SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND MOROCCO

Madrid, Coimbra, Lisbon, Seville, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, Granada

ITINERARY:

1 MADRID, SPAIN.
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers. (D)

2 MADRID.
Of the Spanish capital, situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it's the nearest thing to heaven. You've only a day here and it's certainly worth making the most of it by joining the included guided sightseeing tour: a full panoramic drive by way of the Avenida Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Parliament Square, and a picture stop outside the Royal Palace. The optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too. The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco's painting, and even now it's like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)

3 MADRID - AVILA - SALAMANCA - COIMBRA, PORTUGAL.
West for a visit to fortified Avila with its many towers. Next is Salamanca, just six miles from the spot where Wellington routed Napoleon's army in 1812. Make sure you spend some time wandering around Plaza Mayor, the grandest square in Spain. Across the frontier to Guarda, the highest town in Portugal. From here, descend to the valleys of the Serra da Estrela to Coimbra for an overnight. (B,D)

4 COIMBRA - BATALHA - FATIMA - LISBON.
This morning, enjoy your orientation tour of Coimbra, celebrated for its beauty and ancient university. Later, travel southwards to Batalha with a visit to its beautifully sited monastery. Today's penultimate highlight is a visit to the Sanctuary of Fatima. A sterner and more desolate landscape accompanies you to Lisbon for your overnight in Portugal's capital. A stop en route includes a wine bodega and some wine tasting. (B)

5 LISBON.
Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. On the included tour, see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, and the impressive Black Horse Square. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama's tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion to coastal Estoril and Cascais. (B)

6 LISBON - SEVILLE, SPAIN.
From the rolling plains of the Alentejo with its woodlands of cork and eucalyptus trees, southwards all the way to the brilliant light of Andalucia. Admire its neat white-painted villages and sun-drenched plantations of olives, figs, and almonds, while travelling by way of Beja into magnificent Seville. (B,D)

7 SEVILLE.
At leisure in one of Spain's most colourful cities. Perhaps you'd like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of this vibrant city. (B)

8 SEVILLE - FERRY TO MOROCCO - FEZ.
An interesting drive today starts with views of the sherry wine region before reaching the coast for embarkation on the ferry to Morocco. Next, motor south along what was once northern Africa's infamous Barbary Coast. Join the new motorway for the drive southwards, then west, bypassing Meknes for two overnights in Fez. (B,D)

9 FEZ.
At leisure in ancient Fez, which occupies a position of outstanding scenic beauty. This morning, visit the Medina on the included sightseeing and enjoy the maze of narrow streets through the colourful bazaars and the exotic atmosphere. (B)

10 FEZ - MIDDLE ATLAS - MARRAKESH.
While motoring through the Middle Atlas on your way to Marrakesh, enjoy glimpses of North African village life reminiscent of Beau Geste. (B,D)

11 MARRAKESH.
The highlight of this morning is the included city sightseeing. You'll really feel as if you've stopped the march of time. Marrakesh has always been a meeting place-first just a group of nomad tents, now a bustling city. An optional evening excursion will be a fitting choice to end the day. (B)

12 MARRAKESH - CASABLANCA - RABAT.
This morning, drive northwest from the heartland of Morocco by way of Settat to reach the most western of all Moroccan cities-Casablanca. Stop here awhile. Later in the afternoon, continue by way of the motorway northwards to Rabat, Morocco's capital for city sightseeing and an overnight. (B,D)

13 RABAT - FERRY CROSSING TO SPAIN - GRANADA.
Today an early departure retraces your steps northwards for the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to mainland Spain, and drive directly to the heart of Andalucia to reach Granada for an overnight. (B,D)

14 GRANADA - MADRID.
Take advantage of the included visit with a Local Guide of the Alhambra, a summer complex built by the Moorish kings. This afternoon, drive into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castle and windmills. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

15 MADRID.
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)