Small Groups Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
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12 Day Jordan, Tradition & Inspiration |
Jan - Dec '24 | 3 Amman, 2 Petra, 2 Aqaba, 1 Wadi Rum, 2 Dead Sea | Small Group | $2699 | $3899* |
12 Day Marrakesh & Northern Morocco featuring the Blue City, Chefchaouen |
Jan - Dec '24 | 1 Rabat, 2 Tangier, 1 M'Diq, 2 Fez, 1 Bin El Ouidane, 3 Marrakesh | Small Group | $2499 | $3399* |
12 Day Oman & Dubai Exploration Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save! |
Sep '24 - Apr '25 | 2 Muscat, 1 Wahiba Sands, 1 Al Hamra, 1 Al Ain, 2 Abu Dhabi, 3 Dubai | Small Group | $3649 | $5039* |
13 Day Egyptian Treasures with 5 Day Nile Cruise |
Oct '23 - May '24 | 4 Cairo, 5 Nile Cruise, 2 Luxor | Small Group | $6389* | |
13 Day Egyptian Treasures with 5 Day Nile Cruise Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save! |
Sep '24 - May '25 | 4 Cairo, 5 Nile Cruise, 2 Luxor | Small Group | $7549* | |
13 Day Greece, The Birthplace of Civilization |
Apr - Oct '24 | 2 Thessaloniki, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Corfu, 2 Nafpaktos, 1 Olympia, 1 Nauplion, 2 Athens | Small Group | $3599 | $4939* |
13 Day Journey through Tunisia |
Jan - Dec '24 | 3 Tunis, 2 Djerba, 1 Douz, 2 Tozeur, 1 Kairouan, 2 Hammamet | Small Group | $2849 | $3929* |
14 Day Athens, Peloponnese & Cyclades Islands |
Apr - Sep '24 | 3 Athens, 1 Olympia, 2 Monemvasia, 2 Nauplion, 2 Paros, 2 Naxos | Small Group | $4089 | $5149* |
14 Day Eastern Turkey Explorer |
May - Sep '24 | 3 Istanbul, 2 Gaziantep, 3 Mardin, 2 Van, 2 Kars | Small Group | $3599 | $4769* |
14 Day Turkish Odyssey |
Apr - Nov '24 | 4 Istanbul, 1 Safranbolu, 3 Cappadocia, 1 Sagalassos, 3 Fethiye | Small Group | $3949 | $4919* |
15 Day Moroccan Allure |
Jan - Dec '24 | 2 Rabat, 2 Fez, 1 Erfoud, 1 Sahara, 1 Ait Benhaddou, 3 Marrakesh, 2 Essaouira, 1 Casablanca | Small Group | $2449 | $3319* |
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12 Day Jordan, Tradition & Inspiration
Air & Land: $3899*
Land Only: $2699
3 Amman, 2 Petra, 2 Aqaba, 1 Wadi Rum, 2 Dead Sea
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Jan - Dec '24
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12 Day Marrakesh & Northern Morocco featuring the Blue City, Chefchaouen
Air & Land: $3399*
Land Only: $2499
1 Rabat, 2 Tangier, 1 M'Diq, 2 Fez, 1 Bin El Ouidane, 3 Marrakesh
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Jan - Dec '24
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12 Day Oman & Dubai Exploration Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save!
Air & Land: $5039*
Land Only: $3649
2 Muscat, 1 Wahiba Sands, 1 Al Hamra, 1 Al Ain, 2 Abu Dhabi, 3 Dubai
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Sep '24 - Apr '25
-
13 Day Egyptian Treasures with 5 Day Nile Cruise
Air & Land: $6389*
Land Only:
4 Cairo, 5 Nile Cruise, 2 Luxor
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Oct '23 - May '24
-
13 Day Egyptian Treasures with 5 Day Nile Cruise Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save!
Air & Land: $7549*
Land Only:
4 Cairo, 5 Nile Cruise, 2 Luxor
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Sep '24 - May '25
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13 Day Greece, The Birthplace of Civilization
Air & Land: $4939*
Land Only: $3599
2 Thessaloniki, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Corfu, 2 Nafpaktos, 1 Olympia, 1 Nauplion, 2 Athens
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Apr - Oct '24
-
13 Day Journey through Tunisia
Air & Land: $3929*
Land Only: $2849
3 Tunis, 2 Djerba, 1 Douz, 2 Tozeur, 1 Kairouan, 2 Hammamet
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Jan - Dec '24
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14 Day Athens, Peloponnese & Cyclades Islands
Air & Land: $5149*
Land Only: $4089
3 Athens, 1 Olympia, 2 Monemvasia, 2 Nauplion, 2 Paros, 2 Naxos
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Apr - Sep '24
-
14 Day Eastern Turkey Explorer
Air & Land: $4769*
Land Only: $3599
3 Istanbul, 2 Gaziantep, 3 Mardin, 2 Van, 2 Kars
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: May - Sep '24
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14 Day Turkish Odyssey
Air & Land: $4919*
Land Only: $3949
4 Istanbul, 1 Safranbolu, 3 Cappadocia, 1 Sagalassos, 3 Fethiye
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Apr - Nov '24
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15 Day Moroccan Allure
Air & Land: $3319*
Land Only: $2449
2 Rabat, 2 Fez, 1 Erfoud, 1 Sahara, 1 Ait Benhaddou, 3 Marrakesh, 2 Essaouira, 1 Casablanca
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Jan - Dec '24
Reviews
This is one of the best tours you offer. I've learned a lot on this trip, the country, people, culture & religion. I can't say enough about our tour manager, Wael, he was so organized and had so much knowledge to offer us! Thank you for letting him be our guide! The hotels were just amazing! Could not have been better! The food buffets were excellent. Thank you for offering this trip!
Nancy R.This was the first trip with Gate 1 for my wife and I after having the company recommended by friends who have completed several tours. The people of Jordan could not have been more welcoming. Starting from the moment we arrived at the airport until the minute we passed through passport control on our way home we were guided with attention and care. We did not know what to expect when travelling during Ramadan as we wanted to be respectful of the religious practice. Without exception everywhere we went people were gracious and made us feel comfortable during mealtimes. Our tour group was small, and our guide made the trip special with his knowledge of history as well as introducing us to some of the tastes of Jordan. It was fun to meet new people in our group and hear about their travel experiences with Gate 1. We would recommend Jordan to anyone.
Carl B.My trip to Morocco (Moroccan Allure) far surpassed my expectations! Each hotel was unique and beautiful and there was always a special welcome for us. Every day was a new and exciting adventure. Our bus driver, Hassan, and his assistant, Mahmoud, kept us safe and hydrated and met us with a smile every day. Our local guides were brilliant, friendly and entertaining. But, most of all, our tour manager, Hassan, was exceptional. He was caring, organized, and a fountain of knowledge. He truly made us feel like a family. His love of his country and eagerness to share it was evident every minute of our trip. Morocco is a beautiful, clean, safe country and my memories of it will last a lifetime. Thank you Gate 1 for providing me with this amazing experience!
Candice S.Just wanted to add that our guide Abdellah was fantastic! He was warm & welcoming (with a good sense of humor!) and really added so much to our trip experience. He spent some of his free time making sure that we found good restaurants and helped to locate the souvenirs that fellow travelers were looking for in the medinas. My husband & I really appreciated his kindness and openness to help us to learn a lot about Moroccan culture.
Marla S.My trip to Morocco exceeded my expectations. I can't say enough good things about our tour manager, Mohamed. He was wonderful! Very knowledgeable and helpful. Always very patient and consistently kept track of us 22 travelers, which was not always easy :) Also, our bus driver was very friendly, always on time to pick us up and always smiling and greeted us as we boarded. The driver assistant was wonderful also. Passing out water on the bus all the time. Always offering a hand to help us safely disembark the bus and additional assistance for those who needed it. This was my first trip with Gate 1 but will certainly not be my last!
Candace E.I thank you guys for having arranged such a fabulous truly, small group discovery which started with a country I could not find on a map; however, it has so much to offer. Days were not enough to discover this beautiful, peaceful and welcoming country of Oman. We enjoyed the history, the cruising of its beautiful chains of mountain all over, and every family with which we shared and enjoyed their homemade and traditional meals and learned from and about them and their culture. It was a fun experience traveling, not only seen the panoramic of the desert as we crossed the border over to the Emirates. We arrived and climbed over 4,000 feet to our Mercury Hotel in Al Ain, a city in Abu Dhabi and as well explore its culture and beauty and then Dubai, both with such magnificent architecture. Thank you, guys, for making a dream a reality. Just didn't want vacation to end!
Josefa T.Excellent trip to Tunisia! I didn't realize the rich influence the country had with the presence of Roman heritage throughout the place, be it in the Saharas or along the Mediterranean coast. I was always curious about Carthage, having heard and read about its power in ancient times. What I learned was that it wasn't just Carthage. It was the Phoenicians, the Berbers, the Romans, the Arabs, the French. Dougga was especially impressive. I will follow the archeological discoveries that will be made to this place. Your guide Othman was a warehouse of knowledge and he was an excellent host. Thank you.
Maria P.One of the best ones yet- Salini was incredible!!! I wish she could lead all of my tours. Wonderfully efficient, organized, caring, kind and able to handle any situations that developed -including dealing with UAE's brand-new regulations regarding busses crossing from Oman. She miraculously made food and beverages appear (and bathrooms) wherever. we were. I cannot say enough about her ability to take care of every situation with a smile, sense of humor and efficiency. I have traveled with Gate 1discovery tours for years and have never been disappointed with any aspect of the tour. Your product development crew do a fantastic job negotiating with excellent hotels, restaurants and excursions. Thank you!
Jacqueline C.Just want to let you know we've used Gate 1 for multiple vacations in the past. All of the tour managers we have had have been outstanding! The tour manager in our most recent trip, however, went above and beyond. He exceeded our expectations in every way. His knowledge, his organizational skills and communication were outstanding. One of the main reasons we have used and will continue to travel with gate one is the quality of your tour managers. We look forward to our next trip soon with your company. A quote from the tour manager Hassan that stuck with me was "life is a book, those who don't travel have only read the first page". It was a trip I will never forget and he was a big part of the reason why!!!
