Day 1. (Thursday) BARCELONA – MALAGA

Call on at Sants train station in Barcelona and departure by high-speed train southbound heading to Andalusia. Pleasant journey with the comfort and speed of this fast train. Arrival in Malaga, one of Spain’s foremost holiday destinations. Transfer on your own from the station to the hotel. Free time to discover at your leisure the capital of the Costa del Sol, hometown of the famous painter Pablo Picasso and the Hollywood star Antonio Banderas, among its most famous citizens. We recommend you to leave your luggages in the hotel and take a stroll into the historic quarter of the city to visit the Alcazaba, one of the symbols of the city, and one of the largest Arab fortresses in Andalusia, the Gibralfaro Castle, that offers outstanding views over the city, the Picasso Museum or the beautiful Renaissance Cathedral of Malaga known as La Manquita (the one-armed) thanks to its unfinished right tower. Hotel accommodation.

Day 2. (Friday) MALAGA – TANGIER – RABAT – CASABLANCA

Departure from Malaga. Drive along the picturesque tourist route of Costa del Sol via internationally renowned places as Marbella and Puerto Banus, arrive to Tarifa or Algeciras where a ferry boat will be used for a short and interesting crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar towards Africa. Arrival to Tangier, disembark, clear customs and continue on by coach along the Atlantic coast to Rabat, Morocco’s diplomatic and administrative capital and the official residence of King Mohammed VI. During our guided tour of Rabat, we’ll see the Royal Palace of Rabat (Dar al-Makhzen), the official residence of the King of Morocco, from the outside. Then we’ll head to the esplanade of Yacoub al-Mansour to discover the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of Alaouite architecture, with its white silhouette crowned by a typical green-tiled roof. Opposite the Mausoleum, we’ll see the Hassan Tower, the minaret of an unfinished mosque that has become the symbol of the city. We continue our journey to Casablanca, the largest city and the modern face of Morocco. Arrival at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 3. (Saturday) CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH

After breakfast, we will do a sightseeing tour of Casablanca, this cosmopolitan city, the economic capital of Morocco. We will discover Casablanca’s highlights such as the Anfa boulevard, the Nations Square, we’ll visit from the outside the impressive Hassan II Mosque (interior visit offered as optional activity), a showcase of the finest Moroccan artisanship, Casablanca’s city landmark, only surpassed by Mecca in importance and size. After the visit we will continue to Marrakech, a fascinating and mysterious city where Europe, Africa and the Middle East mingle and merge. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 4. (Sunday) MARRAKECH – AÏT BEN HADOU – OUARZAZATE

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we’ll do an amazing guided visit of Marrakech. We will see from outside the Koutobia Minaret, twin sister of the Giralda in Seville (Spain), the Bahia Palace, one of the city’s most eye-popping sights, we’ll walk around its Medina and souks and will end at the great Djemaa El Fna Square, a symbol of Morocco and meeting point for different kind of personalities of the city: storytellers, snake charmers, musicians and dancers. Later, we’ll head towards the desert. We leave the city behind us and enter the nature… tranquillity and silence floods the soul of peace and tranquillity. We cross the winding road that crosses the Tizi n’Tichka, the highest road crossing in North Africa (7,415 ft) that connects Marrakech with the pre-Saharan oases and where we will have several stops to enjoy the wonderful panoramic views. We continue towards Ouarzazate. First stop to visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortress considered the most beautiful in the country and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and where famous films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, The Jewel of the Nile or Gladiator have been shot, between others. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 5. (Monday) OUARZAZATE – BOUMALNE DE DADES – TINGHIR (TODRA) – ERFOUD

After breakfast we will start our journey to Tinghir. During our journey we will get to see the incredible landscape where the desert and the mountains find each other, mixing all the ocher and red colors, the rivers create gorges that become fertile valleys or oasis with green areas full of palm trees. Here you can find from the most arid and rocky places to the greenest oasis. We will go through the Roses Valley where you can find Kelaa M’Gouna, a fortified village famous for its distillery of roses water, and then we’ll cross the Gorge of Dades, an impressive defile that takes us to Boumalne du Dades, in the Berber land. Arrival to Tinghir, an impressive city located in the Oasis of Todra. We will discover the Todgha Gorges and its amazing 1312 ft. high canyon walls. Lunch on the route (optional) and continue to Erfoud, land of fossils and juicy dates. Arrival at the hotel, free time in the afternoon, dinner and accommodation.

