Morocco Islamic Cities Tour

Today you will be offered an excursion for the early Islamic history of Morocco, a day of time travel! This journey will take you from imperial Rome to the ninth century a.d. Unlike the movies, this temporal voyage will take almost the entire day at a mild pace. (of course, there will be stops along the way in notable places.)

The first stop will be the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Volubilis was the Capital of Mauritania Tangitana (Modern Day Morocco) a critical city in the imperial Roman Empire during the reign of Caracalla. Volubilis is impressively well preserved and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact. The two central integral streets in every Roman Castrum, the cardo, and Decumanus, are prominent. The cardo is the boulevard which runs north-south and the Decumanus, east-west. The intersection of the two is the center of every Roman city. There you will find the ruins of the ancient forum.

On the other side of the hill, just a few minutes away you will visit with your guide the venerated citadel of Moulay Idris, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idris al Akbar, grandson of the prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s). This citadel is considered to be both the cradle of Sufism to Muslim Moroccan society as well as the first Islamic capital for the premier Arab dynasty in Morocco. The city was created primarily for the indigenous population that migrated with Moulay Idris from the middle east.

You will drive around 15 miles to the next stop, the imperial city of Meknes. A guided historic tour of Meknes is yours. Meknes is a 17th-century city built by Moulay Ismail to rival fez. It is also considered to be the Versailles of Morocco.

Continue on your quest to reach your final destination of the day, the ninth-century city of Fez. After checking, your guide will take on a panoramic tour of Fez to get a taste of the greatest of the imperial cities. You will visit the sights on the outside of the medina, ancient walled city, including the ramparts, the gates, and the Borjs (Moorish forts). After this introductory visit to the Islamic metropolis of Fez, you will dine in your hotel and prepare for day three: Fez!

After breakfast, your local guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to take you on a full day Islamic heritage walking tour of Fez. This is a fascinating historical and spiritual labyrinth. Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of all imperial capitals and the complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides of its walls. Fez owes nothing to the modern world, save electricity. Fez is not only the intellectual and spiritual heartbeat of Morocco but a world heritage UNESCO site.

Time spent in fez will reveal much about this learning center in all sciences and humanities for Moroccans and knowledge seekers from around the world. The most ancient Medersas school of Islamic theology and jurisprudence in the Muslim Nations are here in this blessed city, still in function up till today in most traditional and respected ways of Muslim teaching. AL Quaraouiyyine University in the world is in Fez with all its faculties since the 9th century. Muslim scholars came through the centuries from around the globe to seek knowledge in this well-respected center. Fes is also proud to be the first city in the world to create an organized hospital when this institution was unknown to the world. A place where all physical diseases. The Moorish scholars whether in Spain or Morocco gave great importance to mental disorders by creating a center of mental care and reckoning the need to treat these disorders that the modern world is still struggling with today. Arts and crafts were given great importance in the existence of Fez. Organized workshops and guilds gave the Moroccan artisan, an opportunity to excel providing an unparalleled trade center from an early ages. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of the city of fez starting at the king's palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.

You will walk to the narrow cobbled stone streets of the Medina visiting the leather tannery guild, The great mosque-university of al Quarrawiyyine, and many historical highlights of this marvelous city of Islam. You will break for lunch then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the dyer's souk, foundouk Tetouan for silk trading to conclude your walk at the Sufi center and Maqam of Sidi Ahmed Tijani. You will end your walking tour and retreat to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations.

After breakfast, we will travel for the day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains Berber villages, wards, and nomadic settlements. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars. Today you will discover the Atlas Mountains evergreen landscapes and daily life. Your first impression of these ranges will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Passing by Imouzzer, with a quick stop at the Swiss-like town of Ifrane. We will proceed to the Cedar forest of near Azrou visiting some natural sites then take the highway to Marrakech. Lunch will be served in a Halal restaurant on the road then continue on to Marrakech (the city of Seven Holymen) the magnificent oasis city of Marrakech Alhamra. Some of the aforementioned stops will include visits to Berber villages, scenic views, and traditional markets. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.

Meet your local guide our local guide at the lobby of your hotel who will introduce this spiritual city to you. Take a walking tour of Islamic history in Marrakech. You will devote your morning to the exploration of Marrakech's many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a medieval water reservoir for the city and its sumptuous gardens reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice.

Your Islamic Heritage tour of Marrakech will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia minaret (which is identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain), and the Saadian tombs, which demonstrate Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal then the Majorelle. Finally, you will return to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations.

Travel in the morning to Casablanca. Upon your arrival, your guide will take you on a monumental tour exploring Casablanca, the largest Port of the Maghreb, and “capital in all but administration.” Next, you will visit the Habous quarter to be introduced to your first Spanish Moorish ambiance of a lively market in old Casablanca, then, of course, the Art Deco colonial downtown with the real flavor of the Mystic French connection.

Your guide will introduce you to La Corniche and Ain Diab shoreline. This will give you an idea of the creative architecture in Anfa neighborhoods with sumptuous mansions and villas from the 50s and 60s. And of course, you will not miss the great mosque of Hassan II, the second largest mosque after Makkah. Finally, you will return to your hotel for a farewell Halal dinner.

You will take you to Casablanca airport to connect for your flight back home. Assist you with checking and bid you goodbye. Thank you for visiting Morocco.