The Magic of Morocco
Can depart any Tuesday, Thursday or
Saturday
Cost per Person based on double occupancy:
$2,650
One of
Africa’s most geographically, culturally, and
socially diverse areas, Morocco
is spectacularly beautiful. Possessing
some of the highest mountains on the continent, and is laced with
fertile
plateaus and plains giving way to the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco is home
to the
ancient cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains.
The mélange of cultures, including African,
Berber, Jewish, Islamic, and European, is added to the influences of
the early
Egyptians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans, making the history
and
culture of Morocco undeniably fascinating and remarkably exotic.
Guests will
enjoy an itinerary incorporating some of the
most distinctive and diverse areas in Morocco, studying the
history, art,
and crafts with the most qualified, well-known indigenous experts. Trips to private palaces, homes, and art
collections will be combined with major cultural attractions, as well
as the
opportunity to study and purchase Moroccan crafts, which have been
famous for
their variety and quality for centuries.
Join us as we venture amongst the mosaics of the Roman City
Volubilis,
the exotic Mellah, the Medina of Fez, and the romantic, scented gardens
of
Marrakech. Morocco is a kaleidoscope
of
sights, sounds, and culture – an experience not to be missed.
Day 1: New York – Casablanca
You will depart in the evening from John
F. Kennedy
Airport, in New York, and will fly non-stop on a Royal Air
Maroc flight to Casablanca. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the
flight.
Day
2: Casablanca – Rabat
You will arrive in the morning at Casablanca’s Mohamed V Airport. Your guide
will meet you there, and assist
you in transferring your belongings from the airport to your hotel in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Rabat
possesses an exotic legacy that spans centuries, resulting in an
exciting
visual tapestry of many architectural styles, which depict its
historical
development. You will spend your
afternoon exploring the city, with a tour highlighting the Mellah
(Jewish quarter),
the Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Oudaya Kasbah, and the Andalous
Gardens.
Day
3: Rabat – Volubilis – Meknes
– Fez
You will spend your day en route to Fez via
Volubilis and Moulay Idris. You will visit
the Roman ruins in Volubilis,
the Roman capital of Northwestern Africa. You will then stop for lunch in the city of Moulay Idris,
which is
relished for its centuries-old legacy, dating back to the 8th
century, when it was the capital of the premier Arab dynasty. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Fez, where you
will visit
many of the city’s distinctive sights, including the Andalous quarter,
the
Jewish quarter, and the Bat’Restarantha Museum of Moroccan Arts. You will return to your hotel, La Maison
Bleue, for dinner and other accommodations.
Day
4: Fez
You will spend your day exploring the magical city
of Fez. In the morning, you will take a walking tour
of the Medina,
a walled city of medieval origin, replete with a maze made up of
twisting
alleyways, blind turns, and stoic arches.
Within this architectural masterpiece, you can find a plethora
of
mosques, shrines, fountains, workshops, and markets.
You will eat lunch at a typical Moroccan
restaurant, which has been converted from a Moorish home.
You will spend the afternoon continuing your
exploration of the Medina,
ending your day with dinner and entertainment at the restaurant Asmaa.
Day 5: Fez
– Afourer
You will depart Fez
in the morning, journeying through the Middle Atlas Mountains via Azrou
and
Khenifra. You will visit one of the most
distinguished craft cooperatives in the country, and follow paths where
you
might see bands of Barbery apes. You
will eat lunch in Khenifra, a place with inhabitants that remain
predominantly
nomadic. You will conclude your day with
dinner and other accommodations at the Hotel le Tazarkount, in Afourer.
