8 Days Tour from Fez to Essaouira – Marrakesh

Fez, the capital Idrissid houses the most beautiful jewels of Moorish art. From the top of the ancient necropolis Merinids, we can discern its different neighborhoods and discuss its long history. In Fez el-Bali, craftsmen are still grouped by neighborhoods Andalous district, the tanners and Karaouyine. After the included breakfast, we will travel and see the souk Attarine including the El-Attarin Madrasa, built in the fourteenth century. We also perceive the great El-Qara-wiyyin mosque and Zaouiya of Moulay Idriss, Fez sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Fez.

By visiting Volubilis, we will find the ancient Morocco. Lunch included and return to Meknes. We go to Moulay Idriss, which was buried in 791 ben Abdallah Idriss, probably the greatest marabout in Morocco. Climbing the steep streets, we shall enjoy, from the terraces of the city, an exceptional view. A walk in the medina of Meknes will lead us from the Bab el-Mansour El-door to Hedim place and the palace Dar Jamai, a Moroccan art museum and the remains of the ancient imperial city: the tomb of Moulay Ismail , Heri es Souani, large granaries, and the basin of Agdal, dug to irrigate the royal gardens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Fez.

Road to Rabat, today administrative and political capital of the country, but was also the second imperial city after Fez, in the time of Yacoub el Mansour in the late twelfth century. At the mouth of Bouregreg on the south shore, she looks Salé, its twin anchored on the north bank. Overlooking the estuary, the casbah Oudaïas recalls the past of Rabat, a refuge for Moors expelled from Spain in 1609 by Philip III, became the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a real republic of Corsairs. We then visit the Archaeological Museum which offers an excellent panorama of the history of Morocco, from prehistory to the Roman and early Christian period. Lunch included. Through the medina, we will reach the Merinid Chellah necropolis, which occupies the site of the ancient Roman city. We thus arrive at the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, which will give an opportunity to recall the recent history of Morocco. Departure to El Jadida is the Carthaginian admiral Hanno who was the first to speak of El Jadida around 650 BC. AD during his long journey along the west coast of Africa. Several centuries later, Ptolemy, describing the West African coast, talks about the port Rusibis. Because of its strategic location on the west coast of Morocco, the Portuguese occupied the area and founded the city by building a fortress in 1506. They baptized Mazagan … Night in 3* half-board the Ibis hotel or similar.

Mazagane or visit the Portuguese city and coast road south. Passage in Safi, some historians consider SAFI as one of the oldest cities of Morocco. BERGET French historian, believes that this city is called Kanaan’s greatest saint in the Assafi case and, in the XII century BC settled there when the KANAANS refugees fleeing the invasion of Hebrew. But according BAKRI AL, SAFI is the word of Berber origin meaning Assif (rivers). Indeed the city of SAFI is crossed by the river Chaâba. Finally, autreshistoriens to see the origin of the name of the city the anecdote of the Arab-Muslim conqueror Oqba Ibn Nafii, during the conquest of Morocco, which would have stopped in Safi, facing the sea, the impossibility of going further, it would have had regrets: ‘wa assafah’ (which are great my regret). Whatever the origin of its name, SAFI has seduced more than a possibility of walks on the ledges. Night in 3* half board.

Morning walk in Essaouira. Essaouira, probably comes from the Arabic word Al Souirah or small forteresseentourée walls … Until the proclamation of the independence of Morocco, Essaouira was called, Mogador, probably a translation of the Berber Amogdul (well kept). Anyway, the books lean towards this hypothesis since seem that from the tenth century the city was baptized and named after the patron saint of the city Berber Sidi Mogdoul, buried 3 km from the city. Whatever the origin of its name, it remains a quiet haven protected by the trade winds and exhilarating of all species that its working cabinetmakers. Lunch outdoors near the port, sardines grilled meats and fresh fish. The afternoon route to Marrakech Amani night at the hotel or similar, dinner in town.

We will visit the tombs of Saudi princes and El Badi Palace, built in the sixteenth century by Sultan Moulay Ahmed Al Mansour. We also discover the Bahia Palace, built in the last century by Si Moussa. After the included breakfast, we will visit the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan art housed in a charming little palace of the nineteenth century. Dinner and overnight in Marrakech Amani 3 * hotel or similar hotel, typical dinner in town.

In the morning, transfer to Casablanca (with or without stop). The old medieval town of Anfa, razed to the fifteenth century, gave way to the city of Casablanca. Morocco’s economic capital grew in the twentieth century around its port, mixing the traditional architecture and Art Deco. Today Casablanca embodies the Morocco of tomorrow. Visit the Hassan II mosque (optional input 100 DH ’10 Euros’ per person) free lunch. Departure to the airport of Casablanca, registration and return flight.