Immersive Spain, Portugal, and Morocco Vacation

The day is yours to enjoy Barcelona at your own pace. In the morning, the cafes will fill with the aromas of fresh coffee and fried custard. The breeze will carry the aroma of the sea as you wander through the cobbled lanes of the Barri Gotic to discover the iconic architecture of the Gothic Quarter. The sound of laughter and music will drift through the narrow maze of alleyways and little cafes. The Gothic Cathedral will have touches of Romanesque design with dramatic towers, vertical buttresses, and intricate arched doorways.

Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the train station for the high-speed train bound for Madrid. After settling into your gorgeous hotel, your guide will lead you on an immersive tour of Spain’s capital city. When visiting the Plaza Mayor, you will find the elegant 17th-century plaza by charming outdoor cafes that fill the space with the scents of hot chocolate and fresh churros. You will also visit the Prado Museum to find more than 100 rooms decorated with priceless works of art, such as 140 pieces by Francisco de Goya.

The magnificent city of Toledo is a preserved relic of medieval Spain. Horseshoe-arched mosques and Sephardic synagogues line the streets that lead to Gothic cathedrals and reflect the time when the three religions lived harmoniously together. Your guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the city for a private tour that will allow you to discover Toledo’s unique cultural synthesis. You will visit the prominent Jewish monument of the Sinagoga del Transito to find a Mudejar design with floral motifs and detailed geometric design. You will return to Madrid for a flamenco show that highlights passion within every resounding dance step and guitar strum.

You will fly from Madrid to Marrakech in the morning. Your private transfer will greet you on arrival at the airport and escort you to your hotel. Your guide will lead you on an introductory tour through the imperial city that was founded in the 11th century. The Koutoubia Mosque minaret towers over the city and shapes the skyline at nearly 230 feet. Once in Djemaa El Fna Square, you will find the heritage of the city, which is brought to life with snake charmers, storytellers, vendors, and rooftop cafes.

You will travel with your guide on a scenic drive into the Atlas Mountains. The red and orange cliffs will rise above the Ouirgane Valley to reveal pockets of lush vegetation. A local souk will showcase Berber culture with the marketplace that hosts typical fruits like sweet oranges and vibrant spices. The scent of freshly baked bread will drift through the aisles before you visit Tahanaout, which is a Berber town of red clay buildings dotted with olive groves, lemon orchards, and orange trees. This city is also full of shops with traditional handmade pottery and authentic Berber carpets.

After breakfast, you will discover the depth of Moroccan gastronomy during your private cooking class. Your instructor will provide insight into the typical ingredients and spices used in the cuisine to create the specific flavor for which Moroccan food is known, such as cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and paprika. You can craft traditional bread and enjoy zaalouk, a cold eggplant salad. In the afternoon, you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to explore Marrakech and indulge in the vibrant ambiance of the souk. Here, you can find colorful shoes, intricate carpentry, and fine leather in the bustling shops.

This morning, you will have a private transfer to Casablanca, where you will enjoy the unique atmosphere of the bustling contemporary city. Your guide will take you on a grand tour that will uncover the highlights of the city, ranging from the French Art-Nouveau neighborhood to the elegant promenade of the beachfront Corniche district. The scent of the Atlantic Ocean will sweep over the coastal plateau and compliment the Hassan II Mosque. The structure dominates the medina and covers nearly five acres with a minaret that stands 656 feet. Intricate decoration blankets every inch of the mosque for an elegant display of geometric shapes and Arabic calligraphy.

Your flight to Spain will arrive at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, where you will meet your private transfer. Your luxury resort will combine the beauty of Andalusia with the soothing ambiance of a secluded beachfront. You can enjoy the narrow cobbled lanes and whitewashed architecture decorated with floral balconies. The aroma of oranges derives from the trees in Plaza de los Naranjos, which acts as the center of town with resplendent 16th-century architecture. You can relax under the leafy palms that shade the walkways of Paseo del Alameda, an 18th-century park with marbled walkways and decorative benches.

At breakfast, the scent of luscious cafe cortado, an espresso with a splash of milk, will fill the dining room of your hotel. The day will be yours to enjoy the beauty of Marbella at your preferred pace. You can relax on the golden sands of Playa Fontanilla and stroll down the promenade lined with a collection of shops and restaurants. You can also wander along the Avenida del Mar to find the permanent exhibition of 10 bronze statues crafted by Salvador Dali. The avenue remains a popular place for locals and visitors to enjoy the city’s coastal ambiance.

