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Pearls of Spain and Mysterious Morocco

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Duration

16 Days 15 Nights

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

Unlimited

Languages

___

Itinerary

Day 1:

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.

Reception. Transfer to hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.


IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.


NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.

Day 2: Barcelona.

Highlights: Barcelona Guided tour lasting 3 hours; visit to “Poble Espanyol”, with admission included and evening transfer to the Magic Fountain of Montjuich.

09:00h.- Tour of the city with a local guide (note: if the group has fewer than fifteen people, explanations can be given by our guide) who will tell us about this exciting city on the shores of the Mediterranean. We will visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighborhood dating back to the Middle Ages. We will visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. It will be possible to see and photograph La Sagrada Familia basilica; the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí.


Subsequently, we include the entry ticket to “Poble Espanyol” (meaning, Spanish Village), an open-air museum that combines the art, traditions, architecture, arts and crafts and folklore of each of the Spanish regions. Time for lunch. Free afternoon.


18:30h.- In the evening, we include transportation and will attend the show of the Magic fountain of Montjuïch, with its combination of lights, colors, water and music. You will have time to dine in this area.


Note: in case of having the transfer to the Magic Fountain a day that for maintenance or any other reason the show is not performed, the night transfer will be given to the Maremagnum, avant-garde leisure center with restaurants by the sea and to the Plaza Colón.

Day 3: Barcelona - Peniscola - Valencia - Madrid.-

Total distance: 725 km.
Scenery: We follow the Mediterranean coast. Landscapes on the sea.


08:00 hrs -Barcelona -Departure. We travel to the Valencian Community.
10:45 hrs -Peñíscola.- Arrival. Dominating the sea with its powerful walls, its historic center with steep streets, white houses and medieval castle. History tells us about popes and pirates. Peñíscola is one of the most beautiful villages of the Spanish Mediterranean. Time to walk.


12:30 hrs -Peñíscola.- Departure.
14:30 hrs -Valencia.- Arrival. Free time in the center for lunch. Why not trying an authentic Paella Valenciana?. We suggest visiting the Lonja and the Cathedral.


16:30 hrs -Valencia.- Departure. After passing through the avant-garde city of Arts and Sciences, we continue through Castilla-La Mancha to Madrid.
21:00 hrs -Madrid.- Transfer to the Plaza Mayor - There may be small variations in the departure time according to the hotel where you stay. Our guide will accompany you to the area so that you know where the main inns are located.

Note: Some times, the transfer to the Plaza Mayor can be given the next day after the city tour.
Note: If the number of travellers from Valencia to Madrid is very small, the trip may be done by train or regular transport.

Day 4: Madrid.

Highlights: Guided tour and stroll through Retiro Park. Visit to Las Ventas Bullring (admission included) and transfer to Plaza del Oriente.


The day starts about 08.30 hrs with a comprehensive tour through the centre of Madrid including Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor.


Visit to Retiro Park, an oasis in the city centre, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. Admission to Las Ventas Bullring included. This is one of the most famous bullrings in the world where we will learn about the tradition of “corridas” in the Bullfighting Museum.


Enjoy the rest of the afternoon.



At sunset we provide a transfer to Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, an elegant and bustling area with many restaurants serving different exquisite cuisines (Indian, Middle Eastern, Muslim, Spanish, International) in which to enjoy a pleasant dinner. Return to hotel.

Day 5: Madrid - Granada.-

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.

TODAY’S HIGLIGHTS: Lunch included- entrance and local guide in the Alhambra. Evening transfer.


08:00 hrs. - Madrid – departure. We travel to the South. We stop at Puerto Lápice, a beautiful town of La Mancha plain evoking the figure of Don Quixote de la Mancha.
13:45 hrs. - GRANADA – Arrival at the hotel. Lunch included. After lunch we will visit with a local guide the immense Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife gardens, built in Arab times.


19.00 hrs.- Enjoy an evening transfer to the Albaicín of Granada, a World Heritage site along with the Alhambra, where you can enjoy dinner in a restaurant in the narrow winding streets of this captivating Medieval Moorish quarter. Return to hotel. Tonight you have the option to attend a flamenco dance show and the traditional neighbourhood of Sac­ramonte.



IMPORTANT NOTE: To enter the Alhambra, it is mandatory to present the passport as ID.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The maximum number of people allowed to visit the Alhambra is limited by the local government. Even if you buy the trip with the ticket included we cannot guarantee entrance to the Alhambra. In such event, we would offer entry to the Reales Alcázares in Seville, which is similar.

Day 6: Granada - Asilah - Rabat.

Distance travelled: 530 km.

Landscapes: We follow the Costa del Sol with views over the Mediterranean Sea and cross the Straits of Gibraltar. Our journey continues along areas adjoining the Moroccan coast.

INSTRUCTIONS: Do not forget your passport, you will need it at the border. Depending on the time of year, the time in Morocco is 1 or 2 hours behind Spain. Your guide will tell you when to change the time, and will confirm the time difference.
Please note: During the crossing between Spain and Morocco, you must carry your own luggage.


07:30 hrs Granada. Departure. Stunning views over the Mediterranean.
11:45 hrs Algeciras-Tarifa -Arrival-. We board a ferry and cross the Straits of Gibraltar, crossing into Africa on a modern boat. The crossing takes approximately 1.5 hours (we suggest that you have lunch on board). Arrival in the port of Tangiers. Customs and border procedures (there are sometimes delays). We continue to Asilah, a small walled city facing the sea. Time for lunch and a stroll through its beautiful walled medina.

16:30 hrs -Departure- Asilah. Continue via the motorway to Rabat, the diplomatic capital of the city, with its special charm.
19:30 hrs- Rabat- Arrival, dinner and accommodation.

Day 7: Rabat - Casablanca - Marrakech.

Total distance travelled: 350 km.

Landscapes: As we continue inland, the landscapes become progressively drier, and are almost desert upon reaching Marrakech.


08:00 hrs We start the sightseeing tour of the Kingdom´s capital. This city is one of the most beautiful in the country. We visit the imposing Oudaia Fort, the Hassan Tower where the mausoleum of King Mohammed V is located, the Andalusian walls, the outside of the Royal Palace and the modern neighborhoods where the embassies are situated. Following our tour, free time.


11:00 hrs - Rabat - Departure.
12.15 hrs - Casablanca - Arrival. Brief introductory tour of this modern city with a local guide. We visit the exterior of the immense Mosque of Hassan II; the second largest mosque in the Muslim world (after Mecca). Short stop at the Corniche for lunch.


14.30 hrs.- Casablanca, departure towards Marrakech.
17.45 hrs - Marrakech -Arrival. Upon arrival, we include a 40 minute tour in Kalesas (horse drawn carriages) to visit the famous Djemaa El Fna market square, which is brimming with activity at this time of the day. We continue to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 8: Marrakech.

08:15 hrs We start with a sightseeing tour of the city. Located among hundreds of palm trees and surrounded by ochre walls, this exotic city brims with activity and life. We return to the Jemaa El Fna square, Koutoubia Mosque, the Jewish Quarter and the Bahia Palace. Lunch at the hotel included and free afternoon. At night, we recommend attending the Fantasia dinner show where you can experience the rich and varied folklore of Morocco.

Day 9: Marrakech - Ait Benhadou - Ourzazate - Boulmane Dades.

Total distance travelled: 300 km. Landscapes: Incredibly beautiful. We cross the Atlas mountains and pass by beautiful villages perched on the mountainsides.
Please note: Do not forget to keep your camera handy. We also recommend warm clothes for the mountains.


08:00 hrs - Marrakech - Departure. We begin a beautiful part of the journey, crossing the high mountains of the Atlas, a natural barrier of the Sahara desert. En route, we stop at a high mountain village.
13:30 hrs - Ait Benhaddou - Arrival in this fortified adobe-built town, which is a World Heritage Site, where many films have been shot due to its incredible landscape backdrop. Time for lunch and a stroll among its mud houses.


15:00 hrs - Ait Benhadou -Departure-
15:30 hrs - Ouarzazate A desert city with an imposing fortress, whose oldest part is also a World Heritage Site.


16:30 hrs - Ouarzazate- Departure. We continue through desert plains and valley oases.
18:00 hrs - Boulmane Dades. You can enjoy the facilities at our hotel. Dinner and accommodation.


Please note: In very exceptional cases, it may happen that, due to bad weather, the road through the Atlas is cut off (with snow or flash floods). In this is the case, Europamundo will arrange the following alternative route: FRIDAY: Marrakech-Essaouira / SATURDAY: Essaouira-Safi-El Jadida-Meknes / SUNDAY: Meknes-Fez.

