15-Day Vacation to Portugal and Morocco: Endless Relaxation and Uncrowded Tours

Portugal’s charms culminate in the hilly capital of Lisbon nestled on the banks of the sparkling Tagus Estuary. Your accommodation lies in one of the city’s vibrant districts alongside the pastel-colored Portuguese buildings typical of its coastal skylines. After arriving, you will join a local guide for a walking tour of the Mouraria neighborhood, one of the oldest in Lisbon and the birthplace of the traditional Fado movement. Today, chic bars and stylish cafés host visitors who peruse the Portuguese city in search of the best authentic cuisine to tuck into while listening to the sweet melodies of Fado music.

With so much to see and do in Lisbon, your full day will be best enjoyed at your own pace partaking in the experiences and activities you dream to tick off your bucket list. Your travel specialist will provide a wealth of recommendations, including peaceful cruises across the sun-washed estuary, visits of the magnificent historic museums hosting an assortment of emblematic works of art, dining at the celebrity-chef owned restaurants overlooking Lisbon, and exploring Azulejo ceramic-tiling exhibits that are as beautiful and colorful as they are educational.

Portugal’s southernmost region, the Algarve, is a beach-lover’s paradise and the perfect destination to find peace and quiet away from the crowds. White-washed towns and ochre-roofed neighborhoods sprawl from the grassy countryside to the shimmering shoreline, and there is no shortage of hidden treasure troves of culture, cuisine, and activities to spend your time soaking up the sensational Algarve scenery. Today, you will check into an accommodation overlooking the Algarve’s azure waters and spend your sunset sipping on cocktails from boutique seaside culinary hotspots.

The day ahead is unplanned for your pleasure, giving you time to choose from the tranquil experiences famous across the Algarve’s alluring coastline. If the ocean is calling your name, you may head for the shore and board a yacht to set sail across the shimmering waters to hideaway coves carved into towering cliffs. You may snorkel in the translucent sea and spot colorful marine life swimming with the swells, capture one-of-a-kind images from within the light-flooded Benagil Cave, or submerge in the depths at some of Portugal’s world-famous scuba diving destinations.

With another day to relax and unwind in the breathtaking Algarve region, you will be eager to wake up early and make the most of your time spent wallowing in the splendid coastal getaway. You may let your worries melt away during sensational spa therapy, transfer to traditional fishing villages where the local lifestyle is left unaffected by large crowds, or head for the hills to witness the royal palaces standing in all their glory over the vast Algarve seascape.

North Africa’s crown jewel Marrakech is a melting pot of cultures and influences, and its spirited city is one of the world’s most magnificent blends of Islamic heritage, Roman ancestry, and African flavor. Today, you will arrive via plane and transfer from the airport to an accommodation nearby the renowned Djemaa el-Fna. The bustling city square is the truest representation of Marrakech’s multicultural origins, providing visitors with a whirlwind of entertainment born from the thousands of sizzling grills preparing Moroccan cuisine, storytellers sharing rapturous fables, and torch-lit markets housing colorful traditional garb and trinkets.

Set within Marrakech against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains' snowy peaks lies the historic town of Old Medina. Its ancient neighborhood hosts phenomenal authentic souks, or Arabian markets, where traditions and customers continue to underpin the artisanal handiwork of the local craftspeople. Between the fragrances of bakeries and songs of performers flooding the streets, you will find the magnificent grand buildings that date back to the 9th-century such as the Koutoubia Mosque. An exploration of the Jewish mellah will spotlight more of Marrakech’s distinct cultural influences while avoiding the tourist crowds.

Your journey from Marrakech, across the Atlas Mountains, will begin this morning and you will take a slow drive through the sands of Morocco towards the oasis city of Skoura. Impressive Kasbahs riddle the rugged landscape, and you will capture images of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait-Ben-Haddou just outside of Ouarzazate. The well-preserved ode to Moroccan history remains beautiful in its architectural form and its exotic design will intrigue you during your stop. Leaving the Kasbah, you will soon find yourself among the palm groves of Skoura, a fertile destination on the desert’s outskirts.

A collection of Kasbahs nestles the hilltops of Morocco’s sweeping sand plains, and you will scan their majestic castle complexes from your car’s window and lofty observation decks as you transfer across the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. Your travels will lead you through the romantic sand towns of Morocco where hidden experiences far from the beaten path await your arrival. Continuing through the Dadès Valley and past the colossal Todra Gorge, you will soon arrive for the night at Morocco’s gateway to the Sahara Desert, Merzouga.

The Sahara Desert is an immense sandy paradise of shifting golden sand dunes and modest rural villages. From Merzouga, you will hop into a 4x4 vehicle and race across the rising and falling dunes, traveling off trails and leaping over the massive umber hills of Erg Chebbi. You will visit nomad families who have found refuge amongst the rose-tinted sands and learn about their unique, desolate lifestyle before you partake in a camel-riding tour of the neighboring desert landscape and let the local performances entrance you around the campfire.

Your adventures in Morocco’s vast desert will culminate in rural villagers speckling the sands, such as Erfoud and Ifrane. Each destination in the Atlas region carries with it a fascinating heritage and cultural stories of desert settlers who escaped the troubles of the modern world. Within these towns, you will admire the iconic Moroccan sandstone architecture and exhibits of ancient fossils found within the hardened rocks. In the evening, you will arrive in the sacred and busy city of Fez where you will spend your night in a comfortable riad, a traditional Moroccan home.

Fez is a 9th-century city that remains barely unchanged, and its spiritual significance as a holy seat of religion continues to flood its streets from the towers of commanding sacred complexes. You will wander the bustling neighborhoods to souks, traditional Arabian markets, where entertainers tell fables and share fortunes, vendors serve hungry travelers authentic Moroccan cuisine, and craftspeople display their traditional colorful garments. You will continue to mosques lining the maze of alleys and climb to the viewpoint of Merenid Tombs overlooking the entire city this afternoon.

Your final night in Morocco will be spent in a riad neatly positioned among the sweeping skyline of blue-painted homes from which Chefchaouen’s nickname as the “Blue City” derives. Your transfer to the flowered destination will lead you to the Volubilis ruins, an ancient Roman archaeological site that preserves its ruling history. Mansions and palaces adorn the former imperial region, Roman baths and basilicas reflect the distinct European architecture, and stunning mosaics keep the artistry of the times intact. You will cherish the discovery of this city crumbling with time before you reach Chefchaouen.

You will wake up to sunrise views over Chefchaouen dancing off its blue buildings for which the “Blue City” is nicknamed. You will follow the local chatter out of your accommodation after breakfast and onto the narrow streets which you will follow past flowered patios to town squares flooded in yellow sunlight. You may spend your afternoon exploring districts once home to Spanish settlers, as well as Muslim and Jewish refugees who arrived from Granada in 1494. In the evening, you will transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Madrid for the last evening of your vacation.

Having spent 14 full days exploring Portugal, Morocco, and the central capital of Spain, you will leave with a fondness for the European and North African highlights and memories of your relaxing time away from home. Today, you will enjoy a sumptuous Spanish breakfast spread served in the comfort of your charming accommodation before you collect your luggage and check out of your hotel. Your transfer will wait for you in the lobby and whisk you away to the airport with plenty of time to make your flight home later in the day.