Day
6: Afourer – Marrakech
You will depart in the morning for Marrakech,
where you will
visit the Majorelle gardens, owned by Yves St. Laurent and complete
with a
private museum. The gardens were
recently renovated by Yves St. Laurent, although they were originally
designed
by the French painter Majorelle. You
will have lunch in the colonial Gueliz, and spend your afternoon
visiting the
Menara Pavilion, the Saadian Tombs, and Dar Si
Said Museum. The tour will conclude at the Jemaa el Fna Square
during the height of its activity, complete with musicians, clowns, and
street
entertainers. You will end your day with
dinner at Yacout, Marrakech’s finest traditional restaurant.
Day
7: Marrakech – Telouat
In the morning, you will venture into the High-Atlas Mountains,
to visit the Telouat fortress. The
fortress is what remains of a strongold belonging to the Berber
chieftain El
Glaoui (the Lord of the Atlas). You will
stop for lunch in Taddert, eating at the highest pass in Morocco,
Tizi
n’Tishka. In the afternoon, ou will
return to Marrakech in order to visit the private art and craft
collection of
Bert Flint.
Day 8: Marrakech
You will spend your morning visiting the Mellah,
the
Synagogue, the Koranic
School, and
various
Marrakech bazaars. You will have the
afternoon to yourself, and will spend the evening enjoying the
overwhelming
beauty of Marrakech after sundown, riding in a Renaissance carriage.
Day
9: Marrakech – Essaouira
You will depart Marrakech in the morning for the
picturesque
seaside city of Essaouira. Upon your arrival, you will tour the colorful
port that was once used by Orson Welles in his production of “Othello.” You will stop for lunch at the Chalet de la
Plage, and spend your afternoon visiting the Mellah, the Medina, and
various art galleries. You will conclude
your day with dinner and
other accommodations at the romantic Hotel Villa Maroc.
Day
10: Essaouira – Taroudant
In the morning, you will travel to Taroudant,
where you will
feast on a typical Berber tagine lunch, seated high above a banana
plantation. You will pass through
forests of the indigenous Argan and Thuya trees, where you may see the
region’s
notorious tree-climbing goats. You will
break for afternoon tea at the Hotel Gazelle d’Or, Morocco’s
most exclusive
resort. Finally, you will conclude your
day with dinner and other accommodations at the Palais Salam, formerly
a
Pasha’s guest house, nestled into the city’s massive walls.
Day
11: Taroudant
You will spend your morning touring the city of Taroudant. Surrounded by red ochre walls, Taroudant is
one of south Morocco’s
most elegant towns, with its rich bazaars reflecting a strong tradition
of arts
and crafts. You will eat lunch at the
Tioute Oasis, and then stroll leisurely through this desert’s paradise. You will conclude your day with a farewell
dinner at your hotel.
Day 12: Taroudant – Agadir – New York
You will depart for the Agadir Airport
early in the morning. There you will
catch a flight connecting you to Casablanca,
where you will board your plane for a non-stop Royal Air Maroc flight
to New York’s John F.
Kennedy Airport with a lifetime’s
worth of memories packed neatly into your suitcase.
Cost per person baseed on double
ocupancy:
$2650.00
What is included:
-
Round trip air tickets between New York and Casablanca
-
10 nights accommodations in four and five
star hotels
with full bathrooms
-
Half board (breakfast and dinner daily)
-
Land transportation in an air conditioned
vehicle
-
Services of English-speaking guides and
tour leader
-
Fees for monuments and museums
-
Hotel tax and service charges
Hotels Used:
-Rabat:
Hotel Tour Hassan, 1 night
-Fez:
Hotel Riad Damia, 2 nights
-Afourer:
Hotel Tazarkount, 1 night
-Marrakech:
Hotel El andalous, 3 nights
-Essaouira:
Hotel Villa Maroc, 1 night
-Taroudant:
Palais Salam, 2 nights
Maximum of 12 participants, departs any Tuesday,
Thursday, or
Saturday.
For Tour Information and Reservations contact:
Sarah Tours, Inc.
Call (800) 267-0036 or (703)
619-0777
Fax (703) 619-9399
sarahtur@erols.com
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to Cultural Tours