royal touch of
MOROCCOwith John Cook & Travel Discoveries II November 2-11, 2018
John Cook, [email protected], 815-383-6121 royal palace guard, rabat fez
chellah, rabat hassan II Mosque, Casablanca
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - Mausoleum, the burial place of the present King’s grandfather. Depart Chicago with United flight #498 to Washington Dulles, Drive to Meknes, founded in the 9th century by Zenata Berbers. leaving at 1:30pm and arriving at 4:20pm. Connect with Royal Air A visit of this former Imperial City includes the old ramparts; Maroc nonstop flight #219 to Casablanca, leaving at 9:15pm. the Agoudal Basin, once used to water the royal gardens; and the Moulay Ismaïl royal stables, built in the 17th and 18th centuries SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 - CASABLANCA (D) to house the sultan’s twelve thousand horses. Finally, see Bab El Upon arrival at Casablanca Muhammed V Airport at 9:20am, Mansour, one of the most beautiful gates in Morocco; and the you will be met by a Ya’lla Tours USA Morocco representative Moulay Ismaïl Mausoleum. Continue to Fes and your hotel for and set out for a city tour of Casablanca. See the medina, overnight. PALAIS MEDINA & SPA is a centrally located hotel, Place Mohamed V, United Nations Square, the League of between the medina and the new town in Fes. www.hotelsatlas.com Arab States Park and the impressive Hassan II Mosque. Dinner tonight is at the unique Maison Blanche Restaurant. In the early afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel. GOLDEN TULIP FARAH is a 5-star hotel in the heart of the lively MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5 - FES (B,D) commercial district, walking distance from the medina, Place The whole day is devoted to an in-depth visit of Fes, founded by Mohamed V, modern shopping centers and the League of Arab King Moulay Idriss in the 9th century. See the old Koranic schools States Park. www.goldentulipfarahcasablanca.com and the Quaraouyine Mosque (from the outside only), the largest Welcome dinner is at the Basmane restaurant. university in the world in the 13th century with over 3,000 students. In the afternoon, visit modern Fes, including the famous potters SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - FES (B,D) district. Continue to the Arts Museum of Batha. This Hispano- Drive 1½ hours to Rabat, capital city of Morocco. See the old Moorish palace dating from the late 19th century houses some medina, the picturesque Kasbah of the Oudayas, the Oudaya admirable collections of the traditional art of Fes. Sculpted wood Gate, Hassan Tower and the Chellah. Walk into the Mohamed V and plaster, wrought iron and other decorative materials are works of art in their own right. Embroidery, carpets, jewelry and coins compete for the visitor’s attention. Return to your hotel for overnight. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner show at La Palais Medina restaurant.
TUESDAY, NOV 6 - MERZOUGA (B,L,D) Set out for Marrakech across the Middle Atlas Mountains, through the village of Immouzzer du Kandar and the ski resort of Ifrane. Continue with a full day drive across the cedar forests and picturesque scenery of the Middle Atlas Mountains to Erfoud. Stop at Midelt for lunch at Taddart Restaurant. Continue through the Ziz Gorge and Er Rachidia. Erfoud, situated amongst the impressive sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, is one of the largest oases in Morocco. sahara dunes Bou Inania Medersa, fes From Erfoud, travel approximately 1 ½ hours desert camp menara gardens, marrakech
kasbah taourirt, ouarzazate spice shop, marrakech medina to Merzouga and from Merzouga, a short drive will take you to home of the Pacha Glaoui. Then visit the Atlas Studios, Morocco’s your Berber camp for dinner and overnight. The site is surrounded most important movie studio. Gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of by torches and the ground is covered with antique Moroccan Arabia, and The Mummy are just few of many movies that were rugs. The camp is appointed with personal tents and separate filmed here. Continue for a visit of the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, tents for cooking and dining. Sleeping tents have comfortable, an impressive 11th century structure which has been declared warm beds and basic furnishings, as well as private showers an historical treasure by UNESCO. Drive through mountainous and toilets, separated from the sleeping area by a thick curtain. and semi-desert landscape, over the High Atlas Mountains at A local staff of a cook, waiters, and a watchman will see to your Tizi N’Tichka Pass (7,400 feet) and across the fertile countryside needs. A party of 4 local musicians will entertain you around a of the Haouz Plain to the pink city of Marrakech for overnight. blazing camp fire, as the vast desert sky fills with more stars than Stay in a Superior Room at the RADISSON BLU CARRÉ EDEN, you’ve ever seen! opened in 2016 in the trendy Gueliz quarter in the heart of Marrakech. The hotel is within steps of shops, restaurants and WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 - OUARZAZATE (B,D) nightlife and a 10-minute drive from Jemaa el-Fna square and End your desert adventure with a camel trek to watch the sunrise other sites in city’s historical center. www.radissonblu.com/en/ over the dunes. After breakfast at the camp, board your 4x4 to hotel-marrakech