Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oasis
Transcription
Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oasis
Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oasis Tour Description OFFICIAL BMW TRAVEL PARTNER TESTCENTER SPAIN Welcome to the world of Travelling, discovering new horizons, experiencing unusual, sometimes strange, but always interesting cultures. Spending time on the best motorbikes in unique landscapes, off the beaten track, experiencing the freedom of 2 wheels in some of the most beautiful places. Content Welcome | Our fleet | Tour bus 3 Exclusive accommodation and meals 4 With our combined know-how and experience we are best equipped to accompany you on your journey, develop individual and inventive routes and make your trip as memorable as possible. We offer a perfect balance of beautiful scenery, fantastic bike roads, and cities worth seeing and unforgettable places. Our offers are completed with inviting hotels and culinary delights from the local cuisine. Tour Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oases 6 Highlights , Prices 7 Course of events 8 How to book your tour ? On our website select the tour that you are interested in. Click on “Booking” and fill the booking form in. This is the easiest and fastest way to make your reservation and to inform us about your wishes. We will send you an immediate confirmation with all the details you need to prepare for your trip. Design your own tour Our fleet of motorcycles at our station in Andalusia If you prefer to explore the Iberian Peninsula on your own, you can also experience our tours without a tour guide. You will receive an extensive information package with maps for the trip and we will book all the hotels for you. Naturally we will keep in contact during your stay to assure the smooth running of your tour. The tour bus – logistics and transport Just contact us by phone at +34 952 172 172 or send us an email to contact@hispania-tours.com and we will organise the hotels and tickets, inform you where to find the best motorcycling roads and everything else that is needed to make it a unforgettable trip. With all the details taken care of, you can completely focus on your motorcycle adventure. Hispania Tours is official travel partner of BMW Motorrad Our motorcycle tours are an adventure, a unique experience, and an unforgettable memory. We look forward to getting acquainted with you. Johannes Suppan, CEO and Founder What converts a motorcycle tour into an Exclusive one. Individual customer service: Our goal is to provide you with an unforgettable motorcycle tour. Personal commitment and attention to detail will make the tour a special experience for you. Camaraderie: The feeling of friendship defines our trips – together we are en route, together we discover the country. Safety: Safety always comes first with Hispania Tours! Our main focus lies in the completion of an incident-free trip. Our tour guides will brief you on stages of the trip where special attention is needed. Experienced tour guides: Our multilingual tour guides are at your disposal with their motorcycle and cultural experience. They will guide you safely through the daily stages, and will show you the history and culture of the country, as well as hidden secrets along the road. Professional tour preparation: All of our tours are carefully researched and prepared. We work constantly, trying to improve our tours and to incorporate new information into the tour to make them even more attractive for you. Before the start of the tour you will get an extensive information package with a map, list of hotels and tour description so you can become familiar with the tour in your own time. Small groups: Normally no more than eight motorcycles per tour guide. This guarantees maximum personal freedom for each participant. Of course you can also discover parts of the tour on your own. Comfortable accommodation: After a whole day riding we understand that comfortable accommodation with authentic atmosphere is of great importance. In each selected hotel you will find a hospitable and cultivated atmosphere with lots of charm and comfort. Travelling without luggage: Upon your arrival at the hotel your luggage will be waiting for you in the room. During the daily legs you can ride with out worrying about heavy suitcases, as your luggage will be transported in the tour bus. The tour bus: Our tour bus will always accompany our tours. Besides your luggage we also carry spare parts and a spare motorcycle. In case of an incident, we have a spare motorcycle ready so we can continue our tour without major delays. There is always a place for passengers in the tour bus. BMW Motorcycles: Our fleet consists of new BMW R 1200 GS and BMW F 650 GS motorcycles which are ideal for our tours. All our motorcycles are maintained and serviced at BMW Service Centres and are equipped with side cases and tank bags. Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oases. Exklusive accomodation and meals For booking please call +34 952.172.172 or visit www.hispania-tours.com for further information. 4 Accommodation and meals Riad Meknes knows, that after a long day riding, comfortable accommodation with authentic atmosphere is of great importance. Therefore we have selected the hotels we use during the tour with lots of care. Besides the accommodation it is also important for us to offer you on a culinary level, a mixture of traditional dishes and comfortable places to eat. When you arrive with the motorcycles in the hotel, the tour bus is waiting at the hotel, and the luggage is already brought up to the rooms. As this will be taken care of, you can easily relax at the bar or in front of the fireplace and let the day and the impressions pass by slowly. At the jointly diner we enjoy typical regional dishes. If you are vegetarian, or if you follow a special diet, we will find you the right alternative dishes. The Riyadh is a unique part of the Royal Palace from the time of Moulay Ismails (17th Cent.) Through the centuries, the dignity of the individual premises persists, as you dine in the reception room, sleep in the bedrooms and have breakfast in the gardens of the king. The charm of the individual suites is noteworthy, each has been styled on a different colour and theme. Monastery Hotel La Almoraima El Andalous **** The Countess of Castellar founded this monastery in 1603, 200 years later it was converted by one of her descendants into a hunting lodge. The functional architecture of the monastery, mixed with beautiful antiques make the stay a pleasure. The bedrooms, which one gets to past the ol prayer rooms, have fireplaces, air conditioning, TV and private bathroom. The hunting heritage of the property is reflected in the restaurant menu all year round. In Marrakech the El Andalous awaits you with its comfort and perfect location. Once you have recovered from the long journey the hotel is an excellent starting point to explore the main attractions of the city. In its 7000m2 garden you will find the pool, the entrance to the spa, the cocktail bars and the sun terraces, everything your heart desires. In your spacious room you will immediately feel at home - air conditioning, satellite TV, bathroom with separate WC and private balcony make your 2 nights in the Andalous a very relaxed adventure. Casa Hassan - Dar Baibou Royal Mirage **** Chefchaouen was founded in 1471 by the Prince Moulay Rachid Ben Ali as a base against the Spanish towns of Ceuta and Ksar es-Seghir and evolved after the fall of Granada in 1492 as a refuge for Muslim refugees from Al-Andalus. Located on the main square, Casa Hassan, a hotel sketched in the Andalusian architectural style, welcomes us to our first eveing in Morocco with its panoramic terrace and charming courtyards. The rooms are all in the Moroccan style; round arches and fireplaces define the space. In the restaurant, you‘ll enjoy traditional dishes of cous cous, Moroccan chicken and sweet puff pastries. Until the 19th century, Fes was the world‘s only producer of the hat named after the city, and even today leather and wool are the most important export commodities. The Royal Mirage is located in the center of Fez, 500 meters from the entrance to the Old Town and is typically decorated in warm colors. You can choose the right spot to refresh yourself from amongst 4 different restaurants and 2 bars. The modern style rooms are located along one side of the hotel garden, and are equipped with wireless internet, satellite TV, mini bar and private bathrooms. Malaga Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oases. The Tour Ronda Chefchaouen Meknes Marrakesch Morocco, a fascinating North African country, characterised by endless ocean, deserts and refreshing, green oases as well as enormous mountain ranges and its impressive cities. Join us on a unique motorbike tour to this exotic world. Experience the feeling of being on the trail of an ancient secret, a life long before our time. The tour offers complete motorcycling pleasure on small, winding mountain roads with stunningly beautiful scenery. e xperienc E e r u t a The N The tour highlights Marrakech Marrakech is a word from the Berber language and possibly means „The land of God.