Rabat - Volubilis - Fez - Ziz Valley - Erfoud - Rissani - Sahara - Todgha Canyons - Dades Valley - Ouarzazate - Marrakesh - Essaouira - Casablanca
January 16 - 28, 2025
Assorted Photos from Morocco
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| Morocco Flag |
This was my second time in Morocco. In December 1992, I visited the northern city of Tangier while traveling through Spain. I vowed never to return. But, alas, what a difference 24 years makes! The country has evolved so much for the better since then and now I highly recommend a visit. This time around, I got the most wonderful dose of history, nature, and culture while experiencing interesting sights, amazing scenery, decent weather, friendly people, great food, and comfortable accommodations.
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| Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour |
How Long Was Your Trip? When Did You Go? Where Did You Go? The tour lasted 13 days from January 16-28, 2028. I spent:
- 12 days visiting the major cities of Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca, and many interesting sites in between.
- 1 day flying back and forth from the US
Did You Do This on Your Own or with a Tour Company? I traveled with
Gate1Travel on its "13-Day Kaleidoscope of Morocco" tour. Considering how much the cost of foreign travel has gone up over the past 4 years, this tour was quite affordable by any standard. The tour included a nice mix of the big cities, historic sites, and natural beauty. It was was
nicely paced and hit all the major highlights of the country.
I can't express enough how wonderful our tour director Zouhair ("Zou") Aarab was, as well as our motorcoach driver and assistant, Abdil and Rashid. All were the consummate professionals. They make or break a tour. The hotels and food were also great, though I won't eating tajine for the foreseeable future since I overdosed on it while there.
My tour group had 37 people, the largest one I've ever had by a longshot on a Gate1 tour. 36 were from the US and one from Canada. 20 of the US members came from Georgia and Texas since they were friends traveling together. The rest came from NJ, FL, CO, TX, IL, CA and WI (me). We were a seasoned group of travelers and got along well.
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| Gate1 Tour Guide - Zouhair ("Zou") Aarab - Excellent |
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Gate1 Tour Group - 37 in All
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How Did You Get There and Back? I flew from my home in Milwaukee to Boston, where I stayed for 3 days before traveling to Casablanca, Morocco via Paris. Our way back was the same route except I got back to Milwaukee via Chicago.
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| Air Travel Map - 11,089 Miles Roundtrip |
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| Ground Travel Map - 1,141 Miles |
Was It Easy Navigating Your Way Around? Yes, because we were largely situated either in the heart of each town within walking distance to most everything, or shuttled by motorcoach to each of our destinations.
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| Gate1 Motor Coach - Comfortable & Safe |
The bus was quite comfortable and had more seats than people. The WiFi was also good. However, there was no bathroom. And there were no charging outlets for phones so I relied on my portable power pack while traveling.
Gate1 has a seat rotation policy so that the same people don't always have the coveted front seats. As usual, I sat in the back behind the rotation zone with a few others so we could talk without interrupting the others.
Where Did You Stay? We stayed in a number of 4-star and 5-star hotels. Most were in or close to the center of town. All hotels were modern, clean, and comfortable, with excellent restaurants and great WiFi. All had fitness centers. While all had AC, every hotel had shut it down for winter. Since the outdoor temperatures were mild during the day, we really didn't need AC that much.
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| Gate1 Hotels - 4/5-Star, Well Located |
In Morocco, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type C and type E are used in hotels and elsewhere. The standard voltage is 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. You will need to bring a round peg European plug travel adapter to charge electronic devices.
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| Note: Type E is same as European F |
Meals? Half of our meals were included in the price of the tour. Breakfast was included every morning and about half of our lunches and dinners. All meals included healthy options to suit all tastes and dietary needs, as did the options provided when we dined on our own. I got a good dose of Moroccan food and probably won't be eating tajine for the foreseeable future.
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| Moroccan Tajine - Meat & Veggies Cooked in a Clay Pot |
How Was the Weather? I traveled in January. The weather was chilly at night (mid 40's F) and moderate during the day (mid 60s - low 70s F). Days were mostly sunny. When it rained, it was mostly at night when we were not touring.
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| Late January Weather in Morocco |
What Clothing Did You Pack? I brought more clothes than usual for the 13-day trip since I was traveling during winter. So it was all about layers, layers, layers. We stayed in Boston for a few days prior to the trip and it was winter there. In Morocco, it was like spring or fall. Hence, long pants and shirts that I could layer, along with my rain jacket/windbreaker, gloves and a hat. I brought two pairs of comfortable shoes. As usual, the socks and underlayers were all "Dri-Fit" material that could be washed every few days in the hotel sink. I roughly 4 days worth of clothes coming in under 20 pounds.
[Luggage Photo]
What was the Time Difference? Morocco was 7 hours ahead of my home town time zone in Milwaukee (US, Central Time, GMT/UTC −06:00). It took a good week and sleeping pills to get a fully night of sleep.
What Was the Currency? What Were Prices Like? Morocco's currency is Moroccan dirham. The dirham is a closed currency, which means it can only be bought once you arrive in Morocco. I used my credit card as much as I could and got dirhams from bank ATMs as needed. The conversion rates and fees were fair and nominal. I read about there being a problem getting coins for change but didn't really encounter this. You'll need coins to use a public bathroom, up to 5 dirhams, or 50 cents.
Do NOT bring $1 bills or dirty/torn bills of any denomination from the US for tipping or payment. They are not accepted anywhere for any reason. Get dirhams from an ATM as needed.
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| Morocco Dirham - 10 Dirhams = $1 as of 1/15/2025 |
What Did This Whole Trip Cost You? Morocco was relatively inexpensive. I spent $3,900 in total, or about $300 per day. It was money well spent and an excellent travel value. I paid 80% of the trip cost ($3,200) before leaving the US. Once on the ground, I spent another $700 on items not included in the tour cost, such as tips, lunches and dinners on my own, and international mobile phone/internet charges.
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| Morocco Trip Cost - $3,900 ($300/Day) |
Special Trip Considerations.
- Safety. Morocco boasts good security services, and the government prioritizes tourist safety. Petty theft is the most common issue you might encounter, but terrorism and kidnapping, though less frequent, are also concerns. In addition, certain travelers, namely women, may need to take certain precautions during their travels. You can get the lastes US Dept of State Travel Advisories here.
- Air Quality. Air quality was generally quite good everywhere. At times, the leaded gas exhaust in Casablanca and Marrakesh irritated my throat, but not enough to warrant wearing a mask.
- Physical Condition. We traversed a lot of steps, uneven surfaces, and steep grades absent high temperatures and humidity. If you have mobility or heat issues, this is probably not the tour for you.
- Cat Lover? If you are a cat lover, you will be in heaven in Morocco. Cats are considererd good luck and well-fed and well-cared-for cats stray cats can be found everywhere. Be sure to bring some cat treats from home or buy some while you are over there. There are efforts to control the population. If you see a cat with a clipped ear, it means it was spayed or neutered.
Any Parting Comments? Travel is an adventure. It’s an opportunity to experience, learn and appreciate how people around the world live. While I’m always happy to come home at the end, I never come back the same person.
Following is a day-by-day account of my trip. Each day starts with an overview of what we did, followed by my daily journal. I stopped giving history lessons in my posts but added links you can click on to read more about the places I visited. You can just read on from here or go back up to the Table of Contents above and jump to a specific day or topic of interest.
Enjoy!
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Depart USA for Casablana, Morocco
Daily Journal
Weather: 62F and sunny
Summary: Today we caught our overseas flight from Boston to Casablanca, Morocco.
I came to Boston for 2-1/2 days before departing for the trip to Morocco.
After touring Boston all day, we grabbed a mid-afternoon Blue Line metro train from downtown Boston to the airport. The journey lasted 15 minutes and we arrived at the airport at 3:30 pm. I sailed through check-in due to TSA precheck and, for a few hours, sat in the waiting area for the overnight flight to Casablanca via Paris.
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| Our Plane from Boston to Paris |
At 7:40 pm, we boarded our Delta Airlines A330neo and by 8:35 p.m. we were on our way 6 hours to Paris.
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| Flight Path Boston to Paris - 6 Hours |
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to hotel in Rabat. Evening orientation meeting and dinner with Tour Manager.
Daily Journal
Weather: 65F and sunny
Summary: My overseas flight from Boston to Casablanca continued. We arrived in Casablanca in the late afternoo and were immediately driven to our hotel in Rabat where we had a tour orientation meeting and dinner with our tour director and fellow tour group members.
The day started on the plane over southern Ireland about 450 miles from Paris 1-1/2 hours away. We touched down at Charles DeGaulle airport in Paris, France on time at around 9:30 am. I slept a lot of the way over so had nothing to eat for many hours. Delta did not even serve breakfast. Our flight landed in dense fog in Paris and I couldn't see the ground till almost the point we landed.
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| Flight Path to Paris - 1-1/2 Hours to Go |
We had a 3-hour layover in Paris before our next flight to Casablanca. We made our way by shuttle train to a different terminal and hung out there for a few hours. We had to go through security again, which I found unusual because we never left the security zone during the transfer.
We boarded our Air France A320 around noon and departed Paris 25 minutes late at 1 pm for the 2 hour 35 minute, 1,100-mile flight to Casablanca. Boarding was a total clusterf#&k as overhead bin space was limited and everyone seemed to have big bags. It took an extra 15 minutes to organize carry on luggage since people shoved stuff into the overhead bins that should have gone under the seat in front of them. The airplane was dirty and spartan. No magazines, no inflight entertainment and WiFi only for messaging.
Three hours layer, we were flying over Casablanca on approach to the airport. I had a great view of the city. Just as we were about to land, the plane pulled up and we went around for another try at landing. In the end, we arrived in Casablanca 30 minutes late around 4 pm. Then it took over 1-1/2 hours to clear immigration and customs. What a mess.
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| Arrival in Casablanca, Morocco |
After customs and immigration, we were met in the airport arrival area by our Gate 1 representative and then drove 1-1/2 hours and 63 miles north to our hotel in the capital city of Rabat.
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| Casablanca to Rabat - Transfer to Rabat |
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| Casablanca to Rabat - Transfer to Rabat in Gate1 Vehicle |
Around 7 pm, we arrived at our nice hotel, the Dawliz Resort and Spa. The tour orientation meeting had already started so we went directly to a huge auditorium where our program director reviewed our itinerary, local customs, and some tips for staying out of trouble.
The tour group had 37 people, the largest one I've ever traveled with on Gate1. Except for one Canadian, everyone was from the US. There were two large groups of friends consisting of 19 Chinese nationals and 6 Indian nationals. They kept to themselves throughout the trip so I never really did get any of their names. Even at the farewell dinner at the end of the trip, I found myself questioning whether some of them had even been on the tour.
