Morocco Imperial Cities

The spectacular Villa Mandarine is located in the residential district of Rabat, just a few minutes from the Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Course in the heart of a large orange grove. The Villa is a family property transformed into a gorgeous residence. The rooms are spacious and decorated in a true Moroccan style. Each of the rooms have air-conditioning, heating, a mini bar, satellite TV, a terrace and a digital safe for your valuables. There is a fantastic restaurant offering mouthwatering meals and the menu changes everyday, depending on what the chef has in his basket. There are many restaurants in the area serving different kinds of meals for you to enjoy. Villa Mandarine has many fabulous ways for you to relax and many activities to keep you entertained as well. The fitness centre is a good way for you to start the day and afterwards you can spend time in the sauna, hamman or go for a well deserved massage.

Casablanca - A sightseeing tour around the port city of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest metropolis and its industrial hub.

Hassan II Grand Mosque -The mosque is amongst the largest in the world and can house as many as 25,000 worshipers. The mosque’s minaret is the tallest religious structure in the world.

Rabat - Sightseeing day in Rabat to explore the superbly preserved relics of its Moorish past. The city's most famous site is the Tour Hassan, the incomplete minaret of the great mosque begun by Yacoub al-Mansour. Alongside is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the present king's grand father.

Oudayas - The Kasbah des Oudayas, built on the bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, houses a former palace which is now a museum of traditional art. Beyond the city walls are the remains of the ancient city of Sala. Also known as Chella.

The Riad Fes is a lovely old family-run hotel right in the heart of the medina and built around a central courtyard garden with a fountain and even a grand piano. Designed and furnished in traditional style (it has its own hammam), the owners have added a few 21st century luxuries like a rooftop Jacuzzi and gym, air conditioning, a swimming pool and even a lift. The four rooms and 13 suites are lavishly decorated and all different: some with four-poster beds and ornate chandeliers, others spread over two floors. The Riad has three restaurants specialising in excellent local and Moroccan cuisine. The Riad Fes has succeeded in combining refinement with inspiration and invites you to relax and enjoy your stay in a serene atmosphere with décor reminiscent of Arabian Nights. Restored to its' original glory, the Riad Fes provides guests with the opportunity to travel back in time and enjoy the splendour and authenticity of the Fassie lifestyle of the Fès nobility. The prestigious history and refined civilisation of this Imperial city is reflected in the Spanish Moorish architecture and attention to detail seen in the décor. The Riad Fès welcomes you to share your time in Fès in the comfort and luxury of their residence "turned" luxury hotel.

Meknes - Meknes is one of the Imperial cities of Morocco where the monuments reflect the splendor of this 17th century city. Visit Bab Mansour gateway, the granaries and stables of the great Moulay Ismail and his mausoleum.

Volubilis - Continue to the Roman ruined city of Volubilis with its beautifully preserved mosaic’s dates largely from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, although excavations have revealed that the site was originally settled by Carthaginian traders even earlier.

Fes - Fes is timeless and one of the least untouched and secretive cities in the world. Once the capital of Morocco, it remains the undisputed religious, artistic and intellectual centre of the country. Explore the 9,000 narrow lanes and alleys that make up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter. Visit the historic Nejjarine Fountain, fine palaces, mosques and medrassas (Koran Schools) that are dotted throughout the city.

Les Jardins de la Medina is located in Marrakech medina, Morocco, 500 metres from the Royal Palace, and two kilometres from Djemma el Fna market square and Marrakech town centre. Once part of a Marrakchi prince's riad, les Jardins de la Medina has been converted into a peaceful boutique hotel. The 36 air-conditioned guestrooms are decorated with wooden furnishings, bright fabrics, and Moroccan touches. Amenities include satellite television, minibars, and safes. Superior and deluxe rooms include DVD players. The high walls enclose a swimming pool and tranquil gardens, where guests can relax in hammocks surrounded by the scents of orange trees and jacaranda. Views over the busy Medina or towards the Atlas mountains can be admired from the hotel's several roof terraces. The extensive beauty services on offer at Les Jardins de la Medina range from a traditional hammam in the hotel's own Moorish baths to massage treatments and a spa tub. The hotel also features an open-air fitness area, a boutique, a bureau de change, and a hair salon. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served each day at les Jardins de la Medina's restaurant, Karintia. The restaurant offers both Moroccan and international dishes, and the outdoor terrace overlooks the pool and gardens. The adjacent pool restaurant serves light snacks and drinks, and a Mediterranean buffet every Sunday.

Full day sightseeing - Set out to discover the secrets of Marrakech, the most famous city in Morocco. Most of the city’s architectural attractions are inside the Medina, the old walled section of the town. Built in the 12th century, the Koutoubia minaret is the most perfect Islamic religious structure in North Africa. This famous landmark dominates the local skyline and can easily be spotted from all of Marrakech. Another jewel of Marrakech is the Koranic school that was built around 1570; the Medrasa Ben Youssef is the biggest medersa in the whole of the Maghreb. Hidden away behind high walls are the Saadian Tombs. The Mausoleum displays a very high level of decoration, using traditional stucco and Granada-style carving, typical of classical Moroccan buildings. The Bahia Palace is a masterpiece of domestic architecture which gives a good idea of how the privileged lived in the 19th century in the Imperial city. The use of marble, stucco and mosaics predominates in the apartments, opening on to courtyards filled with fountains and plant life. Dar Si Said is one of the most beautiful palaces, now home to the museum of Moroccan Arts and Crafts. Inside are stunning collections of traditional woven carpets and Berber silver jewelry.

Half day sightseeing - You will enjoy the gardens of Marrakech, starting by the Menara gardens that were built in the 12 century and surrounded by orchards and olive groves. The intention of the basin was to irrigate the surrounding gardens and orchards using a sophisticated system called Qanat. The basin is supplied with water thanks to an old hydraulic system which conveys water from the mountains located at 30 km approximately away from Marrakech. Continue to discover the Majorelle gardens, created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1924 and later opened to the public in 1947. Purchased after his death, by designer Yves Saint Laurent who established a trust to protect the future existence of the garden. He founded a small Islamic art museum located on the premises in a bright blue house, which was once the painting studio of Majorelle. These peaceful garden settings offer a variety of exotic plants such as bamboo, cacti, bougainvillea and palms. Streams and fish filled pools also flow through the gardens.