The University of Louisville THE BEST OF MOROCCO TOUR! October 20 November 1, 2014

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1 The University of Louisville THE BEST OF MOROCCO TOUR! October 20 November 1, 2014 Dear University of Louisville Travelers and Friends, Thank you for your past support of our University of Louisville Alumni travel programs. After years of requests from previous travelers, we are pleased to offer a spectacular land tour of Morocco. We feel this U of L customized land tour includes the best this wonderful country has to offer. It is also being offered at a preferred time to tour this area. Your deluxe motorcoach tour begins and ends in Casablanca. The tour includes our own tour guide, driver, and escort traveling with you throughout the entire trip. In each city you will tour with expert English-speaking guides to see each city s places of interest. Many days will include free time to explore on your own and enjoy the attractions that are of interest to you. Highlights as you travel through these areas include: Stay 12 nights in some of the finest hotels (Kasbahs) and former palaces that are centrally located making exploring on your own easy. An overnight stay in the Sahara Desert in luxury tents, reserved exclusively for our U of L group. Each couple will have their own luxury tent featuring hotel style beds, and private, fully functional bathrooms with hot showers. Gain insight to Morocco s most significant and historic imperial cities. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride in Marrakesh. Experience UNESCO World Heritage sites, the magnificent Atlas Mountains, a camel ride in the Sahara Desert, the breathtaking and dramatic scenic gorges, and Morocco s Hollywood scenery where such movies as Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars were filmed. 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 group dinners, all included tours & deluxe motorcoach transportation only for U of L passengers All this while enjoying the fellowship and comfort that traveling with the University of Louisville group provides. Attached is a brochure of the itinerary and costs. WE ARE LIMITING PARTICIPATION TO THE FIRST 34 PASSENGERS THAT RESERVE SINCE THERE WILL ONLY BE 1 MOTORCOACH. As a past U of L traveler, you are first to be notified before the general promotion begins. If you are interested in joining the group for this magnificent travel experience, we suggest reserving your space now. If you have friends or family that would like to join you, reserve for them now as well. To make reservations, or if you have any questions, please call the Platinum Travel Group Dept. at , or TOUR (8687), or them at: GROUPS@PLATINUMTVL.com. There is a $250 per person deposit to reserve your space with a $50 administrative fee to cancel before final payment in June THIS WILL BE THE ONLY DIRECT MAILING YOU WILL RECEIVE ON THIS TOUR. We hope you will join the University of Louisville Alumni group for this spectacular travel experience! The University of Louisville Alumni Group & Platinum Travel

2 The University of Louisville Best of Morocco Tour October 20 November 1, 2014 Itinerary Summary Sunday, October 19: Board your overnight flight to Casablanca. Day 1- Oct 20 (Mon) Casablanca Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco s modern seaport situated on the Atlantic, a port that was once used by the Phoenicians and then the Romans. Upon arrival at the airport, meet your Tour Director and transfer to your hotel. You will receive VIP assistance through customs. The remainder of the day is yours to rest or begin exploration of this colorful metropolis. Tonight reconvene for a University of Louisville group welcome dinner with your traveling companions and Tour Director to toast to the success of this upcoming journey! Overnight at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca (D) Day 2 Oct 21 (Tues) Casablanca Rabat Fez This morning s guided panoramic drive of Casablanca features the Hassan II Mosque, a splendid monument designed to mark the end of the century. The structure reflects a blend of Islamic architecture, Moroccan elements and Moorish influences all within the context of urban design. After an included lunch, your Moroccan adventure continues as you journey toward Rabat, once the lair of corsairs and now the country s capital. Sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the massive medieval battlements, the Royal Palace, MOHAMMED V MAUSOLEUM, Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of Oudaias. Also visit the fine ROMAN RELICS OF CHELLAH. Continue to Fez and the Sofitel Palais Jamai Fez, your home for the next three nights. (B, L) Day 3 Oct 22 (Wed) Fez See the magnificent entrance to the Royal Palace, drive through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and travel on to Bab Bou Jeloud, the traditional entrance to Old Fez. Your Local Guide also leads you through labyrinthine MEDINA and MEDERSA BOU INANIA. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B) Day 4 Oct 23 (Thurs) Fez Excursion to Meknes and Volubilis Today you will visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites! First travel to MEKNE with its monumental gates, mosque, palace, and miles of protective walls. Then it s on to VOLUBILIS, a well-preserved partly excavated Roman City. Returning to Fez, consider participating in an optional outing that includes an evening drive through illuminated Fez, followed by a typical 4-course Moroccan dinner at one of the most popular venues in the city. Entertainment includes Oriental, Arabian, and Bedouin dancing. Check with your Tour Director for details. (B,L)

3 Day 5 Oct 24 (Fri) Fez Erfoud Get an early start today to travel the distance into the very heart of Morocco. Verdant cedar forests give way to volcanic mountains and wind-swept plains as you motor across the majestic Middle Atlas mountain range to Midelt for a group lunch. Pass fortified mud-and-straw Berber villages and then descend into the spectacular Ziz Gorges and arrive in Er-Rachidia, an important crossroad once controlled by the French Foreign Legion. Afterwards, the landscape becomes progressively more arid and you enter a stony desert. On your last stretch to Erfoud, an unexpected and breathtaking surprise awaits you: the miraculous and peaceful oasis of Ziz Valley. Spend nights 5 & 7 at the Kasbah Hotel Chergui, Erfoud (B, L) Day 6 Oct 25 (Sat) Erfoud Merzouga Today, enjoy a really exciting trip in a 4 wheel drive jeep to the sandy dunes of ERG CHEBBI in the Sahara Desert. The dunes change their beautiful colors according to the time of day and some of the dunes reach a height of well-over 330 feet! After a sunset CAMEL RIDE, overnight at a SAHARA DESERT TENTED CAMP in your own luxury tent equipped with a fully functional bathroom. This camp will be exclusive to the University of Louisville group. Enjoy dinner and an evening under the stars! (B, L, D) Day 7 Oct 26 (Sun) Merzouga Erfoud Return to Erfoud to enjoy a day at leisure at the Kasbah Hotel Chergui. (B) Midway through your tour, it s now time to just relax, enjoy the spa, and congregate with fellow U of L travelers. You may also want to have the hotel take care of your laundry today allowing you to pack less from the start! Day 8 Oct 27 (Mon) Erfoud - Ouarzazate Your destination today is Morocco s Hollywood, Ouarzazate, deep in the desert and immortalized through movies like Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars. Continue on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and view the grand 17th-century Amerhidil Kasbah. Head through Morocco s Grand Canyon, Todra Gorge, and then enjoy a fascinating drive through the desert via the Dades Valley with its oases filled with olives, dates, and figs. Overnight at Le Berbere Palace, Ouarzazate (B, L) Day 9 Oct 28 (Tues) Ouarzazate Aït Benhaddou Tizi-n-Tichka Pass Marrakesh Enjoy an orientation drive this morning in Ouarzazate, famous for its film studios and a visit of THE KASBAH DE TAOURIRT. Next, it s on to Aït Benhaddou, a kasbah famous as a film location for Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Pass through picturesque villages surrounded by craggy mountains while motoring towards the 7,414foot-high Tizi-n-Tichka Pass in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. Each new twist in the road leads to a different, more dramatic landscape. Leaving the pass behind, the landscape gradually changes to a tapestry of red ochre. Afternoon arrival in the red-colored imperial city of Marrakesh justly reputed the most fascinating of all Moroccan cities. Stay the next 3 nights at the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa (B, L)

