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Morocco - Elegant Grand Tour

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CASABLANCA, RABAT, FES, MARRAKESH, AND THE SAHARA DESERT DUNES

An exotic oriental world with a richness of beauty, colours, and traditions

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AN INVITATION TO MOROCCO

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Morocco is an amazing country that shows its beauty and abundance to visitors only when they travel through its diverse landscapes. From its fertile plains with the biggest cities, through the majestic Atlas mountains and toward the spectacular Sahara sandy dunes, Morocco grows deep into oneʼs heart more every day that they spend there.

Morocco is one of the most picturesque countries in the world. The landscape, the people, and the costumes of the locals show a plethora of colour. The country offers an inspiring blend of the Orient, the Arab world, Europe, and Indigenous Berbers. The abundance of the past and sumptuous sultansʼ lifestyles gave rise to the hospitality and refined luxury they hold for visitors who wish to experience the story of One Thousand and One Nights live. Become a precious guest to Morocco on our beautiful Elegant Grand Tour – welcome to the country where the majestic past meets the colourful present!

If you feel our passion for Morocco, and you wonder about the program we have prepared, feel free to contact us:

– by calling (we use Skype or IMO, but with prior arrangement only),
– or sending any other request or question via our inquiry form

We will be happy to hear from you, present our program to you in a live call, reply to your questions, send you the brochure of our Moroccan Elegant Grand Tour, and maybe also proudly take you on a tour to this magnificentl North African treasury of cultures, colours, and opulence.

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Basic information on a tour

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TOUR DIRECTOR AND GUIDES

Alja, (about her expertise) accompanied by local tour guides, and experts

GROUP SIZE

5 to 13 guests

ACCOMODATIONS

Luxury Riads, 4- or 5-star hotels, and a luxury Desert camp in Sahara, all on a Bed and Breakfast basis. Riads have an en suite bathroom and are fully air conditioned.

Read more about Riads

TRANSPORTATION

Fully air conditioned luxury coach, a camel for each guest for conquering the sandy dunes in the Sahara desert, possible to add a private jet flight

DINING

Elegant and sophisticated restaurants with delicious Moroccan cuisine

LEVEL OF FITNESS

Moderate (some walking on uneven pavements in the old towns and on the sandy dunes, Note: Riad hotels have narrow stairs)

BEST TIMES TO VISIT

End of September through May (we avoid January and February when nights
in the Sahara are too cold), we avoid summer months (when itʼs too hot).
Read more on climate and temperatures in Morocco here.

ARRIVAL

Casablanca, Mohamed V. International Airport

DEPARTURE

Marrakesh, Menara International Airport

NEXT DEPARTING TOURS

– MARRAKECH- 7 days, ladies only tour > 
– BEST OF MOROCCO- 13 days >

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Guests should check for the travel documents they need and obtain them from local authorities in the country of their residence or else (as demanded by the Moroccan embassy). In the case that they should have a visa for travel in Morocco, they should arrange it before the entry into Morocco.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Must be obtrained by the guests before arriving to Morocco.

LAND ONLY

Elegant Cultural Tours organises group programmes on the basis of Land Only
(no international flights).
OUR GENERAL TERMS
AND CONDITIONS

THE TOUR

We start the Grand Tour in Casablanca, the city of a beautiful name and a home to the biggest (and most splendid) mosque in Morocco – Hassan II Mosque, then continue to the modern French-style Moroccan capital, Rabat, and on to a traditional and the oldest of Moroccan cities, Fes. Crossing the Atlas mountains to the Sahara desert takes us to the land of  unforgettable nights under the starry skies, the soft sandy dunes and long camel caravans. We continue toward Todghra valley and on to the film studiosʼ city, Ouarzazate. Before crossing the mountains again, we stop at the world famous movie village, Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.

We save the best for the last, so the last part of our Tour brings us to the designersʼ heaven and the most fascinating city in the country, Marrakesh, where we indulge in beauty and exclusivity. This is where we conclude our Elegant Grand Tour and we do it in great style . . .

This is a rough description of the program. Our tours are prepared with love for beautiful details, small suprises, and elegance. The creative, inspiring, and insightful highlights of the tour are listed below . . . should you wish to receive the full program of our Grand Tour Morocco, please send us your inquiry.
NEXT DEPARTURES

Our next Moroccan tours

MARRAKECH

7 days, LADIES ONLY TOUR

MOROCCO

13 days, BEST OF MOROCCO

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR

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DISCOVERING AND NEW INSIGHTS

  • A Moroccan afternoon “Ladies time together” and “Gentlemenʼs time out”
  •  Shopping the Marrakesh souks (markets) with our own private Stylist or Interior Designer

