Rabat
4h
After pickup from your Casablanca hotel, travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Rabat, on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Morocco’s capital straddles the River Bouregrag and blends slick modern quarters with beaches, Roman relics, and medieval Moorish and French colonial buildings. On arrival, set off on a sightseeing tour of the landmarks. Admire the carved Hassan Tower, a relic of a 12th-century mosque; and take in the gilded Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan II. Snap photos by the handsome Al Moouahidin Gate and explore the 12th-century Kasbah Oudaya, Rabat’s old clifftop citadel. Delve into this warren of blue-and-white painted houses, learning how it was once a pirates’ stronghold and departure point for armies that left for Spain in the 18th century. Next, stretch your legs around the UNESCO-protected Chellah, a walled enclave of Roman ruins and medieval Muslim necropolis. See the relics as your guide shares their history, and if you wish, admire the collections at the imposing Mohammad VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Finally, stroll and shop around Rabat’s 17th-century, walled medina: where the maze-like lanes are crammed with shops hawking trinkets, spices, and souvenirs. Your tour finishes with a drop-off at your Casablanca hotel.
