Paris to Marrakech tour
| country: | France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct 2010: 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun |
| price: | From £1945 (4 weeks) excluding flights. Local payment €800. Price includes hotels (27 nts), overnight train (1 nt) and 4 breakfasts. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This remarkable journey takes you from romantic Paris, over the sunny Iberian Peninsula and into the mesmerising markets of Marrakesh. See the icons of France - the Eiffel Tower, Chateau de Villandry and the 'cradle of mankind'. Be blown away by the culture and history of Spain with visits to her museums, medieval cities and churches. Savour the spice that Portugal has to offer - delicious wines, delectable cuisine and sunny, sandy beaches. And end your exciting adventure in mysterious Morocco, home to vibrant hilltop towns, ancient cities and colourful markets.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Paris. Peruse impressionist art at Musee d'Orsay, rub shoulders with chic Parisians in the Marais or eat macarons while strolling the Champs Elysees. |
| Day 2-3: | Tours. Cycle along the Loire out to the chateau and gardens of Villandry. |
| Day 4: | La Rochelle. Feast on fresh seafood then experience the old-word magic of the Vieux Port on a sunset stroll along its ancient city walls. |
| Day 5-7: | Dordogne Region. Discover the secrets of prehistoric man and cycle through the countryside. |
| Day 8-9: | Pyrenees Mountains. Spend a day hiking in the picturesque foothills of the Pyrenees for breathtaking scenery and clean, crisp air. |
| Day 10-11: | San Sebastian. Frolic with Spaniards on a sandy beach then scale Mt Urgull to enjoy the sunset over the bay. |
| Day 12-13: | Segovia. Surrounded by 8th-century walls, Segovia holds a treasure trove of architectural wonders just waiting to be explored. |
| Day 14-15: | Madrid. Don't miss the masterpieces in the Prado Museum and afterwards, people-watch over a coffee in the bustling Plaza Mayor. |
| Day 16: | Salamanca. Stylish Salamanca is home to stunning stone buildings and beautiful public plazas. Practice Spanish here, as residents reputedly speak the 'purest' dialect - Castilian. |
| Day 17-18: | Coimbra. Cross the border into Portugal and perhaps spend the afternoon sampling the spicy cuisine of Coimbra. |
| Day 19-20: | Lisbon. Visit the hilltop citadel in central Lisbon, which affords panoramic views of the capital. Get a different perspective on the city with a ride on the sightseeing tram. |
| Day 21-22: | The Algarve. Some of the finest gold-leaf woodwork can be found in Faro's 16th century 'golden' church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo. |
| Day 23: | Jerez. Take a bodega tour and sample some of this town's world-renowned sherries. Jerez is also home to the intense melancholy and joy of the fiery flamenco. |
| Day 24-25: | Chefchaouen. Whitewashed houses with bright blue doors make Chefchaouen incredibly photogenic. Enjoy a guided tour to uncover some hidden secrets in this enchanting city. |
| Day 26-27: | Fes. Step back into the Middle Ages and get lost in the living medieval museum that is Fes. |
| Day 28-29: | Marrakesh. Shop for souvenirs in the souqs of Marrakesh and celebrate the end of this epic journey with a meal in the medina. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
how this holiday makes a difference
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Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment. We travel with an average group size of just 10 people and mostly take public transport, stay and eat in small-scale locally-owned establishments.
In keeping with our Responsible Travel policy you will stay in carefully selected locally-owned accommodation - we put your money into the local economy and small businesses, not state-owned companies or corporate chains. We use public transport throughout this trip, not only minimizing the environmental impact of our journey but also creating concrete opportunities to interact with the locals. You'll contribute directly to local economies and help develop cross-cultural understanding. In others words, enjoy a real life experience. We provide all our travellers with specific information about how to be a responsible traveller on this trip. Our group leaders are passionate about responsible travel. Taking these small steps, we're able to make a big difference. And that goes for the whole trip experience too. Our travellers get the chance to meet local people and really get to know their culture first hand. In Marrakesh we have the option of visiting the SPANA animal hospital which is a charitable organisation providing free health care and education for animals and their carers in the Marrakesh region Those who wish to contribute further after their travels can do so through our company's foundation which supports environmental and social projects, making a difference to communities around the world. In 2007 the foundation donated over £100,000 to make a difference in local communities in terms of health care, education, human rights, child welfare and in environmental and wildlife protection in all our destinations worldwide. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |