Dream Itinerary for Morocco - Ten Days in Marrakech, The High Atlas Mountains, and The Atlantic Coast Cities
Countries Included- Morocco
Summary of the Trip - Marrakech was a prominent place in North Africa for trade and relaxation under different rulers for centuries. Notwithstanding this history, few would have predicted that Marrakech would become in the late 20th century a top destination for rich and famous visitors from around the globe seeking an exotic location for rest and relaxation. Today, the metropolitan area of Marrakech has over a million residents and the city serves as the gateway for Moroccan tourism activity. Many people are intrigued by Morocco and are interested in going there but do not know where to start. The Traveling American recommends that travelers seeking an introduction to Morocco start with a few days in Marrakech, sample some sites in the High Atlas Mountains, and then travel to the Atlantic Coast to explore the culturally vibrant fort city of Essaouira, the modern city of Casablanca, and the imperial city of Rabat. Some people also enjoy seeing Tangier, the historic city of Fes, or the popular British vacation destination of Agadir on a trip to Morocco, but we advocate a less hectic itinerary to reduce the amount of traveling and avoid frequent changes in hotels.
Important Note- Morocco experienced one of the worst earthquakes the region has faced in the past hundred years in September 2023. It affected towns and villages in many parts of the country including areas of the Atlas Mountains and the city of Marrakech. The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has taken steps over the past decade to modernize the country's infrastructure and improve its tourism facilities. In addition, the government has now announced $12 billion in special funding for the reconstruction, rehousing, and economic development of the areas affected by the earthquake. In the short term, some hospitality and tourism activities will be affected by the recovery efforts so visitors should be sensitive and understanding about inconveniences that may occur from time to time. However, a significant number of merchants, guides, drivers, and other people work in the tourism industry. Tourism attracts as many as thirteen million visitors each year and produces around four percent of the nation’s GDP. The nation needs the support of the international community for relief and tourism so consider visiting Morocco soon.
Background of the Destination- One part of the mystique of Morocco is the country’s diverse geography. Its land includes a long coastline that stretches for almost 1500 miles along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, a portion of the Sahara Desert, and the high mountains and beautiful valleys of the Atlas Mountains. Over the centuries, these features have encouraged trade and led to complex relationships with foreign empires and kingdoms. Morocco has been connected to the Phoenicians and the Romans in ancient times; various Arab caliphates, the Islamic kingdom of Al-Andalus, and the trading empire of Timbuktu during the Middle Ages; and European colonial powers since the 1500s. These contacts and entanglements often centered on the cities and ports of Morocco’s Atlantic Coast which run from Tangier in the north to Casablanca in the center and Agadir in the south.
Marrakech was founded in 1062 by a nomadic leader from the south. Ever since, merchants and traders have been drawn there for commerce and relaxation. Berber and Arab caravans sometimes using hundreds of camels brought gold, salt, sugar, slaves, ivory, and handicrafts across the Sahara Desert and over the Atlas Mountains to the city from Timbuktu and other North African kingdoms. With water from the mountains and a pleasant climate, it served as an oasis and one of the most important places in the region for commerce for hundreds of years. Initially, powerful Berber dynasties such as the Almoravids built palaces, a grand mosque and a medina with strong gates, ramparts, and walls there to protect commercial activities. Despite periods of turmoil and neglect thereafter, the large medina and strategic location of Marrakech enabled the city to continue to grow and prosper. The city reached its peak as a capital and commercial center in the 16th and 17th centuries. Marrakech developed an enduring reputation as an influential center for Moroccan architecture, artisanship, and Berber culture, and avoided the efforts of European powers and the Ottoman empire to control the economic and political affairs of the region.
When to Go- Morocco’s topography, deserts and mountains create a variety of climate conditions throughout the country. Marrakech has pleasant weather for sightseeing throughout the spring and fall seasons with daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s, nighttime temperatures in the 60s, and less than one inch of rain per month. Consequently, May, September and October are the best months to visit Marrakech. In mountain areas such as the High Atlas, snow falls regularly during the winter and nighttime temperatures can be quite cold. But by late spring, temperatures are quite comfortable during the day and the local rivers and waterfalls are vibrant and beautiful. Hydration and preparation are important in the high elevations during the summer. Temperatures are hot in the afternoon and extended hikes and exercise can be difficult for some people. The coastal areas near Casablanca and Rabat have a temperate climate year-round affected by their location on the Atlantic Ocean. Daytime highs are in the seventies from May to November and in the sixties during the winter months. However, rain is more frequent and chilly days sometimes occur in winter and early spring. Fog and mist can occur in the morning before the sun breaks through.
