16 days Barcelona to Marrakech From Barcelona's towering Sagrada Familia to the colourful medina of Marrakech, join us on this spectacular 16-day journey through northern Spain and Morocco. Indulge in San Sebastian tapas and tour the museums of Bilbao in Spain, before crossing the Mediterranean to Morocco for Imperial Cities, Sahara camel trekking and amazing Ait Benhaddou. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Bilbao - discover wonderful contemporary art at the world famous Guggenheim Museum Bodegas Marques de Riscal vineyard taste the fine wines of the Rioja region Salamanca - visit Spain's oldest university, with its stunning architecture Avila - roam around one of Spain's oldest towns, surrounded by an imposing, medieval wall, with more than 2500 turrets Madrid - take in the highlights of Spain's vibrant capital on a tour of the city Marrakech wander through the UNESCO-listed medina, mosque, palaces and souks Casablanca - enjoy the spectacle of Trip Highlights Small group tour, with maximum group size of 16, and unique hotels Barcelona - visit the city's most famous landmark, the Sagrada Familia Castell Del Remei vineyard - learn about the production of local wines and enjoy wine tasting at this historic winery Pamplona -enjoy a walking tour in this beautiful Basque city close to the Pyrenees mountain range with a bustling old town. San Sebastian - explore Spain's beautiful gastronomic capital, with its incredible Old Town tapas and our wonderful mountain-top hotel - 16 days Morocco's largest city, also home to its largest mosque (the Hassan II Mosque) Rabat - take in the sights of the lively capital city such as the Chellah necropolis and whitewashed kasbah Meknes - roam the streets of a great Imperial city, once dubbed the "Versailles of Morocco" Fes immerse yourself in the oldest medieval city in the world, its medina packed with dye pits and tanneries Sahara Desert - camel trek across the dunes and camp under a blanket of stars Todra Gorge - the towering red canyon with spectacular limestone walls on the road to the High Atlas will leave you speechless Ait Benhaddou - gaze upon this UNESCOlisted ancient kasbah, immortalised by Hollywood in film and television Volubilis admire the UNESCO-listed ruins of this ancient Roman provincial town What's Included 15 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 7 dinners (including a traditional Berber meal at our Sahara camp) Specialist local guides at some sights of interest Spain - 7 Nights 3 & 4 star hotels. Morocco - 7 nights 3-4 star hotels & riad, 1 night camping - Berber desert camp in the Sahara Desert (Hotel Upgrade available) Escorted by a local English speaking tour leader in Spain and Morocco (or a driver guide in Spain for groups of 2 6) All private transportation in air conditioned vehicles in Spain and Morocco Arrival transfer from Barcelona airport on day 1 and Marrakech airport on day 8 Transfer to Madrid airport on day 8 Guided sightseeing: Barcelona, Zaragoza, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Burgo, Salamanca, Avila, Pamplona, Madrid, Casablanca, Rabat, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech Cider House visit & tasting San Sebastian -1-
Vineyard visit and wine tasting in Zaragoza and Rioja Guggenheim Museum entry Camel trek into the Sahara Day 2 : Zaragoza & Vineyard What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: Euro 55-60 (for Morocco, paid locally in Euro, USD or Dirham) Entrance Fees: Euro 40-50 (for Spain, paid locally) International flights and visas Tip for your tour leader and guides - an entirely personal gesture Please note the flight between Madrid and Marrakech is not included and needs to be booked separately - see Trip notes for more information DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Arrival into Barcelona star restaurants. Take a stroll along the lovely white sandy beach or relax by the rooftop pool. Overnight - San Sebastian (B) Barcelona - Zaragoza. Early this morning we leave Barcelona and head west to Zaragoza. En route we will visit Castell Del Remei, a vineyard near Lleida, where we'll enjoy a tour of the vineyard with wine tasting, and then lunch in the vineyard restaurant. We continue on to Zaragoza, and after check in we'll have a walking tour with our local guide. We visit the spectacular multi-domed Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar which rises over the Ebro River, and the Palace of Aljaferia, which dates back to the 11th century, with a history of Islam, Christianity and Catholicism. Later there's free time to explore and perhaps taste some of the delicious local tapas. Overnight - Zaragoza (B) Day 3 : Pamplona & San Sebastian Saturday. Welcome to Spain and the beautiful coastal city of Barcelona. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, or for those already in Barcelona make your way to our hotel for check in. This afternoon at 2pm we meet our guide for a tour of Barcelona. We visit the Hill of Montjuic, where we'll be treated to a wonderful view of the Barcelona harbour, then continue on to visit the spectacular and iconic Basilica of Sagrada Familia, an unparalleled architectural gem, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner/tapas in local restaurant. Note: if you'd like more time to explore Barcelona we can arrange pre tour accommodation upon request. Overnight Barcelona (D) Days 4-5 : Bilbao & Rioja Wine Tasting San Sebastian - Bilbao. After breakfast on day 4, we join our local guide for a city tour of the seaside town of San Sebastian before heading eastward to our next stop, the port city of Bilbao. En route we stop to visit a traditional family run Sideria (Cider House) for tasting. Arriving into Bilbao, we'll take in the sights of the city on a guided tour and visit the famous Guggenheim Museum, with its display of modern and contemporary masterpieces. The rest of the day is free to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the old town with its charming streets and quirky bars. Bilbao is another city of gastronomic delights, so there's no shortage of wonderful restaurants to dine in during our stay. Zaragoza - San Sebastian. After a leisurely breakfast we travel to Pamplona, a beautiful Basque city made famous by the Ernest Hemingway novel 'The Sun Also Rises'. We enjoy a walking tour with our local guide and there's time for a drink and tapas in the old town before we continue on to our stop for the night, San Sebastian. San Sebastian is a beautiful and charming city which tops the list of the world's best places to eat. After check in at our hotel, - 16 days which sits atop Monte Igueldo, with wonderful panoramic views of the city and the bay, you have time to wander to the lively Parte Vieja (Old Town) and see why it's known as the food capital of Spain, with its plethora of Michelin The following day we venture into the world famous Rioja region, renowned for its exceptional wine. The towns and villages are set amid vineyards and wineries and are almost exclusively involved in wine production. We visit the region's most famous Bodega, Marques de Riscal, where we learn about its history, with its oldest cellar dating back to 1858, and of course enjoy a tasting session. Later this afternoon we travel on to Logrono, which is part of the famous Camino de Santiago trail. Here we enjoy a local dining experience in Calle Laurel, before returning -2-
to Bilbao where you have free time at your leisure. Overnight - Bilbao (B:2, D:1) Day 8 : Marrakech Day 6 : Burgos & Salamanca master piece. The garden has been owned by Yves Saint Laurent since 1980 and his ashes were scattered here after his death in 2008. The garden contains an extensive collection of exotic plants and trees and is home to 15 species of bird. There is also a Berber Museum representing the various indigenous tribes of Morocco including over 600 artefacts. Bilbao - Salamanca. Bidding farewell to the Basque Country we continue on to Burgos, to see the World Heritage Listed Gothic cathedral of Burgos, which looms large over the city skyline. After our walking tour we travel on to Salamanca, which is home of Spain's oldest University. The old town is an ensemble of monuments, with beautiful examples of different architectural styles, and we explore the back streets of this beautiful city with our local guide. This evening there's free time to discover the local bars and restaurants. Overnight - Salamanca (B) Day 7 : Avila Medieval City Saturday. Madrid - Marrakech. Your tour of Spain ends today. Complimentary transfer to the airport for your flight to Marrakech in Morocco. Upon arrival at Marrakech airport, you ll be met and transferred to our hotel in the centre of town. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore Marrakech - why not head to the medina and discover the delights of Djemaa el Fna, the exuberant market place, which is a hive of activity, sights and smells at both day and night. Later on there will be a welcome meeting at the hotel at 19:30hrs. Salamanca - Avila - Madrid. After breakfast we drive on to Avila, a UNESCO city which is famous for its well-preserved medieval city walls, which include eight monumental After breakfast we head over to the beautiful Majorelle Gardens just a short drive from the hotel. These botanical gardens were designed by the French Artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 1930s. He used a distinctive shade of cobalt blue for the majority of the garden and although a lot of his other work has largely been forgotten this garden is seen as his greatest - 16 days Day 10 : Ait Benhaddou Please note: The flight from Madrid to Marrakech is not included in the cost of this tour. Ryan Air and Iberia both fly direct. Please provide us with your flight details so we can arrange your arrival transfer in Marrakech. Overnight - Marrakech (B) Day 9 : Marrakech City Tour gates, 88 watch towers and over 2500 turrets. After our walking tour there's time for a leisurely lunch in one of the local Castilian restaurants. This afternoon we travel on to Madrid, where we're joined by a local guide for a coach tour of this cosmopolitan capital city, taking in sights such as the Royal Palace of Madrid. Spend your final night in Spain at leisure, sampling Madrid's wonderful nightlife. Overnight - Madrid (B, D) This afternoon you will meet up with the rest of the group who are coming in from Casablanca before embarking on a guided tour of Marrakech. Inside the rose coloured medina walls is a tangle of winding streets and alleys that open onto verdant gardens and bustling souks. At the heart of the medina is Djemaa El Fna, the