MADRID, ANDALUSIA AND MOROCCO (ENGLISH ONLY – SMALL GROUP) 16 DAYS
Tour overview:
This 16-day tour combines Madrid, Andalusia, and Costa del Sol in Spain with the imperial cities of Morocco: Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, and Rabat. Marvel at the history, traditions and culture that are unique to these two fabulous countries.
Day 1 - ARRIVE MADRID
Arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 2 - MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the beauties of the city with a guided city tour. Barrio de la Morería, the Hapsburgs District, 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 travelers for an authentic “Welcome Tapas Dinner” at a local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 3 - MADRID – CACERES – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Andalusian soils, 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 4 - 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 5 - 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. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 6 - 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 marvelous 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 7 - 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 8 - 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 ferryboat 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. (B)
Day 9 - 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 complete visit that begins in the magnificent Menara Gardens, which has a 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, there is a visit to 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. Optionally dinner and show at “Fantasia Chez Ali”. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 10 - 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 at the hotel.
Day 11 - 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 at the hotel. Optional dinner with show. (B)
Day 12 - 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 13 - COSTA DEL SOL .
Breakfast. Day at leisure for you to enjoy the wonderful beaches of the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 14 - COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Enjoy your daily breakfast at the hotel and depart to one of our favorite 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 travelers to experience the most authentic Gypsy Flamenco show including dinner. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 15 - GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for 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. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
Day 16 - DEPART MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. END OF OUR SERVICES.