After orientation, we went directly to a nice buffet dinner featuring various Moroccan dishes. I got to talk to our Tour Director, Zouhair (Zou) Aarab, who turned out to be one of the best tour directors I've ever had on Gate1. For the record though, Gate1 always has great tour directors.
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Gate1 Tour Guide - Zouhair ("Zou") Aarab - Excellent
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After dinner we went back to the room. It was really nice overlooking the pool. The bed was two twins pushed together, so we had housekeeping drop by to make separate beds. The peephole was also backwards so you could see into the room from outside. Scary.
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| Rabat Hotel - Nice View of Rabat |
I enjoyed a good night's sleep after a long day of travel.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Morning city tour of Rabat, Morocco's capital. Rabat, which means "Fortified Place" displays all of the fine architecture one might expect to see. Visit the Hassan Tower, view the Royal Palace, then visit the Oudaya Kasbah and the Oudaya National Museum of Ornaments, showcasing an exquisite collection of decorative pieces from intricate jewelry and finely crafted metalwork to delicate ceramics and textiles. Afternoon at leisure.
Daily Journal
Weather: 66F and sunny
Summary: Today we had a tour of the most important sites in the Moroccan capital city of Rabat. In the evening, we went to the bustling downtown for dinner.
I woke up at 6 am, showered and then checked out the hotel for 30 minutes while waiting for the breakfast room to open at 7 am. The sun did not rise until 8:30 am so we had a beautiful night view of Rabat from our hotel room.
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| Rabat Hotel - Nice View of Rabat |
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| Rabat Hotel - Nice View of Rabat |
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| Rabat Hotel - Nice View of Rabat After Sunrise |
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The breakfast buffet, with omelets made to order, was excellent. The only negative was that all the coffee came out of a Nescafe instant coffee machine, which was the case at every hotel we stayed at throughout the trip.
At 9 am, we left the hotel for a half day tour of Rabat, a 12th century city with many important sites. Our first stop was the Hassan II Masoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the Mohamed VI Tower, the tallest minaret in Morocco and third tallest in Africa. The Hassan II tomb was striking both inside and out, and surrounded by guards in colorful traditional uniforms. Hassan II preceded the current king, his son Mohammed VI.
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum |
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum - Cats Everywhere |
From the Hassan II mausuleum, one can see the Rabat Opera House (2016) designed by female architect, Zaha Hadid. The main hall is shaped like the head of a cobra.
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| Rabat - Hassan II Masoleum - Opera House |
After the Hassan II Masoleum, we drove over to the Royal Palace, currently occupied by King Mohammed VI, who succeed his father, Hassan II, in 1999. The King was not in the palace on the day we visited.
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| Rabat - Royal Palace |
After the Royal Palace, we stopped at Chellah, a 14th century fortified Muslim necropolis and ancient archeological site, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site was first occupied in 40 AD by the Phoenicians. I was disappointed that we didn't go in. I hate drive by sightseeing.
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| Rabat - Chellah Necropolis |
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| Rabat - Chellah Necropolis |
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| Rabat - Chellah Necropolis |
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| Rabat - Chellah Necropolis |
Our final stop of the day was the fabulous Kasbah of the Oudayas and Kasbah Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kasbah is a 17th century visual masterpiece of Andalusian and Moroccan architectural styles filled with narrow, winding streets, and houses adorned in iconic blue and white colors. The Kasbah’s strategic location offers stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou Regreg river from a platform. The Kasbah takes its name from the Udaya tribe, who occupied the site in the 10th century.
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas |
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| Rabat - Oudaya National Museum of Ornaments |
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| Rabat - Oudaya National Museum of Ornaments |
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| Rabat - Oudaya National Museum of Ornaments |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas - Shopping |
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| Rabat - Kasbah of the Oudayas - Cats Everywhere |
After the Kasbah and Museum, we went back to the hotel. However, some people in the group went to the marina for a seafood lunch, while one couple walked back to the hotel from the Kashah. I took a 3-hour nap because I had not slept well for 3 days.
At 5:30 pm, we met in the hotel lobby and departed by bus with our tour director to the bustling city center for dinner. A small group of us found our way to a nice tanjine restaurant called Dar Naji, just outside the Kasbah where we had been earlier in the day. I had an interesting artichoke and meat tanhine dish with salad and tea for $8.
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| Rabat - City Center |
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| Rabat - City Center |
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| Rabat - City Center |
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| Rabat - City Center - Medina |
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| Rabat - Dar Naji Restaurant |
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| Rabat - Dar Naji Restaurant |
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| Rabat - Dar Naji Restaurant - Tea with Flair |
After dinner, my small dinner group was running way late for the bus back to the hotel, so we had to really hussle the one mile distance to the meeting point. I enjoyed seeing all the Saturday night crowd of people wandering the busy streets. We were 5 minutes late for the bus, but it didn't matter because our driver had to go around the block a few times due to lack of a parking spot. Fifteen minutes later, we were back at the hotel packing our bags for the half day drive to Fes the following day. Then it was straight to bed.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Today, depart Rabat for Fez. En route, stop and visit the ancient ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis where you will get a chance to see the well-preserved original mosaics, Roman Road, and city layout. As you travel through the Moroccan countryside, pass by the holy city of Moulay Idriss for a photo opportunity. Upon arrival in Fez, admire panoramic views of the ancient city of Fez from a hill overlooking the medina. Take a short bus tour of the imperial city, conducted by your Tour Manager, on the way to the hotel.
Daily Journal
Weather: 68F and partly sunny
Summary: Today we drove from Rabat to the imperial city of Fez, with a stop at the ancient Roman ruins at Volubilus, lunch in Meknes, and a stop at a scenic overlook of the Fez medina.
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| Daily Gate 1 Itinerary |
It was a rough night since I woke up at 2 am and never got back to sleep. I finally got up at 6:00 am, showered, and went down to breakfast around 6:30 am. We departed at 8:00 am for Fez. It was still dark when we left the hotel. We enjoyed a spectacular sunrise around 8:30 sm when the sun came up. Unfortunately, most of the people on the bus were still jetlagged and slept through it.
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| Rabat to Fez - Predawn Departure |
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Rabat to Fez - Predawn Departure
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| Rabat to Fez - Predawn Departure |
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| Rabat to Fez - Nice Scenery |
At 10 am, we stopped for a panoramic view of the city of Meknes, considered the Versailles of Morocco.
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| City of Moulay Idriss |
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| City of Moulay Idriss |
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Drive to Fes - Beef and Dairy Cattle
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Drive to Fes - Stork Nests
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Drive to Fes - Olive Groves
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| Drive to Fes - Olive Groves |
At 11 am, we stopped at the ruins of the ancient Roman City of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site occupied from 65 BC to 400 AD. At its peak, the city was home to 5,000 people. Over the next two hours, we admired the well-preserved original buildings, arches, columns, mosaics, and roads.
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| Rabat to Fez - Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis - Local Guide (R) |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis - Penis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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Ancient Roman City of Volubilis
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
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| Ancient Roman City of Volubilis |
After visiting Volubilis, we drove into the nearby city of Meknes for lunch at a lively place called Black Pepper, followed by a visit to two of the city's main gates, Bab Mansour and Bab El-Khemis.
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| Meknes - Black Pepper Lunch Stop |
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| Fez - Medina Panorma |
After checking into our beautiful Marriott hotel, we took a long walk up the main drag of the city before returning to the hotel to do some laundry. Lots of laundry.
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| Fez - City Center |
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| Fez - City Center |
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| Fez - City Center |
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| Fez Marriott Hotel Art |
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| Fez Marriott Hotel Art |
Then I popped two sleeping pills and tried to make up for all the sleep I lost due to her lag.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Fez tour where you will visit the many hidden treasures of the medina that only a Moroccan guide will know. Fez is particularly famous for its tanneries and the Fes el Bali Medina. A short visit to the surrounding leather shops gives you the best view of the tanneries. See the Attarine Medersa, Moulay Idriss Mausoleum, and visit the Nejjarine Fountains and Museum. Finally, view the exterior of the Royal Palace and walk through the famed Jewish quarter of the medina.
Daily Journal
Weather: 66F and sunny.
Summary: Today we had a full day tour of the Fez medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must on any Morocco itinerary.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
I woke up at 5:45 am after getting the first full night of sleep on the tour.
At 9 am, we met our local guide, Ahmed, and headed for a 30-minute visit to Borj Sud for a panoramic view of the Fez medina ("place of civilization"). Along the way, we learned that the Fez medina is the largest in world with 9,000 streets and 16 miles of wall. One-third of Fez's population lives inside the medina. There are some 10,000 shops in the souks (markets), organized around a craft or guild. The money made within each guild is shared amongst the different members. The medina has several sections: The Arab Quarter (Old Town dating back to 808 AD), the Jewish Quarter, and the French Quarter (dating back to the 1920s).
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
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| Fez - al-Attarine Madrasa |
We continued our way through the maze of streets and shops, eventually arriving at the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II, who ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and considered the main founder of the city of Fez. Being non-Muslim, we were only allowed to view from the outside.
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| | Fez - Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II |
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| Fez - Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II |
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| Fez - Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II |
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum - Rooftop View |
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| Fez - Funduq al-Najjariyyin Wood Museum - Rooftop View |
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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After lunch, we continued to a leather store in the medina with a balcony overlooking the vast tannery operations below. As we entered, we were given a sprig of mint to hold under our noses to eliminate the rancid odor wafting up from the tanning operations. Our guide described the odor as "Caca Chanel."
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| Fez - Medina Lunch Stop |
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Getting Lost in the Medina
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Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit
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Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit - Mint for the Nose
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit - Tanning Process - Oh the Smell! |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit - Tanning Process - Dye Vats |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit - Tanning Process - Oh the Smell! |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit - Tanning Process - Oh the Smell! |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit |
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| Fez - Medina Leather Store Visit |
We then visited the Jewish Quarter to visit an important cemetery, admire the architecture and stop by a synagogue.
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Cemetery |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Cemetery |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Cemetery |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Synagogue & Cemetery |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Synagogue & Cemetery |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Wash Day |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue - Torah |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue |
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| Fez - Jewish Quarter - Ibn Danan Synagogue |
After the Jewish Quarter, we walked over to the Royal Palace of Fez, one of several used by King Muhammed VI.
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| Fez - Royal Palace |
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| Fez - Royal Palace |
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| Fez - Royal Palace |
Before dinner I watched the US presidential inauguration on TV, had dinner at the hotel, and then went to bed.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Depart for Erfoud via the montane cedar woods of the middle Atlas Mountains, stopping in Ifrane, a charming ski resort. Continue to Erfoud via Errachidia and the lush Ziz Valley. Arrive to your Erfoud hotel in early evening.
Daily Journal
Weather: 65F and sunny
Summary: We left Fez in the early morning and took a leisurely drive south to the Sahara town of Erfoud, just 20 miles west from the Algeria border. We stopped briefly in the ski resort town of Ifrane as well as the Ziz Canyon while enjoying the scenic drive through the mid Atlas Mountains.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
I got up at 5:30 am. I still hadn't adjusted to the 7-hour time difference and had been getting by on just a few hours of sleep each night with an occasional nap.
We departed the Fez hotel at 8:30 am. By 9:00 am, we took a coffee break in Ifrane, a ski resort town supported by tourism in the mid Atlas Mountains. After coffee, we strolled the town admiring the alpine style architecture and stork nests in the chimnies, and stopped at a stone statue of a lion in Parc la Prairie.
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| Ifrane - Alpine Homes & Stork Nests |
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| Ifrane - Main Square |
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| Ifrane - Main Square |
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| Ifrane - Alpine Homes |
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| Ifrane - Stroll Through Town |
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| Ifrane - Stroll Through Town |
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| Ifrane - Lion Statue |
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| Ifrane - Lion Statue |
We continued another hour toward Erfoud, admiring the increasingly mountainous terrain along the way. At 12 pm, we stopped for lunch. I was tired of tajine so had the spaghetti bolagnase.
We were back on the road headed to Erfoud by 12:45 pm. Around 3:45 pm, we stopped for coffee. I had the Morocco version of cafe-au-lait known at nous nous.
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| Fez to Erfoud - Scenic Drive - Ziz Canyon |
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| Fez to Erfoud - Scenic Drive - Ziz Canyon |
At 5:45 pm, we finally arrived at our wonderful hotel in Erfoud. Forty-five minutes later we on the hotel rooftop watching a glorious sunset over the Sahara.
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| Erfoud - Sunset at Hotel |
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| Erfoud - At Hotel |
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| Erfoud - Sunset at Hotel |
After a lively buffett dinner at our hotel, it was off to bed.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Depart to explore the small city of Rissani, on the edge of the Sahara. En route, stop at a fossil factory to learn more about this unique activity which is famous in the region. Upon arrival in Rissani, tour the lively souk and visit an18th century ksar. Next, pass by the ancient ruins of Sijilmasa on the River Ziz, once a Berber city and medieval trade depot. Return to Erfoud for an afternoon at leisure or join the optional tour of the Sahara, including a camel ride into the desert. After sunset, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Daily Journal
Weather: 65F and sunny
Summary : Today we visited the town of Rissani near Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara. We took in a fossil factory, visited a ksar, met a nomadic Berber family living in the desert, and had a camel ride in the desert at sunset.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
I got up at 600 am, had breakfast at 6:30 am, then went back to my room to catch-up on photo editing and my trip journal.
At 8:45 am, we boarded our bus and headed to the nearby town of Rissani, once a major caravan trading hub. Along the way we saw a massive palm forest (oasis), the largest in Africa, extending all the way to the southern border of Morocco. No wonder Morocco is famous for palm dates.
Because the desert was once ocean bottom, the region is rich in fossilized stone that has become a major revenue source in the region. We visited a factory called Macro Fossiles Kasbah that quarries, sculpts and polishes this stone into a variety of unusual products. We toured the factory, then visited the gift shop where many souvenir purchases were made.
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store - Tour Guide |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
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| Rissani - Fossil Factory & Store |
Around 10 am, we met our local guide Ahbil to tour a local souk (market) where just about any type of food or good could be found, complete with the ever-present aggressive street vendors.
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit - Spices |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit |
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| Rissani - Souk (Market) Visit - Sampling Fresh Bread |
Before lunch, we toured a 17th century ksar, a fortified adobe village found in regions traditionally inhabited by Berbers, the native Moroccan population.
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
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| Rissani - Berber Ksar Visit |
We then got into SUVs for a drive to lunch in the desert.
At the nomadic Berber family tent, we were greeted by the matriarch, 62 year old Fatima and her 3 grandsons. The kids walk to school daily 3 miles each way. They shop weekly 5-6 miles away. There's have no medicine or anything. If they get sick they just use home remedies.
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Rissani - SUV Drive into Sahara - Berber Home Visit
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| Rissani - SUV Drive into Sahara - Berber Home Visit |
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| Rissani - SUV Drive into Sahara - Berber Home Visit |
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| Rissani - SUV Drive into Sahara - Berber Home Visit |
At 5:30 pm, we drove to a beautiful resort in the desert to mount camels for a spectacular sunset ride amongst towering sand dunes. Our long shadows in the late day sun made for great pictures as our guide Esmael led our camel train up to the top of the dunes.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Explore Todgha Canyon and Dades Valley. This morning, continue your journey to Tinghir via the Tinjdad Road. Stop to visit the Todgha canyons, which rise to a towering 800 feet. After lunch on your own, continue on the road of the thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley, famous for its roses and the yearly Rose Festival, stop for a panoramic view at the entrance of the Dades Canyons. Arrive at your hotel in Boumalne Dades later this evening in time for dinner.
