An Immersive Exploration of Spain & Morocco Tour

In the morning, the scent of pour-over coffee and fresh cakes dusted with cinnamon will overtake the settled aroma of the Mediterranean Sea. The sunlight washes over the golden sands and sapphire waters of Barceloneta Beach, and your guide will greet you at your hotel ready to lead you on an in-depth tour of the city’s art and culture that rises from the buildings, neighborhoods, and natural landscapes. After traversing the beautiful cobbled streets of the Gothic Quarter, you will arrive beneath the soaring spires of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, a structure designed and started by famous architect Antonin Gaudi. The edifice has become an icon of Barcelona and has been under construction for 135 years.

The spires reach heights of 560 feet above the surrounding city streets for a dramatic effect that blends Gothic, Catalan modernist, and Art Nouveau styles. Your guide will point to a tortoise that supports a full column along the Nativity Façade. The statues depict images from nature as symbols for the story of the Birth of Jesus, and the morning light will catch the Nativity Façade first and provide an extra layer of symbolism as crafted by Gaudi. The interior features spiced aromas of frankincense that drifts beneath the elaborate honeycombed ceiling vaults in the apse, which stands 250 feet tall.

In the morning, the sunlight will wash over the sapphire waters of Bogatell Beach. The scent of churros and donuts dusted with cinnamon and sugar accompanies the scent of decadent hot chocolate in the nearby cafés. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel and escort you to Barcelona Sants Railway Station. Board your first-class car of the high-speed train for a short and scenic journey to Madrid. The capital city bursts with energy seen and felt along the walkways and main avenues as boutique shops offer lavish window displays along the Gran Via, accentuating the surrounding beauty of Beaux-Art architecture.

Your private transfer awaits your arrival at Madrid Atocha Railway Station and will escort you to your gorgeous hotel in the heart of Spain’s capital city. Restaurants fill with the aromas of potatoes and eggs or prawns sautéed in garlic, and you will make your way to the Royal Palace with your private guide to view the elegance and opulence of the interior.

Two images of Visigoth kings flank the shield before you pass onto the grounds that fill nearly 1.5 million square feet. The palace structure was erected in the mid-19th century to rival the lavish architecture of Versailles in France. The Grand Staircase will greet you in the interior with pristine marble steps fashioned out of a single block. Look above to find a radiant fresco with a gilded border depicting angelic figures in the heavens. Ascend the staircase, and you will feel as though you are climbing to join the painting.

The scent of crisp churros rolled in granulated sugar fills the galleries of the café and bookstore that features high ceilings and large windows in which the natural sunlight pours through. Your guide will greet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you to the historic city of Toledo on the banks of the Tajo River. The water rushes over the reeds and rocks as it travels beneath the 13th-century Alcantara Bridge. The supportive arches represent the distinctive Moorish architectural style crowned by an 18th-century Baroque gateway. The city thrived under the peaceful cohabitation of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities, with palaces, fortresses, churches, mosques, and synagogues decorating the narrow lanes and skyline.

The Cathedral was erected in the 13th century as a mosque set beside the old Jewish quarter. The façade features recessed archways and a staggering bell tower that stands more than 145 feet tall. Nearly 90 pillars support the five naves of the interior, each richly decorated beneath the vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. The city will enchant you with its living history, acting as an open-air museum with insight into a golden era of Spanish artistry. Upon returning to Madrid, you can tour the galleries of the Prado Museum and find the works of El Greco effortlessly capture the beauty of the Toledo that you have now discovered and appreciate.

Madrid returns to vibrant life in the morning with Madrileños sipping rich coffee in the cafes and enjoying sweet, triangular fritters stuffed with cream. Your guide will lead you away from the morning bustle to reach the old city of Segovia. Confectionaries fill the cobbled lanes with the scents of chocolate and marzipan, and a Roman aqueduct continues to run through the heart of town at heights over 90 feet tall supported by double arches. The masterwork of Roman engineering was erected in the 1st century AD and continued to transport water to Segovia until the mid-19th century.

Warehouses, boutique shops, and homes have risen between the archways over the years, highlighting the ingenuity of locals and the superb Roman construction. The Alcazar resembles a fairytale castle that appears above the trees on the plateau above the city. A deep moat protects the outer walls of the 13th-century fortress that was rebuilt in the late 19th century after the original castle burnt down. You will make your way onto the elaborate grounds to view the Sala de las Piñas, a gallery with stalactite adorning the ceiling with nearly 400 different pineapple shapes, lending credence to the name. The ornate molding bordering the ceiling accentuates the gold hues and unique texture.

The scenic road will take you along the rolling arid hills and rich plains that encroach on the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You can stop at a saffron farm, best visited in late autumn, to view the blooming crocus flower. Farmers pluck the crimson-red thin threads from the drying roses inside a room adorned with electric heaters. The fields shimmer with violet leaves when fresh and arid, and the herbaceous aroma erupts from the room and provides an electrifying sensation. As your guide leads you through the drying room and onto a view of the entire farm, you will see windmills circling along the horizon.

In the morning, you will bask in the aromas of honey from the freshly fried fritters known as pestiños that accompany the rich scent of the thick melted chocolate of Chocolate a la Taza. Cafes set out their tables and chairs in the heart of Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the arcades and rosy hues of the 18th-century palaces and their decorative archways. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel and escort you away from Madrid en route to Granada in the region of Andalusia. The city gained international prominence with the success of the 17th-century novel Don Quixote de la Mancha and the main character who battled windmills believing they were dragons.

The scenic road will take you along the rolling arid hills and fertile plains that encroach on the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You can stop at a saffron farm, best visited in late autumn, to view the blooming crocus flower. Farmers pluck the crimson-red thin threads from the drying roses inside a room adorned with electric heaters. The fields shimmer with violet leaves when fresh and arid, and the herbaceous aroma erupts from the room and provides an electrifying sensation. As your guide leads you through the drying room and onto a view of the entire farm, you can see windmills circling along the horizon.

The next day, the sunlight will spread across the hidden niches of Granada’s labyrinthine streets and show the blend of North African and Spanish culture over the course of more than a millennium. The relaxed pace of the city keeps the streets serene throughout the day while it is cast in the shadow of the Alhambra crowning Sabikah Hill. Cypress and oak trees grow along the cliff and bring a layer of greenery to contrast with the pristine white walls of the palace. The snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains border the city to the south to frame the stunningly preserved 13th-century towers.

The emir Muhammad I of Granada began construction of the palace over an older 9th-century fortress which was established on the foundations of an even older Roman fortification. The scent of oranges and pine fills the air around the entrance as roses and azaleas blossom in the garden for a deeper sense of an oasis above the city streets. Fountains trickle on and provide a tranquil soundtrack to the lavish galleries and polished stone. Your guide will lead you to the Court of Lions, a marble courtyard with a fountain of 12 lions at the center. Latticed aches border the plaza that is supported by 124 columns. The sunlight glints off the refined white stone floors and the fountain was given as a gift to the emir in the 11th century. The lions cradle the pool on their back and spout water upon the hour.

The aisles of San Agustin Market fill in the morning with locals eager to find the freshest meat, fruit, and vegetables in the city. Cheesemongers offer samples of hard and softer fare crafted in the countryside of Andalusia, and local farmers display bottles of olive oil made on their property near Granada. Your guide will greet you at your hotel and lead you toward the remarkable city of Seville, stopping en route at Jerez de la Frontera and the capital of horse culture in the region. The streets combine the beauty of the old cobblestone with the chic contemporary culture of the fashionable boutiques that overtake the old palaces.

Your guide will introduce you to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, which has trained horses and riders since the 18th century. The handsome horses embody elegance as they trot along the theater. The soft sand kicks up beneath the shuffling hooves and riders smile with a sense of grandeur and grace, dressed in gray vests and sports coats to promote the traditional and regal ambiance of the 18th century. In town, you can traverse a selection of celebrated bodegas to sample the sherry crafted in the countryside and discover the variations of flavors found amongst Manzanilla, Fino, and Amontillado.

