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KINGDOM OF MOROCCO & IMPERIAL CITIES
September 20 - October 5, 2009
Introduction:
The Travel Broker invites you to join us on a remarkable 16 day journey through the Kingdom of Morocco. Come face to face with the country's diverse cultures in amongst Roman ruins, the sights of the souqs (markets), the scenery of the mountains and the serenity of the desert.
Cost: CAD$1790
Local Payment: Included
Start: Casablanca
Finish: Casablanca
Duration: 15 Nights
Age Guide: 18 - 65
Maximum Group Size: 17
Dates: Sep 20 - Oct 05
Tour Highlights:
- Tangier - Cape Spartal, Grotto d'Hercules Asilah & Medina
- Rabat - Mohammed V Mausoleum, Hassan Tower, Medina & Kasbah
- Casablanca - Essaouira - Beaches, Medina & Markets
- Marrakech - Guided Medina Walk, Markets & Djemma el Fna Square
- High Atlas and Todra Gorge - Spectacular Scenery & Berber Culture
- Meknes - Moulay Ismall Mausoleum
- Fes- Guided Medina Walk & Markets
- Chefchaouen - Rif Mountains, Medina and Markets, Volubilis & Guided Tour
- Midelt - Middle Atlas Scenery
- Merzouga Sand Dunes - Overnight
Sahara Desert Tour
Itinerary:
September 20th: Casablanca
After arrival at the airport you'll make your way to your hotel to relax and settle in before meeting up that evening with your Travel Broker Tour Escort. Your escort will host a welcome get-together in the restaurant of the hotel, that will allow you to meet and mingle with your travelling companions before starting out on your fabulous tour in the morning!
September 21st: Casablanca to Essaouira
An early departure to give us the maximum time in the very picturesque seaside village of Essaouira. The medina is off-limits to motor vehicles and is dotted with art galleries and handicraft shops. Outside the medina is the town’s small fishing harbour and endless beach. A cruisey afternoon is followed by a laid-back dinner in one of the medina’s traditional restaurants. (B, D)
September 22nd: Essaouira to Marrakech
A free morning to continue exploring the medina or to catch some more sun on the beach. We then head inland for Marrakech, arriving mid-afternoon to enjoy a siesta by the pool. Tonight we scrub ourselves up and go out for a dinner and show at a beautiful former palace-cum-restaurant inside the
medina. (B)
September 23rd: Marrakech
Marrakech is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and after Casablanca, is Morocco’s second largest city. A morning walking tour with our local guide will give you the chance to get your bearings before heading in to one of the most exhilarating and liveliest souks (market) in the world. The markets are located around the Djemma el Fna square, resplendent with snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats and musicians. Marrakech will not fail to ‘capture’ you… enjoy the day and night at your own pace. (B)
September 24th: Marrakech
Another day spent at leisure exploring the sights, sounds and smells of Marrakesh. Options include the Friends of Marrakech Museum, the Marjorelle Gardens and its 12 acres of exquisite gardens… or more shopping! Don’t forget to head up to one of the rooftop bars for a sundowner drink and watch the square come alive with music, dancers, acrobats, storytellers, potion salesmen and boxing contests surrounded by a plethora of mobile food and joice stalls. (B)
September 25th: Marrakech via High Atlas and Ait Benhaddou to Ouarzazate
An amazing day’s drive up and over the High Atlas Mountains, concluding with a walk around the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou village, setting for movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and Gladiator. Arriving in Ouarzazate late in the afternoon, you can enjoy a swim in the pool before dinner in one of this movie town’s best restaurants. (B, L, D)
Another stunningly scenic day, travelling past kasbahs and palmeries along the Dades Valley, or ‘Valley of the Kasbahs’. We stop for an extended lunch off the main highway in a small village with a local Berber dagger-maker and his super-friendly family. This is an eating and cultural experience of note! A late afternoon drive takes us into the Todra Valley where our hotel is located in the steepest part of the gorge alongside the small river. Tonight we eat under the hotel’s huge Berber tent and can sleep on the roof top terrace. (B, L, D)
September 27th: Todra Gorge via Erfoud to Merzouga Sand Dunes
This morning you have the option of an insightful guided walk along the Todra Valley’s palmerie. Smell, touch and see all the trees, plants and crops on the palmerie’s riverbed and appreciate the life-giver that it truly is for the locals. We then head for the Sahara via Erfoud where we pick up our guide who will direct us through the edge of the desert to our hotel. From here you venture into the desert on your very own camel, arriving at our Berber desert campsite in time for sunset atop the dunes. Tonight is spent chatting and eating with your fellow travellers and sleeping out under the stars. An unforgettable travel experience. (B, L, D)
September 28th: Merzouga Sand Dunes via High Atlas to Midelt
