Gems of Portugal & Morocco: Castles, Medinas & Mosques - 10 Days

Highlights

• Cruise along the Douro River while tasting port wine outside of Porto
• Listen to soulful fado music in Lisbon and discover its hidden corners with a local
• Try aromatic street food in dynamic Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh
• Explore winding alleys and Rif mountain views in Chefchaouen
• See the largest mosque in Africa in coastal Casablanca

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Porto, Afternoon Walking Tour

Welcome to Portugal! Upon arrival in Porto, a driver will meet you at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Then, meet your local guide to start exploring Portugal's second-largest city, known as "Invicta" (Invincible) for its strength during the 19th-century Civil War. Start your tour at Boavista Avenue, the city's longest street, and see how old and new intermingle as you visit the post-modern Casa da Música concert hall and the 1855-built Cemitério de Agramonte. Take a stop for lunch at Bolhão Market or Majestic Café with its Belle Epoque-era interior, and then continue on to the heart of the city.

The UNESCO-listed city center is home to 2,000 years of history and a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and neoclassical architecture. Admire mosaic walls at the São Bento railway station, climb the 246-foot (75 m) Clerigos Tower, and see the imposing silver altarpiece of Porto Cathedral. In the Foz neighborhood, explore the 17th-century Forte de São Francisco Xavier and walk around the Passeio Alegre gardens and Felgueiras Lighthouse. Make a stop for contemporary art at Casa Tait museum and finish the tour with riverside views from Ribeira Plaza and the Dom Luís I Bridge. 

Day 2: Douro Valley Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Today's destination is the Douro Valley, named for the river that runs from Portugal to Spain. In Portugal, the region is best known for its port, alvarinho, and touriga nacional wines. Your journey through the mountains starts in the morning, meeting your private driver to travel for a couple of hours east to reach the valley. There, tour wineries and learn about one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world. Reach a quinta (wine estate) to pair wines with a lunch of local dishes such as sheep's milk cheese, salted cod salad with chickpeas, or alheira (sausage).

After lunch, board a boat for a one-hour cruise for views of rolling hills and vineyards. After the boat trip, return to Porto in the afternoon and spend the afternoon relaxing at your hotel, then go out to experience the city's nightlife. In Ribeira, wander through Praça da Ribeira square and get lost among narrow streets filled with bars and restaurants. 

Day 3: Train to Lisbon, Explore the City with a Local

Say your goodbyes to Porto and catch a three-hour train south to Lisbon. Upon arrival, meet your local guide to learn about Portugal's waterfront capital city with views of the Tagus Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. In the city of hills, ride Santa Justa's iron elevator to travel from Baixa's lower streets to Camo Square. In Chiado, an epicenter of shopping, browse stores and then stop in the square Praça Luís de Camões for people-watching and to try typical dishes with plenty of seafood options. Head up to Bairro Alto to visit São Roque Church and see ocean views from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

As the sun sets, discover more of Lisbon by taking a seat at a bar or restaurant or walking along the waterfront to the Torre de Belém. Or, find your way to a Bairro Alto fado club as recommended by your guide. Feel the melancholic rhythms of the fado performers while trying dishes such bacalhau (codfish), sardinhas assadas (grilled sardines), and ameijôas à bulhão patoas (stewed clams) for dinner. 

Day 4: Day Trip to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Just half an hour east of Lisbon, Sintra feels like another world, set in the mountains and forests with Moorish palaces and towering lookout points and castles. Arrive in Sintra in the morning with your guide, and start your tour with the exterior of the 19th-century Palacio Nacional da Pena, where you'll learn how its style mixes Moorish and Portuguese late-Gothic influences. Then take a walk through the forest at the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and Monserrate Palace—an example of romanticism with its intricate carvings. 

From Sintra, head south about half an hour to the fishing town Cascais on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Explore some of its lavish mansions, and depending on the weather, make a stop at Guincho Beach and take a walk on Cabo de Roca and around its lighthouse. On the way back to Lisbon, make a stop in Estoril for a beach stroll and lunch. At the end of the tour, return to Lisbon, where you'll have another chance to experience fado or to explore the city on your own before setting off for Morocco tomorrow morning.

Day 5: Fly to Marrakesh, Culinary Night in the Medina & Jemaa el-Fna 

It's on to Morocco today as you catch a two-hour flight south from Lisbon to Marrakesh, known as the "Red City." A driver will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, where you can get settled and take some time to relax. Then it's time to join your local guide for a tour through the energetic center of the city, where you'll learn about the vibrant flavors and colors of Morocco through its food.

Starting in Jemaa el-Fna square, smell frying fish and grilled meat as you watch street performers and fortunetellers captivate their audiences. Taste harira soup and then move on to the medina (the ancient quarter) and its backstreets, where your guide will reveal more hole-in-the-wall spots and local favorites for a rich cultural and culinary experience.