city's exuberant market place and towering over it, is the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the tallest building in the city. Overnight - Marrakech (B, D) Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate. Departing the city this morning we travel across the plains of Haouz and reach the great High Atlas mountains. Climbing over the pass of Tizi n Tichka, we stop for lunch and then continue onwards with great views over the Mountains and valleys to Ait Benhaddou. This incredible ancient fortified Kasbah was built for defence purposes high on a hill and is a stunningly well preserved medieval city which has famously featured in many blockbuster movies, including Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia as its beauty is unequal to any other fortified kasbah in south Morocco. We continue south to the Hollywood of North Africa Ouarzazate (pronounced warzazat). Ouarzazate is famous for being the filming location for many other Hollywood blockbusters and famous TV shows including -3-
James Bond The Living Daylights, The Mummy and more recently Game of Thrones. Overnight - Ouarzazate (B, L, D) Day 11 : Camel trek into the Sahara Ouarzazate - Todra Gorge - Merzouga (Sahara). This morning we begin our journey into the Sahara with a medley of palm trees, rose fields and magnificent gorges. Travelling from Ouarzazate, there is a possibility of remain with your this evening. Hotel Upgrade travellers will be transferred to their auberge (simple hotel) with en-suite facilities located in the shadows of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes mid afternoon. Your tour guide will not escort you to the hotel as he will be accompanying the camel trekking group to the Berber Camp. After check-in and time to freshen up (for those who are interested) please re-group prior to sunset at reception to depart for your camel trek into the desert. The safari runs for approx 1 hour, with short stops along the way for photos. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening as is breakfast in the morning. Your guide will inform you of the time you will be picked up in the morning. Overnight - Berber Camp (B, L, D) Day 12 : Journey to Fes visiting the kasbah Amherdhil in Skoura before seeing the rose fields and reaching scenic Todra Gorge. Surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs reaching heights of 1000ft, it is known as Morocco s Grand Canyon. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west. After time to wander through Todra we hit the road again for Merzouga our base before we head into the Sahara. Depending on the time of year, spend the afternoon relaxing and swimming before climbing aboard our camels for an incredible trek into the Sahara Desert to watch a beautiful sunset and spend the night at our remote Berber Camp, nestled amongst the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi. We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night camping in the Sahara. For our trip into the desert you ll need to prepare an overnight pack for the essentials you will need for the night. The remainder of your luggage will stay in Merzouga this evening and we will collect it in the morning Day 13 : Fes Sightseeing Fes is the oldest and largest medieval city in the world and its medina is a cacophony of aromas, sights and sounds. This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Fes el Bali - the old walled city. This fascinating medina is a veritable rabbit warren of 9400 alleys that often finish with dead ends so be sure to stay close to the group! We also visit the dyepits and tanneries before lunch in the medina. The remainder of the day is at leisure why not take part in an optional Tagine Making Class or a night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town (both payable locally). Overnight - Fes (B) Day 14 : Volubilis & Meknes Merzouga (Sahara) - Fes. Departing early, we climb back on our camels disembarking for a truly stunning sunrise. After freshening up and breakfast in Merzouga we re back on the road heading for Fes. It s a long drive today however there is a lot to see on the way. We ll pass through cedar forests full of Barbary Macaque monkeys on our way through the Moyen Atlas mountains. Just before Fes we stop at Ifrane a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort. Along the way we also start to see our first glimpse of Morocco s nomadic Berbers travelling across the mountains and often staying in make shift tents as they head to their next destination. We arrive into Fes in the early evening. Overnight - Fes (B, L) Fes - Volubilis - Meknes - Rabat. Departing Fes this morning we visit the fascinating UNESCO listed Roman ruins of Volubilis, which date back to AD40. Continuing on we stop at the Imperial City of Meknes, which became known as the Versailles of Morocco due to its impressive buildings and elaborate monuments. After lunch and some free time our final stop of the day is Rabat Morocco s capital where we overnight. Overnight - Rabat (B) Sahara Hotel Upgrade If you have purchased our Sahara Hotel Upgrade you will not need to pack an overnight bag as all your luggage will - 16 days -4-
