Spain, Portugal & Morocco: Madrid to the Sahara

Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. We recommend arriving a day earlier to explore all that this amazing city has to offer.

Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Get ready for a full travel day. Journey to Porto, including a quick lunch stop in charming Salamanca. Arrive in Porto by the early evening.

: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Enjoy an orientation walk of Porto with the rest of the day free to explore. Opt take a cruise down the Douro River. In the evening, visit a port wine cellar and raise a glass to the day.
Head down Allies Avenue to see the French-inspired buildings. Bargain at the Bolhão Market. Wander the city's World Heritage-listed Ribeira district, visit São Francisco church, the palatial former 19th-century stock market Palácio de Bolsa or head to the Clerigos Tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Orientation With CEO: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Free Time: Take the day to explore this picturesque coastal town.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Journey to Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, and take in your surroundings on an orientation walk.

Lisbon Orientation Walk: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Free Time: Get out and explore.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Free day to explore Lisbon. Opt for a day trip to nearby Sintra. In the evening enjoy a Fado night and traditional Portuguese dinner in one of Lisbon's oldest neighbourhoods.
Opt to take a day trip into the foothills of the surrounding mountains to Sintra. Get lost in the city's winding streets lined with pastel coloured houses, palaces, majestic gardens and lush forests. It doesn't get more postcard-worthy than this.

Fado Night with Traditional Portuguese Meal: Sit down to a traditional meal and lend your ears to the sound of a performance by Portuguese folk music artists.

Free Time: Opt to explore the town or take a day trip to nearby Sintra.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, DINNER

Travel to Evora in the heart of the Alentejo region. Enjoy an included tour to the haunting, but mesmerizing Chapel of Bones. Opt to visit Diana's Temple, one of the best preserved Roman temples in the Iberian Peninsula.

Chapel of Bones Visit: Visit the most famous sight in Évora, the Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones. Take care if squeamish – built in the 1500s by a Franciscan monk, the walls are covered with human skeletons as a reminder to fellow monks that life is fleeting.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time: Take a wander around this historic town.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Journey to the Algarve coast to the small fishing village of Olhão. Explore its bustling fish market, active waterfront and white washed laneways. Continue to Seville and enjoy an orientation walk on arrival.

Orientation With CEO: Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time: Take the morning to wander around this quaint town.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Spend a day enjoying this city and its Moorish influence. Opt to explore the district of Santa Cruz and the Alcazar Palace before joining the group in the evening for a dramatic flamenco performance.
Take the time to see all this great city has to offer. Opt to explore the interiors and gardens of the Alcázar, a magnificent palace dating from Moorish times, or the true heart of Seville, the Santa Cruz quarter— a charming area with winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, flowery patios, and small squares. Seville is home to the world’s largest gothic cathedral — climb the adjoining tower for great views of the city. Other attractions include the Museo Arqueológico, the Casa de Pilates and the Parque de María Luisa, which has a maze of paths, garden beds, pretty little patios, fountains, and shaded lawns.

Flamenco Show: Enjoy a flamenco performance in the city known for the energetic dance. Be swept away by the flamenco's passion, fire, and grit!

Free Time: Spend time in Seville exploring Moorish monuments, parks, and gardens, getting a feel for Seville's energetic pulse. Opt to savour some tapas at the city's many bars and cafés.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Travel from Seville to the port in Algeciras and board a ferry to Morocco's coastal Tangier. After getting settled, enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk of the old town which will be followed by an optional group dinner at a local spot.

CEO-led Orientation Walk in Tangier: Enjoy an orientation walk of Tangier's old town with your CEO. Become familiar with the area and experience the sights and sounds of this northern Moroccan coastal city.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Set off from Tangier in the morning with a stop in the city of Tetouan for a visit. Walk through and explore several significant sites like El Feddan Square, Mellah Avenue, and the Tetouan Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival in Chefchaouen embark on a CEO guided visit of the beautiful blue streets and Hispano-Moorish architecture of northern Morocco. Finish the walk with a view over the city at sunset.

Tetouan Guided Walk: Spend 2 hours on a walking city tour of Tétouan and explore serveral significant landmarks while learning about the local history. Stops include Moulay el Mehdi square, El Feddan Square, the Royal Palace, and the Kasbah of Sidi Al-Mandri. Pass through the souks of the old medina and conclude the walk with a visit to an old Spanish fortress on a hilltop overlooking city.

: Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle between Tangier and your visit to the city of Tétouan.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Take part in a short guided hike through the Rif Mountains before a hands-on goat cheese making experience with a local family on their farm. Then, visit the off-the-beaten path town of Ouazzane and its unique neon-mint green medina. Arrive to Fés in the early evening and enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant featuring regional specialties like Pastilla.

Rif Mountain Hike & Goat Cheese Making: Start out today with a hike through the gorgeous scenery of the Rif Mountains. Walk through lush mountain scenery, passing small waterfalls and streams along the way. The group will also walk through villages and may be able to pick fresh figs from trees on their way (if in season). Then, visit the farm of a local family and experience a hands-on goat cheese making lesson from your friendly hosts. Distance: 7-8km Duration: 4hrs Terrain: Small, rocky footpath through the fields of fig and weed, with elevations around 500 to 600 meters.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, DINNER

Enjoy an immersive, guided tour of the incredible Fés medina, one of the world’s largest with more than 9000 winding streets. Visit various landmarks within the gates and finish up at the tannery. Lunch will be on your own in the medina and your CEO can help with options. The remainder of the evening is free for you to explore Fés on your own.

Fès Medina Guided Tour: Follow a local guide through the Fès medina, one of the world’s largest medinas with more than 9000 winding streets lying within 365 hectares. See buildings in the medina that date back to the 9th century; there are 350 mosques in the medina that are still in use today. Enter through one of the great gates into the chaos. Explore the artisans’ quarters as well as the many carpenters, bakers, butchers, and spice sellers. Visit the mausoleum and the Al Qarawiyin University. A highlight of the tour is the view of the famous Fès tannery from the balcony of a leather shop, where you can observe the men hard at work treating and dyeing the different hides. Take some time to shop for leather goods before returning to your hotel.

Free Time: Spend a few hours on your own in Fés and have lunch at a delicious nearby restaurant. Your CEO will share some of the best options for specialty foods of the city and other Moroccan classics.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Continue onwards from Fés to Casablanca today with stops en route. The first being the ancient city of Volubilis to learn more about its historical importance to Morocco and the culture behind it during your guided visit. Then, spend time visiting various historical sites in Meknes before ending up at the bustling souk area with vibrant market stalls and loads of handicrafts. Proceed to Casablanca for a free evening in this coastal city.

Volubilis Guided Tour: Listen to a certified local guide explain life in the Roman Empire at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the impressive, well-preserved Roman ruins. Peer into old bathhouses, marvel at the still-present mosaic floors, and gaze up at towering marble pillars. Hear stories about life in this Roman city that will leave you in awe of just how far their empire stretched.

: Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle transfer between Fés and Casablanca. There will be a few stops along the way to break up the journey.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Enjoy a full day getting to know the must-see sites and hidden gems of Casablanca. From mosques to bakeries and the historic courthouse in Casablanca there is so much to see and so little time. You’ll be busy all day until a free evening in which you can choose to attend the optional group dinner.

Guided Tour Casablanca: Begin the day with a ride past Rick's Cafe to see the location of the 'Casablanca' movie as you go by. Then stop at the world's second largest mosque, Hassan II Mosque which houses stunning mosaics and a minaret overlooking the Atlantic. Explore the historic Old Town and discover the oldest bakery while becoming immersed in Moroccan culture. Other stops during this full day include the courthouse built during the French Colonial era, the Notre Dame Church and its Grotto, the seafood market, and Mohamed V square also known as the United Nations Square. Cap the day off at a rooftop overlooking Casablanca where you can choose to have a drink and get some food.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH

Transfer to Marrakech in the morning before continuing onwards to Ouarzazate, a city south of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains. Arrive in the evening and get settled before attending an optional group dinner.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle transfer from Casablanca to Marrakech.

Free Time: Spend an hour or so of free time to grab lunch while in Marrakech before heading off to the next destination.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

In the morning before leaving the group will explore the famous atlas film studios in Ourzazate and learn a bit about the film making in Morocco. Drive to Zagora and then to Mhamid. From there head out into the Sahara desert for two nights of camping under the stars. The walk will take about two hours and we will arrive at the camp around sunset. Enjoy a cup of tea and watch the colors change in the sky as the sun slips below the horizon.
From Ourzazate we drive to Zagora along rural roads. In Mhamid (Oulad Edriss) we meet the local crew and start the desert journey to Erg Lihoudi. Any luggage will be brought to camp by jeeps. Dinner will be served fireside.The camp is in Erg Lihoudi. Our camps will be comfortable, but still somewhat basic. You’ll see some spectacular night skies.

Atlas Film Studios Tour: Discover the sets of blockbusters from years past at Atlas Film Studios, the largest film studio in the world. Get behind-the-scenes access to the sets and props used in the making of films like Raiders of the Lost Arc and Gladiator (2000), as well as TV show Game of Thrones. Wander past jetplanes, through a colosseum, and into a tomb as your guide reveals the scenes that they were used in and how they were built.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, DINNER

Wake up to a stunning sunrise, enjoy some breakfast at camp and then start the day. This is our second day of the Berber desert journey. Then you have a choice of walking or riding a camel to our lunch stop. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Sahara as you travel like people have for millenniums. After lunch we’ll enter the 21st century again and travel to the next desert camp by 4x4. Arrive at the oasis of Bertam to catch sunset before having dinner fireside with stories and music.

Berber Desert Journey: Today you have the choice to walk or ride a camel. Its about a two to three hour walk or ride ride until we reach our lunch stop. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Sahara as you travel like people have for centuries.

: Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

After another sunrise out in the desert and some breakfast at camp the group will travel to Zagora by 4x4. Enjoy some free time to shower, freshen up, and relax by the hotel pool after our Sahara adventure. After lunch continue on to Skoura. Explore this oasis city famed for its date palms. Have dinner as a group in Skoura.

: Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.

Free Time: Take advantage of some free time in Zagora to freshen up at the hotel. Grab a hot shower washing the desert dust away and spend some time by the pool before lunch. It's the perfect way to feel refreshed after our desert adventure.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

After breakfast the group will travel directly to Marrakech. The tour ends on arrival to the airport around 1pm, or at the Marrakech hotel for those have booked post-tour nights. Please do not book any departing flights earlier than 4PM

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST