Best Iberian Cities and Morocco

Duration

16 Days

Physical rate

Moderate

Starting city

Madrid

Available

April 2024 / March 2025

Cities to visit: Madrid; Granada; Tanger; Asilah; Rabat; Casablanca; Marrakesh; Ait Benhaddou; Ouarzazate; Boumalne Dades; ; Erfoud; Fez; Sevilla; Merida; Evora; Lisbon; Caceres

Video Gallery


Detailed day by day description

Introduction

This tour is part of our flexible coach touring range, guaranteed with a minimum of 2 people. Once the tour is booked, it is guaranteed so it will definitely go ahead, and will never cancel.

This tour is guided in English only. Please note if English speaking attendance numbers are low, the tour can become bilingual either accompanied by two tour leaders, one for each language, or a single tour leader providing explanations in both languages.

The tour offers flexibility, allowing you to customize it to your preferences. By clicking 'Quote or Book,' you will have the choice to select your desired start and end dates and destinations within the tour's defined parameters. Given this flexibility, it's important to note that the same people, tour guides or drivers may not be on your entire journey.

Day
Welcome to Madrid!
Welcome to Europamundo!!!
IMPORTANT -IF YOU REQUESTED
ADDITIONAL NIGHTS upon arrival at the hotel, you would have your room booked,
but your trip guide would normally contact you at the beginning of the included
activities. YOUR TIME THEREFORE BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS FREE. The hotel staff can help you with all the information you need.
Note: The schedules that you will find in this itinerary are indicative. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the trip, may adjust the schedules.
Upon arrival at the airport, we shall be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the informative panels in the hotel reception area for the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers to receive information about the trip.
In the evening we provide transfers to the Plaza Mayor and La Latina, Madrid´s most famous area for night life and tapas restaurants, where you can dine at your preferred restaurant: Indian, Chinese, Spanish and Middle Eastern are some of the options.
The day starts around 08.30 hrs with a city tour through the centre of Madrid, including Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor.
We will visit Retiro Park , an oasis in the city centre, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. Entrance to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the football stadium of Real Madrid. We get to know the areas reserved for the players as well as the public areas and the small museum about this team, considered by some as the best in the world.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
At the end of the evening, we will return to the hotel.
Total distance: 450 km
Landscapes: The plains of La Mancha with the shadow of some mills and the great extensions of olive groves in the province of Jaén.
07:45 hrs. - Madrid – departure (the schedule may vary slightly depending on the pickup points).
We will make a stop at Puerto Lápice , a beautiful town in La Mancha with memories of Don Quixote de la Mancha.
13:30 hrs. - GRANADA – Arrival at the hotel. Lunch included . In the afternoon (or the next morning in case of difficulty obtaining tickets) we will visit, with a local guide, the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife gardens , built in the Arab era. After the visit free time. We recommend to have a walk through the Albaicín neighborhood.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The number of people authorized to visit the Alhambra is limited by law. To guarantee entry, the ticket will be issued when confirming the reservation of the tour. For this it is necessary to have the client´s correct personal data (full name and passport/ID number). Since there is no possibility of cancellation, in case of cancellation of the reservation the ticket costs will be passed on to the client. In very limited cases, when the Alhambra reservation is canceled, the Real Alcázar of Seville with similar characteristics will be visited.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: To access the Alhambra, it is necessary to present the document with which you confirmed the reservation (passport or ID).
Total distance covered: 530 km.

Scenery: We´ll be following the Costa del Sol with views over the Mediterranean Sea and crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. Our journey will continue along areas nearing the Moroccan coast.
Instructions: Remember to bring your passport; it will be necessary at the border. When it strikes 12 o´clock in Spain, it´ll be 10 or 11 o´clock in Morocco, depending on the time of year. Your guide will inform you when to adjust your watch for the time difference.