The beauty of Seville returns in the morning with the scent of citrus zest rising from the Patio of Oranges at the forecourt of the Cathedral. Hints of chocolate aromas float out of the cafes beneath the returning Iberian sunlight, and your guide will greet you at your hotel eager to lead you on a full day tour of Seville’s grace and grandeur, which the Alcazar embodies. The fortress is a masterpiece of Mudejar art, a hybrid of traditional Muslim art and architecture with European style. The structure was built in the 12th century under the reign of the Almohad Caliphate, which took pride in art, architecture, calligraphy, and geometric patterns. The 19th-century tile-work inlaid above the main gate depicts a lion holding a cross in its claws.

The intricate network of halls and courtyards presents seemingly endless views of blossoming flowers, trimmed hedges, and trickling fountains. Inside the Baths of Lady Maria de Padilla, you will find a rainwater tank situated beneath the Patio del Crucero. The vaulted arches shimmer with golden and red lights above the reflective, stoic waters of the tank. Filigreed archways and colorful tiles worked in geometric designs capture your eye, before leading you to the gardens. Date palms and citrus trees grow above the rows of hedges and combine beauty with function amidst the irrigation channels and ponds. In the evening, you will settle into the comforts of emotive music and dance with a dinner and flamenco performance in a celebrated restaurant at the heart of the captivating city.

The walls of the Alcazar glint in the morning light and the aroma of citrus returns to the streets, this time emanating from the cafes with flaky pastries stuffed with orange zest cream. Your private transfer will greet you at the hotel and escort you to the Seville Airport for your flight to Casablanca, Morocco. The city represents the cosmopolitan and contemporary culture of the country as palm trees line the boulevards and art-deco architecture recalls the French colonial era while art galleries promote the modern talents of the Moroccan artistic scene. Make your way to your stunning hotel by way of a private transfer after your arrival at Mohammed V International Airport.

Take time to enjoy the comforts of your accommodation before your guide escorts you to the Hassan II Mosque that overlooks the lapping waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The aroma of the sea fills the air as the shadow of the minaret drifts with the moving sunlight, cast by the soaring height of the more than 650-foot tall tower. The mosque was erected in the early 1990s and remains one of the largest mosques in the world. The glass floor inside the edifice offers an unforgettable view of the water as Moorish influences abound with zellige decorative tiles and keyhole archways that connect the contemporary structure to the celebrated historical design.

The sea breeze rustles the palm trees and carries the aromas of freshly baked bread and orange marmalade. The scent of mint tea blends with the aroma of decadent Turkish coffee and fills the cafes around the city. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel and escort you to the modern-day capital of Rabat, en route to Meknes. The city of Meknes has a more relaxed pace than Casablanca and retains its historical architecture and traditional culture. The main gate of Bab el-Mansour protects the Medina and neighborhood of the former Imperial City as keyhole arches adorn the structure that is embellished with colorful tiles and delicate filigree.

You can see the green-tiled minaret of the 12th-century mosque soaring above the antique city walls as the aromas of ginger and turmeric drift through the cobbled lanes of the Medina. The heart of the Medina brims with activity in the Place el-Hedim, a large plaza connected to Bab el-Mansour. Local children kick soccer balls around the public space and musicians play traditional songs in view of the strolling crowds. Cafes fill the square with the aromas of fresh mint tea and grilled meat dressed with exotic spices.

The Medina of Fes creates a labyrinth of 9,400 lanes and alleyways, believed to be the largest car-free zone in the world. In the morning, vendors haul produce and wares by donkey-cart as the medieval walls continue to wrap around the old homes and narrow cobbled streets adorned by the Blue Gate, known as Bab Bou Jeloud. The stunning entrance shimmers with blue tiles and a massive keyhole archway that allows carts and people to pass beneath into the city. The French erected the gate at the turn of the 20th century and utilized the zellige tiles to connect the contemporary edifice to the architectural traditions of sultans and dynasties that had come before.

Your guide will lead you along the souk that is filled with glinting brass and iron lanterns alongside the radiant hues of dangling textiles. The Royal Palace encompasses nearly 200 acres and zellige tiles and hand-carved cedar wood frames the brass doors that fill the entrance archways. Lemon trees adorn the gateway that faces the Place des Alaouites. You will find majesty in the daily life of the old city and delight in the aromas of sugared almonds and sweet dates alongside the scent of cayenne and sesame. Perfumeries spill over with fragrances of rosewater as old men sit in cafes to play dominoes and sip tea. You will continue to the celebrated tanneries of the city, which continue to adhere to the traditional dying of the leather near the heart of the antique city.

