Christmas in the Imperial Cities of Morocco – 8-Day Journey

After breakfast, a guided tour of Rabat reveals its deep history — the layered ruins of Chellah and the postcard-pretty Kasbah of the Udayas — with free time to drift through the souks and bazaars of the old medina. Pause at Café Maure above the Bouregreg River for a Moroccan tea experience with traditional sweets such as Kaab Ghazal and Ghriba. The road to Fez stops first at Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its beautifully preserved Roman ruins and mosaics, where a specialist local guide shares its Roman and Berber story. Next is Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, known for its grand royal architecture — see the famous Bab El Mansour Gate and the historic Lhri area before continuing to Fez and an evening at leisure. Meals: breakfast, Moroccan tea break. Local experience: traditional Moroccan tea at Café Maure. Accommodation: Fez.

After breakfast, set out to explore Fez, Morocco’s spiritual and cultural capital. Founded in the 9th century, its ancient medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one of the world’s oldest universities. Wind through its narrow streets to landmark sights — the Bou Inania and Attarine madrasas, the traditional tanneries, Seffarine Square, the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss and Nejjarine Square — then continue through the cabinetmakers’ souk and the historic Jewish Quarter (Mellah). A visit to a pottery workshop reveals the craftsmanship behind Fez’s celebrated ceramics. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy free time to return to your hotel or keep wandering the atmospheric medina. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Local experience: traditional pottery workshop. Accommodation: Fez.

After breakfast, leave Fez behind for a scenic drive to Marrakech through the landscapes of the Middle Atlas. Pass charming villages and towns such as Immouzer Kandar and Ifrane, admired for their distinctive architecture and natural beauty, then Beni Mellal, one of Morocco’s key agricultural hubs. After this journey through the countryside, arrive in Marrakech — the famous Red City — and check in to your hotel. Meals: breakfast. Accommodation: Marrakech.

After breakfast, meet your local guide and driver for a tour of Marrakech, a city renowned for its monuments, markets and traditions. Begin at the beautiful Majorelle Garden, created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later linked to designer Yves Saint Laurent, then continue to the Menara Gardens with their olive groves, central basin and views toward the Atlas Mountains. Admire the iconic Koutoubia Mosque and explore the historic Jewish Quarter (Mellah). After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the lively Jemaa el-Fna square and soak up the atmosphere with a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride, known locally as a Koutchi. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Local experience: traditional horse-drawn carriage ride. Accommodation: Marrakech.

Enjoy breakfast, then have a full day to experience Marrakech at your own pace. Lose yourself in the colourful souks, discover traditional handicrafts, and relax in the city’s lively squares and cafés, where storytellers and street performers gather around Jemaa el-Fna. Prefer to slow down? Unwind at your hotel or add an optional excursion to discover more of the surrounding area. Meals: breakfast. Accommodation: Marrakech.

After breakfast, travel to Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital. Meet your local guide to visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, an architectural masterpiece set dramatically over the Atlantic. Continue with a city tour taking in the Corniche, the traditional Habous Quarter and the exterior of the Royal Palace, before transferring to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Meals: breakfast. Accommodation: Casablanca.

Enjoy breakfast and a relaxed free morning, timed around your flight. When it’s time, transfer to Mohammed V International Airport for your departure, bringing your festive journey through Morocco’s imperial cities to a close. Meals: breakfast.