Program May 31-June 14, 2005:
This program may be changed by request:
ctt@arabwebsite.com
May 31: New York /
Casablanca
Depart
on an overnight Royal Air Maroc, non-stop
flight, New York (JFK) to Casablanca
Mohammed V airport. Dinner & breakfast will
be served on board
June 1: Casablanca / Rabat
Upon our arrival at Casablanca Mohammed VI
around 7:00 am local time and after
formalities, we will find
Casablanca
Travel and Tours professional hosts
waiting to greet escort us for a brief visit
to the gem city of Casablanca: "now the
largest port of the Maghreb, busier even
than Marseille. the
city on which it was modeled by the French."
Our visit will include the ancient central
market, the Habous district, the fabulous
Royal Palace, Mohamed V square, a
residential area of Anfa and the unequalled
Hassan II Mosque on the ocean. We'll dine on
fresh seafood for lunch at the Corniche in
An Diab on the coast. After lunch we will
depart to the capital city of Rabat. There
our visit begins in the Medina with the
Kasbah of the Oudayas continues to the
venerated Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Hassan
Tower Mosque, and the ramparts, and walls of
the Mechouar surrounding the Royal Palace.
Dinner and overnight at
your
scheduled hotel.
June 2: Volubilis / Meknes /
Fes
Travel
to Fez via Volubilis, the Roman capital of
Northwestern Africa. Walk through the
narrow streets of Moulay Idris: this
venerated 8th century citadel is considered
to be the first Islamic for the first Arab
dynasty and the structure of Sufism to the
Moroccan society.
Founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idris
the grand son of Prophet Mohamed.
Continue exploring the region on to Fez with
sightseeing of the ramparts, the gates, and
the Borjes (Moorish Forts).
Dinner and over night at
the Hotel.
June 3: Fes
After
breakfast, full-day tour of the city of Fes,
The Holy City of Fes is a jewel of
Spanish-Arabic civilization. Fes does not
reveal its secrets easily. Secretive,
shadowy, they need to be discovered little
by little, with reverence. Only in this way
can the splendors of Medrsa architecture be
fully appreciated. Only in this way will the
call of the medina tempt you. Bustling with
artisans and merchants, its captivating
sounds, fragrances and colors mesmerize the
visitor with a constant swirl of activity.
The city of Moulay
Idriss 1st, sanctuary of human and moral
sciences.
The great À Karaouiyne University bas for
eleven centuries been
a religions and intellectual center whose
influence bas spread far beyond the
Kingdom's boundaries. In 789, a pick-axe of
silver and gold -"fas" in Arabic - was
presented to Idriss 1st to use in tracing
the outlines of the city. Hence the name of
the city, which lies at the far eastern end
of the plain of Saïss, bordered to the south
by the hills outlying the Atlas Mountains.
Cradle of religions, cultural and artistic
traditions, Fes, the double city, is the
kingdom's spiritual capital. The Andalusia
mosque, dating from the 9th century, and
further embellished by successive rulers, is
accessed through a mighty door of sculpted
cedar. An imposing minaret decorated with
green faiences crowns the Rsif Mosque. The
Medersas around the Karaouiyne Mosque,
former lodging houses for students coming
from outside the city, attest the importance
of its thousand years of history. In the
Medina, a labyrinth of sloping, winding
alleyways are crammed full of stalls and
workshops. This is the famed Kissaria -the
commercial center. A multitude of locally
produced goods are on sale in this
incredible maze-cotton fabric, silk, brocade
work, slippers, and many more.
The craftsmen of the El Attarine souks offer
the visitor a non-stop spectacle. For
hundreds of years such work bas been
regulated by traditional guilds, ensuring
that its quality is worthy of the city. Each
district has its own specialty : cobalt blue
enameled pottery, carpets, wrought iron ...
one looks on as the dyer stirs his yarns,
steeped in their multitude of colors, as the
tanner tramples his skins under an open sky
-skins that the leather-worker will
eventually adorn with fine gilt for
book-binding . Leaving the souks through the
Boujeloud gate with its decoration of green
and blue faiences, the riches contained in
the wonderful Museum of Moroccan Art await
one Optional lunch at the Medina and
shopping in the afternoon.
Dinner at the hotel.
Depart to Festival
Grand
Opening.
June 4: Fes / Moulay
Yacoub/ Fes
Morning
at leisure, and special requests, afternoon
festival activities.
June 5: Fes
Morning optional excursion to the venerated
hot springs of Moulay
Yacob - known for their healing
powers - located in a small, charming
Berber village at the foothills of the Rif
mountains (admittance to the Spa is
optional). Return to Fez for afternoon
concerts.
June 6: Fes
Morning
at leisure. Afternoon
concerts. Evening: Festival events.
After dinner we will go out for evening
festival
events.
June 7: Fes / Volubilis / Fes
Day
at leisure and special requests, Afternoon
and evening events, Dinner and over night at
the hotel.
June 8: Fes / Volubilis / Fes
Morning excursion to Volubilis for the
Festival concert, after lunch we will visit
the Roman ruins of Volubilis -- ancient
capital of Mauritania Tingitana dating back
to 300 BC. Then the site
of Moulay Idris Zerhoun,
the first Islamic city in Morocco and home
of many Sufi orders. A small city
hidden in the hinterland surrounded with
centuries-old olive groves that have
supplied the country with the best olives
oil since the Punic time.
June 9: Fes / Sefrou / Bhalil /
Fes
Optional
excursion to the ancient Jewish city of
Sefrou, this city predates Fez for a
thousand years. It has played a large role
in antiquity as the last stop of sub-Saharan
caravans transporting goods for the European
markets then the visit to Rabbis Mausoleums
and synagogues will also highlight this
journey to antiquity. On our way back to
Fez we will stop to visit the ancient
Christian village of
Bhalil
June 10: Fes
Morning
lecture, Afternoon festival at
dar Batha.
after dinner,
festival events at Bab Makina.
June 11:
Fes
Morning
visit to the Andalucian part of the Medina
to discover the history of the Settler Moors
who came from Spain in the 13th century.
Evening: Afternoon concerts at Dar Batha.
Evening:
Closing ceremony of the Festival.
June 12: Fes / Khenifra
/
Marrakech
Morning
departure to Marrakech via Azrou and
Khenifra across
the Middle Atlas Mountains. Visit Berber
villages and wards, scenic views and
classical markets.
Lunch in Khenifra.
Dinner and accommodation
at the Hotel in Marrakech.
June 13:
Marrakech
Our
guide and driver will help you explore the
marvels of Marrakech. Historic visit of
Marrakech will include the Menara, a
magnificent pool surrounded by flower beds,
reflecting the image of a beautiful Moorish
construction built in 1866 for the
dignitaries to enjoy glorious sunsets with
the snow capped Atlas mountains provide an
ethereal backdrop. The pool is also a unique
and functional irrigation system
that belongs to an ancient
architecture adapted by life in the desert.
The tour will cover several impressive
sights: The Koutoubia Minaret (the twin
tower of la Giralda in Sevilla, Spain), the
Saadian tombs demonstrating Moorish
architecture in its perfection. The tombs,
consisting of splendid mausoleums built in
the sixteenth century, were walled for some
time, not to be discovered until 1917.
Other sites include:
The museum of Dar Si Said with the best
display of Berber arts and crafts from all
over the country.
The remains of the Badii Palace, a
historical monument chosen to host the
Annual National Festival of Popular Art,
beginning the second Friday in June.
The Bahia Palace, the apogee of Moorish
splendor situated in the heart of the Mellah
(Jewish quarter) still
hosts dignitaries today.
Lunch at the hotel then
a walk through of the colorful souks of
Marrakech in the afternoon. Conclude
the day with a sunset drink overlooking the
exciting Jamaa El Fna Square.
June 14:
End of Services
Early morning transfer
to Casablanca Airport, connect to New
York (JFK) with a memorable trip of a life
time.
***
Round Trip air line
ticket in coach class: JFK/ Casablanca-
Marrakech / Casablanca/ JFK.
Land transportation as indicated in the
program in deluxe motor coach.
Baggage handling
Our full assistance.
In 4 **** breakfast, lunch & dinner).
In 5*****(breakfast & lunch or dinner).
In deluxe 5 **** (breakfast only).
Other services:
Monuments, museums and the Festival
activities fees.
All taxes
Accommodations in 4 ****star hotel:
$2,485.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Single Supplement:
$345.00
Accommodations in 5**** star deluxe hotel:$2,795.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace
*****
Single
Supplement:
$455.00
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe
hotel: $3,935.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
Single
Supplement
$620.00
Upgrade for Business Class
ticket: $1,460.00
Accommodations in 4
****star hotel: $2,785.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Marrakech: Amine hotel
Single Supplement:
$445.00
Accommodations in 5**** star deluxe hotel:$3,295.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace *****
Marrakech: Sheraton
hotel
Single
Supplement:
$855.00
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe
hotel: $4,435.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
La Mamounia hotel
Single
Supplement
$920.00
Upgrade for Business Class
ticket: $1,395.00
-
Accommodations in 4 ****star hotel:
$3,185.00
Single Supplement
in 4 ****star hotel: $495.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Marrakech: Amine hotel****
Hotel Mogador****
Basma hotel****
Accommodations in 5**** * star hotel
: $3,395.00
Single Supplement
in 5***** star hotel: $855.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace *****
Marrakech: Sheraton
hotel*****
Essaouira: SOFITEL hotel*****
Casablanca: Holiday INN*****
-
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe
hotel: $4,935.00
Single Supplement in 5 star deluxe
hotel: $1110.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
La Mamounia hotel*****
Essaouira: SOFITEL hotel*****
Casablanca: Hyatt Regency*****
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