Take a seat at a restaurant to learn about the many ingredients that go into a tajine, then duck into a hidden restaurant called Souk Mama to taste couscous served with vegetables and chicken and meet the two women who share their recipes every night with visitors and locals. At the end of your food tour, head back to Jemaa el-Fna to see more lively performances, or go back to your hotel after a long day and prepare for tomorrow's early wake-up call.

Day 6: Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Ride, Marrakesh Cultural Tour

Marrakesh is surrounded by sweeping desert and rugged mountains, and today you'll see it all from above, at about 1,000 feet (304 m). After an early wake-up, board a hot-air balloon before sunrise to watch the landscape slowly set alight as you float over villages, mountains, and endless desert. Sip coffee and eat msemen (a crepe-like pastry) or sfenj (sweet fritters) served with honey, fruit, and cheese. Coast back down to land in the late morning and meet up with your guide for a walking tour to see more of the city.

Hear the call to prayer resonate from Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakesh's largest mosque with a minaret that towers over the city. Then walk to the remains of Badia Palace and its courtyard, which suggests its past grandeur built for Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour in the 16th century. At the Saadien Tombs, you'll see the Sultan's intricately-tiled necropolis, then continue to the Jewish Quarter to learn about the restoration of the area.

After the tour, you could continue exploring at your own pace. Head to the east of the medina to shop for leather goods, or venture farther outside the historical center to Rue Yves St Laurent to reach the tranquil, palm-covered Majorelle Gardens and its Yves Saint Laurent museum dedicated to the designer and his work.

Day 7: Transfer to Rabat, Guided Tour of Morocco's Capital

Today you'll transfer 3.5 hours north to Rabat, Morocco's capital city on the shores of the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic Ocean. Drop your bags at your hotel, then set off on a guided tour of the city. You'll start at the Royal Palace, the residence of the current King of Morocco, then continue to the Chellah Necropolis to see Roman ruins and learn about the complex's past as a Phoenician trading outpost and Roman town. Then enter the warren of the medina, reaching Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, an abandoned site from the 12th century with an incomplete mosque and 200 columns.

From the medina, head into the souks (markets) to peruse rugs, spices, slippers, jewelry, and leather, with your guide along to assist you with the art of bargaining. Escape from the crowds at the Andalusian Gardens and follow its walking paths through exotic plants, flowers, and fruit trees, all modeled after the Alhambra in southern Spain. End your tour at the grand door of Kasbah des Oudaïas, the gateway out of the historic center, to reach the Musée des Oudaïas handicrafts museum. Ask your guide for a dinner recommendation for this evening before you part ways.

Day 8: Day Trip to the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen

Set off on a day trip into the Rif mountains today, as your driver takes you four hours north to reach the "Blue City" of Chefchaouen. Upon arrival, meet your guide and spend the day strolling around this enchanting, colorful town. Your walking tour starts in its atmospheric medina, which clings to the northern hillside and is famous for its winding alleys and steep staircases washed in shades of azure blue. At the bottom of the slope, explore Plaza Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square named for its past as a center for hammams (bath houses).

Pass by the Grand Mosque during the call to prayer, and marvel at this architectural masterpiece from outside (non-Muslims can't enter). From the mosque, you can visit the kasbah (old fortification), its garden, museum, and prison cells—and head up to the roof for sweeping vistas. Then get to an ideal place to watch the sunset by following the streets east to the Ras el Ma spring, where the Oued el Kebir river flows below the town. Follow an uphill path for 20 to 30 minutes to reach the Spanish Mosque for a spectacular view. Your driver will take you back to Rabat in the afternoon.

Day 9: Transfer to Casablanca, Tour the Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, is the final stop on your journey. After the 1.5-hour transfer south, you'll get settled in and then meet your guide for a tour of one of the city's most important sites. The oceanfront Hassan II Mosque is the largest functioning mosque in Africa and the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims, and its interiors include a museum, baths, a Koranic school, a library, and a prayer room supported by 78 granite and marble pillars. Admire the vast main sanctuary and its ornamental ceiling, as well as the 650-foot (200 m) minaret, the tallest structure in Morocco.

After your tour of the mosque, set off along the waterfront on Corniche Boulevard to savor your last day in Morocco. Take a walk through the medina to browse handmade leather goods, see another of King Sidi Mohammed bin Hassan al-Alawi's Royal Palaces, and feel the energy of the busy Central Market. At the end of the day, return to your hotel to get ready for your departure tomorrow.

Day 10: Depart Casablanca

Spend your last morning in Morocco taking a walk along Casablanca's waterfront, then join your driver for a transfer to the airport and catch your departing flight. Safe travels!

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