MOROCCO: A CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE
ITINERARY
JANUARY 12-22 2027
DAY 1: TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 | WELCOME TO MOROCCO
Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport or Rabat Sale Airport
In Casablanca, you will be greeted by a Project Por Amor Representative, identified by signage. Taxi services, including tips, are included. The drive from the airport in Casablanca is approximately 90 minutes to the hotel. If you fly into Rabat, PPA will arrange for taxis to take you to the hotel which is a 25 minute ride.
Mohammad V International Airport
Transfer to Hotel Villa Mandarine and check in
The Representative will assist you in making your way via a private taxi or minivan to the beautiful Hotel Villa Mandarine in Rabat, Morocco’s capital city. Your two-night stay awaits in the upscale Agdal neighborhood, just minutes from the city’s most treasured historic landmarks.
Settle into a serene oasis: the property is surrounded by three acres of lush gardens, sculptures and more than 700 fragrant orange trees. Unwind after your journey with a refreshing swim in the pool, a quiet stroll through the grounds, or a cocktail in the lounge. The hotel also has an exercise room and hammam (spa). Guest rooms will be ready for check-in after 3:00 PM. If you arrive earlier, we will do our best to secure your rooms as soon as possible.
Each morning, the Tour Guide will provide you with the daily itinerary. Please look in the lobby for signage.
Hotel Villa Mandarine
7:00 pm ~ Group Orientation Meeting
Meet your Project Por Amor Staff and fellow travelers at the orientation meeting at 7:00 PM for an overview and welcome drink. The Tour Guide will provide an overview of the journey we are about to embark on together. On this trip, we encourage meaningful and respectful dialogue with your fellow travelers and those you meet along the way. Having a sense of curiosity, asking engaging questions and diving deeply into subject matter creates a magical and meaningful journey. Arabic, Darija (a Moroccan Arabic dialect), French, Spanish and English are spoken in Morocco. Be kind, respectful and courteous!
8:00 pm ~ Welcome Dinner
The group will share a meal at the Hotel Villa Mandarine restaurant on site. Beverage includes a glass of wine, or beer, or juice, plus mineral water, tea, or coffee. The restaurant is considered one of the best in the area. Orchestrated by the talented chef Sylvain Brucato, it serves carefully prepared, delicious, local flavours. After dinner, enjoy the peaceful surroundings filled with flowers and the scent of fruit trees.
Welcome dinner Villa Mandarine
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 | TOUR OF RABAT
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a delightful hotel buffet breakfast from 7:00 AM with a variety of classic options such as seasonal fruit, fresh baked pastries, eggs served in a variety of styles, coffee, tea and juice.
Daily Moroccan breakfast
9:00 am ~ Walking tour of Rabat
Join a guided walking tour with your Tour Guide. Visit iconic landmarks such as the Bab Rouah, the city's "Gate of the Winds," built in the 12th century, then to the Royal Palace, home of the current king of Morocco, Mohammad VI. Then to view the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, that houses the tombs of King Mohammed V and his two sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Finally, a walking tour of the Kasbah des Oudayas and the old Medina where you will see classic Moroccan architecture and tilework.
Highlights of Rabat
12:30 pm ~ Lunch at La Menora Restaurant
Enjoy a delicious lunch at La Menora Restaurant, known for its Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine.
Enjoy several choices from a pre-set menu. Finish with a lovely pastry dessert before we venture to our afternoon destination: Chellah.
La Menora Restaurant
2:30 pm ~ Visit to Chellah
After lunch, the group will visit and tour the archaeological site of Chellah. Chellah embodies living testimony of Morocco's history and the evolution of its civilization. Chellah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you enter the site, you are walking through the same gateway that welcomed medieval pilgrims.
Chellah
4:00 pm ~ Afternoon and dinner on your own
Feel free to explore more of Rabat on your own and let us know if you would like recommendations to other interesting sites, activities or restaurants. Dinner is on your own.
View of Rabat
DAY 3: THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 I MEKNES & FEZ
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at our hotel
Wake up to a delightful hotel buffet breakfast from 7:00 AM with a variety of classic options such as seasonal fruit, fresh baked pastries, eggs served in a variety of styles, coffee, tea and juice.