explore the Oasis of Khemlia. See the ruins of Sijilmassa, the first Arab and Islamic city of Morocco. The Gnawa residents FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 - MARRAKECH (B) of the area originally came from Senegal and Mali hundreds Today we have a city tour of Marrakech. Begin at the Menara of years ago as slave soldiers during the reign of the Moroccan Gardens, with its Saadian Pavilion and olive groves. Continue to sultan Moulay Ismael. They are well known as great musicians, the Old Medina with its exotic old-world charm. Your guide will playing large drums and castanets as they sing and dance. lead you on a walking tour through the fascinating labyrinth, Return to Erfoud to visit the date market and the fossil factory. with a stop at the foot of the famous Koutoubia Minaret. Drive through Tinejdad, Tineghir and the Todra Pass in the beautiful 1,000 Kasbah Valley to El Kelaa des Mgouna and Skoura. After Skoura, the palm trees are replaced by orchards and irrigated gardens. Roses for making perfume are the specialty of El Kelaa des Mgouna. Paris, the famous perfume by Yves Saint Laurent is made from the extract of these roses. You will find some nice shopping here for rose products such as rose water, body milk, dried petals etc. Continue to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight. DAR CHAMAA is a 3.5-star riad located 1 mile from the center of town. www.darchamaa.com
THURSDAY, NOV 8 - MARRAKECH (B) This morning, tour Ouarzazate, the film industry center of Africa. Visit the 17th- koutoubia, marrakech marrakech medina century Kasbah Taourirt which served as the majorelle garden, marrakech ourika valley, atlas mountains
carpets in the marrakech medina jemaa el fna square, marrakech
Continue to the Bahia Palace, with its lush Moorish style garden. of Berber village life provides the perfect contrast to the hubbub of After lunch, visit the Majorelle Garden, with a large variety of the city. Continue to the village of Imlil. Footpaths and mule tracks trees, plants and flowers from different countries. Stroll through mount through lush, irrigated terraces, apple orchards and walnut the colorful souks of the medina and then experience the groves to other villages, where the way of life has changed little famous Jemaa El Fna Square, an ancient meeting place of North for centuries and traditional values and hospitality are unaffected African tradesmen, entertainers, musicians, snake charmers and by the outside world. A kasbah is perched on a great rock outcrop storytellers. Return your hotel for overnight above the village, with a panoramic view of the mountains, valleys and waterfalls. It is reached by a short donkey ride. You will have SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 - MARRAKECH (B,L,D) about an hour to explore. Return to Marrakech around 4:00pm. Depart Marrakech for the Ourika Valley in the heart of the Atlas Farewell dinner is at the very special La Maison Arab Restaurant. Mountains, just 40 miles from the city. The mountains are the traditional home to the indigenous Amazigh, better knows as the SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 - (B) Berbers. The Atlas also claim the highest peak in North Africa, You will be transferred to Marrakech Menara Airport for your Royal Jbel Toubkal. Visit the local country market, where butchers and Air Maroc nonstop flight #404 to Casablanca, leaving at 11:55am barbers, vendors of vegetables, cereals, and olive oil, blacksmiths and arriving at 12:30pm. Connect with Royal Air Maroc nonstop and medicine-men gather under canvas and reed shelters, along flight #218 to Washington Dulles, leaving at 3:25pm and arriving with a number of small restaurants scattered around in the open at 7:15pm. Clear US Customs and Immigration and connect with air. This is an enchanting landscape, with meandering rivers and United flight #552 nonstop to Chicago, leaving at 10:15pm and red adobe Berber villages hanging on the slopes. The tranquility arriving at 11:20pm.
Price per person in a double room: $4,349 Price per person in a single room: $5,149
TOUR INCLUDES: roundtrip, economy air between Chicago and Washington Dulles on United Airlines / roundtrip, economy air Washington-Casablanca // Marrakech-Washington on Royal Air Maroc / departure & fuel tax (subject to change) / 8 nights of accommodations, with breakfast daily / 6 dinners and 2 lunches / airport transfers in Morocco / 7 days of touring in a private, luxurious, air-conditioned motor coach, with a licensed, English-speaking guide / site entrance fees / short camel trek in the Sahara / bottled water in the touring bus / service fees and local taxes / baggage handling at airports and hotels / travel documents and bag TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: tips for driver, guide, restaurants and hotels / travel insurance, highly recommended / meals and drinks, other than specified / personal expenses
IMPORTANT NOTE: Passenger must have a U.S. Passport to enter Morocco, valid at least six months past scheduled return date. / Air schedules are subject to change. / An $800 per person deposit is due upon booking. / A second deposit of $600 per person is due on June 22, 2018. / The deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days prior to departure. / Final payment is due July 27, 2018. / All funds paid to Ya'lla Tours USA Inc. are held in a trust account until paid to our suppliers.