Highlights
- Explore gorgeous architecture in Madrid's Habsburg district with a private guide
- Experience two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Seville, including the Alcatraz
- Wander around the streets of the Blue City, followed by Fes's famous medina
- Travel by train, ferry, and private transfer between cities (with walking tours)
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Madrid (Spain), Tapas Culinary Experience | Madrid |
| Day 2 | Guided Tour of Madrid's History, Culture & Architecture | Madrid |
| Day 3 | Train to Seville, Private Walking Tour | Seville |
| Day 4 | Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate, Flamenco Experience | Seville |
| Day 5 | Day trip to Córdoba, Private Walking Tour | Seville |
| Day 6 | Ferry to Tangier (Morocco), Private Walking Tour | Tangier |
| Day 7 | Explore the Blue City of Chefchaouen | Chefchaouen |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Fes via Volubilis & Meknes | Fes |
| Day 9 | Discover the Medieval Medina of Fes | Fes |
| Day 10 | Depart Fes |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Madrid (Spain), Tapas Culinary Experience
Welcome to Madrid! Founded in the 16th century by King Phillip III, the capital city of Spain is the country's financial center and cultural hub. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Take some time to get settled before heading off on a gourmet tour in the afternoon.
Madrileños love to eat traditional products and dishes from their beloved city. On this walking food tour, you'll visit a traditional bodega serving delicious Spanish tapas (small plates). Over several stops, you'll try several regional delicacies along with some cold draft beer and local wines. The tour ends with dinner at a classic restaurant featuring cuisine from the north of Spain. Head back to your hotel to get some rest before the tour continues tomorrow.
Day 2: Guided Tour of Madrid's History, Culture & Architecture
Today you'll see the Spanish capital's loveliest and most emblematic places while visiting the Habsburg district, the oldest part of the city (also known as El Madrid de Los Austrias). See the Royal Palace, the La Almudena Cathedral, and the main square of Plaza Mayor. Your guide will also show you some hidden and overlooked corners of Madrid's old town and take you to a local bar or café.
Later in the day, you'll continue exploring Madrid on your own. The city abounds with theaters, libraries, and museums, including the world-famous Museo Nacional del Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. These three institutions are all located on one of the main boulevards of Madrid, the Paseo del Prado. After visiting one or more of these museums, take the evening to relax and have a late Spanish-style dinner.
Day 3: Train to Seville, Private Walking Tour
After breakfast, head to the train station for your 3.5-hour journey from Madrid to Seville. Drop your luggage at your hotel, then get acquainted with Seville on a guided walking tour, learning about its 2,000-year history along the way. During the tour, you'll admire the Seville Cathedral, a 15th-century Roman Catholic church that's home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Gothic church in the world. You'll also see La Giralda, the cathedral's looming bell tower.
Then tour another UNESCO-listed site, the Alcazar, with a set of palaces and gardens representing a harmonious synthesis between Christian and Muslim cultures. You'll then walk to the orange tree-filled Santa Cruz neighborhood, known as the Jewish Quarter, with its narrow streets and quaint squares. It's a colorful and well-preserved part of the historic center, with many cafés and tapas bars—the perfect excuse to take a break and enjoy some small plates and local wine. Conclude your walk at the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
Day 4: Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate, Flamenco Experience
Today you'll be picked up by a private driver and transferred to a beautiful Andalusian olive oil estate, where you'll get to witness firsthand the production process of olive oil, one of Spain's most popular high-quality food exports. As you will soon discover, the estate has quite the history: it was here that Christopher Columbus' son Hernando began exporting olive oil to the New World. You'll tour the old manufacturing center and view the 16th-century olive-oil presses, learn about modern production methods in use today, and see gorgeous rolling hills carpeted in olive trees.
Return to Seville in the evening to experience one of Spain's premier cultural offerings: flamenco. This musical style enjoys a rich heritage that dates back to the 9th century when the music and dances of immigrants in the Andalusia region mixed with the cultures of local Moors and Jews. Over the centuries, the intermingling of these various influences synthesized to produce the style of flamenco that has come to define Spanish folkloric music today. Tonight you'll attend a show in one of the city's most famous flamenco tablaos, venues specifically designed to host flamenco performances.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Day Trip to Córdoba, Private Walking Tour
Catch a train from Seville's station this morning and embark on a 40-minute journey northeast to Córdoba. This romantic city in the Andalusia region is filled with historic Mudéjar architecture. You'll enjoy a four-hour private walking tour with an expert guide. Along the way, you'll visit many historical sights, including the breathtaking Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba). This pagan temple was converted into the great mosque of the Ummayad caliphate and later transformed into a Catholic church.
You'll also meander around the winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. Within this historic neighborhood is the Córdoba Synagogue, which dates to 1315. After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, the building served different functions. At one time or another, it was a hospital, a chapel, and a nursery school. You'll also visit the Alcázar de los Reyes, a palace built in the 14th century. The terraced gardens, fish ponds, flower beds, and orange trees make great photo opportunities. You'll take the train back to Seville late in the day.
Day 6: Ferry to Tangier (Morocco), Private Walking Tour
After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up to transfer you to Tarifa to start your ferry journey to Tangier, Morocco. Once you're in Tangier, a driver will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel for check-in. Then it's time to start exploring the city on a three-hour guided tour! Begin with a stroll around the 17th-century Sultan's Palace which has been recently turned into a museum offering a vast collection of fascinating antiquities, including Roman remains, crafts, pots, chandeliers, rugs, and more.
Stop at Bab Bhar (Gate to the Sea), offering stunning views of the Strait of Gibraltar, the vibrant port of Tangier, and the Ville Nouvelle. You'll enter the medina, or old town, through one of several decorative gates. Wander around the bustling alleyways while appreciating the cultural diversity and unique lifestyle that has been passed on from one generation to another. You'll see the communal ovens used for baking bread, the weavers' district, tiny artisan shops, and much more. Enjoy a Moroccan meal before getting some rest tonight.
Day 7: Explore the Blue City of Chefchaouen
This morning you'll enjoy a scenic 2.5-hour drive to Chefchaouen, or the "Blue City." Beautifully perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is one of the prettiest towns in Morocco, an artsy, blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own world. It was founded in 1471 by descendants of the Prophet Muhammad as a stronghold in the fight against the Portuguese. Chefchaouen, esteemed as a holy town, has eight mosques and whitewashed houses with tiny balconies, tiled roofs, and patios peppered with citrus trees.
The old medina is a delight of Moroccan and Andalusian influence, with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings, and narrow lanes converging on the busy Plaza Uta el-Hammam and its restored kasbah. Peruse the nearby souks (markets) or head to the Grand Mosque and Kasbah. Although non-Muslims can't enter the mosque, anyone can admire its structure and tour the gardens. For an exceptional view of the city, walk past the walls and through its historic gates, making your way toward the Hotel Atlas. Then continue up the path for another 30 minutes to enjoy the sunset from the Spanish Mosque.
Day 8: Transfer to Fes via Volubilis & Meknes
You're back on the road today as you take your private transfer from Chefchaouen to Fes. Along the way, your driver will stop at Volubilis. The UNESCO World Heritage Site contains Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins. Wander through the massive complex, exploring large merchant homes with visible heating systems, temples, and colorful mosaics. This town was one of the most remote parts of the Roman Empire: the Romans ruled for 200 years before leaving in 285 CE.
Next, continue to Meknes, the imperial city of Moulay Ismail. Under Moulay Ismail's reign (1672-1727 CE), Meknes grew from a small town to a magnificent capital. Enjoy strolling through the compact medina, which is less busy than other cities and offers a more laid-back atmosphere. Visit the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania and the impressive 19th-century palace of Dar Jamaï. In the Ville Impériale area, explore gardens, palaces, the impressive gate of Bab al-Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables. Your final stop is Fes.
Day 9: Discover the Medieval Medina of Fes
On the last full day of the trip, explore Fes, the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and perhaps the most interesting and exciting to explore. With a private local guide, you'll walk through the famous medina. The roads are much narrower, windier, and steeper than those of other imperial cities, making it almost impossible not to get lost. This is part of the fun—keep walking until the flow of people increases, and you find yourself on one of the main streets.
Shop at the souks for a variety of spices, vegetables, leather goods, ceramics, pewter, shoes, scarves, medicines, and more. Make sure to visit the Karaouine Mosque, founded in 859 CE by Fatima Al-Fihri, and the Chouara Tannery. The best way to end your day of exploring Fes is by watching the sunset from the Merenid Tombs in the north or Borj Sud in the south. Both viewpoints offer fantastic views of this dynamic city with timeless roots.
Day 10: Depart Fes
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