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Circuitos Europea | Morocco Romance in the Kasbah  | How to book

(415) 440-1124, 459 Fulton Street # 108 , San Francisco, CA 94102 USA



 

Romance in The Kasbah


9 days in the True Magic Kingdom of Morocco - Marrakech , Essaouira and Fez
Private Transfers & Touring . Perfect for Honeymooners - Arrive any day - Year round

 

 

Hamam, Turkish Hamam, Moroccan Hamam, Women Groupo, women travel
A hammam, the traditional Moroccan steam bath

 

Romance in Morocco - Available as well with a Spa Package

 

Experience the romance of old Morocco everywhere on this Nine -day tour, in ancient kasbahs standing sentinel against invaders, along the winding lanes of the medinas of Fez and Marrakech, and in your very lodgings, palaces and venerable homes that have been brought to life again as Riads, combining the best of Arab hospitality with the appointments of fine boutique hotels. Extend to Fez
Click here for the 8 day edition with 2 nights camping or the 9 Day with air fare from JFK


 

Day 1 -CASABLANCA. Arrive any day
You'll land at the airport of fabled Casablanca, clear customs and immigration formalities, our local staff greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Welcome mint tea & fruit basket awaits you.
Tour starts in Casablanca everyday , year round

 

 


DAY 2 - Atlantic Coast to EASSAOUIRA (BLD)
Morning private tour of the Grand Mosque of Hassan II, before we drive along the Atlantic coast heading south for Essaouira . Lunch en route. Late afternoon arrival . With the remainder at leisure to enjoy exploring with guide at hand, this sleepy seaside town. Dinner is included to welcome you at the hotel.

 

 

DAY 3 - ESSAOUIRA (B)
Today Essaouira is yours , a charming fishing harbor. Renowned for generations for its production of "Murex", a small shellfish used to make the purple dye for Roman togas, Essaouira is now a very active fishing harbor , with some Portuguese character who settled here in the 16th century. Later on Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdellah used it as a base for his corsairs. Today, protected from the sea and the wind behind its commanding fortified medieval walls, Essaouira shelters a flourishing craftsmanship in marquetry, working wood with ebony, mother of pearl and silver thread to make tables, chessboards, caskets and bracelets.

 

Romance in the Kasbah

 

 

DAY 4 - Essaouira / Marrakech : (BD)
In your private air-conditioned car you'll proceed back to Marrakech and your accommodations at a charming Riad, if you prefer a stay with a Spa Package , we may suggest Tikida Garden hotel ( 4 stars).
At your Riad a traditional welcoming mint tea and a fruit basket await you. Your personal requirements and relaxation are foremost. The formality of check-in can wait. For a Riad we suggest Riad Donab ( or similar) This luxurious yet delightful Riad is a former palace restored to 1930s grandeur. Its substantial walls and orientation to a central patio with venerable trees provide a haven of peace in the midst of bustling Marrakech. The private terraces of Riad Donab provide a secluded window on the active life of romantic and mysterious Marrakech.The art of Moroccan-style living in a beautiful and majestic residence.
Shielded from the bustle of the old Medina, Dar Donab opens its doors on a haven of peace and naturally air-conditioned cool environment.
The sophisticated decor of lounges, guest-rooms and suites reflects the luxury an comfort of Moroccan stately homes.

In the Riads (Charming Boutique Hotels) we use the proprietors and their staff extend a hospitality of the sort born of good breeding. Breakfast, either continental or Moroccan-style, may be taken in the privacy of one's room or in the lounge in the company of one's fellow guests, while room service offers light fare as required.