Note: During the crossing between Spain and Morocco, you must carry your own luggage.
07:30 a.m. – Departure from Granada. Stunning views over the Mediterranean.
11:45 a.m. – Algeciras/Tarifa. We´ll take a ferry and cross the Strait of Gibraltar (tickets included), heading to Africa on a boat. The crossing will take approximately 1.5 hours (we suggest that you have lunch on board). Arrival in the port of Tangier. Customs and border procedures (there are sometimes delays). We´ll continue to Asilah, a small walled city facing the sea. Time for lunch and a walk through its beautiful walled medina.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Asilah. We´ll continue along the motorway to Rabat, the diplomatic capital of the city, with its special charm.
07:30 p.m. – Rabat. Dinner and accommodation.
Total distance covered: 350 km.
Scenery: As we continue our journey inland, the landscapes will gradually become drier, transitioning to almost desert-like conditions upon reaching Marrakech.
08:00 a.m. – We’ll embark on a panoramic tour of the Kingdom’s capital, one of the most beautiful places in the country. We´ll see the mighty Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower housing the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the ancient Andalusian walls, the exterior of the Royal Palace, and the modern neighborhoods hosting various embassies. You will have free time to explore at your leisure after the tour.
11:00 a.m. – Departure from Rabat.
12:15 p.m. – Casablanca. Brief tour of this modern city with a local guide. We’ll visit the exterior of the immense Hassan II Mosque: the second largest mosque in the Muslim world (after Mecca). We’ll make a short stop at the Corniche for lunch.
02:30 p.m. - Casablanca, departure towards Marrakech.
05:45 p.m. - Marrakech. Upon arrival we’ll include a 40-minute Kalesa ride (horse drawn carriage) to visit the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa market square, which is always brimming with activity in the afternoon. We’ll continue to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
08:15 a.m. - We´ll begin our city tour. Nestled among hundreds of palm trees and surrounded by ochre walls, this exotic city is full of activity and life. We´ll explore its impressive strong walls, the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square, the colorful Medina, and the Koutoubia Mosque. We´ll also visit the Bahia Palace (tickets included). Lunch will be at the hotel, followed by free time in the afternoon.
In the evening, we recommend the Fantasy dinner show, where you can experience the rich and varied Moroccan folklore.


