Castle Hotels of Morocco
A 12 Day Private Tour of Morocco :
The Imperial Cities , Essaouira and Tangiers

 

Tour the Imperial cities in as the grand Vizier would have ! The grace and splendor of the Orient, traditional Arab hospitality, and the fine service and amenities of a boutique hotel all come together in the Moroccan Riad. (Sample images) . This 12 -day package affords a sampling of these unique accommodations, along with an array of unforgettable experiences, ranging from train and camel rides to dinner in the home of a local family. Plus the sea side stay at Essaouira .
Tour starts Weekly, year round In Morocco

 

 

 

 

DAY 1 - Tour starts weekly in CASABLANCA on Mondays

You arrive in the Kingdom of Morocco, landing at Casablanca, our staff greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel: Deluxe category : Royal Anfa or similar

When you arrive by ferry to Tangiers , we'll meet you at the pier: Transfer and first class train ticket : Tangiers/ Casablanca: are included with our compliments , as well as ( time permitting ) a tour of Tangiers before you board the train

 

 

DAY 2 - Atlantic Coast to EASSAOUIRA Tuesday (BLD)
Morning tour of the Grand Mosque of Hassan II, before we drive along the Atlantic coast heading south for Eassaouira . Lunch enroute. Late afternoon arrival . With the remainder at leisure to enjoy exploring with guide at hand, this sleepy seaside town. Complimentary dinner is included to welcome you at the hotel : For deluxe category : Sofitel Mogador or similar.

 

 

 

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DAY 3 Wednesday & DAY 4 Thursday - ESSAOUIRA (B)
Essaouira is yours for these two days , a charming fishing harbor. Renowned for generations for its production of "Murex", a small shellfish used to make the purple dye for Roman togas, Essaouira is now a very active fishing harbor , with some Portuguese character who settled here in the 16th century. Later on Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdellah used it as a base for his corsairs. Today, protected from the sea and the wind behind its commanding fortified medieval walls, Essaouira shelters a flourishing craftsmanship in marquetry, working wood with ebony, mother of pearl and silver thread to make tables, chessboards, caskets and bracelets.

 

 

 

DAY 5 - Marrakech Friday:(B)
Our local staff will meet you at Marrakech Menara airport and escort you to your accommodations at Riad Malika, where a traditional welcoming mint tea and a fruit basket await you. Your personal requirements and relaxation are foremost. The formality of check-in can wait. This luxurious yet delightful Riad is a former palace restored to 1930s grandeur. Its substantial walls and orientation to a central patio with venerable trees provide a haven of peace in the midst of bustling Marrakech. Guests are accommodated in only five guest suites, each with sitting area and the finest oriental appointments, fireplace, air conditioning, and European-style dining room. The private terraces of Riad Malika provide a secluded window on the active life of romantic and mysterious Marrakech.

 

 

Luxury stay & Spa Experience at the new & luxurious Sofitel Essaouira

 

 

DAY 6 - Marrakech Saturday (B)
You'll spend today seeing Marrakech, including the Koutoubia, the landmark mosque of the city. Perhaps you'll note its similarity to its sister tower, the Giralda of Seville, in Spain. You'll continue to the Saadian Tombs, and the Bahia palace, built in the nineteenth century, with room after stately oriental room with intricate plaster work and finely detailed columns, and sedate hidden gardens. In the afternoon, you'll discover the old city and always-lively Djemaa El Fna Square, populated by water sellers, magicians, peddlers, politicians, and animal tamers, who carry on an endless flurry of activities straight out of the middle ages. If you have a spare moment, the souks of Marrakech will always keep you entertained.
For deluxe category : Riad Slitine or similar

DAY 7 - Marrakech- Home Hosted Dinner - Sunday (cBD)
This morning you'll ride through Marrakech in a horse-drawn carriage. Later, we'll call on you to take you for your sunset camel ride, in the 13,000 acres of palm groves around Marrakech. You'll finish the day with a memorable experience of Moroccan hospitality, dinner in the home of a Marrakech family in the old Medina.

