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A highlight, maybe THE highlight, of our Morocco tour will be the opportunity to meet some of the nation's most outstanding women. WTC’s managing director, Allison O’Sullivan, will be joined by our co-leader and women’s advocate, Carol Edgar, for an unforgettable visit with some of Morocco's most dynamic women leaders. Carol, whose most recent tours were to India and Egypt, is highly regarded for organizing select groups of women travelers and treating them to evenings with foreign women in business, government and leading non-profit organizations. These typically take the form of dinners, so as to respect our touring itinerary.
In India these events included a special dinner in Delhi at the Women's Press Club and in Jaipur. In Cairo, the group was welcomed into the home of an outstanding activist -- a penthouse apartment overlooking the Nile -- to meet a dozen of Egypt's most amazing women leaders. In Amman, the group met with a half-dozen of Jordan's most dynamic women, including a leading urban planner who is married to the mayor. These events are arranged sometimes through the US State Department, where Carol has contacts, or through Carol's global network. We are looking forward to another memorable program. We hope you can join us.
| *Royal Air Maroc Flights Reserved from New York JFK to Casablanca Airport CMN: |
| Flt# 201 |
FEB 17 |
JFK/CMN |
7:01 PM |
7:40 AM +1 |
| Flt# 200 |
FEB 26 |
CMN/JFK |
11:25 AM |
2:45 PM |
Exclusively for Women
- Round-trip regularly scheduled air transportation on Royal Air Maroc Airlines from JFK to Casablanca. Fuel surcharges included (valid at time of printing).
- Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers in Morocco based on the group air schedule.
- 8 nights hotel accommodations at 4- and 5-star hotels, with 2 daily meals (breakfast and generally dinner), including taxes and service charges.
- Special farewell dinner the last evening at a fish restaurant in Casablanca.
- Professional tour manager throughout the program.
- All sightseeing excursions as listed in the program, via deluxe coach, and with entrance fees included where applicable.
- Gratuities for group meals at the hotels and restauants.
Not included:
- Seven Lunches – see itinerary for details
- Cocktails
- Personal Incidentals
- Optional Activities:
$100 Essaouira Tour with sea food lunch, based on 10 (beverages extra)
$ 60 Fantasia Dinner Show, based on 10 (beverages extra)
- Tips to bus driver and the tour guide
- Airport taxes, government fees and September 11th Security Fee (about $77)
***Valid passport required. U.S. citizens do not need a Visa or Inoculations***
Day 1 - Tuesday, February 17: Depart the U.S. for Morocco on overnight flights.
 Day 2 - Wednesday, February 18: Arrive Casablanca – Rabat. Arrival at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca with welcome and assistance by our professional Tour Manager/Escort. Our Moroccan journey begins with a tour of Casablanca. Discover the charm and decadent languor of this shimmering city of white. Like a dreamy mirage, it appears against the azure of the surrounding sea. Steeped in romantic mystique and intrigue, Casablanca’s whitewashed dramatic Hispano-Moorish homes lay scattered amid Art Deco jewels and an elegant city center. Its ancient Arab quarter and new medina, with undeniably French influence, mark the passage from past to present. Casablanca’s modern attitude and big-city edge makes it today the most cosmopolitan of all Moroccan cities, a vibrant economic hub with the largest port found anywhere in the Maghreb. Some of the highlights we’ll explore include the outside of the majestic Hassan II Mosque, and the lively squares of Place des Nations Unies and Mohammed V. Continue on to Rabat, one hour driving. Welcome dinner and overnight at our hotel, the 5-star Rabat Hotel. (Dinner)
 Day 3 - Thursday, February 19: Rabat – Fez. After breakfast at the hotel, meet with your tour escort. Visit Rabat’s enormous Almohad Gate to the Kasbah des Oudaias, situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with magnificent views. Inside the gates discover artisan galleries, an ornate 17th century palace now part of the Musée des Oudaia (Museum of Moroccan Arts), and the beautiful Andalusian Gardens near the famous Tour Hassan, a 12th-century minaret intended to be the highest and the largest in the Muslim world. And not to be missed is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and King Hassan’s stately official palace. Lunch on own in a local restaurant. Afterwards, drive to Fez, settling at our hotel, the 4-star Jnan Palace, for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast and Dinner)
 Day 4 - Friday, February 20: Fez. Enjoy a full-day tour of the city of Fez. The Holy City of Fez is a jewel of Spanish-Arabic civilization. Fez does not reveal its secrets easily. It’s to be discovered little by little, with reverence. Only in this way can the splendours of Medrsa architecture be fully appreciated. Only in this way will the walls of the medina tempt you. Bustling with artisans and merchants, its captivating sounds, fragrances and colors mesmerize the visitor with a constant swirl of activity. This is the city of Moulay Idriss 1st, a sanctuary of human and moral sciences. The great Karaouiyne University has for eleven centuries been a religious and intellectual center whose influence has spread far beyond the Kingdom's boundaries. In 789, a pick-axe of silver and gold -"fas" in Arabic - was presented to Idriss 1st to use in tracing the outlines of the city. Hence the name of the city, which lies at the far eastern end of the plain of Saïss, bordered to the south by the hills outlying the Atlas Mountains. Fez is a cradle of religious, cultural and artistic traditions. The Medersas around the Karaouiyne Mosque, former lodging houses for students coming from outside the city, attest to the importance of its thousand years of history. In the Medina, a labyrinth of shopping, winding alleyways are crammed full of stalls and workshops. This is the famed Kissaria - the commercial center. A multitude of locally produced goods are on sale in this incredible maze-cotton fabric, silk, brocade work, slippers, and much more.
