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| Day 1 |
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US
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Fly from the U.S. to Malaga, Spain.
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| Day 2 |
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MALAGA, Spain | EMBARK
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Arrive in Malaga and transfer to Callisto. Enjoy a welcome reception this evening.
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| Day 3 |
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MALAGA | GRANADA | MALAGA
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Travel to Granada, the fabled last stronghold of the Moors in Spain. With the Moorish invasion in the 8th century, Granada became a bastion of Islamic culture, which flourished here for hundreds of years. Visit the majestic Palace of the Alhambra and the adjacent Generalife Gardens, once the retreat of the caliphs. After lunch, tour Granada’s Gothic Cathedral and Royal Chapel, containing the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella.
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| Day 4 |
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CADIZ | SEVILLE | CADIZ
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From Cadiz, a port city with wonderful Andalusian character, drive to Seville, an important center for the Romans, Moors and Christian kings of Spain. Our tour includes the Alcazar, the palace of the Spanish kings for nearly seven centuries, which retains many aspects of Andalusia’s magnificent Moorish heritage.
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| Day 5 |
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KENITRA | FEZ | KENITRA, Morocco
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Depart on an overnight excursion to Fez, with accommodations at the elegant Hotel Palais Jamai. Fez is the oldest of the Imperial Capitals and one of the best preserved medieval Islamic cities in the world. See the ruined Merenid Tombs set on a hilltop with wonderful views of the kasbah. The Qaraouyine Mosque, begun in 839, is filled with treasures set amid a forest of white columns. It was here that Western Arabic numerals and the zero were developed, centuries before Europe ceased using Roman numerals. Surrounding the Mosque is the medina, its labyrinth of medieval alleys lined with tiny shops and craftsmen’s stalls.
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| Day 6 |
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KENITRA | FEZ | KENITRA, Morocco
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Depart on an overnight excursion to Fez, with accommodations at the elegant Hotel Palais Jamai. Fez is the oldest of the Imperial Capitals and one of the best preserved medieval Islamic cities in the world. See the ruined Merenid Tombs set on a hilltop with wonderful views of the kasbah. The Qaraouyine Mosque, begun in 839, is filled with treasures set amid a forest of white columns. It was here that Western Arabic numerals and the zero were developed, centuries before Europe ceased using Roman numerals. Surrounding the Mosque is the medina, its labyrinth of medieval alleys lined with tiny shops and craftsmen’s stalls.
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| Day 7 |
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KENITRA | RABAT | KENITRA
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Rabat is two cities—the medieval seat of the Almohad dynasty, a warlike tribe who built the city’s magnificent city walls and the El Hassan Mosque, and the elegant, cosmopolitan capital of Morocco. Our visit includes the Oudaia kasbah, the city’s oldest quarter, concealed behind formidable Almohad walls. On the grounds of the 12th-century El Hassan Mosque is the splendid Mausoleum of Mohammed V. |
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| Day 8 |
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CASABLANCA
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Arrive in Casablanca, Morocco’s principal port city and commercial center, and seek out the impressive Hassan II Mosque. Built upon a rocky platform facing the Atlantic, it is the second largest mosque in the world. |
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| Day 9 |
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SAFI | ESSAOUIRA | SAFI
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Today, call at Safi for an excursion to Essaouira, an ancient port town whose whitewashed buildings and pinkish-red ramparts attest to its hybrid Moorish and European influences and make Essaouira one of the most attractive resorts on the Atlantic coast. |
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| Day 10 |
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AGADIR | Disembark | TAROUDANT | MARRAKECH
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Drive to the medieval town of Taroudant, an important center of trade since the earliest days of the empire. Explore the well-preserved walls and ramparts and the kasbah. There will be time at leisure to meander among the excellent souks, which sell a diverse array of handicrafts from the region. Continue to Marrakech and to Hotel La Mamounia.
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| Day 11 |
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MARRAKECH
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Marrakech was founded in the mid-11th century by the Almoravides, warlike Muslim monks from the south who established a stronghold here and occupied the whole country before crossing into Spain to defeat the Christians and bring Andalusia under Moroccan rule. With its vast labyrinthine souk, rich architectural treasures and beautiful setting framed against the towering High Atlas range, it is, perhaps, Morocco’s most fascinating city. A full-day tour includes a view of the 12th-century minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, the city’s principal landmark; the Bahia Palace; and the intricately decorated Ben Youssef Medressa. Following a typical Moroccan lunch, continue with an exploration of the sights and smells of the great souk of Marrakech and a visit to Djemaa el-Fna, the celebrated central square at the heart of the medina.
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| Day 12 |
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MARRAKECH | USA
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Transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
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