Day 15 : Rabat & Casablanca budgeted for by you. The total cost of the entrance fees which need to be paid locally is noted under Exclusions on the first page of this document. Entrance fee amounts can change and as such upon arrival to Spain with Morocco, please note that entrance fees are included in Morocco. Electrical adaptor. Standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Sockets require a Continental or European style plug (two round pins) DEET based mosquito repellent and antihistamine cream Personal first aid kit including Dioralyte Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swimming costume A towel for swimming Antibacterial hand cleansing gel Pocket size phrasebook Tipping Arrival on day 1 There isn t one simple rule for tipping in Spain and Portugal. If you are happy with the service in restaurants then a 10% cash tip is common. However, you aren t likely to cause offence if you don t leave a tip. Hotel staff don t usually expect a tip but leaving 1-2 Euro if someone carries your bags or delivers food to your room is a nice gesture. With taxis, tips aren t expected but rounding up the total bill or leaving loose change is appreciated. Upon arrival in Barcelona/Madrid airport, after you have attended to customs and immigration formalities, please proceed to the arrival hall. An On The Go representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding an On The Go Tours logo signboard, ready to transfer you to our start hotel. Please have your tour voucher handy and make it available to our representative. your tour leader will highlight the exact total entrance fee cost for the tour. Entrance fees are to be paid in Euros cash. On our tours which combine Spain/Portugal Rabat - Casablanca - Marrakech. This morning we take a guided tour of Rabat and visit some of the capital s highlights, including the impressive Chellah - a necropolis and complex of ancient, medieval ruins, the Royal Palace and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After lunch we continue to Casablanca where we visit the Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and is the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. After our visit to the mosque we say goodbye to our fellow passengers leaving us in Casablanca and continue on to Marrakech for the night. Overnight - Marrakech (B) Day 16 : Marrakech Sunday. Our amazing tour of Morocco ends today after hotel check out. (B) Morocco Optional Activities During your free time in Morocco you are welcome head out and independently explore, relax or take part in any of the following optional activities, time permitting. These activities are not operated by On The Go Tours and it is important that you make sure that Quad Biking and Hot Air Ballooning are covered by your Travel Insurance Policy. Prices vary and bookings can be made locally. Marrakech - Hammam (starting from) MAD150 Marrakech - Hot Air Ballooning - MAD2000 Ouarzazate - Visit to film studio - MAD50 Ouarzazate - Quad biking - MAD450 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Entrance Fees In Spain and Portugal selected entrance fees are included, however all others must be It is customary to tip your tour leader and driver at the end of the tour, for a job well done. As a guideline we recommend that you budget the following: Tour leader - 3-4 euros per person per day Driver - 3-4 euros per person per day This information is given as a guide, as many travellers are unsure and uncomfortable about how much to tip. Tipping is an entirely personal gesture and the amount you tip is at your own discretion. Essential Packing - 16 days A small daypack for your day-to-day needs Either a rucksack or suitcase is suitable Travel insurance documents A photocopy of your passport data pages Spare camera batteries & memory cards Mobile Phone and phone charger Lightweight clothing (check the forecast before you travel and pack appropriately) A lightweight water/windproof jacket A small umbrella Comfortable walking shoes Sandals or flip flops/thongs/jandals If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight to Spain has been delayed please call the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. Please do not leave the airport or go to the hotel on your own. Call our emergency contact number and follow the advice given by our local team. Tours Starting in Madrid In the evening you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby at 7.30pm, to walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and briefing. Please have your tour voucher with you. Tours Starting in Barcelona Meet your tour leader and the rest of the group in the lobby of the hotel at 2pm for a city tour and in the evening you will go to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. If you flight does not arrive in time to join the city tour please let us know and you can meet your tour leader in the hotel lobby at 7.30pm to join the group for dinner. Alternatively, we -5-
can arrange pre tour accommodation for you upon request. Pre Tour Accommodation If you have booked pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrival transfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives very, very early in the morning) consider purchasing a night of pre-tour accommodation to save you waiting until hotel check in time, which is generally from 2pm onwards. Departure Transfers Departure transfers are not included but can be booked upon request. - 16 days -6-