Day 1
-
(Sat.) Make your own way to Casablanca to join the tour on day
2.
Day 2
- In Casablanca, Morocco
(Sun.) After you check into your hotel, which may have been on
day 1, there's time to rest or start exploring Morocco's pulsating
business capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling
companions for a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3
- Casablanca-Rabat-Meknes-Fez
(Mon.) Follow the infamous Barbary coast to the imperial city of
rabat, once lair of the corsairs and now the country's capital.
Sightseeing focuses on the royal Palace and residence of King
Hassan II, MOHAMMED V MAUSOLEUM, Hassan Tower, and the fortified
KASBAH OF OUDAIAS. Today's second imperial city is Meknes, with its
monumental gates and city walls, known as the unfinished dream of
Sultan Moulay Ismail. Visit the impressive OLD GRANARIES and
STABLES, which housed up to 12,000 horses, and stop at the Market
Square to admire Bab el-Mansour, the finest gateway in North
Africa. continue your journey to Fez. (BB,D)
Day 4
- Fez
(Tue.) Snap pictures of the magnificent entrance to the royal
Palace, drive through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and
travel on to beautifully ornate BAB BOU JELOUD, the traditional
entrance to old Fez. Today's highlight is a visit to the
labyrinthine FES-EL-BALI, Morocco's largest medina: follow your
Local guide to exquisite MEDErSA BOU INANIA, admire Nejjarine
Square and its fountain, the Karaouiyne Mosque and University, and
the Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss. Enjoy a ten-mile drive along the
panoramic route de Fez, stopping at its best vantage point. Back to
your hotel with time to relax by the pool. Tonight your Tour
Director may suggest an optional folklore dinner at a typical
Moroccan restaurant. (BB)
Day 5
- Fez-Erfoud
(Wed.) An unforgettable scenic journey through ever-changing
landscapes on your way to the mystical deep south. Morning break in
the quiet Swiss-style village of Ifrane. Verdant cedar forests give
way to volcanic mountains and wind-swept plains as you motor across
the Middle Atlas range to Midelt. Pass fortified mud-and-straw
villages and spot young shepherds driving their flocks to scant
pastures. Descend into the spectacular Ziz gorges, and arrive in
Er-rachidia, an important crossroad once controlled by the French
Foreign Legion. Afterwards, the landscape becomes progressively
more arid, and you enter a stony desert. On your last stretch to
Erfoud, an unexpected and breathtaking surprise: the miraculous and
peaceful oasis of Ziz Valley, dotted with palm-fringed towns,
fortified strongholds, and scenes of timeless rural life.
(BB,L,D)
Day 6
- Erfoud
(Thu.) A short drive takes you to holy rissani, gateway to the
Sahara Desert, where a few bowing date palms recall what was once a
luxuriant oasis. For a thousand years this was the principal
trading post for caravans from the Niger river, where gold was
exchanged for salt and sugar. See the grand gateway of the town and
the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif, the first ruler of the Alawite
dynasty. A thrilling experience is the visit to the colorful SOUKS,
the desert tribes' market, where Tuareg, Berber, and Blue People
meet and animatedly swap silver jewelry and rugs for vegetables,
salt, and other goods, by slapping one another's hands. Weather
permitting, your Tour Director will offer you an exciting optional
excursion to the 450-foot-high Erg chebbi sand dunes for a close-up
encounter with the Sahara Desert. (BB,D)
Day 7
- Erfoud-Ouarzazate
(Fri.) Motor along the eastern slopes of the High Atlas
mountains to the enchanting oasis of Tinerhir. Follow its lush
valley, where crops grow in the shade of date palms, hemmed in by
mud-brick villages and barren mountains, to one of Morocco's most
impressive natural sights: the Todra gorge, also known as the
"grand canyon of the Sahara." After lunch, explore its narrowest
point, just 33 feet wide, but some 950 feet high, with a
crystal-clear river running through it. Drive further west through
the Dadès Valley, called "Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs" for
its superb and noble fortresses, and "roses Valley." Arrive at the
resort town of Ouarzazate, famous for its film studios. Before
heading to your hotel, time for a visit to the carefully restored
TAOURIRT KASBAH, where outstanding views of the fortified town and
valley can be seen from the terrace. (BB,L,D)
Day 8
- Ouarzazate. Excursion to Zagora
(Sat.) Enjoy a spectacular full-day excursion to the town of
Zagora on the edge of the Sahara desert. You will be amazed by the
contrast of the breathtaking scenery of the Drâa Valley with
its palm grove oases, kasbah dwellings and colorful Berber villages
with the surrounding desert. (BB,D)
Day 9
- Ouarzazate-Marrakesh
(Sun.) Pass through picturesque villages surrounded by craggy
mountains while motoring towards the 7,414-foot-high Tizi-n-Tichka
Pass in the heart of the High Atlas mountains. Each new twist in
the road leads to a different, more dramatic landscape. Leaving the
pass behind, the landscape gradually changes to a green mantle.
