Magnificent Morocco and Moorish Spain

At London St Pancras, we board the Eurostar to Paris, continuing by rail to Barcelona for two nights.

• Eurostar Meal

Today we get to know Barcelona, on a guided tour of the exciting capital of Catalonia. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, we soak up the unique culture of the city, visiting the extraordinary Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece - inspired by his deep faith and natural forms - a fantastic creation, featuring intricately carved towers. We stroll down Las Ramblas, one of the city's main thoroughfares, known for its lively street performers, pavement cafés and market stalls. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring and you may like to stop by the remarkable Picasso Museum in Barri Gòtic,, the Gothic Quarter, or sample some Catalonian tapas at one of the many al fresco eateries.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We catch the train to Seville for a two-night stay and, on arrival, you have a free afternoon. You may wish to visit the Triana Quarter, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, with its exciting Flamenco heritage and characterful market. Seville also reputedly has the largest number of tapas bars in the world - over 1,000 at the last count - so after exploring you may like to take a well-earned rest with a few sharing plates of local specialities and a glass of sangria.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We embark on a city tour, seeing the UNESCO-listed Alcázar Palace and the magnificent Gothic cathedral, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. The cathedral's Renaissance-style bell tower, La Giralda, was repurposed from the original minaret of the mosque that once stood here and offers panoramic views across the city. The Alcázar Palace is a superb complex of patios and halls and combines several architectural styles, from Mudéjar to Gothic. The gardens here are a lovely sanctuary from the lively city centre, with fountains and pools interspersed with formal lawns and flowerbeds.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Heading to Algeciras by coach, we travel by ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to the port city of Tangiers, where we continue on the sleek Al Boraq - Africa's first and fastest high-speed train - to Casablanca for the night. This impressive rail line opened in 2018 and follows the coast from Tangiers down to Casablanca. It is our first introduction to the Moroccan landscape, a comfortable journey with wonderful scenic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Rif mountains.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We tour Casablanca with a local guide who reveals to us the modern face of Morocco, a glittering mass of pale towers which stretch out across the 'White City'. We also explore the city's ancient past, admiring the Hassan II Mosque and the Palace Mohamed V before enjoying a traditional lunch at a nearby restaurant. Our afternoon takes us to Rabat for a guided tour, where we wander the impressive boulevards and dazzling, palm-tree lined seafront before seeing the Medina, full of atmospheric sights, tastes and smells as well as important religious buildings. Later, we catch the train to Fez, our base for the next three nights.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Fez, with its thriving Medina and ancient city walls, is a delight to discover on our guided tour today. Visiting some of the local markets, we encounter thriving spice and gift stalls and mint tea cafés, with a dazzling selection of wares including intricate jewellery, silk djellabas and clay tagines. One of the oldest cities in Morocco, founded in the 10th Century BC by Berber fishermen, Fez is a historic treasure trove. Our discovery of this fascinating city includes stops at the Great Gateway of the Royal Palace, the Kasbah Cherarda fortifications and a local establishment for lunch. This evening, dinner is served at Le Palais Medina where we also enjoy a traditional dance performance.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We make our way to the nearby city of Meknes, one of Morocco's four Imperial cities. The high city walls here hide an intricate tapestry of striking architecture, inspired by both Islamic traditions and European fashions, and our tour reveals many fine examples of both, such as the Palace of Moulay Ismael and the Bab El Mansour gateway. After lunch, we visit the ruins of Volubilis. Originally a Berber city taken over by Roman invaders, Volubilis swiftly grew under their rule to become one of Morocco's proto-capitals before being abandoned for the new city of Fez. These days, the spectacle of ancient Roman arches, ionic columns and swirling mosaics are a haunting spectacle set against the dusty plains

• Breakfast, Lunch

Travelling through the mountains by rail, we disembark in Marrakech, transferring to our hotel for four nights. Known as the Ochre City, stepping out into the labyrinthine streets of Marrakech reveals a city drenched in colour, from the pale peach of the townhouses to the reds, golds, blues and greens of the spice stalls. The enchanting sounds of city life constantly hover above the rooftops, seeping down into the enormous market squares which are particularly evocative at night, lit up against the darkness that casts a glow on the performers, merchants and citizens who earn their living here.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The intricate beauty of Marrakech is revealed to us on a sightseeing tour. We see the commanding presence of the Koutoubia Minaret gazing down over verdant gardens, the 19th Century Bahia Palace and the magnificent Djemaa el Fna market place. Along the way, our senses are flooded by the clamour of the souks and enticing smells of delicious street food. This evening, dinner is served at a local restaurant and accompanied by a folklore show.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We head into the awe-inspiring Atlas Mountains to discover Berber country, an area still occupied by tribes who have lived here for thousands of years. Here we see the old stone and mud houses which still populate the valleys, and, high above, the caps of the Atlas Mountains dusted with snow. We journey past the Gorge of Oued Ourika, following the path of the Atlas' rivers, to visit a traditional Berber home and share some mint tea.

Afterwards we head back to Marrekech, where we visit a traditional riad, a Moroccan house built around a lush courtyard. Some of the most opulent and lavish properties in the city, we learn about what life would have been like here for inhabitants over the centuries, while marvelling at the extravagant tiling, water features and luscious plant life that characterise these buildings. We also sample some local pastries and enjoy an expert talk about the history of the house.

• Breakfast

Today, you are at leisure to explore more that Marrakech has to offer.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Checking out of our hotel, we transfer to the airport for a direct flight to London Gatwick. On arrival, your tour comes to an end.

Please note: you will need to take your luggage back to the UK with you on your flight, as opposed to it travelling via our luggage transfer service.

• Breakfast