Tour through Andalusia and Morocco NC
Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Madrid – Granada
Landscapes: The La Mancha plains with the shadow of a windmill and the vast olive groves of the Jaén province.
- 07:45 hrs – Madrid – departure. (The time may vary slightly depending on the pick-up hotels). We make a stop at PUERTO LAPICE, a beautiful La Mancha village with memories of Don Quixote.
- 13:30 hrs – Granada – Arrival at the hotel. Lunch included. In the afternoon (or the following morning in case of difficulty obtaining tickets), we will visit, with a local guide, the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife gardens, built during the Arab period.
- After the visit, free time. We recommend a walk through the Albaicín neighborhood.
NOTE: A passport is required to access the Alhambra.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The number of visitors allowed in the Alhambra is legally limited. Even if you purchase the trip with the Alhambra ticket included, we cannot guarantee the visit. If unavailable, the visit will be replaced with the Real Alcázar of Seville, which has similar characteristics. If visiting the Alhambra is crucial for you, we suggest purchasing the trip “without entrance” (at a lower price) and booking your tickets on the official website:
https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/
Day 2: Granada – Asilah – Rabat
- 07:30 hrs.- Granada – Departure. Beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
- 11:45 hrs.- Algeciras/Tarifa – Arrival. We board a ferry and cross the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa on modern vessels. The crossing takes approximately an hour and a half (we suggest having lunch on board). Arrival at the port of Tangier. Customs and border procedures (which may take some time). We continue to Asilah, a small walled city by the ocean. Free time for lunch and a walk through its beautiful medina.
- 16:30 hrs.- Asilah – Departure. We continue on the highway to Rabat, the country’s diplomatic capital and a city with special charm.
- 19:30 hrs.- Rabat – Arrival, dinner, and accommodation.
Day 3: Rabat – Casablanca – Marrakech
- 08:00 hrs. We begin the panoramic tour of the Kingdom’s capital, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. We visit the powerful fortress of the Oudaia, the Hassan Tower where King Mohamed V’s mausoleum is located, the Andalusian walls, the outer grounds of the Royal Palace, and the modern embassy districts. After the visit, free time.
- 12:00 hrs: Rabat – Departure.
- 13:15 hrs: Casablanca – Arrival. A brief panoramic tour with a local guide of this modern city. We see the exterior of the immense Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest mosque in the Muslim world (after Mecca). Short stop at the Corniche boulevard for lunch.
- 15:30 hrs.- Casablanca – Departure towards Marrakech.
- 18:45 hrs: Marrakech – Arrival. Upon arrival, we include a 40-minute carriage ride to explore the famous Jemaa El Fna Square, which is lively at this hour. Then we head to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 4: Marrakech
- 08:15 hrs. We include a panoramic tour of the city. Surrounded by ochre walls and hundreds of palm trees, this exotic city is full of life. We see the great walls, Jemaa El Fna Square, walk through the bustling Medina, view the Koutoubia Tower, and include entrance and a visit to the Bahia Palace. Lunch at the hotel and free afternoon.
At night, we recommend attending the Fantasia dinner show, where you can experience Morocco’s rich and diverse folklore.
Day 5: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Boulmane Dades
- 08:00 hrs: Marrakech – Departure. We begin a beautiful journey crossing the High Atlas Mountains, a natural barrier of the Sahara Desert. On the way, we stop in a high-mountain village.
- 13:30 hrs: Ait Benhaddou – Arrival at this fortified adobe village, a UNESCO World Heritage site where numerous films have been shot due to its incredible landscape. Free time for lunch and exploring the mud-brick houses.
- 15:00 hrs: Ait Benhaddou – Departure.
- 15:30 hrs: Ouarzazate – A desert city whose old quarter is also a UNESCO World Heritage site with a powerful kasbah.
- 16:30 hrs: Ouarzazate – Departure. We continue through desert plains and the valley-oasis.
- 18:00 hrs: Boulmane du Dades. You can enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Dinner and accommodation.
Note: In very rare cases, weather conditions (snow or flooding) may close the road across the Atlas Mountains. If this occurs, Europamundo will organize the following alternative route:
FRIDAY: Marrakech-Essaouira / SATURDAY: Essaouira-Safi-El Jadida-Meknes / SUNDAY: Meknes-Fez.
Day 6: Boulmane Dades – Todra – Khorbat – Erfoud
- 07:15 hrs – Boulmane – Departure. We follow the Valley of the Kasbahs, adobe fortresses that protected crops and villages from attacks by nomadic tribes. Spectacular oases and palm groves where we discover beautiful adobe villages.
- 09:00 hrs: Todra Gorges. – A deep canyon cuts through the Atlas Mountains, creating one of Morocco’s most stunning landscapes. Free time to enjoy the scenery (occasionally, if it rains heavily, we may not be able to access the gorges due to rising river levels). 09:45 hrs – Todra Gorges – Departure. As we continue, the desert presence becomes increasingly evident.
- 10:45 hrs.- Ksar el Khorbat – If the access road allows, we stop at this adobe/oasis village supported by the Europamundo Foundation. You can learn how desert people live in these impressive fortified villages.
- 11:45 hrs. – Ksar el Khorbat – Departure.
