Morocco from Spain Discovery Tour

Welcome to our tours to Morocco from Spain. Upon your arrival at Tangier Port, you will meet your guide, who will take you immediately to Fez. You will visit the road between Volubilis and Moulay Idris. Today is the day of time travel! Going back in time, this journey will take you from imperial Rome to the ninth century to the ninth century A.D. Unlike the movies, this temporal voyage will take almost the entire day. (There will be, of course, stops along the way.) This first stop will be the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, and you will finish your day in the majestic town of Fez, founded in the 9th century.

Volubilis was a critical city in the imperial Roman department of Mauritania (modern-day Morocco and Western Sahara) during the reign of Caracalla. Volubilis is impressively well preserved, and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact. The two central integral streets in every Roman castrum, the Cardo and Decumanus, are prominent. The Cardo is the north-south boulevard, and the Decumanus is east-west. The intersection of the two is the heart of every Roman city. There, you will find the ruins of the old forum. Enjoy your trip to Morocco from Spain with superb tour guides.

Jumping forward in time and just a few minutes away is the venerated citadel of Moulay Idris, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idris Al Akbar, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s). This citadel is considered the cradle of Sufism in Moroccan society and the first Islamic capital of the premier Arab dynasty. Created primarily for the indigenous population, the stronghold of Moulay Idris has become a central destination for those who cannot afford to pilgrimage to Makkah for the Hajj duty. The next stop is the imperial city of Meknes.

Finally, you have reached your destination, the ninth-century city of Fez. In the evening, you will taste the greatest of the Imperial Cities. You will visit the sights outside the great walled city, including the ramparts, the gates, and the Forts (Moorish Forts). After this introductory aperitif to Fez, you will dine in your hotel and prepare for the full-day tour: Fez!

One of the most rewarding days of your cultural trip to Morocco from Spain is about to unfold for you. Undeniably fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the imperial capitals and the complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world; save electricity.

Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of Fez, starting at the King's Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.

Next, you will explore the Jewish quarter, a 15th-century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory. Visits to Sephardic synagogues and mausoleums of holy Rabbis will be the highlights of this part of town. Then, we will drive to Merinides Hill to visit their necropolis. Here, you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the old walled Medina, brimful with countless minarets to call for prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter an ancient world. Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle can be used as a tool for transportation. Only donkeys, mules, and horses can help move all the city produces and needs as supplies.

The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribespeople who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is pretty close. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square, which has various activities. From there, you will find your way to the Sgha square, leading you to Attarine, Souk el Henna, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next, you will visit Nejjarine Square, a famous fountain, a carpentry guild, and the Museum of Folk Arts at the Fondouk.

You will walk to the tannery and visit the Great Mosque University of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemmaine, the dried fruit market. After that, you will see the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of bookbinders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passersby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch and then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouan, and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani. You will end your walk at Foundouk Lihoudi, where we invite you for traditional mint tea. Finally, you will return to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations.

You will spend your day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains Berbers. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars and laced with flowing streams, your first view of the Middle Atlas will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Passing by Imouzzer, with a break stop at the Suisse-like town of Ifrane, you will soon come across the first real town of the Middle Atlas, Azrou, and an important market center for the region's Berber tribes, located at a major junction of mountain routes. Your driver will take a little detour in the cedar forest to introduce you to one of the oldest inhabitants of this region, the Berber apes. This may also coincide with the encounter of a nomadic family in its temporary encampment. As nomads are hospitable people, we are invited at least for a mint tea under their tents whenever we encounter them.

Midelt's Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. You will stop in Midelt for lunch, enjoying the dramatic sight before you. You will then continue to Erfoud, one of the most delightful southern regions consisting of a dry, red belt of the desert with a sudden drop into the lush valley of Ziz, with copious date palm groves and flowing streams. Visit the gorges of Ziz and some oases and natural sites before you reach the magnificent oasis of Erfoud. You will conclude your day in your camp over the dunes of Merzouga, where tents are pitched and camels are saddled on your behalf to enjoy a night under the African Skies. Sahara Rokba Drummers will illuminate your night with sensual dances and moving chants. Enjoy this encounter of man and nature at best.

