1st Day
Arrival at Cairo Airport, meet and assist by our representative, transfer to the Hotel.

2nd Day A.M. Visit to Memphis, Sakkara, Pyramids of Giza and
Sphinx.
P.M. Sound and Light show at Pyramids.

3rd Day A.M. Visit to Egyptian Museum, Saladin Citadel, Mohamed Ali Mosque and Khan El Khalili Bazaars.
P.M. Transfer to Luxor.

4th Day A.M. Visit to Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, Temple of Deir El Bahari and Colossi of Memnon.
P.M. Visit to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple.

5th Day A.M. Transfer to Aswan.
Visit to Agha Khan Mausoleum, the Botanical Garden and Elephantine Islands.
P.M. Visit to the High Dam, Aswan Dam and Unfinished Obelisk.

6th Day A.M. Free Day. (Abu Simple – Optional)
P.M. Transfer to Cairo.

7th Day A.M. Free Day.
P.M. Belly Dance and Oriental Show.

8th Day Transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure assistance by our representative through formalities.

DAY 1:
Arrive to Cairo airport. Meet & assist and transfer to hotel.

DAY 2: Breakfast, Full day tour to the Pyramids & Sphinx & Memphis and Sakara.

DAY 3: Breakfast, Full day tour to the Egyptian Museum & Citadel of Salah Aldin & Mohd Ali Mosque and Khan Al Khalili bazzar.

DAY 4: Breakfast, Transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure.

DAY 1:
Arrive to Cairo Airport. Meet & assist and transfer to hotel.

DAY 2: Breakfast : Full day tour to the Pyramids & Sphinx & Memphis and Sakkara.

DAY 3: Breakfast: Transfer to Cairo Airport for departure to Hurghada. Arrive to Hurghada and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 4: Breakfast: Free at leisure or optional tour to Luxor ( 3 hours drive ). Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 5: Breakfast: Free at leisure for relaxing. Swimming. Diving Dinner and overnight at hotel

DAY 6: Breakfast: Transfer to Hurghada Airport for departure to Cairo. Arrive to Cairo Airport and transfer to hotel.

DAY 7: Breakfast: Full day tour at Egyptian museum & Citadel of Salah Aladdin & Mohd Ali mosque and Khan al Khalili bazzars.

DAY 8: Breakfast: transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure.

DAY 1:
Arrive to Cairo Airport. Meet & assist and transfer to hotel.

DAY 2: Breakfast, Full day tour to the Pyramids & Egyptian

museum and Khan Alkhalili bazzars.

DAY 3: Transfer to Cairo airport for departure to Luxor. Arrive to Luxor and transfer To Nile cruise. Overnight on board.

DAY 4: On board.

DAY 5: On board.

DAY 6: On board.

DAY 7: Disembarkation after breakfast. And transfer to Aswan airport for departure to Cairo Arrive Cairo and transfer to hotel.

DAY 8: Breakfast. Transfer to Cairo Airport for final departure.

DAY 1 :
ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL

Meet and assist at Istanbul airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2 : ISTANBUL - FULL DAY CITY TOUR

Full day city tour including Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 3 : ISTANBUL / BURSA

Breakfast and departure for Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Green Mosque, Green Mausoleum, Silk Bazaar and the Old Plane Tree on the skirts of Mount Olympus (Uludag). Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

DAY 4 : BURSA / PERGAMUM / IZMIR

Breakfast and early departure for Pergamum. Visit Acropolis, the Red Basilica and Asclepion. Continue to Izmir and see the panoramic view of the bay from the Castle of Alexander the Great on Mt. Pagus. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

DAY 5 : IZMIR / EPHESUS / PAMUKKALE

Early breakfast and departure for Ephesus. Visit the ruins of the antique city of Ephesus, Basilica of St. John and the Last Home of Virgin Mary. Continue to Pamukkale to see the travertine terraces and visit the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

DAY 6 : PAMUKKALE / KONYA / CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast and early departure for Konya to visit the Mausoleum and the Mosque of Mevlana. Continue to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 : CAPPADOCIA

Full day sightseeing of the area, including the valleys of Goreme and Zelve, the underground city of Kaymakli, the citadel of Uchisar and Avanos. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 8 : CAPPADOCIA / ANKARA - DEPARTURE

Morning departure for Ankara, visit the Seljuk Agzikarahan Caravansary en route. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations on arrival in Ankara. Then transfer to the airport and departure.

DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL

Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2 : ISTANBUL

Full day city tour including Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 3 : ISTANBUL / BURSA

Breakfast and departure for Bursa. Visit the Green Mosque, Green Mausoleum, Old Silk Market and Grand Mosque. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

DAY 4 : BURSA / PAMUKKALE

Early breakfast and drive to Pamukkale. Visit the ruins of Hierapolis and the calcium terraces with hot water pools. Dinner and overnight at a thermal hotel in Pamukkale.

DAY 5 : PAMUKKALE / EPHESUS / KUSADASI

Departure for Ephesus and visit the ruins of this ancient city. Continue the tour with the last Home of Virgin Mary and Basilica of St. John. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi which is a lovely summer resort town nearby Ephesus.

DAY 6 : KUSADASI / IZMIR / AYVALIK

Breakfast and departure for Izmir to see the third biggest city of Turkey with its Old Bazaar and Mt. Pagus for the lovely view of the bay of Izmir. Continue to Ayvalik and visit the hill where the footprint of the Devil is believed to be. Dinner and overnight in Ayvalik.

DAY 7 : AYVALIK / TROY / ISTANBUL

Start the day with the visit to Troy, the city in Homer's Iliad. Continue to Istanbul by crossing the Dardanelles and following the sea shore of the Sea of Marmara. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 8 : DEPARTURE

Breakfast and transfer to the airport .

