From Barcelona to the Sahara

Private transfer from Barcelona airport. An introduction walk through the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and the Born neighbourhood.

• Gothic Quarter & Las Ramblas
• Born neighbourhood
• First dinner in Barcelona

Overnight: Barcelona

Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Eixample and La Boqueria market. Barcelona’s architectural ambition is extraordinary — and the contrast with the Moorish south makes the journey compelling.

• Sagrada Família
• Park Güell
• Eixample & Casa Batlló
• La Boqueria market

Overnight: Barcelona

High-speed AVE to Madrid (2h30). The Prado Museum, the Retiro Park and the old Habsburg quarter.

• AVE Barcelona–Madrid
• Prado Museum
• Retiro Park
• Plaza Mayor

Overnight: Madrid

Day trip to Toledo — where Christians, Jews and Moors lived side by side for centuries. The Cathedral, the synagogues and the El Greco paintings make for an extraordinary day.

• Toledo Cathedral & old town
• Santa María la Blanca synagogue
• El Greco Museum
• Views over the Tagus

Overnight: Madrid

AVE to Córdoba for the Mezquita-Catedral then on to Seville. Arriving in time for a first evening walk along the Guadalquivir.

• Córdoba Mezquita-Catedral en route
• Arrival in Seville
• Guadalquivir riverfront walk

Overnight: Seville

A full day in Seville with a private guide: Cathedral, Giralda, Real Alcázar and Itálica. Evening flamenco.

• Seville Cathedral & Giralda
• Real Alcázar
• Itálica Roman city
• Flamenco show

Overnight: Seville

South to Jerez and the Royal Equestrian School, then to Cádiz and south along the Atlantic coast.

• Royal Equestrian School — Jerez
• Sherry bodega visit
• Cádiz sea walls
• Cape Trafalgar

Overnight: Cádiz or Tarifa

Gibraltar in the morning then the ferry to Tánger — 90 minutes and two worlds. A guided walk through Tánger’s medina.

• Gibraltar — Rock & viewpoints
• Strait crossing by ferry
• Tánger medina & Grand Socco

Overnight: Chefchaouen

The blue-washed medina of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains — one of the most photographed and peaceful cities in Africa.

• Chefchaouen blue medina
• Plaza Uta el-Hammam
• Kasbah & mountain views

Overnight: Fez en route

A full day in Fez el-Bali with a specialist guide. The Bou Inania Madrassa, the Kairaouine mosque, the copper souk and the famous Chouara tanneries.

• Fez el-Bali medina — specialist guide
• Bou Inania Madrassa
• Chouara tanneries
• Spice souk & artisan workshops

Overnight: Fez

South through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas — where Barbary macaques live wild — over the high plateau toward the pre-Saharan landscape.

• Middle Atlas cedar forest
• Azrou Berber market town
• Midelt — apple country

Overnight: Midelt or Erfoud

Arrival at Merzouga and the great sand sea of Erg Chebbi. Camel ride at sunset. Dinner and overnight in a luxury desert camp under the most extraordinary sky.

• Drive through pre-Saharan hammada
• Camel ride at sunset into Erg Chebbi
• Luxury desert camp
• Stargazing in the Sahara

Overnight: Luxury camp in the Sahara dunes

Sunrise in the dunes then south through the Draa Valley palm grove to Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO ksar, arriving at golden hour.

• Sahara sunrise
• Draa Valley palm grove
• Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO ksar at golden hour

Overnight: near Aït Ben Haddou

Through Ouarzazate and up into the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. Descent into Marrakech.

• Ouarzazate
• Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260m
• Berber villages & argan cooperatives
• Arrival in Marrakech

Overnight: Marrakech riad

A full day in Marrakech with a specialist guide: Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrassa, Majorelle Garden, the souks and the Djemaa el-Fna as evening falls.

• Bahia Palace
• Ben Youssef Madrassa
• Majorelle Garden
• Djemaa el-Fna evening
• Marrakech souks

Overnight: Marrakech riad

Additional days in Marrakech or optional extensions — the Agafay Desert, a cooking class, a hammam day or Essaouira on the Atlantic coast.

• Optional Agafay Desert
• Essaouira optional
• Hammam & cooking class
• Free time in Marrakech

Overnight: Marrakech

Private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport. Barcelona to the Sahara — 19 days, two countries, one extraordinary arc.

• Final morning in Marrakech
• Private transfer to airport

Overnight: End of tour