A full day guided tour to explore a 17th century imperial capital, roman ruins and a hilltop pilgrimage town.
Leave Rabat at 8.30 am for the drive to Meknès (152 kms – 1.45hours)
Meknes is an Imperial capital founded in the 17th century by the Alaouite sultan MoulayIsmaël who decided to make it one of the most beautiful and powerful Imperial cities in Morocco, protected by 40km of walls. The medina and the remains of the royal palace has earned Meknès a place on UNESCO's world heritage list.
Gates and palaces: Considered to be one of the most beautiful gates in the world, Bab Mansour was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century. It is the entrance to the Imperial city proper, where a visit to the sultan's mausoleum is still of interest.
Markets and lively squares: Meknes has one of the busiest medinas in Morocco. The Place El-Hedime, located exactly between the old town and the Imperial part of the city, houses the covered market and becomes busy at dusk: fire-swallowers, storytellers, animal trainers and jugglers .
12.30 - 14.30: Lunch at restaurant Dar Terrab and the half-hour drive to to Volubilis.
The largest Roman archeological site in Morocco lies at Volubilis. Moscais, triumphal arch, capitol building, house of Bacchus – everything testifies to the city's splendor and its economical and political weight.
After several hours at Volubilis, continue to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the most important pilgrimage town in Morocco. Here lies the tomb of Moulay Idriss I, the founder of the Idrissid Dynasty and great-grandson of the prophet Mohammed. The town has a spectacular setting, with its whitewashed houses straddled over (and between) two green hilltops.
At 4.30 pm, return to Rabat
The Lawrence of Morocco map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
We really know Morocco and have had the pleasure of making many people's dream trips become reality over the years. It has been our privilege to be asked to manage holidays, weddings and productions for so many fantastic and discerning clients. We remain small and dedicated to providing excellent honest advice to enable you to sit back, relax and enjoy the fun bits without having to manage the unpredictability of this fascinating country.
If you want it done right, look no further!
