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.