Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Take a bus journey to the southern coastline of Portugal, the Algarve. Known for fertile plains rich with orange and olive groves, fig trees, almonds, and maize fields, this region is perfect to explore. Your base is Olhao, the Algarve’s biggest fishing port. Upon arrival, use the rest of the day to discover Olhao. You may wish to wander the city center or perhaps try Olhao’s famous fish restaurants along the waterfront.

Leave Portugal behind and return to Spain, traveling by bus to the charming city of Seville. Later, travel onwards to Tarifa, where you will stay overnight before hopping over to Africa tomorrow. Upon arrival in Chefchaouen, you might just have time to look over the architecture of the 15th-century Grand Mosque and the medina, the walled fortress of the Kasbah.

This morning get up early for an optional visit to Tarifa Castle or to take a stroll on the beach. Then leave Europe behind and head to Africa. The ferry across the straits of Gibraltar to the port of Tangier takes approximately 1 hour. After leaving the ferry, you'll be picked up by our Moroccan crew, and journey to a sleepy mountain town peppered with blue-washed buildings and ambient restaurants – Chefchaouen.

Meet your local guide early in the day to explore the maze of streets in Chefchaouen. The ‘blue city’ is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by surprise. As a popular shopping destination for handicrafts, carpets, blankets or woolen garments, you may also see the artisans at work. Possibly relax after your walking tour in a traditional Moroccan hammam.

Say farewell to Chefchaouen today and jump on a private minivan trip for around five hours to the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Arrive in the city of Fes and step back in time at a medieval medina thick with exotic smells, tastes, and sounds. Vibrant, noisy, fascinating and overwhelming – a visual and pungent feast for the senses – Fes is the mother of all medinas.

Take a guided walking tour of the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back in time into the labyrinth of the Medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries, and mosques. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city's most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. After the tour, the afternoon is free for you to enjoy as you please.

Travel by train to Marrakech. Head out with the group for a quick visit to the main square, Djemaa El Fna before dinner. The square is filled with a hive of activity. Henna-painters, performers, and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar, packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. From a distance, you will see the Koutoubia Mosque and its minaret – famous throughout the world as one of the greatest minarets and the ‘sister’ to the Giralda in Seville.

Today is free for you to enjoy as you please. Set out to discover Marrakech in more detail - mingle with the performers and fortune-tellers at Djemaa el-Fna or sample some Moroccan specialities alfresco-style at the night stalls. Later on, relax while sipping mint tea with locals and pick up last-minute supplies for the South Morocco stage of your adventure.

Take a short drive into the High Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil. On arrival, store your main luggage and load your overnight bags onto pack mules. Make the 1-hour trek to the peaceful village of Aroumd. Spend the night in a family-run mountain gite where, surrounded by the smell of woodstoves and bread, you will enjoy traditional hospitality and food. Use the rest of the day to explore the village and the surrounding farmlands.

This morning, journey along mountain roads and over Morocco's highest pass, Tizi n'Tichka, to Ait Benhaddou on the edges of the Sahara. Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco's most iconic sites. Enjoy a leader-led walk through the winding streets of the Old Town, making your way to the top of the hill, from where you can enjoy the views across the surrounding plains.

This morning you'll journey south towards the Sahara, stopping in the regularly used film location of Ouarzazate along the way. Continue to travel through the lush Draa Valley to Zagora, a small oasis town on the Sahara fringe that is perfect for an overnight stop. On arrival, take a stroll through the palm groves, explore the ksars and wander around the surrounding countryside.

Drive along the rugged and desolate Jbel Tadrart ranges and through seas of sand and past the occasional desert oasis of date palms to the township of Tamegroute. Then carry on driving to the frontier town of M'Hamid. From here, take a short camel ride through the dunes, then jump into 4WD vehicles and drive to the massive Erg Chigaga dunes. Arrive in the late afternoon. Enjoy a night under the stars at your desert camp.

Travel to the market town of Oulad Berhil by minivan. The journey should take around 8 hours in total, including several stops. This drive goes through desert scenery and along a route that's a reserve for the indigenous argan trees. If you're lucky, the group might come across the famous image of goats climbing these trees in search of nuts. Arrive at your accommodation by the early evening and relax after a long day of travel.

In the morning, take to the souqs of Taroudant and haggle with local traders for silver jewelry or colorful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics. Afterwards, head west to the coastal town of Essaouira. Its charm is undeniable; within the stone ramparts, you'll find whitewashed houses with bright blue shutters, art galleries, and wood workshops. You'll arrive in the early evening, so there won't be much time to look around today.

Today, join a local guide for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, port, and skala (sea wall). Afterward, enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Maybe grab a freshly-cooked plate of the day's catch at the port, or browse the plentiful shops and intriguing art galleries. If you'd prefer to relax, don't miss the opportunity to indulge in a hammam or local-style bath.

Enjoy a free morning in Essaouira, then catch a bus back to Marrakech in the afternoon. Enjoy free time on arrival to explore or partake in optional activities.

Your adventure ends after breakfast. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech (subject to availability).