25 Days | Country hopping in Europe’s west on a coastal and cultural adventure
Colour and charisma in some of Europe’s hotspots – all packed into one unforgettable adventure. Spend 25 days covering Spain, Portugal and Morocco, revealling in chaotic markets, relaxing in coastal retreats and sharing conversation and cuisine with the locals. Marvel at artistic masterpieces and architectural wonders in Madrid, taste the rich history of Portugal in its delightful towns, historic performance art and complex cuisine, and be enchanted by the magic and majesty of Morocco’s metropolises and far-flung mountains. With a knowledgeable leader to recommend the best places and take you behind the tourist trail, dig a little deeper in these three countries to discover a local way of life.
Trip overview
- Start
- Madrid, Spain
- Finish
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Spain, Portugal, Morocco
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- ZMSQC
- Experience a memorable Fado performance in Coimbra - an emotional form of Portuguese music expressing the hard realities of the daily life and balancing both resignation and hopefulness.
- Soak up the sun on the Portuguese coast's gorgeous beaches along the Algarve, walking across rocky cliff tops, exploring remote coves and taking in a sunset over the Atlantic Ocean with your small group.
- Relive a glorious medieval past in in the labyrinthine streets of Fes city, and discover the cultural capital, Marrakech, through its people - drummers, dancers, fortune tellers, jugglers and medicine men.
- Scale the High Atlas Mountains and trek through scenic Amazigh villages, spending a night in a traditional Amazigh homestay to get a true sense of rural Moroccan life.
- Travel through the Sahara in a camel convoy, sleeping under a blanket the North African stars and enjoy an evening beside the campfire listening to traditional Bedouin tales.
- The European part of this trip will be led by a European leader, while the Moroccan part will be led by a Moroccan leader. The changeover will take place upon arrival at the port of Tangier in Morocco with your European leader returning to Spain after you meet your Moroccan leader.
- This trip covers a lot of ground and the majority of travel is done by trains, ferries and public buses. It's a good time to sit back, relax and let the scenery roll past your window. Please read the Itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
- We recommend packing light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones. Train stations often don’t have lifts available.
- Summer temperatures can be extreme in this region (over 40C/104F). It's important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Many hotels in Europe and Morocco have fans, not air conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- Space is at a premium in Europe and Morocco and your hotel is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
- We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may differ from standards at home.
- Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You'll find dates and further information in the 'Climate and seasonal information' section of the Essential Trip Information.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
22 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Train, Ferry, Metro, Private vehicle, Public bus, Taxi
Camp site (1 night), Gite (1 night), Hotel (19 nights), Riad (3 nights)
- Coimbra - Evening Fado Performance
- Lisbon - Sao Jorge Castle
- Algarve - Island Day Trip by Boat
- Chefchaouen - Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Fes - Medina walking tour
- Aroumd - High Atlas Mountains guided hike
- Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk
- Tamegroute - Ancient Library
- Tamegroute - Underground kasbah guided tour
- Sahara Desert - Sunset Camel Ride
- Tata - Leader-led orientation walk
- Tissint – Waterfall of Attiq
- Tleta Tagmoute – Amazigh village and collective granary visit
- Tafraoute – village walk and souk visit
- Tafraoute - Pierres Bleues Boulders (Painted Rocks)
- Tafraoute - Ameln Valley hike with tea and picnic
- Taghazoute – Argan oil women's co-op visit
- Essaouira - Guided walking tour
- Essaouira – Local fisherman visit
- 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 - EUR5
- 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 - EUR10
- Coimbra - Cathedrals - EUR5
- Coimbra - Conimbriga Ruins - EUR10
- Coimbra - Portugal Dos Pequenitos - EUR15
- Coimbra - Joanine University Library - EUR14
- Sintra - Palacio Nacional - EUR13
- Sintra - Palacio da Pena - EUR20
- Sintra - Day Trip - EUR10
- Sintra - Castelo dos Mouros - EUR12
- Lisbon - Experience Lisbon Walk Urban Adventure - EUR45
- Lisbon - Naval Museum - EUR7
- Lisbon - Oceanarium - EUR25
- Lisbon - Fado Show with Dinner - EUR50
- Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum - EUR10
- Lisbon - Folk Art Museum - EUR5
- 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 - Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch - MAD2000
- Marrakech - Medina, Palaces & Tombs Urban Adventure - MAD650
- Marrakech - Palmery Cycling Tour - MAD540
- Marrakech - Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour - MAD438
- Ait Benhaddou - Cooking Demonstration & Dinner - MAD313
- Ait Benhaddou - Henna Tattoo - MAD50
- Essaouira - Hamam (public baths) - MAD200
- Essaouira - Amazigh Massage - MAD400
- Essaouira - Horse Riding - MAD300
- Essaouira - Seafood Market Lunch - MAD100
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 16 and 19 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for transport tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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