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Daily Journal
Weather: 65F and sunny
Summary: Today we drove the "Road of 1,000 Kasbahs" in the Atlas Mountains from Erfoud to Dades Valley. The road is home to indiginous Berber villages and deep gorges. The Berbers fled to this high ground 2,000 years ago to avoid the invading Roman Empire.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
On the way out of Erfoud, we saw a sign erected by the Berber people thanking the American people for supporting their life here in Morocco.
A short while into our journey, we made an unscheulded stop at Khetara Fezna Wells. A khettara is ancient underground water channels designed to transport water down slopes without active pumping. Most wells involve digging a vertical shaft downward until it reaches the water table, and then hauling or pumping the water up to the surface. The water has dried up but remnants of wells in the form of dirt mounds dot the countryside.
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Khetara Fezna Wells |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Khetara Fezna Wells |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Khetara Fezna Wells |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Khetara Fezna Wells |
Later we had stopped for an opportunity to photograph a traditional Berber village.
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
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| Erfoud to Dades Canyon - Traditional Berber Village |
We then reached the Todgha canyons, which rise to a towering 800 feet. We took and unforgettable walk through the narrow Todra Gorge which featured towering cliff faces at each new bend and curve in the road. We then drove to the famous Monkey Fingers rock formation for photos.
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Boumalne Dades - Welcome Song at Hotel |
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Boumalne Dades - View from Hotel |
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Boumalne Dades - Nice Sunset
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At 7 pm, my group met at the restaurant for a delicious buffet dinner. One of the women in our group was celebrating her birthday so the hotel staff brought out a birthday cake and we sang happy birthday to her.
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Boumalne Dades - Birthday Girl |
I was tired so passed on the birthday cake and went right to bed.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Travel to Ouarzazate, a desert city at the gates of the Sahara. Next, take a tour of the Atlas Film Studios. Discover the sets of legendary films and TV shows, such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. Finally, visit Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This afternoon travel to Marrakesh via the highest road point in Morocco, the Tichka Pass, offering an impressive landscape in the heart of the Atlas Mountain range. This evening, savor a special dinner hosted by a local family and learn about Moroccan culture and traditions.
Daily Journal
Weather: 92F and sunny
Today we traveled west from Boumalne Dades to Marrakesh, with stops at a major film studio, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the highest road in Morocco.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
After a good night of sleep and a hearty breakfast, we left Boumalne Dades at 7:30 am bound for Marrakesh with several stops.
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| Dades Canyon to Marrakesh - Typical Scenery |
Around 10 am, we arrived at our first stop, the town of Ouarzazate, where we toured the famous Atlas Studio, the third largest televison and movie studio in the world. Here we visited the sets of legendary films and TV shows, such as Gladiator, James Bond, Game of Thrones, The Mummy, Cleopatra, and Lawrence of Arabia. It's now wonder that Ouarzazate has the highest population of movie extras.
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour - Fun! |
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Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour - Cleopatra (2013) |
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Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour - Cleopatra (2013)
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Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour - Cleopatra (2013)
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Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour |
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| Ouarzazate - Atlas Studio Tour - Actor's Hotel |
Around 1 pm, we visited Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture.
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| Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar |
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| Ait Benhaddou - Stork Nest in Minaret |
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Ait Benhaddou - More Retail Therapy
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar on Hilltop
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Ait Benhaddou - More Retail Therapy
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Ait Benhaddou - More Retail Therapy
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Ait Benhaddou - Bridge to Ksar Climb
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Bridge to Ksar Climb
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - Historic Ksar
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Ait Benhaddou - View of Town from Historic Ksar
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| Ait Benhaddou - View of Town from Historic Ksar |
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| Ait Benhaddou - View of Town from Historic Ksar |
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| Ait Benhaddou - Tanjine Pots with Historic Ksar in Background |
We continued to Marrakesh via the highest road point in Morocco, the Tichka Pass, offering an impressive landscape in the heart of the Atlas Mountain range.
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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| Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco.jpg) | | Tichka Pass - Highest Road in Morocco |
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At 6 pm, we arrived in wonderful Marrakesh for a 3-night stay.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Marrakesh City Tour. Take a morning tour of the city. Visit the Saadian Tombs, dating back to the 16th century, where Saadian royalty found their final resting place. Your tour also includes the Koutoubia Minaret, as well as the beautiful Bahia Palace. End the tour by walking through the medina before arriving at the Djemaa el Fna Square. Spend the afternoon at leisure and lively streets of Marrakesh.
Daily Journal
Weather: 72F and sunny
Summary: It was an action packed day taking in the sights and sounds of Marrakesh. This is a must do on any Morocco vacation.
Around 9 am, In the morning, we met our local guide, Zak, and entered the medina to visit Koutoubia Minaret and its surrounding gardens.
After the minaret, we visited the Casbah of Marrakesh, stopping by the 16th-century Saadian Tombs where the Sultan Saadian and the royal family found their final resting place.
We then walked a short distance to the Jewish quarter. Once again, there were lots of shops like everywhere else we went.
After browsing the shops in the Jewish Quarter, we stopped at the stunning Bahia Palace.
After the palace, we had an unplanned tea and cookie stop at a local culinary institute. While there, some French tourists crashed the party and drank our coffee and gnashed on our cookies.
After coffee, we strolled through the Andalusian Quarter where we found hundreds of shops...hundreds.
In the afternoon, we spent 2 hours walking around the souk on our own. There were even more shops than in the Andalusian quarter. It was total chaos and we got lost in the labyrinth of streets but eventually found our way out.
