Spain, Portugal And Morocco

2012 Season
Departs From: Madrid

From 1,123EUR

Length: 15 days from Madrid to Madrid, or 16 days incl. travel

Overview

Combine the highlights of the Iberian Peninsula with fascinating Morocco on this unforgettable vacation. Start in Madrid, Spain’s grand capital, then visit fortified Avila, with its many towers, and renaissance Salamanca. Enter Portugal and arrive in Coimbra, a charming hillside town that overlooks the Mondego River. Visit the Batalha Monastery and the Sanctuary of Fatima, and arrive in explorer Henry the Navigator’s exquisite city of Lisbon. Spend two nights in spectacular Seville before boarding a ferry for Morocco. As you arrive on the African continent, motor to the old walled city of Fez for two overnights. Visit a traditional medina on the included sightseeing tour. Next, head through the Middle Atlas mountain range to Marrakesh, known for its colorful Djemaa el Fna, a square bustling with acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, and food stalls. See Casablanca, then Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. Re-cross the Strait of Gibraltar and return to mainland Spain. Drive through the Andalusian countryside to Granada for a treat: a visit to the exotic Alhambra complex, residence of Moorish kings. Retrace Don Quixote’s footsteps as you travel past the windmills and castles of La Mancha, then return to Madrid for the conclusion of your exciting journey.

Notes:

March 31 Departure - Easter in Seville
April 21 Departure - Feria in Seville
December 20 Departure - Christmas lunch in Lisbon

Duration: 15 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
27 May, 2012	10 June, 2012
03 June, 2012	17 June, 2012
07 June, 2012	21 June, 2012
17 June, 2012	01 July, 2012
21 June, 2012	05 July, 2012
24 June, 2012	08 July, 2012
28 June, 2012	12 July, 2012
01 July, 2012	15 July, 2012
08 July, 2012	22 July, 2012
15 July, 2012	29 July, 2012
29 July, 2012	12 August, 2012
05 August, 2012	19 August, 2012
12 August, 2012	26 August, 2012
26 August, 2012	09 September, 2012
02 September, 2012	16 September, 2012
06 September, 2012	20 September, 2012
09 September, 2012	23 September, 2012
13 September, 2012	27 September, 2012
16 September, 2012	30 September, 2012
20 September, 2012	04 October, 2012
23 September, 2012	07 October, 2012
27 September, 2012	11 October, 2012
30 September, 2012	14 October, 2012
04 October, 2012	18 October, 2012
07 October, 2012	21 October, 2012
11 October, 2012	25 October, 2012
14 October, 2012	28 October, 2012
18 October, 2012	01 November, 2012
21 October, 2012	04 November, 2012
25 October, 2012	08 November, 2012
28 October, 2012	11 November, 2012
04 November, 2012	18 November, 2012
11 November, 2012	25 November, 2012
18 November, 2012	02 December, 2012
25 November, 2012	09 December, 2012
02 December, 2012	16 December, 2012
09 December, 2012	23 December, 2012
16 December, 2012	30 December, 2012
21 December, 2012	04 January, 2013

City Highlights

Headsets throughout the tour

Visits to Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Batalha, Fatima, Portuguese wine bodega, Seville, Casablanca

Scenic Highlights

Serra da Estrela, Andalusia, Guadalquivir Valley, Costa del Sol, La Mancha, Middle Atlas

Day 1   Arrive in Madrid, Spain. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 2   Madrid. Of the Spanish capital, situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it’s the nearest thing to heaven. You’ve only a day here and it’s certainly worth making the most of it by joining the included guided sightseeing tour: a full panoramic drive by way of the Avenida Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Parliament Square, and a picture stop outside the Royal Palace. The optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too. The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)

Day 3   Madrid–Avila–Salamanca–Coimbra, Portugal. West for a visit to fortified Avila with its many towers. Next is Salamanca, just six miles from the spot where Wellington routed Napoleon’s army in 1812. Make sure you spend some time wandering around Plaza Mayor, the grandest square in Spain. Across the frontier to Guarda, the highest town in Portugal. From here, descend to the valleys of the Serra da Estrela to Coimbra for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 4   Coimbra–Batalha–Fatima–Lisbon. This morning, enjoy your orientation tour of Coimbra, celebrated for its beauty and ancient university. Later, travel southwards to Batalha with a visit to its beautifully sited monastery. Today’s penultimate highlight is a visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima. A sterner and more desolate landscape accompanies you to Lisbon for your overnight in Portugal’s capital. A stop en route includes a wine bodega and some wine tasting. (B)

Day 5   Lisbon. Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. On the included tour, see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, and the impressive Black Horse Square. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion to coastal Estoril and Cascais. (B)

Day 6   Lisbon–Seville, Spain. From the rolling plains of the Alentejo with its woodlands of cork and eucalyptus trees, southwards all the way to the brilliant light of Andalusia. Admire its neat white-painted villages and sun-drenched plantations of olives, figs, and almonds, while traveling by way of Beja into magnificent Seville. (B)

Day 7   Seville. At leisure in one of Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of this vibrant city. (B,D)

Day 8   Seville–Ferry to Morocco–Fez. An interesting drive today starts with views of the sherry wine region before reaching the coast for embarkation on the ferry to Morocco. Next, motor south along what was once northern Africa’s infamous Barbary Coast. Join the new motorway for the drive southwards, then west, bypassing Meknes for two overnights in Fez. (B,D)

Day 9   Fez. At leisure in ancient Fez, which occupies a position of outstanding scenic beauty. This morning, visit the Medina on the included sightseeing and enjoy the maze of narrow streets through the colourful bazaars and the exotic atmosphere. (B)

Day 10   Fez–Middle Atlas–Marrakesh. While motoring through the Middle Atlas on your way to Marrakesh, enjoy glimpses of North African village life reminiscent of Beau Geste. (B,D)

Day 11   Marrakesh. The highlight of this morning is the included city sightseeing. You’ll really feel as if you’ve stopped the march of time. Marrakesh has always been a meeting place—first just a group of nomad tents, now a bustling city. An optional evening excursion will be a fitting choice to end the day. (B)

Day 12   Marrakesh–Casablanca–Rabat. This morning, drive northwest from the heartland of Morocco by way of Settat to reach the most western of all Moroccan cities—Casablanca. Stop here awhile. Later in the afternoon, continue by way of the motorway northwards to Rabat, Morocco’s capital for city sightseeing and an overnight. (B,D)

Day 13   Rabat–Ferry Crossing to Spain–Granada. Today an early departure retraces your steps northwards for the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to mainland Spain. Drive directly to the heart of Andalusia to reach Granada for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 14   Granada–Madrid. Take advantage of the included visit with a Local Guide of the Alhambra, a summer complex built by the Moorish kings. This afternoon, drive into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castle and windmills. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

Day 15   Madrid. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Buffet breakfasts (B); 7 dinners (D)

Hotel Information:  MADRID Praga (F), COIMBRA Dom Luis (ST), LISBON Roma (ST), SEVILLE Don Paco (ST), FEZ Menzeh Zalagh (ST), MARRAKESH Zalagh Kasbah & Spa (F) or similar, RABAT Rihab (F), GRANADA Don Juan (ST)

Guides

Local Guides for city sightseeing in Madrid, Lisbon, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, Granada-Alhambra. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring

Transportation

If transport to or from airport is required, please let us know. Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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