Spain, Portugal & Morocco
17 Days
 

For those who wish to see it all, this 17-day vacation is unforgettable. You start in Lisbon, and visit Jeronimos Monastery, then travel south to Seville, Spain, where sightseeing includes a visit to Columbus’ tomb. Sail by ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar and overnight in Rabat in Morocco. Time to admire the Royal Palace and to visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum and Chellah’s Roman Relics, before continuing to exotic Casablanca and to Marrakesh, with sightseeing including Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. In Fez you will be guided through the labyrinthine Fes-el-Bali to the exquisite Medersa Attarine. Via Meknes to Tangier where guided sightseeing includes a visit of the Grand Socco Market and a panoramic drive to Cap Spartel, before sailing across the Straits to the Bay of Algeciras with time to visit the Rock of Gibraltar and St. Michael’s Caves. A whole day at leisure at the Costa del Sol before you continue via Granada and Toledo to Madrid for two nights, with an included visit to the Prado Museum.

• LISBON - Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit Jeronimos Monastery and the Alfama
• SETUBAL - Wine tasting
• ALGARVE - Afternoon stop
• SEVILLE - Guided sightseeing, visit Maria Luisa Park, the cathedral with Columbus’ tomb, and Santa Cruz Quarter
• ALGECIRAS-TANGIER - By ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar
• RABAT - Guided sightseeing, visit Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Roman Relics of Chellah
• CASABLANCA - Guided panoramic drive; picture stop at Hassan II Mosque
• MARRAKESH - Guided sightseeing, visit Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs
• FEZ - Guided sightseeing, visit the Medina of Fes-El-Bali and the Medersa Attarine
• MEKNES - Morning stop
• TANGIER - Guided sightseeing, visit the Grand Socco market; panoramic drive up to Cap Spartel and enjoy mint tea
• ROCK OF GIBRALTAR - Guided sightseeing, visit St. Michael’s Caves
• GRANADA - Guided sightseeing, visit the Alhambra and the Water Gardens of the Generalife
• TOLEDO - Guided sightseeing, visit an early synagogue, the gothic cathedral, the Santo Tomé Church with one of El Greco’s masterpieces; a Damascene steel workshop
• MADRID - Guided sightseeing, visit the Prado Museum
• INSIDE VISITS - Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS
15 buffet breakfasts (BB); 7 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Lisbon

SUPERIOR HOTELS
LISBON Mundial (F), SEVILLE Sevilla Center (SF), RABAT Rabat (SF), MARRAKESH Es Saadi (SF), FEZ Zalagh Parc Palace (SF), TANGIER El Minzah (SF), TORREMOLINOS Melia Costa del Sol (SF), GRANADA Gran Hotel Luna (F), MADRID Husa Paseo del Arte (F)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS:  Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements.

Day 1 Arrival in Lisbon, Portugal
(Fri.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Lisbon, Portugal
(Sat.) Free time to rest or start exploring the Portuguese capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 3 Lisbon
(Sun.) Portugal’s imperial ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator’s 15th-century discoveries in West Africa and did not subside until the 1970s. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features Belem Tower guarding the estuary of the Tagus River and JERONIMOS MONASTERY with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Drive past the Bull Ring to Pombal Statue and along the grand Avenida da Liberdade. Then enjoy a walk through the cobbled alleys of ALFAMA, the quarter of the seamen. Afternoon and evening at leisure. An optional excursion to Sintra and an optional dinner with Fado-style entertainment are available. (BB)

Day 4Lisbon–Setubal–Algarve–Seville, Spain
(Mon.) In Setubal enjoy a WINE TASTING. Next stop is at the Algarve coast, then enter Spain and reach the vibrant capital of Andalusia, Seville. (BB,D)

Day 5 Seville
(Tue.) Listen to your Local Guide’s account of the city’s role in Roman times, its conquest by the Moors in 712 A.D., and its contribution to the discovery of the New World. Admire MARIA LUISA PARK. Drive to the Plaza de España, the Gold Tower on the Guadalquivir River. Visit the CATHEDRAL with Columbus’ tomb, the world’s largest gothic edifice, and stroll through the narrow lanes of the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER. For a truly Andalusian night out, reserve a seat at our optional flamenco show. (BB)

