Morocco A la Carte Private Vacation

Upon arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to your selected hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the mystical city of Fez.

Meet your driver and guide at your hotel for a private exploration of the city of oriental charm. First you will visit the impressive Dar el Makhzen with a brief stop at the Royal Palace with its seven magnificent bronze gates. From here you walk through the Mellah with its unique atmosphere and fine examples of Mauro-Hispanic architecture. Drive to the Borj Sud for panoramic views of the medina then begin your private walking tour of the labyrinth that is the ancient Fez Medina. Here you will see the Bou Inania Mosque, Medersa and the Maimonides’ Clock. Walk by the colorful es-Sabbaghine, with its Street of the Dyers, and see the brass workers at es-Saffarine. You will see the exterior of the impressive al-Quarawiyyin Mosque, the University and el-Atterine Medersa, passing the aromatic Souq el-Atterine area of spices and groceries. Continue to the delightful el-Nejjarine square with its fountain and Woodworkers' Museum, stopping nearby for a light lunch (not included). You will then go to the renowned tanneries on the bank of the Oued Fez then see the potteries, perfumes and beauty products at the Souq el-Henna. Leaving the medina from the Bab Boujloud, you tour the magnificent ramparts with its beautiful ‘Babs’ as you make your way to the 16th century Saadien watchtower at the North Borj. Finally you will visit the Dar Batha Museum with its collection of carpets. (B)

After breakfast meet your guide and set out on a private excursion into the Sahara Desert. Driving south through the cedar forests and beautiful scenery of the Middle Atlas Mountains, you stop for a light lunch (not included) in the mountains at the Berber town of Midelt. Continuing south through the dramatic Ziz Valley, you arrive at the desert town of Erfoud, situated at the beginning of the impressive sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. Erfoud is also one of the largest oases in Morocco and is the departure point for visits to Merzouga, where you can see a desert erg, the great dunes of the Sahara. Switch to an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle to continue to the Hotel Auberge Du Sud where you will climb onto the back of a camel, the “Ship of the Desert.” Ride your camel through the desert up to Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes in Morocco’s Sahara, for an amazing sunset that colors the sands from gold to purple. At nightfall, a canopy of stars blankets the sky as you enjoy a Moroccan dinner around the campfire, accompanied by traditional musicians and a dancer. (B,D)

After a brilliant sunrise, relish your Bedouin breakfast of tea, ‘sand’ bread, jam, and cheese. Return via camel to the Hotel Auberge du Sud in Merzouga where you will board a 4x4 for your private journey to Erfoud and your original vehicle. Heading westward, you will drive through a route of 1,000 Kasbahs in the Dadès Valley. You enter the fabulous Todra Gorges and have lunch at the town of Tinehrir, at the mouth of the Gorges. Travel on into the Dades Gorges and on to the luxurious Skoura Oasis, with its postcard perfect colors of red earth, yellow dust, green oasis and a brilliant blue sky. Encounter the magnificent 17th century Kasbahs, the most beautiful of these being the living museum of Amerhidl. Continue on to Skoura, where you will spend the night, for dinner (not included). (B)

After breakfast this morning, you briefly visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, which once belonged to El Haj T’hami el Mezouari el Glaoui, who played a vital role in uniting all of Morocco, but is still viewed as a traitor and collaborator by most Moroccans. You then visit the Kasbah of Tiffoultoute, an old fortress whose rooftops offer a magnificent panoramic view of the valley. The Kasbah was built on the upper reaches of an adobe village where you can climb the terrace for breathtaking panoramic views. This Kasbah was actually transformed into a hotel during the filming of Lawrence of Arabia in 1962. The final leg of your voyage of discovery of Morocco’s multifaceted south takes you to the final Ksar Aït Ben Haddou, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and backdrop to many Hollywood films. Visit different Berber and Jewish Kasbahs, so closely-knit that they appear to be one complete building, backed up against the looming mountain. After lunch (not included), continue to Marrakech where you will check-in to your hotel upon arrival. (B)

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and meet your private guide for the most interesting guided exploration of the hidden and authentic side of the old city of Marrakech. Start through one of the historical gates of the old Medina and walk to discover the medieval way of life of its inhabitants and their daily occupations.Visit the Bahia Palace, considered the highlight of Moroccan architecture in Marrakech. If the calligrapher is there, you will have a demonstration of the splendid and intricate Arabic calligraphy. See the archeological site of the Almoravid Dynasty Dome, which is the oldest monument in the city, dating back to the early 12th century. Discover the hidden quarters and the historical caravanserai, called Fondouks, used once as hotels for the caravan traders. They are still in use today by Marrakech artisans who have set their work shops in many of them to perpetuate their ancestral skills of making all sorts of local crafts. Enjoy a ride on horse carriage from the old medina to Yves Saint Laurent’s famous Majorelle Gardens where you will enjoy a tour of the Gardens, the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. (B)

After breakfast, meet your guide and set out on a dramatic private drive south to the Atlas Mountains. This stunning road takes approximately two hours, passing through the rosy desert surrounding Marrakech toward the steep alpine peaks of the Atlas. En route, you will stop in a small village for a hands-on culinary workshop; learn about Moroccan cuisine and spices, including Ras El Hanout, the definitive spice of Moroccan fare. With your chef, bake bread in a traditional earthen, wood-fueled stove and prepare a tagine, a version of the classic Moroccan stew, using vegetables grown in the onsite garden.As your tagine is cooking over the fire, enjoy a short stroll across the nearby valley, dotted with grazing sheep and wild cactus fruits. When your meal is ready, sit down to enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor before continuing your drive to the Atlas Mountains. On your way back to Marrakech you will cross the Agafy Desert, or Rocky Desert, where you can enjoy a camel ride and a glass of Champagne in one of the luxury tented camps in the area. (B,L)

You will be picked up from your hotel for a private transfer to continue on to your next destination. (B)