Your private driver will take you to Granada after breakfast for a day of discovering the marvels of the medieval city. The maze-like design of the cobbled lanes will wind around the looming fortress of the famous Alhambra that crowns al-Sabika hill at 2,755 feet above sea level. As you explore the majestic palace and strong defensive walls, you will wander over foundations that date back to the 9th century. In the Lion Courtyard, you will find the centerpiece of the 11th-century fountain of 12 lions that funnel water through their mouths while bordered by 124 slender columns.

You will travel by private transfer to the enchanting city of Seville this morning. The church soars above the meandering streets of the antique city to reveal the largest Gothic church in the world with a bell tower that reaches 344 feet. The aroma of oranges will emanate from Patio de los Naranjos forecourt amid the sound of trickling water from the octagonal fountain. At the Real Alcazar, you will find the medieval Moorish fortress that features a Mudejar design. The Patio de las Doncellas will embody Islamic architecture with 52 marble columns.

Tradition remains a part of contemporary life in Seville. Your guide will lead you to the Triana neighborhood on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River. The buildings that overlook the water have colorful facades and reflect the neighborhoods’ working-class history. Ceramic shops and pretty churches divide the network of tapas bars that fill the air with aromas of chickpeas, bacon, and gazpacho. You will stop at a number of tapas bars with your guide to uncover the treasured flavors of authentic local tapas. You can enjoy dishes like fried fish and potatoes cooked with parsley, vinegar, and onion.

Your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to the charming cosmopolitan city of Lisbon in Portugal. Gothic architecture emerges from the urban sprawl and crowns the hills that overlook the banks of the Tagus River. After settling in to your hotel, you can enjoy the beauty of Lisbon at your leisure. The captivating district of the Alfama district represents Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood. You can enjoy a stunning panorama that sweeps across the city’s red-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls from Miradouro das Portas do Sol.

You will wander along the cobbled lanes and hills of Lisbon with your guide on a cultural tour of Lisbon. Along the banks of the Tagus River, you will find the Monument to the Discoveries, which is a monolithic statue dedicated to the 15th-century Portuguese navigators. The imposing cathedral in the ancient Alfama district shines with a Romanesque facade with foundations that date back to the 12th century. Twin crenellated bell towers shape the downtown skyline while the Belem Tower at the mouth of the Tagus River acts as a symbol of Portugal’s former power and prestige, dating back to the 16th century.

Your guide will take you from Lisbon to Sintra in the morning to discover the fairytale ambiance of the city that is characterized by charming castles nestled into the foothills of the Serra de Sintra. Lush woodland open to granite cliffs that unfold into regal palaces, unique mansions, and an 8th-century Moorish stronghold. You will continue to Cascais, a coastal town fringed with a sandy beach and the aromas of fresh seafood. The 17th-century waterfront possesses grand mansions that tower over fishermen’s cottages. Narrow lanes wind between the coastline to the shady Parque do Marechal Carmona and the Museu do Mar-Rei D.

You will stop in Fatima with your private driver before reaching Porto. An opulent esplanade connects two grand basilicas that overtake what was once rocky pastureland. The sheer white walls of the Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Fatima accentuate the elegant colonnade, and the smaller Chapel of Apparitions connotes where the Virgin appeared. After arriving in Porto, you have the remainder of the day at your leisure to enjoy the city and visit Sao Bento. The historic train station was completed in 1903 and contains 20,000 decorative tiles.

Porto rises out of the banks of the Douro River with charming streets and colorful architecture. Hilly lanes host lively cafes that offer a snapshot of city culture. You will enjoy finding a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture that is embodied in the imposing 12th-century Romanesque cathedral with a Gothic rose window and Baroque cloister. You can indulge in the flavors of local wine with a tasting at celebrated wineries in the city, highlighting the flavors of nearby Douro Valley. You will learn the history of port in Portugal and sample notes of spices, nuts, and oak wood aromas.

The elaborate labyrinth of lanes of the Cais da Ribeira district will zigzag along the riverside. Townhouses painted mustard, tangerine, and cobalt shine over the river’s rushing waters. The aromas of freshly baked bread will overtake the briny scent of the Douro River before your private transfer meets you at your hotel. You will travel to Porto’s Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport with plenty of time to check-in for your flight home, bringing an end to your highlights tour of Spain, Morocco, and Portugal.