Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco (Small Groups, 17 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 17-day tour that takes you through the heart of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This multi-day tour is a blend of rich history, diverse cultures, and stunning landscapes. From the vibrant streets of Madrid to the serene beauty of Fátima, the charming quarters of Lisbon to the flamboyant city of Seville, the traditional allure of Morocco to the sun-kissed Costa del Sol, every day is a new adventure. Explore world-renowned museums, historical sites, bustling markets, and more. Savor local delicacies, engage with locals, and immerse yourself in the unique traditions of each destination. This tour is designed to provide a comprehensive experience of these three countries, offering a perfect balance of guided activities and free time to explore at your own pace.
Included
4 Dinner with Wine (DW)
16 Breakfast (B)
2 Dinner (D)
1 Lunch with Wine (LW)
Madrid: Join your Travel Director at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant and get to know your fellow travellers over a beautiful evening of delicious food and wine.
Lisbon: Delight in a taste of the famous Portuguese custard tart, Pastéis de Belém, made in a 19th century bakery with the original secret recipe.
Alfarnatejo: Taste a selection of freshly pressed olive oils with locally made farmer bread when you stop at Almazara, the oldest olive grove in the region.
Alfarnatejo: Join a local family for a Dine-at-Home lunch featuring traditional recipes. Learn about regional customs and culture through your hosts' warm hospitality and lively conversation.
Madrid: Toast to your travels and enjoy local specialties in one of the city's elegant central neighbourhoods.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Seville: Stroll through Barrio de Santa Cruz with a Local Expert and hear how the Jewish community has shaped the city's history.
Seville: See the city's top sights on a panoramic tour with your Local Expert.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Madrid: Witness the world's finest collection of Spanish paintings, plus an impressive international collection, as you tour the Prado Museum with an art historian.
Granada: Visit the famous Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. While others wait in line, you'll be exploring accompanied by a Local Expert, keen to share insights into this Moorish landmark.
Seville: The Cristina Heeren Foundation aims to promote the teaching and conservation of flamenco and is a beneficiary of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Meet the students of the foundation, learn some basic flamenco steps, and then feel the passion as they perform an emotional show. The school enables students access to cultural education that otherwise may not have occurred. TreadRights sponsorship has helped students to complete their studies in advanced guitar, singing and dance. As students complete their training, they will carry on and safeguard the traditional flamenco dance, contributing to the protection of Andalusia and Spain’s cultural heritage. The Cristina Heeren Foundation advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Fes: Visit the non-profit American Fondouk founded in 1927 and speak with the volunteer veterinarians who care so passionately for the welfare of the animals and the families who are so dependant on their labour. Your visit supports United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Expert. Visit the Old Town, travelling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the fountain in the Plaza de Cibeles, the Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace, before crossing the Puerta del Sol.
Avila: Explore within the ancient walls of this unique town.
Salamanca: See the golden stone and arcades of Plaza Mayor, and learn about the unique traditions of this historic university city.
Fátima: Join the faithful at one of the world's holiest sites and pay homage at the Chapel of the Apparitions and see the basilica.
Lisbon: Explore with your Local Expert, from the Lower Town, beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco. Visit the Belém Quarter to see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and the medieval Belém Tower.
Seville: Visit the Seville Cathedral with your Local Expert. Pass the altarpiece dripping with gold and see the Tomb of Columbus, held aloft by four kings.
Rabat: See the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower.
Marrakesh: Your Local Expert guides you past Jemaa el-Fnaa Square with its intriguing characters and through the seemingly entangled streets of the Medina with its many souks. See the protruding Koutoubia Minaret.
Marrakesh: Built around a lovely inner-garden, explore the Bahia Palace with a Local Expert and see glimpses of a Moroccan kingdom's former opulence.
Fes: Learn about the traditional craft of carpet making, gaining an insight to the designs the and the difference in materials.
Fes: Led by your Local Expert, wander the maze of streets that make up the ancient Medina. See one of the world's oldest universities and pass hidden courtyards, mosques and workshops. Continue through the souks, an array of vendors selling food, clothes, leather goods and beautiful lights.
Tangier: Cruise back to Europe on your return ferry.
Gibraltar: With your Local Expert, explore the Rock of Gibraltar, one of the pillars of Hercules, affording magnificent views and see the meeting of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Spanish Sierra. Visit St. Michael's Cave and see the Barbary Apes.
Granada: Explore 'The City of the Pomegranate' with a Local Expert. During sightseeing you'll see the icons dedicated to this fruit throughout the city.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Salamanca: The centrally located Hotel Alameda Palace is close to a range of restaurants and shops and only a short walk to the Plaza Mayor. The spacious rooms all have marble bathrooms and antique-style furniture.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Welcome to Madrid
- Madrid - Arrival day
- More
Begin your journey in the vibrant city of Madrid. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a delightful dinner at a local restaurant, where you'll get to enjoy a variety of delicious dishes paired with fine Spanish wine.
