DAY 4 | Day trip to Meknes, Volubilis & Moulay Driss 

Departure from Fez at around 10 am for a 1 hour’s drive west to the Imperial city of Meknes. Driving across the plain you will see vast acreages of vineyards which produce good quality wine, much of which is exported to France. Moulay Ismail made Meknes the capital city of Morocco during his reign around 1700; his mausoleum and the Rouah, his stables for over 12,000 horses, together with Place el-Hedim, the central pedestrian square in the Medina, are well worth a visit. Meet with a caretaker of the Old Jewish Synagogue for an introduction to what was and what remains of Jewish Life.
After lunch our journey takes you 30 km north to the hillside settlement of Moulay Idriss. The town is one of the country’s most important spiritual sites and a place of pilgrimage as it is the site of the tomb of Moulay Idriss, a prominent saint in the late 8th century and a great grandson of the prophet Mohammed.
Leaving Moulay Idriss for the short 4 km drive to the World Heritage Site of Volubilis, there are a number of vantage points to take photographs of the town. Volubilis is the site of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, particularly noted for its superb mosaic floors; it has fabulous views of the Rif Mountain foothills, particularly at sunset. A guided tour of the Volubilis site.
Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 7 | Boumale Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Hadou – Marrakech

This morning, we continue to Kelaa Megouna, known for growing Damascus roses, used in perfumery. Visit a perfumery ladies cooperative and learn the process of makind different cosmetic products off rose petals, then set out on the fabled “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs” ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated façades. late moning, we reach Ouarzazate known as the gate to the Sahara, where we will visit Kasbah Taourirt before we continue to the world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou, one of southern Morocco’s most scenic villages 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. After lunch ( At leisure ), we continue to Marrakech.
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’Tichka, 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.
Overnight at your riad or hotel.

DAY 8 | Marrakech sightseeing 

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 with its distinctive 282-foot minaret visible from miles away; the beautiful Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace (part of which is still used by the royal family); then to the Mellah, the old jewish quarter with its still functioning synagogue and the Palace of Dar Si Said, a museum housing Moroccan art and artifacts. Lunch to be served at a Medina restaurant. Mid- afternoon we embark on a walking tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charmers, entertainers, storytellers, musicians, barbers, and sellers of fruit, water, and spices.
Farewell dinner tonight will be served at a Moroccan Palace in the Medina with entertainment. Overnight at your hotel.