Daily Moroccan breakfast
8:30 am ~ Travel to Fez with a stop in Meknes
After breakfast, we’ll check out of Hotel Villa Mandarine to enjoy a beautiful drive to Fez. Before arriving in Fez, we will stop in Meknes, about a two hour drive from Rabat. Meknes is the former capital of Morocco and considered one of the four Imperial Cities ( Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat). We will stop to see and take photos of Bab Mansour Gate and the Moulay Ishmael Mausoleum inside the mosque. The Bab Mansour Gate is located on the south side of Place el-Hedim Square in the old city. It was originally the main ceremonial entrance to the Kasbah of Sultan Moulay Isma'il, built in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Today it is one of the most famous and admired landmarks. It is a beautifully patterned design using zellij mosaics. We will learn more about tile work on our journey. Then we will view the Royal Palace. The Tour Guide will provide historical content about this region.
Bab Mansour Gate & Mausoleum
12:30 pm ~ Wine Tasting and Lunch at the Winery
Next we will stop for lunch with a pre-set menu at an elegant Winery for a culinary treat and wine tasting experience. Enjoy a tour of the winery and a sit down lunch.
Winery visit
3:00 pm ~ Transfer to Fez
We will continue to Fez from Meknes on the bus.
4:30 pm ~ Check in to Riad Salam
After lunch, we will continue on the bus to Fez, approximately 90 minutes from Meknes. A welcome drink awaits, as we check into the beautiful Riad. Riad Salam Fez is a refined retreat set within the historic medina of Fez, offering a peaceful escape from the city’s lively streets. Blending traditional Moroccan architecture with elegant comfort, the riad features beautifully restored interiors, serene courtyards, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views over the ancient city. Guests can unwind in the spa, enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine, and experience warm, attentive hospitality in one of Fez’s most atmospheric settings.
Riad Salam-Fez
5:30 pm ~ Lecture about the Riad
A local historian will provide a 30 minute overview of the history of the Riad and how they became a notable form of Moroccan architecture. We will also learn more about the tiles that decorate the Riads. There will be time for a Question and Answer period.
6:15 pm ~ Dinner on your own
Relax after check-in. Enjoy dinner, book a massage at the Hammam, or ask for suggestions of activities outside the Riad.
Fez
DAY 4: FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 | FULL DAY IN FEZ
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at Riad
Enjoy a peaceful breakfast in the Riad before we depart for a busy day in Fez. Breakfast starts at 7:00 AM.
Daily Moroccan breakfast
9:00 am ~ Tile Factory Visit
This morning we take the bus to visit a tile making factory where you will learn about the history of the various styles of tilework Morocco is known for ( Morocco Zellige or Art Naji). A Tiling expert will guide the tour. After the tour, you will have time to create a tile plate or a Tagine pot to take back with you as a souvenir.
Moroccan Tile Factory
11:30 am ~ Walking Tour of Medina
After our visit to the tile factory, we will take the bus to the Medina for an extensive walking tour with the Tour Guide. You will walk through the "Blue Gate" or Bab Boujloud, and visit the Al-Bou Inania Madrasa. The next stop will be at the Chouara Tannery to see how leather is cut and dyed using traditional techniques. At the Nejjarine Museum, browse the collection of wooden arts and crafts, then view copper craftsmen at work in Seffarine Square. The walking tour ends outside the Karaouine Mosque and University.
Medina Tour
1:00 pm ~ Group Lunch
We will meet as a group for lunch at a local restaurant. A restaurant will be announced closer to the tour departure.
2:30 pm ~ Jewish Quarter and Royal Palace Dar Al-Mazkhzen
After lunch,the bus will take us for a beautiful panoramic view of Fez and end the day with a walking tour and visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) to visit the synagogue, the cemetery and the Palace.
Mellah
5:00 pm ~ Dinner and evening at leisure
Feel free to explore more of Fez on your own and let us know if you would like recommendations to other interesting sites, activities or restaurants.
Foods of Morocco
DAY 5: SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 | TRAVEL DAY TO ERFOUD
6:30 am ~ Early Breakfast at our hotel
Enjoy a continental breakfast at the Riad starting at 6:30 AM. We will check out of the hotel and depart on a full day bus ride to Erfoud.
