Insight Vacations – Best of Morocco – 10 days land only

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- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 9 nights hotel accommodation
- Breakfast daily & selected dinners
- Touring by luxury coach
- Assistance of a Tour Director
- Signature experiences included in each city
- All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes

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Welcome to Casablanca

On arrival at Casablanca Airport, your transfers leave for your landmark city hotel at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00. Later, join your Tour Director for a warm & friendly Welcome Reception & the opportunity to mingle & get to know each other, over a pleasant evening of dinner & wine.

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Meknes & Fes

A tour of the sights of Casablanca will show you the huge Hassan II Mosque – the largest in the country. The très chic seaside strip – known as the Corniche – stretches to the west, lined with trendy restaurants & cafes. Depart for the capital of Rabat to see the Royal Palace, Hassan Tower & visit one of the few holy places open to non-Muslims: the lavish Mausoleum of King Mohammed V – both an architectural marvel & a monument to a great ruler. Move on to Meknes, one of the kingdom’s great imperial cities dating back to the 11th century, its surroundings remaining unchanged for centuries. Stand before the Bab el-Mansour, the monumental entrance to the imperial city & focal point of Place El-Hedim. Continue to Fes & be treated to a superb Moroccan feast & traditional folklore show. In an ancient palace at the entrance to the Medina, a colourful array of meze plates, aromatic tagines, exotic fruits & wine will be laid before you, amid a carnival-like atmosphere of belly dancers, drums & authentic music. A truly unforgettable experience!

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Fes Sightseeing

(Relaxed Start) Sightseeing with a Local Expert will show you the Medina – the walled city of hidden courtyards, mosques & workshops, the bazaar & one of the world's oldest universities. Learn about the ancient craft of carpet making, gain an insight into the motifs & colours used in the designs. Later you will witness the unique & age-old techniques of pottery & bread making.

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The Ziz Gorges to Erfoud

Leave the bustle of the city behind & head for the spectacular snow-capped High Atlas Mountains. Pass through Ifrane before reaching the great cedar forests of Azrou. After your lunch at Midelt, continue up through the magnificent Ziz Gorges, past palm-fringed towns to Er Rachidia (built by the French at an important crossroads), your destination is Erfoud. In the evening, there is the option to meet the nomadic desert dwellers & marvel at the glorious Sahara sunset on a 4-wheel drive optional experience.

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Todra Gorge & Ouarzazate

Venture towards the oasis of Tinehir before taking a detour to explore the Todra Gorge – the Grand Canyon of the Sahara. At Boumalne-du-Dades, encounter the dry, rugged Dades Valley, dotted with oases of figs, olives, date palms & castellated mud houses hugging the slopes. En-route, lunch is included. Stop for Berber tea at a traditional Nomad house. Your 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs' concludes at Ouarzazate, film capital of Morocco, with everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Star Wars being filmed here.

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To Marrakesh

(Relaxed Start) Get your cameras ready as you stop at the village of Aït Benhaddou, boasting one of Morocco’s finest kasbahs. Continue via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass, before descending past charming mountain villages, dense woods & green fields, to the ochre-coloured city of Marrakesh.

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Marrakesh, Pearl of the South

(Relaxed Start) Sightseeing starts in the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. After some time to watch the dancers, snake charmers, storytellers & acrobats, explore the Medina, seeing the Koutoubia Mosque, with a minaret that dominates the Marrakesh skyline. With your Local Expert, visit the Palais de la Bahia, built in the late 19th century & intended to be the greatest palace of its time. Then enjoy free time to visit a museum or haggle in the souqs. In the evening, you could take a charming horse & carriage ride to a vibrant restaurant on the main square, for a sumptuous selection of classic Moroccan dishes, & an ambient arabesque of twirling belly dancers with plates of lit candles on their heads.

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Elegant Essaouira

(Relaxed Start) Say goodbye to the snake charmers of Marrakesh & venture to the laid-back fishing town of Essaouira. After checking into your hotel, why not spend the afternoon navigating the narrow alleyways, exploring the busy fishing port or maybe just relaxing on the beach? In the evening, you could sample the local seafood & wine at a waterside restaurant?

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Return to Casablanca

(Relaxed Start) Once you’ve experienced the traditional charms of the country, Casablanca is a fascinating place to return to, offering a unique insight into modern Morocco. At night, "of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world", there really is only one place to be. Join your Tour Director at Rick’s Café - recreated from the famous movie. Enjoy a hearty Celebration Dinner including drinks & , no doubt, a rendition of ‘As Time Goes By’. 'Here’s looking at you kid!'

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Au revoir Casablanca

Departure transfers arrive at Casablanca Airport at 05:00, 07:00, 10:00 & 12:00.

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