Morocco Sahara Odyssey 2022 - Overseas Adventure Travel®

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YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®

Overseas Adventure Travel®

The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled

Morocco Sahara Odyssey2022

Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)

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Dear Traveler,

I can’t wait to see where my next journey will take me. I know you’re eager to explore the world, too, and our Morocco Sahara Odyssey itinerary described inside is a perfect start.

Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you can customize it. Arrive early and stay later byadding a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or even combine 2 or more trips. More than80% of our travelers choose to tailor their adventure. Also, because we’re the leader in Solo Women Travel,we’re offering 22 exclusive women’s departures in 2022.

As for Morocco Sahara Odyssey, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average 13) you can expect some unforgettable experiences.Here’s one that stood out for me:

There’s something mystical about the whispering sands of the mighty Sahara that beckons to me, daring me to uncover the cultural treasures that lie within the Morocco’s expansive desert, dotted with riads and colorful Andalusian-style courtyards. But what continues to draw me back to Morocco is its people, many of whom descended from the Berbers who controlled the desert for centuries and preserved some of Africa’s richest traditions. You’ll meet some of them and get a firsthand look at their daily lives when you spend A Day in the Life in Asfalou Village, a mountainside town where you’ll meet a local bricklayer and his family. After exploring their farm and sharing a meal together, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Imik Smik Women’s Association, supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation, where you’ll learn how they are trying to change their lives and those of the young women in their community.

In this historically patriarchal society, I was saddened to learn how conservative mindsets within the country’s power structure continue to form an obstacle for women in Moroccan culture, but after hearing from a local activist who has worked to reform the country’s laws to help guarantee equality for women, I remain hopeful for the future. You’ll have a chance to meet this activist, too, and learn about how she has spent her life and career fighting for equality and a more intimate understanding of the issues affecting the lives of local women.

So you’ll experience the true culture, we don’t shy away from controversial topics. Plus, we make sure all ourTrip Experience Leaders are “insiders” who live in the country. You may be nudged out of your comfort zone,but you will also be inspired by the wonderful people you meet.

Thanks for letting me dream along with you about our Morocco Sahara Odyssey. Remember, you can reserve with confidence thanks to our Risk-Free Booking policy: learn more at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking. You can also call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925 to answer any question you might have.

Love and peace,

Harriet R. Lewis Vice ChairmanOverseas Adventure Travel

P.S. I thought our 3 most popular videos about Morocco would help inspire you for the adventure ahead. Scan the QR code next to the video to watch.

Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video.

SCAN ME SCAN ME SCAN ME

Jackie and Robin’s Morocco Trip Experience

Created by Marty L., 4-time traveler from Gloucester, MA

Trip Extension—Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier

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CONTENTS

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION

Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . .

No Visas Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . .

Money Matters: Local Currency

& Tipping Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . .

Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Communicating with Home from Abroad . .

Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . .

Suggested Packing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Electricity Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . .

ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE

Moroccan Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shopping: What to Buy, Customs,

Shipping & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Morocco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Facts, Figures & National Holidays . . . . . . . .

Morocco: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Spain: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tunisia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Tunisia: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RESOURCES

Suggested Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Suggested Film & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MOROCCO SAHARA ODYSSEY

Your Adventure at a Glance:

Where You’re Going, What it Costs, and What’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary . . . . . . . .

Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pre-Trip Extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Post-Trip Extensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dates & Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Letter from Harriet Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The O.A.T. Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Grand Circle Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

The Leader in Solo Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Vaccines Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Connect with local people as you explore the Fez Medina Venture into the sandy oasis of the Sahara on camelback

EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCEin Morocco

This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled.

SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS

(AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED

The world feels more intimate and engaging when your experience of it is also personal and genuine. That’s why our groups never exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to people and places larger groups simply can’t reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother transitions. And a far more satisfying experience than any traditional tour offers.

THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS

Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the stories, food, customs, hidden treasures and more.

AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

Engage with local people through visits to farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more.

LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

To see the world like the locals, you should travel like one. Our small group size allows us to take the roads and waterways that are less traveled, and we often follow them using the same unique modes of transportation that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a vintage cab.

UNIQUE LODGINGS

Our lodgings reflect the local character, from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and hospitality.

OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES

With 36 regional offices around the world, we are perfectly poised to leverage our local relationships to deliver an excellent experience and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported by our team in Marrakesh.

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THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation

of your Morocco Sahara Odyssey adventure.

GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) VISIT

GCF was established in 1992 to help change people’s lives in the world where we live, work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or donated $200 million worldwide.

You’ll see GCF’s work in action when we visit the Imik Smik Women’s Association, an organization that aims to create workshops and programs that teach girls and women how to sew, read, cook, develop healthcare and further education that otherwise would not be available. Sponsored by Grand Circle Foundation, the Imik Smik Women’s Association currently generates funding by selling bread, pastries, and couscous to local guesthouses in the village.

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS

Every culture has its joys and achievements, and we celebrate them all. But every place also has its challenges, and to gloss over them would not do justice to those whose stories need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who deserves more than a sugar-coated version of things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will lead frank discussions on controversial issues, and introduce you to people whose stories will expand your understanding.

For example, we’ll speak to a Moroccan citizen and a Nigerian refugee to hear two personal perspectives of why a growing number of refugees from sub-Saharan Africa have arrived in Morocco, and about the strain that such immigration has placed on the country’s economy. We’ll also meet a local activist who has helped to reform the country’s laws to help guarantee equality for women, and hear firsthand how conservative mindsets within

the country’s power structure form an ever-present obstacle to continued progress.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an exclusive, immersive experience that places you in the heart of a community where you’ll meet various people where they live, work, and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a hand with daily chores; and break bread with our hosts.

This adventure includes A Day in the Life of the mountainside village of Asfalou where we’ll meet a local family and get a firsthand look at everyday life as a Berber in rural Morocco. We’ll explore the property and lend a hand with some of the daily chores, such as crafting bricks, tending crops, feeding the animals, or preparing a meal, which we’ll enjoy together with our hosts.

HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES

Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the things that can happen across a kitchen table, so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local family in their home for a snack or a meal. This is a rare opportunity to witness family life, learn local customs, and taste some home-cooked fare.

On this adventure, we’ll learn even more about daily life in Fez when we share a meal with a local family in their home. We’ll get the chance to taste authentic regional cuisine as we connect with the family. Perhaps you’ll ask your hosts about family dynamics, cultural norms, or their professions.

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PRE- OR POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS

Every O.A.T. adventure offers at least one optional pre-trip and one post-trip extension. Here’s why more than 55% of O.A.T. travelers choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension:

1. You’ll maximize your discoveries—often in an even smaller group than your main adventure (on average, 6 travelers with a dedicated Trip Experience Leader)—and take advantage of your included airfare.

2. Great value: All extensions include accommodations, daily breakfast, and airport transfers.

3. Continuity and camaraderie: You’ll usually travel with the same Trip Experience Leader who leads your main trip, enjoying more of his or her insider expertise— and more time to bond with the group.

It’s your adventure, so why not make it exactly what you want it to be? We offer an exclusive variety of options that let you tailor your adventure so it’s completely your own. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer this level of flexibility and choice for a truly personalized experience.

Optional Extensions offered with your Africa adventure

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers of the Rif5 nights pre-trip from $1195

Essaouira, Morocco

The Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira & Casablanca5 nights post-trip from $795

Mijas Village, Andalusia, Spain

NEW! Andalusia & the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga5 nights pre-trip from $1795

Sidi Bou Sa’d, Tunisia

NEW! Historic Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage6 nights post-trip from $1395

You're in control with

THE FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCEExclusively with O.A.T.

Your Choice. Your Adventure. Your Way.

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ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATER

Extending your time abroad—with us or on your own—is the best way to broaden your experience. It’s also a practical way to maximize the value of the international airfare covered in your main itinerary.

Expand Your Discoveries Before

or After Your Adventure

Arrive early in the first destination on your pre-trip extension or main adventure, or stay later in the last city on your main adventure or post-trip extension. By coming early, you can rest after your flight and adjust—with time to explore. By staying later, you have extra time to relax, pack, or continue exploring.

This option lets you take advantage of our lower group rates, with prices from $50 per person per night—including accommodations, private airport transfer, and daily breakfast.

• Arrive early in Rabat for $100 per person, per night

• Arrive early in Seville for $75 per person, per night

• Arrive early on the Northern Morocco pre-trip extension, or conclude your main trip or Atlantic Coast post-trip extension in Casablanca for $75 per person, per night

• Conclude your Tunisia post-trip extension with more time in Tunis for $50 per person, per night

Accommodations are at the same hotels where you begin or end the main trip and optional extensions, so transitions will be seamless.

NEW! Stopover in any major international city

Travelers with O.A.T. airfare have the opportunity to Stopover in popular cities. Your price includes 3 nights accommodations, daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport transfers. Here are a few popular destinations:

• Madrid: $795 per person

• Cairo: $845 per person

• Rome: $895 per person

• Paris: $945 per person

Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If the city you’re interested in is not offered, our Regional Adventure Counselors can arrange your airfare.

COMBINE ADVENTURES

You’re already overseas. Why not see more and maximize your value by avoiding the cost and length of another international flight? Here’s why 2,250 O.A.T. travelers combined two or more adventures in 2019:

• Save a total of $600-$3000 per person when you combine two adventures compared to the cost of taking each trip separately.

• Apply the 5% or 6% Frequent Traveler Credit you earn on your first trip to your second trip.

• Sir Edmund Hillary Club members save an extra $250-$350 per person when booking multiple trips in a calendar year.

• Our Regional Adventure Counselors make all the arrangements for a seamless experience.

Combine this trip with our Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht adventure—for a total cost of $7,190-$11,390 per person—and save $900-$1300 per person versus taking each trip separately.

AIR PREFERENCES

54% of our travelers customize their air itineraries:

• Choose your departure city and airline

• Depart from one city and return to another

• Upgrade to Premium Economy or Business Class

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

DURING YOUR ADVENTURE

Our itineraries provide a balance of included activities and free time so you always have the flexibility to participate in included activities, go off on your own entirely, or do a mix of both.

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GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time

ON THIS ADVENTURE …

Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more than $200 million to projects around the world. Here are just a few of the ways we have partnered with the communities on this trip.

Dear Traveler,

In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family Foundation, as a means to give back to the world that had already given us so much. We’ve pledged or donated more than $200 million worldwide to support the education of young people and the preservation of international treasures and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the conservation of natural resources for future generations.

Of course, none of this would be possible without your help. A portion of the proceeds of every adventure is donated to Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your life will be enriched by the discoveries you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also help to enrich the lives of the people you’ll meet along the way. Thank you for traveling with us, and for helping to change people’s lives.

Love and peace,

Harriet R. Lewis Chair, Grand Circle Foundation

www.grandcirclefoundation.org

Imik Smik Women's Association

Total Donations: $65,668

The Imik Simik Women’s Association was started in

2012 by 13 women who came together to support

one another through education and skills training.

With funding from Grand Circle Foundation, the

Association has purchased professional-grade

kitchen equipment, such as a refrigerator and stove;

sponsored professional pastry training, allowing the

women to expand production and increase their

income; created sewing and embroidery workshops;

and began construction on a new women’s center.

Dar et Taleb Education Center

Total Donations: $31,217

The Dar et Taleb Education Center is a locally

supported group that provides boarding facilities

and educational opportunities for more than 160

young boys who would not be able to travel to

school on a daily basis. The Foundation’s support

has helped fund the construction of much-needed

showers, restroom facilities, a study room complete

with computers and a soccer court—so the children

can enjoy some well-earned recreation.

See how Grand Circle

Foundation is giving back

in this videoOpen the camera feature on your mobile

device, and hover the lens over this code to

scan it. A pop-up notification will take you

directly to the video.

SCAN ME

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THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL in Morocco—and Around the World

ON THIS ADVENTURE …

FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge a single supplement on this adventure and optional trip extensions—a savings of $799-$1,000 per person compared to other travel companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so early reservations are advised.

One of our most popular trips for solo travelers. More than 2,980 solo travelers joined us on this adventure in the past two years—either independently or sharing a room with a mother, daughter, sister, or friend.

High ratings: More than 89% of these solo travelers rated their adventure excellent.

On average, half of your group will also be traveling independently, so it’s easy to forge special bonds as you experience unforgettable moments together.

You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your dedicated local Trip Experience Leader (a resident of Morocco), and the expertise of our regional office team in Marrakesh.

Increased Single Space: In 2022, we have 48% more single spaces than in 2019, with up to 8 single spaces per departure. See available FREE single space at www.oattravel.com/mso2022.

Exclusive Women’s Departures: We are thrilled to offer a women-only departure of Morocco Sahara Odyssey: September 30, 2022. Space is limited so don’t delay. Join our traveling sisterhood today!

More than 50% of all O.A.T.

travelers are women who travel solo

In 2022, we’re offering 30,000singles spaces across all O.A.T.

adventures. That’s 86% more than

offered in 2019

92% of our 30,000 single spaces

have FREE Single Supplements. The

remaining 8% have the lowest single

supplements in the industry.

In 2022, we’re offering 25 exclusive

women’s departures on some of our

most popular itineraries

The leader in solo-friendlytravel for Americans—

by the numbers

NEW! 101+ Tips for Solo Women TravelersThis complimentary, 96-page

booklet is a comprehensive

collection of savvy tips

specifically for seasoned women

travelers going solo. Learn about

safety for solos, packing like a pro,

the best travel apps, self-care on

the road, and more. Scan this code

to view an online copy or to request

one by mail.

SCAN ME

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Morocco Sahara Odyssey

Travelers riding camels near Merzouga in the Sahara Desert, Morocco

Watch our #1 most popular video

for this adventure

Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover

the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will

take you directly to the video.

SCAN ME

It’s Included

• Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers (average group size of 13)

• International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

• Accommodations for 14 nights (13 nights if you are taking our optional post-trip extension to Essaouira & Casablanca)

• 35 meals—14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 12 dinners, including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner (32 meals—still including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner—if you are taking our optional post-trip extension to Essaouira & Casablanca)

• 16 small group activities

• Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader

• Gratuities for local guides, drivers, camp staff, and luggage porters

• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure—an average of $275

• All land transportation

Morocco Sahara Odyssey Small Group Adventure Morocco: Rabat, Fez, Sahara Tented Camp, High Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh, Casablanca

Countries: 1 | Cities : 6 | 2 Nights In A Private Tented Camp

Maximize Your Discoveries & Value

Optional extension s :Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers of the Rif5 nights pre-trip from $1195Travel from only $239 per night

New! Andalusia & the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga5 nights pre-trip from $1795Travel from only $359 per night

The Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira & Casablanca5 nights post-trip from $795Travel from only $159 per night

New! Historic Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage6 nights post-trip from $1395Travel from only $233 per night

PLUS, see Dates & Prices for Stopover city options

Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)

FROM PER DAY DAYS

16Including international airfare

FREE Single Supplement

3595$ 225$

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www.oattravel.com/mso2022 Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925

Itinerary Summary

DAYS DESTINATION

1 Fly to Casablanca, Morocco

2-3 Rabat

4-6 Fez

7 Erfoud

8-9 Sahara Desert

10-11 Ouarzazate

12-14 Marrakesh

15 Casablanca

16 Return to U.S.

Our Best Value in 2 Years: Save up to $200 per person, and travel at the lowest price and per diems in the industry.

People-to-People Experiences: Spend A Day in the Life of Asfalou village where a local family will share their daily routine and show us how to prepare a traditional meal. And, meet members of the Imik Smik Women’s Association for Rural Development—supported by Grand Circle Foundation—near Aït Benhaddou, where we’ll learn how these local women aim to improve their quality of life and foster independence in young women.

O.A.T. Exclusives: Venture off the beaten path to spend 2 nights at a private tented camp in the legendary Sahara Desert. Our camp is located close to a sand dune sea near Merzouga where few foreigners venture, along routes known only to the camel and goat-herding Tuareg nomads. We’ll also have candid conversations about Controversial Topics such as discrimination against women, poverty, and the influx of sub-Saharan refugees. By speaking to local people directly affected by these complex issues, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of day-to-day life in Morocco.

Morocco : The O.A.T. Difference

Pre-trip extensions: 5 nights in Northern

Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers

of the Rif OR New! 5 nights in Andalusia

& the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga

Post-trip extensions: 5 nights in The

Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira &

Casablanca OR New! 6 nights in Historic

Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage

Marrakesh

Volubilis(Optional Tour)

Meknes(Optional Tour)

Marrakesh

Casablanca

Aït BenhaddouOuarzazate

Rabat Fez

Ifrane

ErfoudRissani

El Khorbat

Merzouga

S a h a r a

Midelt

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M O R O C C O

S P A I N

A L G E R I A

0 60Miles

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PRE-TRIP EXTENSIONS POST-TRIP EXTENSIONSMediterranean

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Rabat

Tangier

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More than 87% of travelers rated this trip excellent

Arrive Early, Stay Later

Prices below include accommodations,

daily breakfast, and private airport

transfer.

• Arrive early in Rabat for your main trip

for $100 per person, per night

• Arrive early in Seville for your Andalusia

pre-trip extension for $75 per person,

per night

• Arrive early on your Northern Morocco

pre-trip extension, or conclude your

main trip or Atlantic Coast post-trip

extension in Casablanca for $75 per

person, per night

• Conclude your Tunisia post-trip exten-

sion with more time in Tunis for $50 per

person, per night

Pacing: 7 locations in 15 days with two 1-night stays

Physical requirements: Travel over cobbled streets and sandy, uneven, and bumpy terrain in the Sahara that can be challenging for travelers with leg or back issues; agility is also required to participate in the camel ride and to access some vehicles by ladder.

Flight Time: Travel time will be 7-22 hours and will most likely have one to two connections

View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/mso2022

What to Expect

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Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925


YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION

5 nights in Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers of the Rif

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Day 2 Arrive Casablanca, Morocco •

Explore Casablanca

Day 3 Overland to Chefchaouen

Day 4 Moroccan cooking demonstration

• Home-Hosted Lunch • Explore

Chefchaouen

Day 5 Chefchaouen • Optional Tetouan

Cultural Mix tour

Day 6 Overland to Tangier

Day 7 Train ride to Rabat • Begin main trip

OR

5 nights in Andalusia & the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Day 2 Arrive Seville, Spain

Day 3 Explore Seville

Day 4 Olive oil farm visit • Guadalquivir

River cruise & Triana neighborhood •

Dinner & flamenco show

Day 5 Transfer to Malaga • Visit Antequera

• Home-Hosted Lunch

Day 6 Explore Malaga • Controversial

Topic: Arab-Spanish relations in Andalusia

Day 7 Fly to Casablanca, Morocco •

Begin main trip

Day 1 Depart for Casablanca

Depart the U.S. today on an overnight flight to Casablanca, Morocco.

Day 2 Arrive in Casablanca, Morocco •

Overland to Rabat

• Destination: Rabat• Included Meals: Dinner• Accommodations: Le Diwan Hotel or similar

Morning: Depending on your specific flight arrangements, you’ll arrive in Casablanca throughout the morning. An O.A.T.

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representative will greet you outside of the terminal and escort you to the bus for your 90-minute transfer to Rabat, one of Morocco’s ancient imperial cities and its capital since 1913.

Lunch: Enjoy your first taste of Moroccan cuisine on our own—your Trip Experience Leader will recommend a local restaurant for you to try.

Afternoon: Around 2pm, you will check in and receive your room assignments at the hotel, where we still stay for two nights. Typical rooms feature a range of amenities including air-conditioning, a minibar, and a private en suite bathroom with a hair dryer. Hotel amenities include bar, spa, and brasserie. Your afternoon is free to explore Rabat, with about 4.5 hours to spend as you choose. Perhaps you’ll explore the creative side of Morocco at the Villa des Arts. This site houses contemporary art that draws heavily on Moroccan heritage and focuses on themes centered around environmentalism, coexistence, and tolerance. Or, take a stroll through Rabat’s Botanical Garden to witness over 650 species of plants, including rare varieties of tropical, sub-tropical, and succulents.

Later this afternoon, fellow travelers who took the optional pre-trip extensions to New! Andalusia & the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga or Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers of the Rif will join the main adventure.

Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel with a selection of traditional dishes at about 7:30pm.

Evening: You are free to spend your evening as you wish. Perhaps you’ll retire to your room to rest after the long journey, or join travelers at the hotel to discuss your upcoming discoveries.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Rabat on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Ride by taxi with your Trip Experience Leader to the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMVI): Opening its doors in 2014, the MMVI is the first large-scale museum built since Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956. As you walk through, you’ll take in abstract, figurative, or overtly political contemporary pieces. The museum chronicles the evolution of Moroccan plastic and visual arts from the early 20th century to present day. Associates in our regional Marrakesh office recommend getting there in the early morning for the least crowds, and also spending about an hour perusing the artwork to get an in-depth experience.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 20-minute taxi ride with your Trip Experience Leader, about $10 USD one way.

• • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily.• • Cost: About $4 USD.

• Enjoy the local artwork of Villa des Arts: As you walk through the museum, take in the cultural work of the local artists supported by the ONA Foundation. The organization focuses on environmental protection, human well-being, and other themes related to becoming “citizens of the world.” On your self-guided visit, perhaps you’ll check out the Diwan gallery, which features permanent and temporary art exhibitions, or the Forum, where theatrical performances, concerts, poetry readings, and more take place.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 20-minute taxi ride, about $10 one way.

• • Hours: 9:30am-7pm, Tuesday-Sunday.• • Cost: Free.

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• Pay a visit to the Currency Museum of the Bank Al-Maghrib: Along with a massive collection of gold and silver coins, monetary instruments, and banknotes from antiquity to the present day, this modern museum features an art gallery of some 800 paintings depicting aspects of Moroccan culture. There are also instructive videos and exhibits on how Moroccan banknotes and coins are pro-duced—and destroyed. This unusual museum is a veritable treasure trove for numismatists and art lovers alike.