Day 2 – Day 2: Madrid to Salamanca
- Madrid
- Salamanca
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- Museo de Ávila
- Naval Museum
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Explore Madrid's historical areas with a Local Expert. Visit the Prado Museum, home to masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Rubens. Journey past the walls of Ávila en route to Salamanca, known for its honey-colored cathedral and 16th-century university buildings.
Day 3 – Day 3: Salamanca to Lisbon
- Salamanca
- Lisbon
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Cross the Portuguese border and visit Fátima, Portugal's most renowned religious site. Join the pilgrims at the great basilica, commemorating the Virgin Mary's appearance in 1917. Continue your journey to the vibrant city of Lisbon.
Day 4 – Day 4: Exploring Lisbon
- Lisbon
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- Belém Tower
- National Coach Museum
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Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon. Visit the Belém Quarter, the launch point of many historic voyages, and the National Coach Museum, home to an impressive collection of horse-drawn carriages. Enjoy a taste of the famous Pastéis de Belém and consider a visit to the Portuguese Riviera in the afternoon.
Day 5 – Day 5: Lisbon to Seville
- Lisbon
- Seville
- More
Travel to Seville, the city of flamenco. Visit the city's Cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Choose between a walk through the old Jewish quarter and a visit to La Giralda, the bell tower of the cathedral, or a scenic drive with panoramic views of the city.
Day 6 – Day 6: Discovering Seville
- Seville
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- Casa de Pilatos
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Spend the morning at leisure in Seville. Consider an optional visit to Córdoba and the magnificent Mezquita. In the afternoon, visit the Cristina Heeren Foundation, a flamenco dance school. Participate in a dance lesson and enjoy a flamenco performance.
Day 7 – Day 7: Seville to Morocco
- Seville
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Set sail across the Strait of Gibraltar to reach the enchanting land of Morocco. Immerse yourself in the rich traditions and compelling cultural character of this historic country.
Day 8 – Day 8: Exploring Fez
Day 8: Exploring Fez
Visit the non-profit American Fondouk and interact with the passionate volunteer veterinarians. Explore the ancient Medina with a Local Expert, discovering hidden courtyards, beautiful mosques, and local workshops. Learn about the ancient craft of handwoven carpets and the symbolism that makes each one unique.
Day 9 – Day 9: Fez to Marrakesh
Day 9: Fez to Marrakesh
Travel through traditional mud-walled villages and catch glimpses of the Atlas Mountains as you approach Marrakesh, a city buzzing with culture and trade.
Day 10 – Day 10: Exploring Marrakesh
Day 10: Exploring Marrakesh
Join a Local Expert to explore the Medina, the historic heart of Marrakesh. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and the Palais Bahia, a 19th-century masterpiece. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps haggling in the souks or visiting one of the city's acclaimed museums.
Day 11 – Day 11: Marrakesh to Casablanca
Day 11: Marrakesh to Casablanca
Travel to the west coast of Africa to reach Casablanca. Explore the city's fascinating history with a Local Expert and visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque. Enjoy the chic seaside strip, the Corniche, with its trendy restaurants and cafes.
Day 12 – Day 12: Casablanca to Tangier
Day 12: Casablanca to Tangier
Travel north to Rabat to see the intricately-decorated Royal Palace and Hassan Tower. Continue to Tangier, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. After a guided sightseeing tour, enjoy an evening at leisure, perhaps taking a stroll along the Bay of Tangier.
Day 13 – Day 13: Tangier to Costa del Sol
- Marbella
- More
Cross the water to Spain and continue on to Gibraltar, a British territory. Visit the Rock of Gibraltar and St. Michael's Cave, and see the Barbary Apes. Continue through Andalucía to the Costa del Sol, famous for its beautiful beaches.
Day 14 – Day 14: Relaxing in Costa del Sol
- Marbella
- More
Enjoy a day at leisure on the sun-drenched Costa del Sol. Relax by the Mediterranean, stroll along the promenade, savor local cuisine in the restaurants, or consider exploring Malaga, the birth city of Picasso.
Day 15 – Day 15: Costa del Sol to Granada
- Marbella
- Granada
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- Generalife
- Alhambra
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Travel to Alfarnatejo, a quiet village surrounded by stunning landscapes. Visit the oldest olive grove in the region and taste local olive oils. Enjoy a homemade lunch with a local family before continuing to Granada. Explore the Alhambra and the Generalife with a Local Expert.
Day 16 – Day 16: Granada to Madrid
- Granada
- Madrid
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Travel north through the countryside, following the path of the fictional hero, Don Quixote. Return to Madrid and celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 17 – Day 17: Farewell Madrid
- Madrid - Departure day
- More
Bid farewell to your unforgettable journey as you transfer to the airport for your departure.
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