Tour members from across Canada gather in Toronto and Montreal for the overnight flight to Casablanca.

Welcome to Morocco! On arrival in Casablanca, we shall be met by our national guide and will transfer up the coast to Rabat and to our hotel. This evening we gather for dinner at our hotel. La Tour Hassan (2 nights)

Enjoy an exploration of the city of Rabat, which features the exquisite Tower of Hassan, the busy Kasbah des Oudayas, the impressive mausoleum of Mohamed V and the imposing Royal Palace, Chellah. The late afternoon and evening are at leisure.

We travel further inland this morning to Fez, the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. En route, we shall visit Meknes, which once rivalled Versailles in its beauty and opulence. Built during a fifty-year period by Moulay Ismail as his Imperial City, the city is a treasure trove of palaces and gardens surrounded by 40 km of mighty walls. Enter through the massive gates of Bab Mansour to find the exquisite mausoleum of the city’s builder. Nearby we explore the Roman ruins at Volubilis. This UNESCO site dates back to AD 40 and was the centre and capital of the entire Roman province of Mauritania. Later this afternoon, we arrive in Fez where we will spend two nights in the heart of the Medina with its bustling markets and heady mix of aromas, sounds and sights. Riad Dar Bensouda (2 nights)

This is a day of enchantment as we visit the Medina, the ancient walled city of artisans, craftsmen and bustling markets. We then descend into the souks of Fez and enter yet another world. This is one filled with mingling odours of cedar, leather and spices as we discover the districts of tanners, engravers and merchants. You might also want to visit the Kairaouine Mosque, the Bou Jeloud Gardens and the Sultan’s Palace, each offering displays of classical Islamic art. 

Departing Fez, we cross over the Middle Atlas Mountains, into the heart of Berber country. En route, we pass Ifrane, a charming ski resort, and Azrou, an important handicraft centre. Midelt is a pleasant town surrounded by huge pine trees and a tranquil mountain setting. Take in magical scenery as we head to the edge of the Sahara via the palm-fringed Errachidia and Ziz Valley. Hotel Palm’s Club (1 night)

After breakfast we continue to Merzouga and switch to 4x4 vehicles for the last part of our journey to the Erg Chebbi dunes and the remote frontier. Our destination is to the Sahara and Marhaba, our deluxe tented camp surrounded by sand dunes. Each tent offers comfortable beds, a private en suite bathroom with hot and cold water and all the comforts of a well appointed desert camp. There will be an opportunity to go for a camel ride after which we will enjoy a desert sunset, a traditional meal with music and an amazing evening under the Saharan stars. Saharian Luxury Camp (1 night)

In the morning, we continue to Merzouga and check into our hotel. This afternoon we plan to visit a local village and a school on the edge of the sands. Kasbah Xaluca Tombouctou (1 night)

Following an early call to enjoy the sunrise over the dunes, we drive to Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty is buried. We will be able to view the remains of a 17th century Kasbah and the palace of Ksar Abbar. We continue our way to Tinghir to visit the magnificent Todra Gorge with limestone cliffs reaching 1,000 feet in height. Following lunch, we continue to Dades via the Dades Valley, which is famous for its roses and the yearly Moussem (Rose Festival). Xaluca Dades (1 night) 

Our exploration continues as we head to the Gorges du Dades in the Dades Valley, a green and fertile valley by the Dades River that flows through it giving life to a huge variety of colourful fruit and nut trees and extraordinary red rock formations. Known as “Kasbah Country” for the imposing forts that line the valley, this is the route followed by caravans of another century, from deepest Africa to the Moorish cities of the north. After lunch we tour the famous Aït-Ben-Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Ksar Ighnda (1 night)

Today we travel through the Atlas Mountains. On our way, we will make a small diversion to the village of Ait Ourir where we hope to meet the local Imam (head man) and visit the small school which serves about 90 children. You may wish to bring a small gift for the school (school visit subject to confirmation). We continue to Marrakech, our final Imperial City and a favourite of Winston Churchill for his painting holidays. We are staying in the heart of the city in a riad, close to all of the action. Riad Luzia (or similar) (4 nights)

Explore the sights, sounds and crafts of Marrakech. Begin with a stroll through the Jardin Majorelle, a favourite of Winston Churchill and a tranquil retreat from the bustle of the souks. Visit the adjacent Museum of Islamic Art before  we take a break at La Maison Arabe (or similar) for a truly unique experience - a cooking class and lunch, eating the dishes that we have prepared. Step back in time as we explore the timeless world of Medina, its narrow streets leading to bazaars offering a bewildering array of goods, from copper to carpets, from slippers to hats. Highlights will include the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadian Tombs, with their magnificent carvings, the Kasbah and the Jemaa el-Fna, the central square around which the city revolves.

Delve deeper into this fascinating city as we visit the Tiskiwin Museum, a traditional palace dedicated to Berber artifacts and culture, discover the art and architecture of the Bahia Palace, dating from 1880 and still used by the Royal Family. A special highlight will be our visit to the Amal Centre, founded in 2012 by Nora Fitzgerald to support local women with disadvantaged backgrounds. 

A short drive from Marrakech is the mountain-top National Park of Toubkal. We begin our day with a drive up the mountain to the Berber village of Imlil where we will be taken on a gentle mountain walk exploring the park and the village, using country roads and local paths. Returning to Imlil we will be treated to lunch with a local family where we will experience and learn about traditional Berber lifestyles in the country. We will return to Marrakech in the late afternoon, with the evening free.

This morning we make our way to legendary Casablanca, made famous by Humphrey Bogart. We will explore this port city, highlighted by the eclectic Medina, the Royal Palace, the magnificent Ain Diab Corniche and the stunning Hassan II Mosque. Our farewell dinner will be at Rick’s Café, recreated to fit the theme of “Casablanca,” set in 1942. Le Palace d’Anfa (1 night)