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SPAIN, PORTUGAL & MOROCCO - 2010
16 days incl. air, or
15 days from Madrid to Madrid (CO-6830)
Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation Overview
Combine the highlights of
the Iberian Peninsula with the fascination of Morocco on this
unforgettable vacation. Start your trip in Madrid, Spain’s grand capital.
Spaniards says Madrid is the nearest thing to heaven, and you see its
famous sights on your guided sightseeing tour. Visit fortified Avila with
its many towers, then Salamanca, a spectacular renaissance city. Enter
Portugal and arrive in Coimbra, a charming hillside town overlooking the
Mondego River. Visit the Batalha Monastery, the Sanctuary of Fatima, and
arrive in Lisbon, the exquisite city of explorer Henry the Navigator. Get
to know Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, on your sightseeing tour. Spend two
nights in spectacular Seville before boarding a ferry for Morocco. As you
arrive on the African continent, motor to the old walled city of Fez for
two overnights. Visit the traditional medina on the included sightseeing
tour. Next, head through the Middle Atlas mountain range to Marrakesh,
known for its colorful Djemaa el Fna, a square bustling with acrobats,
storytellers, dancers, singers, and food stalls. See Casablanca, then
Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. Recross the Strait of Gibraltar
and return to mainland Spain. Drive through the Andalusian countryside to
Granada for a treat: a visit to the exotic Alhambra complex, residence of
Moorish kings. Retrace the footsteps of Don Quixote as you travel past
the windmills and castles of the La Mancha region, then return to Madrid
for the conclusion of your exciting vacation. If you want to see Spain,
Portugal, and Morocco, this is the trip for you!
Itinerary
Day 1 Sat. BOARD YOUR
OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Sun. ARRIVAL IN
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 travelers. (D)
Day 3 Mon. 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)
Day 4 Tue.
MADRID-AVILA-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)
Day 5 Wed.
COIMBRA-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)
Day 6 Thu. 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)
Day 7 Fri.
LISBON-SEVILLE, SPAIN
Seville
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 traveling by
way of Beja into magnificent Seville. (B,D)
Day 8 Sat. SEVILLE
At leisure in one of Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps
you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour
including the main highlights of this vibrant city. (B)
Day 9 Sun.
SEVILLE-FERRY TO MOROCCO-FEZ
An interesting drive today which 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)
Day 10 Mon. 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 colorful
bazaars and the exotic atmosphere. (B)
Day 11 Tue. FEZ-MIDDLE
ATLAS-MARRAKESH
Marrakesh
Enjoy glimpses of North African village life reminiscent
of Beau Geste while
motoring through the Middle Atlas on your way to Marrakesh. (B,D)
Day 12 Wed. 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)
Day 13 Thu.
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)
Day 14 Fri. 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)
Day 15 Sat.
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)
Day 16 Sun. YOUR
HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers may be included when you make your
international flights arrangements.
Dates and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
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Return
Date
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Land/Cruise
Price Only
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Status
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1/9/2010
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1/10/2010
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1/24/2010
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$1,529.00
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Available
|
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1/16/2010
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1/17/2010
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1/31/2010
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$1,529.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular Departure
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2/6/2010
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2/7/2010
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2/21/2010
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$1,529.00
|
Available
|
|
2/20/2010
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2/21/2010
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3/7/2010
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$1,791.00
|
Sold Out
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2/27/2010
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2/28/2010
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3/14/2010
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$1,609.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular Departure
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3/6/2010
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3/7/2010
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3/21/2010
|
$1,609.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular Departure
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3/13/2010
|
3/14/2010
|
3/28/2010
|
$1,609.00
|
Available
|
|
3/20/2010
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3/21/2010
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4/4/2010
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$1,609.00
|
Available
|
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3/27/2010
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3/28/2010
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4/11/2010
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$1,765.00
|
Sold Out
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4/3/2010
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4/4/2010
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4/18/2010
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$1,765.00
|
Available
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Popular Departure
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4/10/2010
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4/11/2010
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4/25/2010
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$1,765.00
|
Available
|
|
4/17/2010
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4/18/2010
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5/2/2010
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$1,765.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular Departure
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4/24/2010
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4/25/2010
|
5/9/2010
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$1,765.00
|
Available
|
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5/1/2010
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5/2/2010
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5/16/2010
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$1,785.00
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Available
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5/8/2010
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5/9/2010
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5/23/2010
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$1,785.00
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Available
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Popular Departure
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5/15/2010
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5/16/2010
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5/30/2010
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$1,749.00
|
Available
|
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Popular Departure
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5/22/2010
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5/23/2010
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6/6/2010
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$1,749.00
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Available
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5/29/2010
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5/30/2010
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6/13/2010
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$1,749.00
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Available
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6/5/2010
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6/6/2010
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6/20/2010
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$1,749.00
|
Available
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6/12/2010
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6/13/2010
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6/27/2010
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$1,749.00
|
Available
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Popular Departure
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6/19/2010
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6/20/2010
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7/4/2010
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$1,685.00
|
Available
|
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6/26/2010
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6/27/2010
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7/11/2010
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$1,685.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular Departure
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7/3/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,685.00
|
Available
|
|
7/17/2010
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7/18/2010
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8/1/2010
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$1,685.00
|
Available
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|
7/24/2010
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7/25/2010
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8/8/2010
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$1,685.00
|
Available
|
|
7/31/2010
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8/1/2010
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8/15/2010
|
$1,685.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular Departure
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8/7/2010
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8/8/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,685.00
|
Available
|
|
8/14/2010
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8/15/2010
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8/29/2010
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$1,685.00
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Available
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8/21/2010
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8/22/2010
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9/5/2010
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$1,785.00
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Available
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8/28/2010
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8/29/2010
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9/12/2010
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$1,785.00
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Available
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Popular Departure - due to itinerary and time of year,
this departure historically sells out quickly. Early booking is
encouraged.
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