On the Trail of the Moors in Spain and Morocco

Your host will take will take you to enjoy the flavours of Madrid, visiting different taverns across La Latina District, such as Casa Lucas, one of the best places in Madrid to taste good selection of wines and tapas.

Visit the places that best represent the old essence of the capital of Spain, such as the Royal Palace – home to paintings by Velazquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco and Caravaggio – the Royal Theatre, the old City Hall and the Plaza Mayor.

Spain’s main art museum, the Prado has one of the greatest collections of European art in the world, with around 9,000 paintings by artists such as Bosch, Titian and Rubens. Built under the instruction of King Carlos III, the museum opened in 1819 and was intended to provide Madrid with an outstanding painting gallery, large enough to match those opening at the time in Europe. Recently the prestigious Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo, has enlarged the old building by adding a new wing with additional rooms and a fantastic 15th-century cloister.

Cordoba is perhaps Spain’s most handsome city, an historic centre of culture and lasting testament to a golden age of religious tolerance during its time as a caliphate. King Ferdinand III then claimed the city for Castile during the Spanish Reconquista, bequeathing it its gothic and renaissance finery.

Visit today, and you’ll find Cordoba’s grand past beautifully reflected in the city’s magnificent architecture. During your tour, explore the Moorish, Jewish and Christian quarters including the Alcazar with its beautiful gardens. You’ll also discover Roman remains and the famous Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral.

The lavish Alhambra is Granada’s most visited site. Once a palace and fortress for the city’s Muslim rulers, the Alhambra means ‘red fort’ and is named after the red clay used in its construction in the mid-13th century. The Generalife was the country residence of the Nasrid king and the recreational courtyard and its beautiful gardens sit on the slopes of the Cerro del Sol, offering spectacular views.

A combination of dance, song, guitar and rhythm, flamenco draws from both mysterious Gypsy tradition and age-old Andalusian music. Enjoy an insider’s look at the world of flamenco in Granada. Explore the Sacromonte, a neighbourhood made up of cave dwellings, exploring the unique homes and flamenco tablaos that are hidden here and which served as inspiration for some of Spain’s most important poets. Afterwards, head to a classic tapas bar for dinner, ending the evening with a flamenco show.

Head out to discover the city of Tangier. Walk in the footsteps of the Beat Generation, from the Socco squares to the Hotel Continental, stopping at the American Legation Museum (gifted to the US in 1821 as the the first piece of American real estate abroad, and today the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil) and legendary libraries on the way.

Head to the emblematic Café Hafa for a Moroccan mint tea and the sea views from its cliffside perch. Seemingly unchanged since opening in 1921, it has remained a perennial stop for writers, artists and musicians for almost a century.

Fes, Morocco’s ancient imperial capital, is the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, and a guided walk around its incredible medina is the best way to soak up its timeless atmosphere without fear of getting lost amid the maze. Spend today with your guide seeking out historical highlights, markets and more. The most famous landmark here is The University of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest educational institute in the world, with UNESCO status.

Follow your guide to Fes’ old Jewish neighbourhood, the Mellah. Created in 1438 as an area for their protection, Jews in the city, many immigrating from Spain after the Reconquista, were relocated to a site known as al-Mallah, ‘the saline area’. Situated near the royal palace in order to protect its inhabitants due to their vital role in the local economy, it was initially a quarter of large and beautiful dwellings with street facing windows and balconies – in contrast to the riad courtyards in the rest of the medina – with its own synagogues, fountains, markets and burial grounds.

Drive through miles of vineyards and olive groves to Volubilis, a partly excavated and remarkably preserved Roman city. Built in a fertile agricultural area, it developed from the 3rd century BC onward as a Phoenician, then proto-Carthaginian, settlement before being the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania. Through olives and wine, it prospered under Roman rule from the 1st century AD and gained a number of major public buildings and fine town-houses with large mosaic floors.

Meet your local insider guide and head to the magical medina of Marrakesh. Reach the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square to really feel the oriental wonders of this place. Your guide will awaken your five senses during this tour as you stop at the tastiest food stalls, visit olive and nut souks and sample local specialities. Moreover, you will see various artists ranging from snake charmers to acrobats which will make your first evening in Marrakesh an outstanding experience.

Your private guide will show you around some of Marrakesh’s historic highlights in the medina, the old fortified city which is ringed by some 19km (12 miles) of walls and monumental gates which date back to the 12th century. The entirety of the old town is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as narrow streets, riads and bazaars, the walls encompass grand palaces, gardens, mosques, bustling squares, tombs and museums including Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, the Medersa ben Youssef, and the ever-present Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret will always help you to find the right direction.

In the Medina’s beautiful maze, through the ancient French neighbourhood or in the mythical palm grove, Marrakesh is full of surprises. A vivid flea market, secret gardens behind closed doors, old art deco buildings or khettaras in the palm grove are just a few of the many hidden treasures your rider guide will introduce you to on this unusual open-air ride aboard a vintage motorbike and sidecar outfit. Your ride is tailor-made and off the beaten path, respectful of the local culture and all inclusive to offer you a memorable experience.