With the morning portion of the tour (the tour of Casablanca) completed, we left Casablanca behind as we jumped on the highway for the 1 hour and 30 minutes ride to Rabat.
Review: Full-Day Casablanca And Rabat Private Tour – Part II – Rabat [Expedia] (Casablanca, Morocco)
Editor’s Note: This post is part of my ongoing Africa Travel Series and my European Travel Series, click here for more posts on all things Europe, and click here for all things Africa.
The City Of Rabat
Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and is the country’s seventh-largest city.
Rabat lies on the north coast of Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean and is famous for storied histories of the Barbary Coast pirates that once used the city as their stronghold.
About The Full-Day Casablanca And Rabat Private Tour From Casablanca
The tour I chose was the “Full-Day Casablanca And Rabat Private Tour From Casablanca” due to the last-minute availability and the relatively affordable pricing.
The 3 stops on the Rabat itinerary portion of the tour
Stop #1: Dar al-Makhzen (Cancelled)
The first stop on the tour was supposed to be Dar al-Makhzen, the official residence of the King of Morocco.
However, it seemed he was entertaining the President of a European country on that day so the palace was closed to tourists.
Stop #2: Kasbah of the Udayas
Skipping the Presidential palace, we headed to the first stop in Rabat, the Kasbah of the Udayas.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is perhaps best known in the West as the home base of the infamous “Barbary Coast” pirate known as “Red Beard” (Oruç Barbarossa) and his brothers.
The Kasbah is also known for the door in the facade of the outer gate and the famous blue walls of the neighborhood streets.
The Outer Walls
Door in the facade of the outer gate
The Blue Walls
The iconic blue-painted walls of the kasbah
The Viewpoint Of Wadi Sala (The End Of The Bou Regreg River)
Lunch At Dar Rbatia
Just outside of the Kasbah of the Udayas was our next stop, this time for lunch.
We took about an hour break to eat at Dar Rbatia restaurant. We went with goat tajine and some smaller vegetarian dishes.
The authentic Moroccan food was good and their specialty seemed to be all types of sweet breads.
Stop #3: The Hassan Tower
The Hassan Tower is another UNESCO World Heritage site, which, like the Kasbah of the Udayas and Chella, was built under the rule of Yaqub al-Mansur in the 12th century A.D.
Originally intended to be the world’s largest minaret atop the world’s largest mosque, the site was never completed due to the passing of al-Mansur in 1199 A.D.
The red sandstone minaret tower, a few columns, and some remnants of the complex wall are all that remain.
A guard at the entrance to both the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The Hassan Tower
Stop #4: The Mausoleum of Hassan V
Located in the same complex as the Hassan Tower (above), the Mausoleum of Hassan V was completed in 1971 to house the remains of the King and his two sons.
Stop #5: Chella
The final stop on the afternoon portion of the tour was Chella, an important site that during various periods has been a Phoenician settlement, a Roman colony, and an Islamic outpost.
Today, much of the old city remains, including remnants of the necropolis, ruins of the city, and the landmark ancient minaret.
The site now also boasts a garden and several different walking routes (popular with joggers and people out for a stroll).
The Entrance to Chella
Official Department of Culture Signage
The Pathways & Gardens
The Ancient Ruins
The still-standing minaret
Mixed ruins
The storks are now the only residents – and they have taken over
This place has really gone to the birds
The Bottom-Line Review: Full-Day Casablanca And Rabat Private Tour [Expedia] (Casablanca, Morocco)
The second half of the tour – Rabat – was well worth the trek from Casablanca, although I was disappointed I didn’t get to see the Royal Palace.
The tour was completed and we drove the 1.5 hours back to Casablanca where I was returned to the doorstep of my hotel.
Overall, the guide was friendly and informative and the small van was clean and comfortable.
The tour was definitely worthwhile, even though I kind of got “short-changed” by the holiday closures and visiting world leaders.
Final Review: Highly Recommended – Just don’t go on a holiday.
Cheers!
