

TRIP DETAILS

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HIGHLIGHTS - Fabled Cities & Caravanserai
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Beijing to Venice via
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(CHINA) -- Beijing - Xian - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Urumqi - Kashgar
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(KRYGYZSTAN) -- Tash-Rabat - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Altyn-Arashan - Bokonbayevo - Naryn - Bishkek
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(UZBEKISTAN) -- Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara - Khiva - Nukus
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(TURKMENISTAN) -- Gates of Hell - Ashgabat
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(IRAN) -- Mashhad - Yazd - Persepolis - Shiraz - Isfahan - Tehran - Ramsar - Rasht - Tabriz (TURKEY) -- Van - Dogubayazit - Noah's Ark - Kars - Trabzon - Cappadocia - Konya - Ankara - Istanbul
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(BULGARIA) -- Plovdiv - Sofia
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(SERBIA) -- Belgrade
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(BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA) -- Sarajevo - Konjic - Mostar
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(CROATIA) -- Dubrovnik - Hvar Island - Split - Zadar - Plitvice Lakes - Rastoke
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(SLOVENIA) -- Novo Mesto - Skofja Loka - Lake Bled
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(CROATIA) -- Hum - Rovinj
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(SLOVENIA) -- Piran
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(ITALY) -- Trieste and Venice
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HIGHLIGHTS - There's a Few!
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Eat the worlds oldest hamburger
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See more UNESCO sites than you can poke a stick at
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Ride the largest city wall on earth
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Behold the Terracotta Warriors and Horses
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Savor two out of the world's three primary cuisines
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Go to the location of the infamous Xian incident
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Walk or view from afar the world’s Most Dangerous Hike
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See the end of the Great Wall of China
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Enjoy fresh seafood in the most inland major city in the world
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Golf options in all 12 countries
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Discover the rediscovered tallest natural arch in the World
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Traverse the most landlocked Country on Earth.
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Soak away your cares in Hot Springs, Cold Springs, Medicinal Mud, Radioactive Sand and a whole lot more
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Taste the best honey in the world.
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Settle for second best with the world's second biggest Alpine Lake, carpet, mosque attendance, meteor crater, chandelier, public square, Orthodox Temple
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Sleep, eat, drink and shop in numerous Yurts and Caravanserais
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Seek out the elusive Snow Leopard
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Eat the best Ashlyan-Fuu in the world
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Float in the “Dead Sea of Kyrgyzstan”
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Go on an International Circus Crawl
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Eat in Soviet-era-style cafeterias for a dollar
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Stargaze the desert sky while on a camel trek
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Haggle in the biggest bazaar in the world
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Put your head down in one of the largest remaining earthen construction sites in the world
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Peruse the world's oldest extant copy of the Koran
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Squint at one of the 3 world’s smallest hand written korans
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Eat Silk Road Confection
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See a world-famous and iconic symbol of Central Asia
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Eat Plov in the World Capital of Plov
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Visit the cities that were the major players in the 19th century Great Game between Great Britain and Russia
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Stay in Samarkand one of the most beautiful cities on this planet
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Hang around "the noblest public square in the world".
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Visit "the worst place in the world"
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Eat the best halva in the world.
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Stroll the Aral Sea
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Stand at the Gates of Hell
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Visit the ironically named City of Love holding the record for the highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world
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Ride the “World’s Largest Indoor Ferris Wheel”
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Admire the world's largest carpet and the runner up
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Pray at the largest mosque in the world
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Get pummeled in ancient Hammams
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Age in the “the oldest living city on Earth”
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Drink Shiraz in Shiraz
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Feel the cooling power of the tallest functioning wind tower in the world
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Get lost in the largest inhabited adobe city in the world
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Visit Isfahan the world's most beguiling city
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Spend a night in the Middle East's most beautiful hotel
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Get spiritual in the largest religious complex in the world
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Stay in the world's oldest hotel
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Visit five cities built on seven hills
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Have a cuppa in the world's smallest teahouse
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Eat Iranian Caviar by the world's largest lake
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Warm up in the town known for having the highest levels of natural background radiation on Earth.
