Jewels of Spain, Portugal & Morocco - 21 days

Welcome to Madrid, the Spanish capital! You will be collected at the airport and transferred to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure.

Today we take an all-encompassing coach tour of Madrid. Highlights of the excursion include the historic Barrio de la Morería region, Habsburgs District, Puerta del Sol central square, Plaza Mayor and the Neptuno Fountains. These are dedicated to Neptune, a Roman water god. In the more modern part of the city we see the Salamanca district, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste. We also see the Santiago Bernabeu, the football stadium of Real Madrid, the most successful European club.

The rest of today is free for you to relax in the hotel or head out and explore further at your own pace. Tonight we enjoy a group Welcome Dinner at a local Tapas restaurant. Get to know your fellow travellers and enjoy some authentic Spanish cuisine.

Madrid - Salamanca - Porto (Portugal). Departing Madrid after breakfast, we make a stop in the university city of Salamanca, with free time to enjoy a stroll around. After our visit, we cross the border into Portugal and complete our drive to Porto. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Porto is located along the Douro River estuary and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Today is spent exploring Porto with a number of included activities. We enjoy a guided city tour, taking in highlights such as the cathedral, Stock Exchange and Santa Clara Church. We also take a cruise on the Douro River, which runs through the heart of Porto and visit one of the riverfront Port Wine Cellars, where we can sample this local drink.

Tonight, enjoy a group dinner at one of the oldest Fado venues in Porto.

Porto - Aveiro - Coimbra. Departing Porto after breakfast, our first stop today is in Aveiro. Often referred to as the "Venice of Portugal," this city is renowned for its

enchanting canals, vibrant moliceiro boats, and delightful Art Nouveau architecture. Upon arrival, we'll embark on a serene boat trip aboard a Moliceiro, gliding through the city's idyllic canals. This journey offers stunning views of colourful tile-covered buildings, scenic bridges, and the peaceful lagoon, all while our knowledgeable guides share fascinating insights into the local history and culture.

After the boat tour, enjoy free time for lunch before we continue our journey to Coimbra. In the afternoon, we explore the historic streets of this former Portuguese capital, including a visit to the prestigious University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, known for its magnificent Baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina. Be captivated by the impressive Romanesque Old Cathedral, Sé Velha, and the charming medieval quarter, with its narrow lanes and the soulful sounds of traditional Fado music.

Coimbra - Batalha - Nazare - Alcobaca - Lisbon. This morning we visit the UNESCO-listed Batalha Monastery, a 14th Century Gothic masterpiece, built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. We then enjoy some free time in the quaint fishing village of Nazare before arriving in Alcobaca, where we can see the even older 12th Century monastery located here. This is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. After admiring the monastery, we complete our journey to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal. The evening is at leisure.

Our day starts with a city sightseeing tour, taking in many of Lisbon's highlights. We see the city's main plazas, the fortified Belem Tower, Jeronimo's Monastery, the Monument to the Discoverers and the Marquis of Pombal Square roundabout.

The afternoon is free, and we recommend you head into the Alfama Quarter, the oldest part of Lisbon. Crowned by the Sao Jorge Castle, this part of the city features narrow alleyways and colourful 'tabernas'.

Lisbon - Merida - Cordoba. Departing Lisbon, we cross back into Spain and make a stop in Merida. Merida is a historic city established by the Romans in 25 BC. It is famed for its remarkable archaeological ensemble, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Keep an eye out for its famous landmarks such as the Roman Theatre, the Amphitheatre, and the Guadiana River Roman Bridge. We finish the day with a final journey to Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate.

Cordoba - Seville. This morning we tour Cordoba, an important Roman city that was also an Islamic centre during the Middle Ages. The most important landmark here is the sprawling La Mezquita mosque-cathedral, which dates back to 988 AD. Entrance to the mosque is included on our tour and we also take a stroll through the Jewish Quarter before departing the city and travelling south-west to Seville, capital of Andalusia.

Today we explore Seville on a guided tour. Entrance to the city's cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world, is included. We also visit the Santa Cruz Quarter, where the famous opera 'Carmen' is largely set. Wander through Maria Luisa Park and the picturesque Plaza Espana. After our tour, the afternoon is free for you to further explore this beautiful city at your own pace.

Seville - Jerez - Ronda. Leaving Seville after breakfast, we pass through quaint Andalusian villages and make a stop in the picturesque mountain-top town of Jerez, Jerez is celebrated for its sherry wine production, rich flamenco heritage, and renowned tradition of horse taming, highlighted by its world-famous annual horse fair. During our visit, we visit a local winery for Sherry wine tasting, accompanied by a light lunch.

This afternoon we enjoy an authentic Olive Oil Experience at a local Almazara (olive oil mill). We take a walk through the olive groves and taste some of the delicious organic olive oil produced here. We then continue to the picturesque mountain-top town of Ronda.

Ronda - Gibraltar - Tarifa - Tetouan (Morocco). Today we make our way to Morocco, starting with a drive through the picturesque Andalusian countryside and arriving in Gibraltar. Upon arrival, we have some free time to explore this fascinating British colony. The towering Rock of Gibraltar offers stunning views over both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, immersing us in a unique blend of British and Spanish cultures, a rich military history, and the presence of the famous Barbary macaques.

Afterwards, we depart for Tarifa, where we take a short, but captivating ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. Upon reaching Tangier, we disembark drive southwards to Tetouan. This charming town is located between the Rif Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea in northern Morocco. Tetouan is mesmerising for visitors due to the remarkably well-preserved medina, UNESCO World Heritage site, flamboyant Andalusian architecture, and profound cultural heritage. On arrival there's time to explore Tetouan at our own pace before dinner at the hotel.

Tetouan - Chefchaouen - Fes. We begin our adventure today with a journey to Chefchaouen, where its azure-hued streets await exploration. It's certainly easy to be immersed in the beauty of this enchanting blue city. After some free time, we travel on to Fes, navigating through picturesque landscapes rich in history, leading us to the labyrinthine alleys of the ancient medina where stories of Morocco's vibrant history come alive.

This morning we enjoy a morning tour of ancient, UNESCO-listed Fes, one of the most important imperial cities in Morocco, and the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. On our tour we will wander down some of the old walled city's 9,400 alleyways and take in the heart of the medina. We also see the seven gates of the Royal Palace, explore the Jewish Quarter and admire the ornate gate of Bab Bou Jeloud, built by the colonial French administration in 1913. Spend the afternoon at leisure and tonight dinner is included at the hotel, or you can join an optional show with dinner included (book and pay locally).

Fes - Middle Atlas - Marrakech. In the morning, we leave the lively streets of Fes behind and weave our way through the magnificent Middle Atlas Mountains. Along the route, we pass charming Berber villages and picturesque valleys dotted with olive groves and cedar forests. Heading further south, the scenery changes to the stunning arid landscapes of the High Atlas Mountains, where winding roads unveil breath-taking vistas at every turn. Finally, we reach our destination: Marrakech.

Our sightseeing tour of Marrakech today departs by bus and begins in the tranquil Menara Gardens which features a pavilion and an abundance of olive trees. Next, we admire the exterior of the Koutoubia Tower, reminiscent of Seville's Giralda. Moving into the historic heart of the city, see the Bahia Palace, once owned by a prominent local nobleman. Finally, we arrive at the vibrant Djemaa el Fna square, one of Morocco's most captivating spots, offering access to bustling souks and medina. Here, we can see workshops of artisans specialising in woodwork, ceramics, fur, and spices, elevating all five senses. Dinner tonight is included at the hotel or you attend an optional "Fantasia Chez Ali" show with dinner (book and pay locally).

Marrakech - Casablanca - Rabat. Setting off early from Marrakech we continue our journey to Casablanca. On a coach tour of Casablanca we see the city's highlights, admiring the United Nations Square, Boulevard de la Corniche, and the iconic Hassan II Mosque. We then continue our journey to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, where we stop for the night.

Rabat - Tangier - Tarifa - Costa Del Sol (Spain). We bid farewell to Morocco today, travelling back to Tangier and returning by ferry, across the straight of Gibraltar to Spain. Once we reach land, we enjoy a scenic drive along the Costa del Sol, where we spend the night on the Costa del Sol or in its capital city, Malaga.

Costa del Sol - Granada. We travel to one of the finest jewels of Spain today, Granada. Spend some time at leisure, before we enjoy Granada's most authentic Gypsy Flamenco show, including dinner this evening.

Granada - Madrid. This morning we visit to spectacular Alhambra complex. This famous 13th century palace and fortress is one of the best-preserved examples of early Islamic architecture anywhere in the world, as well as being home to important Spanish Renaissance architecture. We explore the Alhambra and the adjacent Generalife Gardens. The gardens have historically inspired many authors, including Washington Irving. This American author wrote his Tales of the Alhambra in 1832 whilst visiting the area. After our tour we make our final journey, back to Madrid.

Enjoy the final breakfast in the hotel before our tour comes to an end. There is an included transfer to the airport.