Morocco: Casablanca (19 - 29 Feb)

Flight Itinerary :
Depart: Singapore (SIN) 19 Feb 2011, 0120 hrs
Arrive: Dubai (DXB) 19 Feb 2011, 0445 hrs
Flight: EK405

Depart: Dubai (DXB) 19 Feb 2011, 0750 hrs
Arrive: Casablanca (CMN) 19 Feb 2011, 1250 hrs
Flight: EK751

Depart: Casablanca (CMN) 28 Feb 2011, 1415 hrs

Arrive: Dubai (DXB) 29 Feb 2011, 0130 hrs
Flight: EK752

Depart: Dubai (DXB) 29 Feb 2011, 0325 hrs
Arrive: Singapore (SIN) 29 Feb 2011, 1445 hrs
Flight: EK354

Day 1: Feb 19: Arrive Casablanca | Meknes (Dinner)

Upon arriving into the Casablanca Airport (CMN), you'll be picked up and we will visit the famous Casablanca Mosque. Travel through Rabat and onward to Meknes, one of Morocco's lesser-visited Imperial Cities. Located here is one of Morocco's most impressive gateways, Bab Mansour. Overnight in Meknes

Day 2: Feb 20: Meknes | Volubilis | Fez (BF/Dinner)

Today, we will travel thirty minutes from Meknes to visit the Roman Ruins of VolubilisXand the sacred town of Moulay Idriss, which sits perched overlooking the ruins. You will arrive in Fez late afternoon.

Day 3: Feb 21: Fes (BF/Dinner)

In Fez, you will be able to explore the UNESCO protected Fes Medina.

Day 4: Feb 22: Fes | Ifrane | Midelt | Ziz valley | Merzouga  (BF/Dinner)
You will depart around 9am and head for Ifrane before continuing onward through Midelt and onto Ziz Valley. Morocco's largest date-producing region. Following, it's off to Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi region of the Sahara Desert. After a good sleep in the car(hopefully), you'll be fully rested for the Sahara adventure. Hop on to a camel and yell “Yee haaaa”, be nice to her if not you will get bump out. Prepare for a memorable night under the stars and sleeping in a Bedouin-style tent.

Day 5: Feb 23: Merzouga | Ramlia Village (BF/Dinner)

This morning, you'll be able to rise with the sunset to grab some photos before hopping back onto the camels for the short ride back to the car. You'll then head through Ramlia Village. Budget accommodation in the middle of desert. The accommodation in budget one in a guesthouse, you will have your own room with shower, and clean food.

Day 6: Feb 24: Ramlia village| Todra Gorge| Dades Valley (BF/Dinner)

After leaving Ramlia Village, we will head to Todra Gorge then to Dades Valley.

Day 7: Feb 25: Dades valley | Nomad caves | Ouarzazette (BF/Dinner)

Today we will make a visit to the Nomad caves to see their life style. Continue on road to Ouarzazette where all the famous movies backdrop was shot here.

Day 8: Feb 26: Ouarzazette | Ait Ben Haddou | Marrakech (BF/Dinner)

We will be stopping at the UNESCO world heritage site at Ait Ben Haddou before heading to Marrackech. Then, you'll head over the Tiz n Tichka pass, which goes over the High Atlas Mountains and to Marrackech.

Day 9: Feb 27: Marrakech Sightseeing (BF/Dinner)

In Marrackech, today will be devoted to a guided tour of the Marrakesh Medina

Day 10: Feb 28: Home sweet home (BF)

Depart Marrackech around 8.30am to Casablanca airport for your flight back to Singapore. 3 hours journey.

Inclusion 

• 10 days exclusive and private car.
• 10 days services of an English speaking guide
• 6 nights hotel, riads accommodation
• 1 night camel trek and desert accommodation
• Dinners and breakfasts except in Marrakech.
• Guided tour of Fes
• Guided tour of Marrakech
• Camel ride
• Sand boarding

Exclusion 

• Lunches
• Drinks
• Sites fees

Accommodations

19-20Feb Meknes: http://www.riad-el-ma.com/eng/index.htm

20-22Feb Fes: http://www.darfesmedina.com/

22-23Feb Merzouga: Camp in desert

23-24Feb Ramlia: Guesthouse

24-25Feb Dades Valley: http://www.xaluca.com/en/hotel/dades/

25-26Feb Ouarzazette: http://www.darchamaa.com/en/index_en.html

26-28Feb Marrackech: http://www.darsilsila.com/ 

Traveling with us is Janet

+Hua Hin, Thailand

+Travel Information 


Hat Hua Hin (ชายหาดหัวหิน) Hua Hin Beach extends some three kilometers southwards from a rocky headland until a southern headland where a Buddhist temple cling to the cliffs. Fine white sand, resort hotels and many water sports opportunities lend the resort its distinctive ambiance.

 
To Explore
http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-map.htm
http://www.maphuahin.com/
 


Hua Hin Railway Station (สถานีรถไฟหัวหิน) 
This is Thailand's most beautiful trainstation of which the local people are very proud. The wooden building used to be a royal pavilion in Sanamchan Palace, Nakhon Pathom province. It was rebuilt at HuaHin in 1968.

Hua Hin Arts and Crafts Centre (ศูนย์ศิลปหัตถกรรมหัวหิน) 
This is situated in an old typical house on Naepkhehat Road. It has a collection and exhibition of many contemporary works of Thai artists, as well as old furniture and many pictures about Hua Hin in the past. The centre is open daily from 11PM to 6.30PM Admission is free. Call 0 3251 1249 for more information.
 
Klai Kangwon Palace (พระราชวังไกลกังวล) 
King Rama VII commanded the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace to be built in 1929. This Spanish-style summer palace faces the sea and dominates an extensive ornamental garden. The Thai Royal Family still customarily spend the hottest months of the year, usually March through April, there. Members of the public can visit the palace between 9PM and 4PM every day, when the Royal Family is not in residence. Admission fee is 20 baht. Call 0 3251 1115 for more information.

Khao Takiap (เขาตะเกียบ) 
This hill, 14 kilometers from Hua Hin town, supports Buddhist temples and offers a commanding view of the resort, particularly early in the morning. A local bus service from Hua Hin to Khao Takiap is on the seashore.

Khao Takiab is one of the highest area in Hua Hin, by going up this mountain by driving you will see the whole Hua Hin and also nice beach. This is another good place to wait for the sunset as well. Also the food on Khao Takiab is very delicious too.

Beaches 
there is only one beach, which runs from one side of Hua Hin to the other. Basically it's one long beach. At the south end of town, Khao Takiab interrupts the beach. On the other side (technically not Hua Hin anymore) is a lovely swimming beach with a view of Khao Takiab's South face. Just a little further on, Suan Son beach is owned by the thai army, but open to the public. Notable for the tropical sea pines lining the shore. A little south of the Marriott, watch for tiny sand crabs digging industriously, leaving odd patterns of tiny sand clods around their beachfront property.
Parts of the beach closer to the town may have greenish water, in this case continue walking down the beach where the water appears cleaner. There is ample supply of deck chairs along the beach, however many places will charge for their hire (100 baht is common). Deck chairs that are part of a beachside cafe may be free (in the assumption you will buy food or drink).

Khao Hin Lek Fai (เขาหินเหล็กไฟ) 
Situated 3 kilometers west of Hua Hin district, KhaoHin Lek Fai or Flint Mountain is 162 meters high and is accessible by a road. On the mountaintop, there is a public park and scenic spots from where the scenery of HuaHin and its surrounding area can be seen.

Khao Tao (เขาเต่า) 
Between Km 243 and 244 markers, 13 kilometers south of Hua Hin, there is a 1- kilometer branch road on the left which leads to the spot with two beautiful beaches called Hat Sai Noi and Hat Sai Yai. Bungalows are available.

Namtok Pa La-u (น้ำตกป่าละอู) 
This 11-tier scenic waterfall, some 60km west of HuaHin, is located within a yearlong verdant forest where various kinds of birds and butterflies are found, especially in the morning. Visitors can take a local transport called a songthaew from Hua Hin to this waterfall. The best time to visit the waterfall is from November to April. This place is in charge of Kaeng Krachan National Park. Admission is 200 baht. Camping in the park is allowed and a tent can be rented at 250 baht per night. Call 0 3245 9293 for more information. 


Massage
Traditional Thai massage, characterized by its holistic approach to health is aimed at enhancing not only one’s physical and emotional state but also to allow one to grow spiritually.
There are over 50 massage shops in Hua Hin. All good hotels in Hua Hin offer traditional Thai massage service. In Hua Hin, at Petchkasem Road next to the Golden Palace and the Royal Palace one can be massaged by very good professional blind masseuses. This is a royal project. Very little English is spoken but don't worry as you will be in professional hands.

Shopping
Shop at the night markets. Things that you can buy range from T-shirts to antiques. shirt will cost you around 300 baht (£5) . It is also a great place for shopping including contemporary art handicrafts, hand-woven printed cotton, silk fabric, silk weaving, embroidery, basket making, pottery, wood carving, gemstones and jewelry (including sapphires and rubies). Bartering is advisable to get the best prices possible.
Note that there are two night markets. The better known is in the middle of Hua Hin, and is rather tourist oriented. The one the Thais favor is known as the Grand market because its in the parking lot between Grand Hotel and Sao Paulo Hospital. More diverse and interesting, but does not operate Monday and Tuesday. For local handicrafts, the Hua Hin Bazaar, about 100 meters west of the beach, should be your first stop.
Happening only on Tuesdays is Pae Market near the Royal Hua Hin Golf Club. Here is a good place to get the feel for a traditional Thai market.

Nightly Street Market (ตลาดโต้รุ่งหัวหิน)
Although there is no large shopping mall in town but there are famous markets in Hua Hin. Located in the centre of town adjacent to Dechanuchit Road, just west of Phetkasem Road is the Hun Hin Night Market which is a great place to eat. There is a market devoted primarily to tourist shops along Dechanut Road. 


This is a favourite venue for shoppers. Such excursions offer opportunities for shopping, enjoying native-style seafood cooked on the spot and witnessing local people’s lifestyle.

Chatchai Market: located on Phetkasem Road
Hua Hin Night Market: located on Dechanuchit Road
Satukarn Square: located on Damnoenkasem Road
Hua Hin Bazaar: located on Damnoenkasem Road
Hua Hin Market Village: located on Phetkasem Road, opposite
The Hua Hin Marriott Hotel
Sailom Pavilion: located on Damnoenkasem Road near The Sofitel Central Hotel
 Eat
There are plenty of eating options around Hua Hin. Those close to the beach and atop Khao Takiap are touristy, while some good local options can be found on Phetkasem Rd along the way to Khao Takiap. Hua Hin is famed for its delightful fresh seafood which can be found in abundance at the Night Market, restaurants and hotel restaurants. Naresdamri Road is a fine place for great inexpensive restaurants while serving up romantic sea-views. Some hotels offer buffets consisting of open cooking stations, including a Seafood BBQ, and also offer live entertainment like traditional Thai music and dancing.
This area is the site of the Hua Hin Fishing Harbour and in the early morning, fresh-out-of-the-water seafood can be snapped up.

Moreover, there are numerous dining spots serving Western, Indian and Japanese food.
For cheap eats, check out the night market. Budget tourists having problems with the local fare will be happy to know that at the Tesco in the posh Market Village mall, there's street-style Thai food with modern fast food hygeine: 25-45B, and real coffee for 10B.


Accommodation
1st: 
http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahin-avenue.php
http://www.huahin-avenue.com/index.html

2nd: 
 http://www.sandinnhotel.com/ http://www.ourweb.info/sandinn_hotel/deluxe/
http://www.thehideawayhuahin.com/


Getting into Hua Hin from Bangkok
** No flight to Hua Hin - The nearest airport is Bangkok. You can try by via Car or Train **

Train Timing: