19 Day Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Welcome to Spain! After check-in at your hotel, enjoy some free time to relax and meet your fellow travellers.

Check-in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion. No transfers provided for land-only bookings.

This impressive city is ours to explore today! Barcelona is a stunning metropolis right on the Mediterranean Sea. This morning we will begin an informative walking tour with a local expert. We’ll visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages. After our guided tour, enjoy some free time to explore the city on your own or take part in one of today's optional activities.

Today we say farewell to Barcelona as we travel south along the spectacular Mediterranean coast. This drive would not be the same without a special stop at Peñiscola, a beautiful walled town situated on the shores of the sparkling sea. Accompanied by our guide, we discovering the fishing port, the seaside castle and the lovely beach. Afterwards, you may wish to savour some lunch at one of the local restaurants. Following this we will continue our drive towards Valencia, the third largest Spanish city. Known for being the Spanish gateway to the Mediterranean, with a big port, beautiful beaches, restaurants and a beach promenade along the waterfront. The old town is set back from the seafront through, and in the centre you will find the beautiful monuments and historical buildings. Busy markets, clean beaches, spectacular mountains and a fascinating mix of old town and new town makes up the best of Valencia.

After breakfast we leave the city of Valencia and continue south down the Mediterranean coast. We will be stopping for a tour in the active port city of Alicante, whose history goes back over 7000 years. Here you can enjoy some free time to stroll around this pleasant city by the sea. Be sure to get some lunch before we continue on our way to the coastal Murcia Region in southeastern Spain. Here we will visit Caravaca de la Cruz, a major pilgrimage site and considered by the Catholic Church to be one of the 5 holy cities. Its castle and basilica, located at the top of the old town, holds a relic of Christ’s Cross. We include a ride up to the historic area on the tourist train. After an enlightening visit here we carry on along an attractive scenic road to the region of Andalusia where we will end our journey at the city of Granada.

Today we enjoy a full day in Granada, a gorgeous city at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains known for its grand examples of medieval architecture. The highlight for today will be a guided tour of the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife Gardens built in Arab times. Alhambra is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the inspiration for many songs and stories. The colour of its buildings set against the surrounding woods has been described by poets as “a pearl set in emeralds”. Enjoy a local lunch (own expense) before taking off on your own to explore the magnificent Granada Cathedral and its Royal Chapel containing the sepulchre of the Catholic Kings. In your free time, continue exploring the city.

Note: in the Alhambra complex, the Nazari palaces allow a limited number of people in at a time. Sometimes your visit may be in the afternoon, depending on the timetables in which we are allowed in.

Today we depart Granada and cross the delightful Costa del Sol region, literally “Coast of the Sun”. Upon arrival in the port city of Tarifa we board a modern ferry to cross the Straits of Gibraltar. Enjoy a pleasurable journey sailing towards Africa as Spain disappears upon the horizon. Witness breathtaking landscapes as we approach Morocco and it’s dazzling coastline. We begin our tour of this incredible North African country in Asilah, a small picturesque walled city on the shores of the Atlantic. This ancient port was once a known base for pirates. Today the settlement is full of life. Perhaps enjoy a delicious local lunch here before we continue on to the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Upon arrival in Rabat we will enjoy a welcome meeting with our Moroccan tour guide.

This morning we will embark on a scenic tour of Rabat. Resting along the shores of the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic Ocean, this phenomenal city is known for beautiful landmarks speaking to its Islamic and French-colonial heritage. Our guided tour will bring us to the immense Royal Palace, the official residence of the king of Morocco. From here we will visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, considered a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty architecture. We end our tour at the mighty Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the 12th century. At midday, we depart for the romantic coastal city of Casablanca where we’ll enjoy another brief guided tour including the great Hassan II Mosque, considered one of the most important mosques in the Arab world. We then continue from here towards Marrakech, a major economic centre and home to a stunning array of mosques, palaces and gardens.

Our day will begin with an informative guided tour of the city responsible for giving the country its name. Located to the north of the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and founded in 1062, Marrakech has become one of the busiest cities in Africa and has grown dramatically in the 21st century. The red walls surrounding the city, built in 1122-1123 and the red sandstone used in the construction of the city’s various buildings have given the city the nickname “Red City”. After our guided tour you will have some free time to relax at the pool or to discover one of the famous Marrakech Souks (local markets). You may also wish to take part in an optional activity this afternoon.

Today we journey across the frequently snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains, which separate the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline from the Sahara Desert. Along the way we will pass small Berber villages artfully perched on the side of chasms. We pause at the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, a place where several well-known movies have been filmed. Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its remarkable mud-brick architecture makes it look like its been magically raised from the ground itself. After our visit here we continue along our route, passing through striking so-called biblical landscapes. We pause again in the city of Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara desert and home to the Taourirt Kasbah, considered one of the country’s most impressive monuments. With over 300 rooms and a maze of passageways, steps and key-lock doors, this Kasbah is a true historical legacy of wealth and power. Following this we continue on toward the Valley of Roses, one of the most fertile locations in the Moroccan south and the biggest producer of rose oil and rose water in Morocco. Our journey today comes to an end at Boumalne Dades, a town located at the edge of the desert plateau. Here we will enjoy a delicious dinner buffet before retiring for the evening.

Note: On very rare occasions (during winter), the roads may be closed due to snowdrifts. If necessary, days 5 to 7 will be rescheduled according to our alternative itinerary. (Whether we can visit the Sahara or not will depend on road access).

Prepare for a day full of excitement in the Sahara Desert and the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the ancient caravan route used by sultans and traders. We’ll pass through river valleys containing thousands of palm trees and stoney plains dotted with oases and adobe villages. We’ll witness powerful fortresses defending the thoroughfares and the bewitching landscape around them. A natural highlight of today’s adventure will be a visit to the stunningly magnificent Todgha Gorge. Here we will explore the series of steep limestone canyons carved out by the Todgha and Dades Rivers. We continue from here toward the oasis town of Erfoud, located on the edge of the vast Sahara Desert. Enjoy a dinner in our hotel before retiring for the evening.

Optional Activity - Sunset Camel Ride Today you have the opportunity to join a sunset camel ride through the desert of Efoud. This is bookable and payable on tour only - MAD 200 per person.

Early morning, we say farewell to the Sahara and travel through the mountains, crossing breathtaking nomadic areas situated in high, chilly landscapes. We stop in the market town of Midelt, originally built as a base for mining in the area and a perfect spot to break up the journey from the Sahara. In the afternoon, the medieval city of Fes awaits us, often referred to as the country’s cultural capital and the second largest city in Morocco. Upon arrival in Fes spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.

This morning we will discover the highlights of Fes during an informative scenic tour. Fes was founded during the 8th-9th century and offers an enchanting array of historical and cultural spectacles. Fes is also home to the world’s largest car-free urban area, where mules, donkeys and pedestrians flow through the well-preserved medieval labyrinth. We conclude our visit in Fes with a lovely lunch within an ancient palace in the Medina district. Following lunch in the early afternoon we depart towards the north of Morocco. Upon arrival at the port city of Tangier, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure before appreciating your final night in Africa.

This morning enjoy free time in Tangier for some last minute shopping and exploring. Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar and has functioned as the gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. We embark here and sail towards Spain, making landfall in the port city of Tarifa, continuing via coach to Seville. Upon an early evening arrival in Seville, we will enjoy an evening at leisure. Seville is famous for it's flamenco, so perhaps enjoy a night on the town experiencing this joyous dance.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided orientation tour in the irresistible city of Seville. Seville is home to the country’s best Fiestas and the site of some well-known scenes in big films. Afterwards, perhaps visit the city’s colossal Gothic cathedral and its famous Giralda, or bell tower. The Seville Cathedral is the third largest church in the world as well as the largest Gothic church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the final burial place of Christopher Columbus. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure further discovering this enchanting city.

We leave Seville this morning and head towards the province of Huelva. The first stop along our journey today is the small agricultural village of Palos de la Frontera, popular for its vast trade of local strawberries and raspberries. After our visit of Palos de la Frontera we travel across the border to Portugal. Shortly after entering Portugal we will stop in the ancient Muslim city of Mertola. Our journey continues from here to Lisbon, Portugal's hilly, coastal capital city, where we’ll stay for the next two nights. Lisbon combines the best elements of Portuguese life, offering fantastic architecture, a multicultural population, delicious seafood and non-stop nightlife. As the sun goes down, you will find some of Lisbon's best nightlife in the neighbourhood of Bairro Alto, where you will also find several places that offer Fado performances.

This morning we will set out on a morning orientation tour of charismatic Lisbon. We’ll visit traditional neighborhoods and take in the Belem district, a relaxed area on the Tagus River known for its fresh seafood restaurants and colourful houses. We invite all our travellers to try a “Belem cake”, an exquisite local delicacy. This area is the birthplace of the great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century. Along our tour we will see Belem Tower and the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The afternoon following our guided tour is free for you to relax or explore this great city independently.

Say farewell to Lisbon today as we travel to the north of Portugal and visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, now the fourth biggest Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. This shrine receives around five million visitors per year. After our visit here we will travel towards the border to Spain, passing through picturesque landscapes and magnificent greenlands. Once we arrive in Spain we will continue on to the north of the Extremadura region, a remote area of brilliant mountains, forests, lakes and reserves. At the end of the day we reach our final destination, Spain’s elegant central capital, Madrid.

Spend a day discovering Madrid in your own time. Perhaps while away the hours along the Paseo del Arte, or Art Walk, for an expansive history of art in Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofia and Museo Thyssen- Bornemisza. Perhaps join an Urban Adventure to get a deeper insight into the city through its food and its markets or go for a stroll to see Plaza Mayor and visit the baroque Royal Palace.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your phenomenal tour through three extraordinary countries.

We hope you've been inspired. 

Check out: Passengers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out times will apply no matter what time your flight is scheduled to depart. Check-out time is generally anywhere from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or alternatively please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost.