Alhambra doorway

Sunrise over the dunes

Fez fountain

Granada from the Alhambra

Alhambra courtyard

Grand Mosque, Cordoba

Seville cathedral

Lobby of Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville

View of Ronda and parador

Riad Maison Bleue, Fez

The High Atlas Mountains

Shadows of our camel caravan

Our Saharan dune camp outside Merzouga

Saharan mud city

Marrakesh riad

Rug merchant

Our March 2010 trip to Spain and Morocco was spectacular (Spain/Morocco Travelogue). Because that trip was sold out, several people who were not able to go with us in March would like to schedule another Spain/Morocco trip in 2011 or 2012. We would love to lead another visit to these two magnificent countries in the spring or fall of either 2011 or 2012, depending on the best timing for those who are interested.

This trip will take you to Andalucia, the center of 800 years of Moorish rule in Spain, with its monumental and graceful architecture, charming culture, and lovely landscape. From there, we will take the fast ferry to Tangiers, Morocco, to spend 10 days exploring the medieval cities of Fez and Marrakesh and the gorgeous Sahara, including a camel ride into the dunes to spend the night in a Berber tent camp. Check out the tentative itinerary below.

The cost will be between $8700 and $9200 per person, not including international airfare, as described below. If you are interested in this trip, please fill out the registration form on this website or contact us at 303/841-5999 or email at gailschoettler@msn.com. We look forward to sharing this memorable adventure with you.

Spain and Morocco 2011 or 2012
Dates TBD
Tentative Itinerary

Day 1

• Depart from USA

Day 2

• Arrive in London
• Fly to Malaga
• Lunch on the flight
• Transfer by luxury coach to Granada
• 7:00 p.m. Arrive at Parador de Granada inside the Alhambra (the most spectacular Moorish fortress in the world)
• Time to rest or have dinner on your own

Day 3

• 8:00 a.m. Begin tour of Alhambra, one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in the world and the last Muslim fortress in Spain to fall to the forces of the Reconquista in 1492
• 11:00 a.m. Depart by coach for sightseeing in city of Granada
• Lunch included
• Afternoon free to rest or shop
• 8:30 p.m. Dinner tapas tour, guided by an expatriate living in Granada

Day 4

• 8:00 a.m. Depart for Cordoba with its extensive array of architectural monuments built by the Romans, Moors, and Christians, highlighted by a visit to the 8th century Mosque of the Caliphs and its famous 850 pillars of marble and jasper
• Lunch included
• Afternoon Continue on to Seville
• 6:00 p.m. Arrive at Hotel Alfonso XIII in the old
• Santa Cruz section of the city
• Evening free to stroll the winding alleys of Santa Cruz
• Dinner on your own

Day 5

• 8:00 a.m. Depart to explore Andalucia’s most beautiful city, with a tour of the Alcazar Palace, Cathedral, Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de Espana
• Lunch on your own
• Afternoon free to stroll through the old city and along the Guadalquivir River
• 9:00 p.m. Dinner at a local restaurant

Day 6

• 8:00 a.m. Depart via luxury coach to travel through the mountains of Andalucia, visiting the famous “White Towns”
• Lunch included
• 3:00 p.m. Arrive in Ronda for the evening
• Rest of afternoon free to enjoy Ronda’s charm and beautiful scenery
• Dinner on your own

Day 7

• 7:30 a.m. Depart for Tarifa’s ferry terminal
• 11:00 a.m. Fast ferry to Tangier, Morocco
• 10:45 a.m. Arrive in Tangier
• Lunch included
• 1:00 p.m. Drive to Fez via Volubilis
• 3:00 p.m. Visit to Volubilis, the gorgeous ruins of a Roman city, with its beautiful basilica and mosaic floors
• 6:30 p.m. Arrive in Fez
• Transfer to Riad Maison Bleue
• 8:30 p.m. Walk through the old medina to Restaurant Maison Bleue for dinner

Day 8

• Day to visit Fes, the most complete Islamic medieval city in the world. Walk its ancient souk, a labyrinth of alleyways and colorful shops, where donkeys replace cars to move the goods to market
• Lunch on your own
• Afternoon free to wander the medina
• Dinner on your own