DAY ONE – DIRECT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MARRAKECH OR A CONNECTION THROUGH WESTERN EUROPE OR CASABLANCA
Marrakech is a popular destination for visitors from European locations and other cities in Morocco and is attracting a growing number of American visitors. However, there are currently no direct flights to Marrakech from the United States, so you have three alternatives to get there. First, you can take a direct flight from New York or Washington, D.C. to Casablanca on Royal Air Morocco which is a codeshare flight with American Airlines. Once you arrive in Casablanca, you can continue to Marrakech by taking a Royal Air Morocco local flight, using a private driver to reach Marrakech on the A2 highway in 2.5 hours, or taking a 3-hour train ride there. Second, major international carriers like Air France, British Air, and Iberian Airlines have daily flights to Marrakech from Paris, London, and Madrid after crossing the Atlantic on bookings through their American partner airlines Delta and American Airlines. Third, you can fly to numerous European capitals on the airline of your choice and then fly to Marrakech on one of Europe’s regional carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet and TAP Air Portugal. The arrival process at Morocco’s major gateways in Casablanca and Marrakech is usually well organized and professionally executed.
DAY TWO - SETTLE INTO YOUR SPECTACULAR MARRAKECH HOTEL WITHIN THE OLD MEDINA
You are likely to arrive in Marrakech on the afternoon of the second day of your trip. After getting your luggage, it is time to check in to your luxurious hotel which is a destination resort and a great place to unwind from your travels.
Hotel - There are many five-star resorts and acclaimed riads in Marrakech but people seeking a dream vacation often choose the 100-year-old La Mamounia resort for hotel stays. It has been recognized as one of the top hotels in the world by numerous publications and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World organization. The luxury hotel was also featured prominently in the widely watched Anna Delvey docudrama on Netflix in 2022. La Mamounia has a special location inside the walled medina of Marrakech just beyond the New Gate. It is one of the best places to stay in the city if you are looking for a central base of operations for sightseeing and shopping.
The hotel buildings, grounds, and rooms are luxurious and attractive. The central section of the hotel is a five-story rectangular structure with an L shaped wing that extends towards the garden in the rear. Vehicles and people arriving at the front gate pass through security and are welcomed by finely attired doormen. You then enter an endless carpeted lobby that includes dozens of couches and private sitting areas where new guests are welcomed, and people gather for daily activities and excursions. To the right are a series of attractive and tiled chambers used for refreshments and relaxation. On the left is a long corridor that leads to guest rooms which is finely decorated with cultural items and authentic black and white pictures of the people and places of Morocco’s Atlas Mountain region. Straight ahead and down a small staircase is a large lounge and bar known as Le Bar Majorelle. Just beyond the patio, you enter a spectacular garden that extends for several thousand feet to the south within the walls of the hotel compound. With palm trees and cactus plants, orange trees, and desert flowers all around, it is a romantic and peaceful setting for guests to take a walk or sit and contemplate nature on numerous benches.
There are 135 rooms and seventy-one suites in the hotel. The rooms are described as being “decorated in a Moroccan style offering a privileged view of the famous 12th century mosque…sometimes from a balcony or terrace.” There is a large tile and marble bathroom with a soaking tub, separate shower, sink, toilet, and bidet. Room amenities include free Wi-Fi, an expresso maker, a small refrigerator, climate-controlled AC and heat, a flat screen television, bottled water, and boutique bath products.
The amenities at La Mamounia make it a self-contained resort for guests and provide options for relaxation when you are done exploring Marrakech. Some of these include:
Pool – The outdoor swimming pool at the hotel is seven thousand square feet in size.
Concierge – The concierge service offered by the hotel is outstanding. They help arrange excursions, tour guides, transportation, restaurant reservations onsite and offsite, tickets for attractions, and even health care needs.