 Lunch on own at local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the craftsmen of the El Attarine souks, offering the visitor a non-stop spectacle. For hundreds of years such work has been regulated by traditional guilds, ensuring that its quality is worthy of the city. Each district has its own specialty: cobalt blue enamelled pottery, carpets, wrought iron ... one looks on as the dyer stirs yarns, steeped in their multitude of colors, as the tanner tramples skins under an open sky - skins that the leather-worker will eventually adorn with fine gilt for book-binding. Leaving the souks through the Boujeloud gate with its decoration of green and blue faiences, enjoy the riches contained in the wonderful Museum of Moroccan Art. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast and Dinner)
 Day 5 - Saturday, February 21: Fez – Meknes – Volubilis – Fez. This morning we embark on a day’s excursion to Meknes (a city 60 km from Fez, an hour’s drive), to the most important Roman ruins in Morocco: Volubilis. Lunch is on own at a local restaurant. Then drive to Meknes for sightseeing of Meknes Bab El Mansour, place El Hedim, the Royal Granaries and stables, and tour the city ramparts. Return to Fez for dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast and Dinner)
 Day 6 - Sunday, February 22: Fez – Ouzoud Waterfalls – Marrakech. After an early breakfast and hotel check-out, we depart from Fez and drive through some of the most stunning countryside in the region. Our coach will pass through little villages and small towns as the road winds through the surrounding countryside, across bridges and closer to the waterfalls (5 hours driving). The beauty of this tour is freedom! Of course, our main goal is to get you to the Ouzoud waterfalls so you can enjoy the day and the views. Ouzoud Waterfall has become the most famous waterfall of Morocco, mainly due to its photo-friendliness. The view is quite impressive with a total 100 meter fall. Once we reach the tiny village of Ouzod, we continue past the many souvenir stalls and cafes to the descending stairs where you will enjoy your first view over the waterfall. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Lunch is on own at a wonderful Moroccan House/Restaurant in Beni-Mellal. After lunch, we continue to Marrakech (2.5 hours driving). Arrive later in the evening for check-in, dinner and overnight at our hotel, the 4* Royal Mirage.
 Day 7 - Monday, February 23: Marrakech. Today we enjoy a sightseeing tour of historic Marrakesh: Bahia Palace, the necropolis of the Saadians, the Koutoubia minaret, the Menara Gardens, and Majorelle Gardens, at the home of the late Yves Saint Laurent (his estate is expected to continue the gardens tour, but this could change). Because of the optional dinner this evening, we will return to the hotel for lunch at no extra charge. Next, it’s time to explore the wonderful and colourful souks in the medina. The tour will end by the famous Jemaa El Fna Square with its curious actors and sellers. You are free to explore on your own, perhaps to sip mint tea or fresh orange juice at the coffee terrace overlooking Jemaa El Fna.
Optional Evening Event: Fantasia Dinner Show at Chez Ali Restaurant. At a palm grove near Marrakech, guests are seated comfortably on rich cushions under one of the various “Caidales” tents. Traditional Moroccan cuisine, quite delicious, is served while folkloric troops, musicians and acrobats from all over the region compete for the pleasure to entertain, to astonish, to captivate and surprise you. After dinner, the spectacle increases with the dances, the songs, the caravan, the incredible cleverness of the horsemen on their pure Arab steeds, all to leave you with the feeling of having experienced 1001 Nights, and the best surprise of all is the sultan and his wife on their flying carpet overhead! Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast and Lunch)
 Day 8 - Tuesday, February 24: Marrakech – Free Day or Optional Excursion to Essaouira. Today you have the option to visit one of the most attractive cities along Morocco’s Atlantic coast. This is most certainly due to Essaouira’s year-round temperate climate, the good nature of its inhabitants, its cultural and architectural heritage and, above all, to the unique atmosphere of its streets and alleys, with swarms of people fishing, trading and working on fine crafts. Lunch is at a sea food restaurant. We will return to Marrakech by 7:00 pm for dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast and Dinner; Lunch for tour participants)
Day 9 - Wednesday, February 25: Marrakech – Casablanca.
Check-out after breakfast and transfer to Casablanca where your luggage will be stored until our rooms are ready at the 4* Le Royal Mansour Meridien. In the meantime, our guide will have ideas for your free day in Casablanca. This evening, our Farewell dinner will be held in a lovely fish restaurant. (Breakfast and Dinner).
Day 10 - Thursday, February 26: Casablanca – Airport. Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the Mohammed VI Airport for your return flight home. (Breakfast).
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