Spain & Morocco 17 Days

🌅 Morning at Santa Catarina Market

In the morning, we head to the stalls of Santa Catarina Market, a huge trove of local produce beneath a colourful, undulating roof. Hang out with the locals as they select the best ingredients for their big weekend family meals.

🏛️ Architectural Highlights

Barcelona is famous for its architecture, from the impressive gothic main cathedral to houses, concert halls, palaces, and basilicas in the unique Catalan Modernista style. The master of this movement was Antonio Gaudi, whose eccentric creations are scattered across the city.

Must-See Gaudi Sites:

• La Sagrada Familia – Gaudi’s modern cathedral and masterpiece, still under construction today
• Gaudi House Museum inside Parc Guell – home to colourful sculptures, including a famous mosaic-covered bench overlooking the city
• Explore the beauty of Gaudi Park

🌇 Free Time

The remainder of the late afternoon and evening is at leisure.

🚄 Train to Madrid

Today take the train to Madrid (approximately 2.5 hours). On arrival, enjoy a picnic lunch in Madrid, Spain’s central capital, known for its elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks.

🎨 Art & Culture

Madrid is renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including:

• Prado Museum – works by Goya, Velázquez, and other Spanish masters
• The historic Plaza Mayor – a beautiful portico-lined square
• The baroque Royal Palace and Armoury – displaying historic weaponry

🌇 Free Afternoon

Enjoy your free afternoon exploring Madrid’s world-class restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. Sports fans: if it’s match day, don a white t-shirt and head to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to watch Real Madrid in action.

🌙 Nightlife

In the evening, head out to Chueca, Plaza Dos de Mayo, or Plaza Santa Ana, where the pulse of the city leads you from bar to bar for a memorable night out.

Overnight in Madrid.

🎨 Discovering Madrid

Today we spend most of the day discovering Madrid. We start with a walk along the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk), exploring the expansive history of Western art.

Highlights include:

• Modern Spanish masters, including Picasso and Dali, in the Museo Reina Sofia’s 20th-century collection
• A visit to San Miguel Market to view fabulous local delicacies – perhaps enjoy a casual lunch and superb coffee

📚 Las Letras Quarter (Literary Quarter)

Take a casual stroll through the narrow streets of the Las Letras Quarter. The neighbourhood features pedestrian streets, charming squares like Plaza de Santa Ana, and homes of Spanish literary legends such as Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Góngora, and Cervantes. Look out for cobblestone inscriptions with excerpts from their works.

This area offers a rich mix of:

• Traditional shops (cobblers, silversmiths, lute-makers)
• Modern avant-garde venues
• Numerous restaurants and pavement cafés to enjoy tapas and local gastronomy

🚗 City Drive

A scenic drive by Madrid’s famous monuments and soccer stadium wraps up the day before enjoying an evening at leisure.

🚍 Transfer to Granada

This morning you will be transferred to Granada – a 4-hour leisurely drive by coach.

Overnight in Granada.

🏘️ Explore Granada

Take a walk around the old Arab quarter of the Albaicin, a labyrinth of crooked alleys, fountains, plazas, and whitewashed houses. Visit the Alcaiceria (old silk market area) and browse craftworks such as ceramics, marquetry, and leather goods.

If you're feeling energetic, you can:

• Climb to the Mirador de San Nicolas for sunset views over the famous Alhambra
• Visit the historic Renaissance Catedral and Capilla Real
• Explore the city's extensive Science Park

Granada invites you to put away your guidebook and follow your intuition. Roam the narrow streets of Albaicin and the white-walled gardens of the Realejo Quarter to uncover hidden gems.

💃 Evening Option

In the evening, perhaps visit a small flamenco tavern to experience how the art form here differs from Seville’s version.

Optional excursion: Attend a local flamenco show with dinner, uniquely performed in an intimate cave setting.

🏰 Visit to Alhambra Palace

This morning, we will visit Granada’s impressive Alhambra Palace, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Discover this 11th-century marvel with its red fortress towers, sumptuous palace decor, varied architectural styles, and magnificent gardens.

An entrance ticket is included, granting access to the Nasrid Palace and the Gardens. Audio guides in multiple languages are available on the day for EUR 4.