Morris S.Totally awesome trip: Hotels were beautifully Moroccan themed, clean and spacious. Tour Manager, Salmi, was very knowledgeable and helpful in answering any questions we had, exchanging money for us, giving advice fo alternative activities. Food was excellent and varied. Daily activities were exciting and informative. I have been on several organized tours and I have to say, this was one of the best. EVERYTHING was top-notch and I will highly recommend it!!!
Paula B.We just completed our 15 day discovery tour of Morocco. We were little nervous about traveling because of the conflict in the near east . I must say that Morocco feels very safe. Security is everywhere ( on the roads , by the hotel and everywhere ). Our Guide Rasheed was just fantastic , made us feel so welcome . He didn't leave anything to chance for example he had gallons of drinking water from a super market in case if we need more on top of what we got on the bus and what the hotel provided . Entertained us with stories on the bus on the history of his beautiful country . He has an excellent sense of humor . He paid attention to every detail . Before we arrived to any destination everything was taken care of from a meal in a restaurant or keys ready to our rooms . For sight seeing he knew how to beat the crowds. We travel a lot with gate one but Rasheed was just so so great . I also like to mention that we had an escort at the airport going back . We were 'handheld' till the end. This service that Morocco provides no other country did . They make tourists feel pampered.
Jonathan P.It was a very wonderful experience. The sites that we've come to see and visit were all great! Our guide Abdel was very knowledgeable, understanding, kind, considerate, attentive to our needs and very patient with all of us. He is one of the best guides I had with Gate 1. He is passionate in sharing and educating us about the Moroccan culture. I am always impressed with the intelligence of tour directors. The hotels and food were all great! The driver and the assistant were also very helpful.
Marilyn D.A great success! I'm ready to turn around my bags and return to enchanting Morocco. The Allure trip was well organized, and our tour manager, Khalid, was the consummate professional. He tended to the needs of individuals in our group as they arose and managed unforeseen circumstances with skill and a sense of humor. He also shared the culture, history, and natural history of the country with us as we traveled keeping us transfixed by what we were seeing. In a very helpful gesture, he also provided us with a written summary of the places we'd visited. I've already recommended this trip to others, and one of my friends has signed up for a December tour.
Dian M.Absolutely phenomenal! This was our very first group tour and Gate 1 exceeded our expectations! We did not expect such phenomenal hotels, restaurants, tour sites, and more. So, thank you to Gate 1. But most importantly, we can not exclaim enough about Abdel, our tour manager. He is knowledgeable, kind, organized, understanding, and patient. The perfect representative for Gate 1.
Roxann M.Ken and I really enjoyed the trip to Morocco. The hotels were perfect for us. Our favorites were Widiane Suites and Spa, and also The Hotel in Fes. Just loved the Moroccan Flair. The hotels were all great, clean, nicely decorated,, good locations. Loved all the cities. The history and the smells, sights. Ali our Guide was terrific. He was so knowledgeable, he was not overly talkative, provided us with awesome information. He was kind, soft spoken, and caring for each one of us. The bus driver was amazing, Very Competent and kept us safe. Our "Aquaman" was great to have with us.He kept the bus super tidy, clean and was a wonderful extra help. The extra guides very good. The one in Fes our favorite. The girl in Chefchuan was a little difficult to understand Loved having the extra security with us while walking thru the small Shuks (markets) The food was good. Some better then others. The hotels had wonderful buffet breakfast with alot of variety. Very generous. We felt like so many melas were included. And we loved this !!!! We typically eat 2 meals a day. Just a thought we would love if tours included the breakfast and then an early dinner. We dont like eating late , but I understand that is just typical how meals work. This was our 1st time with gate one. We were super impressed with it all. Thanks for all the suggestions regarding how to tip, etc....
Hope S.Our Moroccan Allure Discovery trip of November 1, 2023, was amazing. So many activities and meals were included! Our tour manager, Achraf, was wonderful. He was friendly, enthusiastic, efficient and clearly loves his country and sharing it with others. We feel very fortunate to have had him as our tour manager. One observation I made about Achraf was that he made a point of addressing us by name. I so appreciate that; it makes me feel that I am important to him. So many tour managers don't do that and it makes you wonder if they even know your name. Our group of 14 all became very close knit and were sad to have to say goodbye to each other. .I actually did this same trip in 2019 with my daughter but I wanted my husband to experience Morocco and it;s culture, traditions and warm, friendly people himself. I enjoyed every minute of this trip even though I had already done it. I think a different tour manager and different travel companions made for a new and different experience. One change that I noticed was that we were given more meal choices at both lunch and suppers which I personally found more to my liking. All hotels were awesome except in Fez it took a long time to get hot water(not a big deal) but all in all they were fabulous! I know that some travelers may be uncomfortable traveling with current world issues, especially in the Middle East, but we experienced no issues in regards to protests, etc. and felt extremely safe at all times. Thank you, Gate 1 Discovery, for this fabulous trip and allowing us to make such special memories ! We will be back!