Lunchtime arrival in the red-colored imperial city of Marrakesh,
situated in an oasis of more than half a million palm trees and
surrounded by deep walls. In the late afternoon, enjoy a leisurely
CARRIAGE RIDE and a stroll through the exquisite YVES SAINT LAURENT
GARDENS. (BB,D)
Day 10
- Marrakesh
(Mon.) A guided half-day sightseeing includes MENARA PARK with
its man-made lake and quaint pavilion, BAHIA PALACE, the
elaborately decorated 16th-century SAADIAN TOMBS, and Djemaa
El-Fna, the palpitating town center dominated by the 222-foot-high
Koutoubia Minaret. Afternoon at leisure to catch up on your
postcards or bargain hunt in the souks. Tonight an optional
excursion not to be missed: the 30-horse fantasia and Moroccan
feast "chez Ali." (BB)
Day 11
- At Leisure in Marrakesh
(Tue.) Full day to let your senses truly come alive in this
magical "pink city" or to just relax at the pool in its enchanting
setting of perfumed gardens and exotic plants. (BB)
Day 12
- Marrakesh-Casablanca
(Wed.) Head across farming country towards Casablanca, Morocco's
modern seaport with a strong French accent, recalling scenes from
the film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Sightseeing
focuses on the magnificent United Nations Square, the Arab League
Park, Anfa's residential quarters, the SYNAGOGUE, the church of OUR
LADIES OF LOURDES, and to top it off, the imposing HASSAN II
MOSQUE, built in a breathtaking setting on the shores of the
Atlantic Ocean. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating the
success of your fascinating Moroccan adventure. (BB,D)
Day 13
-
(Thu.) Leave the tour to make your own way home.
Other Information -
Every
Journey Tells a Story
A Globus Journey. When you travel with Globus, you get more
than the sights. You get the stories behind them that bring a
destination to life, creating unforgettable journeys.
Let Globus take you to places that expand your horizons and
encourage personal discovery. Experience a destination in a deeper,
more memorable way-the Globus way.
The
Globus Difference
Globus vacations are designed to offer you flexibility and choice,
plus a pace that best fits the way you want to travel. Globus
offers MORE included features, MORE quality hotels, and MORE
experience with more than 75 years of taking travellers on
unforgettable journeys. In addition, Globus offers MORE value with
an average price less per day than our nearest competitor. The
safety of our travellers and the richness of our vacations is a
priority, and it is what has made Globus the worldwide leader in
travel and a name you can trust.
With Globus, you visit the key sights, but, more importantly, you
learn the stories behind the sights-from the Sistine Chapel, the
Colosseum and the Forum in Rome, to the Prado Museum in Madrid and
Michelangelo's David in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, your
journey is filled with insider's information unique to your Globus
vacation. You'll also enjoy many inclusions such as cruises,
high-speed trains, and Local Guides. We offer over twice the number
of included features as our nearest competitor, without any
additional cost to you.
Globus not only brings you the experiences that others simply don't
offer, we also ensure that you end up with more free time to enjoy
your destination on your own. Most competitors require you to take
extra optional excursions to see these important sights, costing
you additional time and money. And, if you don't join their
excursion, you'll spend most of your time waiting in line. But with
Globus, these sights are already included, freeing up the remainder
of your time to enjoy independent activities.
Leave all the details to us. We provide a Tour Director,
comfortable transportation, many meals, a rich sightseeing
programme and much more!
