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Grand
Maghreb and North Africa
A 25-Day tour : From Marrakech to Chartage and the
Nile
Tour Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt
Getaway
to North Africa , the kingdom of Morocco, a beautiful,
peaceful land graced with arabesque palaces, where the local people
dress in flowing robes. An exotic land, but one which has adopted
the French tradition of elegant hospitality and refined cuisine. Tour
the best of Egypt and Tunisia : 25 days , start weekly departures
on Tuesdays in Morocco , year round .
Including a 5 day Nile Cruise, Cairo, Luxor,Aswan , Tunis,
Hammamet, Sousse, Monastir, El Jem, Sfax, Djerba Island, Gabes, Matmata,
Kebil, Tozeur, Chott El Djerid, Kairouan, Gafsa, Skeita .
Click
here for the 20-Day Edition
or the 14 day version Tunis
& Egypt .
DAY
1- CASABLANCA- Weekly Year Round - Tuesday
Arrive at Casablanca. Our staff greets you at Casablanca's Mohamed V
Airport and escorts you to your hotel. We'll drop our luggage, have
a refreshing cup of tea or coffee, then head out for a panoramic
tour of the city before returning to our hotel ( Royal Anfa for
5 stars , or Idou Anfa or similar 4 stars first class hotel .
DAY
2- RABAT - FES -Wednesday 195 Kilometers (cBD)
Start the day with a visit to Casablanca's majestic new Grand Mosque
of King Hassan II, second only to the Great Mosque at Mecca in size.
We'll drive on across the lush countryside to Rabat, Morocco's
capital and our first Imperial City, to visit the magnificent Mausoleum
of King Mohammed V, the historic Hassan Tower minaret, in
the afternoon we drive through forests of cork oak trees, we
continue on our way to Meknès, the "youngest"
of Morocco's four great imperial cities surrounded by towering medieval
walls. We visit the monumental gateway of Bab el-Mansour in the
city walls and the palace tombs of Moulay Ismail before continuing
to Fez, We reach Fez early evening , where we settle in for the
night and our dinner, Sheraton hotel or similar 5 stars.
DAY 3- FEZ -Thursday (BD)
Oldest of the four Imperial Cities, Fez is endlessly fascinating. We
tour its medina (Old City) and souk (bazaar), stopping
at the gateway of the royal palace, the fortifications of the
Kasbah, the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University,
the medersa (theological college) of Bou Inania, the shrine
of the city's founder Moulay Idris II, and the Nejjarine Fountain.
On the way to our hotel, we enjoy panoramic city views from the
heights overlooking this fabled city.
DAY
4- AZROU, BENI-MELLAL & MARRAKECH -Friday (BD)
Out for mountain scenery, we take a leisurely drive along the flanks
of the mighty Atlas range via the charming village of Immouzzer
du Kandar, the lake of Daiet Aoua, the mountain Ifrane ski resort and
town of Azrou before descending to the Kasbah Tadla plain
and the fertile region surrounding Beni-Mellal. In the late afternoon
we arrive at the palm groves of Marrakech, the fourth of Morocco's
great Imperial Cities, to settle in at our hotel, Imperial Borj or Marrakech
Plaza or similar 5 stars hotels.
Dinner
and a " Soiree " at Chez Ali , a traditional Moroccan dinner
with folklore, in an oases/palmgrove on the outskirts of Marrakech,
private transfers as always .
DAY
5 - MARRAKECH - Saturday (B)
There is much to see in this great city which Winston Churchill called
"the most beautiful place in the world at sunset." We tour
the stately Koutoubia Minaret, the hidden tombs of the Saadian
dynasty, and Bahia Palace. In the afternoon, during our tour
of the souk (market), we see some of the age-old guild artisans
at work. Finally, we end up in famous Djemaa el-Fna square with
its medieval circus atmosphere of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats,
storytellers, soothsayers, snake charmers, medicine men and public scribes.
Finally,
you'll see the Menara pavilion and gardens , the Majorelle Botanical
Gardens of Yves Saint Laurent, planted with trees and flowers from all
over the world.
DAY
6- MARRAKECH -Sunday
(B)
Now that you've got your bearings, Marrakech is yours to explore as
you wish, Lonely Planet guidebook in hand. Henna
party ( For ladies only ) :
One of the "insiders" excursions into Moroccan culture, a chance to
attend a henna party, the painting of hands and body with this natural
red dye is a symbol of joy at weddings and regarded as a way to enhance
one's beauty , if interested in attending a Henna party , please let's
know in advance.
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 ! You'll be invited
to a family dinner, and enjoy a wholesome home-cooked specialties Of
course, you may enjoy dinner back at the hotel by letting us know your
preferences in advance .
Want
a Mediterranean vacation like the Europeans enjoy ? Go to Tunisia!
Day
7 - Marrakech - Tunis - Sousse - Monday : (B)
Our local staff will assist with your transfer to Marrakech Airport
to board your flight to Tunis via Marrakech and maybe via Europe depending
on the day of the week. Air fare in economy class is included in our
rate.
In Tunis our local rep meets you upon arrival at Tunis Carthage International
Airport. You'll be assisted with the formalities, and escorted to the
Sheraton Hotel or similar 5 star hotels .
DAY
8 - HAMMAMET TO SFAX (cBLD) -
Tuesday
We drive along the beautiful blue Mediterranean seashore to Hammamet,
passing picturesque castles, stopping occasionally in local souks (bazaars)
for shopping. Continuing to Sousse, once the Phoenician city
of Hadrumatum, we walk through the medina (old city), cooled by breezes
off the harbor, and visit the Roman catacombs and, if there's time,
a local museum. We stop to explore a typical ribat (fort) before enjoying
lunch at Monastir. Our next stop is El Jem, which boasts
a Roman coliseum very similar to the famous one in Rome. Finally we
reach Sfax, and our hotel.
DAY
9 - DJERBA & GABES (cBLD) - Wednesday
We explore the old city of Sfax, then board the ferry to the
island of Djerba (Jerba) for lunch. Fertile Djerba, a large island
on the south side of the entrance to the Gulf of Gabes, bears many traces
of Roman civilization and produces an abundance of delicious fruit.
We travel to Gabes in time for shopping in the local market,
and for enjoying the shade of a typical palm grove before dinner and
a good night's rest.
DAY
10 - MATMATA TO CHOTT EL DJERID (cBLD) Thursday
Our journey continues to Matmata where we visit troglodyte (underground)
houses where descendants of the Berbers still live as their ancestors
did. We continue to Kebil for lunch, then across the Chott El
Djerid to see its desert Berber villages. We spend the night in a desert
oasis.
DAY
11 - CHOTT EL DJERID & TOZEUR (cBLD) Friday
We explore our desert oasis before driving to Tozeur in time
for lunch. In the afternoon, wander at leisure in Tozeur, our
base for the night.
DAY
12 - GAFSA, KAIROUAN & TUNIS (cBLD) Saturday
We drive to the ancient Roman pools of Gafsa, then to Sbeita
to climb around its Roman ruins. After lunch at a local restaurant,
we continue to Kairouan, an Islamic holy city boasting several
historic mosques and a souk famous for its carpets and leather goods.
We reach Tunis in time for dinner.
DAY
13 - TUNIS (cBLD) Sunday
The famous Bardo Museum, with the largest Roman mosaics in the world,
is our first stop, followed by a visit to Tunis's medina (old city)
for last-minute bargain-hunting. After a relaxing lunch in a seaside
restaurant, we visit the ruins of ancient Cartage, including its theater,
circus and baths. Finally, we stop in the picture-perfect medieval village
of Sidi Bou Said before returning to our hotel in Tunis.
DAY 14 - TUNIS (B) Monday
Full day at leisure to enjoy exploring Tunis on your own ,or do your
last minute shopping.
DAY
15 - CAIRO (B) - Tuesday
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight to the African
city of light: CAIRO . Our
staff meets you, assists with entry formalities, Complimentary Egyptian
visa fee (valid only for American & Japanese citizens. Passports
must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). A visa will be issued
at the airport upon arrival in Cairo. We'll
escort you to your hotel.