DAY 1 : ISTANBUL

On arrival transfer from Istanbul Airport to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2 : ISTANBUL

Full day tour of Istanbul including Topkapi Palace, former residence of the Ottoman sultans, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Hippodrome and the Grand bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)

DAY 3 : ISTANBUL / GALLIPOLI / CANAKKALE

Drive to Gallipoli's famous WW 1 sites. Visit Anzak Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery then cross the Dardanelles waterway to Asia. Overnight in Canakkale. (B,D)

DAY 4 : CANAKKALE / TROY / PERGAMUM / IZMIR

Morning visit ancient Troy's legendary walls and a replica of the famous wooden horse, then to Pergamum's Acropolis where you will see the Altar of Zeus. Finally, Asklepeion the famous medical center of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

DAY 5 : IZMIR / EPHESUS / PAMUKKALE

Tour of the famous site of Ephesus one of the world's finest archaeological sites. Walk in its well preserved 2000 year old marble streets to the theatre, library of Celsius, gymnasium and Hadrian's temple. Visit the House of Virgin Mary. In the afternoon drive trough fertile valleys to Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle" in Turkish, describing the white lime cascades formed by mineral springs. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

DAY 6 : PAMUKKALE / SARDES / BURSA

After touring the Hierapolis Roman health Spa ruins, continue to Sardis famous for its marbled paved Synagogue then to Bursa, located at the foot of Mt. Olympus. Overnight in Bursa. (B,D)

DAY 7 : BURSA / ISTANBUL

Morning visit the Green Mosque and Ottoman complex then depart for Istanbul crossing the Marmara Sea. Remaining of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

DAY 8 : ISTANBUL

Transfer from your hotel to the airport. (B)

Day 1

Your Heritage Tours-qualified, expert guide or driver welcomes you on arrival to Marrakech.

No longer the secret of the travel cognoscenti that it was ten years ago, Marrakech is being recognized as one of the world’s great cities. With the design flair of Paris, the ethnic diversity of New York, the commercial heartbeat of Hong Kong and a history to rival any city in Europe, Marrakech is above all a city of heart and soul – a city of sunlight on rough pink walls, of fragrant piles of richly-hued spices and of rose-petals floating in slowly-trickling fountains.

Marrakech offers a wide variety of accommodations including many recently renovated homes and palaces. Riads are uniquely Moroccan inns with grand courtyards surrounding lush gardens. There are many to choose from; let Heritage Tours be your guide.

Check in at the homey and chic Riad El Mezouar. This intimate riad has five lovely rooms surrounding an Andalusian courtyard with a small pool. Staying in such an authentic Moroccan palace, you will experience a warmth and authenticity impossible to find in a larger property.

For one of the finest experiences in Morocco, Heritage Tours suggests a stay at Villa des Orangers, an exquisite and unique Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel surrounding two lovely courtyards and featuring only 16 rooms.

You may prefer to experience the legendary La Mamounia – consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World. La Mamounia has been a playground for the rich and famous since the days when Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt roamed its halls.

For the ultimate in Marrakech, stay at the exclusive Amanjena resort in a private villa with your own patio and fountain. A lovely complex of gardens and pools, the New York Times calls Amanjena “a world unto itself inside towering ocher walls….with rose-colored arches, columns and fountains”.

Day 1 (continued)

Your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide will meet you at your hotel to embark on a walking tour of the ancient medina of Marrakech.

The defining landmark of Marrakech is the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia mosque and there is no better place to begin your venture into this entrancing city.

Explore  spices, carpets,-the colorful souks (marketplace) of Marrakech. Each trade   is situated in its unique-jewelry, enamel, copper, brass and cedar  quarter.

Visit the opulent Saadien Tombs (the mausoleum of a great dynasty which once ruled North Africa).

In the early evening, head to the greatest square in all of Africa – and-towards the frenetic Djemaa el Fnaa  perhaps the world. Today, it provides ever-changing entertainment for Moroccans and foreigners alike, reaching its climax at sunset when the square is alive with storytellers, healers, snake charmers, acrobats and countless food stalls.

Overnight: Riad El Mezouar.

Day 2

Breakfast at your hotel.

Continue your walking tour of Marrakech.

Begin your day at the tropical Majorelle Gardens and visit the small, but excellent, Islamic Art Museum located in the home of painter Jacques Majorelle.

Visit the medieval Medersa (koranic university) ben Youssef – one of the finest Islamic monuments in North Africa. Architecture aficionados will enjoy the nearby delicate dome of the 12th century Koubba.

Near the medersa are two of the more interesting cultural showplaces in Marrakech: The Musee de Marrakech and the Dar Bellarj cultural foundation.

Stop for tea or orange juice at a beautifully restored riad, a new cultural foundation, bookstore and art gallery, with rotating exhibitions. It is a wonderful example of the many riads being resorted in the medina.

Wander through the Dar Si Said Museum of traditional crafts housed in a 19th century palace, and a private collection of indigenous crafts started by a Swiss collector and now open to the public.

Visit the ruins of the vast Badi’a Palace. Here you will find the 800-year-old wooden minbar (pulpit) from the Koutoubia mosque restored by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

If you wish, visit the Artisinale, where crafts are made and sold. There is a small workshop in the back where zellij (the hand-crafted Moroccan mosaic that is a hallmark of Moroccan architecture) is produced.

Dinner reservations at Le Foundouk, a chic bar-restaurant featuring Moroccan cuisine with Mediterranean flare.

Overnight: Riad El Mezouar.

Day 3

Breakfast at your hotel.

Full day excursion south to the High Atlas Mountains – where earthen Berber villages lay terraced into the verdant mountains. Upon arrival in the village of Imlil, you will take a 10-minute walk up the former summer home of the powerful Pasha El Glaoui. Mules will be available if you prefer to ride!

Sited on a hilltop with commanding views of the surrounding valley, the Kasbah is now beautifully restored and a very pleasant place to experience Berber hospitality.

Enjoy a traditional Berber lunch on the terrace overlooking the snow-capped peaks.

You may wish to take a stroll to a nearby Berber village, where an invitation to share mint tea with the locals can be arranged! If you like, enjoy a session in the Kasbah’s hammam (steam bath) or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

The Kasbah has been heavily involved in sharing its prosperity with the local mountain villages, sponsoring much-needed health and educational projects. Heritage Tours is proud to support this worthy enterprise.

Overnight: Riad El Mezouar.

Day 4

Breakfast at your hotel.

Full day excursion west to the Atlantic Ocean and the former Portuguese colony of Essaouira (approximately two hours each way). Wander about its enchanting streets and alleys: the setting in 1952 for Orson Welles’ Othello.

Once known as Mogador, Essaouira’s blue and white medina was recently names a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• You may prefer a day at leisure to wander the souks of Marrakech or choose from one of the following suggested activities:

• We are also happy to arrange for private cooking lessons with one of the “hottest” chefs in Marrakech. This workshop is an excellent introduction to the joys of Moroccan gastronomy. Prepare a traditional meal and enjoy the delicious results with the help of our chef and your guide as translator.

• Being such a sensual city, Marrakech is a designers and shopper’s paradise and we are happy to provide you with our own privileged list (after countless shopping expeditions ourselves) of the finest boutiques and artisans in Morocco.

• Spas are new to Marrakech; we are happy to recommend one that is simple and authentic and quite nice as well as a few that are upscale and quite special.

• We can arrange (upon request) for the ladies, a private henna ceremony, where you will have henna applied to you in a much-simplified version of the elaborate rituals done prior to the marriage of a young woman.

• For those of you who are golfers, we are happy to arrange a round of golf at one of Marrakech’s three well-regarded courses; one designed by Robert Trent Jones.

If you like, we will make dinner reservations at L’Mimouna - a new addition to Marrakech’s vibrant restaurant scene. In season, we suggest rooftop dining.

Overnight: Riad El Mezouar.

Day 5

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast you will be escorted to Marrakech airport for your departing flight.

Bon Voyage!

No visit to Morocco is complete without immersing yourself in the rich history of

Fes and Marrakech. Fes, a center of learning and culture, and Marrakech, a Berber city with in a history rooted in sub-Saharan Africa, offer a contrast that allows the visitor to peak into the very soul of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Day 1:

Morning arrival at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, where you will be welcomed by your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide to begin your private tour of Morocco!

Leave the Atlantic coast behind as you make your way to the Middle Atlas Mountains and Morocco’s spiritual capital Fes.

Scholars, architects, historians and artists travel from all over the world to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fes – an entire city which functions largely as it did in the middle ages.

Check in at Riad Sheherazade, located in the Batha quarter of the medina. This 19th century palace was recently converted into a boutique hotel featuring Andalusian Gardens, hammam and a swimming pool in its grand courtyard.

You may prefer the comfort of the upscale and intimate Riad Maison Bleue, an 18th century mansion built against the walls of Fes el-Jdid.

You may prefer to stay at the historic Palais Jamaï - the grand hotel of Fes, surrounded by lovely Andalusian gardens and located adjacent to the massive city walls.

Rest and refresh at your hotel.

When you are ready, your expert guide awaits. Step back six centuries into the medieval world of Fes, whose narrow and cobbled streets are filled with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets.

Overnight: Riad Sheherazade.

Day 2:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Highlights of your private walking tour of Fes include the Medersa (koranic university) Attarine, Foundouk Nejjarine, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, countless souks and the famous tanneries. Explore the Dar Batha Museum and visit the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue. See the stunning gates of the Royal Palace.

Day 2 (continued):

In the afternoon, we will make arrangements for you to visit a privately-owned palace, now in great decay, which belongs to one of the most famous historical names in Morocco. With a bit of imagination, you can envision the grandeur of this crumbling palace’s glorious past.

Dinner reservations at La Maison Bleue, specializing in the traditional cuisine of Fes.

Overnight: Riad Sheherazade.

Day 3:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a full-day private excursion to the extensive Roman ruins at Volubulis and tour the capital of the ancient Roman province of Mauritania.

After completing your tour of the ruins, drive to nearby Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in Morocco.

Continue to Imperial Meknes: its spectacular City Gates are among the finest in the Arab world. Visit the Tomb of the once-feared Moulay Ismaïl, who modeled his capital of Meknes in the image of Versailles!

Return to Fes at your leisure.

Dinner reservations at a privately owned 19th century mansion in the wealthiest quarter of the medina, which just finished undergoing an extensive renovation. This home is owned by an Oxford-educated Moroccan man who is the scion of a family of artisans and his British-born wife who has resettled in Fes. Adjacent to their home, they have set up a foundation to teach younger generations the traditional skills and craftsmanship of Morocco.

Overnight: Riad Sheherazade.

Day 4:

Early breakfast at your hotel.

You will be escorted to Fes Airport for your flight to Marrakech via Casablanca.

No longer the secret of the travel cognoscenti that it was ten years ago, Marrakech is being recognized as one of the world’s great cities. With the design flair of Paris, the ethnic diversity of New York, the commercial heartbeat of Hong Kong and a history to rival any city in Europe, Marrakech is above all a city of heart and soul – a city of sunlight on rough pink walls, of fragrant piles of richly-hued spices and of rose-petals floating in slowly-trickling fountains.

Check in at the legendary La Maison Arabe, an exquisite boutique hotel in the heart of the ancient medina. La Maison Arabe is highly regarded as the first boutique hotel to open within the walls of the medina as well as for its high level of service and its rich collection of art by Moroccan and European artists.

A truly intimate experience can be had at Dar Bamileke, located just five minutes from the main square, Djemaa El F'naa. This newly-opened property has only three suites decorated in a stylish mix of traditional Moroccan with haut-Africaine. The lush courtyard has banana trees and you enjoy spectacular views from the rooftop terrace.

Day 4 (continued):

You may prefer to experience the legendary La Mamounia – consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World. La Mamounia has been a playground for the rich and famous since the days when Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt roamed its halls.

Your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide will meet you at your hotel to embark on a walking tour of the ancient medina of Marrakech.

The defining landmark of Marrakech is the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia mosque and there is no better place to begin your venture into this entrancing city.

Explore the colorful  spices, carpets, jewelry, enamel,-souks (marketplace) of Marrakech. Each trade   is situated in its unique quarter.-copper, brass and cedar

Visit the opulent Saadien Tombs (the mausoleum of a great dynasty which once ruled North Africa).

In the early evening, head towards the frenetic Djemaa el Fnaa  the greatest square in all of Africa – and perhaps the world. Today, it- provides ever-changing entertainment for Moroccans and foreigners alike, reaching its climax at sunset when the square is alive with storytellers, healers, snake charmers, acrobats and countless food stalls.

Overnight: La Maison Arabe.

Day 5:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Continue your walking tour of Marrakech.

Begin your day at the tropical Majorelle Gardens and visit the small, but excellent, Islamic Art Museum located in the home of painter Jacques Majorelle.

Visit the medieval Medersa (koranic university) ben Youssef – one of the finest Islamic monuments in North Africa. Architecture aficionados will enjoy the nearby delicate dome of the 12th century Koubba.

Near the medersa are two of the more interesting cultural showplaces in Marrakech: The Musee de Marrakech and the Dar Bellarj cultural foundation.

Stop for tea or orange juice at a beautifully restored riad, a new cultural foundation, bookstore and art gallery, with rotating exhibitions. It is a wonderful example of the many riads being resorted in the medina.

Wander through the Dar Si Said Museum of traditional crafts housed in a 19th century palace, and a private collection of indigenous crafts started by a Swiss collector and now open to the public.

Visit the ruins of the vast Badi’a Palace. Here you will find the 800-year-old wooden minbar (pulpit) from the Koutoubia mosque restored by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Day 5 (continued):

If you wish, visit the Artisinale, where crafts are made and sold. There is a small workshop in the back where zellij (the hand-crafted Moroccan mosaic that is a hallmark of Moroccan architecture) is produced.

Dinner reservations at Le Foundouk, a chic bar-restaurant featuring Moroccan cuisine with Mediterranean flare.

Overnight: La Maison Arabe.

Day 6:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a day at leisure to wander the souks of Marrakech or choose from one of the following suggested activities:

• Full day excursion west to the Atlantic Ocean and the former Portuguese colony of Essaouira (approximately two hours each way). Wander about its enchanting streets and alleys: the setting in 1952 for Orson Welles’ Othello.

Once known as Mogador, Essaouira’s blue and white medina was recently names a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Full day excursion south to the High Atlas Mountains – where earthen Berber villages lay terraced into the verdant mountains. Upon arrival in the village of Imlil, you will take a 10-minute walk up the former summer home of the powerful Pasha El Glaoui. Mules will be available if you prefer to ride!

Sited on a hilltop with commanding views of the surrounding valley, the Kasbah is now beautifully restored and a very pleasant place to experience Berber hospitality.

Enjoy a traditional Berber lunch on the terrace overlooking the snow-capped peaks.

You may wish to take a stroll to a nearby Berber village, where an invitation to share mint tea with the locals can be arranged! If you like, enjoy a session in the Kasbah’s hammam (steam bath) or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

The Kasbah has been heavily involved in sharing its prosperity with the local mountain villages, sponsoring much-needed health and educational projects. Heritage Tours is proud to support this worthy enterprise.

• We are also happy to arrange for private cooking lessons with one of the “hottest” chefs in Marrakech. This workshop is an excellent introduction to the joys of Moroccan gastronomy. Prepare a traditional meal and enjoy the delicious results with the help of our chef and your guide as translator.

• Being such a sensual city, Marrakech is a designers and shopper’s paradise and we are happy to provide you with our own privileged list (after countless shopping expeditions ourselves) of the finest boutiques and artisans in Morocco.

• Spas are new to Marrakech; we are happy to recommend one that is simple and authentic and quite nice as well as a few that are upscale and quite special.

• We can arrange (upon request) for the ladies, a private henna ceremony, where you will have henna applied to you in a much-simplified version of the elaborate rituals done prior to the marriage of a young woman.

Day 6 (continued):

• For those of you who are golfers, we are happy to arrange a round of golf at one of Marrakech’s three well-regarded courses; one designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Overnight: La Maison Arabe.

Day 7:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the nearby Marrakech airport for your departing flight.

Bon Voyage!

No visit to Morocco is complete without immersing yourself in the rich history of

Fes and Marrakech. The following journey also takes you to the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains and a center of Berber hospitality that can serve as a base for walking and trekking or simply as a peaceful perch from which to experience yet another side of the many faceted Kingdom of Morocco.

Day 1:

Your Heritage Tours-qualified, expert guide or driver welcomes you on arrival in Casablanca. Begin your private tour of Morocco!

Leave the Atlantic coast behind as you make your way to the Middle Atlas Mountains and Morocco’s spiritual capital, Fes.

Scholars, architects, historians and artists travel from all over the world to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fes – an entire city which functions largely as it did in the middle ages.

Upon arrival in Fes, check in at the upscale and intimate Riad Maison Bleue, an 18th century mansion built against the walls of Fes el-Jdid.

You may prefer to stay at the historic Palais Jamaï - the grand hotel of Fes, surrounded by lovely Andalusian gardens and located adjacent to the massive city walls.

Rest and refresh at your hotel.

When you are ready , your expert guide awaits. Step back six centuries into the medieval world of Fes, whose narrow and cobbled streets are filled with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 2:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Highlights of your private walking tour of Fes include the Medersa (koranic university) Attarine, Foundouk Nejjarine, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, countless souks and the famous tanneries. Explore the Dar Batha Museum, the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue and the stunning gates of the Royal Palace.