DAY 8 - MARRAKECH, CASABLANCA, RABAT, MEKNES, FEZ Monday (BL)
We'll pick you up in the morning and take you to the Marrakech railroad station. Tickets in a first-class compartment and lunch are provided. You'll roll in comfort through stunning mountain scenery to Casablanca. Once you detrain, we'll escort you to visit the Hassan II Great Mosque, a monument to Moroccan artisanry and architecture. Then we'll continue to Rabat, the capital of the kingdom, where we'll stop at the mausoleum of Mohamed V, built in the Spanish-Moorish style, and at the nearby Hassan Tower. We'll continue by way of Meknes to arrive in the evening to Fez, and your accommodations at the Dar Ghalia Riad. A welcome mint tea and a fruit basket await you. In the heart of the Medina, the old city of Fez, Dar Ghalia is a palace that dates back to the seventeenth century, restored and selectively modernized to provide both traditional surroundings and modern comforts. The architecture of Dar Ghalia has been respected, resulting in a range of accommodations, from double rooms to apartments to suites to a Douiria, or separate guesthouse, with its Hammam, a traditional steam bath. A Moroccan-style breakfast is included, and other meals may be taken in the dining room, or on the terrace, with its superb panorama of the Medina.

DAY 9 - FEZ, VOLUBILIS, MOULAY IDRISS Tuesday (BL)

We'll set out in the morning for the site of Volubilis, once the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitania. We'll have lunch en route, and continue to Moulay Idriss, the picturesque shrine village named for the founder of the kingdom, who is interred here. In the evening, you'll attend a Sound and Light show in the Medina of Fez, in which illumination and jets of water along with words help portray the history of the city.

DAY 10 - FEZ Wednesday (B)

Put on your walking shoes this morning for a trip in time back to the ninth century, as you explore the old city of Fez. Its Medina and its labyrinth of souks have been declared a world cultural treasure. Your afternoon is free for relaxation or shopping or further exploration as you wish. Later, you will savor the benefits of the Hammam, the traditional relaxing and restorative steam bath at Dar Ghalia.
For deluxe Category: Dar Ghalia deluxe suite or similar hotel / riad

DAY 11- FEZ - Tangiers , Thursday (B)
Depart Fez, traveling along the Atlantic coast. Visit Hercules Caves in Cap Spartel - the confluence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Arrive in historic Tangiers in the early evening, which you spend at your leisure, to explore on your own -- maybe to the souks for authentic Berber and Moroccan souvenirs.

Day 12, Asilah & Tangiers (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure to Asilah, the fortified Portuguese village 46 kilometers south of Tangiers on the Atlantic coast. In Asilah visit The Bab Homar, the Berber kasbah, the Palace of Raisouli and enjoy the relaxing ambiance and quaint beauty of the town. If visiting in August you will have the added enjoyment of the International Festival, a month-long cultural event encompassing art exhibitions and musical performances. En route back to Tangiers, stop at the beach for a short camel ride. Evening departure to Gibraltar or Algeciras. (Ferry ticket is included)

Rates are per person in US $

	Deluxe Riads/Hotels	First Class Riad/Hotels
In Triple Occupancy	US$ 3630.00	US$ 3350.00
In Double Occupancy	US $ 3789.00	US$2 3480.00
In Single Occupancy	US $ 4690.00	US$ 4390.00

Your tour includes:

• Accommodation as described, in traditional Moroccan Boutique style hotels (Riads), breakfast included. In Tangiers we are using Hotels.
• Dinner hosted in a local home in Marrakech

• Continental (cB) or full breakfast (B) daily; set-menu dinner (D) as shown in the itinerary.

• Escorted guided sightseeing tours by air conditioned private motor coach as indicated in the itinerary, including all entry fees . Half-day horse-drawn carriage tour in Marrakech .Camel ride in Marrakech palm grove. Sound and Light show in Fez.

• All transfers within Morocco.
• First-class train ticket from Marrakech to Casablanca.

• Lonely Planet guidebook to Morocco

• Tea, mint tea or coffee upon arrival at your hotel in Casablanca on Day 1.
• Ferry ticket one way : Tangiers/ Gibraltar or Tangiers Algeciras

Subject to availability , your Riad / Hotel may have a Hamam
you will savor the benefits of the Hammam, the traditional relaxing and restorative steam bath

Not included:

• International airfares or domestic airfares in Morocco
• Drinks at meals
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities for local personnel
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

Frequently Asked Question
The ferry from Algeciras, normally, takes two and a half hours to get to Tangiers.

• Should you use your Rent A Car: Parking at the port in Algeciras is in Spanish Pesetas : Ptas 1200 (US$8 - Subject to change), not included in the price of the tour .

• From Algeciras: Ferry: Takes 2 ½ hour to cross. Departures every hour starting at 7   AM. Hydrofoil: Departs Algeciras at 9 am, departs Tangier at 3 PM, 1 hour crossing.