Maureen�s Grand Tour of
Jordan, Egypt and Morocco 2005

DATE

TRANSFERS & TOURS

ACCOMMODATION& MEALS (suggested hotels only)

Fri 9 Sept. 2005

FLY FROM BRISBANE on Qantas to Sydney (QF ?), to connect with Gulf Air flight to Bahrain via Singapore (GF 149; 2145-0805).

Sat 10 Sept.

AMMAN:� Arrive Bahrain at 0805, and connect with Gulf Air to Amman (GF 971; 1140-1415).� Met and transfer to hotel in Amman, Jordan.� � (D)

Regency Palace Hotel, Amman, Jordan
Tel: + 962 6 560 7000
Fax: +962 6 566 0013

Sun 11 Sept.

JERASH:� Amman Citadel and downtown.


Ajlun (Islamic castle from Crusader times).



Jerash (Roman city)



(B, Dinner at Khan Zaman)

As above

Mon 12 Sept.

TO PETRA:�
Mt. Nebo (Moses died here)



Madaba (mosaics)



Dead Sea with swim



photo stop at Kerak Crusader Castle, and drive to Petra (Nabatean city).� (B, D)

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Petra

Tue 13 Sept.

PETRA:� Visit Petra.

� (B, L, D)

As above

Wed 14 Sept.

TO AQABA:� Drive via Wadi Rum (Lawrence of Arabia) with a jeep ride in the desert,

then to Aqaba.

� Afternoon free.� (B)

Golden Tulip Hotel
Al Saada St.,
Aqaba, Jordan
Tel: +962 32031 901
Fax: +962 3 2032 845

Thurs 15 Sept.

TO SHARM EL SHEIKH:� Ferry to Nuweiba, Sinai, Egypt (approx. 1200 noon departure).

Transfer to Sharm el Sheikh (Red Sea diving resort).� (B, D)

Helnan Marina Sharm Hotel, Naema Bay, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Fri 16 Sept.

SHARM:� Day free in Sharm.� (B, D)

As above

Sat 17 Sept.

TO LUXOR:� Early flight to Luxor (EgyptAir MS 161; 0530-0620).

� Transfer to embark cruise boat.� Lunch on board.� �� Afternoon Tea.� Dinner & Belly Dance Show.� Overnight in Luxor. (B, L, D)

Deluxe cruise boat e.g. Sonesta Moon Goddess.

Sun 18 Sept.

ON CRUISE (to EDFU):� Breakfast.

Visit Karnak Temple.

Visit Luxor Temple

Visit the West Bank: The Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon.� Lunch on board.� Sail for Edfu.

� Afternoon Tea.� Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party (smart casual attire).� Dinner on board.� Overnight in Edfu.� (B, L, D)

On cruise boat

Mon 19 Sept.

ON CRUISE (to ASWAN): Breakfast.� Visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu.�

Sail to Kom Ombo.�

Lunch. Visit the temple of the Gods Sobek and Horus in Kom Ombo.�

Afternoon Tea.� Sail to Aswan.
Dinner and Galabya Party.�

Overnight in Aswan. (B, L, D)

On cruise boat

Tue 20 Sept.

ON CRUISE (at ASWAN):� Visit the Temple of Philae.


The high dam


The granite quarries

� Lunch on board.� Sail the Nile by felucca around Kitchener's Island.

� Afternoon tea.� Dinner, followed by Nubian Folkloric Show.�

Overnight in Aswan. (B, L, D)

On cruise boat

Wed 21 Sept.

ABU SIMBEL:� Disembark cruise.� Transfer to airport, and fly to Abu Simbel. Visit Abu Simbel temples.�

Fly to Aswan and on to Cairo.� Visit Khan el Khalili bazaar enroute from airport to hotel.� (B, D)

El Gezirah Sheraton Hotel, Gezirah Is., Orman, Giza, Cairo.
Tel:� +20 2� 7373 737
Fax:� +20 2 7363 640

Thurs 22 Sept.

CAIRO:� Full day sightseeing in Cairo:� Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara, Memphis, Dr. Ragab�s Papyrus Factory.� (B, D)

As above

Fri 23 Sept.

CAIRO:� Full day sightseeing in Cairo:� Cairo Museum, Citadel and Alabaster Mosque, Old Coptic Cairo. (B, D)

As above

Sat 24 Sept.