In the afternoon, we will make arrangements for you to visit a privately-owned palace, now in great decay, which belongs to one of the most famous historical names in Morocco. With a bit of imagination, you can envision the grandeur of this crumbling palace’s glorious past.

Dinner reservations at La Maison Bleue, specializing in the traditional cuisine of Fes.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 3:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a full-day private excursion to the extensive Roman ruins at Volubulis, nearby Moulay Idriss and Imperial Meknes.

Return to Fes at your leisure.

Dinner reservations at a privately owned 19th century mansion in the wealthiest quarter of the medina, which just finished undergoing an extensive renovation. This home is owned by an Oxford-educated Moroccan man who is the scion of a family of artisans and his British-born wife who has resettled in Fes. Adjacent to their home, they have set up a foundation to teach younger generations the traditional skills and craftsmanship of Morocco.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 4:

Early breakfast at your hotel.

You will be escorted to Fes Airport for your flight to Marrakech via Casablanca.

Upon arrival in Marrakech, you will be greeted and escorted south along the hairpin road which eventually leads to one of only two passes through the High Atlas Mountains – where earthen Berber villages lay terraced into the verdant mountains.

Upon arrival in the village of Imlil, you will take a 10-minute walk up the former summer home of the powerful Pasha El Glaoui. Mules will be available if you prefer to ride!

Sited on a hilltop with commanding views of the surrounding valley, the Kasbah is now beautifully restored and a very pleasant place to experience Berber hospitality. It is a great base from which to explore the High Atlas or relax and enjoy the scenery. (Martin Scorcese used the Kasbah as a stand-in for Tibet in his epic Kundun.)

The Kasbah offers a full array of hiking, fully supported with their own expert mountain guides. Enjoy a session in the hammam (steam bath) after a day of walking. The food is fresh and authentically Berber.

The Kasbah has been heavily involved in sharing its prosperity with the local mountain villages, sponsoring much-needed health and educational projects. Heritage Tours is proud to support this worthy enterprise.

Dinner at the Kasbah.

Overnight at the Kasbah.

Day 5:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Day at leisure to enjoy the facilities and services of this very special place.

Spend the day relaxing on the veranda, writing postcards or looking forward to your evening session in the hammam.

You may wish to hire a guide for a stroll to a local Berber village. You may just be invited for mint tea! Walks range from moderate to more ambitious and can include a glorious picnic lunch alongside a mountain stream.

(cost of supported trekking payable directly to the Kasbah).

Dinner at the Kasbah.

Overnight at the Kasbah.

Day 6:

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast you will be escorted to Marrakech.

No longer the secret of the travel cognoscenti that it was ten years ago, Marrakech is being recognized as one of the world’s great cities. With the design flair of Paris, the ethnic diversity of New York, the commercial heartbeat of Hong Kong and a history to rival any city in Europe, Marrakech is above all a city of heart and soul – a city of sunlight on rough pink walls, of fragrant piles of richly-hued spices and of rose-petals floating in slowly-trickling fountains.

Upon arrival, check in at Les Jardins de la Medina. A garden oasis of calm and tranquility only a fifteen-minute walk from the Djemaa el F’naa, this boutique hotel features lovely gardens and a heated pool.

For one of the finest experiences in Morocco, Heritage Tours suggests a stay at Villa des Orangers, an exquisite and unique Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel surrounding two lovely courtyards and featuring only 16 rooms.

You may prefer to experience the legendary La Mamounia – consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World. La Mamounia has been a playground for the rich and famous since the days when Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt roamed its halls.

Your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide will meet you at your hotel to embark on a private walking tour of the ancient medina of Marrakech.

The defining landmark of Marrakech is the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia mosque and there is no better place to begin your venture into this entrancing city.

-Explore the colorful souks (marketplace) of Marrakech. Each trade   is situated in its-spices, carpets, jewelry, enamel, copper, brass and cedar  unique quarter.

In the early evening, head towards the frenetic Djemaa el  the greatest square in all of Africa – and perhaps the world.-Fnaa 

Overnight: Les Jardins de la Medina.

Day 7:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Continue your private walking tour of Marrakech with your expert guide.

Highlights of your visit include the Majorelle Gardens, the Saadien Tombs, the medieval Medersa (koranic university) ben Youssef.

Near the medersa are two of the more interesting cultural showplaces in Marrakech: The Musee de Marrakech and the Dar Bellarj cultural foundation.

Stop for tea or orange juice at a beautifully restored riad, a new cultural foundation, bookstore and art gallery, with rotating exhibitions. It is a wonderful example of the many riads being resorted in the medina.

Day 7 (continued):

Explore the Dar Si Said Museum of traditional crafts housed in a 19th century palace, and the ruins of the vast Badi’a Palace.

Dinner reservations at Le Foundouk, a chic bar-restaurant featuring Moroccan cuisine with Mediterranean flare.

Overnight: Les Jardins de la Medina.

Day 8:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a day at leisure to wander the souks of Marrakech for some last minute shopping or choose from one of the following suggested activities:

• Full day excursion west to the Atlantic Ocean and the former Portuguese colony of Essaouira (approximately two hours each way). Wander about its enchanting streets and alleys: the setting in 1952 for Orson Welles’ Othello.

Once known as Mogador, Essaouira’s blue and white medina was recently names a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• We are also happy to arrange for private cooking lessons with one of the “hottest” chefs in Marrakech. This workshop is an excellent introduction to the joys of Moroccan gastronomy. Prepare a traditional meal and enjoy the delicious results with the help of our chef and your guide as translator.

• Being such a sensual city, Marrakech is a designers and shopper’s paradise and we are happy to provide you with our own privileged list (after countless shopping expeditions ourselves) of the finest boutiques and artisans in Morocco.

• Spas are new to Marrakech; we are happy to recommend one that is simple and authentic and quite nice as well as a few that are upscale and quite special.

