21-Day Explorer: Heritage of Spain and Morocco

Football fans, history buffs, enthusiastic foodies, and art enthusiasts will find the pleasures of Spain’s central metropolis, Madrid, in every corner of its Baroque neighborhoods and throughout its tree-hugged boulevards. Rich repositories of historic art, lush parks laden with colorful flowers, and detailed architecture lining the streets will backdrop your short transfer from the airport to a charming accommodation in the heart of the city. After arriving, you will join a culinary guide and walk the busy districts to a variety of tapas bars serving authentic Spanish cuisine. The vibrant atmosphere and decadent flavors will seduce your senses this evening.

You will join your guide after breakfast for a private tour of Madrid’s highlights. The Prado Museum stands as a proud host of Europe’s emblematic artworks and multi-cultural heritage, boasting Flemish exhibits, the masterpieces of Goya, and Rembrandt’s famous Artemisia. Your tour will continue around the old quarter circling Prado, where you will witness Spanish life bursting from the maze of narrow streets winding through the historic town. The Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, the Cathedral of La Almudena, and the San Miguel market are among the legendary gems you will discover today.

Today, you will transfer from the Spanish Iberian peninsula to the Andalusian countryside and escape to the medieval fortress of Granada nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You will arrive by train, giving you a chance to gaze out from your cabin window and scan the lush fields, rolling hills, and orchard groves composing Spain’s renowned rural landscape. Your evening will be spent in a gorgeous accommodation around the corner from Granada’s old quarter, a Moorish-origin district packed with authentic Spanish eateries.

Granada’s Moorish ancestry is no better expressed than within the walls of the royal Alhambra palace, a cornerstone of Spain’s regal Muslim roots. The architecture is dressed in elaborate Moorish murals, and golden embellishments adorn the reconfigured ancient Roman foundations on which the palace was constructed. The Generalife Gardens are an immaculate example of the complex’s tasteful design, ensuring that the regality is infused with the beauty of nature reflected in the manicured hedges and blossoming flowers you will wander past during the tour.

Today will be free for you to soak up the medieval scenes and wander the quieter streets of Granada for some pure Spanish discovery. You may flip through a good book on a stylish terrace, sit on the sun-baked steps of the town square and people watch, peruse the endearing neighborhoods to find secret sites, or join the locals at an atmospheric eatery for a taste of authentic Spanish country living. No matter what you decide to get up to, you will enjoy moments to yourself during your final day in the Moorish fortress.

You will begin your trip to Seville after breakfast and stop at the famous ancient hilltop city of Ronda en route. Three historic bridges connect the soaring peaks of the Spanish mountainside, wine farms cascade the rolling hills, and medieval walls fortify the renowned Andalusian destination. These scenes will backdrop your adventures to Ronda, and pictures of olive groves, chestnut trees, and viridian vineyards will provide the views from the terrace of a local wine farm as you learn about their meticulous winemaking process and sip on delicious vintages.

Home-cooked Spanish cuisine is unlike any rendition you may have enjoyed at Spanish-inspired fusion restaurants in your neighborhood back home. Authentic dishes prepared for you by a local family this morning will introduce you to the nuances in flavor of historic regional dishes. Joining in on the festivities, you will have the opportunity to prepare your own home-cooked Seville dish and share your creations with your host. This local culinary experience will raise the bar of Spanish comfort dining and give you a wealth worth talking about for the duration of your vacation and beyond.

Seville’s exuberant streets and spirited ambiance are yours to enjoy freely today without a worry in the world. You may wake up late to the sounds of local chatter chiming from the town square and the smells of freshly baked Spanish pastries wafting up to your balcony. You may wander the neighborhoods past serene waterways and appreciate the blend of old-world architecture and contemporary design. You may follow in the footsteps of hungry travelers to premier restaurants and dining hotspots famous around the world. Seville will be your Spanish playground for the day.

Spain’s Catalonian capital, Barcelona, needs little introduction. The city’s iconic mix of Roman heritage and contemporary architecture is cherished world-over, and its cosmopolitan streets have inspired historic artists and modern creative talents alike. There is no better way to decode Barcelona’s unique regional history than through tasting Catalonia’s best-kept culinary secrets at coveted local restaurants peppering quiet neighborhoods. Your insider gastronomy guide will then show you to a collection of classy dining establishments spearheaded by celebrity chefs to conclude your Catalonian culinary excursion.

Cathedrals stand as odes to Gothic architectural design, contemporary constructs like the Sagrada Familia spotlight the surreal works of Antoni Gaudi, and Olympic buildings and ruins reflect Barcelona’s rich Roman heritage. These are but a few of the city highlights you will visit during a guided half-day tour of fabled landmarks, century-old cultural sites, and colorful Catalonian markets. The afternoon will be yours at leisure, so feel free to take your time during the tour and keep your cameras at the ready to capture the postcard-perfect moments along the way.

