Discovery of Spain and Morocco Tour

As you arrive at Madrid airport, your host guide and driver will wait for you to greet you and then transfer you to your hotel in Toledo. Please continue to Toledo, which is only an hour’s drive south of Madrid; here is where it all started: the fall of the Vandals and the rise of Islamic civilization. After lunch, we will meet our local guide. We will begin to visit and explore Toledo’s historical and cultural sights. First, visit the Historical Mosque built by Mussa Ibnu Ali in 999 AD, later to become the Church of Christo de la Luz. The ramparts enter the city from its oldest gate, Bab al Saqra, to the ancient Moorish city. There is another mosque located near the souk called Mosque of the Tornerias. This Mosque has unique arches similar to the Grand Mosque of Cordoba, two courts, and a wonderful Mihrab. The best panoramic view over the city is from the Alcazar, a famous Palace of Muluk Tawaif, “Muslim Kings of Spain.” We will end our tour in Zocodover Square, which used to be the livestock market from the 10th century—free time to stroll on your own. Dinner will be at the hotel.

Today, we will travel to Granada, crossing a beautiful part of Castilla la Mancha to the most rewarding province of Andalusia, south of Spain. Granada is a jewel nestled at the foothills of Mount Shulayr in the Sierra Nevada, overlooking the lush plateau of “la Vega.” The emblem of Granada is the Moorish Alhambra Palace and its exotic gardens of Generalife. You will also visit the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin, dignitary palaces, Moorish baths, fountains, Medersas schools, and notable dwellings still witnessing a glorious time in Moorish Spain. A Glorious Edifice still stands proudly to hold the emblem of “la Ghaliba Illa Allah,” No Glorious but Allah. Granada is unique in its history as the last outpost of Muslim Spain. It is also home to many Christian monuments, including the tombs of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, idolized as the Catholic Monarchs of Spain and the pioneers of the Hispanic new-found world of Latin America. Initially, two historic achievements, the End of Moorish sovereignty in Spain and the discovery of a new world happened coincidently in 1492 AD. Free time for dinner so parents and their children can explore downtown eateries. In a halal restaurant. Free time downtown. Andalucia is known for its beautiful cuisine, Tapas Bars, and Flamenco taverns. Sacromonte quarter is the best place to encounter authentic Flamenco by Gitanos.

Your Muslim guide will take you on a full-day sightseeing tour of notable places in Granada. This will include the Alhambra Moorish Palace and its famous Generalife Gardens, Albaicine Kasbah, and the Panoramic Mirador of Saint Nicolas. The afternoon will be free for parents and students to do whatever they wish.

After breakfast, we will depart to Sevilla across the Malaga mountains. Our first stop will be Cordoba, Andalucia’s most northern province. One of its many treasures is the Mezquita, a mosque of exquisite beauty and unrivaled Moorish architecture built over twelve centuries ago. Our visit starts at the bridge of Mussa ibn Nusair Torre de la Calahorra, then progresses strolling to the old city of la Juderia, ends at the legendary mosque of the Khalif Abderrahman Addakhil founder of Moorish Spain and the first Umayyad Monarch. As you walk through this city, pay special attention to the expansive, lavish patios of Moorish heritage to enjoy sophisticated architecture designed to stimulate without being ostentatious. Depart in the afternoon from Cordoba to Sevilla. Visit the ruins of Imperial Al Medina Azahar along the way.

Continue to Sevilla. This shining city is immediately captivating and possesses an aura of happiness any visitor can easily detect. Undeniably, for the connoisseur, it is Spain’s most beautiful metropolis. Sevilla earned the reputation of a place to enjoy the potency of life. The lively streets of this enticing city manifest the realm of Spanish life from within, and one can’t help but become Spanish. The traditional theatrical exhibitions you will encounter in basically every square are an art form unique to Sevilla—free time to discover the city yourself.