At breakfast, you will find the aromas of freshly baked bread and citrusy orange marmalade accompanied by mint tea drizzled with honey. Your guide will greet you at your hotel and escort you out of the Medina to reach the Sahara Desert by traveling along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs. Merchants along the salt trade once traversed the route that connects the greater cities of Morocco to the kingdoms beyond the desert. The roadway will lead you over the High Atlas Mountains as you pass through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at an elevation of more than 7,400 feet above sea level. The road has switchbacks along the mountain ridges, and you will have unparalleled views of the bordering snow-capped peaks that lend texture to the horizon.

You will soon reach the city of Ouarzazate, which nearly blends into the tan desert landscape as surrounding cliffs act as the “Door to the Desert.” The city stands on the barren plateau of the High Atlas Mountains with Berbers filling the lanes and clay homes of the former Kasbah. The former garrison town has been featured in films such as Gladiator and hit television shows like Game of Thrones. Old Town glistens with golden stones rising over the seasoned walls, and the rooftops have small, triangular crenulations that offer spectacular panoramas of the arid landscape and patches of verdant oases.

Before sunrise, you will amble out of your luxury tent that overlooks the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert at Erg Chebbi. The soft, cold white sand will feel like a powdery beach against your fingertips as a fire roars and boils water for tea. The stars continue to shimmer in the unfettered sky while the sunlight spreads over the horizon and brings layers of pink, orange, and blue into the sky. The expanse of sand dunes comes into focus and display the remarkable size of the dunes that reach as tall as 500 feet from peak to base. You can sip your soothing tea, enjoy the sunrise, and return to the Merzouga, the nearest town to the dunes before you continue to Marrakech with a stop at Fint Oasis to find donkeys roaming the streets.

Camels linger in the shade beneath the towering date palms as local women wash clothes in the gentle waters of the moving river. You will see the 300-year-old silhouette of Tifoultoute Kasbah in the distance. Arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon to settle into the comforts of your luxurious riad. The sounds of Jemaa el Fna Square erupt in the evening, with musicians blending contemporary music with traditional songs as storytellers captivate audiences with tales of maidens and sultans while vendors fill the air with the aromas of skewers cooked over an open flame.

The aroma of mint tea has become a familiar comfort during your time in Morocco. You will drizzle honey into the tea to add sweetness and balance the subtle natural spice of the mint. Your guide will greet you in the lobby of your hotel keen to introduce you to the charms of the bustling lanes of the Marrakech Medina. The aromas of sesame and black pepper drift out of the souk as cobbled alleyways wind beneath archways with the hidden stores of crafters and perfumeries found around every corner. After visiting the Bahia Palace, you can make your way to the Jardin Majorelle in the French district of Ville Nouvelle.

The former private home of Saint Laurent has a garden of 300 plant species from five different continents. The fountain greets you at the entrance of the two-and-a-half-acre grounds as cacti grow amongst the pebbles with the trees and landscape emphasizing the unique properties of each species. You can hear the water trickling at the Blue Square Fountain in front of the Berber Museum as the deep shade of electric blue contrasts with the surrounding greenery and rustic desert sands. Take a breath and enjoy the serene ambiance of the gardens embellished with the rippling waters of the pond and the tranquil greenery of the blossoming lily pads to contrast with the surrounding desert images.

The sunlight will wash over the palm trees and reflective pond in the Manara Gardens. The park offers a piece of the countryside at the heart of the city for a tranquil escape for locals and visitors alike. Families picnic around the refreshing pool and couples stroll beneath the shaded lanes of the 19th-century pavilion. In the Medina, the colors of the zellige tiles and marble pillars of the Saadian tombs shimmer in the returning light, and you will enjoy the steeping aroma of fresh mint tea before your private transfer arrives at the hotel. Make your way to Marrakech Menara Airport for your flight home after one last relaxing morning.