Madrid to Marrakech holiday
| country: | Morocco, Portugal, Spain |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 20 Nov 2011: 9 Apr, 23 Apr, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun |
| price: | From £1435 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Enjoy a first-hand experience of Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan lifestyles. Travelling from Madrid to Marrakech, immerse yourself in the history of each destination, exploring ancient cultures through art, design, language and religion, meeting charismatic locals along the way. From fine cuisine to awesome shopping and breathtaking sites, this adventure has been designed to pique your curiosity, and allow you to discover the mysteries concealed within each region. Experience a collision of old and new, European and African, and be dazzled by the vibrancy of this corner of the world.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Madrid. Admire 900 years worth of art in the Museo del Prado or find a shady spot to relax in the Parque del Buen Retiro. Perhaps stay up late to experience Madrid's electric nightlife. |
| Day 2: | Salamanca. Head west to snappy Salamanca to spot the lucky frog and see the Casa de las Conchas with its unique scallop shell facade. This is a real university city, so soak up the student vibe on a stroll around the town. Listen to the locals speak the 'purest' Spanish dialect and polish up on those language skills. |
| Days 3-4: | Coimbra. Cross the Spanish border into Portugal and sample rich red wines and deliciously spicy fare. A number of historical buildings in this city were originally constructed in the 12th century and Coimbra displays some of the best examples of Romanesque churches in Portugal. |
| Days 5-6: | Lisbon. Start an exploration with the towering medieval citadel then perhaps inspect the art galleries or stroll the tree-shaded boulevards. Later, feast on some hearty braised squid then join the locals in a Lisboan to hear Portuguese fado music. |
| Days 7-8: | The Algarve. Get back to nature on the beautiful island of Culatra before retiring to the historic centre of Olhao. There's plenty of time to relax on the beach and soak up the holiday atmosphere of the Algarve. |
| Day 9: | Jerez. Discover the secrets to the perfect aperitif on a bodega tour then be dazzled by fiery flamenco while enjoying the drink that is the city's namesake, sherry. |
| Days 10-11: | Chefchaouen. Cross the Strait of Gibraltar and explore a town of delightful blue-washed streets. Get lost in this charming labyrinth and enjoy free time to browse the tiny gift shops. Perhaps hike up into the Rif Mountains for views over the white sprawl of Chefchaouen. |
| Days 12-13: | Fes. Step back in time into a huge medieval medina thick with exotic smells, tastes, sights and sounds. Stop for a glass of mint tea and munch on sweet Moroccan dates. Unwind with an evening drink at the Palais Jamai while the haunting call to prayer floats over the city. |
| Days 14-15: | Marrakech. Find everything from genie lamps and leather slippers to perfumes and brass ornaments in this exotic city of souqs. Take a refreshing walk through the lush Majorelle Gardens or visit the lavishly decorated Saadian tombs. End the adventure among the crazy bustle of Marrakech's Djemaa el-Fna. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
how this holiday makes a difference
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Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment. We travel with an average group size of just 10 people and mostly take public transport.
We stay and eat in small-scale locally-owned establishments. In keeping with our Responsible Travel policy you will stay in carefully selected locally-owned accommodation - we put your money into the local economy and small businesses, not state-owned companies or corporate chains. We use public transport throughout this trip, not only minimizing the environmental impact of our journey but also creating concrete opportunities to interact with the locals. You'll contribute directly to local economies and help develop cross-cultural understanding. In others words, enjoy a real life experience. We provide all our travellers with specific information about how to be a responsible traveller on this trip. Our group leaders are passionate about responsible travel. Taking these small steps, we're able to make a big difference. And that goes for the whole trip experience too. Our travellers get the chance to meet local people and really get to know their culture first hand. In Marrakesh we have the option of visiting the SPANA animal hospital which is a charitable organisation providing free health care and education for animals and their carers in the Marrakesh region. Those who wish to contribute further after their travels can do so through the our company's foundation which supports environmental and social projects, making a difference to communities around the world. In 2007 the foundation donated over £100,000 to make a difference in local communities in terms of health care, education, human rights, child welfare and in environmental and wildlife protection in all our destinations worldwide. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |