We arrive this afternoon in Rabat, where we have time to rest and refresh before dinner together at our hotel, located near famed Hassan Tower.

One of Morocco’s four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is again the ­country’s capital, at once historic and contemporary, as we discover on today’s tour. We visit the necropolis of Chellah, built on ancient Roman ruins, and the Mohammed VI contemporary art museum then have lunch in a private home. On tap this afternoon: the 12^th-century Kasbah of the Oudaias, the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, and Rabat’s medina, a UNESCO site. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Moroccan fare at the acclaimed Dinarjat in Rabat’s Old Town.

Today, on the way to Fez, we stop first at Château Roslane, a sprawling, 3,000-acre vineyard in the Moroccan countryside. We enjoy a tour, lunch, and a wine tasting early this afternoon, then head out to visit the ancient Roman ruins at the UNESCO site of Volubilis. Late this afternoon we reach Fez and our elegant hotel overlooking the medina.

Today we explore Morocco’s oldest imperial city, considered the “Athens of Africa” for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. We begin with a comfortable walk through the Fez medina, winding through the authentic handcraft streets on our way to the Al-Attarine Madrasa, whose highlight is a small courtyard showcasing intricately detailed tilework and carving decorations dating to the early 1300s. Continuing through the medina, we see the artisans’ quarters; the 14^th-century Koranic schools; and Al Karaouine, the medieval theological university. After lunch in the medina, we see the Blue Gate, the most picturesque of all the Old City’s historic gates; the medieval school of Bouanania; the 12^th-century home of the Jewish scholar Maimonides; and the authentic food market. Our full-day Fez touring concludes with a private dinner at an intimate family-run riad.

This morning, we tour the old Mellah (Jewish quarter), with its 17^th-century synagogue. Then it’s off to the traditional quarter to watch artisans craft the acclaimed Fez pottery and ceramics. The afternoon is free for independent exploration.

Traveling inland today, we cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. We stop in the small town of Midelt for lunch. Continuing on we cross the Ziz River, passing rows of sky-scraping palm trees and fortified villages before reaching our kasbah-style hotel in Erfoud late in the day. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

This morning we visit the city of Rissani, with its 18^th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. We enjoy a tour highlight this afternoon as we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. In the enormous silence we watch the sun set over the desert as we take a camel ride along the erg. Following this experience, we’ll have dinner together in this desert setting before returning to our hotel tonight.

Our destination today is in the snow-topped High Atlas. The day features one beautiful scene after another, including the village of Tinehir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of riverside terraces lush with palm trees; and the spectacular 984-foot Todra Gorge, home to a variety of rare bird and plant species. Following lunch here we visit El Kelaa des Mgouna, known for its roses, then set out on the fabled “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs” ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated façades. Late afternoon we reach the town of Ouarzazate (the “door of the desert”) where we spend the night.

En route to Marrakech today, we stop first at uninhab­ited Ait ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of southern Morocco’s most scenic villages that is often used as a location for fashion and film shoots. Its old section consists of deep red kasbahs packed together so tightly they appear to be a single unit. Then as we begin our descent from the High Atlas, we pass through typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. In Tizi N’Tichka, we traverse the Pass of the Pastures (alt. 7,415 feet), where life is much as it was centuries ago: shepherds bring their flocks to the high pastures every summer, then return with them to their villages in autumn. We arrive in Marrakech late this afternoon and dine tonight at our hotel.

Once the capital of southern Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is an alluring oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sights. We begin our  touring with a horse-drawn carriage ride along the city’s earthen walls, stopping to visit the Koutoubia Mosque with its distinctive 282-foot minaret. This afternoon, we explore Majorelle Gardens, a private botanical garden known for its native birds and cobalt blue accents. Directly adjacent to the gardens is the Yves St. Laurent Museum, where we see a collection of the designer’s haute couture and design works. Our final stop is Djemaa el Fna Square, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charmers, entertainers, storytellers, and sellers of local fruit, food, gifts, and spices.

Today’s first stop: Bab Agnaou, the city’s oldest gate, which dates to the 12^th century. Then we set off to interact with local artisans at a variety of souks in the medina. We visit with yarn dyers and iron workers, herbalists and wood carvers, painters and lantern makers - all using tools and methods passed down through the generations. We are at leisure this afternoon and enjoy dinner together tonight at a restaurant in Marrakech’s Old Town.

We leave Marra­kech this morning by coach for storied Casablanca, Morocco’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After a brief orientation tour of the city, we visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s only functioning mosque open to non-Muslims. Sitting on the Atlantic shoreline, the mosque boasts a prayer hall the size of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. Tonight we celebrate our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.