FEZ TO TANGIERS

Day 1
Fly to Fez.

Day 2
We dive straight into our Morocco experience with a full day's tour of Fez, the intellectual and religious centre of Morocco. Founded over a thousand years ago, Fez has many mosques and medersas (theological colleges) including the 9th century Karouine University, whose architecture is very similar to that seen in Moorish Spain. The medina in Fez is one of the largest in the world. In its immense and confusing warren of souks are thousands of craftsmen with their tiny shops opening onto the narrow alleyways. Noisy and pungent, hot and claustrophobic, the medina of Fez is a totally absorbing and unique experience. Our city guide shall walk us through different sections of the souk – from the dyers souk to the brass and copper souk and of course, no visit to Fez is complete without a visit to the tanneries. Outside the medina we shall visit the Jewish District (mellah), the exterior of the Royal Palace and drive to a panoramic viewpoint over the medina. We shall also visit the potteries where the famous mosaic tables are made from the grey clay of the Rif Mountains.

Day 3
Today, we head out over the northern plains of one of the most fertile areas of Morocco, driving past huge rolling fields as far as the eye can see. The area surrounding Meknes is the main wine-growing area of Morocco and for this reason, cork oak is also grown here. Our first stop is the historical Roman site of Volubilis that nestles in a beautiful green valley. This Roman site is the largest and best preserved in Morocco, and boasts some superb mosaics. In the same valley is the most holy town in Morocco, Moulay Idriss, named after the man who brought Islam to Morocco. We shall take a walk around this small town which was until recently, out of bounds for non-Muslims. Our journey next takes us to Meknes, the capital of the gruesome 17th Century Sultan Moulay Ismail. The old buildings and impressive city gates reflect the historical significance of this city (it was once the heart of the Moroccan sultanate). We shall visit Moulay Ismail's Mausoleum, Bab Mansour and the Roua Stables. You are sure to find Meknes a far more compact and navigable city than Fez!. We return to our hotel in Fez for the night

Day 4
We leave Fez, driving via the whitewashed town of Ouezzane, a town holy to both Muslims and Jews, to Chefchaouen. This delightful town is set in a wide valley in the heart of the Rif Mountains. With its cheery blue and white houses, central square and unique atmosphere, it's the perfect place to relax.

Day 5
This is a great town to explore on your own or in a small group. The medina is small, uncrowded and easy to find your way about and most of the buildings are an almost fluorescent blue-white colour which makes photography fun. The shady Plaza Uta el-Hammam is the place to enjoy a coffee, and the Kasbah (restored in the 17th Century by Moulay Ismail) is certainly worth a visit. Perhaps best of all is simply wandering in the winding hillside streets and soaking up the atmosphere of the town. For those who like to shop, there are some excellent souvenirs to be found.

Day 6
We leave the tranquillity of Chefchaouen with its dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains and head north to the Hispano-Moorish city of Tetouan. Taken over as a Spanish protectorate, and for more than 40 years the capital of the protectorate until the Spanish abandoned it in 1956 (when Morocco regained independence), Tetouan is unique for its mixed Moroccan/Spanish look and feel. The city contains some very good examples of Spanish colonial architecture and you may notice that Spanish, rather than French, is the 2nd language. We shall take some time to explore the Medina and take a walk along the pedestrianised stretch of Ave Mohammed V in the ville nouvelle. We end our day at the Mediterranean Coastal city of Tangiers which gave its name to the tangerine

Day 7
We have a half day guided tour of this interesting city, which from 1923 to 1956 was an international zone, controlled by the resident diplomatic agents of France, Spain, Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Italy & the USA! Our tour will take in the Grand Socco that provides the link between the medina and the ville nouvelle, and the Kasbah. The afternoon is free for individual exploration and last-minute souvenir shopping. Blvd Pasteur in the ville nouvelle is a popular place to check out, or perhaps get a taxi to the cliffside Café Hafa and enjoy the magnificent view out to sea. You could end the day with a dip in the hotel pool or a relaxing walk along the beach.

Day 8
Fly to London.