Spa – The 25,000 square foot spa at la Mamounia has become a destination of its own since many people visiting the city seek a day pass to enjoy the services and ambience of the spa.
Shopping – There are ten boutique stores with designer goods and specialty items produced by Moroccan craftspeople throughout the main floor of the hotel.
Fitness -There is a full workout facility located in the garden with all the exercise machines, yoga classes and personal training needed for body rejuvenation. The two clay tennis courts and the fine instructors provide an excellent athletic experience for guests as well.
Other – Laundry, babysitting and room service are also available.
La Mamounia faces high expectations from guests when it comes to fine dining and other food offerings. Dining starts for most guests with a visit to the Le Pavilion de La Piscine, which is a pavilion located next to the swimming pool. A sumptuous breakfast buffet is served there al fresco. For dining in the evening, there are four choices including a classic Moroccan menu at Le Marocain, an Italian restaurant known as Italian Par Jean-Georges, an Asian themed restaurant that includes a wide variety of dishes from southeast Asia and Japan, and the porch outside of the Le Bar Majorelle. For treats and snacks, there is an interesting tearoom next to the spa called Le Salon Par Pierre Hermes.
Private Guide- Guide Services in Marrakech - It is possible to walk to many destinations inside of the city from the hotel. However, the buildings and alleys there are poorly marked and were built centuries ago to meet the needs of merchants and traders in the Middle Ages. One solution is to use a capable guide to see the sights on foot and to coordinate your transportation needs. Omar Amraoui who can be reached at omar.amraoui@gmail.com was recommended to us by the La Mamounia Hotel based on many years of service to their guests, and he did not disappoint. Fluent in English and three other European languages, he specializes in walking tours of the medina and guiding visitors to other prime locations in the city.
DAY THREE - EXPLORE THE SITES AND SOUKS OF THE OLD MEDINA OF MARRAKECH
Many popular landmarks and museums are located within the old section of the known as the Medina. Traffic is limited there, and many places are accessible only on foot or on a scooter. On your third day, your guide will take you to explore some of the best places such as:ad Yves St. Laurent Museum
Koutoubia Mosque- This large mosque and the accompanying gardens, plaza, and walkways dates to 1147. Almohad sultan Abd el-Moumen decided to construct a mosque with features that would create a new standard for Islamic architecture. Although sections of the original mosque have been replaced or destroyed, the mosque retains a large prayer hall with a capacity for 25,000 worshipers and features a 230-foot high, rectangular shaped, red sandstone minaret that towers over the city and serves as a city landmark.
Jemma el-Fna Square- Tourists and residents gravitate to the center of the medina where there is a huge open square surrounded by restaurants, shops, and entertainment. The Jemma el-Fna was originally a marketplace but now it has evolved into an open-air carnival that gyrates with sights, sounds, and smells that attract crowds of onlookers and participants. During the day, you are likely to encounter snake charmers, fortune tellers, tribe members posing in traditional dress for pictures or playing instruments, acrobats, storytellers, and women applying henna tattoos. Fruit and drink stands are always present, but by the late afternoon makeshift restaurants and food stands by the dozens are erected offering grilled meats, sweets, nuts, and fruits to customers.
La Bahia Palace- Two viziers who served the sultans in the 19th century built a beautiful palace in Marrakech called Palais Bahia that became renowned for its pleasant courtyards and fountains, and the workmanship of skilled craftsmen who installed decorative tiles, marble, and cedar ceilings in rooms.
Saadian Tombs- The Saadian tombs are a good example of the hidden beauty and contradictions of Moroccan culture. The Saadian dynasty-controlled Morocco for over a hundred years starting in the late 1600s and used Marrakech as their capital city, erecting an ornate burial grounds and tombs for the royal family and the nobility. Nevertheless, these beautiful shrines were walled up and blocked off by a succeeding ruler, Moulay Ismail, until being “rediscovered” in 1917.
Shopping in the Souks- The Souks or shops of the medina in Marrakech are built upon a tradition of trading, craftmanship and commerce that dates to the 11th century. Located to the north of the square, they extend for blocks in every direction along a warren of alleyways and lanes. Although the geography is confusing, there is an unusual amount of organization to the location of various shops. That is because each sector contains shops with the same kind of craftspeople or goods. We found a reliable source for argan oils and cosmetics with the help of our guide.