Rebecca G.Our Morocco tour far exceeded our expectations, we loved the country's beauty and the friendliness of all the Moroccans we encountered. The trip was made more special because our guide, Ali, was always supportive and friendly and well organized. The hotels were uniformly elegant and comfortable, obviously well chosen. Locations were excellent, including ocean and lake views, as well as restaurants in walking distance. Our tour bus driver, Abdul, was safe and friendly, and gave the most comfortable ride possible, considering all the speed bumps and road conditions. All in all, a wonderful experience!
Joseph G.Our trip was wonderful. Our guide was absolutely the best. Everyone else on the trip, 16 people, had traveled with Gate 1 before and also said the guide, Abdellah, was the best they had experienced. He was there for our every need. He is truly a special person and we fell in love with Morocco because of his enthusiasm and love for his country. Have to also say the bus driver and attendant were great. Loved Morocco and its people. The hotels were beautiful and especially loved the night in the Sahara and the camel ride. Visiting the homes of several Moroccan families was also a special experience. We could not say what was our favorite because everything was special in its own way. The excursions were interesting and Abdellah gave us a lot of information which added knowledge about the sites and also a human touch. Our group only had 16 people and we all got along which also made for a great trip. We do enjoy the smaller groups over the bigger ones.
Barbara K.Just had the trip of a lifetime. First, our Your Guide Mohamed was amazing. He truly cared about us and our experiences and strived to keep us all happy. Everyone should be as lucky as us to have Mohamed as a guide. And we saw an experienced all aspects of life in Morocco from the marketplace to Sahara Desert. We were engaged at every opportunity from eating hot bread in the market place to riding camels to traditional dancing and music. Every moment was a "wow" moment. Thank you for a top-notch tour and guide.
Jill W.Hazim is an outstanding tour manager, he clearly has the command of Jordan as a country, the history, the culture, and contacts at the places we toured. This has greatly enhanced our experience in Jordan and gave us a very memorable time. The lunch in Kerak prepared by his mother and family was outstanding, so delicious. His mom, uncle, cousins are very hospitable. This is the best local host we had experienced. The gate1 representatives at the airport who handled our arrival and departure are very efficient and informative. The drivers to and from hotels are also very good, and courteous. The tour bus driver Khalid is an outstanding driver. It took great skill to navigate the narrow streets in the city and town. Khalid is a very safe driver. We sincerely appreciate his driving skill. Overall, this discovery tour to Jordan is a top notch tour. Despite the uncertainty caused by the Israel Gaza situation, we were glad we went forward with the tour. Thanks Hazim, our great tour manager.
Doris C.Can not say enough good things about our tour guide, Marianna. She is a walking encyclopedia about Ancient Greece. FULL of knowledge and information. She clearly loves her job and educating Gate1 guests about the history of the towns and cities we visited. She is also a very pleasant, kind, and organized guide. It felt as though we all became family during our tour. Marianna is an asset to the company, for sure! One of our best tours yet!
Elizabeth C.Our trip was absolutely amazing. Our Tour manager/guide 'Ham' was without doubt a major contributor to the total success of the trip. Ham is a true ambassador to Gate1 travel and his country. His knowledge of the culture, history and customs of Morocco contributed to creating a very special atmosphere. He was our 'Father' figure to the whole group. There was no request or question left unresolved. Ham was always there to recommend restaurants, additional sights to see and where to make the best purchases and even wake us up for our early Balloon ride. We had a great group of 18 people and shared many a laugh. This was our first trip with Gate1 and already looking at another one. One couple had been on 30 plus trips with Gate1 and I can understand why based on the quality of this Moroccan Allure trip. Please pass on our sincere thanks to Ham and his team.
Peter M.We enjoyed our trip and the tour had included some very special touches i.e. stopping after a long ride on the bus and catching the sunset in the middle of nowhere overlooking a valley and where a gentlemen was waiting for us with wine and cheese. The private time spent on the yacht was fun and special too and another time on another boat being able to swim in the beautiful warm water. Our tour guide was full of great information and wanted us to be able to immerse in the culture by meeting local people and interacting with them. Great discovery tour.
Doris M.We had a great and fun time at Morocco. Our travel manager, Zouhair was awesome. He was so knowledgeable on the history, customs, traditions of his country. Gate 1, you did it again! This is I think 36th trip or more with Gate1! Thank you!!!
Maria P.Loved Morocco. It's a hidden gem rich with cultural significance and historical heritage. I never thought how Muslim and Jewish presence would be accepting of individual religions, but in this age where Hamas and Israeli conflicts are at a feverish pitch, it makes me wonder how places like Morocco and Uzbekistan already show the world that difference among peoples can still allow everyone to somehow co-exist in one place and thrive collectively. Morocco embraces its Jewish roots as well as its Arabic and Muslim presence. Wonderful country. Having Zouhair as our guide opened my eyes as well. Thank you for opening up Morocco to travelers!