 

 

Day 5 - Marrakech (BD)
This morning you'll take a private tour of Marrakech by horse-drawn carriage. You'll see the Koutoubia, the landmark mosque of the city, and perhaps you'll note its similarity to its sister tower, the Giralda of Seville, in Spain. You'll continue to the Bahia palace, built in the nineteenth century, with room after stately oriental room of intricate plaster work and finely detailed columns, and sedate hidden gardens. Finally, you'll see the Majorelle Botanical Gardens of Yves Saint Laurent, planted with trees and flowers from all over the world. In the afternoon, you'll discover the old city and always-lively Djemaa El Fna Square, populated by water sellers, magicians, peddlers, politicians, and animal tamers, who carry on an endless flurry of activities straight out of the middle ages. If you have a spare moment, the souks of Marrakech will always keep you entertained.

Your day concludes with a gastronomic Moroccan-style dinner at Dar Marjana ( or similar ) , a seventeenth-century house in the Medina. You'll be welcomed with a drink served in an open patio as a fountain trickles gently in the background, and ushered to dine at leisure while you are entertained by a lutenist, singers, and, yes, a belly dancer. Your wine and drinks for the evening have all been taken care of.

Subject to season and availability we may offer the show that 's a fascinating view into Moroccan life, including a traditional wedding ceremony.

 

 

 

Day 6- Marrakech (BD)
You'll spend today as you wish. Perhaps you'll explore more of the walled quarters of souks and winding lanes. Or else you'll venture into the modern town of wide boulevards and sidewalk cafes. Or maybe you'll appreciate the serenity of your lodgings.

We'll call on you today to take you for your sunset camel ride, in the 13,000 acres of palm groves around Marrakech.

Subject to availability, and the hotel used, a complimentary hamam session is included , the traditional Moroccan steam bath, with scrubbing and a ritual all its own.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals
,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Marrakech l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.     

 

 

Belly Dance during a Moroccan dinner

 

 

 

Day 7 -Fez (BD)
Put on your walking shoes this morning for a trip in time back to the ninth century, as you explore the old city of Fez. Its Medina and its labyrinth of souks have been declared a world cultural treasure. Your afternoon is free for relaxation or shopping or further exploration as you wish.
Dinner is included at the hotel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8 - Fez (BD)
Spend the day in FEZ at leisure as you wish .
In the evening it's dinner and a show, with a difference. The food is Moroccan-style, of course; and the show is a fascinating view into Moroccan life, including a traditional wedding ceremony, Arabo-Andaluisan music, and an enticing performance by a belly dancer.
Subject to availability and the hotel category you book enjoy the hamam and spa facilities at the hotel.

 

 

Day 9 -Departure from Fez (B)
You'll be escorted to Fez Saiss airport. Bon Voyage .

 

 

Rates are per person in US $

 

  Deluxe Hotels
First Class
In Triple Occupancy
US$ 3050.00

US$ 2520.00

I Double Occupancy

US$ 3170.00
US$ 2660.00
In Single Occupancy
US$ 4285.00
US$ 3730.00

Romance in Morocco - Available as well with a Spa Package

 

 

 

Your tour includes:

  • All airport transfers in Morocco as described in the tour itinerary

  • Accommodation as described.
  • Welcome mint tea, and fruit baskets as described

  • Meals as indicated: cB = Continental breakfast; L = set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner

  • Ground transportation in private chauffeured, air-conditioned sedan or van depending on the number of luggage you may have.
  • Half-day horse-drawn carriage tour in Marrakech. Services of licensed English-speaking guide and entrance fees to sites visited. Camel ride in Marrakech palm grove.

 

 

 

Some of the Hotels and Riads we work with
Deluxe - Standard
First Class
Marrakech
Atlas Medina or similar
Atlas Asni or similar
For Riads (Boutique hotels) :
Riad Atta or Riad Hamonie
Fes
Jnane Palace , Riad Perle de La Medina
Royal Mirage , Riad Luna
Casablanca
Palace D'Anfa
Idou Anfa
Essaouira

Sofitel Mogador

Villa Quieta

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not included:

  • International air fare.
  • Drinks .
  • Personal expenses.
  • Gratuities for local personnel.
  • Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

 

 

What others say about our service in Morocco

Lebes (Berber greeting) or sbah ikheer (Arabic for good morning)!