Arise pre-dawn and find your spot for one of nature’s spectacles…sunrise over the Sahara. Then it’s again atop your camel and back to our hotel for a shower and breakfast. Leaving the sand dunes we have short stops in the desert Berber towns of Rissani and Er Rachidia and then enjoy the pleasant
afternoon drive alongside the Ziz gorge to Midelt, a ‘frontier’ town located between the High and Middle Atlas mountain ranges. (B, L, D)
September 29th: Midelt via Middle Atlas and Meknes to Fes
A pleasant drive through the Middle Atlas mountains today and hopefully an encounter with Morocco’s native Barbary Ape. It is then a short drive to the leafy and picturesque village of Ifrane. The French created Ifrane in 1929 and it has a distinctly French Alps feel to it. The coffee houses aren’t too bad either. After lunch we head down the mountains to Meknes where we visit the Mausoloeum of Moulay Ismail. This simple but spiritual shrine is a monument to Morocco’s longest serving ruler. From here we drive to Fes, arriving late afternoon. (B,L,D)
September 30th: Fes
Old Fes is one of the most complete medieval cities left in the world today and is the spiritual heartbeat of Morocco. Up to 300,000 people still live in the medinas of Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid. No motor vehicles are allowed inside the old city so watch out for the donkeys and mules! Enjoy a brilliant morning tour with our local guide that includes a visit to a ceramic pottery factory, the famed leather dye-pits, historical Kairouan Mosque medersa and all the best shopping spots. The rest of the day and night is at your own leisure to allow you to find your own little piece of paradise. (B, D)
We arrive at Volubilis mid-morning and take our time to wander through the ruined city that was the southern-most settlement of the great Roman empire. We then head for the Rif mountains and arrive in the beautiful and chilled-out village of Chefchaouen by late afternoon. We stay very close to the medina and its Spanish-style square surrounded by many funky arts and craft stores, roof-top restaurants and cafés. (B, L)
October 2nd: Chefchaouen to Tangier
Chefchaouen is a magical little village with a strong Spanish influence dating from the mid 1500’s right up to Moroccan independence in 1956. Up to 1920, only three westerners had been recorded as entering the walled old city… only two of them made it out! Thankfully the villagers are much more receptive to outsiders nowadays. Enjoy this free morning of exploring the maze of alleyways in the old walled village or perhaps head up one of the two mountain peaks from which the town gets its name. We meet up after lunch for the afternoon drive down the Rif to Tangier. (B, D)
October 3rd: Tangier via Asilah to Rabat
The city of Tangier is located at the gateway to the Mediterranean where Africa meets Europe and we make a morning stop at Cape Spartal, Africa’s most north-westerly point, to ponder over the numerous nations who have sailed past here. Heading south to the seaside village of Asilah, one of the old Portuguese Atlantic ports, we take a walk through the funky medina, resplendent with its brightly coloured doors and mural-covered walls. This afternoon we travel down to the country’s capital, Rabat. (B)
October 4th: Rabat To Casablanca
A great day of history and sightseeing that includes the imposing Hassan Tower and exquisite Mohammed V Mausoleum, tomb of the present king’s father and grandfather. We also take a relaxing stroll through the local markets and kasbah and rub shoulders with the locals before continuing onto Casablanca, arriving in time for a visit to the architectural wonder of the Hassan II mosque. An optional walking tour of the mosque’s interior is
offered. (B)
October 5th: Casablanca
Our tour finishes today but friendships and lasting memories have just begun! (B)
Complete Land Program
$1790.00 CADbased on twin/double occupancy - including ALL taxes
Single supplement: $590.00
Local payment is included in price
Nonrefundable deposit required at time of booking
~ $500.00 CAD per person
Final payment due - July 6th, 2009
What's Included:
- Air - Conditioned Private Bus or Minivan, Camel and on Foot
- 14 Nights Hotel, 1 Night Camping
- Fully Escorted by Joan Kingston for Travel Broker Tours
- Services of a professional English speaking guide during all guided sightseeing and excursions as described in itinerary
- All activities & sightseeing plus entrance fees as per our itinerary
- All Tolls, Taxes and Land Taxes
- Meals -15 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners
What's Not Included:
- All International airfares and departure taxes (Denise Johnson of Travel Broker Tours would be happy to assist you in arranging flights from your home to join us!)
- Personal Items
- Meals unless listed in the itinerary
- Tips and Gratuities
- Personal Insurance
- Visa & Passport Handling Fee
For more information about this tour please contact Denise Johnson at:
Travel Broker Tours
A division of The Travel Broker & Cruise Centre
1758 Bath Road Kingston, ON Canada
Telephone: 613-389-7914 or 1-800-387-7678
Email: denise@thetravelbroker.ca
Web: www.thetravelbroker.ca
