A medieval medina that hasn’t changed since the 9th century. Ancient Roman mosaics that emerge from hills of silvery olive groves. The holy town where Islam was introduced to Morocco in 789. On this exciting expedition to northern Morocco, time doesn’t just stand still – it pulls you backward through 2,000 years of the rise and fall of empires, the ebb and flow of exotic cultures and to the very origins of the country. Remarkably, all three highlights of this extension – Fès, Moulay Idriss, and Volubilis – are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s as epic as walks on paths laid before the birth of Christ to the close-in intimacy of meeting coppersmiths and cobblers in their centuries-old workshops. Every moment is a revelation, whether you’re peering down into the honeycomb of dye vats tended by the medina’s tanners or sharing a quiet lane with pilgrims to the country’s holiest shrine. Join us on the historic road to Fès…and into the heart and soul of Morocco.

Day 1 - VOLUBILIS / MOULAY IDRISS / FES
After a morning flight to Casabalanca, you’ll make the drive to Domaine Roslane, in the countryside just outside the imperial city of Meknes. At the 1,700-acre estate, which is one of Morocco’s finest vineyards, you’ll enjoy a wine-tasting and lunch. You’ll also go for a personally guided walk at Volubilis, vast Roman ruins dating back to the the 3rd century B.C., where the large, intact mosaics are among the finest imperial relics anywhere in the world. 

Look to the hills from Volubilis, and you’ll see that they seem to take the shape of a camel. The gleaming white-washed town that blankets the “hump” is Moulay Idriss, namesake town of the ruler who brought Islam to Morocco. One of the country’s holiest places, it was forbidden to non-Muslims until the 20th century. You’ll have a chance to stroll with locals and pilgrim’s alike and get a fascinating look at authentic Moroccan life. The day ends in Fès where you go for a stroll on your own before dinner.

 
Days 2-3 – FES
Today, you explore the Medina of Fès, a medieval labyrinth of 9,000 streets. Fortunately for you, you’ll be visiting with a local guide who calls this neighborhood home. On your walk, you share the narrow alleyways with pack donkeys laden with flowers or firewood. You’ll also get an unforgettable look at the tannery, a large courtyard packed with stone vats full of vivid dyes where tanners process the hides of cows, sheep, goats and camels. You’ll come across bakeries, the stalls of spice merchants, shoemakers, coppersmiths and other craftspeople, all plying their trades in the traditional way. After lunch in the medina, you’ll visit the Jewish Quarter and the ceramic district where artisans create intricate mosaics. At day’s end, your guide will be happy to recommend a favorite restaurant for dinner on your own.

On your final Moroccan morning, you’re at liberty to explore on your own or shop for pottery, leatherware, bright babouche slippers and more before transferring to the airport for your flight home.