Day 6 Seville–Rabat, Morocco
(Wed.) Travel through the sherry wine region of Jerez to Algeciras and enjoy a FERRY CROSSING across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. Along North Africa’s infamous Barbary Coast to Rabat, once a lair of the corsairs and now the country’s capital. (BB,D)

Day 7 Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakesh
(Thu.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the massive medieval battlements, the Royal Palace, MOHAMMED V MAUSOLEUM, Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of Oudaias. Visit the fine ROMAN RELICS OF CHELLAH. Then leave Rabat and follow the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean for a visit to Casablanca, Morocco’s modern seaport with a strong French accent. See the Hassan II Mosque, a splendid monument designed to mark the end of the century. Evening arrival in Marrakesh, situated in an oasis with more than half a million palm trees. (BB,D)

Day 8 Marrakesh
(Fri.) Follow your Local Guide to see BAHIA PALACE, the 16th-century SAADIAN TOMBS, and Djemaa El-Fna, the vibrant town center dominated by the 222-foot-high Koutoubia Minaret. Afternoon at leisure. An exciting optional evening excursion is available. (BB)

Day 9 Marrakesh–Fez
(Sat.) Journey to Fez today. Blessed with an ample supply of water and strategically situated, Fez became the capital of Morocco when the country shook off foreign rule under the Berber King Idris in the 8th century. To this day, Fez has remained Morocco’s spiritual and artistic center. (BB,D)

Day 10 Fez
(Sun.) Take pictures of the magnificient entrance to the Royal Palace, drive through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and travel on to beautifully ornate Bab Bou Jeloud, the traditional entrance to old Fez. Your Local Guide also leads you through the labyrinthine FES-EL-BALI, Morocco’s largest medina, to the exquisite MEDERSA ATTARINE. Enjoy a pleasant drive around the ancient fortifications that protect the city. Back to your hotel with plenty of time to relax. Why not sign up for an optional folklore dinner at a Moroccan restaurant? (BB)

Day 11 Fez–Meknes–Tangier
(Mon.) A morning break at imperial Meknes with its monumental gates and city walls, then continue to Tangier, jumping-off point for the Moorish conquest of Spain and hometown of the legendary Ibn Batuta. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the GRAND SOCCO market, then enjoy a panoramic drive to CAP SPARTEL, where you will quench your thirst Bedouin-style with a glass of hot mint tea. (BB,D)

Day 12 Tangier–Gibraltar–Torremolinos
(Tue.) Board your FERRY for the trip back across the Strait to Europe. Time for a visit to the strategic ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, in British hands since 1704. Hear about its turbulent history, see the Moorish Castle, ST. MICHAEL’S CAVES, and the colony of Barbary apes. Then drive to your hotel at the elegant Costa del Sol. Tonight you have a chance to sample one of the seafood restaurants. (BB)

Day 13 At Leisure in Torremolinos
(Wed.) A day at leisure to enjoy the sandy beaches, browse through trendy boutiques, or to simply relax. (BB)

Day 14 Torremolinos–Granada
(Thu.) Away from the sea and into the mountains to history-steeped Granada. In the afternoon savor its main attraction, the ALHAMBRA. A fantasy of “lace in stone” surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by Gypsy cave dwellers. Your Local Guide will also take you through the exotic WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE, the royal summer residence. (BB,D)

Day 15 Granada–Toledo–Madrid
(Fri.) Through Don Quixote’s La Mancha motor north to Toledo, spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River. A Local Guide takes you to the Moorish bridge, an early SYNAGOGUE, the 13th-century gothic CATHEDRAL, and the church of SANTO TOMÉ with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. Visit one of the enticing DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOPS. (BB)

Day 16 Madrid
(Sat.) The capital of Spain since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Morning guided sightseeing features the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM with its priceless art treasures. An optional excursion to El Escorial is available. Tonight maybe a special Spanish treat in one of Madrid’s famous restaurants to celebrate the success of a memorable tour? (BB)

Day 17
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)