Spring break is about over and it's back to work tomorrow. It will be a shorter week at CAS for me because on Thursday I'll be leaving for the Optimal Match Conference (SPED and Technology) in Rabat. Last year I
attended the conference in Madrid, Spain. I'm eager to see if the teachers from Rome, Paris, and Barcelona who I met last year will be attending this year. It is great to network with other teachers and find out about their programs plus hear about new and innovative strategies. The presenters are from the US.

Paul is currently enroute between Casablanca and Amsterdam with arrival due in the US at about 5:30 tonight and then back to work for him tomorrow. We had a fantastic week of touring and seeing more of
Morocco - a truly remarkable country with beaches, mountains, deserts, and everything in between in a relatively small area. Paul will send from his email account a number of pictures which might give you an idea of
our experiences this past week.

Trekking in the Amizimiz area while seeing the Atlas Mountains with its picturesque landscapes and Berber villages was quite remarkable. Our guide Said served us Moroccan tea and a lamb tagine for lunch in his
home. As you can see from the photo they also decided to dress us up in the typical Berber attire for lunch.

We continued on with the drive through the High Atlas Mountains crossing through the Tizi N' Tichka Pass and descended down through the Draa Valley stopping to see ancient Kasbahs (fortified palaces) and to the
caravan-town of Ouarzazate (movie site of The Mummy, Black Hawk Down, Babel, Syriana, Lawrence of Arabia, etc.). Enroute we stopped to hike up Ait Benhaddou and up the sandstone hill which has been the site for
a variety of movies including Gladiator. People still live in this UNESCO World Heritage village including Uemna and her husband. She invited us in to see her cave dwelling in the side of the hill and shared delicious
home-grown almonds.

Our next two nights were spent in the desert. The first night was at Zagora and in the middle of a sandstorm. Paul thinks that I probably have never been so grouchy upon awaking in the morning after a night spent trying to breathe while attempting to sleep in our nomad Berber tent amongst a haze of blowing sand. I think that the sand is all out of our ears by now. The next night after some fun camel riding we enjoyed a night on the Merzouga Desert in a deluxe tent under the stars.
Both nights we had our own private concert with talented musicians and dancers entertaining us with traditional Gnaouan music and delicious Moroccan cuisine.

It was interesting to study the information displayed on Paul's GPS in the mountains, deserts, etc. In the photo you can see our Moroccan friend and Paul discussing the merits of such equipment. We read in one
of the tour books that it is difficult for tourists to locate their reserved auberges (lodging accommodations) or tent sites and that they are encouraged to call ahead for the GPS coordinates in order to locate the correct place in the Sahara Desert.

Riding out into the golden dunes near Merzouga on camels to see the sunset was so much fun while watching four-wheel-drive vehicles zipping up and down the sand dunes (some in preparation for the Dakar Rally).
All too soon it was time to start the travel back to Casablanca via Fez.
On one of our stops we fed peanuts to the Barbary apes near Ifrane.

Staying in the Riad Dar Al Andalous was an experience of seeing more of the history and culture of Fez. Here we had one more example of the challenges of communication in a foreign country. Paul asked if he should pay for a Coca Cola and before he knew it he was being enthusiastically escorted into the kitchen to meet the 'cook' (Coke).

Living and visiting in an international setting is truly an exciting and stimulating experience.

A week after leaving Casablanca via train we arrived back in Casa with our very informative and helpful driver Hamid. Now, we have the memories and the pictures (and a few souvenirs) to enjoy of this
adventure in another area of incredible Morocco.

Our time in Morocco is fast approaching an end with one last trip
before returning home to Minnesota. At this point we are thinking of exploring more of Spain and the Moroccan coast of the Mediterranean.

M'a ssalama (goodbye - Arabic)

Paul and Dixie






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