15 DAY Road to Marrakech EEWPMM-7

Transcription

1 15 DAY Road to Marrakech EEWPMM-7 This tour visits: Spain, Morocco, Portugal Kick back and bask in the winter sun while the rest of Europe shivers. Taking in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, this intoxicating trip promises an explosion of colour, culture and memories (and sunny vibes, of course). Refuel in between adventures at the many tapas bars, souks and Portuguese bakeries, and prepare to eat yourself silly. Stretchy pants, highly recommended. The Bucket List More Inclusions Guided tour of the Alhambra, Granada Local guide in Fes & Marrakech 14 breakfasts, 6 dinners 6 nights hotel upgrade, 8 nights in hostels Strait of Gibraltar ferry crossings Modern air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi Guided tours of all major cities Awesome Trip Leader + Driver Trip Itinerary

2 Day 1 - Madrid, Spain Reset your body clock: you re on Madrid time now. Things run a little later here, with locals usually not heading out until midnight and returning home around 6:30am. Meet your crew and get fired up for the trip like a bull seeing red. After a group welcome dinner you can practice flamenco, eat your weight in olives or get passionate about Real Madrid. They re all bound to keep you entertained well into the wee hours of the morning. Day 2 - Madrid to Granada Siesta as we make our way to the base of the Sierra Nevada, aka the land of free tapas (Google it). After 2,500 years you figure out that free food = a good time. Join in the celebrations with a glass of tinto de verano. Day 3 - Granada Winter = no crowds through the epic chiselled kaleidoscope that makes up the Alhambra and the Palacio de Generalife. Get schooled in Islamic architecture with over 800 years of Muslim rule (longer than any other Spanish city). Then head to Albaicín to find secret gardens full of rose bushes, the San Nicolas viewpoint, and settle into a restaurant for the best views of the Alhambra by moonlight. Remember the free tapas before you order your main (Iberian Pork is a winner). -Alhambra and Generalife visit with a guide Day 4 - Granada to Chefchaouen, Morocco Wave Andalusia goodbye and head into the town with more blue shades than the Mediterranean itself. Chefchaouen will chew right through your Instagram feed as you tour the medina and souk. If you re feeling chilly, don the local fashion of a heavy wool djellaba (think: the sexiest bathrobe ever). You can even get a sleeveless version to keep your guns showing.

3 Day 5 - Chefchaouen to Fes Hightail it to the Mecca of the West with a front-row pano of the rolling Rif Mountains and snow-strewn Middle Atlas Mountains playing out the coach window. We're heading to Fes, so it's time to learn some basic arabic phrases, none more important than "Balak! Balak!". It pretty much means "get out the way, there is a huge donkey carriage about to run you over". Write that one down. Day 6 - Fes Tick 'em off with a local guide: royal palace, Jewish neighbourhood, UNESCO-listed medina and leather tannery. Then hunt down a hammam and lose yourself in the labyrinth of souks and cobblestone streets. Bring your bargaining pants and embrace the centuries-old tradition of paying what you want for things, not what you're told they cost. Bargains can be had if you're willing to put in the lip service. -Guided city tour Day 7 - Fes to Marrakech Bend it like the Berbers back round the Middle Atlas towards Marrakech and soak up the colour, smells and vibe of the Red City. Grab a horse drawn carriage for cheap and ride like Cinderella. Or if you re in adventure mode, head to the ski fields and let a donkey take you to the tops of the mountain for the coolest chair lift experience in history. Day 8 - Marrakech See the Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Minaret and mosaic madness that is the Saadian Tombs, then work your way past snake charmers and fall into the heady rhythm of Djemma el-fna square. Have your hand decorated in henna patterns, sip on a freshly squeezed orange juice or stock up on leather goods, spices and flashy souvenirs. -Marrakech city tour

4 Optional activities: and local show Day 9 - Marrakech to Asilah Make your way to the whitewashed wonder that is the seaside town of Asilah and get snap-happy in between Spanish feasts. Feeling more like a Greek island village, this place will impress with its burgeoning art scene and drool-worthy selection of tapas restaurants. Day 10 - Asilah to Seville, Spain Leave the tajines for the home of amazing paella and the Moorish brilliance that is the Alcazar. Seville was founded 3,000 years ago by Hercules and Sevillanos are extremely proud of their city. Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (the palace on Naboo), Kingdom of Heaven and Games of Thrones (season 5) were all filmed or partly filmed here. When you look as good as Seville it's hard not to show off. Day 11 - Seville Random fact: Seville s cathedral houses Christopher Columbus s tomb, but the jury s still out as to whether he s really buried there. Do your own investigating then climb up the Giralda Tower and make everyone you know jealous of your Instagram feed. Spend the night at an optional flamenco show and try to replicate the moves at a bar later on. Optional activities: -Flamenco show Day 12 - Seville to Lisbon, Portugal The Lisbon Botanical Gardens are the result of a king wanting one of every type of plant in the world. He didn t quite get all of them but came pretty close. The gardens are a great place to have a picnic or if you can, learn the only three Portuguese words you ll need: Pastéis de Belém. This secret recipe has never been written down and people who know it never take the same flight, car or order the same dish at a restaurant. Just in case.

5 Day 13 - Lisbon Catch a yellow tram, hit up a fado club or wander up to the Cristo Rei. This statue mimics the one over Rio de Janeiro it towers 100 metres over the city and for a small fee you can take an elevator ride to the top (worth it). Make moves to the Aqueduto das Aguas Livres to see one of the finest example of Portuguese architecture and (as a bonus) Snapchat the world s largest stone arch. Day 14 - Lisbon to Madrid, Spain Cross the border back to the Spanish capital and gorge on a smorgasbord of art history during a driving tour of the city. Goya, Velazquez, Picasso, Dali and Miro just tickle the tips of what this city has to offer art history buffs. Then hit the streets because the nightlife here isn t confined to bars and pubs, it spills into the street quicker than bold Spanish vino into your glass. -City driving tour Day 15 - Madrid Whether you're waking up or just walking in the door, after breakfast it's time to say goodbye. But Madrid has a beautiful saying: "If you're in Madrid. You're from Madrid". It's not a bad place to call home, so stick around and discover another tapas bar and delve deeper into the artwork (it's endless). Or ask yourself 'where to next?' Accommodation

6 Club trips host our most eclectic types of accommodation. While hostels make up the majority of your overnighters you could also stay in hotels (free upgrade yeah!) or bungalows. The number of people to a room on Club trips will vary. For hostels (remember, the most common) you will have multi-share rooms and share with between 3 and 5 others while in hotels there will be twin or triple-shares (and the odd quad-room). Bungalows can be up to 4 people to a room. Please note: When staying on a Club trip, multi-share accommodation is single-sex and therefore couples should not expect to share a room. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Morocco - Marrakech Restaurant dinner Spain - Barcelona Flamenco show 33 Meals Food Fund On this trip there is a compulsory Food Fund. This is paid at the time of booking and goes towards the breakfasts and dinners you enjoy as a group. Included Meals Breakfasts are included every day (except on the first morning). Included meals will be a combination of local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Topdeck Trip Consultant when you book. But please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs, particularly in Eastern Europe. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary

7 Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.