Madrid to Marrakech

Intrepid Travel · 15 days

4.3

20 Reviews

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Duration

15 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Enjoy a first-hand experience of Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan lifestyles on this 15-day adventure through three vibrant countries.

Highlights

Wander around Salamanca's lit up Plaza Mayor by night and explore the cobblestoned streets of Seville by day – Andalusia's largest city.
Enjoy an unforgettable Fado performance in Coimbra. Fado is an emotional form of Portuguese music which often expresses the hard realities of daily life, balancing both resignation and hopefulness.
Make the most of your free time in Lisbon – this city has so much to offer, from its beautiful museums, monuments and parks to its famous trams, bars and restaurants.
Buy fresh local produce at the morning market during your stay on The Algarve and soak up the sun on the calm beaches. As the day winds down, experience the magic of an unforgettable sunset over the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Explore the twisting, colourful labyrinthine streets of the Fes and Marrakech medinas with a local guide to lead you to all of the best spots and ensure you don't get lost!

Trip Details

Duration

15 days

Transportation

Train,Ferry,Metro,Private vehicle,Public bus,Taxi

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Madrid, Morocco

Finishes

Marrakech, Morocco

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Explorer

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

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.

Optional Activities:

Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (13 EUR)
Madrid - Museo del Prado (15 EUR)
Madrid - Real Jardín Botánico (6 EUR)
Madrid - Museo Reina Sofia (12 EUR)
Madrid - Royal Palace (14 EUR)
Madrid - Tapas Urban Adventure (99 EUR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Salamanca - Orientation walk

Optional Activities:

Salamanca - Art Nouveau & Art Deco Museum (5 EUR)
Salamanca - Unamuno House Museum (4 EUR)
Salamanca - New Cathedral (5 EUR)
Salamanca - Old Cathedral (5 EUR)
Salamanca - University of Salamanca (10 EUR)
Salamanca - Casa de Las Conchas - Free

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Coimbra - Orientation walk

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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. Alternatively. head out to Porto for the day. Stretching along the banks of the River Douro, Porto is one of Portugal's most romantic cities, known for majestic bridges, medieval riverside district with its cobbled streets, merchants’ houses and cafes. Back in Coimbra for the evening, 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!

Included Activities:

Coimbra - Evening Fado Performance

Optional Activities:

Coimbra - Mondego River Boat Trip (10 EUR)
Coimbra - Cathedrals (5 EUR)
Coimbra - Conimbriga Ruins (10 EUR)
Coimbra - Portugal Dos Pequenitos (15 EUR)
Coimbra - Joanine University Library Guided Tour (14 EUR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Lisbon

This morning, set out on a leader-led walk through Belém, one of Lisbon’s most historic and enchanting districts. Wander past grand riverside monuments and ornate Manueline architecture that speaks to Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in the city’s most famous treat, the warm and flaky pastéis de nata, fresh from a centuries-old bakery. From early afternoon, your day is free. Explore more of Lisbon, or 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.

Included Activities:

Lisbon - Belém district leader-led walk
Lisbon - Pastéis de nata tasting

Optional Activities:

Sintra - Palacio Nacional (13 EUR)
Sintra - Palacio da Pena (20 EUR)
Sintra - Return Train Ticket (10 EUR)
Sintra - Castelo dos Mouros (12 EUR)
Lisbon - Naval Museum (7 EUR)
Lisbon - Oceanarium (25 EUR)
Lisbon - Fado Show with Dinner (50 EUR)
Lisbon - Gulbenkian Museum (10 EUR)
Lisbon - Folk Art Museum (5 EUR)
Lisbon - National Art Museum (8 EUR)
Lisbon - Puppet Museum (5 EUR)
Lisbon - Traditional Boat Tour (15 EUR)
Lisbon - Canned Fish Tasting (7 EUR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: The Algarve / Faro

Take a train 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.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Algarve - Island Day Trip by Boat

Optional Activities:

Algarve - Birdwatching Tour (35 EUR)
Algarve - Marine Wildlife Watching Tour (45 EUR)
Algarve - Boat Trip Rio Formosa (30 EUR)
Algarve - Fishing Trip (40 EUR)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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, and visit the famous Alcazar. Then enjoy some free time in the late afternoon and evening to explore at your own pace.

Included Activities:

Seville - Real Alcazar
Seville - Orientation Walk

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Chefchaouen - Walking Tour with Local Guide

Optional Activities:

Chefchaouen - Hammam (public baths) (150 MAD)
Chefchaouen - Henna Tattoo (50 MAD)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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 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.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Fes - Medina walking tour

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Optional Activities:

Marrakech - Saadian Tombs (70 MAD)
Marrakech - Palais Badi (70 MAD)
Marrakech - Palais Bahia (70 MAD)
Marrakech - Hamam (public baths) (250 MAD)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Optional Activities:

Marrakech - A Taste Of Marrakech: Inside the Medina Urban Adventure (605 MAD)
Marrakech - Tajine Cookery Class Urban Adventure (640 MAD)
Marrakech - Cascades d'Ouzoud Day Tour (2207 MAD)
Marrakech - Luxury Spa Hammam & Massage (750 MAD)
Marrakech - Heart of the Atlas Mountains cycling day trip with lunch (2000 MAD)
Marrakech - Medina, Palaces & Tombs Urban Adventure (650 MAD)
Marrakech - Palmery Cycling Tour (540 MAD)
Marrakech - Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour (438 MAD)

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $5,080

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 15 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Enjoy a first-hand experience of Spanish, Portuguese and Moroccan lifestyles on this 15-day adventure through three vibrant countries.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 07 Apr 2026

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

4.0

Emily

Traveled, February 2024

02/23/2024

This trip was really fun and a great way to see Spain and Portugal as well as exploring Morocco, the leaders Catarina in Europe and Abdellah in Morroco were both fantastic as well.

4.5

Leanne

Traveled, January 2024

01/31/2024

The Madrid to Marrakech trip was a great introduction to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. I met some amazing people, saw some incredible sights, ate some wonderful food and expanded my horizons. The leaders, Catering and Abdellah were so knowledgeable and kind. I highly recommend!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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