Portugal, Andalucia & Morocco | 21 Days

Day 1 – Sunday:                            MADRID

Meet & greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Madrid.

Day 2 – Monday:                           MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the beauties of the city with a guided city tour. Barrio de la Morería, the Hapsburgs District, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. The contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, as well as commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium.  Afternoon at leisure to continue exploring the wonders that the city has to offer. Join your fellow travellers for an authentic Welcome Tapas Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Madrid. (B, D)

Day 3 – Tuesday:                           MADRID – SALAMANCA – PORTO

Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Portugal, we will drive towards Salamanca. Enjoy some free time in this University City World Heritage of great architectural and artistic wealth. Continue to the Portuguese border to reach Porto. Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European towns, and proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Overnight in Porto. (B)

Day 4 – Wednesday:                    PORTO

Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Porto. Admire the Cathedral, Stock Exchange building and Santa Clara church. Afterwards, enjoy a Douro River Cruise and discover famous Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting experience included. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight in Porto. (B)

Day 5 – Thursday:                         PORTO – COIMBRA – FATIMA

After breakfast, we depart to Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in Europe and the birthplace of Fado. Free time. Continue to Fatima. Centre of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria place where the Virgin Mary appeared. The Chapel of the Apparitions, heart of the sanctuary, with the tombs of the three shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. At night possibility to attend the procession of the candles. Overnight in Fatima. (B)

Day 6 – Friday:                               FATIMA – BATALHA – NAZARE – ALCOBAÇA – LISBON

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Batalha Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline style considered a World Heritage place by UNESCO. Continue to the picturesque fishing town of Nazaré. Free time and continue to Alcobaça (World Heritage) with its Gothic church and Cistercian monastery, whose origins date back to the XII C. We continue to Lisbon. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

Day 7 – Saturday:                          LISBON

After breakfast, join a morning city sightseeing of the ancient Olissipo. Drive through its main squares and avenues, Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Monument to the Discoverers, Marquis of Pombal Square & Liberty Avenue. Afternoon at leisure for you to catch the nostalgic corners of Alfama Quarter, the old city gathered next to its Castle, with old buildings nested in narrow twisting “Ruas” full of colour housing the genuine “tabernas”. Join your fellow travellers and enjoy a typical Portuguese dinner visiting one of the oldest Fado venues in the city and located in one of the most interesting cultural neighbourhoods in the area. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

Day 8 – Sunday:                             LISBON – CACERES – CORDOBA

Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Andalusian soils, back in Spain, we drive to Caceres, considered World Heritage site because of the city’s blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Walk through its Plaza Mayor and the Old Town with its famous Medieval Quarter. We continue towards Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. Overnight in Cordoba. (B)

Day 9 – Monday:                           CORDOBA – SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the impressive tour of Cordoba´s Mosque (entrance included) and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, continue your journey towards Seville. Overnight in Seville. (B)

Day 10 – Tuesday:                         SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of the Andalusian Capital, Seville. Visit the Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peters in Rome. Continue to Santa Cruz quarter, the natural scenario of Carmen as well as the myth of Don Juan; Continue to Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy the city of light. Overnight in Seville. (B)

Day 11 – Wednesday:                  SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive south passing through typical Andalusian villages to reach Ronda. Enjoy some free time to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvellous view of the valley and mountain range. We continue our journey with an authentic Olive Oil Experience at a local Almazara, LA Organic. Walk through their olive tree fields and taste their organic olive oil production. Bound for beautiful Spanish Mediterranean coast, we will continue to Costa del Sol. Overnight in Costa Del Sol. (B)

Day 12 – Thursday:                       COSTA DEL SOL

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for you to enjoy the wonderful beaches of the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas. Overnight in Costa Del Sol. (B)

Day 13 – Friday:                            COSTA DEL SOL – TARIFA – TANGIER – CASABLANCA

After breakfast at the hotel drive along the picturesque tourist route of Costa del Sol, arrive to Tarifa where a ferry boat will be used for a short and interesting crossing of the strait of Gibraltar towards Africa. Arrival to Tangier, disembark, clear customs and drive southwards to Casablanca, current industrial and economic capital and the most populated city housing a 10% of the country population. Time at leisure. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight in Casablanca. (B, D)

Day 14 – Saturday:                       CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH

Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of the most interesting places in the city, such as the United Nations Square, the Boulevard de la Corniche, and the Hassan II Mosque. Departure to Marrakech, and visit the magnificent Menara Gardens, known for its side pavilion and countless olive trees. Afterwards, visit the outside of the Koutoubia Tower, twin tower of the Giralda in Seville. Once inside the old part of the city, visit the Bahía Palace, owned by a nobleman from the city. Finally, arrival at the Jmaa el Fnaa square, one of the most interesting places in Morocco from where you can access the souks and the medina. Guilds of wood, ceramic, furriers, or spice artisans will be some of the places that will be visited. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optional dinner and show at “Fantasia Chez Ali”. Overnight in Marrakech. (B, D)

Day 15 – Sunday:                          MARRAKECH – RABAT – MEKNES – FEZ

Breakfast and early departure to Rabat. Visit the capital of the country, Rabat. Visit the exterior of the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower. Continue to the Imperial City of Meknes, where you will visit the Walls of Bab el Mansour and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the only mosque in all of Morocco where non-Muslims are allowed. Arrive in Fez. Dinner and accommodation. Overnight in Fez. (B, D)

Day 16 – Monday:                        FEZ

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a morning city tour of the most ancient and monumental of the Imperial Cities visiting the most interesting points: the 7 gates of the Royal Palace, Jewish Quarters or Mellah, gate of Bab Bou Jelous and walking tour of the “Medina” (Old City), declared World Heritage Site. Afternoon free. Dinner and accommodation. Optional dinner with show. Overnight in Fez. (B, D)

Day 17 – Tuesday:                         FEZ – TANGIER – TARIFA – COSTA DEL SOL

After breakfast at the hotel departure to Tangier. Transfer to the pier to board the ferry to return across the strait of Gibraltar back to Spain. Drive towards the Costa del Sol for overnight. (B)

Day 18 – Wednesday:                  COSTA DEL SOL

Breakfast, dinner, and accommodation at the hotel. Day at leisure for you to enjoy the wonderful beaches of the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas. Overnight in Costa Del Sol. (B)

Day 19 – Thursday:                       COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA

Enjoy your daily breakfast at the hotel and depart to one of our favourite jewels in Spain, Granada. With its breathtaking monumental environment, we will visit the world-famous Alhambra complex (entrance included) and Generalife Gardens. After some time at leisure, join your fellow travellers to experience the most authentic Gypsy Flamenco show including dinner. Overnight in Granada. (B, D)

Day 20 – Friday:                            GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. Bound to the impressive Imperial city of Toledo, World Heritage City, where the three cultures Christians, Moorish and Jewish, have lived together for centuries. Enjoy a guided city tour of this historical old town through its narrow streets. Continue to Madrid. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

Day 21 – Saturday:                       MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. End of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

MADRID: Riu Plaza Espana

PORTO: BessaHotel Boavista, or Vila Gale Porto

FATIMA: Hotel Sainte-Marie or Aurea Fatima Hotel Congress & Spa or Hotel Regina or Hotel Estrela De Fatima

LISBON: Lutecia Smart Design Hotel

CORDOBA: Hesperia Cordoba

SEVILLE: Melia Lebreros, or Hotel Hesperia Sevilla

COSTA DEL SOL: Sol Principe, Sol Torremolinos – Don Pablo, Sol Torremolinos – Don Marco,

CASABLANCA: Grand Mogador City Center

MARRAKECH: Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa

FEZ: Royal Mirage Hotel

GRANADA: Catalonia Granada, or Hotel Porcel Sabica

Includes:

·       Guided visits in Madrid, Porto (including Douro River Cruise and Port wine tasting), Lisbon, Cordoba (Mosque entrance included), Seville (Cathedral entrance included), Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, Fez, Granada (Alhambra entrance included) & Toledo

·       English speaking tour director throughout the journey

·       Daily breakfast

·       Welcome Tapas Experience dinner

·       4 Hotel dinners in Morocco

·       Flamenco experience with dinner

·       Fado show and dinner in Lisbon

·       Olive Oil Tasting at Local Almazara

·       Transportation by luxury coach

·       Accommodation at selected class

·       Private transfers to/from airport as per itinerary

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Itinerary is subject to change at any time without notice.

–          Service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          *Minimum 8 passengers required for English-only tour. If the minimum of 8 passengers are not met, the tour will be run on a regular multilingual basis.

–          If the panoramic tour of Madrid is not operated for technical reasons, it will be replaced by the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off Bus 1 day instead.

–          Only one piece of luggage per person is allowed. Passengers have to go through customs control with their own luggage.

–          When the group is made up of 10 or fewer passengers, the circuit will have no guide, but a knowledgeable expert driver-guide. Such change will not be considered as a significant change of the trip.

–          Lisbon and Porto Local City Tax is not included and is to be paid locally to the hotels.

–          During your stay in Madrid, tour escort is not available