Day 6. (Tuesday) ERFOUD – MERZOUGA

Breakfast and departure for the Great Desert. Finally, arrival in the Sahara, here the road mixes with the dunes in the horizon. “When a rich family refused to help a poor woman and her son, God was offended and buried them under sand knolls 30 miles from Arfoud, now known as the Dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga“. This is what the legend says about these majestic dunes. Room assignment and free time to enjoy the vastness and solitude of the desert. Your guide will offer you the opportunity to take an unforgettable 4×4 excursion through the area’s oases, enjoy a Gnawa folk music performance in the small village of Khamlia, and discover the culture of the Berber nomadic peoples, an ancient ethnic group, a relic of the pre-Islamic world, who live in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, still maintaining their way of life and traditions. We also recommend witnessing the beautiful spectacle of the sunset over the dunes with a mint tea. Dinner and accommodation. Possibility of accommodation in a Jaima (fully equipped nomad tent) – no extra charge, just request it when booking.

Day 7. (Wednesday) MERZOUGA – IFRANE – FEZ

We’ll have breakfast among the dunes during our last moment in the Sahara Desert. Today we’ll cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and experience a new change of scenery along the way. Leaving the South behind, we’ll head North, crossing the majestic Ziz Valley, famous for its palm groves and oases, before beginning our ascent into the Middle Atlas. Our first stop will be in Midelt, a peaceful mountain town known as the apple capital, where we’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and a relaxed atmosphere. Free time for lunch. Afterward, we travel through the Cedar Nature Reserve in Azrou, a forest of ancient cedar trees, home to the endangered Barbary macaques, a species that survives thanks to the tourist attraction they are. This is a perfect place to enjoy nature and take unforgettable photographs. Our route then takes us through Ifrane. For a moment, we’ll feel as if Switzerland has been placed in Africa, hence its nickname, Little Switzerland. This city was built during the French protectorate in the 1930s. Finally, the day culminates with arrival in Fez, the most monumental of Morocco’s imperial cities. Room assignment, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 8. (Thursday) FEZ

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we’ll do a monumental and panoramic city tour of Fez. We will see the 7 gates of the Royal Palace, the Jewish neighbourhood also known as Mellah, the Gate of Bab Bou Jeloud, which gives access to the Medina or the old city, one of the most impressive of Morocco. We will walk along its streets and souks. We will get to know the tanner neighbourhood and the Medersa, the oldest university of the world and its Karaouyne Mosque. Back to the hotel to have lunch and free time in the afternoon to enjoy calmly the great and labyrinth Medina de Fes el-Bali, composed by more than 9.000 streets, it’s the best-preserved Medina of the Arab world and the largest monument of Morocco. In the night, possibility of show-dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation.

Day 9. (Friday) FEZ – CHEFCHAOUEN – TANGIER

Breakfast and departure for Tangier. En route, we’ll stop in Chefchaouen, a charming little city of about 40,000 inhabitants located at an altitude of approximately 660 meters. With very little traffic, the clean, fresh air invites you to stay a few days and discover the beauty of the place and its surroundings. The vibrant colors, shops, and bazaars contrast with the dazzling blue of the houses. Enjoy a guided tour of Chefchaouen, exploring its most emblematic sites: the old medina, the Kebir Mosque, the Kasbah, the Mellah (Jewish quarter), and the particularly charming Uta el Hamman Square, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. After lunch (not included), we’ll continue our journey to Tangier, the Moroccan capital of the Strait of Gibraltar, a cosmopolitan city that has always been coveted by many civilizations due to its strategic location at the gateway between Europe and Africa. Upon arrival, check-in, dinner, and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10. (Saturday) TANGIER – MALAGA

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the harbour and board the ferry to return across the Strait of Gibraltar back to Spain. Drive along the Mediterranean Coast towards Malaga. Arrival at the hotel, free time at your disposal and accommodation. We recommend you go out for Tapa-hopping, an unbeatable way to experience Andalusian culture and savour the charms of its bars and taverns. Tapas are an exquisite, varied and choice example of popular gastronomy which allows you to share a variety of dishes and try a wide range of different products for reasonable prices. Hotel accommodation.

Day 11. (Sunday) MALAGA – BARCELONA

Last day in Andalusia. According to the timetable of your train to Barcelona, you may spend the morning visiting Malaga or buying your last souvenirs. Transfer on your own to the Maria Zambrano Train Station to take the high-speed train to Barcelona. Arrival and end of services.