The Best of Spain, Portugal & Morocco Tour | 16 Days

Day 1 – Wednesday:                                   MADRID – TRUJILLO – LISBON

Depart from selected Madrid hotels at approximately 08:15, or the bus terminal located at, Calle Ferraz 3, Madrid, at 08:00a.m. (Check your voucher for exact information regarding your pick up or if you need to make your way to the terminal. Please be at the terminal no later than 07:45). Travel towards the region of Extremadura and arrive at Trujillo, the birthplace of Spanish conquerors. Free time to explore its beautiful and monumental Plaza Mayor. Continue across the Portuguese border and into Lisbon, the capital of Portugal located at the mouth of the Tagus River. Overnight Lisbon.

Day 2 – Thursday:                                       LISBON

Morning city sightseeing tour including a visit to the old Alfama Quarter, Tower of Belem, and the Monastery of Los Jeronimos. Afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Lisbon. (B)

Day 3 – Friday:                                             LISBON – FATIMA – LISBON

In the morning depart for Fatima, an important centre of religious pilgrimage. Free time to visit the Shrine. Return to Lisbon for overnight. (B)

Day 4 – Saturday:                                        LISBON – CACERES – SEVILLE

Depart for the border and continue to Caceres. Time at leisure to visit Plaza Mayor and to walk through the old city and its famous, very well preserved and world heritage listed medieval quarter. Continue to Andalucía and arrive at Seville. Overnight Seville. (B, D)

Day 5 – Sunday:                                           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, L)

Day 6 – Monday:                                         SEVILLE – CORDOBA

Departure to Cordoba. Upon arrival we start our walking tour at Almodovar Gate, through the Jewish Quarter and continue for visiting the famous Mosque/Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight Cordoba. (B, D)

Day 7 – Tuesday:                                         CORDOBA – 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 8 – Wednesday:                                   COSTA DEL SOL

Today, the whole day is free for you to explore the region. Overnight Costa del Sol. (B, D)

Day 9 – Thursday:                                       COSTA DEL SOL

Today is free for you to explore the region at your own pace. Overnight Costa del Sol. (B, D)

Day 10 – Friday:                                           COSTA DEL SOL – TANGIER – CASABLANCA

After breakfast, depart for Tarifa to board the ferry crossing the Strait of Gibraltar towards Tangier. Arrive at the cosmopolitan city of Casablanca. Overnight Casablanca. (B, D)

Day 11 – Saturday:                                      CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH

Breakfast and panoramic view of Casablanca. We will go to the impressive Hassan II Mosque, only surpassed by Mecca. Visit the outside with free time before leaving for Marrakech, one of the important imperial cities. In the afternoon, visit 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 arti- sans from Fez. From the Jewish quarter or Mellah and through the kissaría square we will arrive at 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. The visit continues through the souk and its narrow streets full of shops, workshops and terraces. We will visit its guilds of carpenters, sharpeners. Overnight Marrakech. (B, L)

Day 12 – Sunday:                                         MARRAKECH – RABAT – FEZ

After breakfast departure to Rabat, the administrative capital of the country, another of the imperial cities and official residence of the royal family. We will visit its key points such as 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 costume in full dress, they guard the entrance to the monument on horseback. In the afternoon arrival in Fez. Dinner and overnight in Fez. (B, D)

Day 13 – Monday:                                       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 14 – Tuesday:                                       FEZ – TANGIER – COSTA DEL SOL

Departure to Tangier to board the ferry and cross the strait back to Spain where you will head towards Torremolinos, Costa del Sol. Overnight Torremolinos, Costa del Sol. (B, D)

Day 15 – Wednesday:                                 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 16 – Thursday:                                     GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID

After breakfast, departure to 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. End of our services upon arrival into Madrid city centre. No hotel drop off. You will need to make your own way to the hotel. (B, L)

Accommodation (or similar):

LISBON: Lutecia Hotel

SEVILLE : Silken Al-Andalus Palace

CORDOBA: EXE Ciudad De Cordoba

COSTA DEL SOL (TORREMOLINOS): Sol Principe

*Note: Departures from 23 Oct 2024-1 Jan 2025, overnight stay will be at Hotel Sol Don Pablo (Torremolinos).

CASABLANCA: Oum Palace

MARRAKECH: Zalagh Kasbah

FEZ: Heritage, or Zalagh Parc Palace

GRANADA: Saray Hotel

Includes:

• Transportation by air conditioned vehicle with free WI-FI onboard
• Accommodation as listed below or similar
• Meals as per itinerary
• Touring with Multilingual speaking guide
• Sightseeing tour with local guide in Lisbon, Seville, Cordoba, Marrakech, Rabat, Fez, Granada, and Toledo
• Fast ferry tickets
• 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. 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.

–          Passengers are required to clear customs with their own luggage. Only one piece of luggage per person is permitted.

–          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.