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Morocco
, Tunis and Egypt
with Alexandria and a Nile Cruise
A
Grand 26 Day Tour from Morocco Kasbahs to Tunisia 's Chartage then
on to the Nile Kingdom
A
grand 26 Day tour from the land of the Kasbah to Chartage then on to
the Nile Kingdom . Tour starts weekly on Sundays in Tunis. We'll
take you through Carthage, capital of the legendary Hannibal, but there's
much more to this tour. You'll also Continue on across North Africa
to Morocco. Marrakech, Fez & Casablanca, visit ancient cities, desert
oases, curious troglodyte dwellings, Islamic Arabian splendors, a Roman
amphitheater, a medieval synagogue, and unspoiled beaches ,
compare with Tunisia : the honeymoon edition. Add
South Africa.
Compare with the 21 day version.
Short on time ? Compare with
the shorter version : Egypt & Tunisia .
Click
for 19
day version with a Nile Cruise
and Morocco with a couple of nights at a deluxe camp in the sahara .
Compare
with the Tunisia Libya version . Cruise THE NILE in the comfort
of your own PRIVATE boat The Royal Cleopatra
.
Compare with Egypt, Morocco & Tunisia . Add
Turkey & Istanbul
DAY 1 - TUNIS - Sunday - Weekly
- Year Round
Our local staff will meet you upon arrival at Tunis Carthage International
Airport. You'll be assisted with the formalities, and escorted to the
fine Hotel El Hana International. There will be time to relax and recuperate
from your journey, and enjoy the excellent facilities. If you wish,
you can adventure into the center of Tunis to start your exploration
of the winding alleys of the souk, filled with treasures of beaten brass
and basketry and carpets, and merchants who will welcome you with traditional
mint tea.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 2 - HAMMAMET, SOUSSE, MONASTIR,
EL DJEM, SFAX - Monday (BL)
After a leisurely breakfast, we'll set off to explore! Our first stop
is Hammamet, a cosmopolitan port where sun-worshippers from all over
happily coexist with fishermen and traditional ways. We'll stop at the
port of El Kantaoui, and then proceed back into time to venerable Sousse,
once the Phoenician City called Hadrumatum. We'll stroll through the
medina, the old quarter, cooled by sea breezes, and visit the museum
as well as the Ribat, a stronghold of the warriors of Islam. Then we'll
continue to Monastir, where we'll stop for lunch, and visit its own
notable ribat, as well as the Bourguiba Mosque, dedicated to the hero
of Tunisia's independence. Lunch is included at a local hotel's restaurant.
In El Djem, we'll marvel at an ancient amphitheater, before continuing
to stop for the night in four-star lodgings in the bustling coastal
city of Sfax.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 3 - SFAX, DJERBA, GABES, MATMATA
- Tuesday (BL)
Our busy day starts with a drive to the coastal city of Gabes, a Roman
outpost of old and a traditional market center where, for centuries,
goods from across the sea and across the desert have changed hands.
We'll visit the oasis, where palm groves and gardens flourish. We'll
then cross to Djerba, an island where Ulysses once encountered the legendary
Lotus-Eaters. You'll have time to explore the old quarters, including
the synagogue of Hara Sghira, Hara Kebira with its modern Jewish community,
and Guellala, with its craft stalls, and to see the waterfront and fishing
fleet, and the lively town of Houmt Souk.
After a lunch stop, we'll cross back to the mainland. Our route takes
us through terrain of increasingly sparse grasses and shrubs, into the
desert to Matmata.
We'll stop to look in on a community of miniature underground houses,
where the earliest settlers sheltered from the extremes of the desert
above -- as do the Berbers of today. We'll settle in to comfortable
lodgings
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 4 - MATMATA, KEBILI, DOUZ, TOZEUR
- Wednesday (BL)
We'll enjoy a full day of desert adventure,
today. First we'll visit the village of Kebili, largest of a cluster
of oases, islands of life in a harsh landscape, then proceed to Douz,
fabled as the Gateway to the Sahara. There, a special treats waits,
the opportunity to sample a caravan trek! ( Cost 10 Tunisian Dinars
).
This close encounter with a camel is entirely at your option! Afterwards,
we set off across the Chott El Djerid, a great dry salt lake, for Tozeur.
Here, we'll wonder at the ancient irrigation works, and visit the zoo.
Our lodgings for the next two nights will be at the comfortable, four-star
Hotel Abou Nawas Tozeur , Ramla or similar .
