In the following itinerary, you will find the days numbered as they are in the Djoser, Netherlands program, departing from Amsterdam. We will also denote travel days to and from the United States, which will make your trip 1 day longer than the Dutch trip. This will insure that you are on the “same page” as your fellow travelers when determining your daily schedule.
The travel itinerary is predetermined as are the hotels where we will spend the night. During the tours there are a wide variety of potential excursions. This brochure offers a condensed impression of what you can see and do on a Djoser tour through Morocco. The country has enormous and varied natural, historical and cultural treasures.
The Djoser formula guarantees plenty of freedom on the tour. We do not have a planned moment-to-moment itinerary. Instead, the tour leader will offer you choices. On most days the tour leader will suggest one or more activities, but you never have to feel obliged to participate. Optional activities are always planned with the group. This gives you plenty of room for your personal explorations and unexpected events such as a spontaneous picnic, a walk or visit to a small village. Please keep in mind that due to unforeseen circumstances, the program might have to be altered and some activities cannot take place.
Rabat
Day 1 Depart USA
Day 2 In transit - Casablanca
Day 3 Casablanca - Rabat
Upon the late arrival at the airport the best thing to do is to exchange money immediately. This gives you time the following morning to visit the new mosque located directly on the sea. Casa, as the Moroccans usually call Casablanca, is not an old city: beautiful shopping streets, many restaurants and large buildings are typical scenes in the city. In approximately two hours, we drive to Rabat where we stay at an atmospheric hotel in the center of town. From the beautiful terrace, you can observe the life of the Moroccans at your leisure. The capital, Rabat, is one of four old royal cities. In the medina, you can wander around along the winding alleyways with many gold, silver and little spice shops. Or you can use your negotiating skills in the Mellah, the cozy Jewish neighborhood. With the tour leader or In small groups you can also pay a visit to Chella, an hold Roman settlement and the archeological museum. A large mausoleum was built in Rabat In memory of King Mohammad V. The changing of the guard always draws a crowd. Bird lovers should not miss the Jardin d’Essai where many storks and ibis build their nests on the ruins, among them, the minarets of the old mosque.
Tanger
Day 3 Rabat to Tanger
Day 4 Tanger to Chefchaouen
Day 5 Chefchaouen
In Tanger, we stay in a beautiful colonial hotel. The rooms are simple but the view over the harbor and the streets of Gibraltar is fantastic. In the twenties, Tanger was a free state for smugglers, speculators and secret agents. However, these days it is part of the Moroccan state and the golden age of Tanger has passed. You still taste a little of the old atmosphere from the good old days. The Grand Socco is a busy square where, during Roman times, the forum was located. At nighttime, you can grab a bite to eat on the Grande Boulevard Avenue de l’Essagne or visit a café, for example El Haya, the regular hangout of the writer, Paul Bowles.
The trip to Chefchaouen travels through the Riff Mountains and during the trip you can enjoy the beautiful views. Via the small town, Tetouan we reach Chefchaouen. Both cities have a distinct Spanish flavor that dates back to the time this area was under the protection of Spain. Chefchaouen is beautifully located against the mountains. The 15th Century city built by fugitive Muslims and Jews was cut off for centuries by the outside world, explaining the unique atmosphere. The little touristy medina reflects the original multi-cultural character of the city: there are Moroccan, Andalusian, Berber and Jewish sections, although the distinction these days are minimal. You come across many textile products during a trip through the city: from carpets to djellabas. You can also go for a beautiful mountain walk under supervision of a guide.
Day 6 From Chefchaouen to Fez
Day 7 Fez
Day 8 Fez – Excursion to Meknes
A bus trip of about four hours through the Riff Mountain Range takes us to Fez. Fez is the oldest royal city of Morocco and the religious center of the country. We stay in a modern hotel in the center of the new city. The medina of Fez stretches over a hill. On the highest located part of the neighborhood, you find potters. In the lower part, you find the living and workplaces of the leather workers and the wool dyers. The dyers give the neighborhood a colorful appearance. After the strings of wool are dyed in enormous pots they are hung to dry in the streets. The medina in Fez is very busy and diversified. For example, in addition to fabrics and spices you can also buy charms against the “evil eye”. A walking tour with a guide through the medina will take you to places that you would not find on your own, such as a beautiful old Qu’ran school or a lovely time-weathered mosque. You also may want to visit a Hammam (a bath house), for a thorough cleansing and relaxation. On the 21-day tour, a full day is allocated for an excursion to Volubilis, Moulay Edriss and Meknes. On the 11-day trip, we make a stop on the way from Chefchaouen in Volubilis and Moulay Edriss. The Roman ruin city, Volubilis was in the old days, located in the center of a fertile agricultural area where wheat and olives grew and wild animals thrived. You still find some beautiful mosaics in some of the Roman villas. From Volubilis, you continue on to Moulay Edriss, the holiest place of Morocco. Until 1912, non-Muslims were not allowed to enter Moulay Edriss; there are still no hotels. A wooden beam over the street lets you know where Christians and beasts of burden or not allowed to go further. In Meknes, you see the beautiful mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismael. The courtyard has a fountain in the middle and the walls and floors are covered with beautiful mosaics. After the stay in Fez, our two tours will start to follow different routes. Participants of the 11-day tour continue their trip from Fez to the beautiful city Marrakech. The 21-day tour takes us first to the south where we visit Erfoud, Tinerhir and Zagora. We continue the trip and will also arrive in Marrakech. The route description for the 11-day trip is continued under the heading, Marrakech.
Erfoud
Day 9 Fez - Erfoud
Day 10 Erfoud – desert safari Erg Chebbi
The day trip from Fez to Erfoud (approximately 240 miles) is a long trip. The route however, is magnificent. We cross the mid Atlas Mountain range. It is easy to observe how the climate affects both sides: from a predominately green area on one side of the range we drive into a desert like area on the other side. We take a break during this trip for example in the mountain village Arzou where the Berbers live herding lives minding sheep and goats. In the Cedar Forests near Arzou, you can go for beautiful walks and maybe you get to see some little monkeys that live in the trees. On the way, we can go for lunch in Midelt, a popular little town with many eateries. There is a slight possibility that we come across Nomad’s tents along the way and may get an invitation for tea. Approaching nighttime, we arrive in Erfoud where we spend the night in a good hotel with a swimming pool. On the free day, you can take an interesting excursion where you are driven by land rovers much deeper in the Erg Chebbi, the small desert. In the neighborhood of the village Merzouga you witness the sunset followed by a typical Berber dinner in a Bedouin tent you also spend the night here so early in the morning you witness the sun rise over the sand dunes. Mattresses, sheets, toiletries and shower facilities are all provided. After breakfast, we drive back to Erfoud.
Tinerhir
Day 11 Erg Chebbi - Tinerhir
Day 12 Tinerhir and a walking tour in the Todra Gorge
The next day we drive for a couple of hours form Erfoud to Tinerhir very close to the famous Gorge du Todra. The water of the small spring has carved an impressive gorge. We stay at a simple hotel at a beautiful location. You can go for a walk through the gorge where occasionally you have to jump from stone to stone to stay dry. There are a variety of walks possible lasting from and hour to almost an entire day.
Zagora
Day 13 Via Ouarzazate to Zagora
Day 14 Zagora
Day 15 From Zagora to Marrakech
On the way to the southern located Zagora, we drive to the “Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs”. In this green valley there are many forts allowing us the possibility to stop at a few of them. Some are still occupied while others are merely ruins and memories of what once existed. After about four hours, we interrupt the trip for lunch in Ouarzazate and by the end of the afternoon we arrive in Zagora. Here we spend the night in a beautiful hotel in the Palm Oasis with a restaurant and pool. Typical of the area are clay houses and the large village square around which life revolves. Men, clothed in the traditional jalabiya, sit in small groups; you constantly hear the clicking of domino tiles. Zagora is located in a desert-like region and is a quiet place from where you can make magnificent walks or even explore the desert by camel. We depart early in the morning for the relatively long trip to Marrakech, one of the royal cities. The trip from Zagora starts with a drive through the green valley of the Draa, where you will see many kasbahs. Some are still occupied while others are merely ruins. We cross the highest point of the Atlas Mountains where at 5,000 feet where you have a phenomenal view of the surroundings. Next, we interrupt the trip for lunch at Ouarzazate. We arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Marrakech
Day 16 Marrakech
Day 17 Depart to Essaouira
The hotel in Marrakech has a terrace and restaurant and is located a stones throw away from the famous square Djemaa el-Fna. This square is the heart of the city; in the morning you can visit the most colorful market of Morocco, in the afternoon the square changes into a large carnival environment. Jugglers, snake charmers, fortunetellers, and beggars intermingle with the vendors and offer a fascinating spectacle. An intriguing building is the Koutoubia Mosque, straight across from our hotel on the Djemaa el-Fna. You can also truly enjoy the magnificent building style that the Pasjas left behind as well as several palaces and kasbahs. There are also beautiful parks such as the Menara and Agdal Gardens. For the folks who do not like the bustle of the city, we can recommend a side trip to the mountains. Travelers on the 11-day tour continue their trip from Marrakech to Casablanca. If you are participating in the 21-day tour you first pay a visit to Essaouira and continue your tour to Casablanca.
Essaouira
Day 17 Arrival Essaouira
Day 18 Essaouira
From Marrakech we drive in three hours to the fishing village Essaouira where we spend two nights in a simple hotel. A typical day in Essaouira means a true change after the many busy days of traveling in the heat. Through the settlement of the corroded white small houses, the countless coffee houses and cozy terraces, this small city appears more Portuguese than Moroccan. On the coast, you find large forts; in the old days, because of tax regulations, Essaouira was flourishing trading center. Later this city also achieved fame as a seaside resort. You can go for beautiful walks on the beach, and dine on great seafood. In Essaouira, they have very characteristic woodcarvings.
Casablanca
Day 19 Via el-Oualidia and el-Jedida to Casablanca
Day 20 Casablanca - USA
On the next to last day in Morocco, the bus brings you from Essaouira (21-day tour) or from Marrakech (11-day tour) to Casablanca. On the 21-day tour the bus stops in el-Oualidia and el-Jedida, famous for its beautiful sand beaches and the old Portuguese part of the city. The “cisterne”, an underground water storage facility is one of the most building works. In the late afternoon, we arrive back in Casablanca. Now you will definitely notice that it is more modern here than you have seen elsewhere in Morocco. Early in the morning, we leave for home.