DAY FOUR – EXPLORE OTHER INTERESTING PLACES IN MARRAKECH AND ENJOY A SPECIAL DINNER
On day four of your trip, it will be time to visit one of the city’s popular gardens and a unique museum with your guide in the morning, enjoy the pool, spa, tennis or other activities at the hotel in the afternoon, and then dine at one of the Morocco’s fine dining restaurants during the evening.
Majorelle Garden and Yves St. Laurent Museum- In the 1920s, a French painter by the name of Jacques Majorelle built a villa in the new section of Marrakech outside of the medina using Moorish architectural designs and bright colors. He also planted an elaborate garden of tropical trees, flowers, and plants to create a pleasant retreat. The French fashion designer, Yves St. Laurent, bought the house in 1980 and restored it. He enhanced the garden by adding walkways for visitors, plantings of palm trees, cacti, and bamboo, and pools for koi fish and flowers. In later years, St. Laurent’s foundation established the Majorelle Garden as a community attraction and constructed a separate museum depicting the designer’s life and work. It displays a short movie showing how he developed Avant Garde designs in his fashion house which became known all around the world. Both the Garden and the museum are distinctive attractions which draw tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Dinner-There is a wide variety of traditional Moroccan dishes and international cuisine available in Marrakech. Soups and salads are common as starters. For the main course various tagines made with lamb, chicken or beef are served or seafood dishes along with delicious bread and couscous. Mint tea is always available and alcoholic drinks are available at establishments with a western clientele. Sweets and pastries are a regular feature at mealtimes also. One of the most special experiences is visiting the Le Marocain in your hotel. Le Marocain is in a separate building within the hotel garden. Guests are seated around a central courtyard in private chambers with velvet benches and subdued lighting, where an entire Moroccan menu is presented. These include breads and appetizers, followed by local specialties such as lamb and chicken tagines, couscous dishes, salads, and fish, using spices and vegetables from the garden selected by the kitchen. Adding to the experience is a trio of strolling Andalusian musicians who greet each diner and visit each chamber.
DAY FIVE – EXCURSION TO SEE THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS AND SAMPLE THE BERBER CULTURE
On day five, it is time for an adventure to explore the High Atlas Mountains. The mountains stretch for over five hundred miles across the interior of the country, starting to the east of the resort city of Agadir and continuing in a northeast direction towards the Algerian border. The peaks and passes through the mountains often reach an elevation of more than six thousand feet including the 13,676-foot-high Mt. Toubkal peak, the eighth highest mountain in Africa. For thousands of years, the High Atlas served as a fifty-mile-wide barrier between Africa’s Sahara Desert and the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite these imposing surroundings, Berber tribes have prospered in the region for centuries and caravans have crossed the mountains from Timbuktu and other trading cities. The Berbers established a distinctive life in the hamlets, pastures, and hillsides which became an important part of Morocco’s culture.
Marrakech is well situated for visitors to take a day trip or an overnight to some of the most exotic locations of the Atlas Mountains. Two trips worthy of consideration are: (1) traveling east four hours across the mountains to see the famous village of Ait Ben Haddou where dozens of movies were filmed along with visiting the movie studio in Ouarzazate; or (2) driving southeast for an hour or so to see Mt. Toubkal Mountain or the picturesque Ourika Valley. A private driver familiar with the area is recommended for traveling to these mountains.
Guided Mountain Tour – After looking over various excursions, we recommend booking one with Morocco Attractive Tours of Marrakech, which offers private and group day trips to the High Atlas. The private tour I selected included stops in five different valleys, a mountain trek with an experienced guide, and lunch in a typical Berber family house in a mountain village. My driver, a friendly English-speaking young man from the area named Marouan, was an excellent companion for the day. He navigated the modern paved road from Marrakech and the dirt roads in the mountains with equal skill and we shared stories about our backgrounds and life in Morocco. Three of the popular sites that we visited in the region or viewed there during a long day of sightseeing were the following:
Ourika Falls- As you travel south from Marrakech, the elevation increases, and the road runs parallel to the Ourika River. This river has a rocky shallow bed in dry times but can turn into a torrent that floods the houses alongside it from excessive rain or snow melts. Near the end of the road is the village of Setti Fatma which serves as a gateway to the High Atlas and a starting point for visiting the cliffside Ourika Waterfall which drops from an elevation of six thousand feet. Arriving early in the morning, Marouan introduced me to the company’s local guide who then directed my morning hike and climb beside the mountain stream up to the waterfall. Along the way, local vendors and cliffside cafes offer refreshments and local wares to climbers and the tour groups who visit the area.
