Study Abroad in Granada: Travel
3-day London stopover (Included in fee)
Every semester begins with a 3-day stopover in London en route to Spain. Students have the opportunity to visit London, recover from jet-lag and meet and travel with fellow AIFS students to campus. Includes accommodations, breakfast, travel, entrance fees and sightseeing as indicated. Lunch and dinner are not included. Dates and itinerary are subject to change.
Sunday, August 26 or Friday, January 4 Morning arrival in London where the flight will be met by an AIFS representative. Transfer by bus to a centrally located hotel. Rest of the day free for rest and relaxation. Overnight in London.
Monday, August 27 or Saturday, January 5 Morning sightseeing with a professional guide who will point out some of London's most famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. Afternoon and evening free. Overnight in London.
Tuesday, August 28 or Sunday, January 6 Transfer to airport for flight to Malaga. Transfer to Granada.
4-day visit to Madrid and Castile (Included in fee)
After orientation, students depart for Castile, in the heart of Spain.The trip is accompanied by a guide and an AIFS staff member and includes visits to Madrid, Toledo and Segovia. Students receive an academic and cultural perspective on the sights. The itinerary is subject to minor changes, but all cities described below are visited.
Students are provided with accommodations, breakfast and most lunches, transportation and entrances to museums and monuments.
Saturday, September 29 or Wednesday, January 30 Departure by bus from Granada to Madrid. Walking tour of the city center including the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Paseo de la Castellana. Overnight in Madrid.
Sunday, September 30 or Thursday, January 31 Morning sightseeing tour of Madrid and of the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. Afternoon free. Overnight in Madrid.
Monday, October 1 or Friday, February 1 Morning drive into the Spanish countryside to El Escorial, the 16th century complex of Philip II which includes a palace, a monastery, a seminary, a library and the burial place of the Kings of Spain. Continue on to Segovia to see its fortress castle, the Alcazar and the 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct. Overnight in Madrid.
Tuesday, October 2 or Saturday, February 2 Morning departure to the artistic town of Toledo to visit the 13th century cathedral, the church of Santo Tomé to see a masterpiece by El Greco and Santa Maria la Blanca, a beautiful old synagogue with walls and ceiling of Mudejar architecture at its finest. There will also be time to visit ceramic and pottery shops before returning to Granada.
Optional 4-day tour to Morocco ($395)
Each semester, the Resident Director arranges an optional trip to Northern Morocco during a long weekend. There is a $395 student contribution fee, which includes accommodations, breakfast, most lunches and dinner, all transportation by bus and ferry and sightseeing as indicated. Entrance costs to monuments and some lunches are not included.
Students must sign up and pay in the U.S. prior to departure. Once paid for in the U.S., the optional excursions are non-refundable. If a minimum enrollment of 25 is not met, the tour may be canceled.
Thursday, December 6th or Thursday, May 1st Ferry to Ceuta, Casablanca. Departure from Granada (early morning) to Algeciras. Fast ferry (35-40 minute trip) from Algeciras to Ceuta (Spanish territory on the north coast of Africa). After crossing the Moroccan boarder, short bus ride to the city of Casablanca. Dinner and night in a 4 star hotel.
Friday, December 7th or Friday, May 2nd Casablanca y Marrakech. Breakfast in hotel. Tour of Casablanca – panoramic of the industrial city including visit of the Hassan II mosque (entrance not included – optional). Free time for lunch. Continue on to Marrakech. Accomodation in a 4 star hotel. At night, optional dinner-show at Fantasia Chez Ali, dinner served inside “jaimas” and brightened up by Moroccan folklore. The dinner will end with fireworks that will light up the magic city of Marrakech.
Saturday, December 8th or Saturday, May 3rd Marrakech, Rabat. Breakfast in hotel. Monumental and historic visit of the southern capital, Marrakech, also called the “red city,” surrounded by 10,000 palm trees . Visit will include: outside of the Koutubia mosque (XII C.), the Saadiana’s tombs and the Bahia Palace and crossing the famous Plaza Jamad El Fna we will get to the Medina (or ancient city) and the Zocos. Lunch and afternoon bus ride to Rabat. Dinner and night in a 4 star hotel.
Sunday, December 9th or Sunday, May 4th Rabat and return to Granada. Breakfast and morning visit of Rabat, capital city of Alaouita kingdom. Visit will include: sightseeing of the city and Royal Palace, the Oudayas’ Kasbah and Mohamed V mausoleum. Lunch in a restaurant before departure. Return to Ceuta and afternoon ferry to Algeciras. Late evening return to Granada by bus.
