— luxury —

honeymoon in Morocco

Day 1 | Fes arrival and transfer to Riad Fes

Arrival at Fes Airport, transfer with private car to your hotel, Riad Fes - 4 nights

www.riadfes.com

Breakfast included.

A Relais & Chateaux and Luxury Hotels of the World listed property the Riad Fes is renowned for luxury, dining and the refinement of its services. Inspired by Hispano-Moorish architecture, the Riad Fes is an invitation back in time to discover the authenticity and the splendor of noble Fes families, in a one thousand- and one-nights Andalusian-style atmosphere. The Riad Fes offers panoramic views of the Fes medina and the Atlas Mountains. The thirty rooms and suites offer unique experiences through the four patios (traditional, Andalusian, Baroque, and contemporary). The Spa by Cinq Mondes, the swimming pool with a wine bar, and the gastronomic cuisine at the restaurant will enhance your stay.

Day 2 | Fes

FULL DAY TOUR OF FES

While in Fes you will be transported through 1,300 years of Moroccan heritage. Your guide will take you through the most beautiful medina in the country to experience the wealth of Islamic artistic and architectural treasures. The narrow streets flanked on both sides by souks (shops), workshops, tailors, art studios and bustling cafés lead to outdoor markets, the covered bazaar and quiet squares where children play and donkeys are hard at work carrying supplies up and down the twisting mud brick corridors, that cross this medieval part of the city. You will find yourself in the world’s largest car-free urban space as well as a very notable UNESCO World Heritage site. The medina is home to fabulous mosques, Islamic schools fountains, tanneries and more. Though non-Muslims are not allowed into most of the mosques, your guide will take you to those that are open to non-Muslims to show you the complex stucco and tile work used to decorate them. One of the most important centers of learning in the world during centuries, and home to the oldest university in History, Fes was founded by Idriss I in 789. It started as two separate cities or medinas, stretching on both banks of the river Jawhar, facing each other. They were made into a single one in 1070 by the Almoravids, who erected the city ramparts that can be seen today, and built bridges across the river Jawhar in order to connect both sides. The arrival to power of the Almohad, and the settling of Andalusian expatriates expelled from Spain, brought an important development to Fes, which became the largest city in the world during the second half of the 12th Century, with an estimated population of 200,000 souls. But it is under the rule of the Merinids, in the 13th and 14th Centuries, when Fes would reach its height, replacing Marrakech as capital of the empire. The principal monuments of the medina date from that period. The Merinids started then the building of a new town outside the walls, which was called Fes Jdid, new Fes – and the old part became Fes El Bali, or ancient Fes. Today, Fes el Bali (meaning Fes the ancient) is an UNESCO Heritage Site, and probably the largest car-free urban area in the world. It is well known because of the skills of its artisans, who are outstanding in trades such as metal and leather working, ceramics, wood, silk, and tapestries.

Despite the political capital of the kingdom being transferred to Rabat in 1912, Fes is still regarded by Moroccans as the spiritual center of their country. Highlights of Fes include: La Nouvelle Ville Built by the French at the beginning of the 20th Century, la nouvelle ville or new city provides a startling contrast with the labyrinthine alleys of Fes el Bali. Wide and elegant avenues are lined with numerous cafés, restaurants, and shops. The Al-Karaouine University Founded in 859 by Fatima Al Fihri, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, as part of a complex including the mosque and madrasa of the same name, the Al- Karouine university became very soon a major center of intellectual activity in the world of its age, not only amongst Muslims, but also amongst Christians; Pope Silvester II, who is credited with introducing Arab numerals and the use of zero in Europe, was a student in the institution and no doubt learnt about them there. The most beautiful of Al-Karaouine’s residential colleges is the Madrasa Bou Inania, built in 1357, and regarded as one of the finest examples of Merinid architecture; inside the building, elegant calligraphy graces the ceramic tile walls. The marble floors, sculpted cedar, and carved stucco walls, have held up since this masterpiece was built; still in use, non-Muslims must leave its premises during prayer time. Bab Boujeloud Built in 1913 by French resident general Lyautey under the Protectorate, Bab (which means ‘Gate’) Boujeloud is the most beautiful entry point into the medina. One thousand years younger than the buildings behind it, the gate was designed in Moorish style and it integrates effortlessly into the surrounding urban landscape, always lively with street vendors and other local characters. Nejjarine Square Located close by the Souk Nejjarine (Carpenter’s souk), where the scent of cedar is everywhere, this little square boasts a splendid fountain and a typical foundouk (roadside inn) dating from the 18th Century, which is now home to the Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts.