“ The name „Morocco“ for the entire country was derived from the city name Marrakech. Because of the large number of architecturally significant buildings, such as the Koutoubia Mosque from the year 1162, the Kasbah of the 12th c. and the Ben-Jusuf Medersa from the 14th c., the old town became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1985.The main attraction of the city is the Djemaa el Fna square, the world-famous medieval market and execution site. Today it is a lively place with food stalls, oriental storytellers, snake charmers and jugglers. Fes Dades Valley Ouarzazate 6 For booking please call +34 952.172.172 or visit www.hispania-tours.com for further information. Merzouga The tour takes us from the Mediterranean Sea along the fantastic beaches of the Atlantic coastline to Marrakech. Over the mountain ranges of the „High Atlas“, past the canyons of Todra and Dades we encounter Morocco‘s largest sand dune region, the Erg Chebbi. We will spend two days in the sand dunes, just enough time to explore the secrets of the desert. Leaving the desert behind us, we cross the „Middle Atlas“ and head via Midelt and Fes to Chefchaouen. In Ceuta we leave the African continent and return to the starting point of our journey. Camels in the erg cheBbi The High Atlas The High Atlas rises from the west by the Atlantic Coast and runs eastwards until the Moroccan-Algerian border. On the Atlantic end the Sous valley falls steeply to the southwest and forms a striking contrast to the northern coast and the Anti-Atlas. It is also a major barrier to the weather, sheilding northern Morocco from the hot Saharan summers to the south. The highest peak, the Mount Toubkal, rises to about 4100m. Fes The city „Medinat Fas“ was founded in 798 by Moulay Idris on a site that is today called the Andalusian quater. In the course of its history, Fes has been the capital of the country for several dynasties and is therefore considered one of the four royal cities of Morocco. This example of an ancient oriental city has been a World Heritage Site since 1981, under the protection of UNESCO. Its deep blue pottery is considered the symbol of Fes. Erg Chebbi According to legend Erg Chebbi, one of the largest sand dune areas in Morocco, was created as a punishment from the Gods to the locals for not offering assistance to a travel weary caravan. The 22 km long and 5 km wide dune belt lies about 40 km south of Erfoud and is the southernmost point on our tour. The starry night sky in the desert will be a life long memory for you. In the high atlas e beach fun on th MoROccO=P URe cultur e s n the Atla o m 0 0 2 2 t A Marrake ch at nig ht e pleasur turns Morocco - Mountains, Deserts and Oases. The Tour For booking please call +34 952.172.172 or visit www.hispania-tours.com for further information. 8 Keypoints of the tour : Start/Finish: Malaga Duration: 15 days, 13 days riding Total distance: Approx. 3.200 km Tour character: Mountain & Panoramic Roads (Asphalt) Accommodation: First class 4* and 5* hotels and typical moroccan Riads Highlights: Marrakech, Fes, Sahara, Atlas Day 1 : Arrival in Malaga Arrival at Malaga airport and transfer to the Hotel. Introductions over dinner with Spanish wine, giving us the opportunity to discuss our tour. Day 2 : Malaga - Algeciras We start off on the Costa del Sol heading towards Ronda on long-sweeping winding roads in the Sierra de las Nieves. The town of Ronda is situated on a rock plateau and is split in two parts by a 160 m deep canyon. To the south of Ronda there are numerous small mountain chains offering an ever changing, spectacular landscape and roads that are simply made for our motorbikes. Bend after bend we ride on asphalt surfaces for perfect bike control and spectacular views such as the Rock of Gibraltar famous for its monkeys. Day 3 : Algeciras - Chefchaouen We take a ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar and reach Ceuta, where we cross the Moroccan border. Here in the north of Morocco green is still the dominant color as we take winding roads to pass endless fields and forests towards the Rif mountains. In the evening we reach the blue pearl Chefchaouen, whose architecture is still reminiscent of the lovely