Highlights of Egypt & Morocco
Destination
Egypt & Morocco
Travel Period
Jan-May, Sept-Dec
Duration
27 days | 26 nights
Day 1 – 5: Longchamps Boutique Hotel, Cairo
Day 5 – 8: Palm Shadow Hotel, Fayoum
Day 8 – 9: Djorf Boutique Hotel, Luxor
Day 9 – 13: Nile Cruise – Steigenberger M/S Legacy
Day 13 – 14: Anakato Hotel, Aswan
Day 14 – 15: Longchamps Boutique Hotel, Cairo
Day 15 – 16: Euphoriad, Rabat
Day 16 – 19: Palais Amani, Fez
Day 19 – 20: Desert Luxury Camp, Merzouga
Day 20 – 21: Ksar Ighnda, Ouarzazate
Day 21 – 26: La Maison Arabe, Marrakech
Day 26 – 27: Le Casablanca, Casablanca
Set on the banks of the Nile, Cairo is a sprawling metropolis of over 9 million people, making it the largest in Africa and the Arab world. The capital city, this ‘city of a thousand minarets,’ has existed for more than 1,000 years on its present site and, in addition to its vibrant economy, presents a fascinating dichotomy of the East and the West, the modern and the ancient. The high-rise hotels overlooking the Nile contrast with the Pyramids of Giza and the Obelisk of Heliopolis that stand to the south and north respectively. As well as the Giza Pyramids complex, the city also contains the Sphinx, the world’s oldest and biggest statue, and the house of mummification at the Valley temple.
Around the modern centre, the old, medieval quarters of the city are filled with spice-filled markets, bazaars, mosques, and tradespeople. Not only does Cairo hold the biggest mass media center and film and music production hub of the Middle East, but it’s also home to the Arab league and the second oldest institution of higher learning, the Al-Azhar University.
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Hospitality is an art but in Egypt it is also an ancient tradition. What the Hotel Longchamps offers you is a quiet oasis after spending a warm day at the pyramids or in bustling old Cairo and the bazaar. In 2009, the Hotel Longchamps received the Award of Excellence from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. From 2011 through 2016, we have received the Travelers’ Choice Award by Trip Advisor, proof that our service is consistent throughout the years. We are also members of the Trip Advisor’s Hall of Fame.
We are located in the Zamalek district, an island in the middle of the Nile. This residential and sought after neighborhood was developed in the 1860’s after the opening of the Suez Canal. Around the Hotel Longchamps you will see the old villas and gardens from that period. It is a safe upscale district and from here you can walk to the Egyptian museum. At sunset just across from the island, you can cruise on one of our local sailboats called”Felukas”, a perfect way to end the day before a good and quiet night sleep at the Hotel Longchamps.
Superior Rooms
All our rooms have been remodeled and offer modern amenities and their own decor. Each features individually controlled A/C, cable television, telephone, a mini fridge, safe, bathroom amenities and firm mattresses. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Some rooms have a balcony or sitting room, single or king size double beds. All rooms have private facilities with bath or shower. Standard electrical outlets are 220 volts with European type ac plugs. Laundry service is available within 24 hours.
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Luxor is located in the south of Upper Egypt, on the East Bank of the Nile, and is part of the ancient city of Thebes. The ancient Egyptian nature of Luxor didn’t change, even when the Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras came through. Many churches and mosques were built near or on some of the temples, but Luxor remained a window to ancient Egyptian history and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Previously known as ‘the city of a hundred doors’, Luxor has some of the most extraordinary ruins and artifacts and is widely considered by many to be the globe’s greatest open-air museum. In an area of 417 square kilometers lie some of the most majestic temples, such as the Valley of the King and Queen Hatshepsut Temple.
The city still has an active population of over half a million people that depend almost entirely on tourism.
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Located down the Nile, approximately 540 miles (or 870 kilometers) south of Cairo, Aswan has been known for millennia as the “gateway to Africa.” It may not draw the crowds of Cairo or boast as many open-air antiquities of Luxur, but there’s a certain exotic air about Aswan that visitors fall for very fast. After all, a traveler can catch a dose of the chaos of Cairo in Aswan’s busy, narrow backstreets, but just as easily discover a bucolic side to this southern Nile city.
Aswan is home to granite quarries that produced many of the obelisks found in Luxor and other ancient Egyptian sites (as well as the obelisks that are in Rome today) and visitors can stroll through the quarries to see some unfinished versions, including one that was meant to be the world’s biggest. Agatha Christie aficionados can find the hotel where she wrote “Death on the Nile ” here. And various temples and ancient structures loom outside of Aswan, waiting to be explored.
Visit nearby Elephantine Island, situated smack in the middle of the island-speckled Nile, to explore the Nubile villages, small but vibrant mud-brick settlements, bathed in blue, oozing with a cool energy. Aswan is home to a large segment of Nubians and visitors can learn more at the Nubian Museum in central Aswan.
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Founded by Idris I in 789, Fez is the medieval capital of Morocco and the oldest of the country’s imperial cities. Known as the cultural capital, its walled Medina is the best-preserved old city in the Arab world and its sprawling, labyrinthine Fes el-Bali is the world’s largest car-free urban zone, with transport mainly being donkey-drawn carts. The city is famous for its old world feel, with medieval architecture and vibrant souks.
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Palais Amani is a family-run, 18-room property, housed in the former home of one of Fez’s most prominent families. Prided on being the local choice, Palais Amani works exclusively with local staff, ingredients and products so that the hotel can give back to the community of Fez. Palais Amani believes that travel is more than discovering new places; it’s unearthing the stories that inspire people to live a little more compassionately, healthily, and to listen to the inner spirit. The hotel helps guests do that by opening the door to a world that will restore, enrich, and amaze. Palais Amani has a rich history, reflected in the architecture of the property: from the Iraqi stained glass windows to the Moroccan tiling.
Eighteen rooms and suites are set around majestic gardens.
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There are many unique and authentic experiences to be had from the ingredients at the Eden Restaurant and rooftop bar to the rituals and products used at the Hammam; storytelling evenings, courses in calligraphy and wine tasting, and local Medina tours. At the Fez Cooking School, guests can learn all about Moroccan and Sephardic cuisine that can be recreated back at home.
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Legend has it that Merzouga was a dense jungle until the locals treated a poor woman inhospitably, so God buried the town in sand. Today, the Erg Chebbi sand dunes stretch south from this small town in the Sahara Desert not far from the Algerian border. The highest of the Erg Chebbi dunes is approximately 300 meters. Climbing them by foot or camel just before sunset is the best way to soak in the peaceful, mysterious energy of the desert.
With very little light pollution, the Milky Way is clear and the stars pulse, adding to the magic of sleeping in the Sahara between windswept sand dunes. For the faint hearted, there are hotels available with views of the dunes from the rooms.
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A sea of soft, warm, apricot-toned sands – the undulating landscape of the Erg Chebbi desert is one of Morocco’s most enchanting natural wonders. For millenia, travelers have marveled its infinite stillness – a beauty beyond words. For the weary traveler seeking such restorative magic, the Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp is a very special retreat. Desert Luxury Camp offers the visitor an escape from the crowds of the cities – as well as contact with other tourist camps. Aside from the guide and companions, the only other people are the native Berber nomads that call this harsh yet beautiful environment home.
In either a private camp experience or at the main camp, guests will find their senses revived as they relax in an oasis of calm and serenity, taking time to explore one of earth’s most spectacular natural landscapes.
There are 16 luxury desert sleeping tents set up in the main camp. Each tent has been carefully design to offer the highest comfort and luxury. The tents radiate through earthy hues, handcrafted furniture, and soft textiles. All tents have either double or twin beds with sitting area and en-suite bathrooms (shower, flushing toilet, and hand basin) with running cold and hot water.
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The luxury camp welcomes guests to enjoy all that Erg Chebbi has to offer, with a variety of activities and suggestions that are sure to please any guest and make for an unforgettable trip, including camel trekking, 4×4 driving excursions, sand boarding, dune picnics, guided walks, stargazing, and visits to Khamila Village, Rissani, and Dayet Srji.
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Today there are no traders; just tourists looking to trade in their quotidian lives for a few days of leisure in the Atlas Mountains. There is a lot to explore here, including some fortified kasbahs, oases, abandoned film sets, and natural reserves.
Many visitors use Ouarzazate as a base for further exploration of the area, including the nearby magnificent Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO-protected 17th-century hill fortress that is one of the world’s best examples of earthen clay architecture.
If Ouarzazate looks vaguely familiar, it’s because it has been the location for many popular films, including “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Man Who Would Be King,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” “Gladiator,” “Kundun,” and parts of the show “Game of Thrones.” It’s no surprise the town is also nicknamed “Ouallywood.”
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Marrakech is perhaps the most iconic name on the African continent. Founded by Berber farmers, it is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities and a popular tourist destination. It’s also the gateway to the interior and the Atlas mountains, and a sought-after spot for expatriate holiday homes. The city is full of riads, museums, and colorful, spice-filled souks, and is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina and the modern European district of the Ville Nouvelle.
The Medina quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an old fortified city that is full of stalls and vendors and a large souk where one can buy anything from old world rugs to modern-day appliances. In contrast, the Ville Nouvelle plays host to modern restaurants, fast food chains and big brand stores.
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Located a short walk from Jemaa el Fna Square, a UNESCO heritage site, this intimate 37-room retreat is a legend in itself – founded by French mother and daughter pair Suzy and Helene Sebillon-Larochette in the 1940s as the first restaurant in the medina open to foreigners, and lovingly restored in the 1990s by Italian aristocrat, Count Fabrizio Ruspoli, to become the first boutique riad-hotel in Marrakech.
Here, you can walk in the footsteps of many famous visitors from celebrities to dignitaries who came to dine, including Ernest Hemingway, Jackie Kennedy, Rita Hayworth, Queen Ingrid of Denmark and Sir Winston Churchill, and rest amidst the aristocratic splendour of a traditional riad, graced with all the amenities and services of a luxury hotel.
Rooms & Suites
La Maison Arabe’s 37 king-size rooms and suites are charming havens of comfort and refinement. Set around the patio or on the garden side of the hotel, or in the privacy of the adjoining douiria, each room is unique in layout and design, combining contemporary elegance with Moroccan decorative elements. Most have a fireplace and a private balcony or terrace where you can enjoy a drink under the stars. The bathrooms are crafted from luxurious Moroccan marble and granite. Note that patio view rooms and suites are only accessible by stairs; garden view rooms and suites can be reached by elevator or stairs.
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Immerse in the charm of a bygone era and sumptuous comfort styled with an elegant blend of Moroccan and European design. Indulge in La Maison Arabe’s long tradition of refined Moroccan gastronomy, alongside international delights. Take part in the intricacies of Moroccan cuisine at the hotel’s world-renowned cooking school, where veteran local chefs divulge their age-old culinary secrets.
After a busy day exploring the historic sights and bustling souks, La Maison Arabe is the perfect realm to unwind – with a cocktail du jour at the piano-jazz bar, with a rejuvenating hammam and massage at the spa, or with a dip in a choice of two swimming pools, under the shade of olive trees, or in the oasis of a luxurious secret garden at the hotel’s own Country Club sanctuary. A short shuttle ride away in the exclusive Palmeraie suburb, the idyllic Country Club boasts a stunning kasbah, a traditional Berber tent and fragrant gardens with flower-filled fountains.
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Immortalized by the 1942 classic Humphrey Bogart film of the same name, Casablanca fronts the Atlantic Ocean and is steeped in French colonial history, with a blend of traditional Moorish style and European modernism. Founded by Berber fishermen in the seventh century, Casablanca is one of Morocco’s most modern and largest cities and offers cosmopolitan experiences for those that aren’t heading straight off to Marrakech and Fez. One can visit the less busy markets and medinas, as well as trendy cafes and the Hassan II Mosque.
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