8:45 am ~ Drive to Erfoud
After breakfast, we will make our way to Erfoud via the Middle Atlas Mountains. The drive today takes roughly seven hours, but we will stop along the way for rest breaks and to experience different landscapes, and see European influences in the architecture. On the way to Erfoud, we will make a brief coffee stop at Ifrane, a ski resort dubbed the “Switzerland of Morocco”. In winter, people travel here to ski. Next, we will drive to see the primates that thrive in the cedar tree groves. The Barbary macaque, also known as the Barbary ape, are the only wild primates in North Africa and one of the few living outside of Asia. These macaques are found in the cedar and oak forests of the Atlas Mountains, with popular viewing locations including Ifrane National Park and near Azrou. The species is critically endangered due to habitat loss from logging and climate change, as well as illegal poaching and trafficking for the pet trade.
Views on the route to Erfoud
12:00 pm ~ Lunch on your own
We will stop on the way to Erfoud for lunch on your own. After lunch, relax on the bus as we drive through beautiful landscapes, riverbeds, canyons and a lush oasis.
5:00 pm ~ Check in to Hotel Xaluca Maadid-Erfoud
We will check into our beautifully decorated hotel. Settle in and watch the sunset from the rooftop of the hotel, relax by the pool or have a drink in the bar. Sand dunes and sunsets, drink a glass of wine or refreshing juice- divine! Located in Arfoud, the gateway to the Sahara, Kasbah Hotel Xaluca is a one-of-a-kind desert retreat built from traditional adobe. Set among palms and dunes, the hotel blends authentic Moroccan design with modern comforts, offering spacious rooms, bungalows, and a peaceful setting ideal for relaxation and an unforgettable desert stay.
Hotel Xaluca Maadid-Erfoud
7:00 pm ~ Group Dinner at the hotel
Join the group for dinner. The buffet offers a wide variety of dishes from vegetarian options, a variety of meats and seafood, veggies and desserts.
Hotel Buffet
8:30 pm ~ Free time to relax
After dinner, sit poolside for entertainment by local musicians, get a drink at the bar, or enjoy a swim in the pool.
DAY 6: SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 | SAHARA GLAMPING EXPERIENCE
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at our hotel
Enjoy breakfast in the dining room from 7:00 AM, before checking out of Hotel Xaluca Maadid-Erfoud as we begin our day to make our way to the Sahara Desert for an unforgettable afternoon, evening and morning.
9:00 am ~ Fossil Factory Visit
We will depart at 9:00 AM and stop at the Macro Fossil Factory and Shop. Paleontological research shows that the area of Erfoud was a sea bed where many types of marine animals existed, many of which cannot be found today. You will learn about Trilobites, Crinoids, Ammonites,and Goniatite as well as other types of fossils found and quarried in the area.
Macro Fossil Factory
10:30 am ~ A Day of Immersion in the Sahara Desert Region
The bus will leave the fossil factory at 10:30 am for a 30 minute drive to Rissani. Rissani is a town in eastern Morocco, closest to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. A former major caravan center, Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk (market). We will take a walking tour with the Tour Guide to visit a local community village, including a visit to the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the first king of Morocco’s current ruling dynasty. Finally we will visit the local market.
Rissani Gate and Market
12:30 pm ~ Group lunch in Rissani
After the walking tour, we will enjoy a traditional bread tasting picnic experience in Rissani.
Rissani
2:00 pm ~ Visit Khamlia Village
After lunch, we will head out to the desert in 4x4’s. We will stop in Khamlia Village for a 30-minute Gnawa music presentation, followed by a 10-minute Q&A. Khamlia is a small village in southeastern Morocco known for its vibrant Gnawa music and culture. Situated near the Erg Chebbi dunes, about 7 kilometers from the town of Merzouga, it is home to a community whose ancestors were brought to Morocco from sub-Saharan Africa.
Gnawa musicians
4:30 pm ~ Check in to Glamping Tents & Camel Ride
We then continue on to the Sahara dunes. Depending on our arrival time and sunset, we will either check into our tents or go straight for a once in a lifetime experience riding camels at sunset. It truly is a magical moment that happens when you ride a camel on the Sahara Dunes.
All tents are fully equipped and extremely comfortable with air conditioning or heat (depending on the temp). Each tent has its own private bedroom and shower (yes, with hot water). Toiletries, slippers and bathrobes are also included.
