart, Djemaa el Fna Square. The final destination is storied Casablanca, where a highlight is touring the magnificent Hassan II Mosque. 


Costs 

Prices include int鈥檒 airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees.

  • Boston, New York, Washington DC: $5,879
  • Atlanta, Chicago: $6,079
  • Baltimore, Charlotte, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia: $6,179
  • Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa: $6,279
  • Land Only (transfers not included): $4,995

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $784, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,695. Your $500 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class- $3,795 per person; Premium Economy- $1,195 per person (upgrade is subject to availability and pricing is subject to change.)

For reservations and information, please call Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. toll-free: 888-370-6765 Monday鈥揊riday, 9:00 AM鈥7:00 PM, Eastern Time

Inclusions

  • Round-trip airfare from select cities
  • 12 nights' accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and and First Class hotels
  • 31 meals (12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners)
  • Extensive sightseeing and entrance fees
  • Private motor coach transportation
  • Gratuities for local guides/dining room servers/porters/drivers
  • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director.

Itinerary

Begin travel to Casablanca, Morocco

Upon arrival this afternoon in Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco, we transfer by coach to Rabat and our hotel located near famed Hassan Tower. We have time to relax and refresh before dinner tonight at the hotel.

Upon arrival this afternoon in Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco, we transfer by coach to Rabat and our hotel located near famed Hassan Tower. We have time to relax and refresh before dinner tonight at the hotel. One of Morocco鈥檚 four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is again the country鈥檚 capital, at once historic and contemporary, as we discover on today鈥檚 tour. We visit the necropolis of Chellah, built on ancient Roman ruins, and have lunch in a private home; then admire the stunning architecture of the Mausoleum of Mohamed V. On tap this afternoon: the 12th-century Kasbah of the Oudaias, the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, and Rabat鈥檚 medina, a UNESCO site. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Moroccan fare at acclaimed Dinarjat in Rabat鈥檚 Old Town. 

This morning we depart Rabat for Fez, stopping along the way in Meknes, Morocco鈥檚 youngest imperial city (and UNESCO World Heritage site). We visit the Bab el Mansour gateway and the ruins of the imperial stables before lunch in a local restaurant. Then we continue on to the ancient Roman ruins at the UNESCO site of Volubilis, known for its intricate and colorful mosaics. Late afternoon we reach Fez and our elegant hotel overlooking the medina. 

We begin today with a walk through the medina and a visit to the Al-Attarine Madrasa, whose highlight is a small courtyard showcasing intricately detailed tilework and carving decorations. Then we embark on a walking tour of the medina focusing on the artisans' quarters, the 14th-century Koranic schools, and Al Karaouine, the medieval theological university. After lunch on our own, we visit the Borj Nord Arms Museum, an authentic Saadi fort that dates from 1582 and one of Morocco's only European-influenced forts. After exploring the Moroccan armaments here, we are free this afternoon for independent exploration or relaxation. Tonight, we enjoy dinner at an intimate family-run riad in Fez.

Today we explore Morocco鈥檚 oldest imperial city, considered the 鈥淎thens of Africa鈥 for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. We begin with a comfortable walk through the Fez medina, where we see some hidden treasures, including the Blue Gate, the most picturesque of the Old City鈥檚 historic gates; the medieval school of Bouanania; the 12th-century home of Jewish scholar Maimonides; and the authentic food market. We also visit the traditional quarter where we watch artisans craft the acclaimed Fez pottery and ceramics. After lunch together in the medina, we tour the old Mellah (Jewish quarter) and its 17th-century synagogue and the royal gates. 

Traveling inland today, we cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. We stop in the small town of Midelt for lunch. Continuing on, we cross the Ziz River, passing rows of sky-scraping palm trees and fortified villages before reaching our kasbah-style hotel in Erfoud late in the day. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. 

This morning we visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. We enjoy a tour highlight this afternoon as we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. In the enormous silence we watch the sun set over the desert as we take a camel ride along the erg. We鈥檒l have dinner together in this desert setting before returning to our hotel tonight. 

Our destination today is in the snow-topped High Atlas. The day features one beautiful scene after another, including the village of Tinehir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of riverside terraces lush with palm trees; and the spectacular 984-foot Todra Gorge, home to a variety of rare bird and plant species. Following lunch here we visit El Kelaa des Mgouna, known for its roses, then set out on the fabled 鈥淩oute of a Thousand Kasbahs鈥 ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated fa莽ades. Late afternoon we reach the town of Ouarzazate where we spend the night.  

En route to Marrakech today, we stop first at uninhabited Ait ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of southern Morocco鈥檚 most scenic village that is often used as a location for fashion and film shoots. Its old section consists of deep red kasbahs packed together so tightly they appear to be a single unit. Then, as we begin our descent from the High Atlas, we pass through typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. In Tizi N鈥橳ichka, we traverse the Pass of the Pastures (alt. 7,415 feet), where life is much as it was centuries ago: shepherds bring their flocks to the high pastures every summer, then return with them to their villages in autumn. We arrive in Marrakech late this afternoon and dine tonight at our hotel.  

This morning we travel by horse-drawn carriage from Menara Park to Majorelle Gardens, a private botanical garden with some 15 species of birds native to North Africa and known for its cobalt blue accents. Following a tour of the gardens we visit the nearby Yves St. Laurent Museum, housing a vast collection of the designer鈥檚 haute couture and design works. The afternoon is at leisure before dinner tonight at a local restaurant in the city鈥檚 Old Town.

Once the capital of southern Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is an alluring  oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sights. Our day-long tour includes the beautifully proportioned Koutoubia Mosque, the lovely Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace, and the ruins of 16th-century Palais El Badii. After lunch at our hotel, mid-afternoon we visit Dar El Bacha, a formerly private palace full of fountains, riads, and orange trees. Then we embark on a walking tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech. Dinner tonight is on our own in this exotic city. 

We leave Marrakech this morning by coach for storied Casablanca, Morocco鈥檚 largest and most cosmopolitan city.  After a brief orientation tour of the city, we visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, Morocco鈥檚 only functioning mosque open to non-Muslims. Tonight we celebrate our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. 

After breakfast this morning  we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.  

All Stories