Day 1. (Thursday) MADRID – MALAGA

Call on at Atocha train station in Madrid and departure by high-speed train southbound heading to the Mediterranean Coast. Pleasant and short 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 – 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 to Larache, a picturesque fishing town located on the Atlantic coast, on the left bank of the Lucus River estuary, with white-walled houses and light blue carpentry. You’ll enjoy some free time for lunch. We continue the trip to Casablanca, the largest city that represents the modern face of today’s Morocco. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

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 and free time to have lunch. In the afternoon we will start with 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. Back to the hotel and accommodation. Optionally you can enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner and an equestrian show that includes odalisque, flying carpets and fireworks in an atmosphere that recreates The Thousand and One Nights.

Day 4. (Sunday) MARRAKECH

Breakfast ay the hotel. You’ll enjoy the whole day at your disposal. We recommed you visitting the impressive Saadian Tombs, or the Musée de Marrakech which exhibits a collection of beautiful Moroccan art, or just walk around the Medina Maze and haggling in Marrakech souks. Definitely a great opportunity to relax and feel the place. Your guide may offer you some optional activities: excursion to Marrakech Palm Grove where you can enjoy a camel ride, tour the green valleys in 4×4 and learn about the lifestyle of the surrounding villages that have little to do with the life of Marrakech, discover the impressive Ouzoud Waterfalls as they plunge down rugged cliffs… Or if you feel tired, just escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax by the hotel swimming pool. Dinner at the hotel and lodging.

Day 5. (Monday) MARRAKECH – AÏT BEN HADOU – OUARZAZATE

After breakfast we’ll head towards the desert. We leave the city behind us and enter the nature… tranquility and silence floods the soul of peace and tranquility. 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, free time at your disposal, dinner and accommodation.

Day 6. (Tuesday) OUARZAZATE – BOUMALNE DE DADES – TINGHIR (TODRA) – MERZOUGA

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. On the way to the Dunes of Merzouga we will pass by Risaani, which in the past time was and important place where the caravans of the desert used to meet. The position of Rissani was so strategic that the Filali Dinasty (the ancestors of the Alaouita Dinasty that today governs the country) had their epic battle here to replace the Saadies. 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. Free time to enjoy the surroundings. We suggest you to witness the beautiful spectacle of the sunset between 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 will have our breakfast between dunes enjoying our last moment in the desert before leaving for the Middle Atlas. Optionally you can contemplate one of the great events of a stay in the Sahara, the sunrise. While preparing our breakfast there is the possibility of touring the dunes in 4×4 and visiting the nomadic towns of the area. Those who wish may enjoy the last moments in the camp. Today we will cross the Middle Atlas and experience a new landscape change along the way. We leave the South to enter the North. We will stop at Ifrane. For a moment we will feel as if Switzerland had been located in Africa, hence its nickname “Little Switzerland“. This city was built during the French protectorate in the 1930s. Optional lunch on route and continuation to Fez, the most monumental of the Moroccan Imperial Cities, its University of “Karaouyne” is the largest Islamic sanctuary in Morocco and the oldest religious education center. Distribution of rooms upon arrival, dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

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 – MEKNES – RABAT – TANGIER

After breakfast we’ll drive west towards the Atlantic Coast. Our first stop will be in Meknes, one of the Imperial Cities of the s. XVII located in the heart of the Middle Atlas and surrounded by 40 km of walls. Upon arrival we’ll enjoy a panoramic city tour on Meknes. We will get to know the Bab Al Mansour Gate, which gives entrance to the old town and, without a doubt, the most beautiful gate in Morocco. Our journey continues to Rabat, diplomatic and administrative capital of Morocco, official residence of the King Mohamed VI. During the guided tour we will visit the Royal Palace of Rabat from the outside, we’ll see the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, grandfather of the current king and also the Hassan Tower, a minaret of an incomplete mosque which has converted in the symbol of the city. Free time for lunch and continuation to Tangier, the Moroccan capital of the Strait of Gibraltar, a cosmopolitan city that has always been pretended for many civilizations due to its strategic location, at the main gate of Europe and Africa. Arrival, distribution of rooms, dinner and overnight 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 – MADRID

Last day in Andalusia. According to the timetable of your train to Madrid, 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 Madrid. Arrival and end of services.