Madrid, Morocco & Andalucia - 16 Days

On arrival at Madrid airport, we transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to relax or begin exploring the Spanish capital at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.

Please Note: This tour may combine different programmes. Where applicable, there may be a change of tour escort and fellow passengers between programme segments.

After breakfast, we enjoy a panoramic city tour showcasing Madrid’s rich history and modern character. We begin with the city’s medieval origins, including the former Arab fortress and the Barrio de la Moreria, known for its historic buildings and traditional taverns. We continue through the Habsburg district, developed under Philip II, with Renaissance and Baroque landmarks such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa. We then explore Bourbon Madrid and the grand urban projects of Charles III, seeing highlights such as the Royal Palace, the Cibeles and Neptune fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. Our tour also includes 19th-century landmarks like Plaza de Oriente and the Prado Museum, before discovering contemporary Madrid along Gran Vía, Paseo de la Castellana, the Salamanca district, Parque del Oeste, major commercial and financial areas and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. Please Note:If the panoramic tour of Madrid cannot operate due to technical reasons, it will be replaced by either a one-day Madrid Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket or a guided walking tour of the Habsburg Quarter, at the operator’s discretion.

After breakfast, we travel west towards Extremadura, a region closely linked to the explorers of the New World. We arrive in Mérida, the regional capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its remarkably preserved Roman remains. These include the theatre, amphitheatre and Roman bridge. After free time, we continue south to Córdoba, once the capital of the powerful Caliphate. Overnight at the hotel.

Following breakfast, we enjoy a guided visit of Córdoba, including its magnificent Mosque-Cathedral and a walk through the atmospheric Jewish Quarter, with its narrow, winding streets. In the afternoon, we travel approximately two hours to Seville. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we take a panoramic tour of Seville, visiting its impressive Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St Peter’s in Rome. We continue through the Santa Cruz quarter, famously linked to the opera Carmen and the legend of Don Juan, before visiting Maria Luisa Park and the iconic Plaza de España. The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy the city’s vibrant atmosphere, distinctive flavours and lively streets. Optional Flamenco show in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we drive south through picturesque Andalusian villages to Ronda. You have free time to admire this historic town of Celtic origin, dramatically set above a deep gorge with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. In the afternoon, we continue to the Costa del Sol, one of Spain’s most important international tourist regions. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. The day is at leisure for you to enjoy the beaches, coastal towns or surrounding areas, or to join one of our optional excursions. Overnight at the hotel.

We depart along the Costa del Sol and travel to Tarifa or Algeciras to board the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar. After a short and scenic crossing, we arrive in Africa and disembark in Tangier. Following customs formalities, we continue by coach to Meknes for a brief stop, before travelling onwards to Fez. Free time on arrival, followed by dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Please note: Passport details must be provided at least 45 days prior to departure to arrange the crossing into Morocco. Passports must be valid for more than six months beyond the date of entry and cover the full duration of the stay. Only one piece of luggage per person is permitted, and passengers must personally clear customs with their luggage.

After breakfast, we explore Fez, the oldest and most monumental of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. Our visit includes the seven gates of the Royal Palace, the Jewish Quarter or Mellah, the Bab Bou Jeloud gate and a walk through the vast Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest medieval city centres. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we depart early for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. We visit key landmarks including the exterior of the Royal Palace, the Mausoleum of Mohamed V and the Hassan Tower. We then continue to Casablanca, seeing United Nations Square, the Corniche Boulevard and the exterior of the Hassan II Mosque. After free time for lunch en route, we travel on to Marrakech. Optional traditional Fantasia dinner at Chez Ali under caidal tents. Overnight stay.

Following breakfast, we visit Marrakech, known as the ‘Pearl of the South’. We begin at the Menara Gardens, with its pavilion and extensive olive groves, before seeing the exterior of the Koutoubia Minaret, twin sister to Seville’s Giralda. In the old city, we visit the Bahia Palace and then explore the lively Jemaa el-Fna Square, the gateway to the souks and medina. We also visit several artisan guilds, including woodworkers, potters, leatherworkers and spice merchants. Lunch at the hotel, followed by our return journey to Casablanca. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we travel to Tangier and transfer to the port for the ferry crossing back to Spain. On arrival, we continue to the Costa del Sol. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. The day is at leisure for you to relax by the sea or explore the region independently, with optional excursions available. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we travel to Granada, set within a spectacular mountain landscape and once the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms until 1492. We visit the world-renowned Alhambra complex and the Generalife Gardens, whose beauty inspired works such as Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving. Overnight at the hotel. Optional Flamenco Zambra show in the evening. Please Note:If tickets for the Alhambra and Generalife are unavailable on certain dates, alternative compensation will be offered at the operator’s discretion.

After breakfast, we drive north to Toledo, dramatically located above the Tagus River. This UNESCO World Heritage City reflects centuries of coexistence between Christian, Moorish and Jewish cultures and is considered a living museum of Spanish history and art. We enjoy a short guided tour through its historic streets before continuing to Madrid. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for your departure.