Camel ride in the Sahara
7:30 pm ~ Group dinner at the camp
We will share a group dinner with a selection of cooked salads, vegetables, assorted grilled meats, finishing off with seasonal fruits and pastries.
Camp dinner
9:00 pm ~ Leisure time
After dinner, enjoy time in the community tent or your private tent.
Sahara Glamping Tents
DAY 7: MONDAY, JANUARY 18 | TODRA GORGE & DADES CANYONS
7:30 am ~ Breakfast in the tent
If you are an early riser, feel free to wake up very early to enjoy the sunrise over the Sahara! Enjoy breakfast from 7:30 AM before we depart for the Todra Gorges and Ait Benhaddou.
9:00 am ~ Depart for Todra Gorges and travel to Dades
Departure at 9:00 AM. Check out of our glamping tents and make our way back with the 4x4s to Erfoud where we will meet our bus. The 4x4 drive is approximately an hour. Then, we will drive through beautiful gorges and a deep ravine that has been carved by the Todra River over millennia. The bus ride is approximately six hours, but there will be stops along the way.
Todra Gorges
1:00 pm ~ Lunch on your own
We will stop along the way for you to grab lunch and relax before we head to Dades.
2:00 pm ~ Continue to Dades
We will continue our drive to check into Hotel Xaluca Dades at 4:00 PM
4:00 pm ~ Check in to Hotel Xaluca Dades
Perched high in the Atlas Mountains, Xaluca Dades Hotel offers sweeping views of the dramatic Dades Valley, dotted with Berber villages and rugged peaks. This mountain retreat features beautifully designed rooms decorated with African-inspired materials, creating a peaceful and memorable stay in a truly spectacular setting.
Hotel Xaluca Dades
7:00 pm ~ Group dinner at the hotel
Group dinner at 7:00. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. There is a bar, pool and small entertainment area where you can often hear musicians play. For the rest of the evening, you can relax at the hotel.
Restaurant Hotel Xaluca Dades
DAY 8: TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 | MARRAKECH
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at our hotel
Enjoy a buffet breakfast before starting our very full day. We have several activities planned along the way to Marrakesh, also known as the Red City.
8:00 am ~ Depart Dades to Ouarzazate
We will depart from the hotel at 8:00 AM and make our way to Atlas Movie Studios in Ouarzazate, about a two hour drive from Dades.
10:00 am ~ Atlas Movie Studio
When we arrive, we will take a one hour tour of the Atlas Movie Studio. At the studio, you will see some of the sets that have been preserved from past productions. You can see the Colosseum from Gladiator and the massive Jerusalem set from Kingdom of Heaven. You will also see a Behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process, how sets are constructed, and what it takes to bring movie worlds to life. Please note that because Atlas is a working studio, it is possible you may see active filming during your visit, though the tour path will be modified to avoid interrupting.
Atlas Movie Studio
11:00 am ~ Leave for Ait Benhaddou
We will drive ½ hour and stop in Ait Benhaddou, where much of the filming takes place. We will stop for a photo op and light refreshment (on your own). Aït Benhaddou has very unique historical architecture and stunning desert scenery. Set between the dramatic landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and the arid Sahara, the UNESCO World Heritage site is a breathtaking journey into the past. Its unique and ancient architecture, constructed from traditional mud and straw, creates a striking, organic silhouette that shifts with the changing light of the Moroccan sun. Visitors can explore the labyrinthine alleys of this thousand-year-old fortified village, which famously served as a cinematic backdrop for blockbusters like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Once a vital trading post on the caravan route, the village stands as a spectacular and well-preserved testament to southern Moroccan history, inviting modern-day travelers to walk in the footsteps of ancient merchants and movie stars.
Ait Benhaddou
12:15 pm ~ Depart for Marrakesh & Stop for Lunch
We will depart and make our way to Marrakesh. We will stop for lunch on your own at 1:15 PM for about an hour and then continue on to our next Imperial City, Marrakesh, at 2:30 PM, by crossing the Atlas Mountains.