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Stroll through the location of the Garden of Eden (maybe)
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See what the world's only swimming cats and David Bowie have in common
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Swim in the largest soda lake on Earth
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Gaze upon Noah's Ark or is it a rock
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See the Hagia Sophia, three and a half times
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Sunrise and Champagne Baloon flight over the cartoon landscape of Cappadocia
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Wander around eponymously named Penis Valley
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Breathe in the first city to rise after the deluge that destroyed humanity
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Eat at the famous Pudding Shop, starting point of the old Hippy Trail
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See the inspiration for Walt Disneys Cinderella Castle
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Visit the only building in the World that has served three religions
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Go shopping in the most-visited tourist attraction in the World
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Stride through the World's largest miniature park
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Stretch out in the only city in the world built on two continents.
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Escape Turkey on the Midnight Express line
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Drink yoghurt where it was invented
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Party in the world's night life capital
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See where the spark that ignited WW1 happened
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Go on one of the world's best hikes
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Sidle down the narrowest street in the world
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Meet the world’s most beautiful women
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See one of the ten oldest olive trees in the world
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Sunbake at the number one nudist beach in the world (CNN)
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Witness the world's best sunset
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Confess your sins in the smallest cathedral in the world
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Satiate your Truffle addiction
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Drink the world’s best malvasia wine
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Overnight in the Smallest Town in the World
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Spelunk the best-known cave in the world
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Invade the world's largest cave castle
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Savour one of the most highly prized salts in the world -
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With the best farmed sea bass in the world
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Walk around the world's only pedestrian city
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Try to get a passport stamp in the world's smallest country
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Drink in Harrys' bars
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WHEN -
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You need to start the trip between the last week in May and mid June. This is because the border between China and Kyrgyzstan doesn't thaw out until then and you don't want to arrive in Italy after early November as it will be getting cold.
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If you decide to stop half way or elsewhere and maybe continue at a later time your dates will be able to be a lot more flexible.
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START & FINISH -
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Xian in China to Rome in Italy. You could go west to east and reverse everything. It might take a little extra work on your end.
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You may only want to do a few countries or do it in stages to try and complete it.
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COUNTRIES -
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China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Italy
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BORDER CROSSINGS -
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16 some very easy and others not so. It's all in the guide.
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HISTORY -
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Silk Road stuff, Soviet Empire, Ghengis Khan, Tamerlane, Alexander the Great, Turkmenbashi, His Dentist, Balkans War, WW2, Ottoman Empire, WW1, Roman Empire, Byzantium Empire it's all here.
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COSTS -
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Should be quite reasonable, many of the countries are very cheap at first and then it will get dearer as you head through the Balkans into Italy.
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B4 IT'S 2 LATE -
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See the Stans' before everyone finds out about them.
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MAIN CITIES -
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Xian, Urumqi, Kashgar, Bishkek, Tashkent, Samarkand, Ashgabat, Mashhad, Shiraz, Esfahan, Tehran, Konya, Ankara, Istanbul, Sofia, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Zadar, Bled Rovinj, Trieste, Venice, Rome
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ACCOMMODATION -
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Yurts, Oases, Cabin, Caravanserai, Hilton, Cappadocia, Soviet
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EATING -
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See the culture, people and food change from Eastern to Western.
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Starting with Chinese Muslim and ending up with Pizza. Chinese food is one of the 3 primary cuisines in the world. It is divided into 8 regional cuisines. Up here we will be eating noodles, dumplings, mutton and soup among the many Muslim dishes to try.
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Plov (rice, meat and veg) is big in the Stans' and bread is almost sacred.
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Persian food has a big variety and is sure to please.
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Turkey is Primary Cuisine number 2 (French is the 3rd one). Turkish food is fantastic and I think you could eat a different dish every day for years before you ran out of choices.
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The Balkan countries have a Mediterranean Cuisine featuring BBQ'd meats, Chevapi (spicy sausages), Burek (filled pastry), seafood, meat stuffed vegetables etc.
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Then you get to Italy where every region has it's specialties and that's where you should try it.
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DRINKING -
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Kumis (fermented mare's milk) is the tipple of choice in Kyrgyzstan, in Turkey it's Raki (pronounced Rahkuh and beware it's lethal). Even though there are a lot of Muslim countries on this trip there are not many places where you won't be able to get a drink.
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You will get a nice cold beer almost everywhere.
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Vodka is still a big thing in all the ex soviet states.
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Iran is the place you may have to go dry for a while. It is possible to get alcohol but it is illegal and you probably don't want to get on the wrong side of the law there. The penalty is 80 lashes unless you're a Christian or minority.
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NIGHTLIFE -
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You won't be out all night drinking in every country but there will be plenty of opportunities to have a drink and meet people.
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All of the big cities have bars, clubs and discos.
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Once you hit Turkey it will start to improve and will peak in Belgrade - "The Party Capital of the World". They have floating barges all along the river banks so you can go on a party crawl.
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Croatia has pretty good nightlife as well.
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Where the nightlife is a bit quiet they will have cultural shows and the like to keep you amused.
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BEACHES -
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Cholpon Ata,
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Ramsar,
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Van, Trabzon, Prince's Islands,
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Great War Island, Belgrade,
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Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Zadar, Rovinj,
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Piran,
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Trieste
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MOUNTAINS -
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Torugart Pass, Tash Rabat, Altyn Arashan,
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Mount Ararat
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WALKS -
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Overnight stay walking to hot springs at Altyn Arashan. Downhill all the way home.
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FITNESS LEVEL -
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Good. If you're not fit when you start you will be when you finish. Plenty of walking and bicycle tours. Could be pretty hot in some places.
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HARD STUFF -
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Being on the road for a long time coping with different cultures.
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Lot's of borders and visas to worry about.
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Going through deserts and mountains.
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Language difficulties.
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No booze in Iran.
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But the people every where are incredibly friendly and helpful and it will be the trip of a lifetime.
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SAFETY -
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Vodka drinking drunks can be a bit of a pain.
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Some places have fake policemen.
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Violent drunks outside nightclubs.
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Don't worry it's as safe as any region and the Guide will keep you out of trouble.
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SOUVENIRS -
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Kyrgyzstan has the best honey in the world,
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A Turkmen skullcap,
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The Evil Eye,
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A certificate for diving off of the Stari Most bridge in Mostar,
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Maraschino Cherry liquor from where it comes from,
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Salt in Slovenia
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Limoncello
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SHOPPING -
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Kashgar Livestock market is good if you're after a goat or a camel,
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Persian carpet,
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Bulgarian Rose Oil,
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Lavander products - Croatia
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LASH OUT -
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Have a game of golf at Royal Bled
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      #83 ROME 2 ROME  112N        Â

​ HIGHLIGHTs - the pillars of hercules
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Rome 3N to Rome 1N via
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(ITALY) -- Florence 2N - Modena 3N - Turin - 2N - 11N
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(FRANCE) -- Nice 4N - Entrevaux 1N - Marseille 2N - Aix-en-Provence 2N - Avignon 3N - Montpellier 3N - 15N
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(SPAIN) -- Cadaques 3N - Figueres 2N - Girona 1N - Barcelona 3N - Valencia 3N - Granada 2N - Malaga 2N - Ronda 2N - 18N
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(GIBRALTAR) - 1N
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(MOROCCO) -- Tangier 3N - Chefchaouen 3N - Meknes 3N - Fez 3N - Erg Chebbi 1N - Sahara Desert Camp 1N - Ouarzazate 1N - Marrakech 3N - 18N
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(ALGERIA) -- Oran 3N - Tlemcen 1N - Algiers 3N - Constantine 3N - Anaba 3N - 13N
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(TUNISIA) -- Tunis 3N - Sousse 3N - Tozeur 3N - Douz 3N - El Jem 1N - Hammamet 3N - 16N
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(ITALY) -- Ferry 1N - Palermo 2N - Cefalu 2N - Gangi 1N - Taormina 3N - Vulcano 2N - Tropea 2N - Salerno 2N - Positano 3N and Naples 4N - 22N
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The Vatican
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Trevi Fountain
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Coliseum
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Michelangelo’s “David”
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Florence Cathedral
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Vecchio Bridge
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​Ferrari factory
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Shroud of Turin
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The Holy Grail
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French Riviera
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Monaco
