E-mail a friendShip: Clipper Adventurer
Itinerary: From Senegal to Spain: Cape Verde, Canary Islands, Morocco, Gibraltar
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cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Day 1 : | Dakar / Embark Clipper Adventurer |
|---|---|
| Day 2 : | Dakar |
| Day 3 : | At Sea |
| Day 4 : | Praia, São Tiago, Cape Verde Islands / Tarrafal |
| Day 5 : | Mindelo, São Vicente |
| Days 6-7 : | Cruising the Atlantic Ocean |
| Day 8 : | Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Day 9 : | Arrecife, Lanzarote |
| Day 10 : | Agadir, Morocco / Taroudant |
| Days 10-11 : | Optional Two-Day Excursion to Marrakech |
| Day 11 : | Casablanca |
| Day 12 : | Gibraltar, United Kingdom |
| Day 13 : | Malaga, Spain / Disembark Clipper Adventurer |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| Lower Deck Twin - porthole | Lower Deck Twin - porthole | Main Deck Twin - porthole | Main Deck Twin - window | Superior | Deluxe | Suite | Owner Suite | ||
| 13 | Apr 1, 2009 | $8,980 | $9,480 | $9,980 | $10,480 | $10,980 | $11,680 | $14,980 | $15,980 |
| Destinations : Africa, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Europe, Gibraltar, Morocco, Senegal, Spain Activities : Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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Our North Africa expedition cruise begins in Dakar, Senegal’s lively and eclectic capital, followed by a moving visit to the World Heritage Site of Gorée Island, the notorious former slave-trading center. Northward lie the unique Cape Verde Islands, a tapestry of dramatic terrain and picturesque villages. The fantastic volcanic landscapes of the Canary Islands are contrasted with Morocco’s magical cities of Casablanca and Marrakech. We explore the caves and viewpoints of Gibraltar before concluding our adventure in the port of Malaga, Spain. Begin your travel adventure with an extension to exotic Mali and fabled Timbuktu or plan to end your journey with an optional extension showcasing Andalusian villages and the Alhambra.
Day 1 : Dakar / Embark Clipper Adventurer
Arrive in Dakar, Africa’s westernmost city, in the early morning and transfer to the port to embark the Clipper Adventurer. The morning is at leisure. After lunch onboard an after-noon tour of Dakar offers an up-close look at the highlights of this energetic, eclectic, and cosmopolitan capital city including the stunning Great Mosque, handsome French colonial buildings, and President’s Palace. We also visit the picturesque Kermel Market, overflowing with fruits and flowers, before setting off for the charming medina. In the fishing village of Soumbédioune we witness the fine craftsmanship of pirogues and traditional handicrafts. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 2 : Dakar
After breakfast birders head out on a full day search for the treasure trove of West Africa’s avifauna, while others take a ferry to infamous Gorée Island, a World Heritage Site. From the 15th – 19th centuries Gorée was a slave-trading center, and we witness the contrasts between the dungeon-like slave quarters and the elegant colonial mansions of the slave traders. We explore the moving 18th-century House of Slaves, the Women’s Museum, and the fortified Le Castel, offering splendid views before returning to the ship for lunch and the afternoon at leisure. The captain hosts our welcome dinner this evening.
Day 3 : At Sea
As we cruise westward today to the Cape Verde Islands our lecturers offer natural history and cultural perspectives on these starkly beautiful islands settled by the Portuguese conquistadors in the 15th century. Independence was as recent as 1975. It was also here that Charles Darwin began his studies in natural history. Those on deck may spot migratory birds winging their way towards northern breeding grounds.
Day 4 : Praia, São Tiago, Cape Verde Islands / Tarrafal
São Tiago, the largest of the Cape Verde Islands, is crowned by Antonia Peak which rises 4,500 feet above fertile farmlands. Several excursion options include a full-day overland exploration of the island or a full-day birding excursion to search for the Cape Verde petrel, cream-colored courser, and European golden plover. Others will explore the relaxed capital city of Praia with its colonial remnants, the fortress of São Filipe, local market, and museum; during lunch onboard, the ship repositions to Tarrafal. From here, those onboard may choose between two afternoon options. A southbound tour through green valleys and mountains brings us to tiny villages, the Upper Botanical Gardens and horticultural institute, and the village of Assomada. Or, take a guided walk through seaside Tarrafal, with its central market and ancient prison-turned-museum. All groups return to the ship for dinner.
Day 5 : Mindelo, São Vicente
Birders head out this morning from Mindelo, while the rest of the group visits Fortim, the site of an old fort, with spectacular views. In the lovely town we see the Governor’s Palace, court house, local market, and Amilcar Cabral Square, flanked by brightly painted colonial Portuguese houses. We also enjoy the stunning views from the top of Mt. Verde before returning to the ship for lunch.
Days 6-7 : Cruising the Atlantic Ocean
As we sail toward the Canary Islands, watch for pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. Our lecturers prepare us for the Canary Islands, once a steppingstone in the era of exploration.