Victor P.Nothing compares to Gate1; been w/ Exoticca & Europamundo they are not as good as your company. My Moroccan Allure was beyond my expectation; never been on my list but it was rewarded by this wonderful & beautiful experience. Meet new friends; created new memories in my lifetime. Our Tour Manager/Salmi; his assistant Abdul & driver Mohammad went above & beyond. An excellent & extraordinaire team KUDOS. My highlight on this trip was the Sahara Desert Bivouac riding the camel; watching sunset; star gazing at nite & sunrise the following day. An extra caveat on this trip was the Moroccan hospitality top them all. A sumptuous Moroccan dinner; home cooked meal hosted by a Moroccan family. Served w/ a typical Moroccan dish & oh so DELISH!!!
Cleofe P.Our Jordan Discovery tour was exceptional. We enjoyed every bit of it and we Thank Gate1 for making this tour a memorable one. As always Gate1 has the top notch Tour Manager and best choice of hotels. During our trip we felt safe, the people are friendly and welcoming. Thank you Gate1.
Emmanuela B.There are not enough words in the English or Greek vocabulary to describe the joy that we feel for the experience we had with Gate 1's Discovery trip entitled, "Greece, the Birthplace of Civilization " and our guide, Sofia with bus driver, Lambrious! Sofia is by far the best guide we have EVER had with all our travels!!!!! Descriptive words: EXTREMELY knowledgeable ; thorough; flexible; thoughtful; kept everything on schedule; well timed on events; cared for individual needs -- we would give her an A+++ !! She, and gate one provided a Marvelous trip with a variety of classic Greek history, glimpses of Greek agriculture, and sumptuous views of Greek's natural beauty! Additionally, we were soo impressed with her choices of restaurants offering a wide variety of miss out on this trip- especially if you can do it with Sofia and Lamprious!!
Joyce L.My Discovery Tour, Greece, The Birthplace of Civilization, was sensational. The Manager, Militsa was super over the top outstanding in every way imaginable. She was provided everything that was required and beyond. She provided a Welcome Letter with 4 pages of Greek info. She provided us with a handout of important Greek language phrases to use during the trip; a handout of historic Greek symbols; a 9 page timeline of Greek history; a poem by C. P. Covafy; a small map of Greece showing us our route and the cities we would visit; she used her own time to highlight in orange marker the route of the trip on my large Michelin Greek road map. Her knowledge and passion for Greek history and culture was outstanding. She created a family atmosphere for all of the trip participants. We visited several locations during the tour that were personal favorites of Militsa that she shared with us. She answered any and all questions. If anyone had a problem with the hotel rooms or the meals, Militsa was quick to fix the difficulty. Provided details about Greek culture: about the family, weddings, military service, religion. food, education and many aspects of Greek life. She provided information about your own life and family. I have been on 7 Gate 1 trips and I cannot remember any other tour manager meeting everyone on the final departure morning. Militsa was there at 4, 5 and 9:30 to see that everyone got off safely to the airport. I cannot provide enough compliments for Militsa. Our coach driver Mario was superb. It was amazing how he guided the coach through the narrow streets. Our hotel in Corfu was at the top of a reverse 'S' narrow driveway with no turn around which required the coach to be backed down the curved driveway. I was amazed how easily Mario did that multiple times during our visit to Corfu. All of the scheduled stops for the tour were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the Macedonian tombs at Vergina. The meteora Monasteries and Corfu were more than I expected. Really enjoyed the honey farm and olive oil farm in Olympia. For the first time on a tour I purchased wine to take home from the Theotoky Estate. I think Gate 1 could expand the stay at Nauplion to enjoy more of the town but that probably could be said about each of the towns we only had a 1 night stay in. The hotels and restaurants were superb. Militsa explained that the portions were going to be large. She was correct. All of the restaurants had fantastic breakfast buffets. I have no complaints regarding the meals during the tour. All of the hotels were excellent. I had a comfortable room in all of the hotels. There were some comments about the Divani Meteora Hotel being somewhat dated but I had no problems. All of the hotel's staff were excellent. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed my trip.
Leroy H.This was our first Gate1 tour and it exceeded our expectations. Our accommodations were all first class and our tour manager, Khalid, was exceptional. His knowledge of the Moroccan history and culture really enriched our tour.
Joan B.The 14 day Morocco tour ,May 10.24.2023, 1was splendid! Hicham ,our tour guide, was so knowledgeable, professional, very efficient, approachable, kind, friendly and personable. I told him that he was our Guardian "Malik" ( angel ) and Shepherd. He always made sure that we were all safe as we walked and walked in all the beautiful places that we visited. He checked on all of us that we get our food everywhere we ate. He is my other favorite tour guide. ( Omar, from Jordan is the other one ) ! I was truly impressed by the people in Morocco. They were not only beautiful / handsome, but were also kind, hospitable, courteous and friendly ! I enjoyed everywhere we went, esp. the hot air balloon ride, the camel ride, the Jardin , Tinghir ( my favorite ), the cooking lesson and the family- hosted dinner given by Leila.
Eugenia P.Our 15 day Moroccan Allure journey led by Chaouqi was excellent! Chaouqi always made sure that our expectations were exceeded and customized. Every local guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and was always willing to go the extra mile. In addition, Chaouqi was always there to recommend restaurants, additional sights to see and guided us to the best places to make purchases. All the hotels were authentic and reflected the local color. The only downside was not enough lighting in the bathrooms. We would definitely recommend Chaouqi and Gate 1 to anyone who wants to visit Morocco. And also to take the optional Hot Air Balloon ride as well. Getting up at 4:30 am was tough, but was worth it ! In addition- for any golfers on the trip - we played 9 holes at The Royal Golf de Marrakesh! Thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip! This was our 6th adventure with Gate 1 and it won't be our last.
