Print program
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN MADRID
Arrival in Madrid at 10:30 am on flight TK1857
You will then be greeted by your guide and driver, outside the airport
Transfer to the restaurant then check in to the hotel for rest
Panoramic tour (external visits) of the Spanish capital that will allow you to discover the most characteristic monuments of the city but also the most elegant: The Orient and Spain squares, Neptune, the Barrio de las Letras (The literary quarter), the Paseo del Prado, the Retiro Park, the Gran Vía and the Puerta del Sol are some of the points of interest that deserve a pleasant and quiet visit..
Return to the hotel.
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Madrid
DAY 2 : MADRID – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel.
Very close to the capital of Spain, only 70 kilometers from Madrid, awaits us the famous "city of three cultures". Its fascinating historic center, classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO, retains the same layout as in the Middle Ages. A stroll through its narrow streets will allow us to discover an extraordinary site overflowing with life, both outside and inside. Toledo is known for its medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments but also for its wall. Former capital of the Spanish empire, known as the "city of three cultures", it was home to Christians, Muslims and Jews living together in tolerance.
Panoramic tour of the castle, its superb cathedral, its churches, its synagogues, its mosques and its museums and his spectacular views. It will be an opportunity to lose yourself in the narrow, winding streets of Toledo and go back in time to the Mid
dle Ages.
Lunch included during the discovery of the city.
A short detour through the Campo de Criptana in the footsteps of Don Quixote who left us some windmills
Return to Madrid at the end of the day.
Free dinner
Overnight at the hotel in Madrid.
DAY 3 : MADRID – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Cordoba (4-5 hours journey)
Lunch on arrival.
Afternoon: Visit of about 3-4 hours. Let yourself be seduced by the Jewish, Moorish and Christian Cordoba. You will stroll through the flowery streets of the historic center and you will discover with enchantment the Mosque-cathedral.
This ancient Roman temple, which became a church, then a mosque and finally a cathedral in the 16th century, is a major monument of Islamic architecture..
You will enter the heart of the history of the medieval Jewish community by visiting one of the three synagogues that remain in Spain. Also discover famous corners such as the small flower square, the souk, the orange tree patio and the typical Cordovan patios. As you walk you will visit the traditional artisan workshops, also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The workshop of a ceramicist, a goldsmith and a saddler will give you the opportunity to learn about the oldest techniques of the civilizations that have populated this thousand-year-old city.
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel in Cordoba.
DAY 4 : CORDOUE – GRENADE
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure for Granada (2h30 drive). On the way, stop at an olive oil factory.
Lunch at the factory then continue to Granada.
Continue to Granada and discover the Albaicín district.
The Albaicin is the old Arab quarter of Granada and is located on the hill opposite the Alhambra. In the 13th century, it was a prosperous area with palaces and villas (cármenes). The Moorish quarter of the Albaicín is a labyrinth of alleys and squares lined with a multitude of whitewashed houses. After the reconquest of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the original mosques of this Moorish quarter were destroyed and replaced by churches.
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Granada.
DAY 5 : GRENADA – GUADIX
Breakfast at the hotel
Half a day is devoted to the visit from the fabulous Alhambra of Granada (subject to availability***). This Nasrid Palace bears witness to the history of Granada and its Islamic past. Inside this majestic complex, you will discover the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of Charles V and the Generalife, among others..
This complex of sumptuously decorated palaces and its numerous irrigated gardens have inspired and continue to inspire many legends..
The Nasrid Palaces constitute a complex of ornamental buildings built over several generations. The rooms are communicating and overlook interior courtyards; they follow an orthogonal layout.
***Attention: Book well in advance.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Departure for Guadix.
Settling in a troglodyte village (rental of dwellings)
Free end of afternoon, free dinner
Night in a cave house in Guadix
DAY 6 : GUADIX – RONDA – JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA – CADIX
Breakfast
Departure for Ronda to visit the oldest of the bullrings (approximately 3 hours journey)
Lunch
After lunch, head towards Jerez de la Frontera; cross two white villages (photos) Grazalema then Arcos de la Frontera.
The particularity of the White villages of Andalusia resides in their white houses, painted in this way to allow their inhabitants to escape the unbearable heat of the Andalusian summer. The whiteness is counterbalanced by the presence of bright colours: fragrant flowers adorn the streets and houses in a display of colours that extends even into the smallest alleys.
These cities were built on top of hills and then fortified in order to defend the inhabitants against possible enemy attacks. Its atmosphere will quickly transport you into the Andalusian atmosphere and culture.
Arches of the Frontera is a white village located just 65 kilometers from Cadiz. Situated on top of a cliff, the town enjoys a splendid view.
Visit the Plaza del Cabildo and its viewpoint, as well as the 11th-century Castle of Los Duques. Admire its wonderful churches and buy delicious biscuits in the Convento de las Mercedarías.
In Xeres :
- - Visit and wine tasting. The bodegas, or cellars, of the largest sherry producers are authentic masterpieces of industrial architecture. Visit the cellars, taste tapas.
- Andalusian Horse Dance Show (Tuesday, Thursday or Friday) "How Andalusian horses dance" duration 1h30
- The Foundation of the Royal School of Andalusian Art, based in Jerez de la Frontera, is known worldwide for its exhibition "How to make Andalusian horses dance", a unique exhibition that presents and summarizes, in a seemingly natural way, all the work carried out
- This can be a complement for those who have taken the option of day 4
- Free dinner and free evening in Cadiz
SUGGESTION FOR FREE TIME:
- Central Market (Mercado Central) Plaza Libertad s/n, 11005 Cadiz, Spain
- Cadiz Beach
Night at hotel in Cadiz
DAY 7 : CADIX – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel,
Departure for Seville
Cruise on the Guadalquivir to admire the most famous monuments of Seville and pass under historic bridges.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Panoramic tour of Seville which will allow you to discover the most emblematic buildings of the city such as the Plaza de Toros, the Cathedral or the Giralda Tower...with photo stops.
Stop at the Alcazar (optional visit to be taken and paid for on site: 16 EUR), The Alcazar is a fortified palace built in Seville by the Umayyads of Spain and modified several times during and after the Muslim period. It is considered the most brilliant example of Mudejar architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. It must be discovered as much for its interior as for its gardens. The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla is classified as a World Heritage Site. (optional)
After visiting the Alcazar, you could go to the Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz, to the Plaza de España, to the market, or to the Cathedral (optional and the entrance tickets (13EUR) to the Cathedral will be taken and paid for on site).
The capital of Andalusia can rightly be proud of this palace inherited from Muslim domination and redeveloped by the kings of Spain.
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Seville.
DAY 8 : SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit of the pilates house.
In Seville, the Casa de Pilatos, built in the 16th century, is the most outstanding example of Sevillian palace architecture. This building splendidly combines the Renaissance, Mudejar and Baroque styles. Its humanist character makes it a prototype of the Renaissance palace, whose interior fascinates us with the richness of the marbles and some of the most beautiful classical sculptures.
Free lunch
Free afternoon
SUGGESTION POUR LE TEMPS LIBRE :
Promenade en calèche – SHOPPING
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Seville.
DAY 9 : SEVILLE – FARO
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning, free.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Afternoon, departure for Faro (2h30 journey).
Visit the old town, a pleasant place to discover during a stay in the Algarve. It has indeed been shaped by different influences throughout its history, and we find traces of them.
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Faro.
DAY 10 : FARO – COTE ALGARVE – LISBONNE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Carvoeiro on the Algarve coast located at Atlantic Ocean shore.
We will embark on a 2-hour tour along these beautiful rocky coasts, from the Benagil cave. Dolphins are often seen in their natural environment there..
After the picnic lunch, visit some superb beaches: Praia Marinha, ranked among the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world and Praia de Cala (the secret beach).
Then continue towards Lisbon (2h30 drive)
Arrival in Lisbon at the end of the afternoon.
Free dinner.
Overnight at the Lisbon hotel.
DAY 11 : LISBONNE
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we invite you to discover LISBON, one of the oldest capitals in Europe. The city of seven hills seduces its visitors with its charm, its brightness and its warm welcome, its Praça do Comércio, the highest point of the city and the mirador of Nossa Senhora Do Monte (accessible on foot only and if the weather permits)
You will start by visiting the Belém district, "Treasure Island" between the Tagus and the noise of the city. It is from Belém that the caravels of the Discoveries left. You will visit the church of the Jerónimos Monastery, splendor of Manueline art, and the Tower of Belém (exterior). Currently visiting, tasting of the famous “pastel de Belém” », typical Lisbon pastry.
Lunch at the restaurant.
The afternoon will be free.