ELEGANCE AND BEAUTY

  • Oriental and designers accommodations: staying in boutique riad hotels, 5-star hotels, and in a luxury desert camp in Sahara
  • Private concert in the courtyard of a palace
  • Sunset horse-carriage ride in Marrakesh
  • Yves Saint Laurent experience and Majorelle garden

CREATIVITY

Why we add creative hands-on workshops? Please, read here

  • A photo-shooting in the Sahara desert dunes with a professional photographer (a true atmosphere of the desert)
  • A calligraphy lesion- write your name in Arabi
  • A cooking hands-on workshop
  •  

A NOTICE ABOUT OUR TRAVEL We travel elegantly and luxurious, but we do not intend to travel isolated from the country and the culture we visit. We aim at keeping our travel real. We do not avoid the hosting cultures, their traditions, and customs, but rather explain and encounter them, and accept them for what they are. If the country’s standards are lower than those at home, we understand it and learn to appreciate the efforts local people put into trying to meet our expectations.

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ACCOMODATIONS

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A RIAD is a traditional Moroccan house where everything revolves around the inner courtyard that has a main fountain filled with flower petals (the wealthiest riads even have a swimming pool). A riad doesnʼt have as many rooms as a hotel, and all of the rooms feature a unique traditional (or eclectic in style) decorations such as: zellige (a geometric mosaic decorations on the floor and on the walls), woodcarvings, and marble stuccowork. Every room of the riad is a unique artistic and handicraft expression, and they have no outer windows, but are all turned toward the main courtyard allowing for a

total privacy, silence, and fresh air that could never be attained from the street windows. The wealth of the owners reveals itself only when one enters this private heaven. The riads are real palaces, an exceptional delight to visit, and even more so, to stay in! We believe a loving Moroccan tour needs to allow its guests to experience riadʼs luxury, charm, and hospitality.

A LUXURY DESERT CAMP IN SAHARA

Topics you can expect on our tour

We are eclectic in our ways, and love to cross the lines between different disciplines. We combine the most interesting of each of them. Some of the topics we cover in depth, and some we take in as we go along. We avoid academic teaching style and aim at bringing new insights in a relaxed manner, with humor and with with ease, yet professional.

MOROCCAN TRADITIONAL ARTS

Zellige mosaic, cedar wood carving, marble stuccowork, calligraphy, metal (Alpaca) or wooden door with brass door knobs, ceramics, leather, and more

ART

Architcture and handcrafts, painting

CALLIGRAPHY

Precious moroccan calligraphy is a feast for the eyes. We try our hands at this ancient skill

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

A must is a visit to the Medersa (a Coranic school), and the Yves Saint Laurent garden and museum in Marrakesh

DESIGN AND FASHION

Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakesh and the designers of Morocco

TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

Djellaba, Kaftan, Gandora and everything in between

ARCHITECTURE

Mosques, minarets, islamic schools (Medersas), Marabouts (tombs of local saints), medieval cities (Medinas), Ville Nouvelle- New Towns (French colonial architecture), Art Deco and Art Nouveau builidings (built by the French)

CONSERVATION

UNESCOʼs world heritage sites: Medina (Old town) of Fes; the Jma El Fna square and Medina of Marrakesh; the historic city of Meknes; ksar Ait Ben Haddou; the modern capital, and the historic city of Rabat

MOROCCAN MUSIC

Richness of traditional and modern Moroccan (and Maghrebian) music

DANCE

Berber and Arab dance

THEATRE

Awaiting for the new Grand Theatre de Rabat, commissioned from Zaha Hadid Architects, to be opened in Rabat (one day soon, inchallah)

SOULFUL BUILDINGS

The Moroccan “architectural Trinity”: a Riad, a Kasbah, and a Ksar

TRADITIONS

Strong multiculturalism: Muslims Arab and Berber traditions, with European influences; Islamic traditions and rituals

MOROCCAN HISTORY- HISTORICAL PERIODS

- Before the arrival of Islam: indigenous people, the Berbers and the Jews
- The arrival of Islam, followed by six Moroccan dynasties (the Sultans of Morocco), conquering of Andalusia in Spain
- Contemporary Morocco and the 6th dynasty of Alavites

EXPLANATORY GEOGRAPHY

Why the surroundings, country, city, environment is as it is; looking at the spaces and understanding how they function, learning about the social and cultural forces that shape the life of Moroccans and Morocco

TASTES

The excellent cuisine with rare Moroccan wines (they produce a few of them). We are also exploring the Moroccan teas (with cookies, or other lovely deserts)

TOPICS YOU WILL NOT HEAR ABOUT

 
sports, popular politics,* or popular culture. Academism as only dry lectures and the extensive accumulation of information. Instead,

we prefer useful knowledge, interesting insights, and lovingly brought presentations.

*We include politics as much as needed to understand the environment and the visited culture and no more.