After the souk, we hung out on the main square, Djemaa El Fna, to people watch. There were monkeys on leashes posing for pictures with tourists, snake charmers, street performers and a menagerie of food stalls and tourists from all over.
We had planned to go to the Majorelle Gardens after the tour but tickets for the day were sold out. So we just went back to the hotel. Later, we walked to the local mall and shamelessly had Burger King for dinner since I had grown tried of Tanjine chicken, soggy vegetables and couscous.
After dinner, we hung out by the pool bar with our guide and fellow tour members It felt nice to sit down and sip a cold beer after being on my feet all day.
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Depart Marrakesh for a tour of Essaouira, whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an excellent example of a fortified North African town. Walk along the city's ramparts just north of Moulay Hassan Square where local artists sell their paintings. Continue on to the Skala de la Ville, which is a fortification built along the cliffs that defended the city from sea attacks. Explore the many souks in the medina, including the spice and jewelry souks. Visit a jewelry shop, renowned for its quality and design. Browse the extensive collection of uniquely handcrafted silver jewelry and watch artisans create beautiful silver pieces.
Daily Journal
Weather: 71F and sunny
Summary: Today we took a day trip from Marrakesh to the Atlantic coast town of Essaouira, whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an excellent example of a fortified North African town. Essaouira is about 3 hours west of Marrakesh. Overall, it was a wonderful day in Essaouira. I could have stayed another day.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
Along the way, we saw the only producing argan forest followed by a stop at Cooperative D'Argan Marjana, a women-owned cooperative where we saw how Argan nuts are processed into a host of cosmetic products. I bought some anti-wrinkle cream...industrial size...as a souvenir.
Just outside Essaouira, we stopped at a scenic overlook for a panoramic view of town and the Atlantic Ocean. Some enterprising Moroccans were there with camels for us to pose with for pictures, and money, of course. We were warned not to interact with these guys, so we shot right past them as we got off the bus. Essaouira looked very inviting from afar so that just heightened the anticipation of getting there.
Once in Essaouira, we met our local guide Rashid. Our first stop was the seaport with hundreds of fishing trawlers and seagulls waiting for a free meal by the fish cleaning tables. We walked around taking pictures of the medina walls, fishing boats, and people swimming at the beach. I guess the water wasn't too cold.
We then entered the medina and strolled the streets, admiring the architecture and colorful shops.
Eventually we reached Skala de la Ville, which is a fortification built along the cliffs that defended the city from sea attacks. It was here that Game of Thrones, Season 3, the Walk of Shame episode was filmed. The waves crashing on the rocks on shore were a sight to behold.
We then walked to the Jewish Quarter where we visited Bayt Dakira, the House of Memory, a Jewish museum located in the Jewish quarter "Mellah." The museum aims to be a spiritual space dedicated to the Jewish community of the city. It plays an important role in the preservation and valorisation of the Moroccan Jewish community.
We then stopped at a historic silver shop and then back into the medina to Seafood Corner for a fantastic lunch. I had the most delicious penne past wity fruit-de-mer while my friends enjoyed a sea bass lunch.
With an hour to spare before heading back to Marrakesh, we did some spice shopping and browsed the souks. The spice shop seemed to have a cure for anything that ails you and left you wondering if Moroccans even needed doctors with so many home remedies available.
Around 3:30 pm, we headed back to Marrakesh. We stopped at the same gas station on the way home that we had stopped at eariler in the day. The same people were working there and gave me a surprised look when they saw me. I bet they thought they'd never see me again.
We arrived back at our hotel in Marrakesh around 6:15 pm. Our small group of friends on the tour (Melinda, Joe, Debbie, Sharyn, and our guide Zou) met at the hotel pool area bar for an hour for beer, coctails and appetizers. Nice time and nice company.
On the way back to our room, we stopped at Sharyn and Debbie's room to marvel at all the stuff they bought on the trip and wondered how they were going to get it all home. It reminded me of my travel friends Vicki and Vicky and all the stuff they bought on trips. I ended up taking home just a jar of Argan face cream from today's visit to Essaouira. I like to travel light.
Go to Table of Contents
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Depart Marrakesh, Travel to Casablanca. This morning, travel to Casablanca, the commercial heart of Morocco. Upon arrival, join a half day sightseeing tour of Casablanca, which includes the exterior of the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche seaside. Continue on a short drive through the residential areas of Casablanca to the city center to visit the Mohamed V Square, the Habous quarter and the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral. Tonight, have dinner at a local restaurant.
Daily Journal
Weather: 68F and sunny.
Summary: We left Mareakesh this morning bound for our final destination, Casablanca. Once in Casablanca, we had a tour of the city, a stroll through the French Quarter, and a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
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| Gate1 Daily Itinerary |
We left Marrakesh around 830 am. It was quiet on the motorcoach with everybody sleeping after a busy day of sightseeing yesterday. Along the way, we passed through an area containing 15% of the world's phosphate deposits. Phosphates are used to make fertilizer, Morocco's biggest export.
Around 10:15 am when we were halfway to Casablanca, we stopped for bathroom break. Just as I was coming out of the gas station, a busload of Japanese tourists came rushing toward me like a squadron of zeros descending on Pearl Harbor as they made a beeline for the bathroom with a sense of urgency on their faces.
Upon arrival in Casablanca at 11:35 am, we took a half-day tour of the city. The city looked modern and clean. There was a lot of traffic.