Total distance covered: 300 km.
Landscapes: Incredibly beautiful views, crossing the Atlas Mountains and passing by picturesque villages perched on the mountainside.
Note: Don´t forget to bring your camera. We also recommend warm clothing for the mountain.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Marrakech. We´ll embark on a journey through the towering Atlas Mountains, a natural barrier separating Marrakech from the Sahara Desert. Along the way, we´ll make a stop in a picturesque mountain village.
01:30 p.m. – Ait Benhaddou, a fortified adobe village declared a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning scenery showcased in numerous films. We’ll have some time for lunch and a leisurely stroll among its mud-brick houses.
03:00 p.m. – Departure from Ait Benhaddou.
03:30 p.m. – Ouarzazate. Arrival in this desert city known for its ancient quarter, which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its impressive fortress.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Ouarzazate. We’ll continue through desert plains and the oasis valley.
06:00 p.m. - Boumalne Dades. Enjoy the facilities of our hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Note: In extremely rare circumstances, the road through the Atlas Mountains may be closed due to weather conditions (snow or flash floods). In such a case, Europamundo will organize the following alternative route: FRIDAY: Marrakech - Essaouira / SATURDAY: Essaouira – Safi - El Jadida - Meknes / SUNDAY: Meknes - Fez.
Total distance covered: 280 km.
Scenery: Exceptionally beautiful landscapes through the Valley of the Kasbahs and areas reminiscent of biblical times.
Tip: Wear comfortable footwear. Have you finished reading a book? Consider donating it to the library we´re establishing in Tinejdad!
07:15 a.m. - Departure from Boumalne Dades. We´ll journey through the Valley of the Kasbahs, nestled between the High Atlas and the Saharan Atlas, renowned for its abundance of Kasbahs—adobe fortresses that historically safeguarded crops and villages from nomadic tribes. Along the way, we´ll explore stunning oases, palm groves, and picturesque adobe villages.
09:00 a.m. - Todgha Gorge. You’ll get the chance to explore this deep canyon amidst the Atlas Mountains, one of Morocco´s most stunning landscapes. Enjoy free time here (accessibility may vary due to occasional river flooding after heavy rains).
09:45 a.m. - Departure from Todgha Gorge. As we progress, the desert landscape will become increasingly prominent.
10:45 a.m. - Ksar el Khorbat. Weather permitting, we´ll stop at this adobe oasis town supported by the Europamundo Foundation. You’ll learn about the desert community´s life in these impressive fortified villages.
11:45 a.m. - Departure from Ksar el Khorbat.
02:00 p.m. - Arrival in Erfoud. Enjoy lunch at the hotel and relax in its gardens and pool amidst the desert. Optionally, our guide can arrange an off-road excursion across the Merzouga sand dunes, where you’ll get to see the beautiful sunset and dinner will be included in this unforgettable desert setting.
Total distance covered: 430 km.
Scenery: Beautiful views of the Atlas Mountains, transitioning into lush, forested areas.
Note: We’ll ascend to high altitudes in the Atlas, where it can be cold. Please bring warm clothing.
08:00 a.m. – We’ll leave Erfoud early, crossing the Atlas Mountains through powerful gorges and stunning landscapes. Then we’ll traverse a high, cold plateau inhabited by nomadic shepherds.
11:30 a.m. - Stop in Midelt, a central town in this region, supported mainly by agriculture, especially apples, and by stone, fossil, and mineral crafts. Time for a walk and lunch.
01:00 p.m. – Departure from Midelt. We continue our route to the Middle Atlas, observing the dramatic changes in the landscape. We are now in a region with abundant forests, where it snows frequently in winter.
02:45 p.m. - Azrou. We’ll stop in this National Park to visit "The House of Cedars", a small museum that will teach us more about the region. We´ll enjoy watching the colonies of monkeys that inhabit this area.
03:30 p.m. – Departure from Azrou.
04:45 p.m. - Bhalil. Arrival in a small, quiet town home to Berbers of the Middle Atlas, featuring a very picturesque historic center with colorful streets. Traditionally, the population lived in caves, which are now part of the houses.
05:45 p.m. – Departure from Bhalil.
06:15 p.m. - Fez. Arrival in the spiritual heart of Morocco, a maze of alleys, souks, doors, and scents. Before going to the hotel, we’ll admire the view of the city from the Marinid Tombs. Dinner is included.
Total distance covered: 395 km.
08:00 a.m. - Departure from the hotel. We’ll embark on a city tour of Fez with a local guide. During our visit, we’ll explore the city’s most captivating sites, featuring its iconic architecture and bustling souks. Entering through the Bronze Gates of the Royal Palace, we’ll visit the Jewish quarter, the Tanners´ Quarter, and the vibrant souks. Known as the cultural capital of Morocco, Fez boasts its impressive Medina that retains its traditional Arabian charm. After the tour, we’ll savor a typical Moroccan lunch in a beautiful old palace within the Medina (included).
03:00 p.m. - Departure from Fez. We’ll travel along the modern highway to northern Morocco, passing through the lush Rif valleys, adorned with olive and wheat fields, and regions rich with sugar cane and fruit trees.
08:00 p.m. - Arrival in Tangier. Dinner will be included.
Total distance covered: 280 km.
Scenery: Amazing views over the cliffs and the strait. Pleasant scenery of Andalusian white villages.
Note: Remember to keep your passport close. The departure time of the ferry varies depending on the season. Border formalities may involve delays. Returning to Spain, you will have to put your clocks forward by 1 or 2 hours (depending on the time of the year). Your guide will advise you about the time change.
At about 11:00 a.m. (time may vary), we’ll depart from the port of Tangier. Boarding formalities will take place, and each traveler must carry their bags and hand luggage, as required by the Spanish national security authorities. The crossing will take approximately one hour. We suggest having lunch on the ferry.
Arrival in Algeciras/Tarifa. Our journey will continue through beautiful white villages.
08:30 p.m. - Seville.
Our visit to Seville will be truly memorable as we blend a bus and walking tour with a scenic boat ride along the Guadalquivir River, offering the best views of the city´s monuments and landmarks.
A local guide will enrich our experience with insights into the history and culture of Andalusia´s capital, starting our journey around nine in the morning. Highlights include the Cathedral and Giralda, Santa Cruz neighborhood, the Guadalquivir riverbanks, Torre del Oro, Maestranza Bullring, Cartuja Island (former Expo site and home to Isla Mágica amusement park), and María Luisa Park with its stunning Plaza de España. The tour, lasting approximately 3 hours including the boat ride, will conclude with free time in the afternoon. Optionally, the guide will offer the opportunity for those interested to visit the cathedral and attend a flamenco performance at a tablao in the evening.
Total distance: 490 km
Scenery: Attractive landscapes of white-painted villages, mountain ranges and castles.

