Portugal, Spain & Morocco Memories | Guided Group Tour | 18 Days

DAY 1:                                PORTO

Upon arrival into Porto airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Overnight Porto.

DAY 2:                                PORTO
Panoramic tour of Porto to admire the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange Building, and Santa Clara Church. Visit a local wine cellar to taste the famous Port wine. Overnight Porto. (B)

DAY 3:                                PORTO – COIMBRA

Breakfast and departure for Coimbra, known for its prestigious university-one of the oldest in Europe-and as the birthplace of fado music. Lunch, then enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Coimbra. (B, L)

DAY 4:                                COIMBRA – FATIMA – LISBON

Breakfast followed by departure to Fatima, an important pilgrimage site. Enjoy free time to explore the Shrine before continuing to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital situated at the mouth of the Tagus River. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

DAY 5:                                LISBON

Morning panoramic sightseeing tour of this beautiful city, located at the mouth of the Tagus River: Edward VII Park’s hilltop viewpoint, Rossio Square, Liberdade Avenue, Madragoa District (where Fado, the traditional Portugues music was born). We will continue to the Belem District, with its famous Tower, Monument to the Navigators, and Los Jeronimos Monastery. Free afternoon. Overnight Lisbon. (B)

DAY 6:                                LISBON – MERIDA – SEVILLE

Breakfast at your hotel. Depart towards the Spanish border to arrive in Mérida. Free time to explore its impressive archaeological site, featuring the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Lunch at leisure. We then continue along the “Autovia de la Plata” (Silver Route) towards Andalucia, arriving in Seville. Dinner and overnight in Seville. (B, D)

DAY 7:                                SEVILLE 

Morning city sightseeing tour, including María Luisa Park, Plaza de España, the exterior of the city’s stunning Cathedral and its bell tower, called Giralda and the typical neighbourhood of Santa Cruz with its streets, squares, and narrow alleys. If you wish, you can optionally navigate the Guadalquivir River, during which you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Gold Tower and Expo 92 or visit to the Maestranza bullring. Overnight Seville. (B)

DAY 8:                                SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL 

After breakfast, depart along the Route of the White Villages for Ronda. You will have some free time before continuing to Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol where you have the afternoon at leisure. Overnight Torremolinos, Costa del Sol. (B, D)

DAY 9:                                COSTA DEL SOL – TANGIER (FERRY)

Departure from the Costa del Sol to embark on a ferry, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. Arrival in Morocco with a guided panoramic tour to know the surroundings of Tangier, Grottos de Hercules (entrance ticket not included), and Cape Spartel. Free time. Dinner and overnight Tangier. (B, D)

DAY 10:                             TANGIER – VOLUBILIS – MEKNES – FEZ

Travel through the Middle Atlas, towards Fez. First stop in Volubilis to visit its Roman ruins, the main road Decumanus Máximo, which begins at the gate of Tangier and ends at the Arc de Triomphe of Caracalla of 217 AD. It is paved and surrounded by spacious and decorated houses. Continue to Meknés, one of the Imperial cities that became the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail. We will visit its medina, its El-Hedim square and its famous Bab Al Mansour gate, probably the most beautiful in Morocco. In the afternoon, arrival in Fez for overnight. (B, D)

DAY 11:                             FEZ

Visit of the first of the imperial cities, Fez, the intellectual and religious capital of Morocco. We will start with a panoramic tour from the hotel to visit the royal palace and its 7 gates or Dar Al-Makhzen on the way to the fascinating world of the medina of Fez El Bali, the oldest and most extensive in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 785 mosques and more than 2,000 squares, streets and alleys that represent a labyrinth return in time. From Bab Boujloud to Es-Seffarine square we will take a journey through the centuries starting in the 9th to the 19th century. Along the walk we will get to know how these alleys are structured, the different constructions that make up the walls of the medina, in addition from its artisan guilds and neighbourhoods such as leather tanners or seamstresses, and to see their old ways of working. We will know a Medersa, and we will finish to the sound of the hammer of the potters working the copper as they did hundreds of years ago. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Afternoon free. Overnight Fez. (B, L)

DAY 12:                       FEZ – CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH

Depart for Casablanca, the economic capital of the country, with its famous Corniche. Enjoy some free time to visit the Great Hassan II Mosque, which was built by more than 3,000 artisans. Arrival in Marrakech in the afternoon. Overnight Marrakech. (B, D)

DAY 13:                       MARRAKECH

After breakfast visit of Marrakech, another of the important imperial cities. The visit starts from the Koutouia Mosque, formerly used as a bookstore, it is the symbol of the city. We will continue to the sumptuous Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century by hundreds of artisans from Fez. Continue from the Jewish quarter or Mellah through the kissaría square to the Djmaa El Fna square, a living museum and intangible cultural heritage of Humanity, where storytellers, snake charmers, jugglers, dancers and more, constitute an authentic court of miracles. Continue through the souk and its alleys full of businesses, workshops, and terraces to meet the guilds of carpenters, sharpeners and a Berber pharmacy of remedies and natural products mostly from argan and derivatives. Back in the square, free time then lunch in a restaurant. Afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Marrakech. (B, L)

DAY 14:                       MARRAKECH – RABAT

After breakfast we will leave for the administrative capital of the country, Rabat, another of the imperial cities and official residence of the royal family. Upon arrival we will visit its key points such as the Tour Hassan, an unfinished mosque that rises dominating the esplanade with more than 200 columns and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, built in memory of the sultan who achieved the independence of the country and in which the royal guard, in colourful gala dress, they guard the entrance to the monument on horseback. Free afternoon to stroll through the medina, Kasbah of Oudayas and its promenade on the banks of the Buregreg River. Overnight Rabat. (B, D)

DAY 15:                       RABAT – TANGIER – COSTA DEL SOL (FERRY)

Depart for Tangier to embark the ferry and cross the Strait towards Spain. Arrival at the Costa del Sol. Overnight Torremolinos, Costa del Sol. (B, D)

DAY 16:                       COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA

Departure to Granada. Visit to the spectacular group of monuments of the Alhambra and Generalife, former residence of the Moorish kings, with its magnificent fountains, gardens, and arches. Overnight Granada. (B, D)

Note: If the Patronato of the Alhambra and Generalife do not grant tickets for participants to visit the Alhambra and Generalife, a tour of the city of Granada will be provided instead. Visit to the Palace of Carlos V, the Archaeological Museum, Church of Santa María de la Alhambra, Royal Chapel, and a walk through the city Alcaiceria (silk market) and the Cathedral Square.

DAY 17:                       GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID

Following breakfast, departure towards the Imperial City of Toledo, full of history and monuments. Lunch and panoramic view from Mirador del Valle and walk through its old town. Continue back to Madrid. Overnight in Madrid. (B, L)

DAY 18:                      MADRID – SALAMANCA – PORTO

Breakfast. Departure towards Salamanca, an ancient and monumental university city. Free time to stroll through the historic centre and discover its famous Baroque-style Plaza Mayor. Depart for Porto. End of our services upon arrival into Porto city. No hotel drop off. You will need to make your own way to the hotel. (B)

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR):

PORTO: Rubens Hotels Gaia, or Holiday Inn Porto Gaia

COIMBRA: Coimbra Aeminium Affiliated by Meliá

LISBON: Lutecia Smart Design Hotel

SEVILLE: Silken Al-Ándalus Palace

COSTA DEL SOL: Sol Príncipe (Torremolinos), or Sol Torremolinos – Don Pablo, or Sol Torremolinos – Don Pedro

TANGIER: Hilton City Centre

FEZ: Heritage Fes Boutique, or Zalagh Parc Palace

MARRAKECH: Adam Park Hotel, or Palm Plaza Hotel

RABAT: Le Diwan MGallery, or Barcelo Farah Hotel

GRANADA: Saray Hotel, Los Ángeles Hotel

MADRID: Praga Hotel, or Puerta de Toledo

INCLUDES:

• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• 17 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels
• Arrival transfer from Porto airport to hotel
• Meals as per itinerary
• Touring with Multilingual speaking guide
• Sightseeing tour with local guide in Porto, Lisbon, Seville, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat, Granada and Toledo
• Visit to a wine cellar with a tasting of Port wine
• Fast ferry tickets: Spain – Morocco – Spain
• Entrance fees and local taxes

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.
• Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.
• Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.
• Due to special events, tours may stay in a city that is different to what is mentioned on the itinerary.
• In the unusual event that group number is less than 12 people, the Tour Operator reserves the right to operate the tour by minibus or private car with an expert bilingual driver. Local visits to monumental cities will be by official local guides.