Sidi Fares – Sidi Fares is a traditional Berber hilltop village built from adobe and stone which is reached by driving up a secluded mountain road. The view there sometimes extends all the way to Marrakech. We walked from the road to a family house and were greeted by the patriarch, given a tour of the house, and seated on a shaded rooftop with couches, tables, and carpeting. We were served a delicious lunch by the family that featured Moroccan salad, chicken tagine, couscous with vegetables, and drinks.
Kasbah Tamadot – Kasbah Tamadot is located just outside of Asni at the top of a valley. The kasbah was a privately owned mansion full of exotic furnishings and collections from around the world before it was purchased and renovated by businessman Richard Branson and his parents into an award-winning hotel and mountain retreat in 2005. It is a popular place to visit on a half-day tour from Marrakech for lunch or afternoon tea, or an interesting stop on a longer mountain tour.
DAY SIX - DRIVE TO ESSAOUIRA AND RELAX
On day six, it will be time to have a hearty breakfast at La Mamounia for the last time and head west across the country for several hours to visit the seacoast city of Essaouira. This can be done by booking a driver through La Mamounia or through the hotel you select in Essaouira. Along the way, you are likely to pass through fields full of twisted trees which bear the prized argan fruit. Farmers harvest the trees for making charcoal, feeding animals, and producing the popular argan oil. The oil has a variety of uses and is often found in perfumes, natural medicines, cosmetics, and food. Most local stands and shops in the city offer all kinds of Argan products. The argan trees are also popular with local goats which incredibly can climb up into the trees to chew on the argan fruit. This unusual practice has made the goats a popular sight for tourists who visit the orchards to take pictures, but unfortunately some farmers have attempted to attract attention to their trees by restraining the goats up in the trees on platforms.
Upon arrival at Essaouira, you will have a chance to take in the ocean breezes, check into a hotel or riad, and orient yourself to the layout of the port and the fortress. Essaouira has been an important location for centuries. Many groups have coveted the area known as Mogador which includes Essaouira and the surrounding islands. At various times, everyone from the Phoenicians and the Romans to Portuguese traders and French colonialists have inhabited the area. But it was an Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah of Morocco who built fortifications and the existing port there in the 1700s to create a meeting place for commerce and cultural exchanges among Berbers, Arabs, Jews, and European traders. Much later in the 1960s, Essaouira became a quiet but fashionable hangout for European hippies and rock stars. In this century, it remains a prominent commercial port and one of Morocco’s leading tourist destinations.
Hotel- The top choice for lodging within the walls of the city is Heure Blue Palais, a boutique hotel located in the heart of the old town which features modern facilities with both a Moroccan and a French colonial flair. It has spacious rooms, a rooftop pool, a lounge, and a fine dining establishment considered to be one of the best in the city. For some people, however, one of the biggest attractions of visiting Essaouira and other Moroccan cities is to stay in a riad. These accommodations are traditional Moroccan homes in the medina that have been updated and converted into guesthouses for visitors. A classic riad has a small number of lodging units available and features a central courtyard, a patio, and gardens where guests can relax together. Most riads serve breakfast and sometimes have other limited services. The experience of being closer to the daily activities of the local people is often a culturally enriching one. At the same time, the accessibility, bathroom, and bedroom features of these establishments can include everything from hidden apartments fit for a sultan to a substandard bed and breakfast room, so good references and research are important to making an informed choice in Essaouira and elsewhere.