Barcelona is a gateway to the lavish pastures of the Priorat region, where some of Catalonia’s best wines are produced. You will transfer across the pastoral landscape to quiet dirt roads weaving up the hills to estates perched over the yellow and green valley. A sommelier will welcome you to the estate and show you to a stylish terrace set against a backdrop of the flourishing grape vineyards. Your knowledgeable sommelier will share the regional characteristics and terroirs of Priorat wine as you taste an assortment of varietals and tuck into perfectly paired snacks.

You will wake up before sunrise and transfer to the airport with plenty of time to catch your early flight to the multicultural North African lands of Morocco. Your plane will touch down in Tangier, where a driver will be waiting to transfer you to the country’s eminent “Blue City”, Chefchaouen. Perched beneath the mighty peaks of Rif, bragging a cityscape washed in blue paint, and hosting a history of Spanish settler heritage, it’s no wonder Morocco’s “Blue City” has become a beloved stop after an exploration of Spain’s highlight cities.

You will journey back thousands of years after breakfast during a guided tour of Volubilis’ ancient Roman ruins sprinkled over the wildflower-carpeted Moroccon countryside en route to Fez. Roman baths, royal palaces, and mighty basilicas stand in varying states of disrepair yet retain the aura of Roman power that once reigned from the pastures of Morocco across the seas to Spain and beyond. Inside the ruined complex, you will come across shockingly well-preserved multi-hued mosaics painting the exposed internal walls in vivid colors. After tracing back the Roman heritage, you will continue to the holy city of Fez.

A local guide will greet you in the morning after breakfast to lead you on a tour of the Islamic spiritual grounds of Fez. The sacred 9th-century city has been left largely untouched and there remains a strong dedication to the old-world traditions and religious lifestyles that hold tremendous power in the European and North African history books. You will explore sandstone villages camouflaging into the red desert landscape, artisanal communities surviving on the backbone of ancient crafts, and significant royal resting places such as the Merenid Tombs.

You will leave Fez relatively early this morning for a long drive through the Moroccan countryside, with several stops along the way. First up is Ifrane, a modern town that boasts a Swiss-atmosphere categorized by its steep-pitched buildings dressed in white snow and tranquil lakes flanked by orange, green, and yellow-leaf trees. You will continue to Midelt for lunch and enjoy mid-morning vistas of the desolate, sandy landscape. Erfoud is another essential stop as its photogenic fossil beds and Paleozoic strata are among the many marvelous spectacles from lofty viewpoints.

Merzouga is the jumping-off point for the Sahara Desert, a sprawling sandy oasis that you will have seen portrayed as the sets of famous movies such as “Jewel of the Nile.” There are few trails unraveling over the shifting sand dunes, making a 4x4 tour across Erg Chebbi an even more thrilling experience as you bounce over the dreamy desert landscape. You will also cross the golden sand seas on camels in the evening and find comfort in a glamorous tented campsite pinned in the middle of nowhere, where the best stargazing in the Sahara can be relished.

You will leave your glamping grounds this morning and cross the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, an ancient caravan trading route that zigzags through the rugged ochre mountains beneath sandstone castles perched on the cliffs. Your adventures will culminate in the groves of fruit trees and palm-peppered neighborhoods of the Dades Valley, where you will appreciate the residential paradise set against the Mars-like desert landscape before arriving at Skoura for the evening. The rest of your day is yours to enjoy the culinary delights of the far-flung Skoura city.

Skoura’s decorated squares and fragrant markets will invite you to explore your surroundings this morning, and you will spend the rest of your day soaking up the scenic oasis on your own. The impressive Amerhidl Kasbah is a highlight worth visiting as it has become an immortalized attraction for its grand size, intricate design, and ancient heritage. Other Kasbahs around Skoura also showcase Morocco’s masterful architecture that has long stood in harmony with the sparse desert landscape and the various creatures that inhabit its difficult terrain.

Your Moroccan pilgrimage will continue across the Atlas Mountains to the country’s famous former imperial city, Marrakech. Remarkable sights and intriguing experiences await in the western hub of Moroccan commerce, and you will explore it freely this afternoon after visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate. The exotic, historic landmark has remained a pivotal part of Morocco’s cultural heritage and been featured in multiple feature films such as “Lawrence of Arabia” for its unbounded beauty.

Marrakech is an endearing imperial city with horse-drawn carriages trotting through its blushed neighborhoods and rose gardens decorating ancient palaces. Today, you will join your certified guide for a tour of the city’s highlights and begin with an exploration of the royal Bahia Palace. Your adventures will spotlight the jewels of Marrakech, particularly in the Jewish mellah, before you enter the ornate walls of the Koutoubia Mosque. In the afternoon, you can shop for curios and commemorative tokens at the colorful souks before visiting an artisanal restaurant for an unforgettable Moroccan meal.

Marrakech’s bazaars burst into life from the early hours of the morning, and locals and foreigners alike flock to the streets in numbers to grab freshly prepared snacks, boldly brewed coffee, and sightsee the landmarks before the crowds overwhelm the city’s neighborhoods. You may do so too before breakfast and enjoy your final galavant through Marrakech before you return to your accommodation for breakfast, grab your things, check out, and transfer to the international airport. You will find yourself home before you know it, having left with a wealth of wonderful memories.