Day 3: Fez
The mesmerizing call to dawn prayer begins slowly and builds to a crescendo as each of a hundred minarets joins the chorus, a sound integral to Fez and one that has echoed each morning through this exquisite walled city for over 1400 years. The former capital of Morocco, Fez remains Morocco’s leading intellectual and religious center as well as a fascinating cultural hub. Meet your private specialist guide to discuss the options of what you'd like to see and do most: walk through the bustling medina with proposed visits to a tannery, wool souk (market), spice shops, and stalls loaded with dates and olives, giving you a thorough immersion into Moroccan mercantile life. As your guide introduces you to local people whose artistic talents have been passed from generation to generation, you begin to understand the web of traditions that make Moroccan culture so enduring and rich. Walking through the maze of narrow passageways, you have the chance to visit Qaraouine University, the Madrassa (Quranic school), and the Moulay Idriss II memorial, all windows into local life, education, and religion. Lunch in a local restaurant in the medina is an immersion into the world of Moroccan spices, olives, and specialty dishes. For those who have an extra day to explore Fez, we can arrange a cooking session to learn about preparing delicious Moroccan cuisine: whether it be couscous, tagine (meat stew), and traditional Moroccan soup called harira. Overnight local Fez riad.