4 Day 10 Oct 29 (Wed) Marrakesh Follow your Local Marrakesh Guide and visit BAHIA PALACE, the 16th-century SAADIAN TOMBS (if closed, visit the BADIA PALACE instead), and to Djemaa El-Fna, the vibrant town center dominated by the 222-foot-high Koutoubia Minaret. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B) Day 11 Oct 30 (Thurs) Marrakesh Enjoy a visit to Menara, situated just west of Marrakesh. Then by HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE travel on to MAJORELLE GARDEN, Marrakesh s botanic garden designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle and once owned by legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Tonight savor a four-course dinner with delicious Moroccan specialties and wine and a spectacular oriental folklore show with music and dancing. (B, D) Day 12 Oct 31(Fri) Marrakesh Casablanca After a morning at leisure, depart for the return journey to Casablanca. Tonight, share stories and photos of this unforgettable journey at a special group farewell dinner in one of the city s lively local restaurants. (B, D) Overnight, once again, at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca. Day 13 Nov 1 (Sat) Casablanca Your vacation ends with breakfast today. A group transfer will be available to the airport for your homebound flight. (B) B, L, D = included group meals that day Your Accommodations Hyatt Regency Casablanca (Day 1 and 12) The Hyatt Regency Casablanca hotel is ideally situated in the center of Casablanca, a legendary city and main commercial and financial hub of Morocco. Located right in the United Nations Square, Hyatt Regency Casablanca is steps away from the Old Medina and the Quarter of Habbous. It is one of the finest 5 star luxury hotels Morocco has to offer featuring 255 luxury guestrooms with exclusive views of the Great Hassan II Mosque and the Atlantic Ocean. The newly renovated guestrooms are fully equipped to meet today s technology needs including free high-speed internet access. The hotel boasts beautiful bars and some of the finest restaurants in Casablanca, including Café M, Dar Beida Moroccan restaurant, The Living Room, and Les Bougainvillées. Hotel guests can also enjoy complimentary access to the Fitness Center. Casablanca Mohammed V Airport is located 18 miles from the hotel, only 25 minutes away. Sofitel Palais Jamai, Fez (Days 2, 3, 4) Built as a palace in 1879, the Sofitel Palais Jamai is located in a privileged setting close to the Fez medina and is surrounded by spacious gardens. The 123-room hotel features three restaurants and a bar, internet access, laundry service, fitness center, Moorish bath, tanning salon, Jacuzzi, sauna, and heated outdoor pool. Spacious air-conditioned rooms boast traditional Moorish style décor, private bath with hair dryer, balcony, safe, TV, and phone. The hotel has currency exchange facilities, but no ATM.

5 Kasbah Hotel Chergui, Erfoud (Days 5 & 7) Set on the outskirts of the city of Erfoud, this 100-room hotel is surrounded by palm groves and rich vegetation. The kasbah-style hotel offers traditional Moroccan surroundings and features a restaurant and bar, Internet access, laundry and dry cleaning services, gift shop, sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, and outdoor swimming pool. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone. Please note that, while this is the best hotel available in this more remote region, you may find the level of quality and service somewhat lower than at other sites on your tour. Private (2 person) University of Louisville Tents in the Sahara Desert (Day 6 Le Berbere Palace, Ouarzazate (Day 8) A traditional Moroccan-style hotel, the Berbere Palace offers guests a host of contemporary amenities including two restaurants, two bars, Internet access, laundry and dry cleaning services, fitness center, swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, tennis courts, terraced garden, and library. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, mini-bar, TV, and phone. Sofitel Marrakech Lounge and Spa, Marrakech (Days 9, 10 11) Designed in a contemporary Andalusian style and situated in sumptuous gardens, the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa is a place of calm and sensual pleasure dedicated to the development of all of your senses. In this enchanting environment, the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa raises the art of well-being and absolute relaxation to the highest level of excellence. Revitalize your body and mind in this luxurious haven of peace, serenity and sensuality - just a few steps from the Medina. In the heart of the most elegant part of town, the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa is where you find the fashionable luxury boutiques, casinos, nightclubs and restaurants. The hotel is a short walk from the Jema El Fna Square.

6 The University of Louisville The Best of Morocco Tour October 20 November 1, 2014 Cost: $3399 per person, double occupancy Includes: 11 nights in the first class hotels and kasbahs 1 additional night in a private special deluxe tent in the Sahara Desert All included meals referenced: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 4 dinners All sightseeing and tours referenced in the included itinerary All transportation in a deluxe motorcoach only for the U of L group during the entire tour Group transfers to and from the airport A Globus Tour Manager and driver throughout the tour University of Louisville/Platinum Travel escorts All luggage handling for 2 pieces of luggage per person and porter gratuities All hotel taxes and service charges Gratuities for porters, hotel staff, and included meals Special group gifts, amenities, and dinners A pre-trip Document Party in Louisville before the trip The above cost excludes: Airfare to and from Casablanca Personal items and purchases Gratuities for the Tour Manager, driver, and local guides Meals and beverages not mentioned in the included itinerary Excess baggage fees Please Note: Those who have confirmed reservations will be notified later regarding airline options. A block of group fares from Louisville will be arranged. Passengers outside the Louisville area may also call Platinum Travel to be booked out of different departure cities. International flights to/from Casablanca must be the same as the group block for transfers.