TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details.
Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting
1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(530) 836-1944
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME



TOURIST TOUR
OCTOBER 8-19, 2011

WEST AND EAST CULTURES MEET
GATEWAY TO AFRICA

LAND OF EXTREME VARIED LANDSCAPES
AND FASCINATING CULTURES



OUR PRIVATE CHARTER THE ORIENTAL EXPRESS
MAKING A PHOTO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT


FROM THE HIGH SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS TO THE SAHARA DESERT MOROCCO
HAS EXTREME SCENERY AND FASNATATING CULTURES TO EXPLORE





Morocco is one of the rare countries to offer such a varied selection of landscapes and cultures. The large plains in the north, the often snow-covered peaks in the High Atlas, the narrow canyons, the desert valleys in the Sahara, and the infinite spaces in the south will surprise you by their beauty. However , beyond these spectacular landscapes, Morocco has also a great cultural richness which is discovered both in the large imperial cities and in the small villages and the people are very friendly and welcome tourist. Truly, West meets East in this country. This is the gateway to Africa. Morocco has a very good rail system with the help of the French. Trains are fast, comfortable and modern. On this tour we will make a circle around Morocco mostly by train and filling the gaps by charter motorcoach.


YOU WILL HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
EXPLORE FANTASTIC MARKETS DURING THIS TOUR
THEY OFFER ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENT










THE DAY BY DAY ITINERARY


DAY 1 THURSDAY OCTOBER 6: (D) Upon your arrival at Casablanca Airport you will be greeted and assisted by English and French speaking guides. Transfer the 4 star Hotel Riad Salam Casablanca. Evening "Welcome to Morocco Dinner".

DAY 2 FRIDAY OCTOBER 7: (L) Tour of Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco also known as "the White City" we will ride through the wide avenues observing city life as we make our way to Hassan II Mosque. In the afternoon we travel on to Rabat onboard one of the local trains. This is a short one hour train ride. Afternoon visit to the Mohamed V Mausoleum and other points of interest in the city of Rabat. Check-in to the 4 star Hotel Majliss.








BETWEEN CASABLANCA AND RABAT WE RIDE ONE OF THE LOCAL TRAINS






DAY 3 SATURDAY OCTOBER 8: (L) Morning departure onboard the train at Rabat for the four hour train journey to Tanger, at the top of Africa and located on the Strait of Gibraltar. On a clear day you can see across the strait to Gibraltar and Europe. Our arrival is scheduled for early afternoon. We will first take a city tour of Tanger and local points of interest. Hotel check-in at the 4 star Hotel Tajnah Fladria.

MOROCCO OFFERS FAST AND COMFORTABLE LONG DISTANCE TRAIN SERVICE






DAY 4 SUNDAY OCTOBER 9: (L) Morning hours free to explore Tanger on your own. Late morning departure onboard the train for the five hour journey to Fes. Transfer to the 4 star hotel Hotel Volubilis and rest of the afternoon and evening on your own leisure.



DAY 5 MONDAY OCTOBER 10: (D) After breakfast at the hotel we will have a morning tour of Fes. Fes is a former capital of Morocco and is its 2nd largest city. It is comprised of 3 distinct areas one of which is Fes el Bali, built in the 9th century, which UNESCO has classified as one of the largest medieval cities in the world. You will have your afternoon free to wander its lanes and souks which cling to its past history and traditions. Overnight at the 4 Star Hotel Volubilis.

PLENTY OF TIME TO EXPLORE FES
WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE 9TH CENTURY












DAY 6 TUESDAY OCTOBER 11: (L) After breakfast we will depart by regular train at 10:55AM to Oujda arriving at 4:25PM. We will pass many differing landscapes before reaching the city, located in the plain of Angad. This city was founded in the 10th century and is on the trade route running to Casablanca. Oujda is surrounded by the beautiful Beni-snassen Mountains. We will visit the Medina "old city" which is still separated from the newer city by ancient walls. Which is evidence of its glorious past. Overnight at the 4 Star Hotel Atlas Orient.





DAY 7 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12: (L) After breakfast we will transfer to the railway station of Oujda and depart on the Oriental Express. This is a private charter train that will take us 191 miles to Bouarfa. We will cross-vast plains and see groups of nomads. Many stops will be made today at interesting villages along the railroad and for some special photo opportunities and even some photo run-bys where we stage our train at scenic locations for pictures. Also some very unique stops will be made to removed sand from the rails. A hot lunch will be served on the train. Arrival at Bouarfa will be at the end of the day, as today's journey takes around 12 hours. Overnight at the 3 star Hotel Climat du Maroc.



THIS MORNING WE BOARD OUR PRIVATE CHARTER TRAIN THAT WILL TAKE US INTO A REMOTE AREA OF SOUTH EAST MOROCCO NEAR THE BORDER WITH ALGERIA. MANY INTERESTING STOPS WILL BE MADE TODAY IN SMALL RUSTIC VILLAGES TO MEET THE PEOPLE AND ENJOY THE CULTURE. SEVERAL PHOTO RUN-BYS WILL BE MADE WHERE YOU CAN GET OFF AND PHOTOGRAPH OUR TRAIN. YOU CAN EVEN RIDE IN THE LOCOMOTIVE CAB WITH THE ENGINEER IF YOU LIKE. THIS TRAIN IS CALLED THE "ORIENTAL EXPRESS"





OUR PRIVATE CHARTER MAKING A PHOTO RUN-BY AT
THE ONLY RAILROAD TUNNEL IN MOROCCO



THE VIEWS FROM OUR CHARTER ARE VERY INTERESTING




OUR TRAIN JOURNEY TODAY WILL PRESENT SOME SURPRIZES WITH
SAND COVERING THE RAILS. THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE BOUARFA LINE




DAY 8 THURSDAY OCTOBER 13: (L) Breakfast at the hotel then departure to Erfoud by charter motor coach passing by the southeast of the high Atlas Mountain range. We will continue on to Merzouga where the biggest sand dunes of Morocco stand. At sunset we will head back to Erfoud for dinner and overnight at the 4 star Hotel Kasbah Xaluca.





WE VISIT THE BIGGEST SAND DUNES IN MOROCCO
IN THE EDGE OF THE VAST SAHARA DESERT










DAY 9 FRIDAY OCTOBER 14: (L-D) After breakfast we will board our charter motor coach and cross the palm tree plantation of Jorf before heading into more desert, along the way we will see an occasional rare oasis with beautifully built ksours and Kasbah (citadels). We will arrive in Tinhorn, which has palm tree plantations, which extend to the Atlas Mountains. Before checking in to our hotel we will tour the canyons of Todra, which boast 850-foot cliffs and is considered one of the most impressive landscapes in Morocco. Dinner will be served in an authentic Kasbah and we will overnight at the 4 star Hotel Tomboctou.



DAY 10 SATURDAY OCTOBER 15: (L) After breakfast we will depart for Ouarzazate by the famous road of the thousand Kasbahs. We will visit another world inheritance of UNESCO, Alt Ben Haddou. Over the past 50 years Hollywood has come to this historic village to film: Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Would Be King, The Message, Jesus of Nazareth, Time Bandits, The Jewel of the Nile, The Living Daylights, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Sheltering Sky, Kundun, The Mummy, Gladiator and Alexander. From here we will continue on to Marrakech, crossing the Tizi-Tichka Pass at 7,533 foot Elevation. Overnight at the 4 star Hotel Tichka Salam in Marrakech.




THE ABOVE 4 PHOTOS ARE OF ALT BEN HADDOU



CROSSING THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS ON TIZI-TICHKA PASS


DAY 11 SUNDAY OCTOBER 16: (L)After breakfast we will visit the Imperial city of Marrakech. Lunch on your own. This city is called "the pearl of the south" and is located in an agricultural area of palm trees, orange groves and olive orchards. With its proximity to the Atlas range it boasts a unique charm of its own. This city houses many wonderful works of architecture, many situated in beautiful gardens and an inner city Medina for you to explore. There are festivals held at Djemaa el-Fnaa that are the most famous in Africa. Overnight at the 4 star Hotel Tichka Salam.







DAY 12 MONDAY OCTOBER 17: (L) After breakfast we will transfer to the Marrakech railway station to take the regular train to Casablanca. Upon our arrival we will have a brief tour of the "white city". Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Riad Salam.

DAY 13 TUESDAY OCTOBER 18: (D) Breakfast at the hotel and a free day and evening to explore Casablanca on your own or just relax. "Farewell to Morocco Dinner" 2nd night at the Hotel Riad Salam.

DAY 14 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19: After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flights back home.


PRICES                                  PRICES ARE PER PERSON
DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY...................................$3998
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT..................................$ 598
DEPOSIT DUE AT TIME OF BOOKING..........................$ 200
FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY JULY 8, 2011

TOUR INCLUDES

*14 MEALS
*6 TRAIN RIDES
*ALL TRANSFERS
*FULLY ESCORTED
*1 NIGHT LODGING IN 3 STAR HOTEL
*12 NIGHTS LODGING IN 4 STAR HOTELS
*ALL SIGHTSEEING AND FEES PER THE ITINERARY




Click here for Travel Insurance Information

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change,emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your companion before departure 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries

RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.

CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.


02060  visits since Novemver 17, 2010.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:18:49 PST