Visa
will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will
pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes
, until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor
, you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local
representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer
to use for the sign . Our local representative will then take your passport
to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak
with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check
on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area,
he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs .
After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you
(private vehicle) to the hotel
DAY
16 - CAIRO (BL) - Wednesday
Today,
we'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures
of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals.
The mummies room and King Tut's gold treasure room are included in our
rate . Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights,
but our day has just started. After lunch at Abu El Sid restaurant or
Naguib Mahfouz , then it's on to the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster
Mosque of Mohammed Ali. before we head for the famous Khan El-Khalili
Bazaar district . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
Private Egyptologist
DAY
17 -Alexandria (cBL)-Thursday
Today,we
tour Alexander the Great's ancient capital , we'll get to known Alexandria
in depth, as we visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the Roman Amphitheater,
the Koum El Shougafa Tombs, the fortress of Kayet Bey, and the Museum
of the Crown Jewels. After lunch in an Alexandrine restaurant, we'll
travel souththward to Cairo through the lush delta of the Nile River,
the source of the wealth of ancient Egypt.
DAY
18 -Cairo- Giza - Dahshour (BL)-Friday
After
breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx
and the Pyramids of Giza.
The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the
rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years ,
the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun
god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the
43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used
by the kings of Ancient Egypt.
Those
who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart
of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included
with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking
a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!
Continue
to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We
visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:
The "Discovery" of Dahshour: For almost half a century, the great
field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles
south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the
perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great
4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid,
the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal
in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids
were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective,
decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at the Mena House .
Sample
lounge at a Moroccan hotel
DAY
19 - Fly to Aswan or Luxor - Nile Cruise /Camel Caravan (BLD)-Saturday
After avery early
breakfast on board, we fly to Aswan, and off to your Nile cruise , where
we'll settle you into your cabin on a Nile steamer. During the train
ride, you will have seen feluccas sailing the Nile. Now we'll experience
Egypt at its most authentic, as we sail in one of these graceful craft.
Then, to really immerse yourself, try your hand at camel riding! We'll
take willing passengers on a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian
villagers. Only Travel in Style affords this unique opportunity to meet
and interact with local people. We are proud to offer this insight into
the Nubian way of life.
DAY 20 - ASWAN, KOM OMBO - (BLD) - Sunday
After breakfast on board, we'll visit the dams at Aswan, including the
High Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land. At the ancient granite
quarry, we'll see an obelisk left unfinished, then board a launch on
Lake Nasser to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from rising waters.
Back aboard our cruiser, we'll sail northward down the Nile at a stately
pace, disembarking for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin temple dedicated
to the crocodile river god, Sobek.
DAY 21 - EDFU, ESNA - (BLD)- Monday
Horse-drawn carriages or vans meet us at riverside to take us through
Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Later,
we'll cruise to Esna, and by evening, we'll be in fabled Luxor.
DAY 22 - LUXOR - (BLD) - Tuesday
Proceed
to explore the city that was the Pharaohs capital for 20 centuries :
Start with the Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, the
first known "Workers Village" these were the true creative
heroes who built the temples & tombs for the mighty Pharaohs of
the Nile Kingdom.
Deir
El Medinah is on Luxor's west bank you get a totally different perspective
on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir
el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of
Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives
us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed
and decorated the tombs.
Here
we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic
animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized
rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt
might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and
builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be
the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement
in its tour and cruise programs.
Today's
tour include as well a visit to the Valley of the Kings including
Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb , for guests who are interested : Please be our
guests for a 10-15 minutes camel ride from the Valley of the Kings,
you you'll then change your mode of transportation and continue in your
deluxe air-conditioned vehicle and on to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut
at Deir el Bahari, and Colossi of Memnon, returning to our Nile
cruiser for lunch. Following lunch aboard, we visit the great Temple
of Luxor, and the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak,
returning to our vessel in time for tea. Complimentary welcome fruit
basket in your cabin. In the evening your guide will call on you for
a horse drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks , bazaars and water
front.
The Pyramids circa 1920 before
Building the dams on the Nile
DAY
23 - LUXOR, CAIRO - (B) - Wednesday
Check out from our cabins. In the morning we'll visit the imposing Great
Temple of Amon at Karnak and the great Temple of Luxor before heading
back to the airport and the flight back to Cairo and our hotel.
DAY
24 - CAIRO - (B)
You'll make your own program for your last full day in Cairo. Perhaps
you'll do some shopping at the fabulous Khan El-Khalili bazaar, or return
to the fabulous Pyramids, or take an optional tour, or spend the day
with new friends. Don't miss your chance to mingle with the crowds,
the peddlers, and the street entertainers who give life to Cairo!
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 Cairo 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.
DAY 25 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - (B)
After breakfast, our staff will see you to the airport and assist
you with all the formalities before you board your flight for home.
You'll arrive the same day. Bon Voyage!
Rates per
person in US$
| Hotel/Cruise |
In
Triple occupancy |
Double |
Single |
| Deluxe
Hotels |
$
8110.00 |
$
8250.00 |
$
9735.00 |
First
Class |
$
7720.00 |
$
7870.00 |
$
8940.00 |
Tour departs
from the USA every Sunday , year round. For Christmas, New Year's &
Easter weeks, please add %20 supplement.
Your
tour includes:
- Airport
transfers in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt .
- Complimentary
visa fee for Egypt, valid for American, EU , most of the South East
Asian countries, China & Japanese citizens, passports must be
valid for at least 6 month at time of arrival, no visa is required
for Tunis or France.
- Air
fare with taxes from Morocco to Tunis and Cairo , in economy class
, tax included
- Hotel
accommodations in simple but comfortable Five four category in the
major cities in Tunisia , yet modest 4 -star (first-class) hotels
for rest of Tunisia : Sfax: Sfax Center Sfax; Gabes: Chems; Tozeur:
Ramla);
Egypt
: Cairo : Deluxe stars : Grand Hyatt , Conrad over looking the Nile
, or similar .
First class : Oases, 3 Pyramids or similar.
Nile Cruises : M/S Solitaire , M/S Al-Kahila, M/S El-Jamila. M/S Amarco.
M/S Monaco, M/S Monte Carlo, M/S Mojito .
- Meals
as indicated: cB = Continental breakfast; L
= set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner
- Guided
sightseeing as indicated, including all admission fees, by air-conditioned
motorcoach . Please note that in Tunisia, touring & guiding will
be in French and English.
Not
Included :
Tips
.
Air
fare from / to your home country
Drinks.
Trip
cancellation insurance, travel insurance
In
the Footsteps of Hannibal Tour - Tunisia
in 8 days
We'll take you through Carthage, capital of the legendary Hannibal,
but there's much more to this tour. You'll also visit ancient cities,
desert oases, curious troglodyte dwellings, Islamic splendors, a
Roman amphitheater, a medieval synagogue, and unspoiled beaches.
You'll appreciate the breathtaking beauty of a land that has drawn
wanderers and conquerors over the centuries, with ease and comfort
never experienced by the ancients
The
Mediterranean resorts of Europe are wonderful, but they can be
crowded and expensive. So where do discerning Europeans go to
find the perfect laid-back, affordable Mediterranean vacation?
Why, they go to Tunisia, of
course!
The
clear blue water, the shimmering sun, the white sand beaches are
all the same in Tunisia, the southern shore of the Mediterranean,
just across the sea from Sicily and Sardinia. The prices are lower,
the pace is more relaxed, and the cuisine and service in this
former French colony are
French-inspired. (Everyone speaks French as well as Arabic, and
many people in hotels, restaurants and other tourist spots speak
some English, too.)
Tunisia's
history has always been linked to Europe's. Hannibal of Carthage
crossed from Tunisia to Europe with 30,000 men and a few dozen
elephants and humbled the Roman legions. Rome ultimately triumphed,
however, and Tunisia became the Roman province of Africa. Today
the picturesque ruins of great Roman cities are spread throughout
the Tunisian countryside.
Be
sure to see Tunisia's African side as well: its legacy of Umayyad,
Abbasid and Ottoman culture and cuisine, its picture-perfect desert
oases shaded by date palms, its markets filled with handicrafts
and exotic spices.
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