CAIRO:� Free day in Cairo for shopping, or a further visit to the Museum, etc.� (B, D)

Evening transfer (9.00pm) to the airport.� Fly to Casablanca via Barcelona and Madrid. (Iberian flight IB 3735; 2345-0355; IB 6967; 1010-1055).� (B, D)

Sun 25 Sept.

TO CASABLANCA:� Arrive Casablanca at 1055.� Free visa on arrival.� Met and transferred to hotel.� Rest of day free.� (B, D)

Le Mercure Les Almohades Hotel.
Tel/Fax: +212 2222 0505
Av. Hassan 1 er., Casablanca, Morocco.

[Others in group in Cairo:� Free morning.� Transfer to airport, and fly Emirates to Dubai and Australia.� (B)]

Mon 26 Sept.

CASA to MARRAKECH:� Visit Casablanca sights, including the local markets, Rick�s Bar, Hassan II Mosque.� Drive to Market and check in to hotel.� Transfer to a special night of Moroccan food and entertainment at Chez Ali: "La Fantasia de Marrakech". (B, D)

El Andalous Hotel
Avenue du President Kennedy,
Marrakech
Tel: 212 44.44.82.26
Fax: 212 44.44.71.95

Tue 27 Sept.

MARRAKECH:� After breakfast, we have a morning tour of Marrakech including Koutoubia Tower, Saadian Tombs, the Djemaa el Fne Square and the medina.� This afternoon we can stay on at the medina for some exciting shopping and wandering.� Dinner at hotel.� (B, D)

As above

Wed 28 Sept.

OUARZAZATE:� After breakfast today we drive to Ouarzazate via Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Afternoon visit Ait Ben Haddou where many movies have been made, and have lunch there.� This is one of the most exotic and best preserved kasbahs in the whole Atlas region.� Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Kenzi Belere Hotel,
Ouarzazate
Tel: + 212 44 88 2803
Fax: + 212 44 88 3145

Thurs 29 Sept.

TINERHIR:� Drive to Tinerhir.� Afternoon visit Todra Gorge for a picnic lunch in Moroccan desert country complete with palmeraries and Berber villages.� Dinner at the hotel.� (B, D)

Hotel Sargho, Tinerhir
Tel: + 212 4 834 181
Fax: + 212 4 834 352

Fri 30 Sept.

ERFOUD:� Drive to Erfoud and Rissani.� Rissani is in the heart of the Tafilalt oases, and we can see here the remains of famous old kasbahs.� We visit a Tuareg and Berber Carpet shop here.� Now we are east of the Atlas Mts., and less than 100km from Algeria and the giant Sahara.� Dinner at the hotel in Erfoud.� (B, D)

Hotel Salam,
Bd Moulay Ismail, Erfoud.
Tel +212 5 57 6665
Fax +212 5 57 6426

Sat 1 Oct.

TO FEZ: Morning (sunrise) Camel Safari to Merzouga in the rolling dunes.� Long drive today to Fez across the High and Middle Atlas via Er-Rachidia, Ziz Gorge, Midelt (for lunch), and Ifrane.� Contrast the Sahara Desert in the morning with the steep roofs of Ifrane looking like a Swiss village.� Dinner at the friendly hotel in Fez, just outside the Old City gate.� (B, D)

Hotel Ba�hta
Rue de L�Unesco, Fez
Tel: + 212 5 741 077
Fax: + 212 5 741 078

Sun 2 Oct

FEZ:� Tour Fez (mostly on foot) including the famous medina, palace, Jewish Cemetery. etc. (3/4 day).� Rest of afternoon free to enjoy walking in this old city.� Dinner at the hotel, just outside the old city. (B, D)

As above

Mon 3 Oct

MEKNES and RABAT: Drive to Meknes (tour stables & visit market). �Then drive to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.� Then tour Rabat including the Royal sites, Hassan Tower, Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Kasbah and the Andalucean Gardens.� Dinner at hotel.� (B, D)

Chellah Hotel
2 Rue D'ifni, Rabat
Tel: +212 37 70 1051
Fax: + 212 37 70 6354

Tues 4 Oct +

DEPARTURE:� After an early breakfast, transfer to Casablanca Airport.� Fly IB 3703 to Madrid (1155-1430) to connect with American Airlines (Iberian aircraft) AA 7633 to New York (JFK Airport) (1700-1930).� Own arrangements in NYC.

Own arrangements in NYC.� Fly to Los Angeles with American Airlines, and to Australia with Qantas.