SUGGESTION FOR FREE TIME:
You can take advantage of this to make a Tuk-Tuk tour in the typical neighborhood of Alfama, with its winding streets and flower-filled balconies. Go up to the Santa Luzia Belvedere from where you have one of the most beautiful panoramas of Lisbon.
You can continue the visit with Rossio and the Commerce Square, city and business center.
Free dinner
Overnight at the Lisbon hotel.
DAY 12 : LISBONNE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for SINTRA, a city with a magical atmosphere and you can feel it in the air. Located in the Serra de Sintra: for six centuries it was the favorite residence of the sovereigns and the holiday home of the great Lisbon families who own charming "quintas" or elegant palaces there. Visit to the Palace of Sintra. Then a short break for taste a delicious queijada from Sintra (tartlet), the city's specialty.
Lunch during the visit
Return to Lisbon in the late afternoon
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Lisbon
DAY 13 : LISBONNE – NAZARE – FATIMA – PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we will visit Fatima one of the world centers of Christian faith and pilgrimages. Where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the three shepherds, on several occasions, in 1917. Discover the two Basilicas that face the Chapel of the Apparitions.
Before arriving there, you will make a short stop in Nazaré, this coastal city that holds the world record for the highest surfed wave: just over 24 meters! If the weather permits, you will be able to observe some of the best surfers.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Continue to Porto (2h15 journey)
Free dinner.
Free dinner
DAY 14 : PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel,
We will dedicate our day to visiting PORTO « INVICTA », city famous for its wine.
Porto is a port city, a city of trade, welcoming and active. These facets are recognized by the Portuguese who dedicated one of their popular sayings to it: "While Porto works, Coimbra studies and Lisbon has fun". It is this charming city with warm inhabitants that we invite you to discover throughout this day.
During this visit we will discover São Bento Station known for its 20,000 azulejos, painted by João Colaço, which depict scenes from traditional northern life; the church of Sao Francisco. Walk through the typical Ribeira neighborhood. Depending on how much time we have left for the visit, we could go to the Majestic Cafe which is a historic café. Its importance comes both from the cultural atmosphere that surrounds it, in particular the tradition of the "café rendez-vous", where various personalities from the cultural and artistic life of the city meet, as well as its art nouveau architecture
Lunch in a typical restaurant.
In the afternoon we invite you for a Douro River Cruise Hour. An opportunity to admire the magnificent bridges of this city. We will disembark on the side of Vila Nova de Gaia where the cellars house the famous Porto wines. Visit to a cellar and tasting of this precious wine.
The Church of São Francisco is renowned for its sumptuous baroque decoration with golden engravings. This will be an opportunity to go through Santa Catarina Street, the most commercial in Porto and one of the busiest places in the city (a large part of the street is reserved for pedestrians).
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Porto
DAY 15 : PORTO – MADEIRA ISLAND
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free morning to discover Porto at your leisure.
Free lunch.
In the afternoon, departure for the airport to take your flight to Funchal, on the island of Madeira. Flight time: 1h45. Arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Free late afternoon
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Madeira.
DAY 16 : MADEIRA ISLAND – NORTH EAST OF THE ISLAND
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will begin our visit of the island with the Sao Vicente Caves. During this guided tour (1 hour), you will be able to attend a multimedia show which will give you explanations on the volcanic origin of these magnificent Atlantic islands..
We will continue our tour by Ponta Delgada, a village on the north coast that has a new bathing complex with seawater pools
Then we will go to Arch of Saint George, the only village surrounded by mountains, known for its agricultural production due to its micro climate.
Lunch in Cabañas de São Jorge where we enjoy the beautiful landscape.
We will then head to Porto da Cruz where we can discover the old sugar cane mill which is still in operation, as it was during the sugar production period in the late 1920s. We will continue our journey through Pico Facho, a viewpoint from where we can see the splendid and surprising landscape of Ponta de São Lourenço and Machico.
We will finally end our first day of discovery of Madeira via Santa Cruz where we will stop before returning to Funchal.
Free dinner.
Overnight at hotel in Madeira.
DAY 17 : MADEIRA ISLAND – WEST OF THE ISLAND
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will leave Funchal by the seaside road towards Wolf Camera, picturesque fishing village where Winston Churchill loved to paint.
Stop at Cabo Girão, the second highest cliff in Europe, which peaks at an altitude of 580 meters.
The route passes through the seaside resort of Ribeira Brava, towards Ponta Do Sol, a region where bananas and sugar cane are grown.
Crossing the plateau of Paul Da Serra: Shrouded in mist, the road that leads to the Paul da Serra plateau, in the heart of the island, is narrow. Winding and punctuated by large bends, it crosses the Madeira Natural Park, created in 1982 to safeguard the island’s natural wealth. According to specialists, this park, which covers two thirds of the island’s surface area, is a unique natural heritage in the world, classified as a “biogenetic reserve”. It is home to specimens of flora and fauna that are found nowhere else. On the plateau, gigantic wind turbines have been installed that transform the wind into electricity. A timeless landscape, lost in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…
Route to Porto Moniz, fishing village known for its natural swimming pools dug into the lava.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Continuation vers le village of Sao Vicente passing through Ribeira Brava (its church dates from the 15th century) and Seixal
Arrival at Encumeda for an extraordinary panorama over the entire island (1007m altitude)).
Return to the hotel.
Free dinner
Overnight at hotel in Madeira
DAY 18 : MADEIRA ISLAND – LISBON or CASABLANCA
Departure for the airport to take your flight to Lisbon.
Transfer to your hotel.
Meals and free time.
Night at the hotel.
For participants in the MOROCCO extension:
Free lunch.
Departure for the airport Flight FUNCHAL (MADERA ISLAND) – CASABLANCA VIA LISBON
Night at the hotel in Casablanca
DAY 19 : LISBONNE – DEPART ou CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH
Breakfast at the hotel.
Then transfer to the airport for the return flight.
Take off on flight KL1760 at 16:35
For participants in the MOROCCO extension:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: guided tour of the city
Lunch and free afternoon
Private transport Casablanca – Marrakech
Installation at the Riad
Free dinner
Night at hotel in Marrakech
DAY 20 : MARRAKECH
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: visit of the Majorelle garden» : which now covers 9,000 m2, is one of the most enchanting and mystical gardens in Morocco. Created over the course of forty years, the whole, surrounded by walls, consists of a labyrinth of intersecting paths, intertwining levels and Moorish Art Deco buildings in bold colours. The garden is a gigantic and opulent accumulation of exotic plants and trees from the most distant lands, designed both as a sanctuary and as a laboratory by the French painter Jacques Majorelle from 1922.
Lunch
Afternoon: visit of the city – Jemaa-al-Fna square: is a famous public square in the southwest of the medina of Marrakech in Morocco. This traditional, popular and lively place, especially at night, attracts more than a million visitors each year. "The cultural space of Jemaa el-Fna Square" has been listed as intangible cultural heritage since 2008 (proclamation in 2001) and as a world heritage site since 1985 by UNESCO.
Dinner and free evening
Night at hotel in Marrakech
Breakfast at the hotel
DAY 21, 22 and 23 EXCURSION 3 days in the desert
DAY 21 : MARRAKECH – AIT BEN HADDOU – OUARZAZATE – TINGHIR
Visit of the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is located in the Ounila Valley, south of Telouet, stronghold of Glaoui, a valley that was a traditional crossing point for caravans linking Marrakech to the south of the Sahara. Aït Ben Haddou is a ksar (Ighrem, in Berber) in Morocco listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the province of Ouarzazate.
Lunch in Ouarzazate
Free dinner
Night at hotel in Tinghir
DAY 22 : TINGHIR – MERZOUGA
Breakfast
Walk in the Todga Gorges
Lunch
Merzouga: camel ride through the dunes of Erg Chebbi, accommodation in a nomad camp; luxury private standard tents. Berber musical entertainment.
Free dinner
Night at the camp
DAY 23 : MERZOUGA – FES
Breakfast
On the way to Midelt for lunch, crossing the Atlas Mountains to FES
Hotel or Riad installation (near the medina)
Fez, a holy city with infinite radiance. Jewel of civilization, vibrant with activities with its artisans and merchants. Intoxicating with noises, smells and colors, in the perpetual whirlwind of an ever denser crowd. Crafts are governed by ancestral corporations, which makes it one of the riches of the city. In each district, there is a specialty. The dyer stirs the multi-colored baths, the tanner tramples in the open air the skins that the leatherworker will embellish with fine gilding for the binding of books. It is in Fez that we find master craftsmen of genius whose skill and dexterity can be admired.
Free dinner
Night at hotel in Fes
DAY 24 : FES
Breakfast at the hotel.