Note: In Portugal we must set our watches back one hour.
09:00 hrs. - Seville - Departure. We travel through pleasant landscapes of soft mountains and large pasture lands towards Extremadura.
11:30 hrs. - Mérida . Arrival in the capital of Extremadura. Admission included to the archaeological complex of the Roman Theater and Amphitheater , the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, a World Heritage Site, recognized not only for its good state of conservation, but also as an example of the importance that spectacle and entertainment had the ancient Rome in all of its provinces. Mérida has a pleasant pedestrian historic center with a lot of life and places, where you can have lunch.
15:30 hrs. - Mérida - departure. Beautiful landscapes of large meadows. We pass to Portugal. We enter the Alentejo region.
16:30 hrs. (Portuguese time) - Évora - Arrival. The capital of Alentejo, one of the oldest cities in Portugal that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Time to walk through the historic center with its white streets, its cathedral, its old churches, a taste of southern Portugal.
18:30 hrs. - Évora - Departure.
20:00 hrs. - LISBON - Arrival and accommodation.
Sightseeing tour of Lisbon. In the morning, you’ll enjoy a city tour with a local guide lasting approximately 2 hours. You’ll get to know the Portuguese capital of the seven hills, with its charming alleys, iconic tiles, the feeling of "saudade," and the beautiful Atlantic light. Our tour will include stops at the following points: Eduardo VII Park, Baixa Pombalina (Marquis of Pombal Square, Rossio with views of São Jorge Castle and Alfama), Estrela neighborhood, Estrela Basilica, the Monument of the Discoveries, Belém Tower, and the Jerónimos Monastery. The visit will conclude in the city center. You´ll have free time in the afternoon to further explore the city. We recommend taking the Glória Funicular to visit Bairro Alto and the São Pedro viewpoint. Optionally, our guide will offer visits to the picturesque towns of Sintra, with its castle, and Cascais and Estoril by the seaside.
08:30 p.m. - We’ll return to the hotel from the lively Restauradores Square , filled with vibrant bars and cafes.

Total distance covered: 620 km.
Scenery: Forests, small mountains, walled villages, and Castilian hills.
Note: There is a one-hour time difference between Spain and Portugal. When it is 11:00 a.m. in Portugal, it is 12:00 p.m. in Spain.
07:30 a.m. – Departure from Lisbon. We’ll cross the beautiful region of Alentejo.
09:45 a.m. - Estremoz. Arrival in this charming town with a medieval castle, cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, and a peaceful atmosphere that reflects Portuguese authenticity.
10:30 a.m. – Departure from Estremoz. We’ll pass into Spain, crossing the meadows of Extremadura.
01:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in Portugal) - Cáceres. Time for lunch, followed by a walk through its historic center, one of the best-preserved medieval and Renaissance urban complexes in the world.

04:00 p.m. – Departure from Cáceres.
08:00 p.m. - Madrid.
After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.
Note: Please be aware that the hotel check-out time is usually 10:00 a.m. You can leave your luggage in reception upon check-out, allowing you to explore the city without carrying your bags. You can retrieve your luggage at your convenience later in the day. If you require additional time to use your room, we recommend booking an extra night at the end of your tour.

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From AUD 3,064