THE MAGIC OF MOROCCO TOUR, 2018
A TRIP OF A LIFETIME and a professionally guided tour to one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth, MOROCCO with its rich history, culture, varied geographic and climate regions and some of the friendliest people and BEST FOOD anywhere 🙂
designed and overseen by the owner of The Arabic Bazaar/WMD Productions and artist/entrepreneur, Zein Al-Jundi who is a native of Syria and has travelled to Morocco extensively thus being able to put together a tour for all to EXPERIENCE THE COUNTRY FROM AN INSIDER’S POINT OF VIEW…..for this trip (as it was the case with previous tours) she has teamed up with the best travel professionals here in the US and in Morocco and will be on hand for the duration of the trip in Morocco with the group!
$3995 pp. (double occupancy, $895 additional for single supplement)
Price includes:
**Flight from Houston TX to Casablanca, Morocco and back to Houston
**Accommodation 05 nights in 5 star selected hotels, or similar, on Bed and Breakfast (BB)
**Accommodation 04 Nights in selected 5 star hotels or similar , on Half Board (HB)
**01 night at the Deluxe Camp at desert of Merzouga on Half board (HB)
**Welcome Dinner & Show (Live Arabic Band & Bellydancer) at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca
**1 Hour Camel Ride activity to assist the sunset at Desert Merzouga
**Roundtrip transfers by 4×4 Car to attend Merzouga Camp.
**Transportation by Air Conditioning Private Bus throughout the tour.
**Visits and all monument entrance fees mentioned in the program with an extensive itinerary (Daily Sightseeing Excursions)
**Assistance of an official English Speaking Tour Guide throughout the tour.
**All hotels taxes and services.
Excluded services are:
**Any airfare ticket to get to and from Houston TX from your home city or any other changes to the included flight schedule
**Meals except what is mentioned above
**Tips for driver and guide
***LAND PACKAGE AVAILABLE***
***SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR EARLY DEPOSIT/FULL PAYMENT, COUPLES, FAMILY MEMBERS & PREVIOUSLY TRAVELLED WITH US INDIVIDUALS***
***PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE***
Day 01
Departure from Houston International Airport on Air Canada
Meeting at Houston International Airport (exact spot and time to be specified at a later time) to board our flight heading to Casablanca……let the fun begin…..
Fly to Casablanca overnight
Day 02
CASABLANCA
Welcome to Mohamed V airport of Casablanca 🙂
Meeting with our tour guide. Assistance to the formalities and transfer to/check in at our hotel, The Hyatt Regency.
Rest for a bit then on to our day of sightseeing in the city–Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. The guided sightseeing tour of Casablanca includes Mohamed V place, the united nations square, the new medina and the Mahkama (Moroccan law courts) in Hispano- Mauresque architecture, Notre Dame de Lourdes church in stained glass, the Anfa residential suburb site of the war time conference between Roosevelt / Churchill and Mohamed V, Ain Diab Casablanca’s playground with its cafés, restaurants and pools and the newly built Hassan II Mosque–the second largest mosque in the world.
**Welcome Dinner at The Hyatt’s Oriental Restaurant with bellydance show & live Arabic MusicBand.
Overnight at our hotel.
Hyatt Regency Casablanca Hotel, Bed & Breakfast
Day 03
Casablanca / Rabat / Chefchaouen
After breakfast, departure to Rabat. The visit of Rabat–the political and Administrative capital of Morocco and the fourth of the Imperial cities–will include the King Palace enclosure, Mohamed V Mausoleum, The unfinished Hassan Tower and mosque, the picturesque Kasbah (fort) of the Oudayas (at the estuary facing the Barbary coast Corsair port of Sallee).
Leave Rabat and take the road to Chefchaouen ….driving about 4 hours via the Rif Mountain, crossing Wazzan and other Rif’s villages. Chefchaouen medina is the focal point of interest for most visitors to Chefchaouen. Walking around the town with its whitewashed walls, originally decorated in this style by Jewish immigrants, can be a nice change to the hustle and bustle of
the cities of Marrakech, Rabat, and Fez.