The Mellah was the Jewish quarter of the medina, placed under the personal protection of the Sultan. The name comes from ‘al mallah’, which means, in Arabic, saline area, as the quarter was built on a site of this nature. With time, the term would apply to all Jewish quarters in all the cities of Morocco. Although Jewish communities existed in the country since Roman times, the Mellah of Fes was the first one officially built in Morocco, in 1438, by the Merinids; its main street is especially interesting with its balconies and Art Deco zellij mosaics. One of the Mellah’s synagogues, Ibn Danan, dating from the 17th Century, was recently restored and can be visited. Souks Are located in the ancient city center, the medina. The main plaza is planted with trees and provides a shaded haven from the warm sun.

Breakfast included.

Day 3 | Fes

After your breakfast at the riad, you will experience the best street food in town. We’ll visit three different food souks allowing the chance to try traditional Moroccan street food including dried meats, milawi, harsha, briwats, spicy sardines, spicy potato cakes, soups, olives and more. At the honey souk we’re you’ll be able to taste an array of delicious wild honeys, discuss their flavors and health-giving properties and find out why honey is so important in Moroccan cooking and Islamic culture. We’ll investigate traditional cooking methods by visiting a furnatchi where the water for the communal bath house ‘hammam’ is also heated, and a 400-year-old ‘furan’ or communal oven and bakery. Discover the world of spices and their uses and the secrets of the male-oriented domain of the tea den under the guidance of a culinary leader and story-teller. Our visit of today includes the draw loom workshops whose traditions have been passed down from generation to generation through the centuries and still endure today. You will have dinner in a Sufi brotherhood with Sufi musicians and a university professor, who will share with you the genesis of this style of music and its connection to mysticism in Islam.

Breakfast & Dinner included

Day 4 / Fes

Excursion to Volubilis and Meknes (1h30 per way /60kms from FES to VOLUBILIS)

Volubilis is a partly excavated Berber city in Morocco situated near the city of Meknes, and commonly considered as the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mauretania. Built in a fertile agricultural area, it developed from the 3rd century BC onward as a Berber settlement.

Day 5 |Fes - Marrakech

Transfer from FES to Marrakech by car (7hours) or optional domestic flight.

Arrive Marrakech Hotel, ROYAL MANSOUR, Superior Riad with one room, 4 Nights

Breakfast included.

Day 6 | Marrakech: historical tour

Today your guide and driver will take you on a sightseeing tour of the iconic locations in Marrakech. Full day to explore the red city with you guide. Marrakech enjoys a legend status which conveys the ideas of mystery, sensuality, and exoticism. Its influence and fame has been so strong and intense in the history of Morocco, that as a matter of fact the country was named after the city. Marrakech was founded in 1062 by one of the chieftains of the Almoravid king Youssuf ibn Tashfin. The Almoravids were desert warriors, very much attached to their Islamic religion; the original garrison developed very quickly into a city where numerous mosques and madrasas (Koranic schools) were built. Andalusian craftsmen built and decorated several palaces, merging their style with the Saharan and African traditions, which gave the city a distinctive architectural flavor. The Almoravids also erected the city walls, and created a complex system of underground irrigation canals to bring water from the High Atlas, the khettara – a system still in use to water the several gardens of the city. At its height, Marrakech was the capital of the Almoravid empire, which stretched as far as Senegal, most part of Spain, and Algiers. In 1147, the Almohad, tribesmen from the High Atlas Mountains who practiced orthodox Islam, sacked the city, replacing the Almoravids as rulers of the empire, and destroying many of the palaces and mosques of their predecessors. New ones were built soon, though, including the famous Koutoubia mosque, which dates from this period. Ever since, alternate ages of splendor and decline sculpted Marrakech’s unique and charming character, at once decadent and full of life. Nowadays, Marrakech is a vibrant city which exhibits a curious blend of the ancient and the modern, allowing travelers the chance to experience the genuine medieval atmosphere of the old medina, and visit the trendiest bars, art galleries and restaurants in the French Quarter, Guéliz, built at the beginning of the 20th Century, all in one day. Highlights of your visit will include:

The Koutoubia Mosque Built by the Almohad in the late years of 12th Century, the Koutoubia Mosque, and specially its minaret, is the most important landmark of Marrakech, and a symbol of the city itself. The minaret served as model for the Giralda in Sevilla and the unfinished Tour Hassan in Rabat, all three being designed by the same architect. Koutoubia means ‘booksellers’, as the trade of books was concentrated in the neighborhood during the Middle Ages. The minaret of the Koutoubia, 77 meters high, is visible from almost any point of the city – an old ordinance, still in force, forbids any building of Marrakech to surpass the Koutoubia minaret in height.

Saadian Tombs Built in the 16th Century as mausoleums for some Saadian rulers and their families, the Saadian Tombs were unknown of until they were discovered by the French in 1917 thanks to aerial photographs. The site comprises more than one hundred graves, distributed in 3 mausoleums whose decoration exemplifies Islamic architecture with floral motifs, calligraphy, zellij and Carrara marble, and finely worked cedar wood and stucco. Outside the buildings are a garden and the graves of soldiers and servants.

El Bahia Palace Built in the late 19th Century, and decorated by the best artisans of Morocco at the time, this palace – intended to be the most magnificent of its age – features an exquisite blend of Andalusian and Moorish styles. Specially interesting are the harem apartments, the trapezoidal garden, and a huge tiled courtyard with fountains.

The Souks Filling the alleys north of Djmaa el Fna is the souk, or traditional market – the largest one in Morocco. It is, in turn, subdivided in some 18 souks, each one of them devoted to a specific trade or craftsmanship – from spices or ironwork, to the ingredients necessary for casting magic spells. The number of shops – often not much bigger in size than a closet - is overwhelming, and in them Moroccans can indulge in one of the activities that they enjoy most: bargaining. Cunning, patience, sense of humor, and strategy are needed for the game. Try your skills at it!

Overnight

Breakfast included.

Day 7 | Marrakesh: Majorelle Gardens, Perfumer workshop & Artisans workshops

Breakfast at your riad.

Start your day by the visit of The Majorelle Gardens: This enchanting place, filled with bougainvillea, coconut, banana, bamboo and palms, was created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. At the heart of lush vegetation, he built a large workshop, pergolas and arbors completely covered with a bright blue distracting. Neglected after the painter’s death in 1962, the property was restored a few years ago by fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and used as his residence. Later on, you will meet a famous perfumer and very close friend of Yves St Laurent. You will learn to make your own perfume in his workshop too and visit his remarkable personal art collection.

In the afternoon, a visit to the best boutiques and artisans workshops in town to gather an appreciation of variety of crafts that are available in Morocco. Away from the hectic Souks and into the workshops where highly skilled artisans show you their creative spirit at work. The tour starts with a visit to a weaver who has his workshop at a 400-year-old building. You will have the chance to observe him, take pictures and even get on the loom to try your hand at weaving. Next is a stop at the plaster carver shop where you will see how this century old tradition is still carried out today. After that, we head to the blacksmiths area to marvel at the way they recycle scrap iron to make amazing lamps, windows and other items. The tile cutter will be our final destination where you will learn how tiles are cut and fitted into beautiful mosaics.

Breakfast included.

Day 8 | Marrakesh: cooking class

Morning: Private cooking class, followed by Lunch at CHEF TARIK: www.atelier-chef-tarik.com

Afternoon at your leisure.

Breakfast included.

Day 9 / Marrakesh: Side car tour

Morning:

Marrakech by Side Car

Full of vivid colors and enchanting scents, take a glimpse at the Medina’s local life comfortably seated in our vintage sidecars. You can also choose to take a break from this frenziness while riding in the mythical palm grove with its thousands palm trees and beautiful viewpoints on the jbilets mountains. The old French neighborhood of Gueliz is also of great interest with its art deco buildings and remaining of the 1930’s local life. A memorable adventure for all. Once a well-known brasserie and a mail staging post in the 1920s, your insider meets you at the famous heritage building ‘Le Grand Café de la Poste’. Share your expectations and specific requests while your insider introduces you, thanks to an old map, to both the geography of the city and your tailor-made itinerary. Adjust your helmet, put on your sunglasses and hop on. On this one hour and a half open-air adventure, you can either choose to immerse yourself in the quaint Marrakech of the 1920s, discover the most authentic neighborhoods of the Medina or enjoy a shot of greenery in the mythical palm grove. With its ancient Art Deco buildings, its former open-air cinema, the very first hotel built in 1918, its dusty clock shop and its former Mines Counter, the 1920s Gueliz district testifies of the daily life during the former French Protectorate. A ride in History. Another page of History opens up in front of your eyes if you decide to discover the stunning Medina of Marrakech. Ride through the most remote and authentic neighborhoods to witness the local life in the Kasbah district, a former fortress reserved for the employees of the Royal Palace, the Mellah, the former Jewish neighborhood or the flea market in Bab El Khemiss taking place every Thursday and Sunday. Further away, you can choose to discover the palm grove, once a very fertile oasis, this piece of land only known nowadays for its luxurious villas, gave birth to the entire Tensift region almost a thousand years ago thanks to its ingenious underground irrigation systems. After this last stop, your insider will take you back to your hotel.

NB: This itinerary of SIDE CAR is subject to change due to passengers’ requests, holidays or weather conditions.

Afternoon:

Transfer to AGAFAY DESERT for 1 night under the tent.

The desert of Agafay is a mineral desert that stretches for more than 20 km, an amazing micro climate at the foot of Atlas Mountains, with a climatic condition close to the Sahara. A stony relief, very soft with breathtaking landscapes, different lights all day and snowy peaks in background scenery. You are only 30 km (less than one hour) from Marrakech. In the spring, the Agafay is alive with blooming wildflowers. The rest of the year, the Agafay is parched and thirsting for water giving you just a taste of the aridness of the Great Sahara.

Camel ride

Optional activities: Quad biking

VIP dinner under a private tent with stargazing activity.

Accommodation: INARA CAMP - 1 night

https://www.inaracamp.com/

Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 10 | Agafay – Essaouira 03h00m - 220km

Morning at leisure. From Asni, you will travel overland to the coast to reach your next destination: Essaouira. You will cover a distance of approximately 230km in 3h30. After check in and time at leisure, your guide will take you for an afternoon visit of the citadel used as the exotic backdrop in many classic movies.

Accommodation : Heure Bleu - 2 nights

https://heure-bleue.com/en/

Breakfast included.

Day 11 | Essaouira

Visit the bustling fish market, and the ramparts and bastions which served as the location for the Orson Welles film version of Othello. Visit the fortifications and the excellent factories which sell locally carved and polished Thuy wood products. Today the town is considered a resort area and is known for windsurfing, but a generation ago there were thousands of Jewish inhabitants in the town. Even though today there are only a few families left, you can visit the Mellah where you can see the blue and white painted houses with the Stars of David above the doorways of former Jewish homes, whose home and synagogue are preserved as an historic and religious site.

Essaouira lies on the west Atlantic coast of Morocco and is one of the most picturesque towns in the country. Originally a Phoenician trading post, it prospered during the Roman era as citizens extracted Tyrian purple, much loved by Roman Emperors and Egyptian Royals from a local shellfish.

Sultan Sidi Mohammed had a captive Frenchman design the town and promoted trade, making Essaouira a cosmopolitan commercial center. The fortifications that ring the city provided a haunting backdrop for Orson Wells’ Othello. Built by the Portuguese, these are intrinsic to the charm of Essaouira. Other attractions include the port, bringing in fresh fish each day, and the tremendous beach that stretches away to the south. During your time here you will enjoy private visits to the haunts where artists and famous hippies spent their time, giving this small town a great bohemian atmosphere, quite different from the rest of the country and yet so alluring.

Breakfast included.

Rest of the day at leisure

Day 12 |Essaouira - Atlas Mountains

After breakfast, transfer to Atlas Mountains with a stop wine tasting and lunch at VAL D’ARGAN.

Accommodation: Kasbah Tamadot - 3 nights

http://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/kasbah-tamadot/

Breakfast included.

The property was purchased by Sir Richard Branson in 1998 after one of his famous hot air balloon expeditions. The philosophy at the Kasbah is to instruct and empower local villagers to work in the hotel furthering their potential, staying locally, showcasing authentic crafts and the Moroccan lifestyle. The hotel offers 27 rooms and suites, including nine luxury suites in Berber tents. All decorated differently, using Moroccan traditional antiques and furniture. Each room has a Berber name that unveils more about its character.

Day 13 | Atlas Mountains Exploration

Today you will enjoy a day trekking through the village of Imlil, spending time with local Berbers and having picnic lunch or Lunch with Berber Family to have a true sense of what local life is like for the villagers of the High Atlas.

Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 14 | Atlas Mountains Exploration

Day at Kasbah Tamadot with optional activities/Biking or hiking around the Kasbah. Or you may enjoy a short walk in the morning and having SPA or Hammam in the afternoon.

Breakfast included.

Day 15 | Marrakech departure

Today your driver will accompany you to the airport in Marrakech for your flight back home. (80kms /1h30)

Bon Voyage!