A Culinary Tour of Spain & Morocco: Sherry, Spice and Everything Nice

What to expect on this itinerary
Indulge in the culinary experience of a lifetime during your customizable gastronomy itinerary through Spain and Morocco. Traverse the undulating hills of La Rioja Valley to sample celebrated wines from the source, and then delight in the flavors of authentic Spanish cheese while touring an Andalusian dairy farm. Relish the array of aromas that emanate from the spice market in a traditional Moroccan Medina, and then savor the fluffy texture of traditional fresh bread made with your own hands. From enticing seaside tastes to refined rustic aesthetics, you will sample your way through the variety and evolution of Spain and Morocco’s culinary culture.
Customizable Itinerary
San Sebastian – Arrive in Stunning San Sebastian with a Welcome Dinner
Pristine beaches and cobblestone streets add to the allure of San Sebastian. The Bay of Concha arches into a crescent with the waters of the Urumea River feeding into the Cantabrian Sea. Old Town overflows with popular bars that serve the celebrated pintxos, small plates similar to tapas. The 19th-century buildings decorate the neighborhood of Area Romantica where boutique shops provide illustrious window displays along the shaded walkways. Surfers take to the water along Playa de Gros, and welcoming beach umbrellas add a refreshing cool to the hot sands along Playa de Ondarreta. Your flight will land at San Sebastian Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon your arrival, and your enjoyment of it all will begin.
The sea breeze carries through the cobbled lanes of Old Town to bring a briny and seductive aroma to the air. Restaurants line the historical streets and soon fill with aromas of simmering onions and octopus grilled over an open flame. The city offers a remarkable number of Michelin Star restaurants that draw inspiration from the culture of pintxos and the flavors of the region. Settle into the comforts of your hotel and stroll along the warm and grainy sands that sweep across La Concha to view the turquoise water that splashes at the shoreline. In the evening, you will make your way to the marvelous dining room at Arzak, consistently rated in the world’s top 50 restaurants since 2006. The aroma of smoked vegetables drifts from neighboring tables and fades beneath the decadent fragrance of chocolate truffles.
What's Included:
San Sebastian – Enjoy a Private Basque Cooking Class and Culinary Tour
Madrid – Visit La Rioja Wine Region en route to Spain’s Capital of Madrid
Madrid – Relish a Guided Monuments Tour and Visit to San Miguel Market
Seville – Delight in Cordoba with a Traditional Lunch en route to Seville
Seville – Tour Seville and Revel in a Day of Sherry and Cheese Tastings
Rabat – Transfer to Casablanca with a Tour before Venturing to Rabat
Fes – Visit Historical Volubilis en route to Fes for a Cooking Class
Fes – Traverse the Spice Markets and Stunning Cultural History of Fes
Marrakech – Revel in a Scenic Ride to Meknes and Lunch in Casablanca
Marrakech – Discover Fascinating Monuments and a Bread Making Class
Marrakech – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in the coastal flavors of San Sebastian with a visit to one of the many Michelin Star restaurants that blend contemporary aesthetic with traditional Spanish flavors
- Delight in the bold and full-body flavors of Rioja wines during a private wine tour of the Basque province of the La Rioja Valley
- Sample the distinct differences of sherry before tasting a variety of cheeses produced in the region of Andalusia outside of Seville, Spain
- Enjoy a delightful lunch in view of the Atlantic Ocean while in Casablanca
- Discover the methods of making the staple bread of Morocco during a private class in Marrakech
- Delight in the variety of spices celebrated in Moroccan cuisine while learning the basics of traditional and historical cooking in Fes
- Indulge in the flavors of the Basque region with a private cooking lesson steeped in a focused mixture of land and sea
- Sample a traditional lunch in Cordoba after visiting the unforgettable preserved 9th-century architecture of the Mezquita
Detailed Description
The cuisine of Spain and Morocco satiates your soul with simple yet layered flavors that have been perfected over the centuries. Your 12-day Spain and Morocco itinerary will immerse you in the pleasures of the gastronomy that transcends the Strait of Gibraltar beginning with your arrival in San Sebastian. Your private transfer will meet you at San Sebastian Airport upon your arrival and escort you to your gorgeous hotel in the heart of Old Town. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure before you enjoy dinner at one of the city’s most established Michelin Star restaurants for an introduction to the cuisine of the seaside city. The next day, your guide will lead you on a culinary and cultural tour of the city before introducing you to a celebrated chef eager to teach you the basics of traditional Basque cuisine during your private cooking class.
