Itinerary:
Day #1 Overnight Flight - From the Gothic grandeur of Toledo to the exotic charms of Marrakech, discover the art, culture, history and traditions that characterize Spain and Morocco. Enjoy special excursions to Christian cathedrals, Moorish palaces, mosques and Jewish neighborhoods. Tour the Prado, discover the Moroccan countryside, and immerse yourself in a wonderfully revealing and truly fascinating vacation.
Day #2 Arrive Madrid, Spain - Begin your adventure in Spain’s capital city, Madrid. This evening, join fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner.
Day #3 Madrid - Prado Museum - Madrid - During a walking tour of Madrid’s historic center, see the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Spend time at the world-renowned Prado, which houses treasures by Spanish masters including Velazquez, El Greco and Goya.
Day #4 Madrid - Toledo - Granada - En route to Granada, stop in Toledo, the capital of medieval Spain until 1560. A tour of this hilltop city highlights the Gothic cathedral and the 13th-century synagogue of El Transito. Explore the Church of Santo Tome to view El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of Count Orgaz. Later, continue south through the peaceful Sierra Nevada to Granada.
Day #5 Granada - Marbella - This morning, join a local expert for a tour of the Alhambra, the extraordinary hilltop palace complex of Spain’s last Moorish rulers. Discover the magnificent Casas Reales, where rooms are decorated with domed ceilings and colorful tiles. Also tour the Generalife, where the grounds are beautifully designed with fountains, courtyards and secret gardens. Behold the stunning Mediterranean coast during the scenic drive to your hotel in Costa del Sol.
Day #6 Marbella - Algeciras - Tangier, Morocco - Board a ferry to cross the Strait of Gibraltar and, weather permitting, witness the silhouette of the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory set on the Iberian Peninsula. Later, arrive in Morocco – a gem of North Africa.
Day #7 Tangier - Chefchaouen - Volubilis - Fez - Today, journey south to visit Chefchaouen, a picturesque Moroccan village. Travel to Volubilis, the extensive ruins of an important Roman city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. View intricate and amazingly preserved mosaics from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Continue your adventure in the Imperial city of Fez.
Day #8 Fez - A morning sightseeing tour of Fez features the Bab Bou Jeloud, the entry gate to this fascinating ancient city. See the 14th-century Bouanania Medersa; the picturesque Route de Fez; the Medersa Attarine; and the Fez-el-Bali, the oldest walled part of Fez and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The afternoon is free to explore Fez on your own.
Day #9 Fez - Marrakech - Experience the stunning vistas of the Moroccan countryside as you wind past villages, olive groves and cedar forests into the Marrakech valley.
Day #10 Marrakech - Explore the colorful city of Marrakech on a tour that includes a visit to the 16th-century Ben Youssef Medersa. Visit Qoubba Almoravides, where fountains once supplied water to the people of Marrakech. Continue to the Souk and discover merchants selling textiles, clothing and handcrafts. Visit Jamaa el Fna Square, bustling with street performers, snake charmers and artisans. See the Koutoubia mosque, an emblem of the city, and the sandstone ruins of the 19th-century Badii Palace, once an opulent residence of the Grand Vizier.
Day #11 Marrakech - This morning, meander Marrakech’s lush gardens. Begin with the famous Menara Gardens and then step aboard a horse-drawn carriage for a tour around the city to reach the Majorelle Gardens and Museum of Islamic Art. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore Marrakech. Delight in a spectacular Moroccan feast this evening.
Day #12 Marrakech - Casablanca - Set off today for the world-famous city of Casablanca. A panoramic tour highlights its bustling central market, the Place Mohammed V, the city’s art deco center with its futuristic fountain, the Habbous Quarter, and the Hassan II Mosque – the second largest mosque in the world.
Day #13 Casablanca - Tour Concludes - Your tour concludes today in the city of Casablanca.