• • How to get there: A 15- to 25-minute taxi ride, about $5 to $10 USD one way.

• • Hours: 9am-5:30pm, Monday-Friday; 9am-12:30pm & 3pm-6pm Saturday; 9am-1pm Sunday; closed Monday.

• • Cost: About $2 USD.

Day 3 Explore Rabat

• Destination: Rabat• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Le Diwan Hotel or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 7am.

Morning: Following breakfast, our Trip Experience Leader will give a Welcome Briefing at around 8:30am, during which we will introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). Logistics, safety and emergency procedures, and any questions will also be discussed. Afterwards, we will delve into the basics of the Arabic language with our Trip Experience Leader.

Leaving the hotel behind us, we set out on an orientation walk with our Trip Experience Leader around 9:30am to familiarize ourselves with the surrounding area. We will stop at La Halinka, the oldest coffee shop in the region, to enjoy a traditional nos-nos—a half milk, half espresso drink. Opened in the 1970s, this

rustic coffee shop is typically filled with the smells of coffee, and the loud chatter of retired Moroccans, who have come to spend time here during the week. We will interact with these locals and the wait staff, perhaps even the shop owner, to learn about daily life and the history of coffee in the region. Following our visit, we will continue to explore the cobbled streets of Rabat, seeking out opportunities to interact with the locals we come across.

At around 10:30am, we will drive by private motorcoach for about 30 minutes to visit the ruins and wild gardens of the Chellah, a 14th-century Merinid necropolis. We’ll spend about an hour exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a fascinating blend of ancient Roman and medieval Muslim artifacts, and then return by private motorcoach to Rabat, where we’ll be dropped off in the city center around noon to enjoy lunch on our own.

Lunch: Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend some of their favorite options to enjoy on our own during your free time. Perhaps you’ll sample a local seafood specialty like mussel tagine, a popular seafood stew cooked in a traditional earthenware pot.

Afternoon: We will reconvene around 1pm and drive by private motorcoach for about 15 minutes to Kasbah Oudeya, a citadel originally built in the twelfth-century. Many of the winding lanes are fringed with whitewashed homes intensely accented with a vibrant hue of blue. As we continue our exploration of the kasbah, we will make our way to the Andalusian gardens, which offer a shady retreat with its varying plant-life, such as oleanders, orange, lemon and banana trees. Perhaps we will take a step away from the bustle of the streets and enjoy the view of the Bou Regreg River.

We’ll have the rest of the afternoon to rest or explore independently before dinner.

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Dinner: Around 6:15pm, we will board our coach for a 15-minute drive to a local restaurant. We’ll enjoy a Welcome Dinner of traditional Moroccan cuisine and a glass of wine.

Evening: We arrive back at the hotel at about 8:15pm. The evening is on your own—you are free to return to your room to rest before your explorations tomorrow, or join fellow travelers in the main hotel area to discuss the day’s activities.

Day 4 Overland to Fez • Hammam visit

• Destination: Fez• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Salam

or similar

Activity Note: Today, our transfer from Rabat to Fez will involve a 4- to 5-hour bus ride (with stops along the way) over roads that may be bumpy or uneven at times. Fez’s medina (the old part of the city) can be dusty and crowded, and you’ll be exposed to local residents and their various living conditions, including poverty and beggars. These interactions may be distressing for some travelers. The crowded, narrow medinas are also a haven for pickpockets, and travelers should stay alert and be aware of their belongings and surroundings at all times. If this day falls on a Thursday, we will instead visit the medina on Day 6 to experience it on the weekend when it is at its liveliest.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 6:30am.

Morning: Around 9am, we leave the coast and Rabat behind, and set off for Fez—locally referred to as Fes—driving about 1.5 hours to our first stop. We’ll drive past sweeping fields, rolling countryside, and tree-covered slopes,

some of which may be speckled with poppies, prickly pears, olive trees, or snow, depending on the time of year. En route around 10:30am, we will stop at the El Khemisset market for about 45 minutes of free time to explore. This market is teeming with local vendors, people, and livestock—as it has been for hundreds of years. As you peruse the narrow lanes of vendors, you can hear the pulsating noise of animals, locals chattering, and vendors enthusiastically peddling their products. You will have the unique opportunity to see locals in their daily routines at the market. Around 11:15am, we will board our bus and make the remaining 2-hour transfer to Fez.

Once we get to Fez around 1:15pm, we’ll leave our bus behind in the modern city, and enter the medina—or old city—on foot. As we enter, let the colors and sounds of boisterous Fez envelope you. Vendors fill market stalls with colorful handcrafted goods, and on either side of us, donkey carts and motorbikes zip past as we carefully traverse the narrow, maze-like lanes of the ancient walled city. But, as we approach our riad, you’ll never believe the peaceful haven awaiting us on the other side of the door. Upon arrival, our Trip Experience Leader will lead us on a brief orientation walk around the vicinity of the riad and point out places you can go in your free time.

Lunch: Traditional hot and cold dishes served at our riad upon arrival at around 1:15pm.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we’ll check into our riad—a Moroccan home that has been refurbished into a guest house—around 2:15pm. With just around 20 rooms, our small group size lends itself perfectly to the intimacy and authenticity of a riad stay, and we’ll get a true sense of local life as we share this traditional living space for the next three nights. A typical riad features intricate handmade tilework, and is multiple stories

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high, with rooms—each possessing their own distinct character—connected by a hallway that overlooks an open-air courtyard. Most riads don’t feature elevators, and with their open layouts, it’s not uncommon for the sounds of the city outside to make their way in to our living space. Depending on the centrally-located riad you stay in, it may be in walking distance to local street markets and shopping areas and feature an onsite restaurant. Typical rooms include satellite TV and air-conditioning. You’ll have about 2 hours of free time to relax in your room or check out the local spots your Trip Experience Leader pointed out on our walk.

Around 4pm, we travel by private motorcoach to a traditional Moroccan hammam, a public steam bath. Popularized by the Roman empire more than 2,000 years ago, hammams have been a central part of daily and religious life in Morocco. A Moroccan hammam traditionally consists of a public bath house separated between men and women with multiple steam rooms, and attendants who scrub visitors with savon beldi, a black pigmented soap. Should you choose to partake in the local bathing culture, we will stop at a market to interact with vendors and purchase any products we may need for our visit, such as soaps or loofahs. While there, you will be able to interact with locals and gain a deeper understanding of how bath culture is tied to their social and religious lives.

We will depart the hammam around 5pm. You will have the remainder of your afternoon to relax more at the hotel or perhaps explore more of Fez.

Dinner: On your own tonight. Perhaps you’ll venture to Café Clock for Western and Moroccan fare. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to provide you with other recommendations.

Evening: The evening is free to explore on your own. Perhaps you’ll retire to your room or enjoy a drink with fellow travelers.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Fez on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Walk with your Trip Experience Leader to a Cooking Class: Learn to cook a traditional Moroccan meal like salad and tagine, or stew, which gets its name from the cone-shaped slow cooker traditionally used to make this dish. First, class begins with a visit to the bustling souks to purchase fresh ingredients. Then, at our riad, you’ll participate in a cooking lesson in the main kitchen, and finally, you’ll have included time to enjoy the food you’ve created. The entire experience will take about two hours.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk with your Trip Experience Leader.

• • Hours: 11am-noon, daily.• • Cost: About $60 USD.

• Witness the efforts of the nonprofit American Fondouk: Meet the people who run this organization, and see how it’s helping the working people of Fez’s medina by providing free veterinary care for their donkeys, horses, and other animals. As the volunteers take you on a tour to see the animals and witness the inner workings of the organization, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. For the least crowds, we suggest visiting in the morning.

• • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi ride, about $3 one way.

• • Hours: 8am-12pm, daily.• • Cost: Free.

• Meet a local chef in her home: More and more Moroccan women are running small businesses right from their homes, making

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pastries and traditional dishes enjoyed at events like Moroccoan engagement, child-birth, and circumcision ceremonies. Travelers can enjoy this special opportunity to enter a local home where the chef will give us a lesson in creating a Moroccan pastry.

• • How to get there: An approximate 10-minute walk from the riad.

• • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily.• • Cost: Around $15 USD per person

Day 5 Explore Fez • Home-Hosted Dinner

• Destination: Fez• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Salam

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: This afternoon we’ll venture into the home of a family in Fez, where we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner. This is a special opportunity afforded to us by our small group size and made by possible by the connections of our local Trip Experience Leaders. During our shared meal, you’ll learn more about daily life in the Morocco from these residents, and take part in the customs and culinary traditions of the region. Read more about this experience below.

Activity Note: If this day falls on a Friday, we will drive to the panoramic viewpoint this morning instead of walk through the medina.

Breakfast: Served at the riad featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 6:30am.

Morning: We’ll begin our full-day exploration of Fez at about 8:15am this morning by motorcoach, arriving around 8:30am. Led by our Trip Experience Leader and a local city guide, we leave the 21st century and all previous conceptions of urban design behind as we enter Fez’s medina, often considered the world’s most well-preserved medieval city,

and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We start by exploring the traditional Jewish quarter, called the mellah.

Then we’ll enter the souks (markets) of Fez around 9:30am, walking through myriad tiny lanes. This ancient section of Fez is a maze of narrow streets, and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world. The benefit of being in the company of your Trip Experience Leader will become instantly clear, as navigating the winding medina is a code only a true local can crack. Every inch of space is filled with bazaars, cafés, shops, donkeys, and people. As you stroll the narrow lanes, age-old urban tradition will be on vibrant display, and the intensity of daily life will be bursting around every corner. The thrill of it must be experienced to be truly understood. We’ll depart the market and walk to our lunch spot.

Lunch: Around 11:30am at an old Moroccan home that has been converted into a local restaurant, situated in the heart of the old medina, serving traditional Moroccan fare.

Afternoon: After lunch around 1pm, we continue exploring the medina as we hear the calls of the vendors selling their wares, watch artisans maintain their stalls, listen to shoppers haggle, and browse for gifts to take home. We’ll board our bus and drive 15 minutes back to our riad, arriving around 2:30pm. Upon arrival, we enjoy about 3 hours of free time.

Then, at about 6pm, we’ll split into smaller groups of no more than five travelers and board our bus to join local families for a Home-Hosted Dinner. The family you spend the evening with may live inside the old walls of the medina, or outside the historic center in what is referred to as the “New City.” They may have school-aged children or be retirees. But all families will live in a private apartment and provide a welcoming and congenial atmosphere.

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Dinner: Around 6:30pm in your host family’s home, you’ll get the chance to taste authentic regional cuisine. Expect to dine on typical Moroccan dishes such as harira, a popular soup made up tomatoes, chickpeas, and lentils; fassi, a lamb dish prepared with prunes; and myriad of Moroccan salads. For the families we visit, this is a great chance to practice their limited English. And for us, this is a unique opportunity to learn even more about daily life in this city as you personally connect with the family and ask your hosts about family dynamics, cultural norms, professions, and more. You might, for example, learn about Moroccan wedding traditions and have the chance to view a family’s wedding day attire. Or perhaps you will learn more about the challenges of running a small business in Morocco.

Whatever the topic of your dinner-table discussion, your evening will be one to remember. You might even like to share with your hosts a little about what brings you to Morocco. Around 8pm, we will depart the our family’s home and drive 30 minutes back to the riad.

Evening: Free for your own discoveries starting around 8:30pm. You can take some time for yourself, explore the surrounding area, or meet up with fellow travelers to discuss the day.

Day 6 Fez • Controversial Topic:

Moroccan patriarchy and women’s rights

with Fatima Sadiqi • Optional Volubilis &

Meknes tour

• Destination: Fez• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Salam

or similar

Activity Note: If Day 6 falls on a Saturday, the optional tour will be featured on Day 5 instead.

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries feature the Controversial Topic of sexism in Morocco. We will meet a local activist who has helped to reform the country’s laws to help guarantee equality for women, and hear firsthand how conservative mindsets within the country’s power structure form an ever-present obstacle to continued progress. While the topic may be uncomfortable, it is certain to be an enlightening cultural experience to broaden your understanding of life in Morocco—read more about it below.

Breakfast: Served at the riad featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 7am.

Morning: The morning is yours to make your own discoveries in Fez. You may choose to take a walk through La Ville Nouvelle, an area whose French influence, and modern look and feel, offer a fascinating contrast to the traditional styles throughout most of Fez. Or, if flora is your forte, maybe you’ll choose to visit the botanical garden just a 20-minute walk from our riad.

Or, you may join a full-day Optional Tour of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Volubilis and Meknes. We’ll walk back to the modern section of Fez to meet our bus around 8am, then set off for a 1-hour drive to the site. First we’ll explore Volubilis, one of the most well-preserved Roman cities in North Africa. Led by a local guide, we’ll wander amongst its historic ruins and colorful mosaics, and our guide will help us envision what life was like in ancient times. From this vantage point, we’ll have panoramic views of the whitewashed, holy city of Moulay Idriss in the distance. Then we’ll set off for a 30-minute drive to Meknes, onetime home of the Moroccan sultanate.

Lunch: On your own and your Trip Experience Leader can provide recommendations. However, if you have joined our Optional Tour,

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you will enjoy lunch upon arrival in Meknes around 11:15am at a local restaurant serving traditional Moroccan cuisine.

Afternoon: Travelers not on the Optional Tour will continue to enjoy free time and independent explorations early this afternoon. If you are on the Optional Tour, we will continue our explorations with a tour of the Old City in Meknes around 12:30pm, including the immense stables—a massive structure that once held 12,000 horses—and granaries that were built for 17th-century sultan Moulay Ismail. We will depart around 2pm for our hour-long journey back to the riad to join the rest of our small group.

At around 4pm, we will walk to the International Institute for Languages and Cultures, an educational institution focused on the study of contemporary history, culture, and gender in North Africa and the Middle East. Here, we’ll meet one of its co-founders, the activist and professor Fatima Sadiqui, for a conversation about a Controversial Topic: The impact of sharia law and conservative Moroccan culture on women’s rights, and how modern feminists are pushing back against traditional social norms today.

Morocco has historically been a patriarchal society, governed by conservative readings of Islamic sharia law which place women in a role subservient to men. The result has been a society in which women have fewer opportunities for advancement, and are subject to abuse and discrimination. The 2011 Arab Spring ushered in a wave of progressive changes, including a reformed constitution which places women on an equal legal footing with men—however, many of those fighting for change fear that conservative societal mindsets are a persistent threat to women’s rights today.

We’ll learn about this issue from Professor Sadiqi, a dedicated activist who has been at the frontline of the battle for women’s rights in Morocco for decades. Her advocacy work has been responsible for many of the reforms made in Morocco’s 2011 constitution, as well as subsequent legal reforms to guarantee the rights of women to live in peace and dignity—such as the 2014 repeal of Article 475, which allowed a rapist to avoid prosecution if he married his victim.

Professor Sadiqi will share her experiences with us for about 20 minutes, and then we’ll have the remainder of the hour to ask questions of our own to take advantage of her vast experience and expertise to learn about how the rights of women in Morocco have been improved, and about the threats that still exist. While the years since the Arab Spring have seen an increased number of legal protections for women, many women—especially those in marginalized communities like rural, poor urban, and Berber areas—find it difficult to take advantage of them in practice. Equality may be the law, but many people—including those in business, media, and other places within the country’s power structure—are set in the old ways of thinking, in which a woman’s place is in the home.

Discrimination against women is a difficult aspect of life in Morocco, and one which many people choose not to talk about. However, it’s a necessary one to examine in order to truly understand the lives of local people in this country. With our small group size, and the expertise of a woman who has spent her life and career fighting for equality, we will come away with a more intimate understanding of the issues affecting the lives of local women.

At around 5pm, we will bid Professor Sadiqi farewell and have 1.5 hours of free time before dinner.

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Dinner: Traditional hot and cold dishes served at our riad around 6:30pm.

Evening: Free for your own discoveries. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations if you’d like to experience this city at night.

Day 7 Cross the Middle & High Atlas

Mountains • Overland to Erfoud

• Destination: Erfoud• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Kasbah Hotel Chergui

or similar

Activity Note: Today our transfer from Fez to Erfoud will involve a long bus ride, covering approximately 300 miles through the Middle and High Atlas Mountain range, over roads that may be bumpy, uneven, steep, and winding. Our total transfer time is up to 9 hours, especially in winter when road closures may lead to unexpected detours. We will break up the long transfer with stops along the way.

Breakfast: Served at the riad featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 7am.

Morning: Our Sahara odyssey begins today at about 8am when we board our bus to drive across the Middle Atlas mountain range, winding through pine groves and giant cedar forests. The rich purple soil and the tall evergreens are quite a contrast against each other. We cross a 6,000-foot pass in the mountains and head further toward the Sahara. This long transfer will give our small group ample opportunity to witness the varied geologic and ecological zones we travel through and gain a deeper understanding of the regional landscapes. Around 9am, we will briefly stop in the ski resort town of Ifrane for the opportunity to take pictures of the quaint town. Afterwards around 9:15am we will continue our journey by bus. En route, we will stop to

visit a semi-nomadic family (when possible, based on their availability). While here, we will enter into their tent and enjoy a cup of tea while discussing the nomadic way of life. Our small group affords us the unique opportunity to ask this family questions and understand their daily life. Following our visit, we will board our bus and continue our drive through thick cedar forests. Perhaps, you will spot the barbary macaque, a rare monkey species.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Midelt around 12:30pm, featuring typical dishes of the area like trout. This village converted old mining grounds to fish farms, and is now famous for their trout farming.

Afternoon: We continue our drive through the High Atlas Mountains around 1:30pm, and in the late afternoon—at about 5pm—we descend into Erfoud, a small trading village that is the gateway to the vast Sahara Desert. When we arrive, we check into our hotel and receive our room assignments for our one-night stay. Situated on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert, the hotel you stay in may feature a restaurant, bar, and outdoor swimming pool. Typical rooms include air-conditioning, a minibar, a refrigerator, and a private bath.

Dinner: Traditional hot and cold Moroccan dishes served buffet-style at our hotel around 7pm.

Evening: Your evening is free to enjoy a night cap with fellow travelers at the hotel bar or rest before tomorrow’s journey into the Sahara Desert.

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Day 8 Off-road Sahara adventure •

Overland to Sahara Desert camp • Meet

local family

• Destination: Sahara Desert• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Private tented camp

Activity Note: We will board 4x4 vehicles to make our way into the Sahara Desert over sand dunes. Total transfer time is about three hours.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 7:30am.

Morning: At about 10am, we begin our day boarding 4x4 vehicles for a 20-minute ride to a local village. Here, we enjoy an O.A.T.-exclusive visit with members of a local desert community in their home to experience a traditional side of Moroccan life. Our Trip Experience Leader will help us communicate with the local family, and we encourage travelers to interact, ask questions, and learn more about this way of life. Afterwards around 11:15am, we board our 4x4 vehicles and head into the desert to continue our journey to our private tented campsite, located close to a sea of sand dunes near Merzouga. We arrive shortly after 12pm. During our 2-night stay, we’ll experience the remote environment of the Sahara, with no roads, and the sound of the wind in the dunes as we navigate the sandy tracks.

At the camp, you’ll stay in a walk-in canvas tent, complete with camp bed, mattress, fresh linens, and pillow, and private en suite toilet facilities. There is a separate tent for dining.

Lunch: A selection of local and international dishes served in the dining tent upon arrival at the camp around 12:15pm.

Afternoon: You may enjoy about four hours of free time, during which you might discover more of the desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Or, perhaps

you’d like to trek over the sand dunes where you can enjoy the dramatic views of the sun setting low over the desert stretching out around you. Then around 6pm, our local cook will give us a demonstration in preparing Moroccan cuisine. The chef will choose the menu, but it will likely center around couscous, a nourishing staple of Moroccan diets, along with other savory discoveries such as harissa, a fiery sauce made from hot red pepper, olive oil, and garlic; or tajine, a slow-cooked stew named for the pot that it’s cooked in.

Dinner: Around 7pm at our campsite featuring local and international dishes.

Evening: The evening is free for you to enjoy the starry desert sky, spend time reflecting with fellow travelers, or rest.

Day 9 Sahara Desert walk • Farm visit •

Meet nomadic families in Khamlia

• Destination: Sahara Desert• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Private tented camp

Early morning: Today, we absorb the feeling of our desert environment. If you wish, your Trip Experience Leader will wake you up early to sit in the camp and watch the sunrise over the Sahara Desert, casting a golden light across the sprawling sand dunes. During the summer, the sun rises around 5am, but in the winter, it rises closer to 6am. Your Trip Experience Leader will then guide you on a short walk close to camp.

Breakfast: Served at the dining tent featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 8am.

Morning: At about 8:45am, we’ll “saddle up” to explore the desert dunes for about 45 minutes the traditional way—on the back of a camel (weather permitting). Then, our 4x4 vehicle takes us to a local farm at around

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9:30am for an exclusive visit to learn about local produce and vegetation in the Sahara’s unique climate.

Once our visit wraps up around 10:30am, we’ll head to Khamlia, a remote desert village. This region is renowned for the ritual songs of its Gnawa musicians, and we’ll get the chance to hear their melodic chants during a lively performance. Next, we’ll get another perspective on life in the furthest corners of the Sahara when we drive to a nomadic village, an experience exclusive to O.A.T. travelers. During our visit, we’ll talk to the women of these families over a cup of tea to learn about their nomadic lifestyle and how they cook, maintain their home, educate their children, and more. Around 11:30am, we leave Khamlia via 4x4 vehicles to return to camp in time for lunch.

Lunch: Traditional hot and cold dishes served in the dining tent about 1:30pm.

Afternoon: You will have about 4 hours of free time this afternoon to spend as you wish. Perhaps you’ll hike the dunes or venture by 4x4 vehicle around the desert. At around 6pm, we’ll reconvene at the campsite for an in-depth conversation with your Trip Experience Leader about the basic tenets of Islam. Based around the five main pillars of the religion—faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca—our conversation will illuminate the realities, misconceptions, and history behind the Islamic faith. During this interactive Q&A session, we encourage travelers to ask challenging questions. This is a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of religion, family dynamics, gender roles, and to dig deeper into Islam’s portrayal in the U.S. media compared to the reality of its practice in Morocco.

Dinner: A selection of local dishes served in the dining tent around 7:30pm.

Evening: We’ll spend our last night gazing at the starry desert sky, where (weather permitting) the Milky Way may be clear and bright, and perhaps enjoying music and dancing with the camp staff.

Day 10 Overland to Ouarzazate • Visit

Berber museum

• Destination: Ouarzazate• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Le Berbere Palace

or similar

Activity Note: Our overland transfer to Ouarzazate will take about eight hours, including stops along the way.

Breakfast: Served at the dining tent featuring Moroccan dishes beginning from 7am-8am.

Morning: This morning around 8:30am, we leave the open desert behind and set off for the oasis town of Ouarzazate in our 4x4 vehicles. Including stops along the way, the entire transfer will take about 8 hours. En route, we’ll stop to learn about khatarat, an old underground water system, then continue on our way to Tinejdad, arriving around 11:15am. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Ksar of El Khorbat and take a walk inside the ancient fortified ksar (a Berber walled city typically used to keep desert raiders out of Roman cities on the coast). We’ll then visit a Berber museum founded by a local Jewish activist. We’ll have about an hour to learn about the history, architecture, and daily life of Berbers in this region. While here, we’ll also have a conversation with the founder about his perspective of the museum and its origins. Following our visit to the museum, we will walk to a local restaurant for lunch.

Lunch: At a local restaurant around noon, featuring traditional cuisine.

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Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll continue via coach for another 4 hours to Ouarzazate, a city built by the French as a garrison outpost in the Sahara. We’ll arrive around 5pm to check in to our hotel.

For two nights, we’ll stay at a conveniently located hotel in the center of Ouarzazate, which may have an outdoor pool, as well as two restaurants, a bar, and health club with a sauna. Typical rooms will be modern with air-conditioning, a satellite TV, minibar, refrigerator, and private bath.

Dinner: A choice of Moroccan and international dishes served at the hotel around 7pm.

Evening: The evening is free to explore on your own, take advantage of the hotel amenities, or rest in your room.

Day 11 A Day in the Life of Asfalou village

• Visit Grand Circle Foundation Site:

Imik Simik Women’s Association • Explore

Ouarzazate

• Destination: Ouarzazate• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Le Berbere Palace

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activities: Today’s discoveries feature A Day in the Life of the mountainside village of Asfalou. This exclusive O.A.T. activity offers an intimate glimpse to the day-to-day lives of everyday people as we immerse ourselves in a local community and join them where they live and work, and is likely to be a memorable moment of your adventure. We’ll also visit the Grand Circle Foundation-sponsored Imik Simik Women’s Association for Rural Development, which helps to further the education and skills of women in the area. Read more below.


Morning: Today, we visit Asfalou village, a mountainside town—departing the hotel in our bus around 9am for a 30-minute drive. We’ll first stop at a coffee shop in the nearby town of Aït Benhaddou, where we’ll pick up a local guide who will help facilitate our conversations in Asfalou, and to relax before continuing our drive.

We’ll then arrive at Asfalou at 10am, where we will have the opportunity to experience A Day in the Life of several aspects of the community, beginning with meeting a local family. We’ll step off the motorcoach and greet our hosts in their home to get a firsthand look at a typical family’s lifestyle in this region. Our host is a bricklayer, while his wife and children help out with farm work in the outlying fields, and can share their perspective of everyday life as a Berber in rural Morocco.

After a short walk around the fields, we’ll head back inside their home for some light refreshment. We’ll sip tea, then enjoy a light snack of bread and olive oil as we converse about life in the village. We’ll learn about the challenges of carving out an agrarian living in this arid region of Morocco, and about how the close proximity of Aït Benhaddou—a UNESCO World Heritage Site where major Hollywood productions are regularly filmed—affects their lives and the local economy.

At around 11am we’ll roll up our sleeves and help out with some village chores to gain a hands-on understanding of the day-to-day tasks that occupy the lives of the locals. Our host will point us in the direction of the work that needs to be done; you might help him craft bricks, or join his wife and daughters in the fields, where you’ll tend to the crops and help

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feed the animals. Some will help prepare the afternoon’s meal in the kitchen, which we’ll then share together.

Lunch: At around 12pm, we’ll sit down together at the family table for lunch. Our hosts will choose the menu, but it will likely feature regional specialties such as couscous or pastries, prepared from farm-fresh ingredients grown locally on the premises. We’ll spend about an hour dining together, offering more opportunities for intimate conversation about what life is like for Berbers in modern-day Morocco.

Afternoon: At around 1pm, we’ll say goodbye to our hosts, then drive five minutes to visit the Grand Circle Foundation-sponsored Imik Simik Women’s Association for Rural Development, an O.A.T.-exclusive site.

Grand Circle Foundation

Imik Simik Women’s Association for Rural Development Total donated: $65,668 Partner since: 2016

The association was established in 2012 by just 15 women and has since grown to include 43 women, each hoping to further their education and opportunities. Located just outside the village of Aït Benhaddou, in a predominantly male-dominated area, the association’s goal is to create workshops and programs that teach girls and women how to sew, read, cook, develop healthcare and other skills and crafts that otherwise would not be available. The Imik Simik Women’s Association currently generates funding by selling bread, pastries, and couscous to local guesthouses in the village.

When we arrive, we’ll meet with Fatima, the association’s leader, and receive a tour of the facilities. As we walk through the kitchen (a former garage) and workshop rooms, we’ll also meet the many women who work and

learn here, and find out how they are trying to change their lives and those of the young women in their community, for the better. The association has faced hardship and obstacles owing to its location in a close-minded community, but as we’ll learn, the women’s persistence and determination has paid off—in 2018, after two years of negotiation with local leaders, the association won land rights and planning permission to build a new women’s center. Grand Circle Foundation was thrilled to fund the first payment allowing construction to begin.

We’ll spend a little more than an hour speaking with these women and learning more about their lives during a Q&A session complete with mint tea and cookies. Some of the women may be learning English, but your Trip Experience Leader will play a large role in translating and facilitating the conversation. Afterwards, if you’d like, you may participate in a henna ceremony in which one of the women uses a traditional, natural dye to give you an intricate and non-permanent tattoo.

Shortly before 3pm, we’ll say goodbye to the women at Imik Simik and board our bus for the return drive to our hotel. When we arrive, around 3:30pm, you’ll have about 3.5 hours to explore on our own. You may choose to stroll through Ouarzazate’s main square, sit down at one of the nearby cafés, or meander through the local flea market. We will gather at the hotel a little before 7pm to make the 5-minute drive by bus to dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant around 7pm, featuring a selection of international dishes.

Evening: The evening is free to explore on your own after we return to the hotel. Your Trip Experience Leader is happy to provide recommendations for the best ways to experience this city at night.

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Day 12 Cross High Atlas Mountains

• Overland to Marrakesh • Explore

Djemaa El Fna

• Destination: Marrakesh• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Bahia Salam

or similar

Activity Note: Our overland transfer today brings us to the highest altitude of the whole trip: more than 7,000 feet. It involves a 5-hour bus ride over roads that are steep and winding with stops included along the way. Marrakesh and its medina can be crowded.


Morning: Leaving our hotel by bus around 8am, we travel through the High Atlas Mountains today en route to Marrakesh. During the drive of about five hours, we’ll pause high above narrow green valleys to take in sweeping views. In fact, we reach our highest altitude of the whole trip during this drive: more than 7,000 feet. On our journey, we’ll pass by Tizi N’Tichka road, a dramatic, winding road through the peaks and valleys of the High Atlas Mountains. The road, at times, can appear carved into the mountainside.

Upon our arrival in Marrakesh around 1pm, we’ll head to our riad where we’ll enjoy lunch after our long drive.

Lunch: At our riad around 1:15pm, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes.

Afternoon: We check into our riad after lunch. Our home for the next three nights is located in the heart of Marrakesh, just a short walk to the old city’s main square. Depending on the riad you stay in, it may feature a spa and sauna, on-site restaurant, and a rooftop terrace

with views of the Atlas Mountains while typical guest rooms include air-conditioning, TV, and private bath.

We’ll enjoy about two hours at leisure, followed by a short orientation walk, then a walk to Djemaa El Fna around 4:30pm. Translating to “assembly of the dead”—in commemoration of public executions that occurred there in 1050 AD—Djemaa El Fna has taken on somewhat of a paradoxical nature, having blossomed into an area that is as full of life as the Sahara is full of sand. A cacophony of sounds fills the streets as musicians tune their instruments; snake charmers dazzle with their fascinating mix of danger and exotic ritual; food stalls line the streets; and a combination of horse-drawn carriages, motorbikes, and cars are relegated to the outskirts of the square as nightly pedestrian traffic takes center stage. This is a distinct locale for people-watching, and a great place to sample some local cuisine. You’ll have about an hour free to explore the area on your own.

Dinner: Tonight, your Trip Experience Leader will lead you to their favorite food stalls so you can sample local favorites on your own. Afterwards, you’re free to continue to explore some of Marrakesh’s local cuisine on your own in the square.

Evening: Enjoy the freedom to explore on your own this evening or spend a night in to refresh before your days in Marrakesh.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Marrakesh on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Ride by taxi with your Trip Experience Leader to meet with a neggafa: Learn how young Moroccan brides prepare for their spe-cial day by meeting a neggafa, a woman who specializes in helping with all the wedding

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preparations—from setting expectations and selecting and accessorizing each of the bride’s traditional wedding dresses to doing hair and makeup and getting her back to the marital home after the ceremonies. Travelers can also try one or two traditional outfits and enjoy an authentic Moroccan make-up tutorial during the visit.

• • How to get there: An approximate 5-min-ute taxi ride with your Trip Experience Leader.

• • Hours: 10am-12:30pm & 2:30pm-6pm, daily

• • Cost: About $30 USD per person.

• Visit a Moroccan fortune teller: Why read your horoscope in the paper when you can enjoy a session with an authentic Moroccan fortune teller? See what mystical messages await when your fortune teller reads between the lines to reveal your hidden past and perhaps give you a glimpse into the future.


• • Hours: 9am-midnight daily• • Cost: Starting at about $10 USD per person.

• Spend time with a Moroccan dressmaker: Learn about the elaborate embroidery tech-niques used to create traditional Moroccan kaftans, the long flowing robes worn as dresses in much of Morocco. Learn why some take longer to produce when using different materials like cotton, wool, silk, and velvet; and discover the patient skills of the maalam, those tasked with the elaborate emroidery, beadwork, and embellishments that go into producing the most beautiful garments.


• • Hours: 10am-6pm, Saturday-Thursday; closed Friday.

• • Cost: About $15 USD per person.

Day 13 Explore Marrakesh • Local

interaction

• Destination: Marrakesh• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Bahia Salam

or similar

Breakfast: Served at the riad at 7am featuring Moroccan dishes.

Morning: Departing our hotel around 8:45am, your Trip Experience Leader will lead you on a 3-hour exploration of the legendary city of Marrakesh on foot. First we’ll stop by the opulent Bahia Palace. This 19th-century palace houses 150 council rooms with large fireplaces and intricately painted cedar work lining the floor and walls. The open air Court of Honor is lined with vibrant tiles and flowing fountains.

Our tour continues at Le Jardin Secret, an opulent 400-year-old palatial estate featuring opulent architecture and immaculately-tended gardens. In ages past, the estate entertained Morocco’s most elite and influential political figures—today, you can wander the grounds and admire their beauty for yourself.

Next, we’ll visit the Koutoubia minaret, which houses the largest mosque in Marrakesh with it’s minaret standing at 70 meters–the tallest structure in the city. In fact, local laws forbid any new structures from exceeding the height of the minaret. We’ll also explore the famous medina of Marrakesh, one of the ancient crossroads of North Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our final stop is at a local bakery around 11:45am, where we’ll have the chance to meet with the baker and learn about his traditional bread-making techniques.

Lunch: On your own around 12:15pm. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend some of their favorite options.

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Afternoon: After lunch, gather again around 1:15pm for the walk back to the hotel. Upon return, you have about 3 hours to spend as you wish, or join your Trip Experience Leader after lunch for an elective visit to see a demonstration of Berber weaving. As we watch and learn, your local Trip Experience Leader will explain the significance of the tradition as it relates to local history and culture, adding color to the experience. Afterwards around 4:45pm, your Trip Experience Leader will lead you on a deeper exploration of Marrakesh, but in a traditional horse-drawn caleche. As we cruise along the streets and narrow lanes, enjoy the sunset and bustling city squares.

Our carriage ride wraps up just before 6:30pm in front of a local restaurant.

Dinner: At a local restaurant featuring traditional fare from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Evening: After dinner, tonight is yours to explore Marrakesh and enjoy the city by night. Your Trip Experience Leader can provide recommendations of nighttime activities in the area.

Day 14 Marrakesh • Controversial

Topic: Feminism and youth activism

with Yassamine, Chaimae, or Oumama •

Optional tours

• Destination: Marrakesh• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Riad Bahia Salam

or similar

Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries offer a different perspective about the Controversial Topic of gender inequality in Morocco. We will meet one of three young women to get the point of view of a new generation of Moroccan feminist activists. We’ll get an intimate, firsthand view of how young women are challenging their traditional gender

roles and fighting for a more equal future, no matter who gets in their way—even if it means defying their own families. Read more about this activity below.

Early Morning: Early risers are welcome to join our optional Marrakesh Hot-Air Balloon Ride this morning. An early wakeup call around 4:30am will be rewarded with the pre-dawn light illuminating the edge of Marrakesh and the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Departing around 5:15am, we’ll board our 4x4 vehicles and drive for about 45 minutes before we reach the balloon site. Around 6:15am, we’ll receive a 10-minute safety briefing from our pilot, and then we’ll watch an expert team inflate and prepare our balloon. Afterwards, we’ll ascend into the morning sky on a 1-hour hot-air balloon ride, which offers a unique perspective of Morocco. We may be able to see the traditional Berber villages or far off palm groves dotting the desert landscape.

Breakfast: For those taking the optional tour, breakfast will be served following your balloon ride around 8am. Traditional Moroccan food will be served at the balloon site. For those not taking the optional tour, breakfast will be served buffet-style at the riad featuring Moroccan and American dishes beginning at 8am.

Morning: Around 8:45am, travelers on the optional tour will depart the balloon site by 4x4 vehicles and drive 45 minutes back to the hotel. Your Trip Experience Leader will discuss possible options for your free day in Marrakesh, where past travelers have greatly enjoyed time for independent exploration. As in Fez, there is much to see, do, and buy in the bustling medina, and your Trip Experience Leader will be able to offer you plenty of suggestions about where to go.

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Or, you can choose to join our optional Marrakesh Museums tour, which departs from the hotel around 9am and features visits to the Jardin de Majorelle and Islamic Art Museum; the Maison de la Photographie and The Museum of the Water Civilization; and a stroll through Marrakesh’s ancient medina. You’ll have about an hour at each of the museums.

Lunch: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for their local favorites. If you joined the optional tour, you’ll join some local Moroccans for a roasted lamb lunch in a local restaurant at around 12:15pm. There will be vegetarian options available for those who do not eat lamb.

Afternoon: For those on the optional tour, you will return to the hotel around 1:30pm. At around 4pm, we’ll walk to Dar Chabab, a local youth center used for educational programs and to organize community events, where we’ll meet a young woman for a conversation about a Controversial Topic: the challenges faced by Morocco’s progressive youths in their fight for a more equal future for women.

Throughout our journey, we’ve learned about the discrimination and inequality that Moroccan women face in their day-to-day lives. We learned about the fight for equal rights from Professor Sadiqi in Fez, and we’ve seen it for ourselves throughout the country; from bustling cities like Rabat, to rural villages like Aït Benhaddou, and the remote communities of the Sahara Desert and the High Atlas Mountains.

Today, we meet a member of Morocco’s young generation charged with pushing for a brighter future, to learn about the values they fight for, and the unique challenges of being a young progressive in a society heretofore dominated by conservative traditions. With no formal right to free speech or separation between church and state, Morocco’s young women are torn between the competing pressures to

pursue their dreams and to meet the traditional expectations of their family and faith. We’ll meet one of three young women who have decided to defy gender roles and fight for equality—and about the discord that their activism has caused within their communities and families.

We’ll meet one of three young women, each a Marrakesh local in her 20s, depending on their schedules and availability. We might speak to Yassamine Abourida, a medical student who was raised in a traditional religious household which adhered to conservative Islamic values. She spent the early years of her life behind a veil in accordance with Muslim tradition, but defied her family by removing it and pursuing a university education. Yassamine is a firm believer in the feminist movement, and has even made some progress in bringing her mother on board—with Yassamine’s support, she has enrolled in vocational classes to leave her life as a homemaker behind and pursue a career with the local government.

Or, we might meet Chaimae Benyamna, another medical student. The child of two science professors, Chaimae pursued an education with the full support of her parents, even though the liberal views she developed—and her decision to backpack alone in Europe for a month—became a source of conflict between her and her more conservative family. Her discord with her family and the patriarchal attitudes of some of her peers has been a source of doubt and tension in the background of her life, but ultimately her life experience has emboldened her desire to build a better and more equal future for Morocco’s women.

Alternatively, we may speak to Oumama Chikh, a journalist and translator whose parents believed in the value of education, and always pushed her to pursue her dreams and express her opinions freely, no matter what society

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might say. Unlike some of her peers, Oumama is also devoutly religious—she believes that there is room for faith in her fight, and Moroccan women can be free to worship without being held back by traditional gender roles.

While these three young women may be from different backgrounds, they are united in a common goal: Creating a future for Morocco in which women are free to pursue their hopes and dreams. Our speaker will spend about 20 minutes sharing their experiences and plans for the future, and we’ll then have the remainder of the hour to ask questions of our own to learn about daily life for young women in Morocco.

We’ll say our goodbyes around 5pm and then return to our riad.

Dinner: We’ll gather at the hotel around 6:45pm for a 15-minute bus ride to a local restaurant. Around 7pm we’ll enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant and share our discoveries over traditional Moroccan cuisine as well as international dishes.

Evening: Your evening is yours to enjoy a final night in Marrakesh, making final visits to the medina or reminiscing about the trip with your fellow travelers over a nightcap.

Day 15 Marrakesh • Women’s Solidarity

Association • Overland to Casablanca &

Hassan II Mosque

• Destination: Casablanca• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel

Casablanca or similar

Activity Note: If Day 15 of your itinerary falls on a Sunday, the Women’s Solidarity Association will not be open for visitors, and your included lunch will be at a local restaurant.

Travelers taking the post-trip extension will depart for Essaouira on Day 15 after breakfast. All other travelers will continue to Casablanca on a 3- to 4-hour bus ride over roads that may be bumpy or uneven. During our visit to the mosque, both men and women with exposed legs and upper arms will need to cover them. You will also need to remove your shoes while visiting the mosque.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the riad featuring Moroccan dishes beginning at 7:30am.

Morning: Following breakfast, any travelers taking our optional post-trip extension will depart for an overland transfer to Essaouira, leaving the main trip a day early, and experiencing Casablanca on Day 5 of the The Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira & Casablanca post-trip extension instead of Day 15 of the main adventure. Those of us who will be returning to the U.S. after the main trip concludes will check out of our riad and depart for Casablanca by bus around 9am. During our 3- to 4-hour drive, we’ll enjoy another look at Morocco’s timeless landscapes.

Lunch: Around noon we’ll arrive at the Women’s Solidarity Association in Casablanca. Founded in 1985, this non-profit organization provides professional experience to single women, mothers, and victims of abuse by training them to develop the skills needed to work in restaurants, bakeries, and hammams. At the restaurant, we’ll be treated to traditional cuisine prepared by the women of the association, and have the chance to get to know one of the women training there. This is a great opportunity to get a true sense of what life is like for women in Morocco, and we encourage travelers to interact, ask questions, and come away with a better understanding of local life. We’ll depart the association around 2pm and drive by bus to our next destination.

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Afternoon: At around 2:30pm, we’ll witness the towering Hassan II Mosque. This mosque is the largest in Morocco with the tallest minaret in the world. We’ll have about 1.5 hours at the mosque to admire its marble columns, intricately designed dome, and mosaic tiles. While here, you may even hear the call to prayer emanating from the towering minaret. We depart the mosque around 4pm for a 30-minute drive to our centrally-located hotel to check in and receive our room assignments for the night. Depending on the hotel, it may feature an onsite restaurant and lounge. Typical guestrooms include satellite television, air conditioning, bottled water, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and an en suite bathroom.

Dinner: On your own, around 6:30pm. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to provide suggestions on where to dine.

Evening: Tonight is free to explore Casablanca, gather with fellow travelers in the hotel lobby for one last drink to toast to the discoveries you’ve made together, or retire early before your morning flight.

Day 16 Casablanca • Return to U.S.

• Included Meals: Breakfast

Activity Note: Many travelers will have a very early wake-up call around 3am to catch flights home to the U.S. Travelers who may have arranged later flights may discuss alternate plans with your Trip Experience Leader.

Breakfast: A light breakfast will be served at the hotel shortly after our 3am wake up.

Early morning: Board our bus with your luggage around 3:30am and take about an hour drive to the airport for your return flight home. Or, begin your New! Historic Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage post-trip extension.

END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION

5 nights in The Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira & Casablanca

Day 1 Overland to Essaouira • Lunch with

local family

Day 2 Explore Essaouira

Day 3 Essaouira • Optional Hidden Gems

of Mogador tour

Day 4 Overland to Casablanca

Day 5 Explore Casablanca •

Hassan II Mosque


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OR

6 nights in Historic Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage

Day 1 Fly to Tunis, Tunisia

Day 2 Explore Tunis • Controversial

Topic: Life before and after the Tunisian

Revolution

Day 3 Explore ancient Carthage • Visit

North Africa American Cemetery

Day 4 Overland to Kairouan • Explore

Kairouan’s medina

Day 5 Explore Kairouan

Day 6 Overland to Tunis • Cap Bon

winery visit

Day 7 Return to U.S.