DAY SEVEN – EXPLORE THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF ESSAOUIRA AND HIKE ALONG A BEAUTIFUL AND DESERTED BEACH
On day seven, it is time to explore the sights and sounds of your surroundings. Essaouira is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Morocco seeking a relaxing place on the Atlantic Ocean. This beautifully designed World Heritage Site allows people to see a historic fort, observe the port’s colorful fishing fleet, browse the souks and wide alleyways of the medina, and dine casually at fish stalls or formally in fancy restaurants. In addition to being a World Heritage Site, the people and culture of Essaouira make it one of the friendliest places to visit in the country. The entire city is quite walkable and easy to get around, so a guide is helpful but not essential. Some interesting activities to pursue are the following:
Imagine Yourself in a Movie - The fortress and port areas of the city have been well preserved. The ramparts and towers provide beautiful views of the rocky shore to the north of the fort and the wide beaches to the south. Despite this beauty, it took vision for Hollywood filmmakers and television producers from Orson Welles to Ridley Scott to film important scenes here for their movies and shows. Over the years, the fortress walls, alleyways, and people of Essaouira have been featured in films like Othello, Kingdom of Heaven, Game of Thrones, Alexander, John Wick 3, and Hanna. With computer-generated imagery, the actors strolling these walls have been depicted looking out on the desert, the ocean, or a mountain valley. There are no limits to one’s imagination when visiting Essaouira.
Visit the Fishing Fleet- Hundreds of blue painted fishing boats dock in Essaouira along with some larger trawlers. The fishermen bring their catches right onto the shore every day. Most of the large fish, shrimp, sardines, and lobsters are displayed and sold on fish stalls. The rest is cooked up for local customers in adjacent tent restaurants or shipped out for the domestic market. This area is chaotic with trucks, carts, and crowds of sellers, fish buyers and tourists. It is a unique experience.
Observe the Cat Kingdom - In the middle of the action in the port are cats and seagulls looking for an opportunity to steal a fish carcass or some other food prize. Essaouira is sometimes known as the city of cats since an estimated 3,000 felines populate the corridors, shops, and wharves of the old city. They have established an animal kingdom that includes the shops, hotels, waterfront, and green space of the community. There are always one or two cats perched in the doorway of a store, hovering around the entrance to a restaurant, or lying in the shade of a vendor's ice cream cart. In recent years, local animal advocates became concerned about the condition of many cats in Essaouira and launched an effort to create a more sustainable and healthy cat population by establishing charities. For the full story of Essaouira’s cats, see this article in The Traveling American.
Shop in the Medina- Essaouira’s medina offers shops and stores in which you can shop for clothes, artwork, perfumes, and handicrafts without being hassled and in comfort because of the cool ocean breezes. One of the unique items you can purchase there are boxes, jewelry and household goods carved from Thuya wood which has been used for centuries by local artisans.
Afternoon Beach Walk- After lunch, your activities will include a hike along the deserted section of the coastline to the south of Essaouira. Morocco has an extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean that runs for approximately 1440 miles from Tangier in the north through the Western Sahara region all the way to Mauritania. The southern coastline features a long stretch of deserted beaches and villages with only a few resorts. However, it has developed into a quiet haven for people seeking to engage in hiking, surfing, horseback riding, dune busting, camel riding, or trips to Berber homes. We recommend working with Be-in-Nature Tours which is run by Ottmane El Filali. His company offers a four-hour trek that includes visiting Takaochte beach and the picturesque Mbarek Falls (contact@be-in-naturetours.com).
The hike is of moderate difficulty but offers exceptional beauty and excellent companionship from Ottmane. It takes you downhill through dusty fields with argan trees, across hilly dunes with soft sand, and then along a wide beach where you will be alone with nature and the waves. After several miles of walking, you will move inland and pass along an interesting geological formation known as Mbarek Falls. The falls consist of a deep ravine and a series of stepped rock formations and pools that sometimes convey water down to the sea. The final stop on the hike is a visit to a traditional gated and white house of a Berber family above the Mbarek Falls. After being welcomed by the matriarch of the house and her son, we were served hot mint tea with sugar and bread with honey while sharing greetings and jokes. The refreshments gave us the sustenance to finish the hike by walking uphill the rest of the way to an air-conditioned car for the ride back to Essaouira.