Check-in & Overnight at Riyad Lina, Dinner – Bed & Breakfast
Day 04
Chefchaouen / Vulubilis / Meknes / Fes
Breakfast at your Riad and departure to Fez via Ouazzane, Volubilis and Meknes…
Visit of the wonderful Roman ruins at Volubilis, the Volubilis of really ancient olive presses, mansions, incredible mosaics, monumental arches and Corinthian columns where you’ll have a real sense of Roman lifestyle and of that of a subsequent medieval Berber town. The site contains the Mansion containing the mosaic of the Labours of Hercules, the Baths of Gallienus and Baths of Forum with their fragmentary mosaics; the House of Orpheus and its Dolphin mosaic and Orpheus Myth; the Cortege of Venus many of whose mosaics we may only see from the outside yet will get to see the medallions of Bacchus, Diana and the Abduction of Hylas; the Gordian Palace with its bath house and pooled courtyards; the House of the Wild Beast, the House of Nymphs, the House of the Seasons, the House of Flavius Germanus, the Knights House with an incomplete mosaic of Dionysus Discovering Ariadne Asleep, the Triumphal Arch, the Capitol and the House of Ephebus with its pictorial mosaics, especially that of Bacchus Being drawn in a Chariot by Panthers.
Continuation to Meknes … Visit of the Imperial City of Meknes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here we shall visit the easily most beautiful Bab, or gateway, in all of the Maghreb – the Bab Mansour. From here to the El Heri es-Souani – the granary of huge vaulted structures and stables built by Moulay Ismail’s soldiers next to a pool fed by underground channels that brought
fresh water all the way from the distant Middle Atlas Mountains; the famous State-owned stallion stables of Haras where these Arabo-Berber (‘Barb’) horses are bred; the Moulay Ismail
Mausoleum and the Place el-Hedim.
Arrive to Fes.
Check-in & Overnight at Palais Amani Riad, Dinner – Bed & Breakfast.
Day 05
Fes
Full day sightseeing city tour of Fes, the oldest of the four Imperial Cities, founded approx. 809 A.D. spiritual and intellectual capital of Islam in the west, your visit will include: the 15th century Borj Nord (north forth) arm museum, the great gateway of the Royal Palace, the 9th century Karaouiyine Mosque and University; with its Medersas (colleges) of Bou Inania and Attarine dating from the 14th century, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, founder of Fes, the Nejarine fountain.
Afternoon continuation of the visit of the spice market, the souks and the Medina.
Overnight at your Riad. Palais Amani Riad, Dinner – Bed & Breakfast
Day 06
Fes / Erfoud
Breakfast and departure to Erfoud via the hill station of Ifrane in the lake district, through the town of Azrou with its old Kasbah (fort) and handicraft center then continuation via midelt.
Continuation to Erfoud, the former capital of Tafilalet, this was for eleven centuries the final stop on the great caravan routes south and point of birth of Alaouite dynasty.
Check-in, dinner and overnight at your hotel. Kasbah Chergui Hotel, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 07
Erfoud / Merzouga
After breakfast at the hotel, morning will be devoted to explore Erfoud and it area …
Afternoon, you change your Car by a 4X4 vehicle to attend Merzouga for a night under tents if weather conditions allow it. A wonderful experience of seeing sunset over the seas of sands.
01 hour Camel ride before we settle in our camp to watch the sunset over dunes. Return to the camp
Installation under tents for dinner and overnight.
Bivouac Chergui Sahara, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 08
Merzouga / Erfoud /Ouarzazate
Wake up early in the morning, to contemplate the sunrise.
Return to the bivouac for breakfast. Departure to Ouarzazate via Tineghir and Tinejdad.
Tineghir with its huge kasbah belonging to the ex-Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech , side excursion to the imposing Todra Gorges and Todra canyon (two sheer cliffs 300 meters high separated by a narrow corridor only 20 meters wide).
Continuation along the famous “Route of 1000 Kasbahs” to Ouarzazate.
Check in, and overnight at your Hotel. Berbère Palace Hotel, Bed & Breakfast
Day 09
Ouarzazate / Marrakech
After breakfast, departure to visit Ouarzazate, the administrative center of the pre-Saharian region you will start by Taourirt kasbah is a series of towers rising out of a mass of closely packed houses, thrusting their turrets into the blue of the sky,Continuation to Ait Benhaddou, situated at 30 km from Ouarzazate, is a fabulous sand castle standing in the middle of a field of flowering almond trees. It has often been used a setting for films including Lawrence of Arabia and is so exceptional that UNESCO has given it World Heritage status.
After lunch (Not included), departure to Marrakech.
Check-in and Overnight at our Riad. Bed & Breakfast
Day 10
Marrakech
Breakfast at the hotel. Beginning of the visit of Marrakech ” the pearl of the south”. Second of the four Imperial cities, rose-redoasis at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, founded in 1062. Your historical visit will includes: the stately 12th century Koutoubia minaret, built by same architect as the Giralda in Seville and Tour Hassan in Rabat, the secret 16th century tombs of the Saadian Dynasty, the Menara Gardens.