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Flamenco
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The Alhambra
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La Sagrada Familia
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Home of Paella
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Hilltop Ronda
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Salvador Dali's House
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100's of great Beaches
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100's of great Golf Courses
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Blue City
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Hangout with Tangerines
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Hammams - bath-houses
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The Casbah
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The Sahara - twice
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UNESCO listed Carthage
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The Bardo Museum
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Tunis Medina
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The Santorini of Tunisia
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Sahara Camel trek
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Muhammad’s Barber
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Star Wars locations
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Life of Brian locations
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Gladiator locations
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Oases
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Medicinal Hot Springs
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The El Jem Colosseum
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Chott El Jerid Salt Lake
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​The land of the Cyclops
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Sicilian Granita
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Mount Etna
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Volcanic Mud Bath
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Amalfi Coast
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Birthplace of Pizza
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Drink Pastis in Marseille
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Have a Salad Nicoise in Nice
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Eat bouillabaisse in Marseille
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Pompei and Mount Vesuvius
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Goats in Argan trees - Morocco
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“The most beautiful town in Italy”
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Visit the world's Perfume Capital
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See Van Gough's room at the Asylum
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Birthplace of the Chocolate Bar
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The Great Siege & World War 2 Tunnels
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Walk a lap of the Monaco Grand Prix track
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Gibraltar Skywalk & Windsor Suspension Bridge
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Motor Valley - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani
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​​Food Valley - Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Ham, Balsamic Vinegar, Mortadella, Truffles, Lambrusco, Artisanal Gelato, Tagliatelle al Ragu in Bologna
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Fly into Rome and stay in Trastevere. See the major attractions. Eat lots of great food. catch a few sunsets. Enjoy the nightlife and catch a few sunrises. See the Pope. Do several walking tours. Do a Segway tour. Do a Vespa tour. Drink coffee and eat gelato. Go to the Jewish Bakery. Eat the best porchetta sandwich in Rome. Let the waiter pick your meal. If you get all of that done in 3 days you're doing pretty well. Pick out your favourites, stay a little longer or do some when you get back in 3 months time.
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Hop on a train to Florence which is known as the outdoor museum and stay in the Old Town. Near the restaurants and bars. Do a walking tour. See the masterpieces. Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. Have dinner and go to the pub.
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Off to the Emilio Romagna region to add a few kilos to the waistline. So you might as well stop on the way in Bologna for lunch and get the process underway. See how "Spaghetti Bolognese" is supposed to be. Experience the world's best ham and cheese sandwich in nearby Parma using the world's best (Parma) Ham and (Parmesan) Cheese. The third ingredient in this trifecta of excellence is vinegar. You may laugh but Balsamic Vinegar from Modena is so delicious you can serve it as a topping on ice cream. You should get a nice 100 ml bottle for around US$230. Spend a few days in this valley of slow food and fast cars eating world's best produce and looking at the most elite branded cars on the planet. Maybe even have a drive around the track for a budget blowing splurge.
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Many people are surprised to learn that Italy didn't become a country until 1861. It's first capital was Turin until it moved to Florence four years later. If you like chocolate (duh) Turin is also the Chocolate Capital of Italy. Turin has given the world solid chocolate, Fiat motor cars and of course the Shroud of Turin. You will be passing by some very famous football (soccer) stadiums on this trip and a tour of at least one of them should be on the cards. They do tours and have museums and are really quite interesting even if you're not a fan. The one here is Juventus Stadium and is home to Italy's most decorated club. Turin is a very elegant and beautiful city with the Alps as a picturesque back drop.
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Off to France and the French Riviera staying in the splendid city of Nice. Nice will be home base on the Riviera to explore Menton, Eze, Monaco, Entrevaux, Digne les Baines, Antibes, Cannes and St. Tropez. Stay in the old town. Take a trip on the Pine Cone train. Head for the hills to see the view from Eze and sniff your way around Grasse. Hire a scooter or hop on the trains to get around. See why it's called the Côte d'Azur (Blue Coast).
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A short trip around the coast will bring you to Marseille. A city with a reputation but like all big cities use a little common sense and you won't have any problems. Stay in the picturesque old port area and do a spot of boat watching while enjoying a few sundowners. Try the famous seafood soup. Grab a boat out to the fascinating island prison. Do a day trip. Don't worry there's lots too see and do in France's second city.
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A short trip up the line to Aix-en-Provence or Aix (ex) for short. Known as the City of a Thousand Fountains. Come and see what all the fuss is about and how the art de vivre (art of living) is a way of life here. Witness the colour and the light that have been bringing painters here for centuries. It's a foodies heaven with wonderful cafes and markets and a real Parisian feel about it. Wander through the old town with the beautiful fountains as your guide.
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Next stop in Provence is Avignon the city famous as the Capital of the Christian world where the Popes fled to after leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century. A visit to the exceptional Palace of the Popes will give you an idea of the importance of the church in those times. It is one of the largest buildings in the world. You can even check out their private apartments. It is one of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Avignon. Thankfully there is a little train to help you get around to them all. Or you could use the bike sharing system, or the e-bikes, or a segway or any of the other forms of pubic transport if you like. There are some great day trips from here as well so you're going to be busy.
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After all that activity you can have a few days off in Montpellier. This city has a different feel to the other ones you have been to. It has mix of old and modern and has a large student population which gives it a young vibe. The area is famous for wine and food. You will love the medieval streets and the Place de la Comedie the large square (rectangle) that is at the heart of the city with its illuminated fountain. It is like an open air museum. There are modern trams which make it easy to get around and they link with buses to take you to the beach. Or try a segway tour of the city.​​​
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Off to Spain and the pretty little seaside town of Cadeques. Made famous by Salvador Dali and still attracting a celebrity crowd. You will see some of his work here. A couple of nearby towns are worth visiting as well.
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Up to Figueres the small town where Dali was actually born and the location of the main museum about him. This is a very pleasant town and there is plenty to keep you amused for a couple of days. There are great golf courses all the way along the eastern coastline so if you have the inclination and a spare day, don't hesitate.
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A little further down the road is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Spain, Girona. Over the years it has been laid siege 25 times. It also appeared on Game of Thrones. The river Onyar runs through the centre of the city and just off it is the Placa de la Independencia which has plenty of al fresco bars and restaurants. Girona is home to one of the world's best restaurants and is close to many wineries.
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The next hop will see you land in Barcelona. On many peoples bucket list along with it's number one attraction the Sagrada Familia. Designed by Antoni Gaud most of his work is in or near Barcelona for you to see. He was born in Reus which has a museum about him. It makes a great daytrip when combined with Tarragona with it's Roman ruins and great food scene. If you didn't make the Juventus Stadium tour in Turin definitely checkout a Camp Nou tour the home of Barcelona F.C. Go to a game if there's one on. A day at the beach in nearby Stiges is well worth the effort.
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Time to leave Catalonia and head to Valencia the birthplace of the national dish, Paella. The City of the Arts and Sciences is a must see while you are here. Valencia is a great place to ride a bicycle and while you're out seeing the sights, why not check out the Holy Grail. The Central Market deserves seeing and tasting as well.
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It is said that Granada is a city that should be visited at least once in a lifetime. Perhaps because some of the experiences you will have here can only be had in Granada. Most people come here to see one of Spain's most important and popular tourist sites, the UNESCO listed Alhambra. The complex and gardens are huge and without peer in Europe. Now you're in Andalusia it's time to check out some authentic and up close Flamenco Clubs. Granada is famous for it's tapas bars and don't miss the Arab, Jew and Gypsy Quarters.
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Back to the coast and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, historical Malaga. Of course you'll want to see where he was born and the museum. There are more castles, great wine and seafood, a palace, church, beaches, gardens and the King's Walk. Once known as the most dangerous walk in Spain it has been fixed up and offers amazing views while the path you are on clings to the side of a cliff above a river. Local specialty here is grilled sardines on the beach. Possibly washed down with a little cerveza or a nice glass of dry white.
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Head for the hilltop marvel that is Ronda. Both Hemmingway and Orson Welles loved this town. Possibly because it has Spain's oldest bullfighting ring. Hemmingway also recommended it as a honeymoon destination or even for a lovers tryst. The town is set in a stunning location 120 meters above a canyon with the two parts of the town connected by a stone bridge spanning the canyon. There are lots of great walks and the town is surrounded by 21 wineries. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. In fact it was declared a city by Julius Caesar himself. There is so much to see and do here, but you may just want to grab a table and a drink and watch the world go by. Either way you'll love it.