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OPTIONAL TOURS

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.

Volubilis & Meknes

(Day 6 $75 per person)

On this full-day optional excursion, we’ll explore two eye-opening, ancient sites.

First we’ll pass through the rolling countryside until we arrive at Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s one of the best-preserved Roman cities in North Africa. Led by a local guide, we’ll wander amongst its historic ruins, where—peppered within the fragments of stone from ancient dwellings—we’ll behold a variety of striking, well-preserved mosaics, and our guide can help us envision what life was like in ancient times. From this vantage point, we’ll also be able to look out upon the panoramic, whitewashed vistas of the holy city of Moulay Idriss in the distance.

Then we’ll set off for Meknes, onetime home of the Moroccan sultanate and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After passing through the monumental gates of this walled city, we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we’ll embark upon a tour of the Old City, including the immense stables—a massive structure that once held 12,000 horses—and granaries that were built for 17th-century sultan, Moulay Ismail.

Please note: If Day 6 of this itinerary falls on a Saturday, this optional tour will be featured on Day 5 instead.

Marrakesh Hot Air Balloon Ride


An extremely early wakeup call will be rewarded with the pre-dawn light illuminating the edge of Marrakesh city and the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. We’ll receive a safety briefing from our pilot, and then we’ll watch an expert team inflate and prepare our balloon. Afterwards, we’ll ascend into the morning sky on a 1-hour hot-air balloon ride, which offers a unique perspective of Morocco. We may be able to see the traditional Berber villages or far off palm groves dotting the desert landscape. A traditional Moroccan breakfast will be served at the balloon site.

Marrakesh Museums


Begin your day surrounded by flowers and art at the Jardin Majorelle and Islamic Art Museum. The lovely landscaped gardens were designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s

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(and once owned by Yves Saint-Laurent) and feature a variety of exotic plants, flowers, and cacti. The museum’s collections include North African textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and paintings by Majorelle. Then we visit Maison de la Photographie, a museum showcasing powerful photos and old films of Morocco over the years; and the nearby Museum of the Water Civilization, which documents the ingenious engineering solutions that Moroccans have employed over the years to provide clean water for their daily needs. Then we journey behind the eleventh-century ramparts to explore the narrow streets of Marrakesh’s old fortified city, the medina, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your optional tour concludes with a lunch with some Moroccans, who will share the secret of their special local treat—slow roasted leg of lamb.

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PRE-TRIP

Northern Morocco: Chefchaouen, Tangier & the Berbers of the Rif

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations for 1 night in Casablanca at Radisson Blu Hotel Casablanca or similar, 3 nights in Chefchaouen at Casa Hassan Guesthouse or similar, and 1 night in Tangier at Fredj Hotel & Spa or similar

» 9 meals—5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)

» 4 small group activities

» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader

» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

» All transfers

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Venture to the mountainside city of Chefchaouen to witness its striking scenery and meet the Berbers who dwell amidst the Rif’s 6,000 peaks. Then travel to Tangier on the northern coast to discover a city that has sparked unforgettable Morocco travel moments for centuries—and experience the intoxicating mix of cultures that travelers have left behind throughout the years.

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S. today on an overnight flight to Casablanca, Morocco.

Day 2 Arrive Casablanca, Morocco •

Explore Casablanca

• Destination: Casablanca• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel


Activity Note: If travelers arrive later today, the Welcome Briefing will be rescheduled for Day 3.

Morning: Depending on your specific flight arrangements, you’ll arrive in Casablanca throughout the morning. An O.A.T. representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to the bus for your 45-minute transfer to your hotel in the heart

of Casablanca. Your hotel may feature an onsite restaurant and lounge. Typical rooms include a satellite television, air conditioning, bottled water, and an en suite bathroom. Upon arrival, you will check in and receive your room assignments. Pending your arrival time, you may choose to join your Trip Experience Leader for a short orientation walk around noon.

Lunch: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try a restaurant your Trip Experience Leader pointed out during the orientation walk, or seek out fish chermoula—a seafood dish seasoned with a special mix of spices like onion, coriander, chilies, or saffron.

Afternoon: Depending on your arrival time, you will have up to six hours of free time to begin exploring Casablanca or relax at the hotel after your flight. Around 6pm, we gather

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for a Welcome Briefing, during which we will introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in more detail (including any changes that may need to occur). Your Trip Experience Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and emergency procedures, and answer any questions we may have.

Dinner: On your own this evening. You may enjoy Mediterranean and international cuisine at the hotel restaurant or venture into the city for a local specialty.

Evening: You’re free to explore Casablanca by night, enjoy a cocktail with fellow travelers at the hotel bar, or retire early to rest up before tomorrow’s discoveries.

Day 3 Overland to Chefchaouen

• Destination: Chefchaouen• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Casa Hassan Guesthouse

or similar

Activity Note: Our overland transfer today will take about 6.5 hours, with a stop for lunch on the way.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot dishes and Mediterranean breakfast staples.

Morning: We depart around 9am by coach for the city of Chefchaouen. Known for its distinctive blue-washed buildings, Chefchaouen is perched on the foothills of the Rif Mountains. Its name comes from a Berber phrase that means “watch the horns,” a reference to the Jebel Tisouka and Megou mountains that rise dramatically above the city like a pair of horns.

Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant en route, featuring barbeque dishes. While here, we will meet with the owner and his family to learn more about daily life and their journey of moving from the south of the country.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our drive to the “Blue City” around 1:30pm and arrive around 3:30pm to check in to our hotel in the heart of Chefchaouen’s medina. Depending on where we stay, our riad—a traditional Moroccan house built around an interior courtyard that has been converted into a comfortable, rustic guesthouse—may feature a hammam (Turkish bath), dining room, and roof terrace with sweeping views of the city and mountainsides. Typical rooms are colorfully decorated by local artists and include an en suite bath.

Your Trip Experience Leader will then lead a 1-hour orientation walk to introduce us to this vibrant city at about 5pm. During our walk, we’ll step into the lives of locals at a coffee shop in the main square: Place Outa el Hammam. We’ll enjoy a cup of coffee and our Trip Experience Leader will lead a conversation about the smoking habits of this conservative society. We’ll walk back to our hotel around 6pm.

Dinner: At our riad around 6:30pm—featuring traditional Moroccan dishes like tagine, couscous, and grilled meats.

Evening: Tonight you are free to explore at your own pace, browsing the local shops, enjoying tea in a café, or taking in the Moroccan charm of our riad.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Chefchaouen on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

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• Explore the Kasbah Museum: This museum lies within the walls of a restored fortress that was built in 1471 by Prince Moulay Ali Ben Rachid to fend off Iberian forces. Enjoy the garden, ethnographic museum, and small art gallery promoting the work of local artists to learn more about the surrounding city’s culture. Associates in our regional Marrakesh office say this is a must-see attraction and to allot 30 minutes to fully explore.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.• • Hours: 9am-6:30pm, daily.• • Cost: About $7 USD.

• Wander the bustling Chefchaouen flea mar-ket: Browse the unique handicrafts like wool garments, woven blankets, and traditional straw hats with colorful pom-poms. Perhaps Berber women farmers will be making their way down from the mountainside to sell local goods, such as vegetables, eggs, chickens, flour, and more. Here, bartering is an expect-ed part of the process—and can be great fun. Perhaps you’ll try it out to truly understand what daily life is like in this city.

• • How to get there: A 10-minute walk.• • Hours: 10am-2pm, Monday and Thursday.• • Cost: Free.

• Enjoy the outdoors at Ras Elma: Gather with locals at this cascading waterfall and river where mountain water trickles its way into the town and residents enjoy picnics, wash their clothes, or sit to chat. Perhaps you’ll stroll the walkways flanking both sides of the river and watch as locals hang their colorful, ornate rugs and clothing out to dry. Or, maybe you’ll cool off in the water, and take a rest on the rocks bordering the river.

• • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.• • Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.• • Cost: Free.

Day 4 Moroccan cooking demonstration

• Home-Hosted Lunch • Explore

Chefchaouen

• Destination: Chefchaouen• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Casa Hassan Guesthouse

or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the riad beginning at 7am, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes.

Morning: Around 9am, we’ll drive 45 minutes to Houmar to meet a rural family for a hands-on cooking demonstration in the countryside, enjoying the striking scenery of towering mountains and endless pine forests along the way. Our hosts will tell us about farming in Northern Morocco as we select our ingredients from their garden, and then we’ll join them in the kitchen to prepare a regional, seasonal specialty, like harira, a traditional soup served during the month of Ramadan, or tagine, a slow-cooked savory stew. We’ll have the unique opportunity to observe and try our own hand at crafting these traditional recipes with fresh, local ingredients.

Lunch: We’ll savor the fruits of our labor during a Home-Hosted Lunch with our gracious hosts around noon.

Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll drive the 45 minutes back to Chefchaouen, arriving around 1:45pm. Upon arrival, you will have about 2 hours of free time. Then, around 4:30pm, we will enjoy an in-depth conversation at the riad on Mountain Berber culture with a local woman to learn about keeping traditions alive in this city. Afterwards around 6pm, we will set off on a 30-minute walking tour with your Trip Experience Leader of the medina—a feast for all of our senses, with its lively vendors, sumptuous scents, and distinctive blue-washed

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buildings. Following our walking tour, you will have the remainder of the afternoon to explore on your own.

Dinner: On your own around 6:30pm. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for a recommendation during the walking tour, or discover somewhere new to try.

Evening: Head out on your own to take in Chefchaouen by night. Perhaps you’ll sit longer at dinner to enjoy the atmosphere, walk the medina to shop, or gather in the riad’s courtyard with fellow travelers.

Day 5 Chefchaouen • Optional Tetouan

Cultural Mix tour

• Destination: Chefchaouen• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Casa Hassan Guesthouse

or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the riad beginning at 8am, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes.

Morning: Today, enjoy a free day, and discover Chefchaouen’s hidden corners, bustling markets, and mountain views as you walk its charming cobbled streets on your own. Perhaps you’ll view its beautiful Great Mosque or the gardens of the kasbah, journey downhill to explore the new city, or ascend for a brief hike on the mountainside.

Or, you may join our Tetouan Cultural Mix Optional Tour led by your expert Trip Experience Leader. We’ll leave the hotel around 8:30am and drive for 1.5 hours to explore the historic medina of Tetouan, including a stop at the Royal Palace (which the royal family still inhabits). We’ll also explore a lively marketplace, then visit an artisan school where craftsman and their apprentices make traditional artwork like ornamental woodwork, silk clothing, carved plaster, and mosaics.

Lunch: If you joined the Optional Tour in Tetouan, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant by the seaside around 12:30pm. Otherwise, experience some of the local specialties on your own in Chefchaouen.

Afternoon: Travelers on the Optional Tour will return to Chefchaouen around 1:30pm by bus. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.

Dinner: On your own—ask for a recommendation, or try a local restaurant you came across during your free afternoon.

Evening: Enjoy your last night in the “Blue City” as you choose. Perhaps you’ll walk through the new city, return to the medina, or find a spot to simply sit and take in the spirit of the city.

Day 6 Overland to Tangier

• Destination: Tangier• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Fredj Hotel & Spa

or similar

Activity Note: Our overland transfer today will take about 4 hours over roads that may be winding, bumpy, or uneven.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the riad beginning at 7:30am, featuring traditional hot and cold dishes.

Morning: Around 8:30am, we travel for 4 hours by coach on a scenic coastal road to Tangier, the beautiful light and multicultural spirit of which have drawn travelers to Morocco for centuries. People have been living in Tangier since colonists from Carthage settled there in the fifth century BC, and over the years it has traded hands between several kingdoms and empires, and served as refuge for countless cultures.

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We arrive around 12:30pm and break for an independent lunch.

Lunch: On our own around 12:30pm. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to provide some recommendations.

Afternoon: Beginning at about 2pm, we’ll experience the lively modern culture of this ancient coastal city during a 2.5-hour guided tour led by your Trip Experience Leader that includes the bustling medina, historic kasbah (citadel), and Cape Spartel, a scenic promontory looking over the sea. We end our tour at around 4:30pm and check in to our hotel, which is located near Tangier’s beach and city center and offers up-close views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on which hotel you stay at, it may feature a restaurant, swimming pool, and bar—and typical rooms include a TV, telephone, wireless Internet, safe, and private bath with hair dryer.

Dinner: Around 7pm at the hotel, which serves a mix of Moroccan and international dishes.

Evening: Enjoy the evening free to wander through this port city, taking in its architecture, winding streets, and local shops.

Day 7 Train ride to Rabat • Begin main trip

• Destination: Rabat• Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold breakfast staples.

Morning: Leaving the hotel around 9am, we’ll venture out for a stroll with your Trip Experience Leader through Tangier’s medina, with its eclectic mix of ancient architecture and modern touches like more recently-planted palm trees that line some of the streets. As we explore the meandering maze of medina lanes, a helpful tip to keep in mind is that, when in doubt, walking uphill (in pretty much any direction) will usually lead you to an exit.

Lunch: On your own around noon.

Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll head to the train station to catch a train that leaves around 2pm. The trip to Rabat will take a total of about an hour and a half. Upon arrival around 3:15pm, we drive overland for about a half hour to our hotel, where we’ll check in, meet our fellow travelers, and begin our Morocco Sahara Odyssey.

OPTIONAL TOUR

Tetouan Cultural Mix


Immerse yourself in Tetouan’s rich mix of cultures and traditions—Roman, Andalusian, European—and discover why the well-preserved city is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in the 15th century by Andalusian refugees, this labyrinth of squares, souks (markets), and beaches still maintains its old-world charm. We’ll have the chance to appreciate the city’s extravagant architecture on a walking tour, including a visit

to the Royal Palace—which is still inhabited by the royal family. Then, we’ll witness the fusion of cultures that so defines the area on a visit to a bustling local market, where you’ll see vendors selling handmade carpets, jewelry, and leather, and savor the aroma of delectable local dishes wafting from food carts. We’ll also spend some time observing the craftsmanship of local artisans, including weaving, embroidery, metalworking, and woodcarving. Our tour concludes with lunch by the seaside.

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PRE-TRIP

Andalusia & the Costa del Sol: Seville & Malaga


» Accommodations at centrally-located hotels for 3 nights in Seville and 2 nights in Malaga

» 10 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)




» All transfers

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Start your journey early in the Andalusia region of Spain, where European and Moorish influences intermingle to create a cultural tapestry unlike any other destination. Explore stately Seville, where Moorish kings once held court, and follow the trail of iconic whitewashed villages to Malaga on the sun-kissed Costa del Sol, for an unforgettable view of southern Spain.

Day 1 Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S. today on an overnight flight to Seville, Spain.

Day 2 Arrive Seville, Spain

• Destination: Seville, Spain• Included Meals: Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel in Seville

Afternoon: Arrive in Seville this afternoon, where an O.A.T. representative will greet you and help you transfer by private motorcoach to our hotel. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to explore the area after you check in.

Throughout the day, your Trip Experience Leader will offer orientation walks of the area around your hotel to see where ATMs, pharmacies, shops, currency exchange, and restaurants are located.

Dinner: Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant featuring local and international dishes.

Evening: You are free to relax this evening, retire early after your flight or make use of the hotel’s amenities.

Day 3 Explore Seville

• Destination: Seville• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Seville

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Explore Seville this morning on a walking tour with a local guide. Seville is linked to myriad iconic cultural and historical elements. It is the birthplace of flamenco and Don Juan, the legendary home of powerful Moorish kings, and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. With this diverse

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history, it’s no wonder Seville boasts a unique aesthetic, which you’ll discover on a tour of the city’s highlights, including the resplendent Plaza de España, designed for the Ibero-American Exhbition of 1929, incorporating elements of Renaissance style infused with a contemporary Spanish flair.

We’ll also discover the neighborhood of Barrio de Santa Cruz—originally the medieval city’s Jewish quarter—famous for its maze of narrow streets that wind around whitewashed homes, sizable mansions, and airy plazas. And enjoy a glimpse of Alcazar, official Seville residence of Spanish royalty, as well as Seville’s Cathedral, crowned by la giralda, its iconic 300-foot bell tower.

Lunch: Included at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: The afternoon is free to explore. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend options for independent discovery.

Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend a restaurant.

Evening: On your own to relax or to explore independently. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommendations.

Day 4 Olive oil farm visit • Guadalquivir

River cruise & Triana neighborhood •

Dinner & flamenco show

• Destination: Seville• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel in Seville


Morning: We’ll depart by private motorcoach to a family-owned olive farm, where we’ll learn firsthand from the family about the production of olive oil and gain a sense of just how important it is to the Mediterranean diet. Spain is, of course, known for its production

of what ancient Romans named “liquid gold,” and Seville is one of the top producers in the country. Vendors take care in choosing the best oils from local farms around the city and on its outskirts, in which olives are meticulously picked by hand.

The owners of the farm will show us around the property, teaching us about the different varieties of olives, as well as how to properly use the olive oil for cooking. This is a unique opportunity to ask our hosts questions and learn as much as we can about this regionally important product.

After our tour, we’ll return to Seville.

Lunch: On your own in Seville. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend a café or restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we’ll see Seville from another perspective during an hour-long cruise on the Guadalquivir River, which runs through the city from north to south. We’ll disembark at the Isabel II Bridge and then enjoy a walking tour of the nearby Triana neighborhood. Just across the river from Seville’s city center, this historic district has its own distinct cultural identity, which we’ll experience as we walk through the old city with our Trip Experience Leader.

The neighborhood is also home to the lively, bustling Triana Market, which features a colorful array of local fruits, vegetables, meats, and spices that all contribute to the perfect tapas. Mingle with locals as you make your way through the individual stands, and take note of items you may not recognize—like the chirimoya, a sweet green fruit grown throughout Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.

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Dinner: Included at a local restaurant. As we dine, we’ll be treated to an authentic flamenco performance, giving us a wonderful opportunity to witness this passionate art form in the country of its origin.


Day 5 Transfer to Malaga • Visit Antequera

• Home-Hosted Lunch

• Destination: Malaga• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Malaga


Morning: We’ll board our private motorcoach and begin our overland journey toward Malaga, following the route of the white villages, the iconic white-walled settlements that lend this region of Andalusia part of its aesthetic charm.

We’ll stop along the way to get a closer look at this architectural style during an included tour of the city of Antequera, a tightly-packed cluster of white houses and old churches crowned by a hilltop Moorish Alcazaba, or fortification. Antequera is a lesser-known travel destination compared to some of its more-touristed Andalusian neighbors, allowing us to get a more authentic view of how local people in this region live.

After our tour, we’ll continue our journey toward Malaga.

Lunch: We’ll stop along the way in Malaga’s Salinas neighborhood where we’ll visit a local family for a Home-Hosted Lunch. Together, we’ll enjoy authentic home-cooked Spanish cuisine, and lively conversation about daily life in Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Afternoon: We’ll finish our transfer to Malaga, arriving at our hotel in the afternoon. After we check in, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish.

Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to recommend a restaurant.


Day 6 Explore Malaga • Controversial

Topic: Arab-Spanish relations

in Andalusia

• Destination: Malaga• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Malaga


Morning: We’ll get to know Malaga today during an included tour. Located in the country’s Andalusia territory, just beyond the Costa del Sol, Malaga has all the charms of a Mediterranean port coupled with historic elegance and a burgeoning art and cultural scene that now rivals Madrid.

We’ll take in the highlights of the city during an included walking tour with a local guide. We’ll see relics left behind by some of Malaga’s earliest inhabitants as we discover Roman ruins, including the 2,000-year-old Roman theater.

We’ll also learn more about Malaga’s more recent cultural contributions—renowned artist Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, a fact which local residents are very proud of. You will notice his influence here as you explore the city and eventually make your way to the Picasso Museum. On October 25, 1881, Pablo Picasso was born in the very building of what is today

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the museum, which now houses nearly 300 of his works. Glimpse into his childhood here, as well as Malaga’s influence on his artistic style.

After our tour, the rest of the day is free to explore Malaga independently.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll have 3 hours of free time to explore independently, then join back together for a conversation about a Controversial Topic: The tumultuous relationship between Spain and its Muslim neighbors throughout history, and how conflicts between the two groups over the centuries affect Spanish culture today. In 711, the Umayyad Caliphate invaded Spain, taking over most of the Iberian Peninsula from its former Visigoth rulers. Although Muslim rule in Spain ended in 1492 with the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista, it left its mark on the fabric of Spanish culture and society—especially here in Andalusia, the country’s southernmost region. We’ll meet two expert speakers—one, a Spanish native, the other, a Moroccan living in the country—to gain a broader perspective of what relations were like between Spain’s different ethnic groups throughout its history, and what they are like today.

After our conversation the rest of the day is free to spend as you please.



Day 7 Fly to Casablanca, Morocco •

Begin main trip



Morning: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Casablanca, where you’ll transfer to your hotel and begin your Morocco Sahara Odyssey adventure.

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POST-TRIP

The Atlantic Coast: Artistic Essaouira & Casablanca


» Accommodations for 3 nights in Essaouira at Atlas Essaouira or similar and 2 nights in Casablanca at Radisson Blu Hotel Casablanca or similar

» 9 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 1 dinner

» 1 small group activity



» All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Known as “the pearl of the kingdom,” Essaouira boasts an exceptionally temperate climate, beautiful whitewashed neighborhoods, ornate architecture, a splendid medina, and a host of artisans’ workshops and colorful markets. Much of Essaouira’s magic comes from its artistic influence—inspired by the city’s tranquility, beauty, and splendid light.

Day 1 Overland to Essaouira • Lunch with

local family

• Destination: Essaouira• Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel Atlas Essaouira

or similar

Activity Note: After enjoying breakfast in Marrakesh on Day 15 of the main trip, we travel overland to Essaouira, and our Casablanca discoveries will take place on Day 5 of the post-trip extension. The transfer today will take about 7.5 hours, including stops along the way.

Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll drive from Marrakesh to Essaouira, which extends from the massive historic fortifications of the old city to a long beach on the shoreline. Offshore in the distance lies Mogador, also known as the Îles Purpuraires (Purple Islands). The

ancient Romans who occupied this area used the island’s resources for creating a dye that colored their togas purple, thus giving the islands their name.

At around 10:30am, we’ll stop at a local village and visit a women-run cooperative organization, where local women work together to raise goats and produce cheese. We’ll meet the women who work here, learn about their production processes, and maybe even get a taste of the finished product.

Lunch: We’ll have a traditional lunch in the home of a local family on our way to Essaouira, around 12pm.

Afternoon: We will continue driving to Essaouira around 3pm and arrive around 5pm. We will stay for three nights in a hotel located on the beachfront. Depending on which hotel you stay at, your hotel may feature a swimming

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pool, fitness center, and restaurant. Typical rooms include air conditioning, satellite television, minibar, and en suite bathroom.

Dinner: We will depart the hotel around 6:45pm for a 10-minute drive to a local restaurant, where we’ll enjoy Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine with our fellow travelers.

Evening: The evening is free for you to explore the city, spend time reflecting with fellow travelers, or rest.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Essaouira on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Explore the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Museum: Housed in an old riad, this museum has a charming, welcoming atmosphere. The first floor is accented by intricate tilework and pillared arches. A main staircase, heavily trimmed in blue, leads to the second floor of the riad. On both floors of this ethnographic museum, historical artifacts, traditional garments, tapestries, jewelry, and musical instruments are displayed. We suggest about 45 minutes to fully explore this museum.

• • How to get there: A 20-minute walk, or a short taxi ride, about $10 USD one way.


• Take some time to relax between your discoveries of bustling medinas and markets with a yoga class by the water: Enjoy a 90-minute session, letting the sounds of the Atlantic’s waves fill your ears. This is a

great opportunity to focus on mindfulness and caring for your body to prepare for your further adventures in Essaouira.

• • How to get there: An approximate 15-min-ute drive from the hotel.

• • Hours: By appointment.• • Cost: About $50 USD per person.

• Explore Moroccan Jewish heritage at Simon Attias Synagogue: This restored synagogue, originally built in 1882 in former Mogador, sits in the heart of Essaouria’s old Mellah (Jewish Quarter). The first two floors house the synagogue with large, arched windows, while the third floor is dedicated to the offices of Jewish courts. As you wander through the patio, prayer room, and halls, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Jewish history in Morocco. We suggest about 30 minutes to explore this synagogue.

• • How to get there: A 20-minute walk.• • Hours: 9am-4pm, daily.• • Cost: About $4 USD.

Day 2 Explore Essaouira

• Destination: Essaouira• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel Atlas Essaouira

or similar

Breakfast: Served at the hotel starting at 7:30am, featuring traditional Moroccan cuisine.

Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart the hotel by bus to begin a guided tour of Essaouira led by your Trip Experience Leader. We’ll drive approximately 10 minutes to our first stop at the main gate of the city’s medina—a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of white-washed houses with cheerily painted blue doors. Here, we’ll walk along its narrow lanes, artisans’ workshops, and bustling fishing harbor—perhaps catching the pungent scent of freshly caught sardines grilling in the open air and glimpsing dormant cannons standing

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guard over the fishing fleets on the wharf. As we tour the harbor, our Trip Experience Leader will introduce us to some of the hardy fishermen who ply their trade here, enjoying opportunities for people-to-people interaction, and an authentic glimpse into the daily lives of the locals.

At around 10:30am, we’ll shop for local fish to prepare for our lunch later on. Our Trip Experience Leader will help us navigate the market and shop like the locals do, giving us firsthand insight into how the people of this seaside city spend their days.

We’ll spend about a half hour shopping, then at 11am, we’ll stroll through winding, narrow alleyways that make up the city center and watch as craftsmen carve ornate trinkets and boxes of lemonwood, briarwood, and mother of pearl inlay. Essaouira, once home to a large Jewish community, still has façades with the Star of David carved into them. We’ll also visit a series of commanding forts built along the seafront that are a mixture of Portuguese, French, and Berber military architecture. Following our discoveries, we will walk to a local restaurant for lunch to prepare the fish we bought earlier on.

Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll enjoy fish we purchased in the harbor in a nearby restaurant within the medina.

Afternoon: Around 2pm, we will continue our discoveries of Essaouira by foot as we learn about the melodic chants of Gnawa music and the handcrafted goods made from the Thuya tree, a rare hardwood with a delicious fragrance that can only be found in this part of Morocco. We will return to the hotel by bus around 4pm, and you can explore at your own pace for the rest of the afternoon.

Dinner: On our own—Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend an interesting, local restaurant for you to try.

Evening: You are free to explore the city by night, spend time with your fellow travelers at the hotel, or retire to your room to relax before tomorrow’s day of discoveries.

Day 3 Essaouira • Optional Hidden Gems

of Mogador tour

• Destination: Essaouira• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Hotel Atlas Essaouira

or similar


Morning: Today, you are free to make your own discoveries in Essaouira. Some travelers find the city to be like a more relaxed version of Marrakesh. As you stroll along the beaches, perhaps you’ll notice some windsurfers who have earned Essaouira its nickname of “Windy City, Africa.” Elsewhere on the coastal side of town, you can take in impressive views from the seaside bastion of Skala de Ville, a favorite place for watching the sunset. You might visit the city’s small museum, which displays historic jewelry, costumes, weapons, and tapestries, or go shopping in the medina.

Or join us on an Optional Tour to learn about the making of Argan oil. We’ll depart around 9am, making our first stop at a nearby village for its colorful Berber market. Depending on what day of the week you attend, vendors can be seen selling produce or animals. Then, we’ll continue on, keeping our eye out for goats climbing Argan trees. The process of making Argan oil actually begins with these agile, four-legged creatures. The Argan tree, which is native to Morocco and Algeria, produces a plum-like fruit with a pit or nut in the center.

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The goats (which we may or may not observe) have adapted to climb the thorny, gnarled branches of the tree to eat the fruit, but cannot digest the center, and it is from this “nut” that Argan oil is made. Around 10:30am, we’ll make our way to a local women’s cooperative that specializes in Argan production. While here, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of how these women in a remote area are improving their lives and making a sustainable income. We’ll have a chance to taste the Argan oil that these women produce and understand the process more in-depth.

Lunch: If you have joined our Optional Tour, we will stop around 12:30pm to enjoy lunch at a vineyard where you can taste some of the locally-produced wine and produce. Those who chose not to go on the Optional Tour are free to seek out a meal on their own, choosing among many fine restaurants—seafood, in particular, is a local specialty.

Afternoon: If you are on the Optional Tour, we’ll depart lunch around 2pm and make the 1.5 hour bus ride back to the hotel, arriving around 3:30pm. Upon arrival, you will enjoy the remainder of the day on your own with the rest of our small group.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own. Ask your Trip Experience Leader to recommend a local restaurant for you to try.

Evening: Your last evening here is free for you to wander the streets through this seaside city, perhaps in search of live music.

Day 4 Overland to Casablanca

• Destination: Casablanca• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel


Activity Note: Today, our transfer from Essaouira to Casablanca will involve an 8-hour bus ride, including stops along the way, over roads that may be bumpy or uneven at times.


Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll travel through Morocco by a different countryside route than the one we took on our way to Essaouira. The landscape will shift on this coastal road between sweeping views of the sea and remote fishing villages. Around 11:30am, we’ll stop in the small fishing village of Oualidia, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a saltwater lagoon on the other. Locally, Oualidia is known for their oyster farms and is referred to by many as “Morocco’s oyster capital.”

We’ll visit one of the oyster farms to learn about their harvesting techniques firsthand. While here, we’ll enjoy a tasting of these straight-from-the-sea shellfish. An oyster farmer will walk us through their daily routines, and we encourage travelers to ask any questions you may have. Our small group affords us the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of oyster harvesting and how this commodity impacts the local community. Following our discoveries, we’ll drive about 10 minutes to a local restaurant.

Lunch: Around 12:30pm, we will enjoy a traditional lunch featuring seafood specialties at a local restaurant in Oualidia.

Afternoon: Around 2pm, we’ll continue via coach for another 2.5 hours with a quick rest stop along the way around 4pm. We will reach

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our hotel around 5pm, which is located near the central market and offers an onsite restaurant and lounge. Each of the modern guestrooms includes satellite television, air conditioning, bottled water, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and an en suite bathroom. Then, our Trip Experience Leader will take us on an orientation walk around the area at 5:30pm.

Dinner: You’re free to explore some of Casablanca’s local cuisine on your own tonight. Consider asking your Trip Experience Leader about their favorite spots for dinner during the orientation walk.

Evening: Enjoy the freedom to explore Casablanca by night on your own this evening.

Freedom To Explore: Make the most of your explorations in Casablanca on these off-the-beaten path activities. These recommendations are designed by our team of local experts with women travelers in mind.

• Discover the New Medina: Take a walk through Casablanca’s most atmospheric district, the New Medina—also called Habous—which is characterized by its small tree-lined squares, neat alleyways, and elegant arcades. Small souks line every inch of the narrow laneways with vendors enthu-siastically selling their products: fragrant spices, colorful varieties of olives, incense, Moroccan handicrafts, traditional garments and leather goods. As you peruse the stalls, you can hear locals chattering and the bustle of every day life in Casablanca. Our regional Marrakesh office, highly suggests a stop at Pâtisserie Bennis Habous to try traditional Moroccan pastries, like cornes de gazelle (crescent-shaped cookies with an almond paste infused with orange flower water) or akda aux amandes (almond macaroons). Plus, if you’re looking to try more local specialties,

some nearby restaurants specialize in camel minced meat, which you can pair with a traditional Moroccan tea.

• • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi ride, about $5 USD one way.

• • Hours: Markets are open 9:30am-2pm, daily.

• • Cost: Free.

• Explore the only Jewish museum in the Arabic-speaking world, Moroccan Jewish Museum: Before the founding of Israel in 1948, Morocco’s Jewish population reached almost 350,000, whereas today the number has dwindled to a few thousand. This institution preserves and supports the rich cultural history and traditions of Moroccan Judaism. Through photographs, artifacts, and historical exhibits, learn about the tolerant and harmonious coexistence between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Morocco. We suggest about an hour to fully explore the museum.


• • Hours: 10am-5pm Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm Sunday.

• • Cost: About $7 USD.

• Visit L’Eglise du Sacre-Coeur: Admire the impressive architectural blend of art deco, Moorish, and neo-Gothic styles of the Casablanca Cathedral, which was built in 1930 when Morocco was still under French rule. The cathedral fell into disuse after Morocco’s independence in 1956 and has served as a cul-tural center in more recent years. The build-ing features ornate stained glass windows, twin towers flanking the entrance—strongly resembling minarets—and small windows

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that echo the style of any mosque. While walking through the adjoining Arab League Park, you can view the imposing façade.



Day 5 Explore Casablanca •

Hassan II Mosque

• Destination: Casablanca• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Radisson Blu Hotel


Activity Note: During our visit to the mosque, both men and women will need to remove their shoes, and cover their legs and arms.

Breakfast: Buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring local and international dishes.

Morning: Around 9:30am, we will stop at the famous Hassan II Mosque and spend about an hour admiring this towering architectural gem. Our Trip Experience Leader will give us more insight into the complicated history of the mosque, which is the largest in Morocco.

At around 10:30am, we will join our Trip Experience Leader for a 1.5-hour walking tour of Casablanca’s highlights, including Le Marche Central—the city’s central market—and the Hotel Lincoln, Casablanca’s oldest hotel. Built in 1917, the Art Deco hotel was once a prestigious destination in the city, but has since fallen into a state of disrepair. Although it was designated as part of the country’s architectural heritage in 2000 by Morocco’s Ministry of Culture, but restoration efforts on the abandoned hotel only began recently in 2019. We will also see Bab Marrakech—an

ornate sandstone arch which was once a gateway in the city walls—before pausing for lunch.

Lunch: Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend some of their favorite options for lunch on your own around 1pm.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we will drive by private motorcoach to Sidi Abderrahman Island, passing through the upscale coastal neighborhood of Ain Diab along the way. At the island, which was once the home of a local saint who claimed he could walk on water. Today, the island houses the saint’s mausoleum, and is a venue for a host of magicians and fortune tellers who believe the island’s mystical properties amplify their arcane abilities.

Dinner: On your own for your final night in Morocco.

Evening: The evening is yours to spend as you choose—you are free to join fellow travelers in the main hotel area for a last drink, return to your room to rest before your departure in the morning, or enjoy one more night exploring the streets of Casablanca.



Early Morning: For those travelers with early departures this morning, there will be a 3am wake up call. Departing the hotel around 3:30am, you will make the 1-hour drive to the airport.

Breakfast: For those with an early departure, a light breakfast of coffee and baked goods will be served at the hotel beginning around 3:30am. If you have a later departure, breakfast will be served buffet-style at the hotel featuring local and international dishes.

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Morning: Board a bus with your luggage around 8am and take about an hour drive to the Casablanca airport for your return flight home.

OPTIONAL TOUR

Hidden Gems of Mogador(Day 3 $70 per person)

Join us on an optional tour to learn about the making of Argan Oil—a process that begins with tree-climbing goats. The Argan tree, which is native to Morocco and Algeria, produces a plum-like fruit with a pit or nut in the center. The goats have adapted to climb the thorny, gnarled branches of the tree to eat the fruit, but cannot digest the center, and it is from this “nut” that Argan Oil is made. We’ll walk through countryside groves of Argan trees with cameras poised, in hopes of possibly capturing a photo of these unusual animals. Then, we’ll stop at the colorful Berber market in a nearby village. Then we’ll visit a local women’s cooperative that specializes in Argan production to learn how this useful oil is made. Then, we’ll sit down to a lunch at a local vineyard. This half-day tour includes lunch.

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POST-TRIP

Historic Tunisia: Tunis, Kairouan & Ancient Carthage


» Accommodations for 4 nights at the Carlton Hotel or similar in Tunis and 2 nights at a centrally-located hotel in Kairouan

» 12 meals—6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners




» All transfers

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Include another North African country in your adventure and discover Tunisia, a land steeped in history, culture, and spirituality. We’ll explore the cities of Tunis and Kairouan, taking in medinas, mosques, mausoleums, and other sites that mark the long history of these ancient lands. Step back in time at the ruins of Carthage, and pay tribute to the American soldiers who fought and fell here during World War II. Plus, get acquainted with modern Tunisia as we learn about the revolution that inspired the Arab Spring, and taste fine vintages at a winery in the Cap Bon peninsula.

Day 1 Fly to Tunis, Tunisia

• Destination: Tunis, Tunisia• Included Meals: Dinner• Accommodations: Carlton Hotel or similar

Afternoon: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Tunis. Upon arrival, an O.A.T. representative will greet you and assist you with your transfer to the hotel. After checking in, you’ll have a few hours to relax or explore independently before joining your Trip Experience Leader on an orientation walk through the area surrounding your hotel and the city’s medina (old town).

Dinner: Included at a local restaurant.


Day 2 Explore Tunis • Controversial

Topic: Life before and after the Tunisian

Revolution

• Destination: Tunis• Included Meals: Breakfast• Accommodations: Carlton Hotel or similar


Morning: Today we’ll explore Tunisia’s bustling capital on an included tour with our Trip Experience Leader. We’ll begin by driving via private motorcoach to the Bardo Museum, Tunisia’s national museum of archaeology. Located in an 18th-century royal palace, it displays a collection of ancient Roman mosaics along with sarcophagi and statues from the Roman and Carthaginian periods.

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We’ll then drive to the city’s medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll step out for a walking tour. Tunis was one of the greatest cities in the world during the reign of the Almohad and Hafsid dynasties from the twelfth to the 16th centuries. We’ll witness the legacy of that era in the hundreds of palaces, mosques, and fountains here in the medina.

Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader can point you to a café or restaurant in the city center to suit your appetite.

Afternoon: We’ll walk back to our hotel, where you’ll have a few hours of free time for independent exploration. Before dinner, we’ll be joined by a local young woman for a conversation about a Controversial Topic as we learn what life was like in Tunisia before and after the Tunisian Revolution.

In December 2010, a Tunisian merchant named Mohamed Bouazizi immolated himself to protest the draconian laws and poor living conditions under the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country’s president at the time. Bouazizi’s death sparked a month of protest that ended with Ben Ali’s ouster, and inspired the Arab Spring, a series of pro-democracy demonstrations and uprisings that swept across the Middle East and North Africa for the following year. We’ll hear from a young woman who lived in Tunisia during Ben Ali’s rule, and hear firsthand what life was like in those days, and about the dramatic era of change that followed in the revolution’s wake.



Day 3 Explore ancient Carthage • Visit

North Africa American Cemetery

• Destination: Tunis• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Carlton Hotel or similar


Morning: We’ll begin the day with a motorcoach ride to the site of ancient Carthage, which evokes the romance and tragedy of the legendary era of Queen Dido and Aeneas chronicled in Virgil’s Aeneid. Scattered ruins help us envision where the mighty city of antiquity once stood, sending its fleets for trade and warfare across the Mediterranean, including Hannibal’s famous but doomed campaign against Rome in the Second Punic War. After Carthage was conquered, the Romans destroyed the old city but established a new one of their own on its site, which lasted for almost another 500 years. The remaining ruins have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’ll then pay our respects to the American soldiers who liberated Tunisia during World War II with a visit to the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial. This 27-acre memorial is the final resting place of 2,841 American military dead and also honors 3,700 soldiers whose remains were never found.


Afternoon: We’ll drive back to our hotel in Tunis after lunch, where the rest of the day is free to explore independently.



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Day 4 Overland to Kairouan • Explore

Kairouan’s medina

• Destination: Kairouan• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner• Accommodations: Hotel in Kairouan


Morning: We’ll transfer by private motorcoach to Kairouan today, arriving later this morning. Kairouan is a city with a spiritual feel whose ornate seventh-century Great Mosque is the fourth-holiest site in Islam. It was here that Ibn Khaldun, a great Muslim historian of the 14th century, lived and worked at the height of Islam’s classical period. Once we arrive, we’ll spend about an hour exploring the city’s medina before checking in to our hotel.


Afternoon: Enjoy the afternoon to explore Kairouan independently. You might choose to chat with locals going about their business in the medina, or ask your Trip Experience Leader for recommended activities.

Dinner: We’ll walk from the hotel to a local restaurant, where dinner is included.


Day 5 Explore Kairouan

• Destination: Kairouan• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch• Accommodations: Hotel in Kairouan


Morning: We’ll discover a few of Kairouan’s most significant sites on an included city tour this morning. First, we’ll walk to the Great Mosque. The oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa, Kairouan’s Great Mosque was

founded in the year 670 and shows influences of pre-Islamic, Roman, and Byzantine architecture.

Next, we’ll drive by private motorcoach to the mausoleum of Abou Zamaa al-Balawi, one of Kairouan’s most revered religious locales. Here lie the remains of Abou Zamaa al-Balawi, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in a battle against the native Berber people of this region, and is said to have been buried with three hairs from the Prophet’s beard. The burial took place prior to the founding of the city, and in the 17th century, an elaborate mausoleum was constructed over the site to honor his life, death, and deeds. We’ll explore the mausoleum on an included tour.

Then, we’ll drive by private motorcoach to the Aghlabid Basins, a cistern constructed in the 9th century by the Aghlabid dynasty to serve as a source of potable water for the people living in this arid, drought-prone region. The basins were an engineering marvel of their day, and are still impressive now, as we’ll see during our included tour.

Lunch: On our way back to Kairouan, we’ll stop at a local restaurant for an included lunch.

Afternoon: We’ll return back to our hotel in Kairouan this afternoon, where the rest of the day is free to explore independently. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to recommend discovery options.



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Day 6 Overland to Tunis • Cap Bon

winery visit

• Destination: Tunis• Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner• Accommodations: Carlton Hotel or similar


Morning: We’ll drive by private motorcoach back to Tunis today, stopping along the way at a winery in Cap Bon, a fertile peninsula at Tunisia’s northeastern tip. The Mediterranean terroir here is ideal for wine production, which we’ll see firsthand during a visit to a local winery in the region. We’ll learn about the wine production process, from grape to final product, and enjoy the opportunity to taste a few of Tunisia’s fine vintages to expand our palate.

Lunch: As we make our way back to Tunis, we’ll stop en route for an opportunity to enjoy lunch on our own.

Afternoon: We arrive back in Tunis early this afternoon, where we’ll check in to our hotel and enjoy a final afternoon at leisure. Your Trip Experience Leader can help you make the most of your last full day in Tunisia.

Dinner: Included at the hotel.


Day 7 Return to U.S.



Morning: Transfer to the airport today for your return flight home.

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www.oattravel.com/mso2022 Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925

Publication Date 12/6/21

Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel

surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are

subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website:

www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We

reserve the right to correct errors.


2022 Dates & Prices

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/mso pricing

DEPART FROM FEBRUARY MAR 1-17

MAR 18-31;

SEP 1-15

APRIL; MAY 1-9;

SEP 16-30; OCT 28-31

MAY 11-31 AUGUST OCT 1-27

NOVEMBER; DEC 15-20

DEC 1-12, 24, 27

New York $ 3995 $ 4595 $ 4695 $ 4895 $ 4795 $ 3595 $ 4995 $ 4195 $ 4095

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,

Dallas, Detroit, Miami, Newark $ 4095 $ 4695 $ 4795 $ 4995 $ 4895 $ 3695 $ 5095 $ 4295 $ 4195

Baltimore, Los Angeles,

Minneapolis, Orlando,

Philadelphia, Phoenix,

Portland, San Diego, San

Francisco, Seattle, Tampa,

Washington, DC

$ 4195 $ 4795 $ 4895 $ 5095 $ 4995 $ 3795 $ 5195 $ 4395 $ 4295

Denver, Houston $ 4295 $ 4895 $ 4995 $ 5195 $ 5095 $ 3895 $ 5295 $ 4495 $ 4395

Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.

FEBRUARY MAR 1-17

MAR 18-31; MAY 11-31;

SEP 1-15

APRIL; MAY 1-9;

SEP 16-30; OCT 28-31 AUGUST OCT 1-27

NOVEMBER; DEC 15-20

DEC 1-12, 24, 27

Without international airfare $ 2995 $ 3595 $ 3695 $ 3895 $ 2495 $ 3995 $ 3195 $ 3095

MSO2022

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL

New travelers you refer will instantly save $100, and you’ll earn increasing rewards—up to a FREE trip!

For details, visit www.oattravel.com/va

SAVE UP TO 10% WITH

OUR GOOD BUY PLAN

The earlier you reserve your departure

and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up

to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price.

For details, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd

FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

We offer FREE Single Supplements on all

of our adventures and pre- and post-trip

extensions.

Each departure has limited solo space

available—call today to reserve.

RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 3/30/22

Plus, on departures after 9/1/22, you’ll be able to SAVE a FULL

10% off the total price of your trip with our Good Buy Plan.

See details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.

NEW! STOPOVERS

All O.A.T. Stopovers include 3 nights in a

centrally-located hotel, daily breakfasts, and

roundtrip private airport transfers.

Amsterdam or Paris: $ 945 per person

Rome : $ 895 per person

Cairo : $ 845 per person

Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If a city you

are interested in is not offered, we can arrange

your airfare for that, too.

Call your Regional Adventure Counselor for full

details at 1-800-955-1925.

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TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your Passport

• Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport?

Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport

Recommended Blank Pages

Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this adventure.

• Main trip only: If you are taking only the main trip, you will need 2 blank pages

• Pre-trip extension to Spain: You will need an additional blank page, for a total of 3.

• Post-trip extension to Tunisia: You will need an additional blank page, for a total of 3.

• A Morocco pre- and/or post-trip extension: No additional pages needed.

• Both Spain pre-trip and Tunisia post-trip extensions: You will need 2 additional pages, for a total of 4.

• Stopover in Amsterdam, Munich, or Rome: You will need to add 2 additional pages to the applicable total listed above.

• Stopover in Istanbul, London, Madrid, Paris, Cairo, or Dubai: You will need to add an additional page to the applicable total listed above.

No Visas Required

We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 90 days prior to your departure. All visas information listed is only applicable if you are taking an optional stopover extension to a country with a required visa. In the meantime, we’re providing the information below as a guideline on what to expect. This information is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change.

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• Turkey (optional stopover only): Visa required. We suggest you obtain an e-visa in advance through the Turkish government’s website as visas cannot be obtained upon arrival.

• Egypt (optional stopover only): Visa required. U.S. citizens will require a visa to enter Egypt; detailed instructions and information will be included in your Visa Packet, as noted above.

• United Arab Emirates (optional stopover only): Visa required. Currently, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) allows U.S. citizens to get a tourist visa free of charge on arrival in Dubai.

Traveling Without a U.S. Passport?

If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org.

Traveling With a Minor?

Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents

We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.

Overseas Taxes & Fees

This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

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RIGORS, VACCINES & GENERAL HEALTH

Is This Adventure Right for You?

Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers.

PACING • 7 locations in 15 days with two 1-night stays

• Two 8-9-hour transfers and three transfers of up to 5 hours

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

• You must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted; expect 2-4 hours of physical activities on some days

• You will need to access vehicles by ladder without aid, and navigate multi-story accommodations which may have narrow staircases and no elevators

• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

CLIMATE • Between May and September, daytime temperatures average 90-100°F but can reach 110°F,

dropping as low as 50°F at night

• In the Sahara, nights and mornings are quite cold between November and March; it could drop as low as 40°F at night

• The months of December through March bring heavy rain and thunderstorms

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel over cobbled streets and sandy, uneven, and bumpy terrain in the Sahara that can

cause problems for travelers with leg or back issues

• We travel via air-conditioned motorcoach (no toilet onboard), 4x4 vehicles, and camel

FLIGHT INFORMATION • Travel time will be 7-22 hours and will most likely have one or two connections of 2-3

hours each

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ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES • We spend 2 nights in the Sahara in comfortable but basic canvas tents without heat or

electricity, with a bathroom inside and shower with tepid water inside of your tent. The main camp is a 3-minute walk away

• Hotels feature a variety of Western-style amenities and personal services. Some stays will be in riads (traditional multi-story Moroccan homes that have been restored and converted into hotels). Riads do not have elevators and will require the use of stairs.

• All hotels feature private baths

Steps to Take Before Your Trip

Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:

• Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

• Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

• Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)

Vaccines Required

COVID-19

Overseas Adventure Travel requires that all travelers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are able provide proof of their vaccination upon arrival at their destination. A full vaccination is defined as having been inoculated by an approved vaccine and receiving a booster shot at least 14 days prior to your departure. This requirement is not contingent on the countries the tour visits, but a strict company policy due to the nature of the pandemic.

Medication Suggestions

• An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

• Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location

• Something to combat dehydration or heat stroke, such as salt tablets or powered sports drink/electrolytes

Traveling with Medications

• Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

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• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances”; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).

Staying Healthy on Your Trip

Jet Lag Tips

• Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

• Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during–your flight.

• Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying

• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.

• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

Allergies

If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Water

• Tap water is not safe to drink.

• Complimentary bottled water is readily available at mealtimes or on the bus.

• You can also buy bottled water from local shops. Inspect each bottle before you buy it to make sure the cap is sealed properly.

• Carry a bottle in your day bag at all times.

• Bottled drinks and juices are safe to drink as are hot drinks that have been boiled.

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• Carry a bandanna to dry the tops of bottled drinks before and after opening, and for cleaning wet utensils or plates.

• We suggest that you use hand sanitizer after washing your hands in tap water.

Food

• We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals. Your Trip Experience Leader can suggest restaurants for the meal you take on your own.

• Carry a handkerchief to dry any wet utensils or plates.

• Be very careful with food sold from vendors on the street, and with uncooked fruit and other foods.

• Fruit at included meals that you peel yourself is usually safe—avoid lettuce and other unpeeled produce when eating on your own.

Electricity Supply

A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers dependent on electricity supply for health reasons (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) may want to consider a different O.A.T. adventure.

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MONEY MATTERS: LOCAL CURRENCY & TIPPING GUIDELINES

Top Three Tips

• Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card. Traveler’s checks are not accepted in Morocco.

• You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars on this trip; you will need local currency instead.

• Break large bills when you can. Smaller bills (like the 10 and 20 dirham bills) make it easier to tip and pay in cash-only situations, like taxis.

Local Currency

For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.

Morocco

The official currency of Morocco is the dirham (DH), which is composed of 100 centimes. Banknotes and coins come in the following denominations:

• Banknotes: 20, 50, 100 and 200 dirham

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, and 10 dirham, plus the less-frequent 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes.

U.S. dollars are not widely accepted in Morocco; the local currency is preferred.

Tunisia

The official currency of Tunisia is the Tunisian dinar (TND), which is composed of 1,000 millimes. Banknotes and coins come in the following denominations:

• Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 Tunisian dinar

• Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 millimes and 1 and 5 Tunisian dinars

Please Note: It is illegal to take Tunisian currency out of the country. If you exchange currency for Tunisian dinar, be sure to keep all of your exchange receipts. Upon leaving Tunisia, you will be allowed to exchange 30% of the original amount back into dollars, up to a maximum of USD $100.

Euro Countries

The euro is the official currency in many member countries of the European Union. Unless otherwise listed, the countries you will be visiting will use the euro. Euro banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros

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• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents; 1 and 2 euros

How to Exchange Money

There is no need to obtain local currency before your trip. In fact, your bank may not be able to change dollars in dirham because of the strict trade laws on Moroccan currency.

The easiest way is to withdraw funds from an ATM in Morocco. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars. You can also change money when you arrive at the airport, or at banks, most hotels, and money exchange offices.

Leftover Moroccan currency cannot be easily exchanged after you have returned to the U.S., so the rule of thumb is spend it or change it back before you leave.

ATMs

When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$10 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Morocco: ATMs are common and most accept international cards (check the logos on the machine first). However, they can run out of money during busy periods, like weekends.

Spain: ATMs are widely available throughout Spain, especially in larger cities and towns.

Tunisia: ATMs are typically available in larger cities and towns, but may not be available in more rural areas, such as your tented camp.

Credit & Debit Cards

Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Morocco: Credit cards are widely accepted in tourist cities and for major purchases, but may incur a surcharge (usually about 5%). Smaller “Mom & Pop” shops or restaurants may be cash only.

Spain: Visa and MasterCard credit cards are fairly common in Spain, but may not be accepted for small purchases or in the markets. American Express is not commonly accepted.

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Tunisia: Credit cards are accepted in some stores and restaurants, particularly in larger cities. We suggest that you bring alternative options (such as cash) for establishments that do not accept credit cards.

Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel

Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Tipping GuidelinesOf course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines.

• O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $7-$10 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Housekeeping staff at hotels: The equivalent $1-2 per room, per night (about 10-20 dirhams)

• Attendants in public restrooms: In this part of the world, most public restrooms are manned by a staff that clean and supply toilet paper/paper towels. It is customary to leave a small tip for them of about 1-2 dirhams.

• Restaurants, cafes, and bars: When dining on your own, check your bill to see if a service charge was included (this is more common at high-end or tourist restaurants). If not, it is customary to leave a tip of around 5%-10% in restaurants and 3-5 dirhams for a drink in a cafe or bar.

• Taxis: Most locals will simply round up the fare to the nearest 5 dirham, i.e. if the meter says 11, then give 15.

• Included in Your Trip Price: Gratuities are included for local guides, drivers, camp staff, and luggage porters on your main trip, extensions, and all optional tours.

Please note: For your convenience, tips to O.A.T. staff can be paid in U.S. dollars or local currency. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.

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AIR, OPTIONAL TOURS & STAYING IN TOUCH

Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air

Quick Definitions

• Land Only: You will be booking your own international flights. Airport transfers are not included.

• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).

• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Planner at www.oattravel.com/myplanner under “My Reservations”.

Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased

For eligible flights, airport transfers may be purchased separately as an optional add-on, subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:

• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as O.A.T. travelers who purchased included airfare.

• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.

Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.

When booking your international flights, please be advised that where you should join and depart from the group will depend on your trip extensions, if any. Please refer to the list below for details.

To join the group:

• Pre-trip extension: Your flight should be booked to Casablanca.

• Main trip: Your first hotel is in Rabat. You have 2 options for booking your flights—you can meet the group in Casablanca and have the option of purchasing an airport transfer with O.A.T. (you’ll need to meet in Casablanca on the same day that the rest of the group arrives to be eligible for the transfer). OR, you can fly to Rabat and make your own way to the hotel.

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Leaving the group:

• All travelers: Your flight should depart from Casablanca.

Optional Tours

Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

What You Need to Know

• All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

• Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Planner at www.oattravel.com/myplanner).

Communicating with Home from Abroad

Cell Phones

If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.

Calling Apps

Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

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Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers

When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).

One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

Internet

Wi-Fi may not always be available throughout your trip or may have a weak signal at times. This may impact your ability to use calling apps (as noted above) in certain locations.

How to Call Overseas

When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Morocco: +212

Spain: +34

Tunisia: +216

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PACKING: WHAT TO BRING & LUGGAGE LIMITS

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on per person.

Weight restrictions Varies by airline. The current standard is up to 50

lbs for checked luggage and 15 lbs for carry-

ons.

Size Restrictions Standard airline size: Checked luggage should not

exceed 62 linear inches (length+width+depth) and

carry-on should not exceed 45 linear inches.

Luggage Type Duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Please do not

bring a hard-sided (clam shell) suitcase.

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Same as main trip.

REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the

rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board:

If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be

assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.

Small additional bag: You may want to consider bringing a smaller bag to pack in your suitcase (or

re-purpose your carry-on) for your stay at the tented camp because your main luggage will be stored on

the bus for these nights.

Don’t Forget:

• These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

• It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

• Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

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Your Luggage

• Checked luggage: One duffel bag or suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy-duty lockable zipper. Please do not bring a rigid (plastic shell) suitcase.

• TIP: When traveling with a companion we recommend “cross-packing,” i.e., pack 2 outfits of your clothing in your companion’s luggage and vice-versa, in case one bag is delayed.

• Carry-on bag: You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during driving excursions and walking trips. Consider a backpack or waistpack that keeps both hands free and distributes the pack’s weight onto your back or hips.

• Locks: For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft-prevention measure.

Clothing Suggestions: Functional Tips

• Dress in layers: As you will experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, our list suggests several layers of clothing. Plan to dress in layers to keep warm at night, and adjust to changing conditions during the day. A few of our hotels are not heated, so indoor temperatures are about the same.

• Quick-dry fabrics: If you like to hand-wash your clothes, look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with features like wrinkle-resistant fabric or built-in sun protection.

• Footwear: You’ll be on your feet and walking a lot, so choose your footwear carefully. You can find especially supportive shoes designed for walking.

Style Hints and Dress Codes

Morocco is a majority Muslim nation, but isn’t as conservative as others in the region. Many of the locals—especially the young—look to Europe for fashion trends. As a result, you will see some people in shorts, sleeveless tops, etc. And it is O.K. for you to wear them too, as long as you don’t mind that you might get occasional stares. But you’ll get a better response if you dress modestly. This means:

• Covered shoulders and no low-cut necklines. Local men tend to wear collared shirts or polo shirts rather than T-shirts. For women consider a loose, billowy top that covers you from the sun. Or bring a large scarf or shawl that you can drape over your bare shoulders when needed.

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• Shorts or skirts to the knee or below. Mid-calf or capri pants are a popular choice for women travelers. (It is perfectly acceptable for women to wear pants; you are not required to wear a skirt or a dress.) Just make sure to bring at least one pair of longer pants for hiking or camel riding.

• Context matters. Generally in places of worship or in someone’s home it is better to cover up your shoulders and legs. When touring in large cities or enjoying outdoors activities, you can relax the rules a bit.

• Women don’t need to cover their hair, except perhaps in a mosque, where it is considered a sign of respect. Each mosque has different rules, so if one requires it, your Trip Experience Leader will warn you beforehand. Mosques that require headscarves will have extras to lend or rent, so you don’t need to bring one with you.

And lastly, dress on our trip is functional and casual; there are no formal evenings.

Suggested Packing Lists

We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.

And don’t forget a reusable water bottle—you’ll need it to take advantage of any refills we offer as we are working to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on all of our trips.

Year-Round Clothing Checklist

Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts in a breathable or wicking fabric. Polo or collared shirts are more versatile than T-shirts. Billowy or loose tops will help you deal with the heat while staying covered from the sun.

Trousers and/or jeans: Comfortable and loose fitting is best. We recommend that you bring at least one lighter pair for the day, and one a bit heavier for warmth at night in the desert. Mid-length or capri pants are a popular choice for women travelers, but you’ll need at least one long pair for hiking or camel riding.

Walking shorts: Cut long for modesty

Shoes and socks: Shoes should be comfortable walking or running shoes.

Wide-brim sun hat or visor for sun protection

Light cotton or wool sweater (motor coach air conditioning can be cold)

Underwear and sleepwear

Optional: Swimsuit, in case a hotel has a whirlpool or pool

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Optional: Travel skirt(s)

Optional: Large scarf. Can be used as a head covering, shawl, or fashion accessory

Seasonal Clothing Recommendations

For fall and winter (October through March):

Medium- or expedition-weight long thermal underwear top.

Long thermal underwear bottoms

Light wool or fleece sweater

Polartec fleece jacket, or a medium-weight insulated parka.

Warm hat and light gloves

Essential Items

Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, etc. Our hotels will provide the basics like soap and shampoo, but most hotels do not provide a washcloth.

Spare eyeglasses/contact lens

Sunglasses

Sunscreen, SPF 15 or stronger

Insect repellent with DEET (30%-35% strength). Flies can be a serious nuisance in the Sahara.

Light folding umbrella

Moisturizer and sun-blocking chapstick

Pocket-size tissues

Hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial moist towelettes (not individual packets)

Flashlight, extra batteries/bulb

Electrical transformer & plug adapters

Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger.

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TIP: We suggest bringing more than one battery for your camera so you can use one battery while the other is charging.

Medicines & First Aid Gear

Your own prescription medicines

Travel first aid kit: Band-Aids, headache and pain relief, laxatives and anti-diarrhea tablets, something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, antibiotic cream, or allergy medication.

An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

Something to combat dehydration or heat stroke, such as salt tablets or powered sports drink/electrolytes

Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes

Optional Gear

Travel alarm or travel watch with alarm

Hanging toiletry bag with hook to hang on doorknob, and pockets to organize items

Basic sewing kit

Hand-wash laundry soap such as Woolite and plastic hang-up clothespins

Hair dryer – Some hotels will provide one, and some won’t. Bringing your own is only recommended if you need one 100% of the time.

A bandanna. Useful for drying wet water bottles and utensils.

Reading materials

Travel journal/note pad and pens

Photos or post cards from home, small gift for Home-Hosted visit (No alcohol please, it is forbidden in the Muslim religion)

Phrase book

Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores

Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates

Inflatable seat cushion for bumpy roads

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Home-Hosted Visits

Many of our adventures feature a visit with a local family, often as part of the A Day in the Life experience. It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim countries because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. Not all O.A.T. adventures include a Home-Hosted Visit; please check your final itinerary before you depart.

Electricity Abroad

When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.

Voltage

Electricity in Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia is 220-240 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run off both 110 and 220-240. But you should check the item or the owner’s guide first to confirm this before you plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.)

Plugs

The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket you’ll need an adapter that fits between the plug and the socket. Because there are multiple plug types in this region, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when you arrive at your destination.

Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip:

Morocco: C or E

Spain: C and/or F

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Tunisia: C and E

Type C Type E Type F

Availability

You will have electricity in your tent at the Sahara Desert Camp. However—just like in many parts of Morocco—the electricity is supplied by a generator and/or solar panels. As a result, the lighting in the tents or in some of your hotels may not be as bright as you are used to. Also we do not recommend using items like electric shavers or hairdryers as these tend to overload the system. Charging camera batteries or phones is fine, but may take longer than back at home.

Lastly, Morocco is prone to occasional power outages. A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers dependent on electricity supply for health reasons (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) may want to consider a different O.A.T. adventure.

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CLIMATE & AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Morocco: Morocco experiences a wide range of climates, from the arid climes of the Sahara, to the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Inland, and especially in the Sahara, temperatures are frequently very hot during the day, depending on the season. Nights are cooler, and can even be cold from November through March. The coldest months are December-February when temperatures in the mountain areas can drop to near freezing, and snow is possible. There is little cloud cover and almost no rain in this desert region. In Marrakesh, the weather is pleasant year round, thanks to cool breezes blowing off the Atlas Mountains. Further north in Rabat, along Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the weather is very mild, with cool temperatures and moderate clouds.

Sandstorms: A sandstorm is when a strong wind picks up loose sand particles and carries them over a distance; typically this phenomenon occurs in desert regions like the Sahara. Sandstorms are usually expected in April-May and September-October, but can occur at any time of year, and if severe can affect our itinerary. Should a sandstorm occur please listen to and follow all instructions for your own safety.

Seville, Spain: Seville has a Mediterranean climate, with average temperatures of 79 degrees in the summer and 54 degrees in the winter, experiencing mild winds during spring and summer. Winters are also mild. It rains only slightly during the autumn (average annual rainfall: 514 inches). Highs in the summer can be in the 90s or higher.

Tunisia: Tunisia consists of two climatic belts, with Mediterranean influences in the north and Saharan in the south. Temperatures are moderate along the coast, with an average annual reading of 64°. In the Mediterranean north the summer season (from May through September) is hot and dry; the winter, (from October to April) is mild and characterized by frequent rains. In the Sahara and the south, the summer can get very hot and the winter surprisingly cold. Temperatures at Tunis range from an average minimum of 43° and maximum of 57° in January, to an average minimum of 70° and maximum of 91° in August. Precipitation in the northern region reaches a high of 59 inches annually, while rainfall in the extreme south averages less than 8 inches a year.

NOTE: If you are taking one of our optional stopovers before or after your OAT adventure, please be aware the climate and temperatures might be different from what you experienced during your tour. To prepare for weather differences and pack appropriate clothing, we recommend the following world weather sites:

• www.intellicast.com

• www.weather.com

• www.wunderground.com

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Climate Averages & Online Forecast

The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myplanner for your 10-day forecast.

Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F),

Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MARRAKESH, MOROCCO

Temp. High-Low % Relative

Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

64 to 43 80 to 44 1.1

67 to 47 82 to 45 1.2

72 to 50 80 to 40 1.4

74 to 53 80 to 40 1.3

80 to 57 79 to 38 0.7

87 to 62 78 to 35 0.3

97 to 69 69 to 28 0.1

97 to 69 69 to 28 0.1

90 to 66 71 to 32 0.3

80 to 59 76 to 39 0.8

72 to 52 77 to 42 1.5

66 to 45 79 to 45 1.1

MONTH RABAT, MOROCCO


Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 62 to 46 90 to 67 3.2

FEB 63 to 49 90 to 68 2.7

MAR 66 to 50 90 to 65 2.6

APR 67 to 52 91 to 65 2.2

MAY 71 to 56 90 to 65 1.0

JUN 74 to 61 90 to 65 0.3

JUL 80 to 65 90 to 65 --

AUG 80 to 65 91 to 66 --

SEP 79 to 64 92 to 65 0.3

OCT 74 to 58 90 to 64 1.8

NOV 69 to 53 88 to 66 3.3

DEC 64 to 49 90 to 69 4.0

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ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO


Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

63 to 54 83 to 77 2.0

64 to 56 84 to 79 1.2

64 to 57 84 to 80 1.2

65 to 58 85 to 80 0.8

66 to 60 85 to 80 0.4

68 to 63 86 to 83 0.4

69 to 65 89 to 84 0.4

70 to 65 88 to 84 0.4

71 to 65 87 to 83 0.4

69 to 63 85 to 81 0.8

67 to 60 82 to 78 2.0

65 to 56 84 to 79 1.6

MONTH TANGIER, MOROCCO


Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 61 to 47 87 to 70 4.1

FEB 62 to 49 87 to 70 3.9

MAR 64 to 50 86 to 68 2.8

APR 66 to 52 87 to 67 2.4

MAY 70 to 56 87 to 65 1.5

JUN 76 to 61 86 to 62 0.6

JUL 83 to 66 84 to 57 0.1

AUG 83 to 67 85 to 59 0.1

SEP 81 to 66 85 to 60 0.6

OCT 73 to 60 85 to 64 2.6

NOV 67 to 54 87 to 68 5.3

DEC 63 to 50 86 to 70 5.1

TUNIS, TUNISIA


Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

60 to 46 86 to 68 2.4

61 to 46 87 to 65 2.1

64 to 48 87 to 63 1.8

68 to 51 84 to 59 1.5

76 to 57 82 to 55 0.9

84 to 64 76 to 48 0.4

90 to 69 75 to 45 0.1

90 to 71 79 to 49 0.3

85 to 67 85 to 56 1.3

78 to 61 87 to 62 2.2

68 to 53 86 to 67 2.1

62 to 48 86 to 68 2.5

MONTH SEVILLE, SPAIN


Humidity (am-pm)

Monthly Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 61 to 41 87 to 59 2.6

FEB 64 to 46 87 to 57 2.1

MAR 70 to 47 84 to 47 1.5

APR 73 to 50 86 to 48 2.2

MAY 80 to 56 85 to 42 1.3

JUN 88 to 62 83 to 37 0.5

JUL 96 to 67 77 to 31 0.1

AUG 95 to 67 77 to 32 0.2

SEP 89 to 64 80 to 35 0.9

OCT 78 to 56 83 to 46 2.4

NOV 68 to 49 87 to 56 3.3

DEC 62 to 44 87 to 61 3.7

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ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE

O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders: A World of Difference

During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience Leaders provide the kind of firsthand knowledge and insight that make local history, culture, and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Moroccan Culture For the adventurous soul, the challenges of traveling in Morocco—in addition to the country’s beauty and history—make it a uniquely rewarding destination. You should be prepared for dust and large crowds in Fez’s medina and in Marrakesh. In addition, poverty and beggars can be distressing for some travelers. During the holiday of Ramadan, we may need to make adjustments to our itinerary due to holiday hours and some restaurants may be closed.

Religion & Ramadan Festival

Islam is the predominant religion in Morocco, so an understanding of the religion will assist your discoveries. Practicing Muslims are expected to pray five times daily: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. The call to prayer, called the ezan, is sung or broadcast from minaret towers to remind the faithful that it is time to pray. Friday is the Muslim Sabbath day, so some businesses will be closed or have limited hours.

When visiting a mosque, it is polite to be modestly dressed (no bare shoulders, no short skirts or shorts). You will be asked to remove your shoes before entering. In most mosques, women visitors are not required to cover their hair, but in others you may be asked to do so. Typically, a mosque that requires special dress for female visitors will have pieces to lend or rent.

The biggest religious holiday is Ramadan, a month-long celebration that is meant to teach the values of restraint and charity. To participate, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The fast is strict and includes no eating, drinking alcohol, cigarette-smoking, or gum-chewing during daylight hours. But as the sun starts to set, everyone rushes home so they can celebrate iftar—the joyous breaking of the fast. Suddenly the evening comes alive with music, eating, and shopping. The festivities often continue well into the night. The mosques and some streets are decorated with lanterns, special meals are prepared, and nighttime social events and festivals are planned.

If you’ll be visiting Morocco during Ramadan, what does this mean for you? Visitors are not required to fast, but out of respect you shouldn’t eat, drink, or smoke openly. (It is OK to eat indoors, but you wouldn’t sit outside with food.) Expect that some restaurants will be closed

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and others may not serve alcohol, but your Trip Experience Leader will be on hand to advise you of places to eat. Also, it is important to keep in mind that many of the people you meet will be participating in the fast, so they might not be their usual selves. It helps to have a bit of patience.

Ramadan follows a lunar calendar, so its dates change significantly from year to year.

Taking Photographs

The etiquette of photographing most people in Morocco is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Consent is especially important if you want to take a photo of a child or minor—ask their parent for permission first. To get a great portrait, show interest in your subject and try to have a bit of social interaction to put them at ease. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK.

Safety & Security

As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people.

Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your hotel room. Most hotels will offer use of a hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe (for which you can set your own personal number). Please utilize them.

Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your wallet or money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers.

Hotel Courtesy in Spain

Like in many other European nations, manners are more formal in Spain than the U.S. Hotel staff will likely address you as “señor” or “señora” and may be caught off guard if you ask a question without greeting them with a quick “hello” or “good day” first. Local staff (and other visiting Europeans) will generally make an effort to be quiet in hallways and common rooms, which are normally used for reading, relaxing, or quiet conversation. For this reason, eating and drinking in any common rooms other than the bar or restaurant is frowned on. If you have any laundry to dry, please keep it inside your room (and not on the balcony).

Bullfighting Season

The season starts the end of March and lasts through October. Ticket prices vary according to the seat’s location: near or farther back from the ring, and in the shade or sun. Good seats in the shade run about $50. You do not need to make reservations in advance, unless the bullfighter of the day is famous.

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Getting Around in Spain

Taxi: Taxis are widely available in the area.

Bus: Generally less expensive than both taxi and train travel, bus travel in Spain has increased in recent years.

Trains: Spain has an extensive railway network linking all major towns and cities, and rail travel in Spain is generally comfortable, reliable and often cheaper than many other European countries. Trains are modern and many are high-speed.

Taking Photographs

The etiquette of photographing most people in Europe is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Consent is especially important if you want to take a photo of a child or minor—ask their parent for permission first. To get a great portrait, show interest in your subject and try to have a bit of social interaction to put them at ease. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK.

Safety & Security

As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people.

Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your hotel room. Most hotels will offer use of a hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe (for which you can set your own personal number). Please utilize them.

Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your wallet or money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers.

Moroccan Cuisine

Moroccan cooking blends Berber, Arabic, African, Spanish, and French traditions to create a culinary canon that is at once complex and delicate. Sweet and sour dishes were introduced by the Arabs, who borrowed them from Persia. Many breads were introduced by sub-Saharan African cultures. And there is a strong tradition of preserving and pickling fruits and vegetables, a contribution of Morocco’s Jewish communities.

Among the staples of the Moroccan pantry you’ll find olives, dates, lemons, lamb, seafood, and poultry, often inventively combined and seasoned with coriander, turmeric, allspice, saffron, or cinnamon. In general, the food is more aromatic than hot or spicy. Most meals are enjoyed with bread (such as kobhz) which is used in place of utensils to scoop up the food.

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If you want to start your day as the Berbers do, enjoy a breakfast of b’ssara, a rich soup of dried broad beans swirled with olive oil, sprinkled with cumin, and enjoyed with warm bread.

If you are a vegetarian, you’ll be pleased that moots meals start with a selection of salads, some of which are more like dips such as zaalouk (grilled and pureed eggplant with tomatoes and spices.) As an appetizer, you can try briouats: crunchy, triangular pockets of warqa (phyllo dough) filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables. (There are also sweet varieties.)

The national dish is couscous: tiny granules or pearls of semolina pasta. Traditionally it was prepared on the holy day, Friday, and mounded in a bowl with salads, grilled meat, or vegetables for all to enjoy. Also iconic are Morocco’s tagines. These are delicious meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetable stews that take their name from the conical clay pots in which they are cooked. Try chicken and preserved lemon tagine simmered with herbs, olives, and dried fruit.

Another must is bstilla, a flaky casserole of phyllo pastry layered with pigeon or chicken; and flavored with almonds scented with orange flower water, saffron, and cinnamon and dusted with confectioners’ sugar. It is a beloved Fez specialty but you can also find seafood versions along the coast. For something really savory try kefta, spiced beef or lamb meatballs simmered with tomatoes and poached eggs.

If shopping in all those exotic souks makes you hungry, follow your nose to the outdoor dining section where street food vendors prepare grilled kebabs, crispy rings of deep-fried calamari, and grilled sardines stuffed with an herb and spice mix called chermoula. This is also where you can order a steaming bowl of babbouche, snails in the shell swimming in a garlicky broth.

The sweets here are amazing. Start simply with dates stuffed with almond paste and sprinkled with cinnamon. Shebakia are rose-shaped sesame cookies that are dipped or soaked in honey. Move up to kaab el ghazal (Gazelle’s ankles), thin, sugary crescents filled with almonds and orange blossom water. You could call roz bil heleeb “rice pudding,” but it is unlike any you’ve ever had before: a standout dessert of creamy rice custard topped with shredded coconut and almonds or pistachios, flavored with cinnamon and orange blossom.

You might be invited to wash down your meal with a Moroccan or Berber “whiskey,” but don’t expect to get a buzz: observant Muslims do not drink alcohol, so you will be toasting with a mint tea, sometimes spiked with lemon verbena, wormwood, saffron, or star anise.

Spanish Cuisine

The 21st century’s culinary firmament is lit by a galaxy of superstar chefs from Spain. Among them are the legendary Ferran Adría (whose former restaurant, El Bulli, launched the “molecular gastronomy” trend), Carme Ruscalleda (the only female chef to be awarded five Michelin stars), octogenarian Juan Mari Arzak (the father of the “New Basque” cuisine), and Jose Andrés, (credited with bringing small plate dining to America). Even if you do not dine in one of their restaurants, they have influenced Spanish chefs in even the humblest establishments, where you might find traditional classics like these:

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All over Spain, people head to local bars after work for drinks and bite-sized appetizers called tapas, or sometimes, pinchos, a reference to the toothpick that you use to spear it. These bar snacks come in endless varieties, such as patatas bravas (deep-fried potatoes), jeta (roasted, bite-sized pork cheeks served with red peppers and potatoes), gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic and chilies), and savory albondigas, meatballs of pork and beef. They could also be as simple as a plate of olives and some cubes of manchego cheese. Follow with a sip of wine or fino or manzanilla sherry.

Many of Spain’s most popular dishes originated in a specific region, but are widely available. One such is paella, originally from Valencia. Cooked in a wide pan, it is based on saffron-scented rice layered with vegetables and protein: The original used chicken and rabbit, but today you’re more likely to find seafood paella, with plenty of shrimp, langoustines, and mussels. Another popular seafood dish is pulpo a la Gallega. It is traditional to Galicia, and features boiled octopus with sea salt, paprika, and olive oil.

Gazpacho is a chilled soup that hails from Andalusia. There are many versions of it, but the traditional recipe calls for cucumber, onion, garlic, pepper, and tomato with salt, olive oil, wine vinegar, and water. A tortilla Espanola is nothing like its Mexican counterpart. It is an omelet starring pre-fried potatoes and eggs, onions, and seasonings

Many bars and restaurants will have hams hanging from the rafters. The best Spanish ham is dry-cured jamón Iberico, made from Iberian black-hoofed pigs raised entirely on acorns. A close second is jamón Serrano, made from white-hoofed pigs. They’ll be presented on a special stand (so you can see the telltale hoof), then deftly carved into wafer-thin slices. The carving is an art, and apprentices may take five years to learn it. Needless to say, the Spanish take their ham seriously.

The Basque region is a standout in a country of culinary superlatives. The city of San Sebastian is one of the world’s great food meccas, and even outside its Michelin star heavy hitters, the average restaurant will blow you away. Basque country is famous for pintxos, which are their version of tapas (but should never called as such!). One specialty is bacalao pil-pil: cod fried with garlic, olive oil, and chili. Txangurro is a baked spider crab stuffed with onions, tomatoes, leeks, brandy, and parsley, topped with bread crumbs. For dessert, try pastel Vasco, a slice of vanilla custard cream heaven with a crunchy crust.

Remember that mealtimes in Spain are later than what you may used to. Breakfast (desayuno) is a light affair of coffee, pastry, and maybe a piece of fruit. Around 10 or 11 am, you can have almuerzo, a mid-morning snack. Places may close after this until lunch (la comida), which is the main meal of the day, a three-course affair eaten between 2 pm and 4 pm. If you’re feeling peckish around 4 pm, the merienda is a traditional time for coffee and cake. But save room for tapas, which usually start around 8 pm. With all that food, no wonder dinner (la cena) is rarely eaten before 9 or 10 pm.

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Tunisian Cuisine

Tunisian cuisine is within the Northern African tradition: couscous and marqa stews forming the backbone of most meals. Local cuisine is distinguished by the fiery harissa chili sauce, and the heavy use of the locally abundant tiny olives. Lamb forms the basis of most meat dishes, as does fish—particularly along the coast where local seafood is plentiful. Popular dishes include:

• Chakchouka: Assorted veggies (usually peppers and chickpeas, sometimes onions) are pan fried in a tomato sauce and served with a poached egg on top.

• Tajine: Unlike the Moroccan-style tajine, the Tunisian variety is a dish of beaten eggs, grated cheese, meat and various vegetable fillings—like a quiche, but without the crust.

• Tunisian Salad: A mixture of diced cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, and onions seasoned with olive oil. Sometimes this comes with a protein too, like tuna or hard boiled eggs.

• Merguez: Small sausages made with lamb, beef, or a mixture of both. Redolent of cumin, harissa, sumac, fennel, and garlic they smell divine and have a spicy heat.

• Guenaoia: A slow-cooked lamb or beef stew with okra, chillies, and spices.

• Possion Complete: A whole fish, grilled or fried to perfection and served with potato chips and a spicy pepper-based sauce.

• Bread: In Tunisia, it’s not a meal if you don’t have bread—French-style baguettes are served with everything.

• Makroudh: They may look like Fig Newtons, but they taste so much better. These small cakes are made with semolina flour wrapped around a filling of dates or almonds flavored with cinnamon and orange peel.

Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Returns

If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

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Crafts & Souvenirs

Morocco

Morocco offers many fine craft items at good prices. Traditional souvenirs include gold and silver jewelry, wood carvings, cotton goods, tapestries, carpets, leather goods, pottery, copperware, brassware, basketry, fine inlaid woodwork, and spices.

Bargaining: Some shops have fixed prices. In the open-air markets prices are usually flexible and negotiating is normal. The only rule is that if you make an offer, you should be prepared to buy at that price. Bring a mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change. Moroccans enjoy negotiating over prices, and they expect it of their customers.

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Leather goods, from supple suede gloves and elegant calf handbags to wineskins that require careful curing (botas), are excellent purchases. Other good buys are shoes, from classical calf pumps to provincial cloth espadrilles; porcelain by Lladro and pottery by regional craftsmen; and wool rugs made by tapestry makers or simple cotton-rag throws.

Siesta: Throughout Spain, most stores and offices close between 1:30 pm and 5 pm. Then they reopen until 7:30 pm (many close even later). Restaurants generally remain open during siesta. In the larger cities you may find that big department stores will stay open from 10am – 10pm.

Value Added Tax: Known in Spain as the IVA, Value Added Tax is levied on most articles, services, and meals. The IVA ranges from 7% to 21% (luxury items, cars). Depending on how much you spend on certain goods, you may be eligible for a partial refund of this tax. Ask the shopkeeper or salesperson about the VAT at time of purchase. Be sure to save all receipts and forms for Customs.

Tunisia

Many travelers are surprised by the variety of goods for which Tunisia is known. Copper ware is formed into trays and engraved and olive wood is sculpted into carvings. You’ll find leather wallets and handbags, clothing (kaftans, jelabas, burnuses) that varies from the colorful to the simple, intricate ceramics, cherubic dolls in local dress, decorative embroidery, and finely polished silverware and jewelry. But the most valuable commodity you’ll find here are Tunisian carpets, either woven (non-pile) or knotted (pile). The National Handicrafts Office oversees the quality of Tunisia’s carpets, so imitations are rare.

If you plan a major purchase, we strongly recommend that you research the prices and quality available at home before your trip. Just one visit to an import shop or gold dealer will put you way ahead when you go shopping. This is the only way to know if you are getting a good price. You must use your best judgment when deciding whether an item is worth the price being asked.

Bargaining

Tunisians enjoy negotiating over prices, and they expect it of their customers. When looking at large items, you’ll often be invited to sit down and drink a cup of tea with the merchants. If this is your first experience at bargaining, don’t worry—you’ll quickly find your own style. Your opening

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offer should be well under the asking price. The only rule is that, if you make an offer, you should be prepared to buy at that price. And remember, whatever price you pay is okay, as long as the item is worth that price to you.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges

For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

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DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Morocco

Facts, Figures & National Holidays

• Area: 172,414 square miles

• Capital: Rabat

• Languages: Arabic and Berber are the official languages; French and Spanish are also spoken.

• Location: Morocco is bordered by Algeria in the east, Mauritania in the south, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and Spain in the north.

• Geography: Morocco’s landscape varies from coastal lands near the Atlantic Ocean to mountainous regions to the Sahara Desert.

• Population: 33,322,699 (Estimate)

• Religions: Muslim 99%, Other 1%

• Time zone: Morocco is on Central European Time, six hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 5am in Washington D.C., it is 11am in Rabat. Morocco does not observe Daylight Savings, therefore Morocco is only 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time when Daylight Savings is in effect.

In addition to the holidays listed below, Morocco celebrates a number of national holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. To find out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays.

01/01 New Year’s Day

01/11 Anniversary of the Independence Manifesto

05/01 Labour Day/May Day

07/30 Feast of the Throne

08/14 Anniversary of the Recovery Oued Ed-Dahab

08/20 Anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People

08/21 Youth Day

11/06 Anniversary of the Green March

11/18 Independence Day

National Holidays: Morocco

Morocco: A Brief History

Morocco is unique for having been occupied by one group of people for all of its recorded history—people who have rarely been subjugated by outside forces. The Berbers or Imazighen (men of the land) have endured for millennia. They are not a homogenous group, but comprise

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various tribes who share some ethnic lineage. Nor were all Berbers nomads despite the stereotype. Most Berbers were farmers, but connected to fellow Berber traders and horsemen who developed semi-permanent encampments as they forged trade routes.

The Berbers often frustrated Roman attempts to govern them, though their rebellion was not always violent but often based on shrewd alliances and gamesmanship. Most Berbers continued to practice their traditional, animist religions. They also borrowed from other African and Egyptian religions, and as the millennium turned, many Berbers were Christian or Jewish.

In the 7th century AD, the Ummayad Arabs conquered the Middle East in less than a decade, but needed 70 years to subdue Morocco’s Berbers. They brought the Arab language, architecture, civil codes, and mostly, the new religion of Islam. Its ideals resonated with traditional Berber values and its adoption was widespread, rapid, and willing. But the Arabs were never able to unify the region politically. Though they enlisted Berber vassals to lead their conquest of Iberia, the sprawling caliphate proved difficult to manage, paving the way for Arab-Berber dynasties such as the Almoravids, Almohads, and Nasrids, who presided over Moorish Iberia, called al-Andalus. These dynasties have ruled Morocco continuously from the 8th century to the present.

When the Moors were expelled from al-Andalus in 1492, Muslim and Jewish refugees brought their cultures back to Morocco, enriching the Imperial Cities of Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Meknes. Rulers rose and fell for 140 years and in the 1630s, the Alaouite family overthrew the Saadis, establishing a line that rules to this day. In the late 1800s, Morocco’s strategic location and natural resources attracted France, which took control by 1912. Spain hung onto a small protectorate on the coast, Tangier was made an international zone, and Rabat became the capital. When Berbers rebelled in 1926, it took 25,000 Spanish-French troops to subdue them.

During WWII, Morocco was ruled by Vichy France, which was a Nazi puppet. But independent-minded Casablanca provided crucial support for the Allied North African campaign. After the war in 1944, Morocco demanded freedom, and France was eventually pressured to grant it. Mohammed V returned from exile in 1955; Morocco won its independence in 1956; Mohammed V crowned himself king in 1957; and handed power to his son, Hassan II, in 1961. Hassan II earned the people’s affection in 1975 when he led the Green March into the Western Sahara to force Spain to hand over the province. More than 350,000 volunteers marched that day, but the dispute between Morocco and the western separatist Polisario Front still simmers.

Mohammed VI took the throne in 1999, and advanced many liberal policies including women’s rights. In 2002, he married Salma Bennani, a computer science engineer, and many believed it symbolized the acceptance of modern roles. In 2004, the government imposed changes to family law geared toward lifting the gender inequality and protecting children. During the Arab Spring of 2011, Mohammed VI reacted with a deftness that eluded other leaders, announcing constitutional reforms, ceding more power to parliament, and making Berber an official state language. But Mohammed VI has increasingly been criticized for repressing freedom of speech, and the nation still struggles with poverty, unemployment, and corruption in the justice system.

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Spain


• Area: The mainland occupies approximately 195,364.5 square miles. Off Spain’s east coast in the Mediterranean are the Balearic Islands (1,936 square miles), the largest of which is Majorca. Sixty miles west of Africa are the Canary Islands (2,808 square miles).

• Capital: Madrid

• Languages: Spanish, Basque, Catalan, and Galician. In resort areas, many people also speak English, French, and German.

• Geography: Spain’s topography consists of a broad central plateau that slopes to the south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys. It is a land of both towering peaks and endless beaches, as well as fertile landscapes and high, dry plains. Principal rivers are the Ebro in the northeast, the Tajo in the central region, and the Guadalquivir in the south.

• Population: 48,958,159 (estimate)

• Religions: Roman Catholic 67.8%, atheist 9.1%, other 2.2%, non-believer 18.4%, unspecified 2.5%

• Time Zone: Spain is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

In addition to the holidays listed below, Spain celebrates a number of national holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays.


