Iberian Capitals, Andalucia & Morocco - 17 Days

Madrid – Salamanca – Porto. We depart from the bus terminal at 7:30 this morning, heading first to Salamanca - one of Spain's great university cities, with a history stretching back centuries. There's free time to explore the historic centre and take in the Plaza Mayor, one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the country. We then continue west into Portugal, arriving in Porto this evening. Dinner is at your own arrangement tonight

Please note: This tour is bi-lingual and will be conducted in Spanish as well as in English.

Meeting Point: C. de Ferraz, 3, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28008 Madrid at 7:30.

After breakfast, we set out on a panoramic tour of Porto, a city whose historic centre is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange and the Church of Santa Clara, before finishing with a visit to a local wine cellar to sample the city's most famous export - Port wine. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

Porto – Coimbra – Fátima – Lisbon. We leave Porto after breakfast and head south to Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and widely regarded as the birthplace of fado. There's free time to wander before we continue to Fátima, one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world.

You'll have time to visit the Basilica and Sanctuary independently. We then press on to Lisbon, arriving this evening. If you'd like to round off the day with a traditional fado performance, this can be arranged as an optional extra.

Breakfast is followed by a panoramic morning tour of the Portuguese capital, set at the mouth of the Tagus River. We take in the Park Viewpoint, Edward VII Square, Rossio Square, Liberdade Avenue and the Madragoa District - the neighbourhood where fado first took root. We then head out to the Belém District to see the Tower of Belém, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Jerónimos Monastery. The afternoon is free. If you'd like to venture further afield, an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril is available and well worth considering.

Lisbon – Mérida – Seville. After breakfast we cross back into Spain, making our first stop in Mérida. Few cities in Europe wear their Roman past quite so visibly - the archaeological complex here, including the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and genuinely impressive. Lunch is at your own arrangement before we continue south along the Silver Route into Andalusia, arriving in Seville this evening for dinner.

We spend the morning on a city tour, taking in María Luisa Park, the Plaza de España and the exterior of Seville's vast Cathedral, alongside its iconic bell tower, the Giralda. We also explore the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, with its maze of narrow streets and sun-dappled squares. If you'd like to add to the day, there are two optional extras available: a cruise along the Guadalquivir River with views of the Torre del Oro, or a visit to the Maestranza bullring. Lunch is at your own arrangement. In the evening, you can optionally attend a flamenco show.

Seville – Córdoba. After breakfast we make the short journey to Córdoba. On arrival, we begin a walking tour at the Almudóvar Gate, passing through the historic Jewish Quarter before reaching the Mosque-Cathedral - one of the most remarkable buildings in Spain, and a powerful symbol of the city's layered history. The afternoon is free to explore further at your own pace. We return together for dinner this evening.

Córdoba – Ronda – Costa del Sol. Breakfast at the hotel before travelling along the scenic Route of the White Villages to Ronda. Enjoy free time to explore this picturesque town perched dramatically above a deep gorge. We then continue to the Costa del Sol.

Two days of half board on the Costa del Sol, with no set programme - just time to unwind. Relax on the beach, explore the local area, or join one of the optional excursions available. After several days of sightseeing, it's a welcome chance to set your own pace.

Costa del Sol - Tangier - Rabat - Casablanca. An early start this morning as we make our way to Tarifa - the southernmost tip of Europe, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. From here, we board the ferry and cross the Strait of Gibraltar into Africa, arriving in Tangier.

We have time to stroll around the port and explore the souks and historic quarters, where the blend of cultures is immediately striking. We then continue to Rabat, Morocco's administrative capital, to visit the Hassan Tower - conceived in the 12th century as the tallest minaret in the Islamic world but left unfinished after an earthquake - and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. After lunch we continue to Casablanca, arriving this evening for dinner.

Casablanca – Marrakesh. After breakfast we take a panoramic tour of Casablanca, taking in its wide seafront boulevards and cosmopolitan character. We stop outside the Hassan II Mosque, a genuinely extraordinary piece of modern Islamic architecture with a 210-metre minaret - the tallest in the world.

An optional interior visit is available for those who'd like to see more. We then head inland to Marrakech. The afternoon is free for a first wander through the medina and Jemaa el-Fna Square, the beating heart of the city's street life. Dinner is included this evening.

A full day in Marrakech after breakfast. We visit the Bahia Palace, with its ornate courtyards and intricate decorative detail, the Menara Gardens, and the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque.

We then weave through the souks, where artisans work in leather, metalwork and textiles much as they have for generations, before arriving at Jemaa el-Fna Square as the day's performers and food stalls begin to fill the space. Lunch is included, and the afternoon is free to continue at your own pace. For the evening, the optional Fantasia Chez Ali dinner show is a memorable way to round off the day.

Marrakech - Tangier. We head north after breakfast, with a stop in Mohammedia - a relaxed coastal town known for its beaches and seafood. Once called Fédala during the colonial period, it's now one of Morocco's principal ports.

There's free time for lunch by the Atlantic before we continue up to Tangier, arriving at sunset. The evening is yours - a stroll along the port boulevard or a quiet night at the hotel before tomorrow's crossing

Tangier - Tarifa - Costa del Sol. After breakfast we transfer to the port and board the ferry back across the Strait of Gibraltar, returning to Europe via Tarifa. From there we continue by road to the Costa del Sol, where dinner and accommodation await.

Costa Del Sol - Granada. We leave the coast after breakfast and head inland to Granada. The centrepiece of the day is a visit to the Alhambra and Generalife - the former palace complex of the Moorish kings, and one of the most celebrated examples of Islamic architecture in the world.

The intricate tilework, fountains and gardens reward time and attention. Dinner is included this evening. If you'd like to extend the day, an optional visit to the Sacromonte caves to watch a traditional Gypsy flamenco performance is well worth considering.

Please note: If, in any case, the Patronato of the Alhambra and Generalife does not grant tickets for certain dates, an alternative tour of the city of Granada will be provided instead. This visit will include the Palace of Carlos V, the Archaeological Museum, the Church of Santa María de la Alhambra, the Royal Chapel, and a walk through the Alcaicería (the old silk market) and Cathedral Square.

After breakfast we make our way north to Toledo, a city that has been shaped by Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities over the centuries and wears that history in every street. We enjoy a panoramic view from the Mirador del Valle before walking through the old town. Following lunch, we continue to Madrid, where our tour comes to an end on arrival.