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| Casablanca - Hitting Rush Hour Traffic |
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Casablanca - Hitting Rush Hour Traffic
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The first stop on our tour was Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral, a modernist Roman Catholic church built in 1954 by architect Achille Dangleterre and engineer Gaston Zimmer. The stained glass was windows were awe-inspiring. Our guide asked us to identify soumething in the church that didn't belong. I correctly guessed that it was the stained glass window with the devil in it.
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
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| Casablanca - Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral |
After the cathedral, we drove through the Habous Quarter, Jewish Quarter, past the Royal Palace, and through the French Quarter on our way to the oceanfront promenade, known as the Corniche. The King was in residence at the palace since the Moroccan flag was raised to fill staff.
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter - Royal Palace |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter - Royal Palace |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Habous Quarter |
At the Corniche, we took photos of the masive Atlantic ocean waves crashing on the shore with the Hassan II Mosque in the background. Beautiful.
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche - Hassan II Mosque |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche - Hassan II Mosque |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
Next we had a lunch stop. While the rest of the group dined, we walked up and down the oceanfront (Corniche), which, unfortunately, did not have public access.
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
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| Casablanca - Walking the Corniche |
After a lunch stop on our own along the coastline, we returned to the Hassan II Mosque for upclose photos. The mosque, completed in 1993, is the one of the largest mosques in Africa and the 14th largest in the world. Its minaret is the world's tallest at 700 feet (60 stories). At night, a laser beam on top projects a light up to 36 miles towards Mecca.
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| Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque |
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| Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque |
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| Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque |
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| Casablanca - Hassan II Mosque |
Around 4:30 pm, we checked in to our centrally located hotel,the Radisson Blu. We walked over to the hotel we will be staying at in 8 days when we return for our return flight to the US.
Ar 5:30 pm, we enjoyed a short walk with our guide through the French Quarter adjacent to our hotel. The history of the French in Morocco only dates back 112 years but they left their mark on the city's architecture.
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
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| Casablanca - Walking the French Quarter |
In the evening we had a farewell dinner with our tour group at a local restaurant, El Gousto. I had a seafood puff pastry appetizer and steak dinner. We also enjoyed some nice appetizers, dessert, wine and love entertainment.
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| Casablanca - City Center |
Casablanca - City Center
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Casablanca - Farewell Dinner - El Gousto Restaurant
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| Casablanca - Farewell Dinner - El Gousto Restaurant |
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| Casablanca - Farewell Dinner - El Gousto Restaurant |
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| Casablanca - Farewell Dinner - El Gousto Restaurant |
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| Casablanca - Farewell Dinner - El Gousto Restaurant |
We returned to the hotel around 9:30 pm, said good bye and safe travels to our fellow travelers, and went to bed.
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| Casablanca - New and Old Friends |
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Gate1Travel - 13-Day Morocco Tour
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Itinerary: Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Daily Journal
Weather: 70F and sunny
Instead of returning to the US, we extended our stay in the region with a 7-day excursion to Portugal, starting with 4 days in the Azore Islands and 3 days in Lisbon. After than, we returned to Casablanca for 2 days in early February before heading back to the US. I had never been to the Azores so I was really looking forward to that part of the journey. And I was looking forward to getting reaquainted with Lisbon having not been to this wonderful place since 2002.
So today was a long travel day for most everyone in our travel group. Some had a 6 am flight and had to leave for the airport at 2:30 am. Most of the rest had an 11 am departure for the airport to catch their 4 pm flight. We didn't leave for the airport until 12:30 pm for our 5 pm flight.
After breakfast at our hotel, we wandered to the Central Market a few blocks from our hotel in the French Quarter. We were there a little early as the fishermen were still setting up their stalls with that morning's catch. But it wasn't anything we hadn't seen several times over the previous two weeks. We wandered around the market and surrounding streets some marveling at all the stuff for sale and people watching before heading back to the hotel.
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| Casablanca from Hotel |
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Casablanca from Hotel
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Casablanca in Front of Hotel
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Casablanca - Brutalist Architecture
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| Casablanca - Brutalist Architecture |
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| Casablanca - Central Market |
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| Casablanca - Central Market |
At 12:30 pm, we saw our tour guide, Zou, one last time and met our Gate1 driver who took us to the Casablanca airport 45 minutes away (36 miles) for our 5 pm flights to the Azores via Lisbon.
Like arrival, the process for getting out of Morocco was as cumbersome as getting in. Two baggage scans, four passport checks, and long lines. After an hour, we were at the food court waiting to board out flight to Lisbon.
At 4 pm, we were taken to our plane on a bus. We managed to beat everyone onto the plane and store our carry-ons in the overhead bins before they filled up. By 5 pm, our TAP airlines Embraer 190 was airborne for the 2-1/2 hour flight to Lisbon.
We arrived in Lisbon around 5:30 pm, gaining an hour on the way. We had a 4-hour layover in Lisbon, which made me wish I had booked that direct flight to Ponta Delgado when I first saw it.
We left Lisbon at 10:15 pm and arrived in Porta Delgada on the Azore island of San Miguel around 11:45 pm, gaining another hour en route.
We caught a taxi 10 minutes to our hotel, the NEAT Avenida, a few miles away by the marina area, and checked into our hotel by 12:30 am.
Then it was straight to bed since we had a 7-1/2-hour island jeep tour in the morning.
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