The Best of Morocco: Ancient Medinas to Modern Identity

13 days
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Small Group Tour
No country conjures up images of ancient medinas and bustling bazaars, evokes the smell of mint tea and spices, or touches the spirit with the sound of the muezzin’s call to prayer like Morocco. From the sacred fountains and medieval souks of Fes, follow the ancient caravan routes to the trading city of Beni Mellal and then on to magical and mysterious Marrak...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Learn about Islamic architecture in the heart of the oldest continuously functioning university in the world, Al Quaraouiyine.
    • Walk the food market of Fes before our Moroccan cooking session, and gain an up-close perspective on Moroccan cuisine.
    • Experience the mosques, palaces, gardens and markets of fabled Marrakech on expert-led excursions and independently.

What's this trip about?

    No country conjures up images of ancient medinas and bustling bazaars, evokes the smell of mint tea and spices, or touches the spirit with the sound of the muezzin’s call to prayer like Morocco. From the sacred fountains and medieval souks of Fes, follow the ancient caravan routes to the trading city of Beni Mellal and then on to magical and mysterious Marrakech. Along the way university professors, Islamic scholars, activists and local experts illuminate Morocco’s captivating history, spirituality and modern identity as it strives to play its part in the world today.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityFes
End CityCasablanca

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

  • Africa
  • Morocco

Attractions

  • Casablanca
  • Marrakech
  • Rabat

Activities

  • Cooking
  • Culture
  • Educational/ learning
  • Historic sightseeing

Trip includes

    • 11 nights of accommodations
    • 8 expert-led lectures
    • 9 expert-led field trips
    • 1 hands-on experience
    • 3 performances
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: In Transit to Program

In Flight

Day 2: Arrival Morocco, Fes

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Merinides

Dinner: At the hotel.

Day 3: Spirituality, Religiosity & Daily Life in Morocco

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Merinides

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy two introductory lectures, "Islam & Politics in Morocco" and "The Spirit of Fes through Women’s Narratives."

Lunch: At a restaurant.

<...
Day 4: Explore Volubilis and the Town of Moulay Idriss

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Merinides

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Combine a group departure to Volubilis with a lecture, "Agriculture in Morocco." Volubilis is the site of the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins in Mor...

Day 5: Food Market of Fes, Moroccan Cooking & Cuisine

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Merinides

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Learn how to prepare Moroccan cuisine in Fes, considered the capital of Moroccan fine and delicate cooking. Begin with a grocery trip to the local souk, wh...

Day 6: Islamic Architecture Lecture at Al Quaraouiyine University, Fes

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Merinides

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Visit the University of Al-Karaouine, the oldest continually functioning university in the world. Discuss art and spirituality in Morocco during a lesson ...

Day 7: Rural Weekly Market, Beni mellal

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Chems

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart for Beni Mellal via Khenifra in the heart of the Atlas Mountains and visit a rural weekly market, called a souk, where villagers come to shop, t...

Day 8: Diverse Cultures Merging in Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Sofitel Lange and Spa

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart to Marrakech, Morocco’s fourth-largest city after Casablanca, Fes and Rabat. Like many Moroccan cities, Marrakesh comprises both an old ...

Day 9: Koutoubia Mosque & Saadian Tombs, Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Sofitel Lange and Spa

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Begin today’s exploration of Marrakech in the Djemaa el Fna square viewing the Koutoubia mosque — dating to 1200 — whose beautiful min...

Day 10: Archeological Site Aghmat in the Suburbs of Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Sofitel Lange and Spa

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Depart for the archaeological site of Aghmat, 30 kilometers southeast of Marakech. As you interact with site excavators and local residents, le...

Day 11: Expert-led Explorations of Marrakech Gardens, Marrakech

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Sofitel Lange and Spa

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Experience an expert-led visit to two renowned, enchanting gardens — beginning with the Majorell Gardens, home to French artist Jacques Majore...

Day 12: Elegant Bahia Palace, Renowned Hotel & Palace la Mamounia, Casablanca

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ibis Casa City Center

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning, explore the Bahia Palace and gardens, built in the late-19th century and intended to be the greatest palace of its time — the n...

Day 13: Program Concludes, Casablanca

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Group departure to Mohamed V Airport, Casablanca.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,049
Price per day$311
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:

Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:

--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.

--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.

--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.

--Excellent value.

Explore Your Mind and the World:

There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.

Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.

Our Most Popular Tours:

Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.

Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.

Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.

National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.

Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.

Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.

Why Road Scholar?

You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."

Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.

Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.

Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.

You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."

We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.

Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.

Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.

Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.

What they’re known for
Popular global tours with a unique focus on educational experiences for mostly senior travelers.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Hotel Merinides: 5 nights  Fes Located on the heights of the oldest city Fes, the Merinides Hotel is a few minutes walking distance from the Merinides dynasty tombs and other main sites to be visited during the program. Its proximity to Al Karaouiyine Mosque, Dar Batha Museum, the Andalusians mosque and the Thermal baths of Moulay Yacoub contribute to make of Merinides Hotel an address of charm for a stay for discovering and relaxation.   Hotel Chems: 1 night  Beni Mellal The Chems of Beni Mellal is located in a priviliged position offering stunning vistas of the middle Atlas mountains, yet in close proximity to the bustling city of Beni Mellal.   Hotel Sofitel Lange and Spa: 4 nights  Marrakech In the heart of the most elegant part of town, the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge &amp; Spa is where you find the fashionable luxury boutiques, casinos, nightclubs and restaurants. The hotel is a short walk from the Jema El Fna square and 10 mins from the airport.   Ibis Casa City Center: 1 night  Casablanca The Ibis Moussafir Casablance City Center hotel is a newly opened hotel in the heart of Casablanca. Its unique features are it proximity to the old medina, and its location by the main train station in Casablanca casa-Port. Its is also located 30 minutes away from Mohamed V airport and is a short distance from the sea shore, the old downtown, business district, Hassan II mosque, shopping centers, musems and the port
Guides
Rachid Qasbi Rachid Qasbi joined the Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL) in 2006 as full time Arabic instructor, as well as a coordinator of several programs. He teaches Fu’sha (standard Arabic), Darija (Moroccan dialect), and Tamazight (Berber language), while also assisting in summer abroad studies. His interests include traveling, cross-cultural exchange, and peace and justice issues. Rachid holds a bachelor’s degree in English linguistics from Ibn Tofail University in Kentira, Morocco.
Travel Insurance
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Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

13 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 5 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
roadscholar-20739RJ

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