A SUMMER 2018 TEACHERS WHO TRAVEL ADVENTURE TOUR ORGANIZED BY MATT BOSWELL, MCPS ARTS & HUMANITIES TEACHER One Trip, Two Continents! Questions? Contact Matt, trip coordinator, at: 4teacherswhotravel@gmail.com To Reserve, Visit: http://spainandmorocco.grouptoursite.com/
Spain and Morocco: Granada to Marrakesh A Teachers Who Travel Adventure Tour From ancient ruins to winding medieval streets to breathtaking castles, this tour is a feast for the senses. Discover the Moorish influences in exotic Andalusia, then travel into the heart of Morocco and explore the maze-like medinas of its imperial cities. Note: While Teachers Who Travel trips designed with area teachers in mind, they are open to everyone with a love of travel. So spouses, significant others, friends, and family are all welcome to join the tour! Day 1: Flight Friday, June 22, 2018 TRAVEL DAY Begin your adventure with an overnight flight to Málaga Airport in southern Spain. Known as Al-Andalus by moors when Spain was a medieval Muslim territory (c. 711 to 1492), the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula has a rich history. Included meals: dinner (in flight) Day 2: Granada Saturday, June 23, 2018 ARRIVAL IN GRANADA Welcome to Spain! Transfer to Granada and join your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner tonight. (in flight); dinner Overnight in: Granada Day 3: Granada Sunday, June 24, 2018 EXPLORE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF GRANADA Your walking tour of Granada this morning begins with visits to the bustling squares of Plaza Bib-Rambla and Plaza de Isabel la Catolica. Then enter the Granada Cathedral and admire its impressive Renaissance-style interiors. This afternoon, enjoy free time to wander the narrow medieval streets of Albaicín, the city s charming Moorish area. Overnight in: Granada
Day 4: Granada Monday, June 25, 2018 SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF THE ALHAMBRA On today s guided tour, take in the stunning architecture of the 14th-century Alhambra, the Moorish sultans last stronghold and home to a blend of Western and Islamic art. Overnight in: Granada Day 5: Ronda via Córdoba Tuesday, June 26, 2018 EXPLORE THE MEQUITA OF CÓRDOBA On the way to Ronda, stop in the town of Córdoba. There explore the Mezquita, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was built in the eighth century as a mosque and then transformed into a cathedral during the Christian Reconquista of 1236., dinner Overnight in: Ronda
Day 6: Tangier Wednesday, June 27, 2018 5 SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF RONDA This morning, take a guided tour of the historic town of Ronda. See the dramatic Puente Nuevo, or new bridge, that was built in the 1700s, and learn about its interesting (and at times dark) history. Then explore the old town s winding streets and the well preserved Arab baths. This afternoon, transfer to Tarifa and board a ferry to Tangier. Once in Morocco, gather with your group for dinner tonight., dinner Overnight in: Tangier Day 7: Fes Thursday, June 28, 2018 SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF TANGIER Begin your day with a guided tour of Tangier, a city celebrated by Western writers like Paul Bowles and William Burroughs. Explore the stately French plaza and Boulevard Pasteur Traverse the maze-like passageways through the medina At Cape Spartel, take in one-of-a-kind views of the Atlantic On the road to Fes, stop in Chaouen, a hilltop town famous for its blue-painted buildings. Admire panoramic views of the city, then stroll the streets to soak in Chaouen s unique charm., dinner Overnight in: Fes Day 8: Fes Friday, June 29, 2018 SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF FES A local guide leads a tour of Fes, the spiritual and cultural center of Moroccan life. See the University of al-karaouine, dating back to the ninth century, and the wonderful Souk el Attarine. Learn about the traditional madrassas, ancient Islamic schools that serve as the foundation of the city s intellectual life. Then explore the labyrinthine medina before reaching the colorful bazaars to barter with potters, weavers and carpenters for their wares. Overnight in: Fes
Day 9: Rabat Saturday, June 30, 2018 RABAT VIA VOLUBILIS Visit ruins of Volubilis, a partly excavated Berber and Roman City, which date back to the third century BCE. After exploring the archeological site, transfer to Rabat, stopping along the way to view the lavish gateway of Bab el-mansour in Meknes., dinner Overnight in: Rabat Day 10: Rabat Sunday, July 1, 201814
SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF RABAT Tour Morocco s capital city of Rabat with a local guide. During the tour, explore the Roman ruins at Chellah Gardens, view Hassan Tower, intended to be the world s largest mosque until construction halted in 1199, and tour the white and green Mausoleum of Mohammed V, which houses the tombs of the 20 th -century king and his two sons. Overnight in: Rabat Day 11: Marrakesh Monday, July 2, 201814 MARRAKESH VIA CASABLANCA Discover the highlights of seaside Casablanca, a city with a modern-day legend that was established by Old Hollywood, with a local guide. Step inside Casablanca s ancient medina, the bustling heart of the city, then stroll the fashionable Corniche waterfront area. Later, transfer to Marrakesh and gather with your fellow travelers for dinner, dinner Overnight in: Marrakesh Day 12: Marrakesh Tuesday, July 3, 2018 SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MARRAKESH Get a feel for Marrakesh, located north of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, on today s guided tour. Visit the Djemaa el-fna, a festive open-air market where musicians, snake charmers and clowns perform during the evenings. Marvel at the massive Koutoubia Mosque, which features a minaret that reaches nearly 200 feet high and dominates the city s skyline. Enter the evocative Saadian Tombs, the mausoleum for the 16th-century ruling princes, and the ruins of
El Badi Palace, once home to King Ahmed el Mansour. Later, view the Rue Souk Smarine, famous for its textiles. Enjoy a free evening in Marrakesh or add an excursion. $55 USD Marrakesh Dinner and Music Evening (3 hours, evening event) Visit a local Marrakesh restaurant for dinner, where you ll be served an authentic Moroccan meal. As you enjoy an array of delicious courses, take in a showcase of traditional music and dance. Save $10 when you book this excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $65) Overnight in: Marrakesh Day 13: Kruger Region Wednesday, July 4, 2018 FREE DAY IN MARRAKESH Enjoy free time in Marrakesh or add an excursion. Tonight, celebrate your trip with fellow travelers at your farewell dinner., farewell dinner Overnight in: Marrakesh
$89 USD Marrakesh Cooking Class (4 hours, departs in a.m.) Visit a local medina to shop for fresh ingredients and spices an experience in its own right! Then, head to a cooking class and follow along with a local chef to create a lunch of regional specialties. And of course, savor the fruits of your labor over lunch with your fellow travelers. Save $10 when you book this excursion before your tour departs. (On-tour price: $99) Day 14: Departure or Extension Thursday, July 5, 2018 DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport to board your flight home or continue on to San Sebastián., in-flight meal For complete financial and registration details, please refer to the Booking Conditions at www.goaheadtours.com.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION Thursday, July 5 to Sunday, July 8 Extend Your Stay: Add 3 nights in San Sebastián, Spain for $999 USD (Single room: add $110 USD) It s impossible to lay eyes on stunning San Sebastián and not fall madly in love. This city is cool and happening by night, charming and well-mannered by day. It's a city filled with people that love to indulge. With a pintxo (tapas) culture almost unmatched anywhere else in Spain, San Sebastián frequently tops lists of the world's best places to eat. Day 1 (Thursday, July 5) Flight to San Sebastián Today, fly from Marrakesh to San Sebastián, Spain, or as the Basques call it, Donostia., dinner Overnight in: San Sebastián Day 2 (Friday, July 6) Sightseeing tour of San Sebastián Get to know San Sebastian on a guided tour through city s charming streets. Pass by Playa de la Concha and make your way through the Old Quarter. At Plaza de la Constitución, gaze at the balconies that once held the ringside seats for bullfights. Get a taste of Basque culture as you eye the fresh catches at the fish market. Pop into a bar for Basque-style tapas with txakoli, a locally-produced white wine. Overnight in: San Sebastián Day 3 (Saturday, July 7) Free Day in San Sebastián Enjoy a free day in San Sebastián or add an excursion. $99 USD A Day in Bilbao (6.5 hours, departs in the morning) Get to know Bilbao with the help of a local guide. Take in the city s striking contrasts, from the charms of the old town (known as Casco Viejo to locals) to the worldfamous modern architecture found at the Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim Museum. End your excursion with free time to explore the Guggenheim s impressive collection on your own. Overnight in: San Sebastián Day 4 (Sunday, July 8) Departure Transfer to the Bilbao airport to board your flight home., in-flight meal
Spain and Morocco: From Granada to Marrakesh A Teachers Who Travel Tour for Educators, Friends, and Family Overnight Stays in: Grenada (3) Rhonda (1) Tangier (1) Fes (2) Rabat (2) Marrakesh (3) Trip costs include: Round-trip air transportation and airport transfers The services of a multilingual Tour Director 12 nights in handpicked hotels and safari lodges Breakfast daily; 7 three-course dinners with wine or beer Private deluxe motor coach Guided sightseeing and select entrance fees Not included in the program fee: Customary gratuities for your tour director, local guides, and driver Personal Insurance Transportation to free time activities Current tour prices per person, including taxes and fees (valid until 4/30/17): $4,599 USD per person based on double occupancy with 25 or more travelers $4,649 USD per person based on double occupancy with 20-24 travelers $4,799 USD per person based on double occupancy with 15-19 travelers NOTE: The prices above reflect a $190 early-bird registration discount that will be applied to your account shortly after you enroll. Optional additions: Travel insurance: $319 USD Single room supplement: $440 USD (+ $110 with extension) Please note: If you are enrolling by yourself but would like to be paired with a roommate of the same gender to avoid the single room charge, let Matt know after you register and he will match you with someone else. The $440 single room fee will then be removed from your account. Secure your place on the tour today with a $450 deposit by visiting: http://spainandmorocco.grouptoursite.com/
FAQs About the Tour Why should I travel on a group tour? Traveling the world is the best way to learn about it, but the logistical challenges of getting from one place to another, particularly in a place where you don t speak the language, can be challenging. On a group tour, all of the complicated logistics from driving from one town to the next to where you ll stay is completely taken care of, allowing you actually relax and take it all in. Am I getting a good deal? One of the most important reasons Teachers Who Travel chose Go Ahead Tours as our travel company is that they allowed me to set up the tour exactly the way I wanted it for the lowest price. Just to clarify, this is not a package tour where we ll be paired with other disparate groups. We ll have our own coach and personal tour director throughout the trip. In addition, Go Ahead tours uses centrally located hotels. Can I invite others that aren t teachers? Anyone who enjoys travel is welcome to join a Teachers Who Travel tour; Matt only advertises to area teachers because he doesn t want the trips to be too large. However, you are welcome to invite others that you know that would be interested, even if they don t live locally (they can even depart from a different gateway, if they d prefer). How am I going to pay for this? Because we re planning so far in advance, I recommend you take advantage of GoAhead s monthly payment plan. The sooner you enroll, the lower your monthly payment will be. How do I enroll and when? All you need to do is visit http://spainandmorocco.grouptoursite.com/ and place a non-refundable $450 deposit, which will secure a space for you on the trip Please feel free to email me at 4teacherswhotravel@gmail.com with additional questions. Hope you can join the trip! Matt Boswell MCPS Arts & Humanities Teacher
Teachers Can Opt to Earn Up to 6 Graduate-Level Professional Development Credits While on Tour! The University of the Pacific s Center for Professional and Continuing Education offers credit for educationally related travel at the rate of $79 per Credit In addition, you may be able to deduct the cost of the trip from your taxes!* For course and registration information, see the next page. *Under current tax law (H.R. 3838), the travel for these course is a necessary adjunct to the educational activity and therefore may lead to a tax deduction when undertaken to maintain or improve your skills as an educator. Consult with your tax advisor.
About UP s Travel Study Program: Educators and related personnel can develop a personalized academic program based on their individual travels either within the United States or abroad. Before departing on the trip, each participant submits a one page proposal outlining 1) the areas to be visited, 2) a brief explanation of how the travel experience can be applied in the classroom, and 3) any books you plan to read to ready yourself for the trip. During the trip, the participant takes photos and keeps a daily log or journal indicating academic points of interest and activities. After the trip, participants develop lesson plans or audio-visual curriculum aids and materials (i.e., slide presentations with narration, videotape recordings, etc.) based on information, activities and experiences from their travels. A 1-2 page write-up describing how the materials will be applied is also required. Practical Information Instructor: Dr. Allan Lifson Fee: $79 per credit (there are no registration or application fees) Available Travel Study Courses (take one or both): Developing a Curriculum for Academic Enrichment Code: P EDU 9200 (1-3 credits) Practicum in Curriculum Development & Improvement Code: P EDU 9201 (1-3 credits) To enroll: Contact Dr. Allan Lifson at 800.479.1995 or Visit: http://www.pacific.edu/academics/professional-and- Continuing-Education/Courses-for-Teachers/Curriculum- Enrichment/Travel-Study.html