After breakfast, your local guide will take on a monumental visit to Sevilla. This is the most beautiful esthetically and most lively city in Spain. Your visit will cover the sites and sounds of Sevilla. From the Roman site of Italica to the striking Museo de Bellas Artes, the Alcazar Palace, and the Tower of Torre del Oro, not to miss, of course, the one and only Giralda still proudly standing overlooking the Guadalquivir to witness the glory of Moorish civilization. Discover which of Sevilla’s glorious monuments would be your favorite. A stroll in horse carriages will be devoted to visiting the Casa de Espana and the gardens of Queen Louisa la Loca. You will travel to Tarifa in the afternoon to catch your ferry to Tangier. Dinner will be at your hotel in Tangier.

Departure from Tangier to Chefchaouen. This town is considered one of the best blue towns in the Mediterranean and the most authentic. You will admire the beautiful diversity of landscapes that will lead you to cross the picturesque white villages of Northern Morocco at the Strait of Gibraltar, where the columns of Hercules separate Europe from Africa. Lunch will be on the road. Continue in the afternoon to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss to explore the ancient history of Morocco since Roman times. Finally, you will reach Fez in the afternoon with sightseeing of the Ramparts, the Gates, the Borjs (forts), and the Andalous part. Free time for dinner where you wish at la Ville Nouvelle of Fez (Colonial City).

Enticing, unique, and fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the Royal capitals, an entirely complete medieval city in the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world; save electricity. Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of Fez, starting at the King’s Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.

The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribespeople who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is pretty close. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square with various activities. From there, you will find your way to the Sgha square, leading you to Attarine, Souk el Henna, and the Maqam of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next to it, you will visit Nejjarine Square, which has a famous fountain, a Guild of Carpentry, and a museum of folk arts at the Fondouk.

You will walk to the tannery and visit the Great Mosque University of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemma’ine, the dried fruit market. After that, you will see the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of bookbinders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passersby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch and then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouan, and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani, a Sufi imam who significantly introduced Islam to black Africa. Sufism in West Africa is predominately Tijani Tarika. You will end your walk at Foundouk Lihoudi, where a local Fez family will host you for traditional mint tea in their home. An optional Hammam in the Medina is offered for those who like to dig deeper into Moroccan culture—free time to stroll alone.

Enjoy a day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains’ Berber villages, wards, and nomadic settlements. Coped with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars and laced with flowing streams, your first view of the Middle Atlas will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Passing by Imouzzer, with a quick stop at the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, you will soon come across the first real town of the Middle Atlas, Azrou. Azrou is an important market center for the region’s Berber tribes, located at a major junction of mountain routes. Next, your driver will take a little detour in a cedar forest to introduce you to one of the oldest inhabitants of this region, the Barbary apes. This may also coincide with the encounter of a nomadic family at its temporary encampment. As nomads are hospitable people, we are invited at least for a mint tea under their tents whenever we encounter them.

At Khenifra, the Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. After lunch, you will descend the Atlas Mountains, finally arriving in the foothills overlooking the magnificent oasis city of Marrakech Alhamra. Some of the stops, as mentioned above, will include visits to Berber villages, scenic views, and traditional markets. Finally, you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.

You will devote your morning to exploring Marrakech's many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice. It was constructed in 1866 for dignitaries who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. The pool is an innovative irrigation system serving dry life in the desert. Your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain) and the Saadian tombs, demonstrating Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal and then the Marjorelle, which is free time for parents and students to explore the city.

You will begin your day with an excursion to the Ourika Valley, where you will visit the traditional Berber Souks and the Sufi shrines. After lunch, you will see the Berber Museum of Arts and Crafts to learn about the dwellers of these mountains and their products before you discover their workshops and sophisticated, hand-made products. Tonight is to explore the lively Jamaa El Fna square and sample from food stands to prestigious restaurants for dinner and free time.

Your day will be devoted to exploring the marvels of Casablanca, the Capital of Art Deco in the World. Highlights will be the Great Hassan II Mosque, The Colonial Down Town, the Habous Morish Quarter, and the Corniche Resort of Ain Diab, where you will have free time to stroll. Stopping for a drink at Rick's café is optional. Parents and students will be invited for a farewell dinner at Zohor Restaurant in downtown colonial Casablanca.

On your last day in Morocco, you will depart for Casablanca Airport early in the morning. There, you will catch a flight back home with a lifetime's worth of memories packed neatly into your suitcase.