CASABLANCA | RABAT | CHEFCHAOUEN | FES | ESsaouira | MARRAKESH
With a $750 Deposit
EXPLORE MOROCCO
october 21 - November 2, 2025
11 nights • 12 days
Explore the magnificent royal cities and beautiful sites of Morocco, a country that formed part of the medieval Islamic West along with Al-Andalus (modern Spain and Portugal). The North African country has coastlines along the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans, fertile agricultural zones and mountain ranges, and includes part of the Sahara desert. Its people represent a mix of Berber (Amazigh) and Arab cultures, along with French and European influences from the colonial era. Starting from the nation’s most populated city Casablanca and passing through the capital Rabat, our tour will include a stay in the blue mountain village of Chefchaouen. We will give special attention to Fes, with its incomparable madina, and Marrakesh, an oasis that features numerous souks and street food stalls. Shop for ceramics, leather works, Berber carpets, and other handmade goods. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, try unique cuisines, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes that will transport you to another world.
faculty guide
Professor Munir Shaikh
Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has lived for periods of time in Spain (and Morocco), and is conversant in Spanish. He has taught academic courses on Islamic Spain, Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including seven previous excursions in Southern Spain.
Itinerary in MOROCCO
The tour program officially begins on the evening of Wednesday, October 22. In order to arrive in Casablanca by this date, participants from North America should depart from their origin city on or before Tuesday, October 21 (Participants from other origins may be able to depart on Wednesday, October 22 and arrive in Casablanca on the same day).
tuesday, october 21 depart from us or other origin points
day 1 Wednesday, october 22 arrive in casablanca / welcome dinner
day 2 thursday, october 23 rabat: muhammad v mausoleum /hassan tower / kasbah of the udayas / proceed to chefchaouen
day 3 friday, october 24 chefchaouen / jumah prayer / proceed to fes
day 4 saturday, october 25 fes medina tour / free time
day 5 sunday, october 26 day trip from fes or local activity
day 6 monday, october 27 proceed to marrakesh / free time
day 7 tuesday, october 28 marrakesh medina tour / sites / jemaa el-fnaa
day 8 wednesday, october 29 excursion to atlas mountains / camel ride (optional)
day 9 thursday, october 30 proceed to essaouira / city tour
day 10 friday, october 31 essaouira / jumah prayer / free time
day 11 saturday, november 1 proceed to casablanca / farewell dinner
day 11 sunday, november 2 depart from casablanca
With a $750 Deposit
BAYAN TOURS
Bayan has been offering faculty-led tours to world heritage destinations since 2017, with previous tours to Southern Spain, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jerusalem & Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Senegal/Gambia, with exciting new destinations being planned in the coming years.
WHY JOIN A BAYAN TOUR?
Tours offered by Bayan cater to the diverse interests and needs of families, while offering an exceptional educational and cultural program. Each tour is led by one or more faculty members who provide daily background lectures and insights about the historical and contemporary contexts. Local guides are utilized as well at various points in time. The itinerary is crafted by experienced personnel to maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction. While the scheduled program is robust, ample time is provided to explore on your own, shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs, and enjoy some leisure activities. Bayan’s tour group size is typically between 20-30 participants.
TOUR INFORMATION
MOROCCO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Casablanca
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Hassan II Mosque
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City tour
Rabat
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Tour Hassan
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Mausoleum of Muhammad V
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Kasbah des Oudayas
Chefchaouen
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Kasbah
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Town Square
Fes
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Panoramic city view
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Al-Qarawiyyin masjid
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Madrasa Al-Attarine
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Souks of the old madina
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Handicraft workshops
Marrakesh
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Koutoubia Mosque
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Souks of the old medina
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Saadian Tombs
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Jemaa El Fnaa public square
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Jardin Majorelle
Essaouira
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Fortress and ramparts
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Medina
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Fishing village
Along with visiting these sites, we will encounter the people and make friendships, sample various cuisines, appreciate cultural programs, and enjoy the natural landscapes that we pass through.
Tour Pricing (land package only)
All pricing is double occupancy and per person. International airfare is not included.
Early Bird (Reserve by 12/31/24) After 12/31/24
Adult $3,195 $3,395
Minors (8-17) $2,795 $2,995
Single supplement $900 $900
Land Package Inclusions
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Airport transfers in Casablanca on Oct.22 and Nov. 2
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11 nights hotel (4* in most cases)
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Ground transportation by private A/C coach
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Entrance fees for sites
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Daily Breakfast, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
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Daily commentary/discussions with faculty guide(s)
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English-speaking local guides
exclusions
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International airfare to Morocco (budget about $1,200 round-trip per person from US gateways) and applicable baggage fees
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Tourist visa if required (US and EU citizens do not need a visa)
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Local bus, taxi, metro fares during optional excursions
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Gratuities for driver(s) and local guide(s)
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Additional meals/beverages, personal items
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Personal items
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Hotel incidental charges, hotel porters and other individualized services
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Urgent care, medical treatment and testing, related expenses
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Covid-19 testing costs (if required for entry or return to country of origin)
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Travel insurance
International Travel Arrangements
Arriving and Departing from Morocco (Casablanca)
Participants should book roundtrip flights arriving in Casablanca (CMN) from mid-day onwards on Wednesday, October 22 (for travelers from the US, this means departing from your city of origin on Tuesday, October 21). The tour officially begins at 5:00pm on October 22 with a group orientation meeting in the hotel, followed by brief walk in nearby areas, a visit to a mosque for prayer, and dinner. You may plan your travel to add extra days in transit elsewhere before or after the tour, or in Morocco before or after the tour, if you wish.
Initial hotel check-in for the tour is at 3:00pm on October 22. If you arrive a day earlier or early in the morning, you should book a hotel room for the extra night/early check-in. At the end of the tour, final check-out is on November 2 by noon. (If need be, you can depart late on the night of Nov. 1 or in the early morning of Nov. 2).
If you plan to spend more time in Morocco after the conclusion of the tour, then arrange your flights, local transportation, and additional hotel accommodations accordingly. Bayan does not handle additional bookings for before or after the specified tour dates.
Booking Your Flights
Once you've paid your deposit to Bayan Tours, you should book your flights as soon as possible to try and obtain well-priced airfare with suitable flight timings and layovers (if you don't have a direct flight to Casablanca, we recommend that you choose a route with a layover of not less than 90 minutes). You can use your own travel agent, check airline websites, or use other booking sites to select the flight legs that are best for you.
HOTELS
Our tour group will stay at the following hotels, or ones of comparable quality:
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Casablanca: Hotel Sofitel (2 nights)
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Chefchaouen: Dar Echchaouen (1 night)
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Fes: Barcelo Fes Medina (2 nights)
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Marrakesh: Hotel Opera Plaza (3 nights)
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Essaouira: Atlas Essaouira Riad Resort (2 nights)
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Casablanca: Hotel Sofitel (1 night)
With a $750 Deposit
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Who is leading the tour?Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including eight previous programs in Southern Spain.
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What is the expected group size?Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. The itinerary includes visits to mosques and other sites of prayer. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution. Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants. This enables participants to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.
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When is the registration deadline?We are accepting registrations for the tour until February 28, in order to book desired hotel rooms, obtain entrance tickets to monuments, and finalize other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $750 per traveler. Deposits are partially refundable through January 31, 2025, however, a cancellation charge of $ 100 per traveler will apply for any cancellation requested 24 hours after time of booking. For other important terms and conditions, please click here. Deposits after this date are non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour within a one-year time frame. After payment of your deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due no later than January 31, 2025.
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Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required. We are unable to assist in obtaining visas.
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How physically demanding is the tour?Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will mainly be walking from site to site. In Madrid we will use the metro (subway) at times, as well as taxis. In any case, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. At any given time, we will cover 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. We will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Even so, this tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved, and a private tour might be preferable. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
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What type of food will we have on the tour?Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork. During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. We will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas, small dishes with beverages.
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Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
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What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. U.S. citizens can travel to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result performed either within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain for a PCR test or within 24 hours prior to departure for a rapid antigen test. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.