With its indescribable beauty, watching the sun as it rises over the spectacular Merzouga dunes is an experience that should not be missed. Afterward, you will eat breakfast with the Tuaregs, hop in your 4X4 Vehicle to Erfoud to meet your driver, and then continue to Tinghir. Only 15 kilometers from Tinghir, you will visit Todras Canyons, the highest, narrowest gorges in the region. You will travel through the Dades valley, wherein thousands of Persian roses bloom in hedgerows in spring, filling the air with heavenly perfume.

You will also see the thousands of Kasbahs scattered along the Dades River and majestic sandcastles with a visually appealing, timeless beauty. After lunch, you will explore the Dades Valley, traveling through El Kelaa De Mgouna and Boumalne to view the inimitable natural vistas and unusual rock formations. You will then continue to Sekoura, where one large oasis intercepts the water flow between the Dades, the Draa valleys, and the majestic High Atlas Mountains. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations in your Kasbah Ben Moro

You will spend most of your day en route to Marrakesh, exploring the legendary Kasbah of Ait-Benhaddou, a renowned architectural marvel, and stopping in Taddart and Tizi Tishka pass at 11,000 feet. The pass divides the mountains into two distinct facets: the harsh, stark side acting as a shield that protects the hinterland from the dissolute, dry expansion of the Sahara, and a lush side, soft and evergreen, which collects the moisture from the Gherbi winds of the Atlantic Ocean. You will arrive in Marrakech, a city of pleasure for visitors and locals, where southern tribespeople and Berber villagers bring their goods to market and find a variety of entertainment. To tourists, the city is a feast for the imagination, full of incomparable beauty, situated before the towering mountains that provide a thrilling backdrop. After a visit to the bustling Jemaa El Fna square, you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.

You will devote your morning to the exploration of Marrakech's many historical sites, including the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish tower constructed in 1866 for the dignitaries who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. The pool is an innovative irrigation system adapted to live in the desert. Your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain) and the Saadian tombs, demonstrating Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which lay walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. You will then return to your hotel for the night.

The Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech is worth visiting. Its majestic minaret, standing tall at 77 meters, dominates the city skyline. Dating back to the 12th century, it's a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and a symbol of Marrakech's rich history. The mosque's serene gardens offer a peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle. Whether you're drawn by its architectural beauty, historical significance, or tranquil ambiance, visiting the Koutoubia Mosque is a must for anyone exploring Marrakech.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will depart for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. This is a beautiful short drive of about 45 miles through the lash farms and nurseries of flowers and exotic plants. You will reach Rabat. Styled in a spaciously elegant European grid, yet slightly self-conscious of its modernity, Rabat and its twin city Sala Colonia, separated by only a river but historically worlds apart, have an ancient legacy spanning hundreds of generations. Each civilization that has inhabited each town has left its mark, resulting in a wide variety of architectural styles, including those from the Phoenician and Roman eras.

You will spend your day discovering Rabat's delights. Your guide will take you on a historical and lively tour starting at the Jewish quarter, the Mellah, in the Heart of the city at Place Sidi Makhlouf; the 12th-century ramparts are best seen from this and up to Bab Chellah. Visit the medina across from Sidi Fateh St. This will lead you to the traditional Souk Laghzel (Yarn market). Your guide will introduce you to the importance of this guild in the textile role in Moroccan society. Later, you will cross to the citadel of the Oudaya Kasbah, entering from its 12th-century main gate to explore an extraordinary Medieval Moorish marvel overlooking the delta of the Bourgreg River.

You can visit the Moorish old-fashioned gardens, the traditional coffee house, and the Oudaya Museum of tribal arts and Crafts. A docent will introduce conventional Berber Textiles to you. You will continue your quest by exiting the Oudaya Kasbah and up the hill to visit the Hassan Tower and sample the Moroccan architecture at its best at Mohamed the V Mausoleum. From here, we will drive through the boulevards and Gardens of Rabat, visiting the Saint Pierre Cathedral, the Parliament, the Sounna Mosque, and the Royal Palace through the magnificent Ramparts and tower standing proud and glorious to reach the Necropolis of Chellah at the end. We will return to the hotel for dinner and other accommodations.

Travel in the morning directly to the Blue city of Chefchaouen, the emblem of Moorish town and the most picturesque in the Mediterranean basin. Our guide will be at your disposal for a historical and cultural visit to Chefchaouen; after lunch, you will be transferred to Tangier Port. We hope you have enjoyed every moment of this tour to Morocco from Spain. Come back for more cultural discoveries about Morocco.