Paris to Marrakech tour
| country: | France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 8 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 23 Oct 2011: 9 Apr, 23 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun |
| price: | From £2855 (29 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| offers: | Save 15% on all trips to Europe and the Middle East if you book by 9th April |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
check out similar holiday ideas...
introduction to Paris to Marrakech tour
Travel from romantic Paris, over the sunny Iberian Peninsula and into the mesmerising markets of Marrakech. Cycle through wildflowers along the Loire River in France, then experience the electric atmosphere of Spain, before breezing through Portugal for red wine and piri-piri en route to Africa, where the adventure concludes in mysterious Morocco.
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 promenading the boulevards. |
| Days 2-3: | Tours. Cycle along the Loire out to the chateau and gardens of Villandry. |
| Day 4: | Bordeaux. Wander through Bordeaux's World Heritage listed Old Town, or just sit back with a glass of its famous wine. |
| Days 5-7: | Dordogne Region. Discover fine food, medieval architecture and slow, winding rivers in the picturesque Dordogne region. |
| Days 8-9: | Pyrenees Mountains. Spend a day hiking in the foothills of the Pyrenees for breathtaking scenery and clean, crisp air. |
| Days 10-11: | San Sebastian. Hang out with Spaniards on a sandy beach then scale Mt Urgull to enjoy a spectacular sunset over the bay. |
| Days 12-13: | Segovia. Surrounded by 8th century walls, Segovia holds a treasure trove of architectural wonders just waiting to be explored. |
| Days 14-15: | Madrid. Marvel at the Prado Museum masterpieces or relax in the Parque del Buen Retiro. Later, experience the city's electric after-dark atmosphere. |
| Day 16: | Salamanca. Pull up a chair at a Plaza Mayor cafe and listen in as the locals speak the 'purest' Spanish dialect, Castilian. Admire the quirky Casa de las Conchas. |
| Days 17-18: | Coimbra. Cross the border into Portugal. Blast those tastebuds with alheiras and piri-piri, then indulge in the region's renowned red wines. |
| Days 19-20: | Lisbon. Rattle through the capital on a tram, then visit the hilltop citadel for magnificent panoramic views across the terracotta rooftops. |
| Days 21-22: | The Algarve. Head straight to the Algave's beautiful beaches to enjoy sunshine, a swim and some well-deserved mid-trip relaxation. |
| Day 23: | Jerez. Take a bodega tour and sample some of this town's world-renowned sherries. |
| Days 24-25: | Chefchaouen. Cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. Discover enchanting Chefchaouen on a stroll through its narrow cobblestone streets past blue-washed houses with cobalt doors. |
| Days 26-27: | Fes. Encounter a city suspended in time. Watch the sunset over the medina as the melodic call to prayer echoes through the streets. |
| Days 28-29: | Marrakech. Haggle with locals in the souqs then perhaps celebrate the end of the journey with a grand Moroccan feast. |
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!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
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. |
check out similar holiday ideas...