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 5 - TOZEUR, NEFTA - Thursday
(BLD)
We'll learn more about oases this morning. Despite the dryness of its
surface, great aquifers underlie the Sahara. Where they spill their
riches out in springs, they create the green havens of Tunisia's oases.
We'll see a dramatic example, as we explore the irrigated fields around
Tozeur and motor overland to the great palm groves at Nefta. Nefta is
also an important religious center, with notable mosques, and a town
of craftsmen, especially basket weavers. We'll return to Tozeur for
lunch at our hotel, after which you're free until dinner. You can choose
to enjoy the unique desert resort comforts at your hotel. Or, you might
decide to wander the streets of Tozeur, look in on daily life, admire
the classic North African houses built around patios on terraces above
a river fed by springs, and shop for baskets and capes of camel hair.
Dinner at te Dar Chariet .
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 6 - TOZEUR, GAFSA, SBEITLA, KAIROUAN,
TUNIS - Friday (BL)
We'll delve more into Tunisia's rich and varied past today, as we motor
overland through pleasant, rolling coastal lands. At Gafsa, we'll see
the Roman pools of Capsa, the ancient crossroads between desert oases
and the cultivated coastal lands. We'll wonder at the Roman ruins of
Suffetula, as well as the great mosque. Later in the day, we'll reach
Kairouan, an ancient, holy, and vibrant city noted for its historic
mosques and centers of learning. We'll lunch at the five-star Hotel
La Kasbah. Kairouan also is noted for its souk, and the crafting of
carpets and leather goods. Of course, there will be time to check out
these wares, before we depart to Tunis, where a night's rest await us
.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 7 - TUNIS, CARTHAGE, SIDI BOU SAID
- Saturday (BL)
On our last full day, we'll marvel at the ruins of Carthage, a true
metropolis of the ancient world, as evidenced by its theater, circus,
baths, port installations, and extensive urban plan. We'll lunch at
a fine local restaurant, then speed forward in time to the middle ages,
as we visit the picture-perfect Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said. With
its whitewashed walls and narrow laneways, it's the perfect setting
as we stop for traditional mint tea. Back in Tunis, we'll stop at the
Bardo Museum, to view the most extensive Roman mosaics in the world.
We'll then head for the Medina, the old quarter of the city, with its
warrens of shops filled with wares ranging from humdrum to exotic.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY 8 - Morocco - Sunday (B)
After breakfast, our local personnel will escort you to the international
airport, where you'll board your flight to Marrakech ( Via Casablanca).
Upon arrival we escort you to your hotel. Mint Tea & welcome local
pastries & fruit awaits you at your hotel room. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private guide .
DAY
9 - MARRAKECH - Monday (B)
There is much to see in this great city which Winston Churchill called
"the most beautiful place in the world at sunset. Today's tour
includes : The top sights include the stately Koutoubia Minaret,
the hidden tombs of the Saadian dynasty, the Menara pavilion
and gardens, the ruins of sprawling Badi Palace, the Bahia
Palace Museum, the Ben Yousef medersa, and the Koubba
(chapel) of el-Ba'adiyn .
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY
10 - MARRAKECH - Tuesday (BL)
Today we cover Marrakech's fabulous medieval souk (bazaar)? Penetrating
the labyrinthine souk, you'll see some of the age-old guilds at work,
including the dyers and tanners. Save an hour--and bring your camera--for
famous Djemaa el-Fna square with its fun circus atmosphere of
itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats, storytellers, soothsayers, snake
charmers, medicine men and public scribes. We will fnd a cozy bistro
for lunch. Remainder of the day at leisure .
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY
11 - MARRAKECH - Wednesday (B)
Today you have another opportunity to exlpore Marrakech on your own
or join one of our locally arranged optional tours, take out your guidebook
and explore Morocco's former Imperial capital.
A
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, you may enjoy a quiet evening , by letting us know
your preferences.
DAY
12 - CASABLANCA TO FEZ - Thursday (B)
After breakfast, board your first-class train to Fez (train ticket
included) , another of Morocco's four royal cities. When you arrive
in Fez, our staff will escort you to your hotel, and the city is yours
to explore, guidebook in hand. The Lonely Planet guide includes all
the important things to see, and recommendations for restaurants in
all price ranges, so you'll never be at a loss for advice.
DAY
13 - FEZ - Friday (B)
Oldest of Morocco's four Imperial Cities, Fez is endlessly fascinating,
and today we have included in our rate a full day covering the
top sights include the medina (old city), the 15-century Borj
Nord Arms Museum, the gateway of the royal palace, the fortifications
of the Kasbah, the 9th-century Karaouine Mosque and University,
the medersas (theological seminaries) of Bou Inania and Attarine,
the shrine of the city's founder Moulay Idris II, the Nejjarine
Fountain, the monumental gateway of Bab Boujelloud, the old
harem gardens, Dar Batha Museum, and the artisans'
guilds in the souks.
DAY
14 - CASABLANCA CAIRO- Saturday (BL)
"Getting there is half the fun!" We board the train for our return to
Casablanca, cruising through the lovely countryside past green
fields, fruit-laden orchards, traditional villages and modern towns,
with the lofty Atlas Mountains soaring in the distance. Our tour
escort points out interesting features, and fills us in on Moroccan
life and culture. After arriving in Casablanca, we visit the majestic
new Grand Mosque of King Hassan II, second only to the Great
Mosque at Mecca in size. We continue on a panoramic tour of the city
and its souks. After dinner, we drive to the airport for our Royal Air
Maroc night flight across North Africa to Egypt.
Day
15 - CAIRO Sunday (aB)
We arrive in Cairo with the dawn,Complimentary visa issued upon arrival
at Cairo Airport, valid only for American & Japanese citizens. Passports
must be valid for 6 month at least at time of arrival.
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
We
drive through the awakening city to our hotel for breakfast and a bracing
cup of coffee or tea. Refreshed, we visit the Citadel of Saladin
and its Alabaster Mosque, enjoying spectacular views of the city below.
We descend from the Citadel into Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar
district, in search of Egyptian treasures. The rest of the day is yours:
find a little local restaurant for lunch,go museum-hopping, take a nap,
or stroll along the Nile, as you like.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY
16- CAIRO -Monday (BL)
Today,
we'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures
of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals.
Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these sights, but
our day has just started. We'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious
Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. Then it's onward to the Citadel of
Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Lunch will be served
at a local restaurant.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
DAY
17-Alexandria -Tuesday (cBL)
We
enjoy a very early breakfast, before we head for Alexandrai around 8
AM, do not be late , we have a lot to cover. Private air conditioned
vehicle .
Full
day tour of the Roman Amphitheater, Qayet Bey built
on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous Alexandria
Light House. A brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the
Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as
Caesar Kiosk. Lunch at a local restaurant , then its off to the new
site for the Alexandria Library before heading to Wadi El Natroun monastery
almost midway to Cairo , where early Coptic Christians retreated here
to escape the Roman persecution in the 4th century AD. The Egyptian
Pope of Alexandria is always chosen from the Monks of wadi El Natroun.
Reach Cairo early evening and your hotel.
Time
permitting we 'll visit the new museum in Alexandria , the building
was originally built in 1926 for the US consulate in Alexandria and
is a masterpiece in 1920's architecture & Mediterranean style buildings.
Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur , private
guide .
Octavious
visiting Alexander the Great's Tomb in Alexandria just after he defeated
Cleopatra & Marc Anthony.
He left his coat as a token of respect to Alexander the Great. The search
continues for Alexander the Great's Tomb.
DAY
18 - CAIRO - Wednesday (B)
You'll make your own program for today 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.
DAY 19-Cairo -Friday (BLD)
On
Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases - And you thought the Pyramids
were old
We leave Cairo by sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide):
Full day Fayoum Oases including:
Hawara Pyramid, El Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun,
lunch is included at a local restaurant.
The
wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue
for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains,
oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.
Join
us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place
of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four
Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel,
and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the
drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest.
Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands.
It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.
We’ll
visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside
the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s
village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught
fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and
discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating
crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll
also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local
artisans are on display.
Then
it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure!
We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes,
and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales
( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once
thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands.
We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside
smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George
Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.
The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal
evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site.
It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have
helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan
discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary
feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi
-El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales
were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more
slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales
are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie
the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .
In
the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land
transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser
with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included
In
the evening, Enjoy a dinner cruise with folk show on board the Hyatt
cruise or similar .
DAY
20 -Cairo / Aswan ( or Luxor ) : Board Nile Cruise /Camel Caravan-Saturday
(BLD)
After a very early breakfast we fly to Aswan ( or Luxor ) , and check-in
on board your Nile cruise . You cabin may not be ready until lunch time.
After lunch 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 21 - ASWAN, KOM OMBO - Sunday- (BLD)
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 22 - EDFU, ESNA - Monday - (BLD)
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.
Sample Cabin
on the Ultra Deluxe Movenpick Nile Cruises : M/S Royal Lotus , M/S Royal
Lily
M/S
Radamis II
DAY 23 - LUXOR - Tuesday- (BLD)
The
Workers Village , the first known workers strike in history
(BLD)
We tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and
the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon
before we l
continue on Luxor's west bank to 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.
Back
to your cruise in time for lunch. Afternoon tea is served on deck. The
gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple
of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon
DAY 24 - LUXOR , CAIRO Family Home Hosted Dinner - Wednesday-
(B)
Check out from our cabins. We head back to the airport & the flight
back to Cairo and your hotel.
A
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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting
us know your preferences.
DAY
25 - CAIRO - Shopping with the locals - Thursday- (B)
Breakfast
at the hotel . Morning walking tour of El Ghouria and local souks where
locals shop for textiles and Egyptian cottons. On to the " Gold"
street in Khan El Khalil , then on to The Secret Tomb of Khedive Tawfik
One of the gems of Cairo lay hidden for years behind locked gates in
a nondescript neighborhood: the tomb and gardens of Khedive Tawfik.
The Khedive was the viceroy who administered Egypt for the Turkish sultan.
It was Tawfik’s father, Khedive Ismail, who saw to the construction
of the Suez Canal. In the process, he mortgaged the nation, and threw
Egypt into turmoil. Tawfik was installed in his father’s place.
But with foreign bankers pressing on one side, and resentful nationalist
officers on the other, he was ineffectual. British troops moved into
the Suez Canal area to protect their investment—and didn't leave
until 1952, when the monarchy was given the boot.
Tawfik’s mausoleum far outshines his rule. The original family
burial area was enlarged in 1881 and decorated with a splendor not seen
since the times of the Pharaohs. Columns with intricate Islamic-Mameluke
decoration adorn the entrance, while parts of the gold-threaded woven
cover of the holy Kabah of Mecca adorn the walls inside the doorways.
The tomb of Bambah Qadin, in white marble, is impressive, but that of
Tawfik himself is stunning: constructed of ebony, with inlays of ivory,
mother-of-pearl, and precious woods. Elsewhere are the tombs of other
family members, including that of Price Muhammad Ali, who married a
French actress. Even the family library is here.
With treasures like these, it’s no wonder that the precincts were
closed off from public view in uncertain times. Even today, Tawfik’s
Tomb and Gardens are off the beaten track for most visitors, but at
Travel in Style, we’re proud to include this little-known treasure
house of Egyptian history and art on our regular tours.
After
which we bring you back to the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 26 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - Friday (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 $
| |
Deluxe* |
First Class |
|
In Triple occupancy |
US$
7100
|
US$
6750
|
|
In Double occupancy |
US$
7280
|
US$
6820
|
|
In Single occupancy |
US$
8550
|
US$
7740
|
Deluxe
applies to hotels in Morocco and Egypt as well as in city of Tunis but
4 stars as well as 3 stars in
the smaller towns/cities outside of Tunis
Prices
include:
-
Round-trip transportation between airport and hotels, always on
a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
- Air
fare Tunis/Marrakech/Cairo . Tax included.
- Hotel
Accommodations as mentioned in itinerary, with tax and breakfast
daily .
- Nile
cruise in Egypt as per itinerary including all meals and shore excurison.
With a complimentary welcome drink
- Meals
as indicated from preset menu (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
-
Guided sightseeing as indicated in air-conditioned coach, including
all admission fees.
Please note that in Tunisia, touring & guiding will be in French
and English.
- First-class
train transportation in Morocco as per itinerary .
- Domestic
air fare within Egypt, always in first class or business class (
subject to plane configuration and availability) , tax included
- Lonely
Planet guidebook to Egypt, Tunis, Morocco.
- Bottled
water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you
are on board the Nile cruise.
- Tea
or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the Nile
cruise.
- International
air transportation From / To your home country
-
Optional excursions,
- Any
meal not specifically mentioned beverages, and personal expenses.
- Gratuities
for local personnel.
- Travel
insurance
-
Airport taxes.
Jacquie
Kennedy & Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt :
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy
and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that
time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam.
It’s
worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial
support for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel
might have been lost. Arrive early in Egypt, extend one day to be
able to see Abu Simbel .
Read More
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.
Want
a Mediterranean vacation like the Europeans
enjoy? Go to Tunisia!
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