Afternoon, continuation of the visit: the medina,
the souks and the famous Jemaa El Fna square
with its permanent entertainment, narrators, charmers of snakes.
Overnight at our riad…
Day 11 – Day 12
Marrakech / Ourika Valley / Berber Souk & Village (Atlas Mountains) / Casablanca
Breakfast at your hotel.
Leave Marrakech and start your Excursion to the
OURIKA valley.
This three quarter day excursion begins with a
very picturesque drive from Marrakech through
the gorge of Oued Ourika, allowing for stops to
see the local pottery and high quality good for
sale at the Berber Museum (which is a shop more
than a museum) and the waterfall in Siti Fatma
(when accessible and for those who enjoy walking
approximately 45 minutes each direction).
After visit you will drive to Casablanca about 3 ½ hours
Overnight at your Hotel. Hyatt Regency Casablanca Hotel, Bed & Breakfast
OR
Excursion to Asni, Berber villages.
Leave Marrakech and start your Excursion to the Asni & Ouirgane.
This three quarter day journey takes us into the Atlas Mountains to see a vast array of vegetation, colored rock cliffs, mountains streams, Berber villages, and local mountain people.
The local souk at Asni takes place on Saturdays/ Tuesdays only.
We continue our trip through to Ouirgane, with its fabulous hillside views overlooking local villages and the neighboring areas, Berber hamlets and stupendous landscapes of forests, mountains and valleys. Nature lovers and all those who needs to escape from the fast pace of urban life will find Asni Ouirgane the perfect place to be. Take the opportunity to stop and visit
the inside of a Berber home for a cup of tea and homemade Berber bread (Tanourt).
After visit you will drive to Casablanca about 3 ½ hours.
Overnight at Hyatt Regency Casablanca Hotel, Bed & Breakfast
Casablanca / Houston
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Casablanca airport about 1 hour; in time for your flight as all great things must come to an end……fly back to Houston (or your final destination) taking with you some certainly incredible memories of this beautiful land that is full of remarkable contrasts and very friendly people. Assistance to flight formalities.
Safe trip to all…….End of our services!
REQUEST A BROCHURE
(please include your full name & mailing address in the e-mail)
***MORE INFO, REGISTER OR MAKE PAYMENT***
The Arabic Bazaar (5013 Duval ST. Austin TX 78751)
(512) 533-9227 or [email protected]
(payments via PayPal @ [email protected])
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PHOTO GALLERY #2 TOUR 2017
**FULL PAYMENT INFORMATION:
Deposit $995
Deposit $945 (if made on or before 2/24/2018)
Full Payment of $3995
Full Payment (if made on or before 4/21/2018) $3895
Land Package: $3095
Land Package (if made on or before 4/21/2018) $2995
Discounted Package (per person for couples, family members or previously travelled with us individuals) $3895
Discounted Land Package (per person for couples, family members or previously travelled with us individuals) $2995
Single Occupancy Supplement: $895
Full Package Installment Payment: $600
Land Package Installment Payment: $420
**PAYMENT PLAN:
$995 AT SIGNING UP with 5 PAYMENTS OF $600 EACH, DUE ON 3/20, 4/20, 5/20, 6/20 & 7/20/2018
**FULL PAYMENT IS DUE BY JULY 20, 2018 AT THE LATEST.
**DEPOSIT INCLUDES A REGISTRATION FEE OF $395 THAT IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
**NO REFUNDS AFTER 3/20/2018
**PLEASE ADD 3% SURCHARGE TO ALL CC & PAYPAL PAYMENTS
**ONLY ONE DISCOUNT IS APPLICABLE TO EACH PERSON REGISTERED
**If in the unlikely event of this tour being cancelled for any un foreseen reason, all payments made will be refunded to those registered if cancelation occurs before 3/20/2018. If such cancelation occurs after 3/20/2018, refunds for the land package portion only will be refunded to all registered…..CREDIT for the flight portion with the airline company we are due to travel with (Air Canada) will be issued to all those who have registered (please check with airline for policies on using credit)!
TOUR DESIGNED AND OVERSEEN BY ZEIN AL-JUNDI, NATIVE OF THE ARAB WORLD & OWNER/DIRECTOR OF WMD PRODUCTIONS & THE ARABIC BAZAAR IN CONJUNCTIONS WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENCIES IN THE US, EGYPT & MOROCCO SO YOU ONLY GET THE BEST OF ALL SERVICES
For help with connecting flights to/from Houston International Airport please contact Ibrahim Fakhreddine @ The Travel Center, Austin TX (512) 250-1141.