Susan S.The trip was excellent. Greece is a fascinating country. Sophia, the tour guide/manager, was superb. She said that she had 40 years of work experience and it showed. She was thoroughly knowledgeable, she gave interesting and informative information, she had a good sense of humor, she answered all questions very completely by us, she showed warmth and personality, and she took very good care of the people in our group. I was very impressed by her and feel lucky to have had her as my tour guide/manager. She is the best tour guide/manager I have ever had. She sets a high bar of excellence by which I will judge tour guides/managers on my future trips.. I will likely say, "This person is very good but not quite as good as Sophia." The hotels were excellent. They were very clean and in good condition. The hotel personnel were very friendly and hospitable. The bus driver was excellent. He could drive the large bus down narrow streets and make it seem like he was driving a Volkswagon Beetle. Besides Sophia, what impressed me was that the trip had very enjoyable side activities besides just seeing the tourist highlights and museums. I enjoyed the visits to the honeybee farm, the winery, and the olive oil factory. I enjoyed having dinner and conversing with the four young Greek people. I am definitely planning to take more Gate1 tours. Thank you for asking. If Sophia can be rewarded with a bonus, please see that she gets it.
Clifford L.My Moroccan Allure vacation was the best ever! This was my first experience with Gate 1 Travel, and I was very impressed. Our tour guide, Hisham was fantastic. I believe he made everyone in our small group tour feel special. Hisham certainly kept track of everyone and everything. He was the perfect host for his country. I have to say, my favorite experience was the camel ride. This is something I have wanted to do since I was a little girl. We had a View Master with a disc on Egypt, and one of the pictures on it is a man riding a camel. I wanted to ride a camel from that day on. I turn 70 tomorrow. It was a long wait, but worth it! We did so many things that made the tour extra special and more personal: Tea with the nomadic family, Tea with the village family, Dinner with the city family. Our hosts were so kind to share those moments with us. We stopped to see the goats in the argon trees. The local guides were very informative and friendly. I hope to make Gate 1 vacations an annual event.
Barbara J.My Moroccan Allure trip was FANTASTIC! Moha, our tour director was extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful and friendly. The manner in which he presented information on his country inspired me to read more about the history of Morocco. Our driver and his asst. were excellent. The Hotels - AH, the Hotels, This is the first tour I have ever been on where the accommodations were an integral part of a cultural immersion experience. The Riads, Casbahs, and Desert Tent accommodations placed me in old Morocco - what a wonderful experience. I remember fondly having tea with a Bedouin woman in her isolated tent and again having tea in a Berber Village in the Mountains. The overnight in the Sahara Tent Village was incredible. Starting with an exhilarating ride in 4x4 vehicles to the sunset camel ride on the dunes. THANK YOU GATE 1 for an incredible adventure.
John A.I had the wonderful opportunity to experience a beautiful country with all of its sights, sounds, history, and people. Everyone has the character of compassion in them, but no country has ever shown me so much compassion and gratitude than the Moroccans. Everywhere we traveled Moroccans expressed their gratitude by welcoming me to their country. I heard the words over and over again!! "Welcome"! It is certain that every site that I experienced was wonderful!! Although the camel ride in the Sahara Desert and the Optional Botanical Tour were my top favorites, the experience would not have been the same without the welcoming gratitude of the people of Morocco. When people show gratitude and appreciation, we feel more relaxed and willing to enjoy the moment. The Moroccans made it easy for me to be relaxed and enjoy their country. I enjoyed every moment that I was in Morocco. The grateful smiles of the Moroccans brought joy to my heart. Their expression of gratitude has enriched my life, my heart was opened, and I will be forever grateful. I am especially grateful for our tour guide, Rasheed, because without his kindness and knowledge, the trip would not have been the same. My journal is full of notes from the plethora of information that Rasheed provided. In fact, while in Morocco and half way through my journey, I had to buy a new journal since I had filled my first journal. Rasheed is a top of the line tour guide. He has a wonderful sense of humor and thank goodness for that since dealing with 16 women had its challenges, but he handled them all with grace and humor. I am especially grateful that he was our tour guide. In addition, our bus driver and assistant, Mohommad and Mohommad were the best and also the top of the line. The trip would not have been the same without their patience and kindness. There is a saying that "a smile is worth a thousand words". It is definitely so very true and applies to Mohommad and Mohommad, Rasheed, and all the Moroccans that I encountered on this trip. Morocco has enhanced the quality of my life!!
Theresa C.Our Gate 1 Discovery Moroccan Allure tour was our first trip with Gate 1. We have done other land tours and they have been wonderful but this one was outstanding and more than we expected. Chaouqi, our tour manager, was the best we have ever had. He took special care to see that we had everything we needed to enjoy every day. He provided a wealth of information about Morocco and the people. He was patient and kind and a real pleasure to spend time with. Highlights of our tour included: lovely hotels, delicious meals, a camel ride with our tent overnight in the Sahara Desert, a Moroccan cooking class, beautiful garden tours with a soothing foot bath, seeing goats in trees, market shopping, etc.! We saw it all: the Atlas Mountains, deserts, forests, river gorges, big cities and small villages, as well as the seashore. A very comprehensive tour of the country, This was a wonderful tour for a great value. We will definitely travel with Gate 1 tours again soon. We highly recommend them.
Nancy G.Another great tour of Gate 1 again. We were very lucky to have a great tour manager, Hicham, in our tour. Hicham is very professional, knowledgeable, well organized, courteous, caring, and surprisingly humorous too. He delivered his commentary in a simple and interesting way but full of details. I felt I learned the whole history of Morocco in these 15 days. Great tour itinerary is important but without a great tour manager to guide us through it will be just an average tour. Morocco has changed a lot since the last time I was there. I now have a better understanding of Morocco in every aspect from Hicham's commentary. Hope I will get another good tour manager my next Gate 1 tour.
Helen C.Our Israel tour was the journey of a lifetime - on so many levels. And our brilliant guide, Gai, made all the difference. As always, the Gate 1 Discovery Tour itinerary was outstanding, as were all the hotels and restaurants. But this trip exceeded all our expectations. My husband and I learned more in 12 days about Biblical history and Israeli history, religion, heritage, and culture than we could have if we'd taken a masters course. Not a single day went by that I didn't find myself in tears - be it for sadness, joy, hope, enlightenment, or inspiration. Israel moved us in ways we never could have imagined and that was, in large part, a credit to Gai and his expert knowledge, engaging wit, and heartwarming passion for his country. THANK YOU, Gate 1 and Gai for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Lucille D.My trip to Greece was one of the best Gate 1 trips that I have ever taken in my 30 years of traveling. It takes a Tour Guide who has all the great qualities needed to excel...supreme knowledge of her country, culture, history, people, food, music, and more. Demetra is that Tour Guide. How fortunate that I had Demetra as my Gate 1 Tour Guide. Demetra's love for her country and people clearly showed, and thus, enveloped me as well. Also our Driver Plato was an amazing driver as he maneuvered our bus through narrow passages! Many Thanks Gate 1 for this beautiful and historical trip to Greece that was truly one of my best trips ever!
Kathleen S.Our Discovery trip to Jordan was fabulous, exceeding all expectations. We have never had a bad guide with Gate 1, but I have to say we had the best guide ever, Hazim, on this trip. He was absolutely superlative in communication, group management, and creating an atmosphere of trust, excitement, and learning among a cohesive group of travelers. Of course, the sites we visited were incredible and memorable. Each day was paced in a way that worked for everyone and accomplished a lot. The culinary highlight was a home-cooked meal at his mother's house. Yum!
Zita P.In case no one has yet sung the praises for our tour manager, Redouone, please be aware that we could not have asked for a better tour manager / leader. He was the best tour guide that we have had from all of the different trips that we have been on whether it be Gate 1, Trafalgar, Insight Tours. He was the best. His injection of information along the trip was appreciated & very informative but more than that, he is just a very warm & kind person. The trip was what was promised but not threatening in any way. Since our past travels have been in North America & Western Europe, Morocco might be considered out of our comfort zone, but it was not. The food & accommodations, although somewhat different from our regular experience, were always appreciated. The variety of accommodations enhanced the experience of our Morocco trip. The camel ride, of course, was a major highlight of the experience to Morocco.
Rosalind F.My husband, Rick and I had a wonderful time on our Jordan Discovery Tour. Our outstanding guide, Hazim, was the best travel guide we have had anywhere in the world! He was knowledgeable, interesting, kind and thoughtful, and gave attention to everyone on our tour. Hazim wanted us to immerse ourselves in the culture, history, and archaeological beauty of Jordan. When I first met Hazim, I told him that this tour was a Biblical Pilgrimage for me, and he discussed the spiritual importance of many of the sites with me, and our group in great detail throughout our tour. A special visit: meeting his family, son, and mom during a delicious lunch, and aunt and uncle during tea. And we met many relatives on our tour throughout the country. All of the sites: Biblical Baptismal site of Jesus at Bethany, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Jerash, Petra, Little Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman, the Red and Dead Sea were captivating, beautiful and amazing. We enjoyed the spectacular 5+ hotels, breakfast buffets, and various meals, teas, and coffee. We love Gate 1 tours, highly recommend them to friends, and look forward to booking another tour soon.
Jonell S.We recently returned from your 12-day Israel, Ancient and Modern Culture tour. It truly was the trip of a lifetime! Every bit of it was enjoyable and educational. Our guide, Gai, was exceptional. His friendly personality and wealth of knowledge were much appreciated. He paid attention to detail and was always prepared for the itinerary of the day. Our accommodations were great, and the food was outstanding! We appreciated the variety of sites and the information and historical details from Gai regarding each site. We also appreciate the size of the group for this type of trip. We will cherish our memories of this trip forever, and we have already recommended it and passed along information for booking to several friends. Thanks, Gate 1, for this wonderful experience!