DAY EIGHT – TRAVEL TO CASABLANCA AND DINE AT RICK’S CAFE
On day eight, most of your day will be spent checking out of the hotel in Essaouira and traveling by car service to your hotel in Casablanca. It is a long drive, and we used a safe driver provided by the Experience Morocco travel group to take us there along one of Morocco’s modern highways. There are not a lot of interesting places to stop along the way without diverting from the highway. Nevertheless, some people recommend seeing the Kasbah Boulaouane, an imperial stone fortress, sultan’s palace, and mosque built in 1710 by the respected ruler Moulay Ismail on a promontory above a river, which is now being restored but it draws few visitors.
Hotel- Your hotel for visiting Casablanca will be the Four Seasons Casablanca Hotel which is located along the posh Corniche waterfront of Casablanca. Many grand monuments of Casablanca are nearby. It is a luxurious hotel with a modern architectural design, picturesque pool and spa facilities, and elegant restaurants. However, your dinner on this evening will be at an even more famous venue – Rick’s Café in downtown Casablanca.
Rick’s Café- “Casablanca” is one of the best movies ever made according to film critics and audiences. The featured stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman were acclaimed for their performances and the film was named Best Picture. The movie explored the personal conflict created for French citizens, expatriates, refugees, and the local population in Morocco after the Nazis took over France and other countries around the Mediterranean and began arresting dissidents. The use of an exotic upscale restaurant, nightclub and gambling establishment called “Rick’s Café Americain” as the setting for the movie was quite effective. Rick’s Café never existed but people assumed it was a real place in Casablanca. Consequently, in 2001, an enterprising former American diplomat Kathy Krieger decided to renovate a rundown two story mansion with a central courtyard into a replica of the café in the movie. The establishment, like the movie, was a hit as soon as it opened in 2004.
Based on our experience, most people will enjoy dining at Rick’s for three reasons. First, the architecture, décor, and furnishings of the structure follow the general layout of the movie set and retain the Art Deco and Moorish features of the building. There is a mahogany bar with mirrors, stools, and a tuxedoed bartender in one corner of the first floor and a classic black piano and drum set in another. There are five separate dining rooms on the two stories of the café. One of the rooms on the second floor contains a gaming table for roulette, but no “winnings” are distributed secretly or otherwise to patrons. There are photographs, movie posters and other memorabilia displayed at various places around the premises including a television playing the original movie with subtitles.
Second, the dining experience was quite good. The waiter, smartly outfitted with a red fez, took our orders. The dinner menu principally consists of continental cuisine with items like roast duck, medallions of beef, Chilean sea bass, and linguini with shrimp and mussels, along with Moroccan starters and breads. The service was efficient, and the food and desserts were properly prepared. The maître d came by to greet us and make sure things were to our satisfaction.
Third, during our time at the café, a big band and jazz music was playing in the background, which further enhanced the atmosphere. After dinner and a brief tour of the premises, the pianist, who is also the manager, sat down at the piano to begin his evening performance of classic songs from that era. Although some visitors seemed to expect Rick’s staff to act out scenes from the movie, we left feeling we had experienced a place that still has a special meaning and went home fulfilled.
DAY NINE – EXPERIENCING THE HASSAN II MOSQUE AND THE SITES OF RABAT
On day nine, you will do a tour of the main sites in Casablanca and Rabat with an experienced guide and driver. One guide who knows the Atlantic Coast and the Imperial Cities of Morocco is Haddou Baalili (baalilihaddou@gmail.com). Haddou was born in the Atlas Mountains and used his bachelor’s degree in the English language and his personal interest in history and anthropology to become a certified guide in Morocco.
While there are many interesting places to see in the region such as the Old Medina and New Medina of Casablanca, the beach clubs of the Corniche, and the Morocco Mall which is the largest shopping complex in Africa, we recommend using your last day of touring in Morocco to visit some unique places such as the following destinations:
The Hassan II Mosque- Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco with a population of four million people and a major seaport. It serves as the financial, corporate, and international gateway of the country. Nevertheless, the city has had a mixed reputation over the years and had trouble attracting tourists. The city’s reputation has improved significantly since the completion of the beautiful Hassan II Mosque in 1993. This modern structure conceived by King Hassan II was designed by a French architect and constructed on a prominent site over the shoreline by thousands of workers using an estimated $800 million in donations. The ornate mosque, which also includes outbuildings used for religious studies, can accommodate 25,000 worshippers in the inside prayer hall and up to 80,000 people in the outside courtyard. It is the third largest mosque in the world. The mosque is open to the public including non-Moslems for guided tours in different languages at 9, 10, 11 and 2 p.m. from Saturday to Thursday. It is closed on the holy day of Friday and there are limited hours during Ramadan.
