Spain & Morocco

SPAIN & MOROCCO

BARCELONA

Day 1 – Depart the USA for Spain!  Departure times to be announced.

Day 2 Arrive in Barcelona – Upon arrival meet and greet and transfer to your hotel.  The rest of the day is free at leisure to stroll along “Las Ramblas”, try typical Spanish “tapas” or visit many of Barcelona’s interesting museums. Overnight.

Day 3 Barcelona – Morning, city tour of Barcelona. Visit the most important places in Barcelona and discover the many faces of this nice city. Start the tour with views of the Plaza de Catalunya, via Laietana, the Cathedral, and its cloister. Tour the Gothic quarter with its evidence of the roman and medieval periods. Next, drive along the Paseo Colon past the monument of Christopher Columbus and up to the top of Montjuic to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The tour will continue along the Paseo de Gracia to see Gaudi’s famous apartment buildings including Casa Batllo, the Sagrada Familia cathedral – Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece. Overnight. (B)

Day 4 – Barcelona – After driving through picturesque little villages you will arrive at the incomparable setting of the mountain of Montserrat, which rises majestically to 4,051 feet (1,235 meters). Next visit the Royal Basilica of Montserrat, which holds the famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of Virgin Moreneta, the Black Virgin. The Royal Basilica has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain for hundreds of years. Return to your hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight. (B)

Day 5 Depart Barcelona today for Morocco! After breakfast, transfer to Barcelona airport for flight to Morocco (B)

MOROCCO

Day 5 Arrive in Casablanca – Arrival in Casablanca airport transfers to your hotel for the overnight.

Day 6 Casablanca – In the morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Casablanca, including the visit of the Hassan II Mosque and the Corniche seaside. A short drive through the residential areas of Casablanca to the city center to see the Mohamed V Square, the Habous quarter and the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral. Evening at leisure. Overnight. (B)

Day 7 Casablanca–Rabat – After breakfast drive to Rabat and enjoy your sightseeing tour that will include a view of the Royal Palace, Hassan Tower, a visit of Chellah Necropolis, view of Mohammed V Mausoleum and Kasbah Oudayas followed by lunch. Continue to Fez for overnight. (B, L)

Day 8 Rabat–Fez – This morning is devoted to Fez city sightseeing. Fez is a network of winding alleys that can hardly be unraveled. Movement, noise, shouting, the smell of tanned leather, delicate aroma of oriental perfumes, barbecues, sweet pastry all this is the imperial city established in 790 by Moulay Idriss. Fez is the religious, intellectual and artistic Moroccan metropolis. It has preserved its historical background and its role as an Islamic city has been intact for years. Sightseeing in Fez includes the Attarine, Nejjarine Fountain, around Mosque, and the ancient Medina. Afternoon at leisure or enjoy one of the daily optional tours in the surrounding area. Overnight. (B)

Day 9 Fez–Erfoud–Merzouga – Breakfast at hotel. Early departure. Today is a long driving day. Departure to Erfoud via the mountains and the cedar woods of the Atlas Mountains, passing by Ifrane, a charming ski resort and Azrou, an important handicraft center. Stop in Midelt for an optional lunch. Continuation of Erfoud. Erfoud is a sleepy little town in the Moroccan Sahara desert, about 6 hours to the east of Ouarzazate. It has dusty red buildings and a ghost town atmosphere. And is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Morocco. Its oasis of date palms stretches from Er Rachidia to the north, and Rissani to the south – the largest extent of palm groves in Morocco. Drive via Errachidia and the Ziz valley. Arrive at Erfoud and meet with 4×4. Transfer to Merzouga by 4×4. Dinner & overnight under luxury tent Overnight. (B, D)

Day 10 Merzouga–Erfoud–Ouarzazate – Begin with an excursion with a camel ride. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Continuation of Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty is buried. Visit of the Kasbah of the 17th century and the Ksar Abbar ruins, and continue to Tinghir via the Tinjdad road. Visit of the magnificent Todgha Canyons. Stop in Tinghir for an optional lunch. Depart to Ouarzazate via the road of the thousand Kasbahs and the Dades valley. Check-in at the hotel Ouarzazate. Overnight. (B)

Day 11 Ouarzazate–Marrakesh – Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing tour of Ouarzazate to see the Kasbah of Taourirt, the famous Atlas film studio and the impressive Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the most spectacular fortress in the south of Morocco, which has been the set of many films like the 1962 British “Lawrence of Arabia”. Departure to Marrakech after an optional lunch. Check-in at the hotel Marrakech. Dinner and overnight.  (B, D)

DAY 12 Marrakech – A morning city tour will include the XIIth Century Menara Gardens, the Koutoubia Mosque, Tombs of the Saadian Princes, the El Bahia Palace and Gardens, the picturesque Souks, and to Djemaa El Fna square the throbbing city center with acrobats, soothsayers, and troubadours. This evening enjoy an exciting Fantasia dinner and show. Overnight. (B, D)

DAY 13 Marrakech/USA – Shortly after breakfast you will transfer to Marrakech airport for your return flight. Times to be announced (B)

Tour features:

• Selected class hotel, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily
• Obligatory city taxes
• Assisted arrival and departure airport transfers
• All transfers with standard A/C motor coach as per services
• Professional English-speaking tour manager
• Sightseeing tours as per itinerary
• Luggage handling at the hotel (one piece per person in / out)

Call today for pricing!