An exciting overland journey travelling by First Class rail through France, Spain and the wonderful rural landscapes of Morocco to the Imperial cities.

Day 1 Friday - London to Madrid
Depart London Waterloo at about 1330 by Eurostar for Paris (find a London hotel), with lunch served on board. After crossing Paris by coach, join the Francisco de Goya hotel train for the overnight journey to Madrid.

Day 2 - Madrid
On arrival in Madrid (Spanish hotels), we transfer to the Nacional Hotel (4 star) for a two-night stay. Today's sightseeing includes the Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum and the magnificent Royal Palace.

Day 3 - Free day in Madrid
Take time to explore Spain's capital with a stroll through the medieval quarter or perhaps enjoy the excellent shopping in Gran Vía and the Salamanca district.

Day 4 - By train to Ronda
We take the train south from Madrid to the wonderfully unspoilt town of Ronda, set in the heart of Andalucía. Your afternoon is free to stroll through this beautiful town and soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

 

 

 

Day 5 - Ronda
This morning's sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Plaza de Toros, the oldest bullring in Spain, as well as the Mondragon Palace, Iglesia Santa Maria la Mayor, and the Puente Nuevo, the bridge over Ronda's famous gorge. 

Day 6 - To Morocco
Our journey continues southwards to Algeciras, where we board the ferry and cross the Straits of Gibraltar. On arrival in Tangiers we have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the beach, before transferring to our hotel for one night, the El Minzah (5 star), situated close to the Medina. 

Day 7 - Tangiers to Rabat
This morning we continue our sightseeing tour of Tangiers, with a visit to Hercules' Caves on the Atlantic Coast. We later board the train for Rabat, arriving early evening after a scenic journey past primitive settlements set amongst rich farmlands.

Day 8 - Rabat and Casablanca
Our morning tour of Rabat includes a visit to the old medina, the Royal Palace of Hassan II and the Kasbah des Oudaïa. We continue to Casablanca, passing the immense Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco.

Day 9 - The Marrakech Express
We depart Rabat in the morning by train and travel inland towards the Atlas mountains and the red rose oasis of Marrakech.  Sightseeing this afternoon includes the magical Jamaa El Fna Square, an ancient meeting point for entertainers, dancers, acrobats, soothsayers, snake charmers and traders.

Day 10 - Exploring Marrakech
Today we discover this captivating city's ramparts, minarets, tranquil gardens and the souks of the medina. Our evening is spent sampling Moroccan cuisine and enjoying a folklore show.

Day 11 - The Atlas Mountains
We learn about the Berber people during a fascinating excursion into the Atlas Mountains which includes a visit to a typical Berber home and the local market where you have the opportunity to buy Berber handcrafts.

 
Day 12 - North to Fez
Today we travel through remote regions, major cities and rural landscapes before climbing into the middle Atlas Mountains to Fez. Situated about the old medina of Fez, the hotel boasts views which have changed little since biblical times.

Day 13 - Sightseeing in Fez
A sightseeing tour of the old guilds, fortifications, souks and spice market reveals an intriguing city where life continues much as it did in medieval times. 

Day 14 - To Roman Volubilis and Meknes
A full day excursion takes us to Volubilis, Morocco's most impressive Roman ruins with fine examples of temples, mosaics and baths, before moving on to the Imperial city of Meknes.

Day 15 Friday - Fez to London
We transfer to the airport in Fez for our return flight to London Heathrow (London hotels), arriving mid-afternoon.

Return by rail option

As an alternative to the flight home from Fez, you may prefer to return from Morocco by rail, enjoying a two-night stay in beautiful Seville along the way.

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