Others

Coimbra - Evening Fado Performance Lisbon - Sao Jorge Castle Algarve - Island Day Trip by Boat Chefchaouen - Walking Tour with Local Guide Fes - Medina walking tour

Transport

TRANSPORT IN EUROPE: Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that’s why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city’s public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action. There are some long travel days and some rough travelling in areas away from the main tourist routes. High passes, windy roads, and rough surfaces make for some challenging travel experiences. On some long travel days, we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination. If you experience travel sickness we recommend you consider medication to help ease the discomfort. The best part about all of these long drives is the spectacular views and fun stops en route such as mountain passes, kasbahs, palmeries, sand dunes, goats up trees, etc. We also use public transport on some of our trips around Morocco. Be it a train or a public bus, remember that the best part of it is the possibility to interact with local people traveling along with you. Train , Ferry , Metro , Private vehicle , Public bus , Taxi

Meals

12 breakfasts

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. EUROPEAN HOTELS: Hotels in Europe often don’t have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially by American or Australian standards. Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges. Hotel (14 nights)

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. EUROPEAN LEADERS: Intrepid trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. We also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Optional

Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - EUR13 Madrid - Museo del Prado - EUR15 Madrid - Real Jardín Botánico - EUR6 Madrid - Museo Reina Sofia - EUR10 Madrid - Royal Palace - EUR14 Madrid - Tapas Urban Adventure - EUR99 Salamanca - Art Nouveau & Art Deco Museum - EUR4 Salamanca - Unamuno House Museum - EUR4 Salamanca - New Cathedral - EUR5 Salamanca - Old Cathedral - EUR5 Salamanca - University of Salamanca - EUR10 Salamanca - Casa de Las Conchas - Free Coimbra - Mondego River Boat Trip - EUR7 Coimbra - Cathedrals - EUR3 Coimbra - Conimbriga Ruins - EUR5 Coimbra - Portugal Dos Pequenitos - EUR11 Coimbra - University of Coimbra - EUR14 Sintra - Palacio Nacional - EUR10 Sintra - Palacio da Pena - EUR14 Sintra - Day Trip - EUR10 Sintra - Castelo dos Mouros - EUR8 Lisbon - Experience Lisbon Walk Urban Adventure - EUR45 Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR5 Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR17 Lisbon - Fado Show with Dinner - EUR50 Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10 Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR3 Lisbon - National Art Museum - EUR6 Lisbon - Puppet Museum - EUR5 Algarve - Birdwatching Tour - EUR35 Algarve - Marine Wildlife Watching Tour - EUR45 Algarve - Boat Trip Rio Formosa - EUR30 Algarve - Fishing Trip - EUR40 Seville - Real Alcazar - EUR14 Chefchaouen - Hammam (public baths) - MAD150 Chefchaouen - Henna Tattoo - MAD50 Marrakech - Saadian Tombs - MAD70 Marrakech - Palais Badi - MAD70 Marrakech - Palais Bahia - MAD70 Marrakech - Hamam (public baths) - MAD250 Marrakech - A Taste Of Marrakech: Inside the Medina Urban Adventure - MAD605 Marrakech - Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure. - MAD640 Marrakech - Cascades d’Ouzoud Day Tour - MAD2207 Marrakech - Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage - MAD750 Marrakech - Ourika Valley Day Tour - MAD1817 Marrakech - Oukaimeden Day Tour - MAD1882 Marrakech - Asni & Ouirgane day trip with lunch - MAD1806 Marrakech - Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch - MAD2000 Marrakech - Medina, Palaces & Tombs Urban Adventure - MAD630 Marrakech - Palmery Cycling Tour - MAD350 Marrakech - Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour - MAD350 Marrakech - Imlil & Aroumd day trip - MAD1817

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Madrid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Madrid

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Spain. Your adventure begins in Madrid, the central capital known for its boulevards and expansive, manicured parks. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your group and local leader. After the meeting, head out for an optional group dinner where you can get to know your fellow travellers. As there’s limited time for sightseeing in Madrid, consider flying in a few days early to explore and maybe while away the hours along the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk) or maybe discover more about the modern Spanish masters like Picasso and Dali, in the Museo Reina Sofia.
Day 2 Day 2: Salamanca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Salamanca

Say farewell to Madrid this morning and head north-west by public transport to the university town of Salamanca. Sitting among pastures and rolling green hills on Spain’s northern plateau, the medieval town of Salamanca is great to explore on foot. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk when you arrive, where you can explore the central Plaza Mayor and the Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free. You can explore the detail of the Casa de Las Conchas (House of the Shells), see the contrasting Old and New Cathedrals, or climb to the top to get a view across the terracotta-coloured rooftops. Thanks to the large student population the town has a vibrant nightlife, so maybe soak up the vibe tonight, go dancing or grab a couple of drinks.
Day 3 Day 3: Coimbra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Coimbra

Head further west on your private bus today and cross the border into Portugal to the laidback city of Coimbra – your base for the next two nights. Sitting on the banks of the River Mondego, Coimbra was once the capital of the county, and its royal heritage can be felt in its ancient streets. When you arrive, your leader will take you on an orientation walk through the maze of alleyways. Half the fun of Coimbra is wandering and exploring, so maybe use your free time getting to know the city on foot. Coimbra features many white stone buildings with excellent examples of the colourful azulejos tiling. Some of the historical structures were originally built in the 12th century (like the Cathedral Se Velha), and you can find some of Portugal’s best examples of Romanesque churches and elegant museums here. The University of Coimbra – the oldest in Portugal – and the famous baroque library, the Biblioteca Joanina are great places to start.
Day 4 Day 4: Coimbra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Coimbra

Today is a free day to explore Coimbra. Maybe head into the countryside in search of ancient Roman ruins – the ruins of Conimbriga are rich in well-preserved mosaics and offer a great insight into Roman life. There are several options to return, including a 3-km walk through the countryside to the rural town of Condeixa or a half-hour bus ride. If you have time, you can take a short boat tour to see Coimbra from a different angle. Tonight, you’ll head to a traditional Fado performance. Fado songs must follow a particular structure, and though this traditional music can really be about anything, it popularly features mournful tunes with lyrics about the sea or the life of the poor. In Coimbra, university students would often serenade their sweethearts with this music!
Day 5 Day 5: Lisbon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Lisbon

Today, take a train through the countryside of central Portugal to Lisbon. As one of Europe’s most affordable capital cities, Lisbon combines the best elements of Portuguese life, offering a multicultural population, delicious seafood and non-stop nightlife. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk on the banks of the Tagus (Tejo) River. Much of Lisbon’s character and lies in its beautifully renovated buildings, grand boulevards and impressive castles and churches. Visit the medieval citadel in the city centre, the Citadel of Sao Jorge Castle, which dates back to Moorish times and sits on the highest point of the Old Town. Your evening is free to explore at your own pace, so maybe head to the grand Naval Museum for an insight into the history of Portuguese navigation. If you want to jump into the local nightlife, head to Barrio Alto.
Day 6 Day 6: Lisbon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Lisbon

Today is free for you to explore more of Lisbon, or you can take a 45-minute train ride out to the mountainous region of Sintra – a jewel of Portugal where you’ll see the Pena Palace. This area offers great walking opportunities, cliff-top palaces and unique Moorish architecture. The 8th-century Castle of the Moors looks down on the Old Town, and the views from the battlements across the Serra de Sintra Mountain Range are worth the trip.
Day 7 Day 7: The Algarve / Faro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: The Algarve / Faro

Take a bus journey to the southern coastline of Portugal – the Algarve, known for fertile plains rich with orange and olive groves, fig trees, almonds and maize fields. Your base will be in Faro – the capital of the region known for its Old Town, which you enter through the neoclassical Arco da Vila. When you arrive, check into your home for the next two nights and use the rest of the day to explore. Maybe wander the cobbled streets, see the 13th-century Faro Cathedral of head to the Municipal Museum set in a 16th-century convent, which displays prehistoric and medieval artifacts as well as religious art.
Day 8 Day 8: The Algarve / Faro
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: The Algarve / Faro

Faro is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a series of barrier islands, creating a beautiful landscape of canals, salt pans, lagoons and sandbanks. Today, you’ll board a local passenger boat and head out to one of these islands where you can wander along a series of boardwalks leading away from the fishermen’s settlements. You’ll cross over dunes and lagoons to beaches that are so long that they disappear into the horizon. Return to Faro in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Maybe use the area’s great walking paths to access some of the Algarve’s lesser known spots or find a good spot to watch the sunset.
Day 9 Day 9: Seville
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Seville

Leave Portugal behind and return to Spain, travelling by private vehicle to the city of Seville. If the legends are to be believed, Seville was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. To the Romans it was Hispalis, and to the Moors it was Isbiliya. After the Christian reconquest, it became thought of as the portal to the ’New World’ and today is the largest city in southern Spain, well-known for its oranges, tapas and flamenco. When you arrive, head out for a short orientation walk around the main sites, then enjoy some free time in the late afternoon and evening to explore at your own pace.
Day 10 Day 10: Chefchaouen
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Chefchaouen

This morning, rise early to start your long journey to Chefchaouen. You’ll head toward Tarifa and then leave Europe behind as you make your way to Africa. After leaving the ferry, you’ll be picked up by the Moroccan crew and make your way to a mountain town peppered with blue-washed buildings and ambient restaurants – Chefchaouen, the centre of an agricultural region. There may not be much time to explore this rural retreat by the time you arrive today, but you might just have time to look over the 15th-century Grand Mosque and the medina. Tonight, maybe tuck into some popular local goats’ cheese or a tajine before settling into your hotel.
Day 11 Day 11: Chefchaouen
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Chefchaouen

Meet your local guide early in the day to explore the maze of streets in Chefchaouen. The ‘blue city’ is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen’s medina has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways. The medina is filled with handicrafts, while the main square has shops selling woven goods and sweets. Learn about general life in a small Moroccan community, visit a communal bakery and walk up to a former mosque for a great view over the town. As a popular shopping destination for handicrafts, carpets, blankets or woollen garments, you may also see the artisans at work. After your walking tour, maybe head to a traditional Moroccan hammam to relax.
Day 12 Day 12: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Fes

Say farewell to Chefchaouen today and jump on a private minivan trip to the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Arrive in the city of Fes and step back in time to the medieval medina, thick with tantalising smells, tastes and sounds. Vibrant, noisy and fascinating, the medina is a feast for the senses. With your free afternoon, maybe have a glass of mint tea and some sweet Moroccan dates to refuel, then continue exploring. Tonight, you might like to try some local specialities like camel burger, harira (chickpea soup) or chicken-stuffed pastilla with couscous. Watch the sunset over the medina, then head back to your accommodation for a night’s rest.
Day 13 Day 13: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Fes

Take a guided walking tour of the Old City, known locally as Fes el Bali, and step back in time to the labyrinth of the medina. Alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques, you’ll pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world) and explore the specialty sections that divide the souks. Medieval Fes was one of the world’s great centres of education and culture, both Islamic and Jewish. Its religious institutions and its libraries are legendary. Its mosques are of great renown. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania, one of the city’s most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. Pass the Belghazi Museum, Medresse el Attarine and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine – a beautifully restored 18th century inn. You’ll also see the famous tannery, known for the iconic view overlooking its dye pits, and a ceramics factory where you can see potters working in the traditional way. After the tour, the afternoon is free for you to enjoy as you please.
Day 14 Day 14: Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Marrakech

Travel by train this morning to Marrakech. When you arrive, head out with the group for a quick visit to the main square – Djemaa el-Fna. The square is filled with a hive of activity. Henna painters, performers and storytellers share the square with a street food bazaar packed with stalls loaded with Moroccan delicacies. From a distance, you’ll see the Koutoubia Mosque and its minaret – famous throughout the world as one of the greatest minarets and the ’sister’ to the Giralda in Seville. You can have dinner here or ask your local leader for a great local restaurant recommendation and celebrate a trip well-travelled with your group.
Day 15 Day 15: Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Marrakech

After breakfast this morning, your adventure comes to an end. As there’s not much time spent in Marrakech, it’s recommended you book an extra few nights of accommodation. If you would like to extend your stay, maybe explore the ruins of Palais Badi – once one of the most beautiful palaces in the world – or head to the bazaar, where every step to a new souq brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift. If you need to organise additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

+12

15 days tour

Madrid To Marrakech

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Madrid To Marrakech

Day 1: Madrid

Day 2: Salamanca

Day 3: Coimbra

Day 4: Coimbra

Day 5: Lisbon

Day 6: Lisbon

Day 7: The Algarve / Faro

Day 8: The Algarve / Faro

Day 9: Seville

Day 10: Chefchaouen

Day 11: Chefchaouen

Day 12: Fes

Day 13: Fes

Day 14: Marrakech

Day 15: Marrakech

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