Ronald S.We had a wonderful trip! It was our first Gate 1 trip. It was actually our first group tour, so we were somewhat hesitant, but we are now sold on small group Discovery tours! Our guide, Chaouqi, was outstanding! He was friendly, professional, attentive, very interesting and entertaining, and so kind and considerate of all his "family", as he referred to us travel companions. The hotels were very nice and very "Moroccan" with beautiful décor and gardens and pools. The food was delicious. The coach was very comfortable, with just the right amount of stops for refreshments and facilities. We saw so much of the beautiful landscapes from mountains to plains to desert to oasis to seaside. It was a great overview of the country, filled with historic sights, colorful old cities, varieties of villages we passed through, and crowded medinas. We would highly recommend this tour of Morocco. We are already thinking about our next Discovery tour!
Lee S.We had a fantastic trip and our tour guide Waleed is excellent. We recommend this tour to everyone who wants to check out Jordan!
Kim P.I just wanted to let you know that I am not sure that we could have had a better tour guide than Mohammed. He was amazing, so knowledgeable and acommodating. I am positive that he is the absolute best and am recommending him to my friends that are interested in travelling to Morocco. Also the coach driver and assistant always had a smile on their face and were always willing to help. Great trip, great tour guide. I highly recommend Gate 1, and this was my first tour.
Vicki B.Although I have had a number of amazing guides, I can say that Waleed is absolutely the best that I have ever encountered. Gate 1 needs to give this guy a raise or promotion or something super special because Waleed is without a doubt representing Gate 1 in stellar fashion. The Jordan itinerary is already worth whatever it takes to get there, 100%- such an amazing country! But with Waleed as tour director, travelers can expect to have a truly top-notch experience. Waleed ensures the added value where it is possible to achieve more than an enjoyable vacation in an interesting location; seriously, after being on tour with Waleed I felt I had touched the authentic heart of Jordan. I have so much respect for the people of Jordan as a whole. Their bravery in the face of economic hardship and personal tragedy both breaks my heart and fills me with so much admiration; yes, and gratefulness for the hope they give me for a better world. Jordanians are some of the kindest, most open-hearted, jolly, goofy, people I have ever met. I see grief in their eyes, but they treat each other and foreigners with gentleness and respect. Go to Jordan! You will love it! You will be blown away by the people's incredible level of hospitality. And if you're especially lucky, you will have Waleed as your Gate 1 representative. I'd also like to say that I had some shocking and major disappointments with the US-side of Gate 1 and hope anyone reading this never receives the inexplicably reluctant and rude "help" from Gate1's customer service (please consider not booking your flights through Gate1). The Jordanian side of the whole Gate 1 operation was unceasingly impressive and wonderful. I especially appreciate the driver Muhammed who provided airport transport as well as Mohanned and Abu Ali, Gate1 airport representatives. The country of Jordan is now forever in my heart.
Natasha V.Small group - lots of room on the bus, lots of places could accommodate us vs. a large group. We went to small and beautiful towns throughout Greece - places that were not overrun by tourists - places that most people have not heard of. Loved the Edessa Waterfalls where we could walk behind the water fall. Loved the Meteora Monasteries (before going there - I was so - so as to it being on the itinerary but once we got there - it was a highlight. Enjoyed the boat ride to Bourtzi. Of course the Acropolis is stunning - our guide got us there early in the a.m. to miss the crowds. The restaurants had great food, some had amazing views like one in Delphi where we overlooked a beautiful valley, and another in Kalambaka at the base of Meteora rocks Our hotels were lovely. Our tour guide was AMAZING! Her name was Maria. She had SO much knowledge of archeology, Greek history, Greek mythology, and she connected all the dots. She enriched our trip immensely.
Patricia S.I am usually an independent traveler and going on a tour is never my first choice. This GATE 1 tour in Morocco changed my opinion on that. This was a wonderful trip. And I think that our Tour Manager, Hicham, made all the difference in the world. I arrived two days earlier to Morocco. I arranged our transfer through Gate 1. When I met with the person in charge of the transfers, he put Hicham on the phone. Hicham introduced himself, and gave me his phone number, just in case anything was needed. He was following up even before our official start of the tour. I felt at ease, and very safe, knowing that in a country with a different culture than mine where I didn't even speak the language, there is someone that I could call, and that was making sure that I was fine. He was always just a WhatsApp message away! That set the bar very high from the start. The tour was great, I learned a lot from Hicham's explanations. I asked many questions, and all where answered. The local guides - In Volubilis, Fez, Erfoud and Essaouira - were wonderful and so knowledgeable. I felt as if the information provided was coming from a history teacher instead a tour guide. Even the days where we spent lots of time in the bus, included good information, enough stops and even we watched the movie Casablanca on our way to Casablanca! The two weeks of the tour went by very fast. Hicham was always available to support us with any question, or even help with any reservation. He made sure that we all were fine. He treated us like family. I need to also mention that the bus driver and the helper, were so nice, always smiling and very helpful. I hope all other destinations that are offered by Gate 1 have the same level of quality and dedication that I had in Morocco. The Bar is certainly set very high.
Rosie V.