Day 10: Boulmane Dades - Todgha - Khorbat - Erfoud.

Distance traveled: 280 km.

Landscapes: Extremely beautiful, following the so-called "Valley of the Kasbahs"; and an area with biblical landscapes.
Tip: Wear comfortable footwear. Are you carrying a book you have finished reading? Maybe you would consider donating it to the library that we are creating in Tinejad?




07.15 hrs - Boulmane Dades - Departure. We follow the Valley of the Kasbahs; adobe fortresses that protected the crops and villages from attacks from other nomadic tribes. Breathtaking oases and palm groves, where we glimpse delightful adobe-built villages.
09.00 hrs - Todra Gorge. A deep canyon cuts through the Atlas Mountains amidst one of the most beautiful areas of Morocco. We include free time to enjoy this beautiful landscape (sometimes, following intense rain, we cannot access the gorges due to flooding of the rivers).




09.45 hrs Todra Gorge -Departure-. The predominance of the desert becomes ever more marked as we progress along this part of our journey.
10.45 hrs- Ksar el Khorbat -If time does not prevent it (access road), we stop at this adobe/oasis town with which the Europamundo Foundation is collaborating. You will be able to learn about the lives of the desert peoples 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 at this desert hotel. Our tour guide will propose an optional excursion in all-terrain vehicles across the Merzouga sand dunes, with dinner included on the dunes: an unforgettable landscape and experience.

Day 11: Erfoud - Midelt- Azrou- Bhalil - Fez.

Total distance covered: 430 km.

Landscapes: Very beautiful scenery of the Atlas, passing into more verdant areas covered by forests.

Note: at this stage we will climb to high areas of the Atlas, which may be cold. Remember to bring some warm clothes.


08.00hrs- We will leave Erfoud early, we cross the Atlas between powerful gorges and stunning landscapes. We then cross a high and cold plateau area inhabited by nomadic pastoralists.
11.30 hrs- Stop in Midelt, in the center of this region, which lives mainly from agriculture, especially apples, and from stone, fossil and mineral crafts. Time for a stroll and lunch.
13.00 hrs.- Midelt- Departure. We continue our route to the Middle Atlas seeing how the landscape changes completely. We are in a region with abundant forests, and where it snows frequently in winter.
14.45 hrs- Azrú. Stop in this National Park to visit "the house of the cedars", a small museum that illustrates us about the region. We will be amused by the colonies of monkeys that inhabit this area.


15.30hrs- Azrú departure.
16.45hrs- Bhalil, arrival in a small and quiet town inhabited by Berbers of the Middle Atlas with a very picturesque historic center of colorful streets. Traditionally the population in this city lived in caves, today these caves have been integrated into the houses.


17.45 hrs- Bhalil- departure.
18.15- Fez. Arrival in the spiritual heart city of Morocco, a labyrinth of alleys and souks, doors and smells. Before going to the hotel, we will admire the view of the city from the Saadian tombs. Dinner included.

Day 12: Fez - Tangier.-

Total distance: 395km

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Guided city tour of Fez. Admission prices included. Lunch and dinner included.


08.00hrs- We leave the hotel to discover Fez with an informative scenic tour with a local guide.
In the visit we will get to know the most interesting part of the city, with its emblematic architecture and its lively souks of ancient atmosphere that will not leave us indifferent. We will enter through the Bronze Gates of the Royal Palace and get to know the Jewish quarter, its lively souks, the tanners´ quarter... The cultural capital of the country is known for its impressive Medina that preserves the traditional Arabian atmosphere. After the visit we include a typical Moroccan lunch in a beautiful old Palace of the Medina.

15:00 hrs. –Departure from Fez. We take the modern highway to the north of Morocco through olive and wheat fields in the Rif valleys. Fertile areas of sugar cane and fruit trees.
20.00 hrs. - Tangier. Arrival. Dinner included.

Day 13: Tangier - Seville.

Distance covered by road: 280 km.

Landscapes: Amazing views over the cliffs and Straits. Pleasant scenery of white villages in Andalusia.
WARNING: Remember to keep your passport handy.
PLEASE NOTE: The ferry departure time 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 time of year). Your guide will advise you about the change.


At about 11:00 hrs (variable), we shall depart from the port of Tangier. Boarding formalities. Each traveller must carry their bags and hand luggage, as required by the Spanish national security authorities. Crossing of approximately one hour. We suggest having lunch on the ferry.


Arrival in Algeciras/Tarifa. Our journey continues through beautiful white villages.


20.30 hrs Seville. -Arrival.

Day 14: Seville.-

Highlights: Guided visit with local expert in Seville. Boat trip along the river Guadalquivir. Evening transfer.


After breakfast, a local expert guides you through a scenic visit of Sevilla (if the English-speaking group is fewer than fifteen people, the tour can be conducted in both English and Spanish). Lasting one hour and a half featuring the Cathedral and the Giralda, Plaza de España, the beautiful banks of the river Guadalquivir, the Golden Tower, the districts of Santa Cruz and Triana, the Maestranza Bullring, and Cartuja Island. After the tour, we will include a boat trip along the river Guadalquivir, enjoying the panoramic views from the boat. Enjoy leisure time straight afterwards or the tours to the Cathedral or the Flamenco Show that will be offered as optionals by your guide.


At the end of the afternoon, we will go to the historic city centre area (calle Alfonso XII) where many different restaurants can be found. You can choose your favorite cuisine: Indian, Halal, Chinese, Spanish, International and so on. Return to the hotel.

Day 15: Seville- Zaragoza - Poblet - Montserrat - Barcelona.-

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: High-speed train from Seville to Zaragoza; Monastery of Poblet, rack train to Montserrat.

Leaving Seville in the early morning, you will be transferred to the train station to take a comfortable high-speed train to Zaragoza. In a little under four hours, you will cover the 850 km between Seville and Zaragoza. In ZARAGOZA you will join the group and have free time to visit this impressive Pilar Basilica and enjoy the city centre.


14.00 hrs -Zaragoza. - Departure.
16:30 hrs - Monastery of Poblet. - Entrance included to this monastery surrounded by its walls, in a very beautiful site. This is one of the best preserved mediaeval monasteries in the world.


17:30 hrs -Monastery of Poblet. - Departure. - We cross rich agricultural regions of central Catalonia. We go to the beautiful area where the Benedictine Abbey stands. We climb to the summit in a small rack train to admire the fantastic views.
18:45 hrs -Monastery of Montserrat. - Arrival. - Time to admire the views and visit the sanctuary where we find the Virgin of Montserrat, patron saint of Catalonia (entrance not included).


19:45 hrs -Montserrat. - Departure (by road).
20:45 hrs- Barcelona. - Arrival.

Note: In some cases, depending on the timetable of the rack railway, the ascent to Montserrat can be done in our coach.

Important note: From November to March, due to the shorter duration of the days, we will neither be ascending nor stopping in Montserrat.

Day 16:

After breakfast, end of our services.

Note: Remember that check-out time is usually at 10.00 hrs. In most cases, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception at check-out time so you can enjoy the city and pick it up at the time you require that same day. If you need more time to use your room, please consider booking an additional night at the end of your tour.

Included/Excluded

  • Sharm Travels General Services: Travel by bus with English speaking guide, basic travel insurance, hotel and breakfast buffet.
  • Includes arrival transfer
  • City tour in: BARCELONA, MADRID, GRANADA, RABAT, Casablanca, MARRAKESH, FEZ, SEVILLE, BARCELONA
  • Boat: along Guadalquivir river in Seville
  • Evening transfer: Magic Fountain in Montjuic or Maremagnum in Barcelona, Plaza de Oriente in Madrid , Albaicin in Granada , Djema Square with horse carriage in Marrakech , Historic center of Seville , Magic Fountain in Montjuic or Maremagnum in Barcelona
  • Ticket admission: Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, Las Ventas bullring in Madrid , Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens in Granada if it is included in the tour you bought , Bahia Palace in Marrakech , House of the Cedars in Azrou , Poblet Monastery , Poble Espanyol in Barcelona
  • Train: Montserrat
  • Ferry: Strait of Gibraltar Algeciras - Tangier, Strait of Gibraltar Tangier - Algeciras
  • High speed train: Seville- Zaragoza
  • 4 Lunch included in: GRANADA, MARRAKESH, ERFOUD, FEZ
  • 5 dinner included in: RABAT, MARRAKESH, Boumalne Dades, FEZ, TANGIERS
  • Entrance Fees Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Tipping.

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