Enjoy a buffet breakfast at your hotel, then set out for a morning tour of the city. Whether it’s the busy squares of Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa, the storied streets of the Barrio de Moreria and the Habsburg District or the neoclassical Fountain of Neptune, discover the living history of this bustling city with the direction of your expert local guide.
After a morning of cultural immersion, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. This evening, come together as a group for an early welcome dinner at a local tapas restaurant and sample the fragrant spices of Spanish cuisine.
Savour a filling breakfast before heading south in your private coach to Merida. Capital of the western Spanish region of Extremadura, Merida’s famed Roman ruins date back to the 1st-century BCE. Spend time exploring the historic remains of this ancient colony and stand at the centre of the miraculously preserved Roman Theatre.
Continue onward to Seville – the vibrant Andalusian capital and birthplace of flamenco. In the evening, choose to join an evening city walk and make your way to Las Setas de Sevilla (‘The Mushrooms of Seville’). Take to the unique viewing platform for a different perspective of the city, admiring the fluid design and panoramic views of the footbridges that roll across the mushroom caps.
Optional activities:
- Setas de Sevilla evening experience (surcharges apply, paid locally to tour operator).
Travel time: Driving – six hours
Let your expert guide unlock the wonders of romantic Seville as you navigate the maze of narrow, tree-lined streets and blooming courtyards of Santa Cruz – the city’s postcard-perfect Jewish Quarter. Lose yourself in the complex blend of Christian and Moorish architecture, epitomised by the Mudejar style of the grand palace of Real Alcazar.
Spend your afternoon meandering through the bright barrio or opt to join a trip to the southern city of Jerez de la Frontera. Built around an 11th-century Moorish fortress, this sun-kissed spot is known globally as the namesake of sherry wine or ‘jerez’ as well as its centuries-old equestrian tradition. Acquaint yourself with Jerez history on a visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and savour the finest Jerez sherry on a guided tasting (surcharges apply).
Optional activities:
- Jerez de la Frontera tour and wine tasting (surcharges apply, paid locally to tour operator).
Fill up with a buffet breakfast at your hotel, then hit the road on your way to Cordoba. Founded in the 2nd-century BCE, this historically Roman city has a fascinating history of diverse influences converging in a cosmopolitan blend of architecture and culture.
Visit the wonderfully unique Mezquita – a captivating mosque-turned-cathedral that stands as testament to the compounding innovations of Islamic and Christian architects dating back to the 8th-century. Over the next millennium, the complex would grow and evolve in unexpected ways, tied to the particular cultural exchange of Spain’s southern reaches. The enormous mosque is an intricately constructed masterpiece of striped arches and wide halls, while the 16th-century cathedral at its heart tells the story of a changing Spain.
Depart for a scenic journey through Spanish olive groves, then check-in upon arrival at your Granada hotel. In the evening, convene with your fellow adventurers for an unforgettable traditional flamenco show over a delicious Spanish dinner.
Travel time: Driving – fouir hours
Prepare for the day with a hearty breakfast, then make your way to the jaw-dropping Alhambra. This expansive hilltop fortress complex remains one of the most renowned examples of Islamic architecture in the world. Listen as your guide highlights the intricately carved Moorish architecture, punctuated by signs of the Spanish Renaissance in its layered distillation of a history shrouded in mystery.
Spend your afternoon at leisure, or choose to join an optional walking tour through the Albaicin district and chart the transition of Moorish design to Christian construction as you marvel at the beautiful mosques, churches and artisan shops.
Optional activities:
- Albaicin Moorish experience (surcharges apply, paid locally to tour operator).
Depart glorious Granada and travel back to Madrid, stopping along the way at the ‘Imperial City’ of Toledo. Spectacularly poised overlooking the Rio Tajo, Toledo’s reputation as the ‘city of three cultures’ dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, let your guide dig up the past on a tour of the historic narrow streets, where you can spot countless mosques, Gothic cathedrals and Sephardic synagogues.
Continue to Madrid and check in at your hotel, then spend an evening of cultural exchange with your group over another sumptuous Spanish meal.
Travel time: Driving – five hours
Rise and shine for a new day and a new destination! Take your private transfer to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for a flight to beautiful Casablanca, Morocco. Famed for its place in Hollywood movie history, Casablanca’s vibrant mix of cultural influences span from traditional Moorish to French colonial, as seen in its intricate architecture.
Once you’ve transferred to your hotel, enjoy the afternoon as you please, before meeting up for a hearty dinner at your hotel.
Travel time: Flight – two hours
A full day of wonderous sights awaits, starting with a guided city tour through the bustling streets of Casablanca.
Visit Anfa Boulevard and the historic United Nations Square, then witness the breathtaking Hassan II Mosque – one of the largest mosques in the world. Partially suspended above the sea and fitted with an enormous retractable roof that opens to beaming sunlight on special days of worship, this feat of architecture – with its hand-carved stone and detailed marble floor – pays tribute to the former King of Morocco in painstaking detail.
Say farewell to Casablanca and set out for Fes, stopping along the way in Rabat – capital of Morocco with Berber fortifications dating back to the 12th century. See the Royal Palace and the regal Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then peer up at the commanding minaret of Hassan Tower.
Continue on your way until you reach the sprawling city of Fes. Round out your day with a mouthwatering Moorish welcome dinner.
Travel time: Driving – three hours
This morning, step back in time as you venture through Fes’ medieval Medina. A glass of mint tea or a handful of sweet Moroccan dates might be the fuel you need as you admire the varied sizes and designs of the Seven Gates of the Royal Palace, the ornate gate of Bab Bou Jeloud and the historic Jewish Quarter.
Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Gaze upon mesmerising mosaic fountains and breathe in alluring spices as you pass aromatic food stands offering bowls of earthy harira soups and lamb sausages stuffed with paprika.
Return to your hotel for dinner and a restful evening.
Today, travel beyond the walls of Fes and reach Meknes – known as the ‘Versailles of Morocco’. Admire the great gate of Bab el Mansour and gaze upon the colourful tiles of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
Continue to the Berber-Roman ruins of Volubilis – an archaeological site in the Jebel Zerhoun plains. Walk through the historic fortifications, known for their lovely bloom of delicate wildflowers in the summer.
Return to Fes for a well-earned meal at your hotel.
Depart Fes and travel through the Middle Atlas mountains to Erfoud, where you’ll transfer to your 4WD transport and head to your desert escape in Merzouga. Scale the magnificent rose-gold waves of sand as they sweep up from the rocky plains at the fringes of the Sahara.
Check into your luxury desert camp, then settle in for a traditional Berber meal by the campfire. Tilt your head back and drink in the vast tapestry of dazzling stars above that cloak the sky like diamonds.
Travel time: Driving – seven hours
Watch the sunrise over the golden sands and savour a refreshing breakfast, then set off through glorious Todra Gorge. Winding along the babbling river, this jaw-dropping road carves a path through a 300-metre-deep break in the limestone cliff walls.
Drive on through the Valley of Roses and pass Kelaat M’Gouna, where thousands of Berbers travel for the annual Rose Festival. This springtime celebration honours the fragrant harvest and production of treasured rose water with parades and dancing.
Follow the dramatic ‘Road of 1000 Kasbahs’ and wind your way past mud-brick forts, spotting historic kasbahs and fortified villages in the resonant silence of the mountains. Continue to Ouarzazate and check in at your hotel for the evening.
Travel time: Driving – 5.5 hours
Wake and seize the day with a visit to magnificent Kasbah Taourirt – a richly decorated palace that stood as the former residence of the Pasha of Marrakech.
Unearth almost a thousand years of history as you travel to the fortified ksar of Ait Benhaddou. Beyond its striking beauty and uniquely Moroccan clay architecture, this town built into a hill is a favourite location for Hollywood filmmakers, playing host to epic productions such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
Later, venture through the High Atlas mountain range and on to Marrakech.
Travel time: Driving – 3.5 hours
Your day begins with a guided tour of colourful Marrakech. Make your way to Koutoubia Mosque and its decorative minaret – considered one of the world’s greatest minarets and ‘sister’ to the Giralda in Seville.
Visit the royal necropolis of the Saadian Tombs, then head to the famed Jemaa el-Fnaa – the main square of Marrakech. Perpetually abuzz with activity, this lively square is known for its excellent people-watching and eye-catching street performers.
Mark your last Moroccan night with a bountiful farewell dinner.
Even the best adventures must come to an end. Enjoy one last breakfast at your hotel, then transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) where your whirlwind journey concludes.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 12pm. Please book your flights to depart from Marrakech Airport (RAK) at any time**.** Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.