5:30 pm ~ Check in to Hotel 2Ciels
Enjoy a two night stay at a modern and centrally located hotel walkable distance from the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. 2Ciels Boutique Hotel & SPA offers a rooftop terrace, two outdoor pools, and complimentary breakfast buffet. Guests enjoy Mediterranean dishes at on-site restaurants, in-room WiFi, and highly praised staff service.
Hotel 2Ciels
7:30 pm ~ Dinner at 2Ciels Restaurant
Enjoy dinner with the group at the 2Ciels Hotel’s Restaurant. Relax after dinner, or walk to the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, a club or go shopping at the local mall. Marrakesh is a city that never sleeps.
2Ciel Restaurant
DAY 9: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 | MARRAKECH
7:00 am ~ Breakfast at the hotel
An American style buffet breakfast is available at the hotel.
9:00 am ~ Walking/Bus Tour of Marrakesh
After breakfast, we will take the bus and stop at various sites: The first stop will be about a 20 minute bus ride to the Bahia Palace, a late 19th-century palace built and expanded in two main phases for two successive grand viziers of the sultan. Its name, which means "brilliance" in Arabic, reportedly honors one of its owner's favorite wives.
Then we will visit a homeopathic pharmacy for approximately 30 minutes, where you will learn how Moroccans combine western medicine with natural local remedies. A ten minute bus ride will leave us at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where you will experience the sights and smells of Marrakesh. You will see the famous snake charmers, vendors with souvenirs, and many traditional Moroccan items. The Tour Guide will take you to the area where spices are sold and for about 20 minutes, explain how various ethnic groups influenced Moroccan cooking. You will have time to explore the Medina to shop on your own. The Tour Guide can suggest places to eat, museums to visit or return to your hotel to relax.
Marrakech
12:00 pm ~ Lunch on your own
Enjoy lunch and leisure time on your own. The Tour Guide will provide suggestions on where to go. Stay and shop in the square, go see the famous Majorelle Gardens, or visit La Mamounia, one of Marrakesh's most beautiful hotels.
6:30 pm ~ Group Dinner at a Private Home
We will depart the hotel at 6:30 PM for a 20 minute bus ride for group dinner in a private home with Gnawa music. Enjoy a group dinner at a private home where you will learn more about Moroccan cuisine. The hostess will talk about the spices found in typical and classic Moroccan dishes.
Private dinner
8:30 pm ~ Return to hotel
Return to the hotel for leisure time at the end of the night.
DAY 10: THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 | CASABLANCA
6:30 am ~ Breakfast at our hotel
After breakfast, we will depart and make our way to Casablanca.
7:45 am ~ Depart for Casablanca
After breakfast, we will take our last bus ride together to Casablanca, which will be around 5 hours. We will stop for lunch on your own at 12:00.
Casablanca
Casablanca Tours
Upon arrival in Casablanca, we will begin with a visit to the Church of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, a modernist Roman Catholic church built in 1954 by architect Achille Dangleterre and engineer Gaston Zimmer, known for its striking design and stained glass.
We will then visit Temple Beth-El, an Orthodox synagogue often considered the centerpiece of Casablanca’s once-vibrant Jewish community. While the city is home to more than 30 synagogues, Beth-El stands out for its Marc Chagall–inspired stained glass windows and artistic details, all carefully restored in 1997.
Our day concludes with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Morocco. An extraordinary blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering, its towering minaret rises dramatically above the Atlantic coast, making it a defining symbol of Casablanca’s skyline.
Tour of Casablanca
5:00 pm ~ Check in to Hotel Barcelo Anfa Casablanca
We will check into the Barcelo Anfa Casablanca, where you will have some time to settle in before our Farewell Dinner. Located in the heart of Casablanca, Barceló Anfa Casablanca is a stylish Art Deco–inspired hotel offering modern comfort in Morocco’s economic and cultural center. With elegant rooms, a spa, fitness center, restaurant, and a rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool, the hotel provides a refined stay just moments from key landmarks, shopping areas, and the historic Jewish quarter.
Barcelo Anfa Casablanca
7:00 pm ~ Group Farewell Dinner
Enjoy our last group dinner, exchange contacts, and bid farewell to your new friends.
DAY 11: FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 | BYE MOROCCO!
Breakfast at our hotel
Enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel before your departing flight
Flights depart Casablanca for home cities
We’ll drop you off at the Mohammed V International airport two to three hours before your departure.