Day 8 : Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
An early morning arrival in the capital of Tenerife gives us the opportunity to choose a visit to either the northern or southern end of the island. Northern island highlights include small charming villages, dramatic miradors (viewpoints), and the university town of La Laguna. This World Heritage Site, designated for being the first, non-fortified Spanish colonial town, is a showcase of superb examples of 16th – 18th-century architecture, a layout that became the model for many American colonial towns.
Our southern tour includes the spectacular Botanical Gardens and a walk through the town of La Orotava. At Teide National Park, designated a World Heritage Site in 2007, we view the twisted volcanic formations of basalt and obsidian surrounding Spain’s highest peak. After lunch at El Parador, enjoy a gentle or a more active hike to view the Roques de Garcia—bizarrely eroded rocks set in ochre plains and rivers of lava at the mountain’s base. Birders head off to look for many of the 200 species that populate the varied habitat.
Day 9 : Arrecife, Lanzarote
Lanzarote, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a volcanic island with some 300 cinder cones pock-marking its rugged landscape. This morning we have a choice of two tours. Our north-bound option features a drive to the charming “white village” and ancient capital, Teguise. A highlight is the Jameos del Agua, a spectacular lava-tube cave transformed by famed local artist César Manrique into a delightful series of pools, gardens, and a natural amphitheater.
Or, you may choose to explore Timanfaya National Park and its stunning volcanic landscape, a legacy of the 1824 eruption. By coach, on dromedary, and on foot watch for some of the 177 species of rare plants, many of them unique to the Canaries. On the nearby coast, we view natural geologic formations where water rushes dramatically into a sea-eroded volcanic cave at Los Hervideros. Birders keep a keen eye out for Cory’s shearwater, Eleanora’s falcon, and other species. In the afternoon we set sail for Morocco.
Day 10 : Agadir, Morocco / Taroudant
After breakfast we set off on a drive from Agadir to the inland town of Taroudant, often called “little Marrakech,” to walk the fortress ramparts and through the central plaza. The colorful Berber Market offers a fascinating array of spices and quality handicrafts, while the artisan souk displays silverwork, leather goods, and carpets. We enjoy lunch here before returning to Agadir in the afternoon.
Days 10-11 : Optional Two-Day Excursion to Marrakech
Join us for a two-day optional overnight excursion to magical Marrakech. From Agadir, we drive inland through the stunning scenery of the desert and Atlas Mountains. We arrive in the rose-red city of Marrakech, set between the old Berber trade routes and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Over the next two days birders set off to search for the more than 100 species found here. Among them is one of the planet’s rarest birds, the bald ibis—only 200 are known to remain. The rest of the group explores sites such as the opulent 19th-century Bahia Palace and the medina—a World Heritage Site—along with the Koutoubia Mosque.
We visit the imperial Saadian tombs and Djemaa El Fna Square, an energetic crossroads of magicians, acrobats, and snake charmers. In the evening enjoy a dinner of Moroccan specialties. Overnight in our Marrakech hotel.
The following day we explore an enchanting local garden in the heart of this desert city, and visit the Palmeraie, a vast oasis planted with more than 100,000 date palms. We drive through the Chaouia Plain, the “breadbasket of Morocco,” on our way to Casablanca where we rejoin our group on board the ship in time for dinner.
Day 11 : Casablanca
This afternoon we dock in lovely Casablanca whose modern quarters, defined by broad palm tree-lined boulevards, are juxtaposed with the city’s elegant and historic civic buildings. Many of these were designed in the 1930s in the local Mauresque architectural style—a decorative blend of traditional Moroccan, French colonial, and Art Deco motifs. We begin our exploration with an excursion to the colorful Central Market, followed by a guided interior tour of the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest religious structure in the world (after Mecca). Its 700-foot-high minaret is visible for miles.
Continuing on, we pass through the elegant Corniche district which spreads along the Atlantic coast; the Anfa Quarters, where Roosevelt met with Churchill during World War II; the impressive Law Courts; and the Habbous Quarters, built by the French in the early 20th century. We return to the ship for dinner and sail towards Gibraltar.
Day 12 : Gibraltar, United Kingdom
The 1,400-foot Rock of Gibraltar soars from the sea as we sail through the strategic Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Atlantic and Mediterranean. We explore this tiny British outpost, including the labyrinthine St. Michael’s cave, and visit Europa Point for superb views across the strait to the northern coast of Morocco. Naturalists search for the griffon vulture, Barbary partridge, and the indigenous, colorful wildflower known as the Gibraltar candytuft. Uphill, we meet the Barbary apes, a colony of introduced macaques that are the photogenic icons of The Rock.
Day 13 : Malaga, Spain / Disembark Clipper Adventurer
Early this morning disembark the Clipper Adventurer and transfer to the airport for your independent flight homeward. Or continue to Andalusia on our post-voyage extension.