- 14:00 hrs. – Erfoud – Arrival. Lunch at the hotel. Relax in the gardens and pool of this desert hotel. Our guide will optionally offer an excursion in 4×4 vehicles to the Merzouga sand dunes, with dinner included in the dunes. An unforgettable landscape and experience.
Day 7: Erfoud – Fez
- 08:00 hrs. – Erfoud – Departure. We cross the Atlas again, following the stunning Ziz Valley (Valley of the Gazelle), the world’s largest oasis with 1.5 million date palms. We ascend the river to high, cold lands where snow is common in winter. Stop for lunch on the way.
- Arrival in Fez around 16:00 hrs.
- We then include a visit to the Jewish Quarter, the bronze doors of the Royal Palace, and a panoramic view to capture a beautiful photograph of the old city.
- Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 8: Fez – Tangier
- 08:00 hrs. – Departure from the hotel to begin the visit to the medina of Fez with a local guide. After the visit, we include lunch featuring Moroccan cuisine in a beautiful old palace in the medina.
- 14:00 hrs. – Departure from Fez. Olive and wheat fields in the valleys of the Rif. Fertile areas with sugar cane and fruit trees.
- 19:15 hrs: Tangier – Arrival. Free time. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 9: Tangier – Seville
- Around 11:00 hrs. (variable), we will depart from Tangier to the port. Boarding procedures. Each traveler must carry their suitcases and hand luggage according to the requirements of the Spanish state security forces. The crossing lasts approximately one hour, and we suggest having lunch on the ferry.
- Arrival in Algeciras/Tarifa and continuation through beautiful white villages. 20:30 hrs.- Seville – Arrival. Dinner included at the hotel upon arrival.
Note: Until the maritime connection between Morocco and Spain is restored, this day will include a transfer to take an early morning flight (07:00 hrs) from Tangier to MÁLAGA in Spain, where we will have time for a walk through its historic center, highlighting the cathedral and the Picasso Museum. After that, we continue along the coastal highway, enjoying beautiful Mediterranean landscapes. PUERTO BANUS, located in Marbella, is a beautiful high-end recreational port. In the afternoon, we continue through the mountains, hearing stories of bandits before arriving in RONDA, a stunning white village with its great gorge splitting the city in half. Then, we continue to SEVILLE, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner included at the hotel.
Day 10: Seville
Our visit to Seville will be very special, combining a bus and walking tour with a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River, allowing us to appreciate the best views of the city’s monuments and landmarks.
A local guide will explain the history and culture of Andalusia’s capital and show us its most beautiful spots. The tour begins around nine in the morning. We pass by the Cathedral-Giralda, Santa Cruz Quarter, Guadalquivir Riverbanks, Torre del Oro, Maestranza Bullring, La Cartuja Island (site of the Expo, now home to the “Isla Mágica” theme park), and María Luisa Park with the stunning Plaza de España. The total duration of the tour is about 3 hours (including the boat ride). After that, free time. The guide will offer the option to visit the cathedral and, in the evening, attend a popular flamenco show.
Day 11: Seville – Córdoba – Consuegra – Madrid
- 08:30 hrs. Seville – Departure.
- 10:30 hrs: CÓRDOBA – Arrival. With a local guide, we include a visit to its magnificent Mezquita-Cathedral (admission included), a walk through the old quarter with its famous flower-filled patios, and entry to the Ancient Synagogue (admission included). Afterwards, free time to have lunch and explore the charming Jewish quarter.
- 14:00 hrs. Córdoba – Departure. Journey towards Castilian lands.
- 17:15 hrs. Consuegra – Twelve giant windmills stand alongside the castle overlooking the vast La Mancha plains. We will visit the interior of one, the Rucio Mill, reminiscent of the times when wheat was ground into flour (admission included).
- 18:15 hrs. Consuegra – Departure.
- 20:00 hrs. Madrid – Arrival. End of our services. Please check your flight schedule in case you need an additional night. Our guide will advise you on the best public transportation options for your transfers.
Includes
- General services of Europamundo: Coach tour with a Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking guide, basic travel insurance, hotel accommodations, and buffet-style breakfast.
- Panoramic tour in: Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez, Seville, Córdoba.
- Boat ride: On the Guadalquivir River in Seville.
- Night transfer: Horse-drawn carriage to Jemaa Square in Marrakech.
- Entrance fees: Visit and entry to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens (only with the entrance-included option), Bahia Palace in Marrakech, House of Cedars in Azrou, Cathedral-Mosque and Ancient Synagogue in Córdoba, Rucio Mill in Consuegra.
- Ferry: Strait of Gibraltar crossing Algeciras – Tangier, Strait of Gibraltar crossing Tangier – Algeciras.
- 4 Included Lunches in: Granada, Marrakech, Erfoud, Fez.
- 6 Included Dinners in: Rabat, Marrakech, Boumalne Dades, Fez, Tangier, Seville.
Not Included
- Personal expenses, extras, and/or any service not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Excursions and/or admissions not mentioned in the itinerary or indicated as “not included.”
- Porters at hotels and airports.
- Tips and personal expenses such as beverages during meals, among others.
- Additional transfers (for flights different from those of the group, please request a quote from our agents).
