Morocco

Arrive in Marrakech and transfer to our luxurious boutique riad hotel set in the heart of the medina. Meet fellow travelers at a festive welcome reception and dinner.

Begin our exploration of Marrakech with visits to Bahia Palace, an example of Moorish-Andalusian art; the newly restored Ben Youssef Madrasa, a masterpiece of Zellij tilework and intricate carvings; and the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, where we view the minaret which inspired towers in Seville and Rabat. Stop for tea in the medina before wandering through the labyrinthine souks, emerging into vibrant Jemaa el-Fna. Conclude our day with a dinner of elevated traditional Moroccan cuisine.

Depart for a full-day excursion to the Atlas Mountains. Our first stop is Imlil, a village at the base of 14,000-foot-high Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak. Ride a mule through walnut-shaded terraced fields that are home to Berbers, the original inhabitants of Morocco. Their lifestyle has remained nearly unchanged for centuries. Savor a tea break in a local home and a Berber lunch. On our way back to Marrakech, visit the village of Akrich and meet with an American NGO that is working with the local community. Return to Marrakech for dinner at leisure.

Spend today exploring the museums and gardens of Marrakech, beginning with the Majorelle Gardens, designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle and preserved by fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Wander through the Pierre Bergé Museum in the heart of the gardens, with its impressive collection of Berber jewelry and traditional clothing. See how Morocco’s colors inspired the designer at the nearby Musée Yves Saint Laurent, where his haute couture collection is archived and on display in a rotating collection of pieces. Next, tour the private Museum of Art and Culture of Marrakech, devoted to the influence and artistic inspiration of Morocco and, in particular, Marrakech. After lunch at an art deco villa, choose to visit the sumptuous palace Dar el Bacha or spend the afternoon at leisure. Dinner tonight is in a restaurant converted from a Moroccan home.

Embark on a day trip to the Ourika Valley, stopping at Anima Garden, a multimedia “botanical staging” by the Vienna artist André Heller. Continue to the 500-year-old tomb of Rabbi Solomon Bel-Hench for a look at Jewish Berber history before lunch and our return to Marrakech. Dine tonight at a traditional Moroccan restaurant where female servers are part of the venue’s mission to help integrate Moroccan women in professional fields.

Set out for our drive through the High Atlas with spectacular views of deep vales and their hamlets. Our destination is the fortress city of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and assembly of multi-story granaries often used as a background for films and television, including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant and the opportunity to visit the kasbah before driving up the pristine Ounila Valley to our luxury riad hotel.

Today, we make our way to Erfoud along the so-called “Route of 1,000 Castles,” or Kasbah Trail, with its fortified residences made of adobe. After stopping at Tifoultoute Kasbah to admire its tiled rooms, drive up the picturesque Dadès Valley, strewn with orchards and odd rock formations. Visit local villages along the way, gaining a sense of Moroccan life in this region before stopping for lunch at Ksar El Khorbat. This mud-walled village was recently restored as part of an international ecotourism and preservation initiative. Check in to our hotel at the gates of the Merzouga desert.

In the morning, visit the city of Rissani, known historically as a crossroads for trans-Saharan trade. Return for lunch in Erfoud before departing in 4x4 vehicles with local drivers for our overnight adventure to Erg Chebbi, one of Morocco’s great sand dune areas, rising 600 feet above the Sahara Desert floor. Approach our camp on foot or by camel, arriving in time for sunset drinks in the desert. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and a local performance before turning in for the night.

Return to Erfoud by 4WD vehicles, and from there travel by coach, following the palm-filled Ziz Valley across the stark, multihued expanses of the Eastern High Atlas range. Stop for a picnic lunch along the way. Continue north to Fez via the Middle Atlas Mountains. If time permits, we may detour into Ifrane National Park, the last forest of giant Atlas cedars, and try to spot a band of indigenous Barbary macaques. Arrive in Fez this evening and gather for dinner at our hotel.

Take a morning walk through the narrow alleys of Fez, considered by scholars to be the last true example of a typical medieval Arab town, with its bustling bazaars, colorful tanners’ quarters, and ateliers of local craftsmen. Visit the restored Al Attarine Madrasa with its exquisite courtyard and the 17th-century Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and Crafts, housed in a former caravanserai. After lunch, take a driving tour of the ramparts and then visit 14th-century “new” Fez, including the Bou Inania Madrasa and the famous Blue Gate.

Venture west to Volubilis, Rome’s commercial hub in the region until the 3rd century, renowned for its numerous mosaics still in situ. Next, travel south to the former imperial city of Meknès and visit the massive Mansour Gate. Before returning to Fez, stop outside Meknès at Château Roslane, the first winery in North Africa to be listed as a château viticole for the quality of its wines. Stroll through the gardens and enjoy a wine tasting and lunch.

Depart for Morocco’s capital city, Rabat, designated in 2013 as a World Heritage site. Stop en route to visit the exotic gardens of Bouknadel, where we learn about biodiversity, forests and soil protection, water use, and ecological gardening. After lunch, visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, a magnificent structure of neo-Moorish architecture and a showcase for Moroccan art founded by the King of Morocco in 2014. Check in to our hotel on the banks of the Bouregreg River before dinner together.

Take a leisurely walk through the whitewashed Kasba of the Oudayas with its Andalusian style garden and monumental gate, a beautiful example of Almohad architecture. Continue to the Chellah necropolis, built in the 14th century on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Sala Colonia and previously occupied by the Phoenicians. Conclude the day with a visit to the Center for Cross-Cultural Learning, a private educational and cultural institution directed by Moroccan academics. Reflect on our travels at a festive farewell reception and dinner this evening.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Rabat or Casablanca for flights home.