Then visit the dyers' district around 10 a.m.
The dyers' district has hardly changed: The same coloring techniques have been used for centuries. Tanned hides and textiles are immersed in ceramic-walled vats and trampled by artisans. Some dyes are made from natural pigments: poppy, indigo, saffron, date stone and antimony are used to obtain the colors red, blue, yellow, beige and black. The dyed materials will be used to make carpets and leather goods, Morocco's main export craft products. Some of the processes used are very aggressive for the environment and for the artisans, who work without masks. The municipality is currently working to group together polluting craft activities outside the city, in a district equipped with treatment facilities, to keep only non-polluting practices in the medina.
The tanneries in Fez are distributed in different districts. However, they are always in the immediate vicinity of water sources. It is essential that the flow of water is constant and easy to use for two reasons: it supplies the various basins in which the tanners soak the skins during their preparations and it ensures the discharge of the residues that come from them..
Lunch
Afternoon: guided walk in the medina, shopping
The Medina of Fez (its alleys) (from the blog of Mamy France)
The most beautiful and captivating medina in Morocco is a labyrinth of 9,500 streets and a thousand dead ends teeming with small merchants guiding their donkeys loaded with goods. The souks of Fez are full of all kinds of victuals or shelter various trades, a former magnificently restored caravanserai houses a Wood Museum where cedars and argan trees are transformed into sumptuous doors, chests and carved shelves.
The medina must be discovered little by little, with respect. Vibrant with activity with its artisans and merchants. Intoxicating with noises, smells and colors, in the perpetual whirlwind of an ever denser crowd..
It is 8 o'clock in the morning, here the stalls open one after the other, the donkeys have finished their deliveries. On the right, the displays of jars of pickled fruits and vegetables
Free dinner
Night at hotel in Fes
DAY 25 : FES
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day in FES :
SUGGESTION FOR FREE TIME:
-See the artisans of the tanneries of Fez, hard at work. And not only in the tanneries! You can see dozens of artisans during a visit to Fez: woodworking, wrought iron, copper, weaving, etc.
-Stock up on spices or body products in a traditional shop in the medina, such as Rachid's small shop located in the henna souq.
-Enjoy a mint tea on a terrace on Nejjarine or Seffarine square and watch the comings and goings of the inhabitants of the medina of Fez.
-Bargain ardently to buy your souvenirs, play the game of haggling.
-Visit a madrasa (madrassa in Arabic), a Koranic school that magnificently shows the know-how of Moroccan artisans (stucco, calligraphy, zelliges, architecture, etc.)
-Enjoy a mint tea on a terrace on the Nejjarine or Seffarine square and observe the comings and goings of the inhabitants of the medina of Fez.
-Get lost in the medina, wander from alley to alley with the sole aim of observing life in the medina.
Don't be afraid to walk through its alleys, without direction, without a plan. You will inevitably end up on one of the main arteries of the medina or on the outskirts of the medina to reorient yourself! If there was only one piece of advice to give to visit Fez properly, it would definitely be to get lost in the alleys of Fez el Bali.
Overnight at hotel in FES
DAY 26 : FES – RABAT – CASABLANCA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: departure from FES to Rabat:
Quick visit of Rabat
Rabat, capital of Morocco, is built on the banks of the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is known for its landmarks, which showcase both Islamic and French colonial heritage, including the Kasbah of the Udayas. This Berber-era royal fort is surrounded by formal French-style gardens and overlooks the ocean. The city's iconic Hassan Tower, a 12th-century minaret, towers over the remains of a mosque.
Lunch in Rabat in a typical restaurant
Free afternoon or follow-up visit to Rabat
You could take a tour of the medina: it is not the most beautiful in Morocco, but here, no tout seeks to attract tourists, everything is aimed at the locals, from the saucepan to the television, including the artichoke, the Louis Vuitton bag or the fried fish served on every street corner.
Late afternoon: Rabat-Casablanca (1h)
Installation in the same hotel as the day …
Dinner and free evening
Night at a hotel in Casablanca
DAY 27 : CASABLANCA – LISBONNE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for the airport to take your flight to Lisbon.
Transfer to your hotel.
Meals and free time.
Night at the hotel.
DAY 28 : LISBONNE – VOLS RETOUR POUR NOUMEA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Then transfer to the airport for the return flight.
Take off on flight TK1696 at 15:25
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