Accurate,
detailed tour descriptions -
Read our tour descriptions and you'll understand the true value
of our tours. The agenda for each day is spelled out so that you
know exactly what is included in the price. Inside visits are
spelled out in UPPERCASE. With Globus you don't have to guess.
Compare what we give you in a tour with what other companies
offer-and then compare prices. You'll see why knowledgeable
travelers consider Globus vacations the best value on the market
with even more savings in the off season.
Saving Options -
Various reductions are possible: group reduction, child reduction,
triple room reduction, multiple tour reduction
Discount
for young tour members
Share the pleasure
of a Globus tour with your children and grandchildren and take
advantage of a 10 percent discount on the land-only price. For
eligibility, children must be under 18 years old on the departure
date, and must be accompanied by an adult.
On escorted tours we do not accept children under eight years old
because we've found that they are too young to enjoy these
vacations.
On Monograms-Independent Vacations there is no age
restriction.
New! For
Monograms-Independent Vacations the following land only discounts
apply:
- Free of charge: infants under 2 years of age sharing adult's
accommodation
- 50% discount: under 12 years of age when sharing accommodation
with two adults
- 10% discount: under 18 years of age
Note: We recommend that children under 12 years of age share
accommodation with an adult.
Triple room
reduction
On most Globus tours you receive a reduction when three people
travel together and share the same accommodation. Triple room
reductions are listed on the tour pages. A word of caution: Triple
rooms usually are not larger than twin rooms, and the third bed, if
there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room for the
night.
Avoid the
single room supplement
Single rooms are expensive and often are quite small. We do not
take reservations on a "share" basis because we have found that
strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of a
vacation. Sidestep the single room supplement by travelling with a
friend. It's less expensive and much more fun!
Pay less for
your second tour
We charge you list price for your first vacation in 2007, but
for every additional Globus vacation that you take in the same
year, you pay US$35 under list. It's fun to combine vacations to
make the perfect trip, or ask your travel agent for suggestions.
This discount does not apply if one of the vacations is a single
city stay Monograms vacation.
Consecutive vacations can be booked with or without transatlantic
flights. Any intra-European flights between vacations cannot be
reserved as part of the Globus package. Please ask your travel
agent to reserve and ticket such flights for you.
Save by
forming your own group
If you form your own group, you'll receive the following rebates
on the land arrangement of your tour. On vacations to Mexico and
vacations including a cruise of three or more nights, one person
travels free in a group of 32; while one person travels at half
price in a group of 16. On River Cruise Vacations, one person
travels free in a group of 16.
On all other tours, one person travels free in a group of 16; one
person travels at half price in a group of eight.
These rebates are applicable to land-only prices (not air-inclusive
prices). Free and half-price land arrangements are credited at the
twin rate; single room supplements have to be paid in full.
Tour conditions for group bookings may differ from those for
individual bookings.
Joining late
and leaving early
Many Globus land arrangements start and end in London. If you
have already spent time in the British capital, you may want to
skip one or more of the included London nights or even join at the
first overnight hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Consultant
for any reductions that apply to your vacation for joining late or
leaving early. Vacations with these reductions are sold on a
land-only basis.
It's in your
interest to book early
Plan your vacation in advance, and book your tour as soon as
possible to guard against the disappointment of not finding space.
Many Globus tours sell out months before the departure date.
And remember, the moment we receive your deposit your land price is
guaranteed.
This is valuable protection against currency fluctuations and other
cost increases. So please don't wait. Contact your travel agent now
for a vacation you'll never forget!
Help Along The Way -
Professional Tour Director while touring, Cruise Director on
river cruises, Local Host services on independent vacations, and
hosts to assist you at airports and hotels.
Hotels -
Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes,
service charges, and tips for baggage handling.
Globus
Hotels Set the Standard for First-class Touring
At the end of a busy day of sightseeing, you want to relax in
comfortable, clean, attractive accommodations. At our first-class,
conveniently located hotels, you'll always feel welcome and well
looked after.
We know that excellent accommodations are of paramount
importance to your enjoyment on tour. Our hotels--many of them
through long association with us--have mastered the art of handling
group check-ins and baggage speedily, preparing tasty and wholesome
meals, and balancing the need for efficiency with the desire of
each traveller to receive individual attention.
