Day 1 (Monday) USA – Tangier

Depart from the United States by comfortable overnight flight to Tangier, Morocco.

Upon arrival in exotic Tangier, you are met at the airport and go by private car to the El Minzah Hotel, long considered the best in the city. Your manager will welcome you in the lobby and answer any questions you may have or offer suggestions; the remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish at leisure. This evening, join your travel companions for a welcome cocktail party and à la carte dinner at the El-Korsan restaurant in our hotel. (D)

Tangier has a rich history; founded by the Berbers, it later became an important trading center for the Phoenicians. Ruled by the Romans and later captured by the Arabs, the city was a very wealthy town with important trade between Marseilles, Genoa and Venice. The Portuguese, and subsequently the Spanish, ruled Tangier in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. Known as the "gateway to Africa" during the middle 1600s, Tangier was the object of considerable envy in Europe.

Your morning sightseeing tour unveils the many influences of the city’s colorful past. In the afternoon, sun by the hotel’s pool or relax under the orange trees in the garden. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a tour through a colorful local market – a souk – and bargain with the merchants for traditional Moroccan items such as silver, copper, carpets, pottery, and leather goods. Tonight, you dine à la carte at the El Pescador restaurant. (B,L,D)

This morning, you journey southward to Fes - the oldest of Morocco’s four imperial cities. En route, you visit Volubilis – founded in pre-Roman times and once the capital of the Roman territory Mauritania. Trade in oil, corn, and wild animals flourished here in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries. The city was in its decline when it was completely destroyed by shock waves from the 1755 earthquake that devastated Lisbon. The ruins of the city were not excavated until the late 1800s and are still being uncovered today. While there, you will see the Triumphal Arch, the Decumanus Maximus (the main paved street) and the temples of Orpheus, Dionysus and Ephebus among other impressive ruins.

You have lunch along the way to Moulay Idris, named for the great-grandson of the Muslim prophet Mohammed, and considered holy by Muslims. See the shrine of Idriss I - the most eminent saint in all of Moroccan lore - and the awesome mausoleum, erected by Abd er Rahman, replete with intricately crafted mosaics and brilliant stained-glass windows. Then continue on to Fes, where you will stay at the Palais Jamai, located just inside of the walls of the old city. Once the Prime Minister’s palace, elaborate stuccowork, mosaics, carved wood, and ornate painted ceilings provide a lavish welcome. (This is where all of King Hassan’s guests stay while in Fes.) Dinner tonight is à la carte at the Dar el-Fassia restaurant in our hotel. (B,L,D)

Today you are guided through the fascinating walled city of Fes. You see such sights as the 15th-century Borj Nord Arms Museum, the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque, the Bou Jeloud Gardens, the Sultan’s Palace, the ancient harem gardens, the Dar Batha Museum, and the thousand-year-old medina. Later, in the afternoon, you have leisure time to explore on your own; you might like to stoll through the "new" section of the city to watch snake charmers and street performers. There are a variety of shops in which to browse for jewelry, carpets, or pottery with wonderful cobalt-blue designs. Tonight, you eat à la carte in one of the rooms of a sumptuous 16^th-century house, in the heart of the medina, called Dar Saada. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Saturday) Fes – Meknes – Rabat

This morning you depart Fes for the youngest of Morocco’s four imperial cities – Meknes. Sitting atop a hill, the numerous minarets of the city can be seen from all directions. Twenty-five miles of triple ramparts (each progressively higher than its predecessor) surround Meknes – the first was designed to stop horsemen; the second, soldiers on foot, and the third, and highest, wall was to stop any soldier who might have been able to overcome the first two barriers.

The walls and gateways are massive; above the gate to the main entrance to this "garden city" are the words: "I am a gate which is open to all races, whether from the West or the East." After lunch, you visit the palace tombs, Moulay Ismail, the Dar Jamai Museum, the 14^th century Bou Inania Seminary, the 18^th century Dar el-Beida fortress, the ruins of the Imperial Stables, and the Sultanas’ Gardens. Afterwards, the journey continues to Morocco’s capital city of Rabat, where you dine à la carte at our hotel, Rabat Hilton. (B,L,D)

You spend this morning visiting the ancient Hassan Tower, all that remains of the original mosque built in 1196, and the Archeological Museum, which houses an extensive collection of prehistoric, and newer, objects from throughout Morocco. You also tour the Mohammed V Mausoleum, and the Kasban of the Oudayas - an artists’ enclave. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish at leisure. You might like to browse through the fine cloth, jewelry, and carpet shops of the Rue Souika and the Rue des Consuls.

Tonight, you have an à la carte dinner at Le Dinarjat, which features excellent Moroccan cuisine, including chicken tangines and bowls of vividly colored salads. Afterward, your guide leads you through the medina by lanternlight. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you begin the short drive along the Atlantic coast to Casablanca, where you are greeted with a melange of architecture – French, Moorish, Algerian, and Tunisian. You tour the seaside Grand Hassan II mosque. Considered the North African equivalent of the Statue of Liberty, its prayer hall accommodates 25,000 worshipers, with space for an additional 80,000 to pray on the esplanade. Then you visit the Mahkama du Pasha law courts and the Skala, an 18^th-century fortification with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean from the terrace. You lunch a la carte at Le Cabestan, located in an exotic garden near the El-Hank lighthouse. Its setting is the perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of downtown Casablanca.

Your hotel, the Royal Mansour, is located in the heart of town near the harbor; it combines Moroccan accents with European luxury. Relax in the commodious lounge, which opens to an airy skylighted atrium with glossy marble floors, lush plants, a cascading waterfall, and elegant white rattan furniture. Dinner tonight is à la carte at the renowned restaurant Volubilis in our hotel. (B,L,D)