The Alhambra was first built by the Moors as a fortress during the Muslim rule of Spain. Walking through the luxurious rooms and gardens offers a glimpse of the decadent lifestyle of the Moorish kings.

The Alhambra is made up of three parts:

• Alcazaba – the 11th-century Muslim wing with spectacular tower views
• Palacio Nazaries – the heart of the complex
• Generalife – the summer palace of the sultans

🌇 Afternoon

The afternoon is at leisure.

🚗 Transfer to Seville

This morning, proceed to Seville to discover this amazing city.

⛪ Highlights:

• Visit the world’s largest Gothic cathedral and climb the adjoining Moorish tower, La Giralda, for panoramic city views (be prepared for a wait!)
• Explore the magnificent Alcazar, a complex of palaces used by Moorish and Christian rulers, featuring fragrant gardens and Moorish/Mudejar architecture

🎭 Optional Cultural Stops:

• Seville’s Museum of Fine Arts
• Archaeological Museum
• Real Maestranza Bullring – insight into Spain’s bullfighting tradition

🍴 Tapas Experience

As Seville is the tapas capital of Spain, be sure to sample some tasty treats in one of the city’s many tapas bars.

Overnight in Seville.

🌅 Morning at Leisure

This morning is at leisure to explore Seville on your own.

🚢 Transfer to Tangier

At an appointed time, you will be transferred to Tarifa Port for your ferry to Tangier.

Depart from Tarifa by ferry and arrive in Tangier. Upon arrival at Tangier Port, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Tangier.

🍽️ Breakfast & Tangier City Tour

Breakfast in the hotel. Enjoy the city tour of Tangier.

Highlights include:

• The old town, locally called The Medina
• American Legation
• Dar El Oued Makhazen Kasbah
• Mendoubia Gardens
• The Grand and Petit Socco

Transfer to Cape Spartel, the meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Spartel was known to the Greeks and Romans as the “Cape of the Vines.” Visit the Cave of Hercules, Africa’s most north-westerly promontory, famous for its sea window shaped like a map of Africa.

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

🚗 Transfer to Chefchaouen

Transfer to Chefchaouen, “the Blue City,” one of Morocco’s most charming towns.

Chefchaouen City Tour:

• Visit the Kasbah of Chefchaouen, built in the early 18th century by Moulay Ismail (1645–1727)
• Stop at Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the cobbled main square, home to the striking 15th-century Grand Mosque

Overnight in Chefchaouen.

🚗 Transfer to Meknes

This morning, continue to Meknes, which was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727) before the capital was relocated to Marrakesh.

🏛️ Meknes City Tour

The city tour of Meknes includes:

• The massive Bab El Mansour gate
• Harri Souani stables
• The medina ramparts
• The entrance to the Royal Palace

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

🏛️ Visit Volubilis

Transfer to the UNESCO-sponsored Roman ruins in Volubilis, a Berber and Roman city partly excavated by UNESCO. Volubilis was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania and developed from the 3rd century BC onward as an Amazigh and proto-Carthaginian city. From the 1st century AD, it grew rapidly under Roman rule.

➡️ Transfer to Fes

After the visit, you will be transferred to Fes.

Overnight in Fes.

🍽️ Breakfast & Fes City Tour

This morning, enjoy a guided city tour of Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco.

Highlights include:

• Visit the entrance of the largest royal palace in Morocco, located in the center of the Fes El-Jedid area, known for its high walls and beautifully decorated bronze doors that shine like gold
• Explore the old Medina (Fes el Bali), a medieval center unchanged for centuries, with narrow alleys full of merchants and craftsmen selling dates, fish, spices, copper urns, musical instruments, and more
• Visit the leather tannery, the oldest in the world, dating back at least nine centuries

To complete your city tour:

• Visit Jamaa Al-Karaouine, the ancient mosque and university
• Stop at a Medersa (Koranic school)

🍽️ Breakfast & Transfer to the Sahara

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the heart of the Sahara Desert, journeying through the Middle Atlas Mountains.

