Morocco Luxury Discovery & Experience

You will be met by your guide & driver who will be waiting for you just outside of the baggage claim exit. You will be escorted to Casablanca.Start by a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. Completed in 1993, the Mosque can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers making it the second largest in Islam today. This amazing structure took over five years to build, and is considered one of the most beautiful representations of the quality Moroccan craftmanship in the country. Visitors will be amazed by the detail wood, marble, and tile handwork.  The Hassan II Mosque is the only Mosque which allows non-Muslim visitors inside.

2:00 p.m.  Suggested lunch reservation at Rick’s Café/Cabestan.

After lunch, head in land to Marrakech, approximately 3 Hour-ride on the highway.

Upon arrival, check-in at Palais Ronsard – Comfortably located in the heart of the Palmeraie, the Palais Ronsard has been designed for a new generation of traveler who are passionate about the tranquility of their surroundings, and want to experience a romantic luxury stay in a unique and exotic environment. The property has the feel of an intimate guest stay with an abundance of staff available for any request, with luxurious spacious accommodations in each uniquely decorated guest rooms.  With the backdrop facing the High Atlas Mountains, there is an abundance of nature to enjoy.

The group will enjoy a welcoming Cocktail of Champagne and sumptuous Mediterranean influenced dinner.  

Breakfast at your hotel.

1:30 p.m.  Luncheon buffet Mediterranean style menu at Palais Ronsard.

After lunch, visit the Jardin Majorelle. The garden was a gift to Marrakech from Yves-Saint Laurent. Purchased from the painter Jacques Majorelle, the garden is adorned with Majorelle blue, the color named for him.

Continue to the Berber Museum. Dedicated to Berber traditions, displaying costumes, craftwork, jewels & musical instruments.

Then to the Yves-Saint Laurent Museum, opened in October 2017. 

The museum highlights the life work of the designer, his works and his connection to Marrakech. The museum also includes a hall for temporary exhibitions, a research library with over 5,000 volumes, a 140-seat auditorium, bookshop and terrace café. The museum itself has been recognized by architectural as unique and innovative design.

If time permits, we will continue to the Koutoubia Minaret which dominates the skyline of Marrakech. The 12th-Century monument is a master class in Moorish architecture, and the Djemaa el Fnaa, the main square at the heart of the medina. In the late afternoon, food stalls appear next to rows of escargot sellers, snake charmers, musicians and story tellers.

7:00 p.m. Dinner reservation at Maison Arabe’s Restaurant Les trois Saveurs - This iconic restaurant has roots to the 1940’s and remains among the best choices for Moroccan cuisine. The entrance to the restaurant 'Les Trois Saveurs' is lit by sumptuous teardrop-shaped lanterns, masterpieces of Moroccan craftsmanship that were specially designed for La Maison Arabe.

Breakfast at Hotel

1:30 p.m.  Luncheon buffet Mediterranean style menu at Palais Ronsard.This afternoon, get exposed to the ancient labyrinth of the Marrakech Medina and Souks. We will begin with a stop at the newly renovated Dar El Bacha Confluences Museum which sits at the entry of one the most beautiful parts of the old city. Dar El Bacha was once the home for the famous Pacha Glaoui.

We will continue into the old souks hosted by Richard De Mayo, this is a great afternoon to experience what the design and shopping scene in Marrakech is like. Get your shopping done whether be textiles, indigenous jewelry or just gifts for friends & family. This is a fun day with a little bit of education Moroccan Art & Design mixed in.

You will visit wholesalers and specialty shops which are off the Beaten Path known only to industry experts.

Return to your Hotel to rest and refresh.

7:00 p.m. We will be hosted by the Royal Mansour for a formal site visit and dinner.

Breakfast at Hotel

1:30 p.m.  Luncheon buffet at Sofitel.

Rest and refresh at your Hotel.

Early this evening, head inland to Agafay’s Desert. (About 50 minutes.)

The Desert of Agafay is an arid, rocky area that is ideal for a taste of Moroccan desert culture.

You will be welcomed with Moroccan Tea and a scarf like those worn by Saharan nomads.

Enjoy a Sunset Camel Trek.

Rest & refresh before dinner.

-            Enjoy a festive dinner under the tents.

After dinner, head back to the Hotel.

Optional: After dinner enjoy some after dinner drinks and night life at the famous “So” Night Club.

Overnight at Palais Ronsard.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Option 1: Today, you will be driven through the Atlantic Coast to Essaouira for a day trip (about 2 ½ hours). On route, you are likely to see goats climb Argan trees in search of the tree nuts.

Upon arrival, visit the historic Synagogue and Jewish Cemetery.  Essaouira was once home to a population of 8000 Jews.

1:30 p.m. Suggested lunch reservations at La Table by Madada. Located under the magnificent stone arches of an ancient carob warehouse at the entrance of the Essaouira medina (old town), La Table by Madada offers a mouth-watering menu featuring Atlantic seafood, freshly caught off our coast, locally-sourced fresh produce, and a symphony of tantalizing Moroccan dishes.

After lunch, start by exploring the enchanting streets and alleys of laid-back Essaouira. Once known as Mogador, Essaouira’s blue and white medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the street of the thuya workers, the ocean-side ramparts, and the numerous art galleries scattered about town. Once a Portuguese outpost, now a hip art community known for such visitors as Jimmy Hendricks and Cat Stevens. Most recently the film location for several episodes of “Game of Thrones”.

Return to Marrakech. You may want to make a stop at one of the Argan oil cooperatives on the road between Essaouira & Marrakech. They produce the best Argan oil, where the highest standards are used to produce the finest cosmetic and culinary oils. The company’s oil is also certified organic based on international standards. Argan oil has gained notoriety in the USA & Europe for its cosmetic qualities as well as the cooking oil which extremely healthy and adds a pine nut flavor to any fresh salad.

Rest & Refresh at your Hotel

Option 2:

This morning, head to Chef Tarik’s Berber Village for a Private Cooking Class Experience. (Approximately 40 minutes’ drive)Enjoy an outdoor cooking class hosted by a local chef.  Learn about Moroccan spices, including Ras al Hanout, the definite spice of Moroccan cuisine. Bake bread the Moroccan way using a traditional earthen wood-fueled stove.  Prepare a tagine, a version of the classic Moroccan stew.  Your organic vegetables are gown in the garden on site! While your tagine is cooking over the fire, take a walk (about 20 minutes) across a wide valley, where sheep graze, wild cactus fruit grows, and the day goes on untouched by modern life. Enjoy what you cooked for lunch!

After lunch, take a 45-minute drive over the High Atlas towards Kasbah Tamadot, Richard Branson’s retreat in the High Atlas.  Once the home of an Italian antique dealer, Branson’s mother discovered the property in the late 90s while her son was on one of his famous hot air balloon expeditions, and began its transformation to a Virgin collection property. Try a hammam or Moroccan massage.  Enjoy the indoor and outdoor views, and overall beauty of the natural scenery which surrounds the property.

Continue back to town and rest and refresh before dinner.

8:00 p.m. Dinner reservations at Comptoir Darna - An important nightlife attraction in Marrakech, which arrived on the scene in 1999. It proposes a perfect fusion between the orient and the occident. It’s a place to meet people and enjoy the music, drinks, and international menu. There is an upstairs bar and lounge, with dining room downstairs.

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning, walk in the Mellah – Jewish quarter of Marrakesh. Share, understand and appreciate the potential of the coexistence of the two religions and cultures. Jews and Muslims coexisted in harmony for hundreds of years. Marrakesh at the foot of the Atlas Mountain range was home to more than 50,000 Jews, according to a 1947 census. Then visit the historic Synagogue and Jewish Cemetery.

Continue on to Al Bahia Palace. A palace and a set of gardens built in the late 19th century, intended to be the greatest palace of its time. Andalusian, Islamic and Moroccan styles are represented.

1:30 p.m. Lunch reservations at Dar Zellij – Of all the buildings that were restored in the past 20 years Dar Zellij stands as one of the most remarkable for its interior design and architecture.

After lunch, return to your hotel, and enjoy the facilities.

Afternoon at Your Leisure - You may want to enjoy the beautiful weather and the pool side facilities for the rest of the afternoon, or, we would be happy to arrange a traditional Moroccan Hammam or other SPA services at the world class SPA at the Royal Mansour just a few minutes’ drive from your Hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel and then the morning at leisure for last minute shopping or site seeing. The group will prepare to depart the Hotel at approximately 10 a.m. for the Casablanca Airport or Marrakech Airport to meet your international flights.