01/06 Epiphany

05/01 Labor Day

08/15 Assumption of Mary

10/12 Hispanic Day

11/01 All Saints Day

12/06 Constitution Day

12/08 Immaculate Conception

12/25 Christmas

National Holidays: Spain

Spain: A Brief History

Spain has been continuously inhabited for 1.2 million years, but the bulk of our knowledge about Spain’s earliest people begins around 1100 BC, when Phoenicians established trading colonies along the southern coast. These attracted the Greeks; and around the same time, Celts descended in the north, establishing hill villages known as castros, many of which still stand in Galicia and northern Portugal.

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The Romans arrived in Spain around 206 BC, but had to defeat the Carthaginians for it. Afterwards, the Romans still had a fight on their hands: The Iberian tribes resisted for 200 years. Today, in places like Mérida, Córdoba, Segovia, and Tarragona, you can see remnants of Roman roads, bridges, aqueducts, temples, and amphitheaters. Towards the end of their dominion, the Romans also brought Christianity. But Pax Romana crumbled as Visigoths and Franks swept over the Pyrenees.

The civilized heights of Rome were not equaled until the Moors arrived from North Africa around 711 AD. The enlightened Islamic civilization they established was called Al-Andalus, and it lasted for nearly 800 years. Islamic cities such as Córdoba, Seville, and Granada flourished. Throughout Al-Andalus, Christians, and Jews lived under some restrictions, but were free to worship, work, own property, and trade. When the rest of Europe was struggling through the Dark Ages, the city of Córdoba became a beacon of enlightenment with a celebrated university, palaces, gardens, observatories, libraries, street lamps, and running water. Mathematics, astronomy, literature, music, and architecture flourished.

Córdoba’s star began to dim in the 11th century as the caliphate broke into dozens of small kingdoms. Infighting opened a crack for northern Christians to pry open, and the Christian Reconquest pushed south. The last stronghold of the Moors, Granada, fell to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1491. They instituted a 300-year campaign of terror, the Spanish Inquisition, which sought to root out heretics through the confiscation of property, imprisonment, torture, and execution. It required Muslims and Jews to convert to Christianity or leave Spain, thereby ending a source of valuable cultural contributions.

But Spain’s fortunes continued to rise. In 1492, Christopher Columbus opened up the New World to Spain’s imperial ambitions. Spain amassed tremendous wealth and a vast empire through Columbus’ conquest of the Caribbean, as well as the conquest of Mexico by Cortes (1519-21) and Peru by Pizarro (1532-33). In 1588, Philip II sent his Armada to invade England, but its defeat cost Spain its supremacy. After centuries of dwindling losses, Spain’s overseas empire ended with Cuban independence in 1898.

Spain remained neutral during In World War I, but was unable to avoid the upheavals that arose in its aftermath. Civil war erupted in 1936, pitting right-wing Nationalists under Francisco Franco against socialist, communist, and centrist Republicans. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supported Franco with planes, weapons, and 92,000 troops, making Spain a testing ground for WWII. Franco declared the war over in 1939, but there was no peace. In the ensuing years, his regime killed 100,000 intellectuals, teachers, and dissenters. After World War II (which Spain sat out), a UN-sponsored boycott plunged the nation into “years of hunger.” They didn’t wane until the 1950s, when U.S. aid and tourism infused the economy. When Franco died in 1975, Juan Carlos I took the throne and Spain transitioned to democracy.

When the 2008 global economic crisis plunged Spain’s economy, the conservative government enacted harsh austerity measures. Youth unemployment reached 60%, and by 2017 over 87,000 workers left Spain, creating a brain drain. Recently, the government rolled out a “Return Plan”

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to lure them back. Also in 2017, a referendum in Catalonia backed separation from Spain. Madrid imposed direct rule, though polls show that 68% of Spaniards prefer dialogue with Catalonia. This issue, along with economic recovery, will dominate Spain for the near future.

Tunisia


• Area: 63,170 square miles

• Capital: Tunis

• Languages: Arabic (official); French and Berber are also spoken.

• Location: Tunisia is located in northern Africa, bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and northeast.

• Geography: The Tunisian coast is rather jagged and irregular, which makes for many fine bays, coves, and harbors. It’s most notable ports are Bizerte, Qabis, Safaqis, and Susah. The Atlas Mountains run through the north, though the Tunisian peaks are mostly below 4,000 feet tall. To the south, the Chott Djerid, a massive salt lake, acts as an eerie prelude to the Sahara Desert, which stretches to the Algerian and Libyan borders.

• Population: 11,516,189 (Estimate)

• Religions: Muslim 99%, Other 1%

• Time zone: Tunisia is on Central European Time, six hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 5am in Washington D.C., it is 11am in Rabat. Morocco does not observe Daylight Savings, therefore Morocco is only 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time when Daylight Savings is in effect.

In addition to the holidays listed below, Tunisia celebrates a number of national holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. To find out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays.


01/14 Revolution and Youth Day

03/20 Independence Day

04/09 Martyrs’ Day

05/01 Labour Day

07/25 Republic Day

10/15 Evacuation Day

National Holidays: Tunisia

Tunisia: A Brief History

Tunisia’s history is long and complex, which makes it one of the most fascinating countries in the world to visit. Over three millennia, it has been coveted, conquered, and re-conquered by tribes and countries seeking its fertile northern lands, a rare commodity in the Sahara region. Others

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sought its valuable position as a strategic power center. With Sicily so close to its north, the maritime passage and trade between the two countries and into the eastern Mediterranean could be controlled.

Phoenicians from today’s Lebanon were the first on record to settle on the coast—3,000 years ago in the tenth century, B.C. Four hundred years later, their city of Carthage grew into a major metropolis, second in size only to Alexandria, Egypt, and dominated the western Mediterranean. As Rome looked to expand their empire, Carthage became an obstacle. And over a period of 120 years (264 to 146 B.C.), the three Punic Wars, during which Hannibal’s army made its now famous Alps crossing on elephants, revealed Rome as the victor. Carthage was relegated as a granary for the empire.

In the fifth century, the East Germanic Vandal tribe took over Tunisia from the west. Byzantine rule followed in the sixth century, and Arab in the seventh. During Arab rule, many Berbers were converted to Islam. Those who resisted conversion grew into a frequent source of rebellion against subsequent dynasties. Other takeovers followed: the Aghlabids and Zurids in the ninth and tenth centuries; Fatmid caliphs in the tenth and eleventh centuries, who went on to found the city of Cairo; and Sicilian Normans and Moroccan Almohad caliphs in the twelfth century. This was followed by a long rule (1230–1574) by the Berber Hafsids, during which Tunisia prospered. As the Hafsids’ power weakened, Spain exerted control over some of Tunisia’s coastal cities, until the Ottoman Turks claimed the region for Islam in 1574. The Turkish beys, or governors, declared independence for Tunisia. This was around the time that pirates roamed the north African coast, pillaging unfortunate ships and earning these waters the name of “Barbary Coast,” a reference that some attribute to the barbarism of their actions and others to Berber tribes. Turkish rule lasted until 1957.

But Turkish Tunisia was not financially stable, and the bey turned to France for support. By the mid 1800s, the French had cause for concern as debts increased with no sign of repayment. They wrested control of the African nation’s finances, with support from the British and Italians, in 1869. France eventually called Tunisia their own with the treaties of Bardo and Mrsa in the 1880s, which put France in charge under a protectorate arrangement with a French general. Tunisian nationalists emerged and in 1920 the Destour, or Constitutional, party was formed with an eye toward liberation from France. Meanwhile, Habib Bourguiba formed the Neo-Destour party, a more extreme group that claimed to be more in touch with the desires of the majority.

France fell to the Germans in June 1940, and Tunisia fell under Vichy rule. Tunisians couldn’t know that their country would become a stage for the most dramatic conflict of the North Africa campaign against the Nazis. This was the site of the Allies’ first major operation in the war.

Post-war nationalist fervor grew, with Bourguiba driving for independence at the helm. But the still-ruling French resisted major reforms and talks of independence fizzled. In 1952, Bourguiba was imprisoned, leading to a wave of unrest. But three years later, Tunisia was granted complete self-government, followed by full independence in 1956. Habib Bourguiba was made Prime Minister. The newly placed assembly deposed the bey, Sidi Lamine, and a republic was declared in 1957. Bourguiba focus was on modernization and economic growth for his largely agricultural country.

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In 1987, General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali became president. Ben Ali’s regime repaired Libyan relations and opened trade with Algeria, Mauritania, and Morocco. Socially, Ben Ali at first took a liberal stance, but reneged after Islamic activists dominated the 1989 elections—and in fact he took strong measures against their rise. In the 1994 elections, Ben Ali forbade the Islamic party Al Nahda from taking part, even arresting some of its dissidents. The result was 100% support by all legal opposition parties—and 100% of the vote.

Over the next decade, Ben Ali continued to maintain his position as president. And while his economic reforms strengthened Tunisia’s economy, the ever-increasing discontent over high unemployment, police and political corruption, and a lack of freedom of speech outweighed the economic gains. In December 2010 a widespread series of protests and strikes inspired by these issues and other political concerns forced Ben Ali to resign and his party (the RCD) to dissolve.

With Ben Ali’s departure to Saudi Arabia, a state of emergency was declared and a caretaker government put into place to give the country enough time to organize elections. But as many of the ministers had strong ties to the now-defunct RCD, there continued to be a reshuffling in top positions. Eventually Beji Caid Essebsi took over as Prime Minister and announced that elections to a Constitutional Assembly would be held on June 24, 2011; it is expected that once a new constitution is in place general elections will follow.

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RESOURCES

Suggested Reading

General North Africa

Sahara Unveiled: A Journey Across the Desert by William Langewiesche (Travel Narrative). An unusually rich and insightful travel memoir about across the Sahara.

The Adventures of Ibn Battuta: Muslim Traveler of the Fourteenth Century by Ross Dunn (Memoir). Born in Tangier, Ibn Battuta was known as the “Traveler of Islam.” In thirty years of travel, Battuta visited the lands of every Muslim ruler, covering 750,000 miles and traveling to the Maghreb, Arabia, India, China, Indonesia, and even Russia.

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles (Literature). Bowles’ most famous work, the tale of three American travelers whose lives unravel in the desert of North Africa. Another interesting work by the same author is Their Heads Are Green and Their Hands Are Blue, a collection of eight travel essays, mostly on North Africa, but also India, Sri Lanka, and South America.

Morocco

Dreams of Trespass, Tales of a Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi (Memoir). This memoir captures the true story of Mernissi’s life growing up in a Fez harem during World War II. The harem was not an exotic seraglio of concubines but rather a part of the house where all the women of a family are secluded.) A coming of age story with vivid and often hilarious detail.

The Sand Child by Tahar Ben Jelloun (Fiction) To sidestep inheritance laws, a father raises his eighth daughter as a boy. Growing up as “Ahmed,” the family’s sole male child, Zahra enjoys the rights, privileges, and arrogance that society affords to men. But as she approaches womanhood, her desires and sexual identity begin to change. This award-winning novel offers a pointed critique of Arabic social norms, Islamic law, and colonialism.

Lords of the Atlas by Gavin Maxwell (History) An eventful history that reads more like an adventure story. It follows the ruthless Glaoui clan, who ruled Morocco from 1893 to 1956 with the brutality of gangland mobsters and the extravagance of medieval princes. Recommended by our staff in Morocco.

The Food of Morocco by Paula Wolfert (Cookbook) Let this reknowned James Beard Award-winning chef introduce you to the food and culture of Morocco, with dozens of recipes, culinary essays, and lavish photographs.

The Last Storytellers by Richard Hamilton (Anthology) Wander through Marrakech’s legendary Jmaa el Fna square, and among the snake charmers, musicians, jugglers and hawkers, you may occasionally notice a storyteller holding court. As the tradition of publicly recounting folktales or fables slowly dies, Hamilton has here collected the best of these engaging stories.

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The Caliph’s House, A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah (Memoir). An entertaining account of the transformation of a ruined palace in Casablanca. Shah is a marvelous storyteller, interweaving Moroccan customs, history, black humor, and portraits of neighbors into one work.

The Spider’s House by Paul Bowles (Fiction). American writer Paul Bowles lived in Morocco for 52 years. This story is set in Fez and deals with the conflicts and transformations of the last stages of French occupation in Morocco.

Spain

A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz (Travel Narrative) Follow the author as he walks the Camino de Santiago—a pilgrimage route in Spain that stretches more than 400 miles—a journey that is both physical and spiritual.

Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile by Julia Fox (2011, biography). The daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella each lost positions of power—one to the whims of England’s Henry VIII, and the other to madness.

The Last Jew by Noah Gordon (2000, Historical Fiction) A sweeping tale of survival during the Spanish in Inquisition.

Iberia by James A. Michener (1968, History) The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer offers a panoramic view of his second home, Spain, celebrating its art, customs, landscapes, peasant life, and history up to the early post-Franco era.

For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940, Fiction). Hemingway wrote this iconic novel about an American volunteer fighting Franco’’s fascists right after his own stint as a correspondent during the Spanish Civil War.

Traveler’s Tales: Spain edited by Lucy McCauley (1995, Anthology) Incisive, lyrical musings on all aspects of Spain, written by luminaries such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Calvin Trillin, and Barbara Kingsolver.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (2005, Fiction) A mix of mystery, romance, and hauntings abound in this international bestseller, set in 1950s Barcelona.

Tunisia

A History of Modern Tunisia by Kenneth Perkins (History) A more in-depth look at Tunisian history than the Traveller’s History listed above. Perkins explores the history of Tunisia from the mid-19th century to the present, with an examination of French colonial rule from 1881 to 1956, when the Tunisians achieved independence, and the subsequent process of state-building.

Hannibal and Scipio by Ross Leckie (Historical Fiction) The first two books of the Punic War Trilogy by a classicist who draws on historical sources and presents the stories as personal memoirs, first of Hannibal and then of his rival Scipio Africanus. A third book entitled Carthage was also released in 2010.

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Tunisian Mosaics, Treasures from Roman Africa by Aicha Ben Abed (Art) Aicha Ben Abed introduces the history of Roman Africa and the rise of Mediterranean mosaics, the art of private citizens rather than the imperial Roman court. Lots of glorious illustrations, plus updates on current methods of preservation.

The Pillar of Salt by Albert Memmi (History, Autobiography) This semi-autobiographical novel follows a young boy growing up in French-colonized Tunisia. In order to gain access to the privileges of French society, he must assimilate and reject many aspects of his identity—his religion, culture, and family. On the brink of World War II, he confronts anti-Semitism in Tunis and the Nazi occupation of Tunisia.

Behind Closed Doors: Women’s Oral Narratives in Tunis by Monia Hejaiej (Fiction) This book presents 47 tales told by three Beldi women—members of a historic society—in Tunis. The Arabic language and customs of Islam are firmly rooted in this community. Tale-telling is important to all Beldi women, and these three women tell stories which echo their life experience and have deep meanings for them. Their tales reflect accepted moral codes, and yet many depict attitudes, relationships, and practices that contradict established norms. These contradictory visions offer a kaleidoscopic view of the position of women in the rich life of a historic North African city.

Suggested Film & Video

Morocco

Casablanca (1942, Romance). “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Although the plot has little to do with Morocco itself, any excuse is good enough to see this classic which deftly combines elements of romance, intrigue, political commentary, and sharp comedy. Consistently places on “Top 10” lists by critics, the public, and the American Film Institute.

Hideous Kinky (1999, Drama) Kate Winslet plays a free-spirited, single British mother who decamps with her daughters to Morocco to find herself. Optimistic despite financial and personal setbacks, she remains dangerously oblivious to the needs of her children. A thoughtful look at Morocco’s 1970s hippie mystique, and its reality.

The Sheltering Sky (1990, Adventure/Drama) An unhappy American couple ventures deep into the North African desert in the hopes of rekindling their relationship. The farther they go, the more the chasm between them widens. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Debra Winger and John Malkovich, and featuring Paul Bowles, who wrote the book.

Changing Times (2004, Comedy/Drama) A French engineer (Gérard Depardieu) contrives a job in Tangier in order to reconnect with a lost lover of thirty years (Catherine Deneuve.) Various other characters and subplots cast an interesting light on modern urban Moroccan life.

Le Grand Voyage (2004, Drama). Driving his dad to Mecca for the Islamic pilgrimage is not what Reda, a French-Moroccan teenager, had planned. But plans change in this emotional road trip that explores the generational and cultural divide experienced by the many Moroccan immigrants. In French and Arabic with subtitles.

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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956, Thriller). This Hitchcock classic stars James Stewart and Doris Day as Americans traveling in Morocco, who get caught up in an international assassination plot. Filmed in and around Marrakech.

Spain

Pain and Glory (2019, Drama) Antonio Banderas earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of a legendary director flashing back through his past, and facing a present filled with loss, memory, physical ailments, and imagination. This thinly-veiled autobiographical sketch from director Pedro Almodovar is a rueful reflection on creativity, wrapped up with warmth, humor, and vivid glimpses of life in late 20th-century Spain.

The Way (2010, Drama) A grieving father (Martin Sheen) honors his lost son’s desire to finish the journey of a lifetime by competing the historical pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Along the way, he meets other trekkers with their own stories to tell.

Ocho Apellidos Vascos (released in the U.S. as Spanish Affair, 2014, Comedy) Two of Spain’s most disparate cultures collide as a jilted bride from the Basque Country goes to Seville, where a skillful Andalusian ladies man is frustrated by his inability to woo her. A fun and warm-hearted look at the differences between northern and southern Spain.

Belle Epoque (1992, Comedy/Drama) On the eve of the Spanish Civil War, Fernando, a young soldier, deserts and ends up at the country home of Manolo, a man with four strong-willed but very different daughters. Fernando seduces them all, but then is perplexed when they each reject him. All the characters represent different sides of the coming conflict, but for a moment, enjoy the “beautiful epoch” of joyful sensuality and warmth.

All About My Mother (1999, Comedy) When her 17-year-old son is tragically killed in a car accident, Manuela sets out to reconnect with her son’s father and ends up forging new connections with an outrageous transvestite, a pregnant nun, and her son’s favorite actress. This 1999 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film is another from director Pedro Almodovar, whose other acclaimed works include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Volver.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, Fantasy) From director Guillermo del Toro. Following Spain’s bloody civil war, young Ofelia enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a brutal military officer. Armed only with her imagination, Ofelia discovers a labyrinth and a faun who offers her a path to saving herself and her mother. The lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and before Ofelia can turn back, she’s at the center of a ferocious battle between good and evil.

Tunisia

Star Wars (1977-2019, Science Fiction) This popular science fiction saga entered the cinematic stage in 1977 to tell the story of a rebel alliance fighting against the tyranny of an evil empire. Four movies in the saga (Episodes I-IV) feature scenes filmed in Tunisia, including that of the desert planet Tatooine. Episode IV: A New Hope introduces the hero of the original trilogy on his home planet with stunning views of the sandy vistas.

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Gladiator (2000, Action) Although this historical drama of a Roman general forced to become a gladiator to survive is largely centered around Rome, the scenes set in Roman North Africa could easily be in Classical-era Tunisia.

Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951, Drama) Desert Fox portrays the life of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel at the end of WWII. It tracks Rommel’s career beginning with a failed campaign in North Africa and ending with his eventual decision to join in a conspiracy against Hitler.

Overseas Adventure Travel www.oattravel.com

Overseas Adventure Travel Store www.oatshop.com

Overseas Adventure Travel Frequently Asked Questions www.oattravel.com/faq

International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Electricity & Plugs www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets

Foreign Exchange Rates www.xe.com/currencyconverter www.oanda.com/converter/classic

ATM Locators www.mastercard.com/atm www.visa.com/atmlocator

World Weather www.intellicast.com www.weather.com www.wunderground.com

Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) www.travlang.com/languages

Packing Tips www.travelite.org

U.S. Customs & Border Protection www.cbp.gov/travel

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) www.tsa.gov

National Passport Information Center www.travel.state.gov

Holidays Worldwide www.timeanddate.com/holidays

Useful Websites

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VACCINATIONS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL TRAVELERS, SHIP CREW, TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS, AND COACH DRIVERSPlus, updated Health & Safety Protocols for our Small Group

Adventures by Land & Small Ship

The health and safety of our travelers is always our #1 priority, and we understand travelers are concerned about exploring the world in light of the unprecedented crisis we are currently facing. To ensure your safety and give you peace of mind, we have worked with our regional team and listened to government guidance and feedback from our travelers to create these health and safety protocols for our trips. As we continue to make changes, we will keep our website updated with the latest information.

Learn more at www.oattravel.com/covid-update

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

AND UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY

PROTOCOLS FOR SMALL SHIP

ADVENTURES

• All travelers must be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure and provide proof of vaccination upon boarding the ship. If you are unable to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at your destination, you will have to return home at your own expense.

To meet this requirement, please bring your original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with you on your trip. The white card must display your name, type of vaccine, and the date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for your records as a backup.

• All local Trip Experience Leaders, ship staff, and crew will be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19.

• All coach drivers will be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19.

• All public areas will be sanitized nightly and all ships are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.

• All meals are served by the dining staff—buffets are no longer available.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND

UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

FOR SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES ON LAND

• All travelers must be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. If you are unable to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at your destination, you will have to return home at your own expense.

To meet this requirement, please bring your original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with you on your trip. The white card must display your name, type of vaccine, and the date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for your records as a backup.

• All local Trip Experience Leaders will be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19.

• All coach drivers will be fully vaccinated—including a Booster Shot—against COVID-19.

Help us ensure travelers’ safety and health while on our trips. Please follow best health and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illness—wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Together, we can create a safer travel experience for everyone.

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YOUR TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADER

Your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader is an insider who lives in the destinations you are exploring.

They are not just knowledgeable, but personable and personal—eager to understand your own

interests, and happy to share their own. This makes all the diff erence between just visiting a place,

and experiencing its true spirit.

For your Morocco Sahara Odyssey adventure, your Trip Experience Leaders have earned an

overall “Excellence” rating of 87% in post-trip surveys completed by our travelers.

CONNECT WITH US:

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