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TIPS BEFORE TRAVEL

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  • Best times to visit Morocco are from the end of September through May
  • We avoid the months of January and February when itʼs cold in the desert and there is a greater chance of rain (and snow in the mountains), and the summer months from May till the end of August (it is very hot)
  • We also avoid traveling in Morocco during Ramadan, but we like to start our tour during the very few last days of Ramadan. Why? Please, read here. Ramadan times change yearly: 2024- from March, 10th till April, 8th. 2025- from February, 28th till March, 29th.
  • Note: on our Grand Tour we travel through different parts of the country, and the climate changes intensely- from the Mediterranean, to Mountainous and then the Desert. That means in some parts of the county it can be warm, and in others very cold, in the same one week.
  • AVERAGE TEMPERATURES:
  • September: Casablanca= the North 19-26°C(66-79°F) Marrakesh= the South 18-32°C (64-90°F)
  • December: in the North 10-18°C (50-64°F); in the South 7-19°C (45-66°F)
  • March and April: in the North 12-20°C (54-68°F); in the South 9-22°C(48-72°F)
  • May: in the North 15-22°C (59-72°F); in the South 14-27°C (57- 81°F)

  • THE SEA and SWIMMING: The Atlantic Ocean in the North of Morocco is quite cold (average yearly temperature is c. 18°C/64°F) and is, in most parts not safe to swim in.
  • RAIN (SNOWFALL IN THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS) in January and February
     
     

Morocco is a moderately safe country – tourist crime rates are low and mostly consist of petty thievery of non-attended items, so we advise our guests to always use common sense (to keep their valuables in the safety box in the room, avoid exposing expensive cameras, and in city centres always take care of personal belongings). Every now and then, the risk of terrorism grows, so we avoid crowded places as much as we can, and always keep an eye on happenings around us. We also have a very reliable local partner who follows the latest safety announcements and news instructions.

  • there are no special health hazards in traveling to Morocco. Please, read more.
  • POTABLE WATER: it is a good idea to only drink bottled water in countries with different hygiene standards than at home

Standard Arabic and Amazigh language (Standard Moroccan Berber). Other spoken languages: French, Spanish (in some parts) and English (tourist places)

CURRENCY: Moroccan Dirham- Dh or Mad

CREDIT CARDS: accepted in tourist places, but Morocco is a country of cash

ATMs in the cities

PRICES: 0.5l water 10 Dh (roughly 1 Eur), fresh orange juice or other fruit juices from 15 to 20 Dh, lunch in a good restaurant in the cities from 250 Dh, tea or coffee in a cafe from 20 Dh

The muslim culture is a culture of cooperation and care for others and for the society. Every Moroccan usually takes care of their extended family, elderly parents and their underaged siblings. In a country that has a low average salary and big poverty, the people appreciate tips very much and accept them gratefully.

In some areas (south of the Atlas mountains) there is a shortage on daily necessities and people are happy to receive basic food, clothes (old T-shirts), small (mini) toys for children, candles, baseball hats (for boys and men). We like the idea of presenting the (more educated) people in the towns with postcards of the visitorʼs home country (or home town). Note: not to bring: alcohol, or any kind of pork.

Wifi is available at all Riads and hotels, 5G in the phones (roaming can be quite pricey, but itʼs possible to buy a Moroccan SIM card and use a Moroccan connection).

Moroccans do not like to be photographed! If they do pose, they will expect some reward for it (a small tip of 5 Dh/ 0.5 eur).

For non-muslims the Moroccan mosques are off-limits. There are a few, though that open their door for such visitors. When possible, we visit one of them in Casablanca- Hassan II Mosque.

Guests should wear clothes they feel comfortable in and beautiful wearing. Keep in mind the Moroccan climate (strong sun) and a few long transfer days (for more information on the program, please send as an inquiry and we will send you the program of the tour or find the specific tour in our Departures page), and take care that comfort on the move, and protection from the sun come before elegance. Morocco is a muslim country, and we believe respect toward the visited culture brings respect toward the visitor, so we suggest modest clothes that cover your knees and shoulders (or even better – a full length dress for the ladies, especially in the rural areas) and with no cleavage for the ladies. The best fit for travel in Morocco are tunics with loose fitting pants and shirts with mid/long sleeves and long shorts for gentlemen. A nice airy and beautiful scarf is, in a sunny country, always a good protection from the sun and a nice fashion accessory, and can be altered with a sun hat.

OUR SUGGESTIONS on what to wear- dress code:

  • During the FIRST HALF OF THE TOUR (until we leave the city of Fes): guests can wear casual dress
  • In the DESERT: the best dress is with long sleeves and covering the knees (tunics and long trousers for the ladies, and light shirts and long trousers for gentlemen) and a desert scarf (you can usually buy one on the way)
  • FASHIONABLE CITY (Marrakesh): a bigger freedom of dress – Casual, Country Club Casual or dressy casual with a beautiful long maxi-dress and a hat for the ladies, and casual for the gentlemen
  • DINNERS: Elegant and Smart casual dress code, semi-formal dress code (dresses covering the knees and shoulders) for the ladies and semi-formal or cocktail attire or black tie creative attire for gentlemen.
  • LOCAL CUSTOMES AND DRESS:
  • For the ladies: there is no ladies dress code in Morocco, so Moroccan women wear very different styles. Sometimes they wear jeans and a tunic, or trousers and a Djellaba dress. Some of them cover their heads, though the majority do not.
  • For gentlemen: Moroccan men wear long trousers (in all seasons), a shirt or a Djellaba (a long outer robe with a baggy pointed hood), and soft leather slippers (called Babouch).
  • Read more about what the Moroccans wear daily and when they dress up on our Blog.

Our guest’s luggage is taken care of, so they do not need to worry about carrying heavy suitcases in and out of the hotels and riads, and onto the coach.

  • Morocco seems like a modern (European) country at first, but the people are traditional and appreciate modesty in dress and behaviour
  • The Kingʼs royal visits (and whereabouts) and the Moroccan weather- two components of Allahʼs (Godʼs) will that influence everybodyʼs life and travel in and around Morocco. The King loves to move about and when he does, the streets, squares or roads might be closed.
  • The weather is unpredictable and its changes are sometimes a matter of minutes.

DISHES: couscous topped with meat or vegetables, tajine, bastilla, lamb with prunes, kefta meatball tajine, harira soup. MEAT: beef, chicken, mutton, lamb, sheep, goat, snails, pigeons (in a traditional Bastilla pie) and seafood (mostly at the seaside and in Marrakesh). Moroccans do not eat pork due to their religious restrictions. SPICES: Morocco is a land of spices. They use a lot of home grown saffron, mint, cinnamon, turmeric, (oriental) cumin, ginger, paprika, coriander, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, cloves, fennel, anise, garlic, and others. The traditional mixture of 35 spices is called Ras-el-Hanout (the expression means “head of the shop,” as it is the best they sell in a shop). HERBS: mint, parsley, oregano, coriander, marjoram, sage, and verbena. FRUIT: oranges, tangerines, strawberries, fresh and preserved olives, lemons. Dried fruits: sultanas, raisins, apricots, dates (from the south of the country). VEGETABLES: aubergine, tomato, onion, green peppers, spinach, potato and sweet potatoes, chickpeas, carrots, cabbage, turnip, fava beans, squash, zucchini, broccoli, and more. DRINKS: this is a land of green tea with fresh mint leaves and a lot of sugar. To learn how to properly pour the tea into a small, painted glass, read in our Blog. Moroccans also drink coffee (with milk, or black), and they also prepare very tasty smoothies (avocado, bananes, strawberries, and others) and fresh orange juice. Moroccans do not drink alcohol due to their religious restrictions, but in all the hotels, they sell imported (or some local) wines, beer, and imported spirits. OILS: olive oil and precious argan oil. OTHER: Amlou is a healthy spread or a dip made of argan oil, mixed with grinded roasted almonds and argan flower honey. Moroccans believe that Amlou is also an aphrodisiac

A TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN BREAKFAST

  • B’sarra bean soup
  • orange juice, tea or coffee,
  • Moroccan rounded bread or semolina pan-fried flatbread called Harcha or Beghrir, tender bubbly Moroccan pancakes made of semolina (and yeast) or Msemen, a square crepe-like type of bread
  • butter, marmalade or honey, or argan oil, olive oil or Amlou spread,
  • fresh fruit,
  • a croissant or two

BREAKFAST IN THE HOTELS: traditionally mostly continental French style breakfast (tea/coffee, croissant, bread, butter and jam, cheese or omelette), in the 5- star hotels they have a vast variety of different breakfasts

In Morocco there are many souvenirs to buy, so it is a good idea to have a very relaxed kilogram allowance for the plane, or to be ok with paying for the extra baggage. Bigger items can be shipped abroad.

What to buy: argan oil, babouch leather slippers, and leather items, Djellaba dress, berber baskets or market bags, bread baskets, hammered metalworks, musical instruments, Gnawa music instruments, Ras-el-Hanout spices and other spices (saffron), dried dates, tea, artisanal soaps, or Rassoul and a hammam glove- Kiss, lanterns, berber rugs and carpets, together with matching pillow covers, woven goods, pottery and Zellige (tile work), wooden items, coloured tea cups and metal tea pots, tea sets, fossils (made into a bathroom sink), ect. – and a Fes hat.

CONTACT FORM.
or call us via Skype or IMO

If you find our philosophy resonates within, we invite you to contact us.
We will be happy to hear from you.
nabiralnik

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