villages of Andalusia. Day 4 : Chefchaouen - Meknes On our first full day of driving on African ground, we enjoy the rolling hills of the Rif Mountains. The terrain is perfect for our motorcycles and offers a fantastic atmosphere in which we taste sheer driving pleasure at its best. We visit the Roman ruins of Volubulis and reach in the evening our goal Meknes, one oats fisherb tlantic at the A roman in theticnight desert of the four cities of the king. Day 5 : Meknes - Marrakech Today we expect a long and very varied day with impressive scenery. We reach the high plains of central Morocco, where the vastness and beauty of this country emerge, while on the horizon the first foothills of the High Atlas appear. The track leads us westward and we reach our destination by sunset in „Morocco‘s biggest oasis“ called Marrakech. Known as the „Pearl of the South“ many consider Marrakech to be Morocco‘s most beautiful city with its distinct oriental flair. Day 6 : Marrakech Rest day and visit of Marrakech (see tour highlights page 7) . Day 7 : Marrakech - Quarzazate Our aim today is to conquer the „High Atlas“. Our motorbikes take in the mountain air as we ride the fantastic panoramic road over Taddert and the Tizin-n–Tichka pass, accompanied by the spectacular views of snow-capped peaks at 4000 m on this unique stage of our tour. Day 8 : Quarzazate – Dades Once on the south side of the Atlas, we take the road out of Ouarzazate along the Dades and Draa rivers towards to their origins. The beauty of the rocks in the Dades Gorge take our breath away! Today is, without any doubt, one of the most impressive days of this tour! Day 9 : Dades - Erfoud After crossing the Todra Gorge we move for most of the day at an altitude of 2000 meters in a forgotten valley in the interior of the Atlas Mountains. Hawks, goats and sheep are our company as we enjoy the most authentic side of Morocco and its extreme beauty. In the afternoon we reach our destination in the desert on the outskirts of the northern Sahara. Day 10 : Merzouga (night in the desert) We have organized a full and fascinating program for our days spent in the desert. We will explore and experience the desert and its sand dunes by foot, on motorbike or on the s 1001 dishe IN FES Berber K asbah back of a camel. If you wish you can even spend the night out in the open under desert skies (Berber tent) in the sand dunes (see tour highlights page 7). Day 11 : Erfoud Rest day in the hotel. Day 12 : Erfoud – Fez As we leave Morocco‘s South behind us, we already start to recognize the first mountain peaks on the horizon. Again we prepare ourselves for an amazing crossing of the High Atlas. Although the mountains here are no longer quite so high, we will be riding on roads that are simply made for motorcycling as we pass stunningly beautiful scenery such as the canyon of Ziz and the magnificent Talgam pass (1907 m). We reach on a panoramic route the Middle Atlas and the cedar forests of Azrou and Ifrane where several smaller passes (approx. 1500 m) still need to be conquered before we arrive at our accommodation in Fez. Day 13: Fez – Chefchaouen We enter the spectacular Medina of Fez (see tour highlights page 7), a UNESCO world heritage site, where we visit the palace gates and haggle with merchants in the acient parts of the city. It feels like a journey in time, back to the centuries of the Middle Ages. In the afternoon we leave Fez and head in a northerly direction. Again winding mountain roads and magnificent scenery await us on our journey through the Rif mountains. Via Quarzane we reach Chefchaouen again, where we spend our last night in the mountains of Morocco. Day 14: Chefchaouen - Malaga Riding briskly, we pass Tetouan and head directly for the border. After the border formalities, we cross the straits to Algeciras bringing our Morocco adventure gradually to a close Day 15: Return journey Note: We reserve the right to make minor changes to the tour. Tourrates 2012 Price per rider 2590 € Pillion 2490 € Single room surcharge 350 € Your motorcycle 0€ BMW G 650 GS 975 € BMW F 650 GS 1040 € BMW F 800 GS 1235 € BMW R 1200 GS 1300 € BMW R 1200 R 1300 € BMW R 1200 RT 1599 € Tourdates 2012: 11 Feb - 25 Feb 2012 17 Mar - 31 Mar 2012 03 Nov - 17 Nov 2012 Our sercive Transfer, Ferries and Tolls Rental bike incl. comprehensive insurance Accommodation in selected 4* and 5* Hotes and Riads Breakfast and Dinner Multilingual tour guide Chase vehicle Camel ride Information package Maps Souvenir