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Catch the train down to Gibraltar for one last night in Europe eating fish and chips and drinking pints in English Pubs before you head over to Africa. Gibraltar is one of the two Pillars of Hercules, the gateway to the Mediterranean. Captured by the British over 300 years ago this unique anomaly of history is definitely worth a visit. Arrive for lunch. See the sights. Spend the night. English fry up for breakfast and then on your way to Morocco for dinner.
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Take the ferry across to Tangier the "Gateway to Africa". Stay in a famous historical hotel in the old Medina where Churchill once stayed. It comes with great views and an onsite hammam (bath-house). Many famous writers and artists were drawn to live here last century with the promise of wild times. At one time this city rivaled Monte Carlo and Nice. One of their favourite hangouts was the Gran Café de Paris which will be included. In 1923 Tangier became an international settlement ruled by the English, French and Spanish. During WW2 it became a hot bed of spies, businessmen, artists and all sorts of interesting characters. Even the Rolling Stones lived here for a while. You'll be visiting some of the Tangerines (ex-pats) old haunts as well as exploring the interesting parts of the city. Lots of cafes, shopping, souks, the beach, a Hammam, palaces, museums, the Casbah and sundowners should get your step count up to quota.
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Feeling Blue? You will be after a few days in Chefchaouen "the Blue Pearl". In a good way though. You'll fall in love with this friendly and laid back little known gem of a place. Stay in a Riad in the Medina in this stunning Blue City which has the majestic peaks of the Rif Mountains as a backdrop. Get lost in the blue maze (although this is one place where it's worth paying for a guide to hear all of the stories). Relax at a cafe by the town's natural mountain spring. View the sunset from the Casbah or the Spanish Mosque. Have an extra few days here to relax, hike in the mountains, visit waterfalls with crystal blue pools for swimming or visit the Hamman (bath-house). All towns have a central square which are great places for eating, drinking and watching the world go by. There's plenty of street-food to try and the atmosphere and scenery are hard to beat.
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Next stop is the former Imperial City of Meknes. Smaller and less touristed than it's famous neighbour is a bonus as it's more relaxed and less hectic. This was once home to the Sultans which means palaces, ruins and all sorts of impressive structures. There is a worthwhile day-trip to Morocco's most impressive Roman ruins and a pilgrimage to a holy city which has only allowed non-muslims to enter since 1916. Another good day out is to visit the wineries and olive oil groves which use techniques developed over thousands of years to make a premium product. You may want to check out the healing waters of the nearby Aïn Salama. Enjoy the evening in El Hedim Square where you'll find plenty of food, street performers and plenty of entertainment. Then perhaps a pub crawl between Le Pub and Hotel Rif.
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A short hop away on the railway is Fez the country's UNESCO listed "cultural capital". Staying on the edge of the Medina this time for convenience, value and to experience the juxtaposition of old and new, cars, no-cars, side by side. Plenty to explore in the world's oldest living medieval city including the iconic and stinky world's oldest tannery. You could do a cooking class. There are some Natural Springs and Thermal Spas nearby with possible health benefits for day trips. There are lots of rooftop terraces and restaurants to enjoy sunsets and the views.
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Time to head off on your four day Sahara tour to Marrakech. Some of the highlights will include "little Switzerland", the Apple Capital, Camel trek and a night in a Desert Camp, the Todra Gorges and the "Hollywood of Morocco" where a quite a few well known movies have been made. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Marrakech at the end of it.
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Get your senses ready because they are about to be assaulted. Stay in a Riad near the World famous Djemaa El Fna (main square) the Night Market to end all Night Markets. Get lost in the Medina (turn your phone off or better yet leave it back in the hotel safe), see the spice souk, check out a palace and just soak it all in. For a change of pace have a look at the very popular Jardin Majorelle. It's a great place to do a cooking lesson as they will take you shopping in the souk and then head back to a Riad where a group of local women will teach you the art of Moroccan cuisine. Golfers can play on the best course in Africa and Hot Air Balloon rides are available if you have too much cash. Spend your evenings amongst the madness of Djemma El Fin with it's snake charmers, henna artists, dancers, musicians, comedians, acrobats, magicians and all of the other dodgy characters. Head up to a rooftop to watch the sunset and escape the madness for a while.
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Fly to the Algerian city of Oran. This will be a long days travel as you will be going via France and may have to overnight in the airport there. Ah the joys of travel. Rest assured the best option available will be in the itinerary. Coastal Oran was the birthplace of Yves St Laurent and has Spanish, French and Ottoman influences. It is also home to the lively Raj musical movement. Don't miss the view from Fort Santa Cruz.
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While you're in the neighbourhood an overnight trip to Tlemcen - the "Pearl of Algeria" or "the town of cherries" is in order. It is a stunning destination with the title of the most beautiful city in Algeria. It has a rich culture with mosques, palaces, city walls and plenty of handicrafts.
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The French were in Algeria for 132 year and as in their other colonies they were very unpleasant to say the least. However as with much evil, good things have a funny way of resulting. The Vietnamese Meat Roll (Banh Mi Thit) for example. In Algeria you'll be able to thank the French for being able to travel on trains all the way along the coast. And even more importantly you'll be able to frequent French Patisseries and French Boulangeries.
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So hop on the train to Algiers and spend a few days exploring this beautiful city which looks out onto the stunning Bay of Algeria. Head up for a wander around the UNESCO World Heritage Casbah. If this city was in Europe instead of Africa it would be a must see destination.​The local cuisine has been influenced by the Arab, Berbers, Romans, Spanish, Turkish, and French so you are in for a treat. It does feature a lot of meat though. Vegetarians will need to be inventive.
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Off to Constantine the city on the edge of a cliff, known as the "city of bridges". A city with an enchanting ambiance and a thriving music scene. There are some great sights to be seen from the aerial tramway and street food as well. Don't miss the maze like National Heritage listed Casbah perched on the edge of a dramatic gorge.
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Next stop is Annaba, beautiful and on the coast. Part of the Ottoman Empire until the French came along. It is a colonial city with great beaches and you'll have it pretty much to yourself. Lot's of cafes' and restaurants especially on the Corniche along the coast.
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Time to cross the border and catch a train to the capital Tunis. June to September Sahara treks are closed as it is too hot. Normally you might want to avoid going to a Muslim country during the month of Ramadan. But here they have the Tunis Medina Festival which livens up the evenings with international artists, musicians and films. Tunis is a city with a split personality, one side is French and the other is Arabic. Take your pick which one you want to stay in. They're both excellent and not that far apart. Tunis is secular, open minded and one of the most laid back cities in Northern Africa.
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Enjoy a day relaxing down the beach. There are a lot of restaurants and bars so why not make a night of it as well. Take the train over to Carthage for a day trip to see the UNESCO listed ruins and the picturesque seaside town of Sidi Bou Said. If you're here during the festival you're in for a real treat. Spend another day exploring the historic Medina and other sights in Tunis. It's a great place to explore by bicycle. A trip out to the medicinal hot springs will recharge your batteries and perhaps heal a few ailments as well.
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Hop on the train and head down the coast to Sousse “the Pearl of the Sahel”. There was a terrorist attack 10 kms north of here back in 2015 but the area has returned to normal. And it hasn't stopped people visiting London, New York, Madrid etc. There are some good day trips here along the coast, some by electric train. The local highlights in Sousse need to be seen as well.
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Back on the train to go to the oasis town on the edge of the Sahara and grower of the best dates in Tunisia - Tozeur. This is the Tunisian destination of your imagination. Adobe mud brick town with a medina surrounded by large date plantations. There are oases to visit, a major salt pan, medicinal hot springs, a Star Wars abandoned film set, Saharan sunsets, the Old Town, bicycle tours through the palm trees and a whole lot more. Perhaps a trip out to the mountain oasis of Tamerza. If prices remain low you can get into a ***** Hotel for $79 with breakfast and two swimming pools.
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Out across the huge salt lake Chott El Jerid which changes colours, to the gateway of the Sahara - Douz. If it's a sunny day you might start seeing mirages. It's quite the trip and was another location for the Star Wars movie. Douz is the place to organise your Sahara trip. There are plenty of choices of operators and tours from a camel or quad bike to a 4 wheel drive so you'll be able to get what you need regarding budget, comfort and time considerations. Overnight trips are best so that you can see the sunset and sunrise as well as stargazing and sleeping under the remarkable Saharan night sky. A hotel room with a million stars you're guide will proudly inform you. The town of Douz is a destination in it's own right and another oasis.​
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El Jem is where they filmed Gladiator and when you see the Colosseum you'll know why. (It is very well preserved and was the second largest after the one in Rome) There's only two hotels in town so you may want to book ahead. It's a magic little town.
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Next stop is the beach town that started it all and the best - Hammamet. A great place to unwind and reflect on your trip so far. Great beaches, restaurants, hotels and anything else your heart desires. Back in 1920 it was a little fishing village and has been developing since then. One of the planning rules states that no building should be higher than a Cypress tree which has kept the multi storey hotels of other resorts at bay. Being such an old place it has a wonderful historic centre too. There are plenty of water sports and the usual resort attractions as well as some WWll sites that you can visit on quad bike tours. You will find good value accommodation here too.
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Now your ready to hit the last stage of your epic journey. Climb aboard the Tunis to Palermo Ferry and head to Sicily the birthplace of the Mafia and the largest island in the Medditerranean. Generally it will be an overnight passage and they don't run every day. There are some great walking tours to get to know Palermo including the street food / history and the anti-mafia tours. Food is here is fantastic and there are some can't miss markets and cooking lessons too.
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Along the coast is the wonderful beachside town of Cefalu. Cobblestone streets and public squares plus an amazing view from the beach mean you will see a post card everywhere you look.
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Gangi is the most beautiful town in Italy so it would be a sin not to spend a night here.
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Taormina is no slouch either. Once a stop on the Grand Tour it is now the tourist capital of Sicily. It is also well situated for day trips to the lively Mount Etna. If you don't like climbing it's okay there's a cable car and then ground transport to get you up to the top. Have a dip in the turquoise waters when you get back to Taormina for a relaxing day off.
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Vulcano Island is the vulcano that all other vulcanos are named after. So that makes it a bit special. So do the hot volcanic mud baths. You could also climb the crater (If Etna wasn't enough) or relax on the beach. Hop on the ferry and spend a couple of nights in this unique place.
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Recently making the list of Italy's list of most beautiful towns is Tropea the "Jewel of Calabria". With a spectacular sandy beach, a seaside castle, cobblestone streets and plenty of good eating and watering places, why wouldn't you want to stop off for a couple of days. Not as touristy as some of the other regions it is famous for it's sunsets and red onions.
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Take the train north to the historic city of Salerno the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. This area is well known for it's quintessential Italian products pasta, pizza and buffalo mozzarella. It has a wonderful seafront promenade Cathedral, Castle and Old Town.
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Head along the coast to the stunning village of Positano (you are looking at it right now). Once you've explored this amazing place hire a scooter and explore the rest of the Amalfi Coast including the charming little town of Furore.
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"See Naples and Die" - so said Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It is a well known quote which could have been the original bucket list. Though it sounds a bit severe it meant to say that Naples was so beautiful that once you had seen it you could happily die as you would never see anything else as good. It's a little rough in parts these days but should still be on the bucket list for the food alone.
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The best way to get around this coastline is by ferry and that's how you will first view Naples with Mount Vesuvius looming in the background as a scenic backdrop. Pompei and Mount Vesuvius make for a good day trip. This is the place where pizza was invented, no small claim to fame. Naples also has many pasta specialities including my favourite Spaghetti alle Vongole (with clams). Pastries here are revered by Italians from all regions which says something. Your taste buds are in for a treat in this city. Naples also has Palaces, Castles, Museums, a six acre Piazza, the best pizza in the world, great coffee, lemon granitas and it still retains it's character and charm. Eat Up!!
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Off to Rome to finish the trip. Hopefully the credit card is still working and your dog still remembers you when you get home. You should have a bucket load of memories after this one.
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Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Image by motamid2006 from Pixabay