• We can arrange (upon request) for the ladies, a private henna ceremony, where you will have henna applied to you in a much-simplified version of the elaborate rituals done prior to the marriage of a young woman.

• For those of you who are golfers, we are happy to arrange a round of golf at one of Marrakech’s three well-regarded courses; one designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Overnight: Les Jardins de la Medina.

Day 9:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the nearby Marrakech airport for your departing flight.

Bon Voyage!

No visit to Morocco is complete without immersing yourself in the rich history of

Fes and Marrakech. The following journey also takes you to Essaouira, the former Portuguese colony on the Atlantic coast. With its stunning blue and white medina and unique history, Essaouira is yet another fascinating corner of Morocco.

Day 1:

Morning arrival at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, where you will be welcomed by your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide to begin your private tour of Morocco!

Leave the Atlantic coast behind as you make your way to the Middle Atlas Mountains and Morocco’s spiritual capital Fes.

Scholars, architects, historians and artists travel from all over the world to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fes – an entire city which functions largely as it did in the middle ages.

Upon arrival, check in at the upscale and intimate Riad Maison Bleue, an 18th century mansion built against the walls of Fes el-Jdid.

You may prefer to stay at the historic Palais Jamaï - the grand hotel of Fes, surrounded by lovely Andalusian gardens and located adjacent to the massive city walls.

Rest and refresh at your hotel.

When you are ready , your expert guide awaits. Step back six centuries into the medieval world of Fes, whose narrow and cobbled streets are filled with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 2:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Highlights of your private walking tour of Fes include the Medersa (koranic university) Attarine, Foundouk Nejjarine, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, countless souks and the famous tanneries. Explore the Dar Batha Museum and visit the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue. See the stunning gates of the Royal Palace.

In the afternoon, we will make arrangements for you to visit a privately-owned palace, now in great decay, which belongs to one of the most famous historical names in Morocco. With a bit of imagination, you can envision the grandeur of this crumbling palace’s glorious past.

Dinner reservations at La Maison Bleue, specializing in the traditional cuisine of Fes.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 3:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a full-day private excursion to the extensive Roman ruins at Volubulis and tour the capital of the ancient Roman province of Mauritania.

After completing your tour of the ruins, drive to nearby Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in Morocco.

Continue to Imperial Meknes: its spectacular City Gates are among the finest in the Arab world. Visit the Tomb of the once-feared Moulay Ismaïl, who modeled his capital of Meknes in the image of Versailles!

Return to Fes at your leisure.

Dinner reservations at a privately owned 19th century mansion in the wealthiest quarter of the medina, which just finished undergoing an extensive renovation. This home is owned by an Oxford-educated Moroccan man who is the scion of a family of artisans and his British-born wife who has resettled in Fes. Adjacent to their home, they have set up a foundation to teach younger generations the traditional skills and craftsmanship of Morocco.

Overnight: Riad Maison Bleue.

Day 4:

Early breakfast at your hotel.

You will be escorted to Fes Airport for your flight to Marrakech via Casablanca.

Upon arrival in Marrakech, head west to the Atlantic Ocean and the former Portuguese colony of Essaouira.

Check in at the newly opened Riad Gyvo, owned by an expert in North African art who serves as a consultant to the best-known museums in the world. His collection adorns this elegant riad.

Day at leisure to wander about the enchanting streets and  the setting in 1952 for Orson Welles’ Othello.-alleys of laid-back Essaouira 

Once known as Mogador, Essaouira’s blue and white medina was recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Overnight: Riad Gyvo.

Day 5:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Day at leisure to independently explore Essaouira. Be sure not to miss the street of the thuya workers, the Oceanside ramparts and the numerous art galleries scattered about town.

Suggested lunch of freshly caught seafood at one of the many stands by the bustling port or one of the many restaurants overlooking the busy Place Moulay Hassan.

Overnight: Riad Gyvo.

Day 6:

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast you will be escorted to Marrakech.

No longer the secret of the travel cognoscenti that it was ten years ago, Marrakech is being recognized as one of the world’s great cities. With the design flair of Paris, the ethnic diversity of New York, the commercial heartbeat of Hong Kong and a history to rival any city in Europe, Marrakech is above all a city of heart and soul – a city of sunlight on rough pink walls, of fragrant piles of richly-hued spices and of rose-petals floating in slowly-trickling fountains.

Upon arrival, check in at Villa des Orangers, an exquisite and unique Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel surrounding two lovely courtyards and featuring only 16 rooms.

You may prefer to experience the legendary La Mamounia – consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World. La Mamounia has been a playground for the rich and famous since the days when Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt roamed its halls.

Your Heritage Tours-qualified expert guide will meet you at your hotel to embark on a walking tour of the ancient medina of Marrakech.

The defining landmark of Marrakech is the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia mosque and there is no better place to begin your venture into this entrancing city.

Explore the colorful souks  spices, carpets, jewelry, enamel,-(marketplace) of Marrakech. Each trade   is situated in its unique quarter.-copper, brass and cedar

Visit the opulent Saadien Tombs (the mausoleum of a great dynasty which once ruled North Africa).

In the early evening, head towards the frenetic Djemaa el Fnaa  the greatest square in all of Africa – and perhaps the world. Today, it- provides ever-changing entertainment for Moroccans and foreigners alike, reaching its climax at sunset when the square is alive with storytellers, healers, snake charmers, acrobats and countless food stalls.

Overnight: Villa des Orangers.

Day 7:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Continue your walking tour of Marrakech.

Begin your day at the tropical Majorelle Gardens and visit the small, but excellent, Islamic Art Museum located in the home of painter Jacques Majorelle.

Visit the medieval Medersa (koranic university) ben Youssef – one of the finest Islamic monuments in North Africa. Architecture aficionados will enjoy the nearby delicate dome of the 12th century Koubba.

Day 7 (continued):

Near the medersa are two of the more interesting cultural showplaces in Marrakech: The Musee de Marrakech and the Dar Bellarj cultural foundation.