Venture into La Rioja Valley the following day to tour a selection of Basque wineries that produce quality wines for a day of savoring the regional specialties. Traverse the imperial history and lavish monuments of Madrid the next day as the boutique shops of the capital will lead you to the bustling stalls of the San Miguel Market for a tasting of Iberico Ham and the fusion of international and local flavors. Your private transfer will greet you the next morning and escort you to Seville in Andalusia. Stop en route in Cordoba to explore the cobbled streets and the preserved 9th-century Mezquita. For lunch, you can partake in the robust flavors of the city before continuing to Seville, where you will enjoy a half-day tour of Seville’s interesting monuments. Move next outside of the city to visit a sherry winery and a dairy farm that produce quality cheeses that blend traditional and unique flavors.
Fly to Casablanca from Seville next, and your private transfer will greet you at the airport and escort you to Morocco’s contemporary capital of Rabat. Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca before arriving in Rabat for a tour of the regal city and captivating Medina. Move next to Fes by way of the Roman ruins at Volubilis, and once in Fes, you can traverse the markets with your private chef to gather ingredients to be used during your cultural cooking class. The following day, return to the spice markets and the bustling lanes of the Medina on a private tour Fes’s imperial history and unspoiled architecture.
Travel to Marrakech by private transfer the next day, and visit the former imperial city of Meknes en route with a stop in Casablanca for a delightful lunch with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. In the evening, you will savor the active life found in Djemaa el Fna Square with your view from a rooftop café. Your guide will meet you at your hotel the next morning and escort you through the lavish gates and preserved walls of the Medina and the 19th-century streets of the French quarter. Enter into a private kitchen to learn the art of making Moroccan bread before one last evening of cuisine, and then your private transfer will meet you at your hotel after breakfast to escort you to Marrakesh Menara Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$4,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 3685 reviews
Zicasso's travel expert and his team were fantastic. They planned out all the details of our trip and the activities were set up through reputable and trustworthy third parties by him. I’d definitely use his team again.
See more
Our trip to Spain was wonderful and everything went as planned. The three hotels we stayed in (Madrid, La Rioja, Barcelona) met or exceeded expectations. Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable.
See more
We had an excellent trip! We loved the tours and how the Zicasso travel company was accessible during the duration of the trip. We encountered one issue, but the team responded and worked with us to resolve it.
See more
Excellent planning by Zicasso's travel company and first-class accommodations with professional staff made this 16-day trip to Spain a true pleasure.
See more
Our trip to Morocco was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Our driver was excellent and an excellent companion throughout the journey—reliable, friendly, and always helpful.
The guided tour through the medina in Marrakech with our guide was a standout experience, especially with the bonus of dining at a fantastic restaurant he recommended. Two major highlights of the trip were the unforgettable hot-air balloon ride and our magical night in the desert.
Although our time in Casablanca was brief, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide in Rabat was knowledgeable and made the experience engaging and informative. We ended our trip in the stunning town of Chefchaouen, where another guide provided an exceptional tour—he was informative and passionate about his city.
The accommodations were perfect at every stop, and we truly appreciated the welcome gifts and meals provided by Zicasso's travel specialist and his team. Their attention to detail made all the difference.
I would highly recommend him and his company to anyone planning a trip to Morocco. It was an unforgettable experience that I will be sharing with friends and family for years to come.
See more
Zicasso's travel company did a wonderful job planning our trip. They were helpful and patient with me while planning our Spain trip. They truly listened to what we wanted in a trip and respected our budget.
All the tours we took were wonderful, with personable guides, and our drivers for transportation were also great. Everyone was on time, always. We had a flight delay leaving the US, resulting in missing an entire day in Barcelona. The agency could not have been better about getting transportation and tours moved, and making adjustments for us. We were still able to take all of our tours despite missing a day.
Also, while in Spain, our flight from San Sebastián to Madrid was canceled. The agency let us know right away and quickly made other arrangements. I could not have been happier with how they dealt with travel issues, especially when the issues we had were due to flights and not something they had booked for us. I was truly able to relax and have fun knowing that the agents at the travel company would handle any issues we faced.
I absolutely would recommend this company and happily use them again if I ever travel to areas they cover.
See more