Day 9

• 8:00 a.m. Depart for drive in our luxury coach over the high Atlas mountains to the Erg Chebbi, Morocco’s beautiful Saharan dunes
• Lunch included
• 6:00 p.m. Arrive in Merzouga
• Overnight at Kasbah Mohayut, with time to enjoy a sunset walk on the golden dunes
• Dinner included

Day 10

• Morning guided tour of dunes
• Lunch included
• 4:00 p.m. Depart via camel for the Saharan dune camp
• Dinner included (take your own wine with you on your camel)
• Overnight in Saharan Berber tent camp

Day 11

• 6:00 a.m. Depart via camel for Kasbah Mohayut (before it gets too hot) Breakfast at Kasbah Mohayut with time for hot shower
• 8:30 a.m. Depart in our coach across the Sahara for a day in the desert, visiting the lovely Dades Valley with its spectacular rock formations
• Lunch included in the Dades Valley
• 4:00 p.m. Arrive at the charming Les Jardins de Skoura just outside Skoura, a small Moorish compound set in lovely gardens
• Dinner included

Day 12

• Day at leisure in Skoura with time to visit the palmarie or the village or just relax in a lovely setting
• Lunch and dinner included

Day 13

• 9:00 a.m. Depart for Marrakesh Noon Visit Ain ben Haddou (old Moroccan fortress town and site of many movies)
• Lunch included
• 5:00 p.m. Arrive in Marrakesh at the Riad Les Yeux Bleue
• 7:30 p.m. Dinner in the medina included, with visit to Marrakesh’s main square, bustling with people and activity at night

Day 14

• 8:30 a.m. Depart on foot for walking tour of the medina and labyrinthine souks (Marrakesh’s busy bazaar)
• Lunch included
• 2:00 p.m. Visit sites outside the old city via bus
• Later afternoon free for last minute shopping
• Closing dinner

Day 15

• Free day in Marrakesh

Day 16

• Depart for Marrakesh airport for flight to London

Trip services end at London Gatwick Airport so you can leave for downtown London or for London Heathrow to catch flights back to the USA.

Please note that the flight times will determine our schedule, so the itinerary may change, perhaps substantially. We cannot confirm hotels until we have made our deposit, so hotels could also change, depending on availability once we make our deposit.

Cost: We estimate the ground cost for the trip to be in the range of $8700 to $9200 per person (based upon double occupancy and not including international airfare), but that could change based on 2011 or 2012 room rates and exchange rates. Because we do not have schedules or fares for the flights from London to Malaga and Marrakesh to London, we will bill you, at cost, expected to be approximately $400 per person, for the 2 flights, when we are able to make those reservations. The trip price includes 5 star hotels or the best available inns and hotels, breakfast, most meals as specified in the final itinerary, guides, admissions, transfers, and tips. Not included are meals not specified on the final itinerary, alcoholic beverages, excess baggage charges, independent airport transfers, incidentals (such as internet access, laundry, phone and fax calls), passport and visa fees, and medical expenses.

We choose restaurants that feature the finest regional food and that are local favorites chosen for their charm and quality. Internal flights will be coach class. We will have our own private guides and bus transportation.

Currently, neither Spain nor Morocco requires a visa for holders of US passports. We will let you know immediately if that changes.

Please note that we may change the itinerary based on changes in airline schedules, natural disaster, or other circumstances requiring such changes.

Refund Policy: Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $250 per person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1000 per person cancellation fee will apply. Within 120 days of the trip, we can only make refunds if we must cancel the trip because of circumstances outside our control (i.e., war, natural disaster). In that case, your payments are fully refundable. We recommend trip-cancellation insurance and, if the trip insurance doesn’t include it, medical evacuation insurance.

Currency Fluctuation Policy: We reserve the right to adjust the cost of the trip if exchange rates negatively affect the value of the dollar against the local currencies, thereby increasing our costs significantly.

We reserve the right to cancel the trip if we do not have at least 8 people participating or if circumstances beyond our control (i.e., war, quarantine, etc.) require it. In the case of cancellation by us, we will refund your entire payment.