Stop for tea or orange juice at a beautifully restored riad, a new cultural foundation, bookstore and art gallery, with rotating exhibitions. It is a wonderful example of the many riads being resorted in the medina.

Wander through the Dar Si Said Museum of traditional crafts housed in a 19th century palace, and a private collection of indigenous crafts started by a Swiss collector and now open to the public.

Visit the ruins of the vast Badi’a Palace. Here you will find the 800-year-old wooden minbar (pulpit) from the Koutoubia mosque restored by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

If you wish, visit the Artisinale, where crafts are made and sold. There is a small workshop in the back where zellij (the hand-crafted Moroccan mosaic that is a hallmark of Moroccan architecture) is produced.

Dinner reservations at Le Foundouk, a chic bar-restaurant featuring Moroccan cuisine with Mediterranean flare.

Overnight: Villa des Orangers.

Day 8:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a day at leisure to wander the souks of Marrakech or choose from one of the following suggested activities:

• Full day excursion south to the High Atlas Mountains – where earthen Berber villages lay terraced into the verdant mountains. Upon arrival in the village of Imlil, you will take a 10-minute walk up the former summer home of the powerful Pasha El Glaoui. Mules will be available if you prefer to ride!

Sited on a hilltop with commanding views of the surrounding valley, the Kasbah is now beautifully restored and a very pleasant place to experience Berber hospitality.

Enjoy a traditional Berber lunch on the terrace overlooking the snow-capped peaks.

You may wish to take a stroll to a nearby Berber village, where an invitation to share mint tea with the locals can be arranged! If you like, enjoy a session in the Kasbah’s hammam (steam bath) or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

The Kasbah has been heavily involved in sharing its prosperity with the local mountain villages, sponsoring much-needed health and educational projects. Heritage Tours is proud to support this worthy enterprise.

• We are also happy to arrange for private cooking lessons with one of the “hottest” chefs in Marrakech. This workshop is an excellent introduction to the joys of Moroccan gastronomy. Prepare a traditional meal and enjoy the delicious results with the help of our chef and your guide as translator.

• Being such a sensual city, Marrakech is a designers and shopper’s paradise and we are happy to provide you with our own privileged list (after countless shopping expeditions ourselves) of the finest boutiques and artisans in Morocco.

Day 8 (continued):

• Spas are new to Marrakech; we are happy to recommend one that is simple and authentic and quite nice as well as a few that are upscale and quite special.

• We can arrange (upon request) for the ladies, a private henna ceremony, where you will have henna applied to you in a much-simplified version of the elaborate rituals done prior to the marriage of a young woman.

• For those of you who are golfers, we are happy to arrange a round of golf at one of Marrakech’s three well-regarded courses; one designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Overnight: Villa des Orangers.

Day 9:

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the nearby Marrakech airport for your departing flight

Compared with most mega-cities elsewhere in the world, Tunis comes across as little more than a large country town. The city centre is compact and easy to navigate, with almost everything important to travellers within the medina and the compact ville nouvelle.

The medina is the historical and cultural heart of modern Tunis and a great place to get a feel for life in the city. Built during the 7th century AD, it lost its status as Tunis Central when the French took over and raised their ville nouvelle around the turn of the 20th century.

Cap Bon Peninsula

This fertile peninsula stretches out into the Mediterranean Sea to the north-east of Tunis. Geologists speculate that it once stretched all the way to Sicily, providing a land link to Europe that sank beneath the sea as recently as 30,000 years ago.

Today, Cap Bon - particularly the southeastern beaches around Hammamet and Nabeul - is Tunisia's primary package tour destination. A summer's stroll down the streets of Hammamet is likely to turn up 10 tourists to every local, and the pace never slackens except briefly during the middle of winter.

Carthage

Founded by Phoenicians and home of Hannibal, Carthage was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. The site retains its natural splendour, with lush vegetation and superb views over the gulf. Highlights are the museum and excavated quarter atop Byrsa Hill, the Antonine baths, the Punic ports, the Roman amphitheatre and the Sanctuary of Tophet.

Despite Carthage's fascinating history and the position of dominance it held in the ancient world, the Romans did such a thorough job demolishing it that the ruins today are something of a disappointment. Most of what remains is of Roman origin. There are six main sights, and the hassle for visitors is that they're spread out over a wide area. To overcome this, hop on the TGM (light rail) line that runs through the middle of the area, but be forewarned: it'll still require a fair amount of hoofing it.

The best place to start is Byrsa Hill, which dominates the area and gives a good view of the whole site from its peak. At its base is the L'Acropolium (Cathedral of St Louis), which is visible for miles around... and is an eyesore of massive proportions. It was built by the French in 1890 and dedicated to the 13th-century saint-king who died on the shores of Carthage in 1270 during the ill-fated 8th Crusade. Though it was deconsecrated and closed for years, its has now been restored and is open to the public. The National Museum is the large white building at the back of the cathedral, and its recently revamped displays are well worth a look. The Punic displays upstairs are especially good.

The Roman amphitheatre on the west side of the Byrsa, a 15-minute walk from the museum, is said to have been one of the largest in the Empire, though little of its grandeur remains today; most of its stones were pinched for other building projects in later centuries. The collection of huge cisterns northeast of the amphitheatre were the main water supply for Carthage during the Roman era - they're now ruined and hardly worth the scramble through prickly pear cactus.

The Antonine Baths are right down on the waterfront and are impressive more for their size and location than for anything else. The Magon Quarter is another archaeological park near the water, a few blocks south of the baths. Recent excavations have revealed an interesting residential area.

The chilling Sanctuary of Tophet created a great deal of excitement when it was first excavated in 1921 and has gone on to elicit a fair amount of 'excited' prose since then. The Tophet was a sacrificial site with an associated burial ground, where the children of Carthaginian nobles were killed and roasted to appease the deities Baal Hammon and Tanit.

Dougga

The Roman ruins at Dougga, 105km (65mi) southwest of Tunis, rate as the most spectacular and best preserved in the country. They occupy a commanding position on the edge of the Tebersouk Mountains, overlooking the fertile wheat-growing valley of the Oued Kalled. The site was occupied until the early 1950s, when the residents were moved to help preserve the ruins.

There's a lot to see at Dougga, and unless you're operating on a super-tight budget it's best to hire a licensed guide. The first monument you'll see is the 3500-seat theatre, which was built into the hillside in 188 AD by one of the city's wealthy residents. It has been extensively renovated and makes a spectacular setting for floodlit performances of classical drama during the Dougga Festival in July and August. Just past the theatre, a track leads to the Temple of Saturn, erected on the site of an earlier temple to Baal Hammon. Southwest of the theatre, a winding street leads down to the Square of the Winds, where the paving is laid out like an enormous compass and lists the names of the 12 winds. Another temple borders the square to the north, while the market and capitol lie to the south and west, respectively.

The capitol is a remarkable monument - one of the finest in Tunisia - that was raised in 166 AD. Six enormous, fluted columns support the portico, which is some 8m (25ft) above the ground. The frieze has an unusually unweathered carving depicting the emperor Antonius Pius being carried off in an eagle's claws. Inside was an enormous statue of Jupiter, fragments of which are now in the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

El-Jem

There are few sights in Tunisia more arresting than El-Jem, with its well-preserved, ancient colosseum (almost as big as its counterpart in Rome) that dwarfs the matchbox buildings of the modern town. Built on a plateau halfway between Sousse and Sfax, some 210km (130mi) south of Tunis, El-Jem can be seen from miles around, completely dominating the area.

The colosseum, believed to have been built between 230 and 238 AD, has been used as a defensive position many times in its history. It suffered badly in the 17th century, when the troops of Mohammed Bey blasted a hole in the western wall to flush out local tribesmen who had rebelled against taxation demands. The breach was further widened during an 1850 rebellion, but thankfully the modern emphasis is on preservation and the site is part of the UN's World Heritage List.

Its seating capacity has been estimated at 30,000 (considerably more than the population of the town itself), making it one of the most impressive Roman monuments in Africa. You can still climb up to the top tiers of seating and gaze down on the arena. It's also possible to explore the two long underground passageways that once held the animals, gladiators and other unfortunates destined for the arena.

Matmata

Nowhere else in Tunisia is package tourism so totally over the top as it is in the small village of Matmata, 400km (250mi) south of Tunis on the southeastern coast. The pit houses of this troglodyte settlement have proven irresistible fare for the tour buses.

The buses arrive at 9am like a tidal wave and don't leave until the late afternoon. They are soon replaced by 4WD groups who use the town as an overnight stop on their desert safaris. Needless to say, the residents are not thrilled with the deluge.

Sidi Bou Saïd

Sidi Bou Saïd is a pretty whitewashed village set on a cliff above the Gulf of Tunis, about 10km (6mi) northeast of the capital. It's a place to stroll among narrow cobbled streets with old stone steps. Its gleaming walls are dotted with the trademark local ornate window grills painted a deep blue.

Colourful arched doorways that open onto courtyards dappled with geraniums and bougainvillea. You can be forgiven if you begin to think you've stumbled onto a little Greek island. The hub of activity in town is the small, cobbled main square.

Sousse

Sousse is Tunisia's third-largest city and a major port. It's also the most popular tourist destination - the long beach stretching north of town to the purpose-built tourist enclave of Port el-Kantaoui is the main drawcard. However, Sousse has more going for it than a string of resort hotels.

The walled medina holds most of the city's attractions. The walls are impressive, stretching 2.25km (1.4mi) at a height of 8m (26ft) and fortified with a series of solid square turrets. The ribat, a small square fort built in the 8th century, features a round watchtower that can be climbed.

Tozeur

Tozeur is one of the most popular travellers' stops in Tunisia, and has been so since Capsian times (from 8000 BC). Its principal attractions are a labyrinthine old town, a spectacular museum and its enormous palmeraie (palm forest) on the northern edge of the Chott el-Jerid.

Located some 435km (270mi) southwest of Tunis, half the thrill is just getting there: the road from Kebili crosses the chott (dried salt marsh) by causeway. The city's delightful old quarter, Ouled el-Hadef, was built in the 14th century AD to house a merchant clan.

Off the Beaten Track

Bizerte

The port of Bizerte, 65km (40mi) north of Tunis, is the largest city in northern Tunisia. It sees very few tourists, which is one reason why it's worth a visit. There are a few decent beaches near town, but the main attraction is the architecture of the unspoiled traditional quarter of the old port.

The enormous kasbah is the most impressive structure in the old town, with its massive walls towering over the northern side of the entrance to the old harbour. Originally a Byzantine fort built in the 6th century AD, the present fort was built by the Ottomans in the 17th century.

Ichkeul National Park

This World Heritage-listed national park, 30km (20mi) southwest of Bizerte, is an important bird sanctuary, particularly in winter when the water of Lake Ichkeul and the surrounding marshes are home to more than 200,000 migratory waterfowl from all over Europe.

Coot, wigeon and half a dozen other species of duck, as well as rarer birds like the purple gallinule and the greylag goose, are just some of the avian tourists. Ichkeul is the only national park with facilities for visitors, though there is no accommodation in the park and camping is not permitted.

Mahdia

Mahdia is one of the few towns on the central Tunisian coast that has managed to escape being turned into a tourist trap. It's a beautifully relaxed place, founded in 916 AD and set on a small peninsula some 200km (125mi) southeast of Tunis.

The town's main attraction is its old medina, already established by the time the famous historian Ibn Khaldoun visited in the 14th century and called Mahdia the jewel of the Barbary Coast. A walking tour of the medina should take about two hours, depending on time spent dawdling in shops and cafés.

For additional destinations and tours please contact our agents.