Arrivals

Marhaba! Welcome to Morocco! As you arrive today, you will be met at the airport by a driver who will transfer you to your hotel. Check in and settle into your room and enjoy your first day in Morocco.

Dinner will be on your own this evening.

Overnight: Villa Mandarine

Rabat

In the morning, convene as a group for breakfast together with introductions and an overview of the week ahead. Afterward, set off for a day of sightseeing to explore Rabat; the capital of Morocco, known for its Islamic and French-colonial heritage. Located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, Rabat is a city with impressive architecture and gardens within modern infrastructure and amenities.

Today’s sightseeing will include a walking tour through the Medina of Rabat, the enchanting old city center. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kasbah Oudayas, built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the BouRegreg estuary, a real fortress dating back to the XII century. With its monumental Almohade portal, the Andalusian influence is omnipresent with the uniformly lime-covered walls, the dominant blue doors, and the wrought iron windows. During the tour, you will also stop for lunch.

Return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon for some down-time at the hotel, enjoying the garden or grounds.

In the evening, reconvene for a Welcome Reception before dinner to kick off your journey ahead.

Overnight: Villa Mandarine

Context Setting

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before meeting with human rights experts to learn more about Morocco’s unique political context. The group will then set off for lunch and a possible visit with The Fund for Global Human Rights’ grantees in Rabat. More details of these grantee visits will be provided closer to the trip.

If time allows in the afternoon, you may be able to visit the Mohamed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, the first museum in Morocco dedicated entirely to modern and contemporary arts. Afterward, travel back to the Villa Mandarine in Rabat to rest before dinner.

In the evening, come together as a group to have dinner and reflect on all that you experienced and learned today.

Overnight: Villa Mandarine

Trip to Khemisset

After breakfast, the group will transfer to Khemisset, about a 1.5 hour drive, for a morning grantee visit. The Berber city of Khemisset has a majority population of Zemmour who speak the Central Atlas Tamazight dialect. Situated between the cities of Rabat and Meknes, Khemisset lies at the edge of the Moroccan upland plateau among intensely cultivated fields of wheat and citrus fruits.

The group will have lunch and then transfer to Rabat and engage in another grantee visit.

An optional sightseeing visit may include the 12th Century Hassan Tower – Rabat’s most impressive site. An excellent example of Moorish architecture, it stands over an incomplete mosque –the largest mosque in the Muslim world. Marvel at the exquisite tile work, the ceiling with its motifs and sculptures refined by Moroccan master craftsmen. Afterward, enjoy a scenic drive through the Ville Nouvelle (the new town of Rabat) and a walk on Mohamed V Avenue.

Return to the hotel in the early evening to unwind and refresh before dinner.

Overnight: Villa Mandarine

Trip to Mohammedia

After breakfast, the group will transfer to Mohammedia, about a 45 minute drive. Mohammedia is a port city in western Morocco where you’ll be visiting one of The Fund’s grantee visits and have lunch with their community.

Mohammedia – known until 1960 as Fedala –  is a major port city on the west coast of Morocco between Casablanca and Rabat. It hosts the most important oil refinery in Morocco, making it the center of the Moroccan petroleum industry. Fedala was renamed Mohammedia in 1960 in honor of King Mohammed V. Today, the city serves as both a seaside resort and a manufacturing center.

After lunch, the group will transfer to Rabat and engage in another grantee visit.

Dinner will be on your own this evening. Please be sure to pack your bags to check out in the morning before traveling to Marrakesh.

Overnight: Villa Mandarine

Casablanca & Marrakesh

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will check out from the Villa Mandarine and transfer to Casablanca for a grantee visit and lunch.

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest metropolis and its industrial hub. The city also has a rich architectural heritage made from a blend of French-colonial design and traditional Moroccan style which is known as Moresque architecture. Developed back in the 1930s and heavily influenced by Art Deco, Casablanca embraced decorative details such as intricate tile work and ornate iron balconies. You will notice that some of the era’s gems have been magnificently restored, whilst others lie in disrepair.

Then, depart along the highway to Marrakesh; Pearl of the South, City of Palms, The Red City – just a few of the nicknames Marrakesh has acquired over the years. Part Berber, part Arab and part African, Marrakesh is the heartbeat of Morocco where palaces and monuments of unrivaled refinement sit calmly along with luxury hotels, sophisticated bars, and fancy restaurants. Marrakesh’s thousand-year history and winding souks in the old medina make it one of the most interesting cities in the world.

Tonight enjoy a leisurely dinner at the hotel. Take an optional guided stroll in the Jemaa el-Fna square, a main cultural space and open-air market of food stalls and entertainment centrally located in the Medina. Most of the monuments will be closed by this time.

Overnight: Riad Nashira

Marrakesh

Today after breakfast you will visit with one of The Fund’s grantees. Enjoy a group lunch before your free afternoon to explore the local market. You can either participate in a guided tour or explore on your own.

From here enjoy a fascinating walk through the “The Medina”, where your guide will take you to see real Moroccan life in old neighborhoods of “Marrakeshis”. The Medina of Marrakesh is one of the largest Medinas in Morocco and the most populated in North Africa. Walk through the Labyrinth of Souks; this maze of colorful alleys and small squares is home to a bewildering number of stalls and ateliers. Each section of the souk has its own specialty, with alleys devoted to everything from spices and ironwork. This is your opportunity to enjoy some shopping and purchase your Moroccan souvenirs & gifts.

You will find yourself in the famous Jemaa el-Fna, the city’s main square. No one is really certain how it came into being, but over the years, the square has become the beating heart of Marrakesh, where fire eaters, mime artists, snake charmers, and street musicians perform at every turn.

End up at Koutoubia mosque, an emblem of Marrakesh. It is not possible to enter the mosque, but its beauty can be admired from the gardens and the square. Built in the 12th century, the Koutoubia’s minaret is considered one of the highlights of Islamic religious structures in North Africa and the inspiration for the architects of the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. This famous landmark dominates the local skyline and can easily be spotted from all over Marrakesh.

Return back to the hotel in the afternoon to freshen up before tonight’s group dinner.

Overnight: Riad Nashira

Marrakesh

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel this morning before today’s activities. Today, you will partake in an amazing Moroccan cooking workshop together, following the chef’s instructions at your own cooking station. Learn the ingredients, secrets, and preparations of Moroccan cuisine. First, you will participate in a Moroccan tea ceremony and then see how Moroccan bread is made. Next, work at your own workstation alongside the instructor to prepare a delicious Moroccan meal including salad, a main course, and dessert. Dine on the mouth-watering lunch you’ve prepared.

Afterwards, have time to explore more of Marrakesh, or enjoy a rejuvenating Hammam, a traditional steam and scrub bath, (at additional cost).

For those enjoying further sights and sounds of Marrakesh amy visitDar El Bacha museum, the former private residence of Thami El Glaoui, which is an exhibition of gorgeous Moroccan design and Islamic art, Le Jardin Secret, or Majorelle garden + Yves Saint Laurent museum (at additional cost).

For those enjoying further sights and sounds of Marrakesh amy visitDar El Bacha museum, the former private residence of Thami El Glaoui, which is an exhibition of gorgeous Moroccan design and Islamic art, Le Jardin Secret, or Majorelle garden + Yves Saint Laurent museum (at additional cost).

On your last evening together, there will be a special Farewell Dinner for you all to come together one last time as a group and reflect on all that you experienced and the inspirational people you met during your journey in Morocco.

Overnight: Riad Nashira

International Departures

Enjoy one final group breakfast together today. A private airport transfer will be arranged for you, based on your departure time, either returning home or continuing your travels.

Interested in spending more time exploring Morocco or neighboring countries? The Elevate Destinations team would be happy to design a customized itinerary for you! Here are our sample itineraries in Morocco if you are in need of some travel inspiration! Contact Abbey at abbey@elevatedestinations.com to start planning!