The Blue Cities of Morocco
6 days, 5 nights (fully customisable)
This exciting tour begins on arrival to Casablanca airport, where you will be met by one of our drivers and we invite you to a welcome meeting, to share with you advice and tips on navigating Morocco and an overview of the tour, with an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Before leaving Casablanca to begin our tour of the Blue Cities, there will be an opportunity to visit the Hassan II Mosque. This is the only mosque in Morocco that is open to the public, completed in 1993, it is the largest mosque in Morocco and the seventh largest in the world, At 210 metres (690 ft) in height the minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world, it is a spectacular building covering 22 acres, one of its many features is a retractable roof over the main hall, illuminating the hall with daytime sunlight and allowing worshippers to pray under the stars on clear nights.
We will travel along the Atlantic coastal route which takes us to Rabat; Morocco’s capital city, where we will stop for lunch and a two hour guided walk of the Medina and Kasbah, the Rabat medina is the oldest part of the city, the neighbourhood is really colourful with many examples of traditional Architecture, markets and shopping streets. We continue our journey to Assilah via the coastal towns of Kenitra and Larache, to arrive at our Riad for the night where dinner is included.
We will spend the day in Assilah’s old town, which is enclosed by well preserved 15th-century ramparts and gates built by the colonial Portuguese. The medina is an art hub, known for its murals and known for its annual art festival Moussem Culturel International d’Assilah. Here you will have a guided tour of the town to learn all about the history and culture. After your tour, you can stop in one of the many cafes for lunch, with your afternoon free to head to the beach for some lounging, surfing or just a relaxing promenade along the beach. We will depart Assilah mid-afternoon to travel to Tangier where we will spend the night in a riad and enjoy a delicious dinner.
After a hearty breakfast the following morning, you meet with your guide to begin a full day walking tour of Tangier, you will see the grottos of Hercules Caves, explore the maze of streets of Tangiers Medina, stroll through the Kasbah, see breathtaking views of the Cap Spartel promontory and shop at the Berber market of Sidi Bousbid. We will stay a second night in Tangier, giving you free time to explore alone and enjoy one of the many seafood restaurants.
The following morning we depart for the city of Tetouan, the Berber name which literally means “the eyes” and figuratively “the water springs” and is one of the two major ports on the Mediterranean sea. Tetouan was once under the Spanish/Andalusian rule and the result is an interesting combination of Andalucia and Arabic culture. The medina is a UNESCO world heritage site, it is bursting with things to see, everywhere there are people performing their craftsmanship, such as weavers, jewellers, and leather workers. We will spend the morning here and after a late lunch, departing for our final city of stunning Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen is perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif, and is one of the prettiest towns in Morocco. An artsy, blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own little world. Whilst tourism has definitely taken hold, the Blue City still holds onto its authenticity. The old medina is a delight of Moroccan and Andalusian influence with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings and narrow lanes converging on busy Plaza Uta El Hammam and its restored Kasbah. Long known to backpackers for the easy availability of kif (cannabis), the town has rapidly gentrified and offers a range of quality accommodation, good food, and lots to do. We will check into our riad for the night where dinner will be included, and we expect to arrive with time for you to go for a stroll or perhaps indulge in a hammam and massage. The following morning after breakfast, our guide will meet us for a half-day tour of the city, taking in the fortress of the Kasbah, Place Outa el-Hammam and the Great Mosque, then some free time for you to freely explore the city and some shopping. The second day you have the option to stay in the city to relax, explore, shop or have a spa or travel to Akchour Waterfalls, known to the locals as the 'magical falls'. It is a hike filled with plenty of nature, mini-waterfalls and stunning views. After spending some time by the gorgeous waterfall, and lunch, we will make our way back to Chefchaouen and where we begin our homeward journey back to Casablanca.
Included:
Breakfast and dinner
Air-conditioned transport
Multilingual Guides
Not included:
Flights
Drinks
Lunches
Tips