The most impressive features of the mosque are the following:
Minaret – The minaret of the mosque towers 656 feet above the ground. It is the tallest structure in Morocco at least until the fifty-five story Mohammed VI Tower is the nearby city of Sale is completed. Visible throughout the city, the stylish minaret is decorated with mosaics and tiles. In addition, a laser is used at night to shine a beam towards Mecca.
Prayer Hall- The large prayer hall extends down the center of the building for more than the length of a football field. The walls feature domestic and Italian marbles that were hand carved into doorways and columns. The floor has heated glass in it that can be activated when required and is covered with red carpeting. Some glass areas contain views of the ocean below.
Dome and Roof – The ceiling of the prayer hall contains a large dome lined with cedar wood panels gilded with jewels and painted decorations. Above the prayer area are fifty-six glass chandeliers and a retractable roof that weighs 1100 tons. It opens to allow worshippers to see the stars at nighttime.
Doors and Fountains – There are huge bronze doors leading into the mosque and the complex contains dozens of fountains decorated with marble and granite columns.
Ablutions Rooms – The lower level of the mosque features special marble fountains and sitting areas where worshippers wash themselves prior to entering the worship areas in accordance with Islamic tradition. The platforms there resemble the structures often found in hammam baths in the Middle East.
Rabat’s Kasbah Oudaias- Rabat is one of the most pleasant cities to visit in Morocco. The city features a cliffside medina on the ocean that dates to the 12th century along with attractive gardens and public buildings. After serving as a fortress and religious center during the Middle Age, Rabat became a haven for Moors fleeing from Spain and emerged as an independent kingdom of privateers in the 1700s. Today, it is the second largest city in Morocco with almost two million people and serves as the political, financial, and educational capital of the nation. The fortress area and old medina of Rabat is called the Kasbah Oudaias. Its ornate gates and thick walls protected the old city from rebel tribes and guarded its treasures. The interior streets and alleys are narrow and full of hidden passageways. Different things attract people inside the wall these days such as the Andalusian Gardens, the Oudayas Café known for its teas and shady views of the river, and local shops and riads all painted in white or blue. The ramparts of the kasbah look out upon a surfing beach in one direction and the calm water of an estuary of the Bou Regreg River in the other.
Rabat’s Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V- One of the most popular sites for residents and tourists in Rabat is the Hassan Tower and remnants of a grand mosque located above the Bou Regreg estuary. King Yacoub al Mansour, a monarch of the Almohad dynasty, intended to build the largest mosque in the world there in the 12th century featuring a rectangular courtyard, a grand minaret that would tower over the land, and a cavernous prayer hall. The king’s death and subsequent political upheavals in the region brought a stop to the construction before it could be completed and eventually the prayer hall collapsed. However, the half built, 144-foot-tall tower, its intricate stone carvings, and columns from the prayer hall survived. These structures and the modern mausoleum of Moroccan King Mohammed V built next door in 1975 have served as a symbol of Moroccan independence. An honor guard of horse soldiers stands outside the mausoleum.
DAY TEN – HEADING HOME AFTER YOUR MOROCCAN ADVENTURE
On the final day of your trip, it may be necessary to get up early to catch a morning flight directly to the United States on Royal Air Morocco or American Airlines. Similarly, if you are booked on another international carrier and are making a connection at an overseas hub such as Madrid, Paris, or London you will need to leave time for an initial flight into Europe, a transfer in the airport, and a flight across the Atlantic. Fortunately, Casablanca is six hours ahead of the east coast, so even a connecting flight with a ten- or twelve-hour timetable will arrive home at a decent hour on the tenth day of your trip. Most people will recall their Moroccan experience for years to come with fond memories.
Notice: The information provided in this Dream Itinerary is true and accurate to the best actual knowledge of The Traveling American. However, my family's experience with any hotel, attraction, airlines, or company mentioned here may not reflect the experience of other travelers using these services. Travelers should rely on their own judgment and information in retaining any company mentioned on the website and in developing their itinerary.