Pre-Voyage Extension: Mystical Mali
Our pre-voyage extension offers an in-depth look into Mali’s cultures and customs, beginning with an exploration of Timbuktu. A highlight is our foray to an encampment of the nomadic Tuareg tribe where legendary warriors—the blue men of the desert—entertain us with dances, folklore, and camel rides into the desert sands. A luxury banquet tent welcomes us, and we enjoy a traditional lunch surrounded by towering red dunes.
The small adobe city of Djenné claims to be the oldest city in West Africa. Its labyrinth of alleys lined with mud houses capped with thatched roofs, ornate window shutters, and doors decorated with paint and metal objects give the town a unique, otherworldly and timeless charm. Its centerpiece, the famous red mud Mosque, is believed to be the largest mud building in the world. This is an outstanding example of Sudanese architecture and provides a wonderful backdrop to the bustle of townsfolk and traders who crowd the surrounding plaza and narrow streets. In the evening we enjoy a sundowner cruise through this port crowded with traders who have journeyed hundreds of miles across the vast and shifting sands of the Sahara.
We spend a full day visiting the celebrated Dogon Country with its picturesque mud villages, caves, and cliffside dwellings. The scenery here has a breadth and scale rarely seen elsewhere, with sweeping escarpments, towering cliffs, and dark brooding canyons. We have the opportunity to appreciate the artistic expression of the Dogon people in their carvings, masks, and ritual figures, and we’ll enjoy a fascinating masked dance performance.
Rates: $3,980 per person, double occupancy; $4,460 per person, single
Post-Voyage Extension: Andalusia: Marbella, Granada with The Alhambra, and Ronda
April 13 – 16, 2009
xplore lovely Andalusia: Granada, Ronda, and Marbella, each with its own unique Moorish characteristics that span the centuries. In Granada, enjoy a comprehensive tour of the splendid Alhambra followed by an exploration of the city’s ancient neighborhoods. Mijas, a whitewashed stone village, is a maze of steep cobblestone lanes and stunning Mediterranean vistas while Ronda, home to both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles for many years, perches atop a deep gorge in a superb mountainous setting. Enjoy a spectacular train ride on the way to magical Marbella whose winding streets spill into flower-bedecked plazas. Here we enjoy a grand finale paella contest, complete with the assistance of local chefs.
Rates: $2,580 per person, double occupancy; $3,060 per person, single occupancy
- Additional fuel surcharge of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures between Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Clipper Adventurer
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Library
Adventurer is a handsome expedition vessel reminiscent of the days of the great ocean liners, with lots of varnished wood and brass. She sails on a wide variety of cruises — in Europe, the Canadian Arctic, the U.S., South America, and Antarctica.
Built in 1975 as the Alla Tarasova in the former Yugoslavia, the 122-passenger M/S Adventurer underwent a $13-million conversion in 1998 in Scandinavia. The new features include: 61 comfortable, all-outside cabins, with lower beds, private bathroom facilities, and individual temperature controls to offer the most comfortable Antarctica tours possible. The window-lined dining room seats all passengers at leisurely single seatings, where superb American and Continental cuisine is served by the friendly staff. There are two lounges — the Main Lounge and Bar on Promenade Deck, seating 130 passengers; and the Clipper Club, also on Promenade Deck, seating 45 passengers. There’s also a library/card room, a small workout room, a gift shop, and a hair salon.
Unique to the Adventurer is a spacious, covered promenade with a beautiful wooden deck (varnished Oregon pine) where passengers can view the seascapes during their Antarctica travels. There’s also plenty of open deck space on the Boat Deck and Sun Deck, while an observation platform located forward below the Bridge is ideal for wildlife viewing.
The Adventurer is an oceangoing vessel equipped with an ice-strengthened hull (A-1 ice class) ideally suited for cruises in such remote environments that Antarctica tours can offer, but supremely comfortable anywhere she sails. A fleet of Zodiac landing craft provides access to areas where no infrastructure exists. The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communication equipment including telephone, fax, and e-mail.
The Captain and his officers maintain an open bridge to give passengers an opportunity to observe and ask questions. An experienced cruise staff, physician, and on board lecturers accompany all voyages to enhance the passengers’ enjoyment of the places visited.
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Lower Deck Twin - porthole A Deck - Outside Double Cabin with one porthole. 125 sq. ft. |
Lower Deck Twin - portholeA Deck - Outside Double Cabin with one porthole. 125 sq. ft. |
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Main Deck Twin - porthole Main Deck - Outside Double Cabin with one porthole. 125 sq. ft. |
Main Deck Twin - windowMain Deck - Outside Double Cabin with a window. 125 sq. ft. |
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Superior Promenade Deck - Outside Double Cabin with a window. |
DeluxePromenade Deck and Boat Decks - Outside Double Cabin with a window. 160 sq. ft |
SuiteBoat Deck - Outside suites with separate sitting area |
Owner Suite Boat Deck - Outside suite with separate sitting area |
