Ryads of Morocco

(11 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Essaouira, Marrakesh, Fez

On this tour, visit three of Morocco's most interesting cities, and stay at deluxe ryads (traditional guesthouses) in the center of town. After a short tour of Casablanca, drive to Essaouira, a relaxed coastal town and millennia-old trading post. Explore narrow streets lined with whitewashed buildings designed in Moroccan, Portuguese and Berber vernacular styles, and enjoy the relaxed waterside cafes and local artisan studios.

Next, drive to Marrakesh, an ancient city of weathered pink buildings and orange groves at the base of the Atlas Mountains. Tour the most interesting local souks (markets), palaces, gardens and monuments. See the Djemaa el-Fna, a carnivalesque public square where water sellers, snake charmers, magicians and storytellers compete for an audience. Also see the Jardin Majorelle, stunning gardens created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s; the Palais de la Bahia; the Dar Si Said Museum of Moroccan Arts; the Palmerie and the beautiful Jardin Menara, with its reflecting pools surrounded by a large grove of olive trees. Browse the city's most stylish shops and galleries, and dine at the finest restaurants. Take an excursion to the nearby Atlas Mountains to visit a morning market where Berber nomads and local villagers shop for livestock and daily goods. While there, enjoy a memorable lunch at Kasbah Tamadot.

Continue to Fez, the intellectual and religious heart of the nation. Tour Fez el-Bali ("Fez the Old") and its medieval medina (old town), a UNESCO world heritage site crammed with narrow, winding streets, tiny squares and artisan workshops. Visit centuries-old mosques and universities, see the multi-colored vats of the open-air tanneries, and shop for traditional wares made from copper, ceramics and leather. Also visit Fez el-Djedid ("Fez the New"), built in the 13th century. Visit the Royal Palace and the mellah (Jewish Quarter), the largest in Morocco. Stay in the heart of the medina at the intimate La Maison Bleue, a private estate decorated in mosaic tile, carved cedar, stained glass and wrought iron. At La Maison Bleue's restaurant, dine on traditional dishes such as cous-cous, chicken tajines and pastilla stuffed with almonds as Gnaouas musicians serenade. Later, sip mint tea on the rooftop terrace while gazing across Fez 's sea of lights.