The Trail of The Marrakech Express

The Trail of The Marrakech Express rail holiday with Travelsphere - 8 days from GBP1100. Fly from Heathrow.

A fabulous comprehensive itinerary taking you to many of the extraordinary sights of Morocco by train. Highlights include Casablanca, Fez, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Meknes, Rabat, Marrakech

What's Included

- Services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager & English speaking local guides

- Scheduled flights to Casablanca, returning from Marrakech

- Transfers between airport and hotel

- All other transportation as detailed

- Seven nights’ half board accommodation

- Luggage transfers from Day 2 to Day 5

- All hotel baggage handling for one piece of luggage per person

- All State and local taxes

- All UK and overseas airport taxes and security charges

Excursions as follows:

- Visit Hassan II Great Mosque

- Sightseeing tour of Fez

- Tour of Meknes

- Tour of Rabat

- Morning sightseeing tour of Marrakech

For more information tel 0845 358 2368

Accommodation

You will stay at the Ramada Almohades Hotel or similar in Casablanca, the Mirage Hotel or similar in Fez, the Tulip Hotel or similar in Rabat and the El Andalous Hotel or similar in Marrakech. Most have a swimming pool. All hotels are well located and rooms have private facilities including air-conditioning, TV and telephone.

Your trains

(Days 2, 4 and 5). Train travel will be in first-class air-conditioned carriages, many of which have comfortable six-seater compartments.

Itinerary
DAY 1 - UK/Casablanca

Depart on your scheduled flight to Casablanca for an overnight stay.
Immortalised in the film of the same name, today Casablanca is a thriving trade centre, an eclectic mix of old and new. This lively city boasts the largest port in the Maghreb – the strip along the Mediterranean which includes Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia – and is home to one of the world’s largest mosques.

DAY 2 - Fez

After breakfast, join our included morning sightseeing tour of Casablanca. We will visit the magnificent Hassan II Great Mosque and stroll along the Corniche promenade. Then it’s time to transfer to the railway station and board the train to Fez. We will travel via the old capital city of Rabat, then turn inland through orange groves before the line climbs, twisting and turning all the way to the imperial city of Meknes. Our train then descends via horseshoe curves through the northern edge of Morocco’s main wine-producing area to Fez where we stop for a two night stay.

DAY 3 - Fez

Today we have included a sightseeing tour of Fez, one of the world’s best-preserved medieval Islamic cities and the oldest cultural and spiritual city in Morocco. Hidden among a sea of flat roofs and tall minarets, you will find a maze of streets, alleys, passages and stairways which take you to a glittering array of stalls, selling everything from silver jewellery to the local mint tea.
Our guided tour will take you to the souks, the 9th century Karaouline University, the Nejjarine Fountain, the Tanneries and the Royal Palace. This evening there is an optional Folklore Show featuring a magician, belly dancing and live Berber music.

DAY 4 - Rabat

We drive to the spectacular ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, with its forum and houses containing well preserved mosaics, then on to the hilltop setting of Moulay Idriss, a holy sacred town with whitewashed walls and green roofs. You are free to explore and have lunch at the Baraka restaurant if you wish. We continue to nearby Meknes, one man’s unfinished vision, founded at the end of the 17th cenury. For 55 years, Moulay Ismail filled this great imperial city with palaces, mosques, gardens and much more. On our panaramic tour you will see the monumental Khmiss Gate, the city walls and the Jewish Quarter, before boarding the train to Rabat for an overnight stay.
DAY 5 - Marrakech

Rabat is the capital of Morocco, where the King resides. The rich history all around is easy to see as you visit the sights or do some shopping at the street stalls. On our included sightseeing tour you will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the unfinished Hassan Tower, the Medina and the Oudaias Kasbah. We then take the afternoon train to Marrakech for a three night stay.

DAY 6 - Marrakech

Marrakech is known as the ‘Pearl of the South’. It enjoys a spectacular setting between the desert and towering peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. We include a morning sightseeing tour which takes us to visit the Badia Palace and prison ruins, before walking through the vibrant Jewish Quarter and spice markets to the Bahia Palace. From here we continue to explore the medina and famous souks and walk on to Djemma el Fna (Mosque of the Dead) Square, the amazing heart of Marrakech. This afternoon you are free to relax or discover more of this fascinating city at your own pace.

At night Marrakech comes alive in a blaze of colour and activity as the food stalls, fire eaters, fortune tellers, magicians, acrobats, snake charmers and sounds fill the pavements and entertain the crowds around Djemma El Fna square. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

DAY 7 - Marrakech

Today you are free to relax or join our optional excursion to the popular seaside resort of Essaioura. This evening you can enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel plus an optional spectacular show at Chez Ali Fantasia. A grand Moroccan event under Royal Ceidal tents accompanied by local musical entertainments, a horse show and belly dancing display.

DAY 8 - Marrakech/UK

Transfer to the airport for the return flight to the UK.

Dates, Prices & Departure

holiday ref: PLM

05/09/2009 £1150

24/10/2009 £1190

16/01/2010 £1100

20/02/2010 £1230

20/03/2010 £1240

24/04/2010 £1240

29/05/2010 £1290

04/09/2010 £1200

Deposit £150 per person

All prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin or double-bedded room with private facilities

Surcharges

The price of fuel has risen dramatically over the past months in line with oil prices. As a result many airlines and cruise lines have imposed additional fuel charges. In common with other businesses our prices now include an additional charge for all new bookings which has been introduced to cover these costs.

Supplements

Single Room supplements: Marrakech £160

Holiday Insurance

Travel Information

Flights are by scheduled services of Royal Air Maroc via Casablanca inbound onlyDeparting London Heathrow 1710 hrs, Return arrival 1550 hrs All timings are approximate and may be subject to variation.

Fly From Your Local Airport

If you can’t fly direct from your local airport, usually you will have the choice of taking a regional connecting flight to Heathrow or Gatwick with British Airways or bmi from as little as £35 per person return. Fly from Aberdeen, Belfast, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester or Newcastle.

Transfers

Transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approx. 45 mins.

For more information tel 0845 358 2368