You won't be surprised with any hidden charges when you check
out of your Globus hotel. All hotel taxes and tips for restaurant
service and baggage handling are included in the price of your
tour.
Hotel
locations maximize your sightseeing time
We take extra care to select downtown locations for our
independent tours and for longer stays on escorted tours, when your
itinerary features days at leisure to explore on your own.
When your itinerary allows time only for a good night's sleep
between two busy sightseeing days, our expert contractors sometimes
sensibly opt for quiet residential areas.
And you'll be delighted with our choice of hotels in scenic
countryside locations. Wake up to the sound of cow bells, take a
morning walk in crisp mountain air, enjoy glorious panoramic views
of the majestic Alps or the Norwegian fjord country.
Superior
accommodation
Globus uses chains such as Crowne Plaza, Forte, Hilton, Holiday
Inn, Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Jolly, Queens Moat Houses, Marriott,
Mövenpick, Radisson SAS, Renaissance, Scandic, Sheraton,
Sofitel, Thistle and Westin.
The specific hotels we have selected for you are listed
separately for each tour. The vast majority of our hotels are rated
deluxe (D), superior first-class (SF), or first-class (F). In
overnight places where there is no hotel in these categories or
where our demand exceeds the supply, we choose the best available
superior tourist-class (ST) hotels.
Most hotels have amenities such as satellite TV, mini-bar, a
cocktail lounge, a restaurant, room service and concierge services.
Many also have a swimming pool, health club, shops, and dry
cleaning and laundry services.
Globus hotel ratings follow standards set by the independent
Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by national tourist boards. The
specific rating for each contract hotel is determined by our
quality controllers.
We reserve the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour
pages with hotels of equivalent standard. With your Globus travel
documents you'll receive a list of hotel addresses, telephone
numbers, and fax numbers for your tour.
Transportation -
Including private deluxe motor coach with air-conditioning and
extra leg room.
We
offer many modes of transportation, from trains and motor coaches
to cruise ships and ferries. Each is selected and designed with
comfort in mind.
Coaches
-
Each Globus motor coach has upholstered, reclining seats with
headrests and individual air-conditioning vents. A high-fidelity
sound system broadcasts your Tour Director's commentary to every
seat. Our custom of daily seat rotation gives everyone a variety of
vantage points to see the passing countryside and city scenes.
Limited group size for extra comfort
The length and width of modern motor coaches is standard,
prescribed by law. The difference among tour operators is in the
number of seats installed and actually sold. While it is customary
to install and sell 53 seats, Globus installs fewer seats for extra
leg room, and limits group size to a maximum of 46 tour members.
The extra space contributes enormously to your comfort. For airport
and port transfers in Britain we generally use motor coaches with
53 seats.
Smoke-free coaches
For non-smokers and
moderate smokers an otherwise perfect vacation can be spoiled if
they are forced to inhale other people's smoke on a motor coach. We
therefore do not allow smoking on the coach. There are plenty of
opportunities to smoke during the frequent stops.
Globus drivers are experienced professionals
Globus drivers take pride in driving and in their vehicles, keeping
them in great shape and spotlessly clean. Your driver will help you
on and off the motor coach with a smile and load your bags with
care. Our travellers consistently lavish the highest praise on the
person behind the wheel!
Trains,
Ferries, Cruises and Gondola Rides -
Many of our itineraries include cruises, river jet boat and
mountain gondola rides, whale-watching expeditions, and journeys by
train. Experience the ultra-modern Eurostar train from Rome to
Florence and the exciting high-speed AVE train from Madrid to
Seville. In the Canadian Rockies, you might take one of the sleek,
ultra-modern BC Ferries or, if travelling by railcar in Canada or
Alaska, enjoy travel operated by VIA Rail ®. Other fascinating
Globus vacations feature cruises on the Rhine or Venetian Canals to
enhance your travel experience.
Ships
and River Cruises -
Globus provides the most spacious and newest ships from Avalon
Waterways. Features include unmatched luxury, fine dining, larger
accommodations and impeccable service. Whether you're travelling
Europe, Russia or China-on a Globus river cruise, you'll always
feel well looked after.