🌲 Stop in Ifrane

Stop first in Ifrane, a charming town and ski resort famous for its Alpine climate, European-style houses, and its 1,665 meters (5,460 ft) elevation. Ifrane experiences snow in winter and a cool climate in summer. Fun facts:

• Holds Africa’s lowest recorded temperature: -24°C (1935)
• Home to animals like the Barbary Macaque and native trees like Atlas cedar and Scrub oak

🏞️ Arrive in Midelt

Arrive at Midelt, a Berber town in the high plains between the Middle Atlas and High Atlas ranges. Midelt is a key city for mining several minerals.

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

➡️ Journey to Merzouga

Transfer through many Amazigh (Berber) villages and along the Ziz Valley to Erfoud. Continue to Merzouga, the heart of the desert.

🐪 Desert Experience

Enjoy a sunset camel ride to your charming Desert Camp.

🍽️ Dinner: Dinner and overnight in Merzouga.

🍽️ Breakfast & Desert Activities

Breakfast in the desert camp. Enjoy an optional 4×4 Jeep tour of the desert.

🚗 Highlights:

• Stop at El Khamlia village
• Visit nomad families and share a cup of mint tea

➡️ Transfer to Tinghir

Late in the morning, drive to Tinghir via Rissani and Tinjdad. Tinghir is a gorgeous 40 km oasis boasting one of the largest palm groves in the country.

🧗 Todra Gorge

Stop at the famous Todra Gorge, a 300m wall carved deep into the High Atlas Mountains. Notable facts:

• Popular among rock climbers, with over 150 routes rated French Grade 5+ to 8
• Featured on the premiere of the U.S. reality show Expedition Impossible

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

➡️ Drive to Dades

Leave Tinghir heading to Dades. The scenic drive winds through stunning desert landscapes and villages, with expansive views of the Jebel Sarhro lunar-scape. Dades is known as the Valley of Figs and featured prominently in a 2012 advertisement for the Cadillac CTS.

🍽️ Dinner: Dinner and overnight in Dades.

🍽️ Breakfast & Transfer

Breakfast in the hotel. After visiting Dades, transfer to Ouarzazate. The drive is spectacular, with hundreds of Kasbahs lining the route.

🌹 Stop at Kelaat M’Gouna

Stop first at Kelaat M’Gouna, a big town famous for cultivating roses. Expect to find many fine, rose-infused products there.

🏰 Explore Ouarzazate

• Visit Taourirt Kasbah, considered one of the most beautiful kasbahs in Morocco
• Visit the film studios where famous desert landscapes were and are still being filmed

🏯 Ait Ben Haddou

Leave Ouarzazate for the spectacular fortress of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. This village is a prime example of earthen clay architecture and has appeared in films such as:

• The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
• Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
• The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
• Gladiator (2000)
• Son of God (2014)

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

➡️ Cross to Marrakech

Cross the High Atlas Mountains along the Tizi-n-Tichka pass to reach Marrakech.

Overnight in Marrakech.

🏙️ Marrakech City Tour

This morning, enjoy a guided city tour of Marrakech.

Highlights include:

• Koutoubia Mosque – the largest mosque in Marrakech and one of the oldest in the world. Its 77-metre (253 ft) minaret, with a spire and orbs, was completed under Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184–1199) and inspired the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat.
• Jemaa el Fna Square – a world-famous square buzzing with food stalls, snake charmers, local musicians, fortune-tellers, and more. Truly the vibrant heart of old Marrakesh.
• Bahia Palace
• Saadian Tombs – dating back to Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578–1603). Discovered in 1917 and restored by the Beaux-Arts service, the mausoleum contains about sixty interments from the Saadi Dynasty.

🚗 Transfer to Rabat

Transfer to Rabat, the capital of Morocco and one of its Imperial Cities.

🏛️ Rabat City Tour

• Kasbah of the Oudayas – constructed during the Almohads dynasty (12th century)
• Mohammed V Mausoleum – houses the tombs of the current king’s father and grandfather
• Hassan Tower – a minaret built in 1195 by the Almohads dynasty

🚗 Transfer to Casablanca

Transfer to Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco and its largest city.

🍴 Optional: Lunch at a local restaurant.

🕌 Casablanca Orientation Tour

• Hassan II Mosque – the largest mosque in Morocco and the 7th largest in the world
• Afternoon promenade at Ain Diab Corniche, one of the city’s most fashionable districts

Overnight in Casablanca.