France, Spain, Portugal & Morocco

31 days
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Small Group Tour
Hop on a train and watch the incredible landscape of France and Spain roll past, exploring country highlights like Paris, Nimes, Barcelona and Madrid. Sip champagne, taste flaky croissants and share tapas and jugs of sangria before heading into Portugal, where you’ll be relaxing on the pristine coast of the Algarve and exploring delightful towns and villages....
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$8,724
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Wander the streets beloved by centuries of artists and wander the home of the Bohemian art movement in Montmartre. Through Paris, you can see the Moulin Rouge and walk up to the Sacre Coeur – they call it the City of Love for a reason!
    • Explore Portugal’s pristine coast along the Algarve, soaking up the sun on the sand, traversing rocky cliff tops, discovering hidden coves and watching the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
    • Indulge in buttery croissants in France, share a plate of tapas in Madrid, take a sip (or two, or three) of port in Lisbon and tuck into a tajine in Marrakech.
    • Hike the High Atlas Mountains and trek through Amazigh villages, exploring the region and getting a glimpse of local life in the mountainous region.
    • Catch a camel ride out into the Sahara, where you’ll trade stories around a campfire with your travel buddies and the local Bedouin people, then sleep under the stars among the sand dunes.

What's this trip about?

    Hop on a train and watch the incredible landscape of France and Spain roll past, exploring country highlights like Paris, Nimes, Barcelona and Madrid. Sip champagne, taste flaky croissants and share tapas and jugs of sangria before heading into Portugal, where you’ll be relaxing on the pristine coast of the Algarve and exploring delightful towns and villages. Hop on a ferry and cross the Gibraltar Strait into Northern Africa, where your Moroccan adventure begins. Explore the medinas of Marrakech, buy a fes in Fes, hike the High Atlas Mountains and trek through scenic Amazigh villages. Join a camel caravan into the Sahara and sleep under the stars in a desert camp. There will be something for everyone on this mammoth month through Southern Europe and Morocco.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure

Destinations

  • Africa
  • Morocco
  • Europe
  • France
  • Spain
  • Portugal

Attractions

  • Ait Benhaddou
  • Algarve
  • Barcelona
  • Chefchaouen
  • Coimbra
  • Essaouira
  • Fes
  • Lisbon
  • Madrid
  • Marrakech
  • Paris
  • Plaza Mayor
  • Salamanca
  • Seville
  • Sintra

Trip includes

    • Paris - Hidden Montmartre Urban Adventure
    • Visit Pont du Gard (Museum, Bridge and Swimming Time and Free Time for Lunch)
    • Sagrada Familia Admission
    • Churros Stop
    • Coimbra - Evening Fado Performance
    • Lisbon - Sao Jorge Castle
    • Algarve - Island Day Trip by Boat
    • Chefchaouen - Walking Tour with Local Guide
    • Fes - Medina walking tour
    • Aroumd - High Atlas Mountains guided hike
    • Ait Benhaddou - Leader-led ksar walk
    • Tamegroute - Ancient Library
    • Tamegroute - Underground kasbah guided tour
    • Tamegroute - Medfouna lunch (Amazigh pizza)
    • Sahara Desert - Sunset Camel Ride
    • Taroudant – Argan oil women coop visit
    • Essaouira - Guided walking tour
    • Essaouira – Local fisherman visit

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Paris

Bonjour! Welcome to Paris, the City of Lights. Your trip kicks off with a welcome meeting at your hotel at 6 pm. After you meet your fellow travellers and trip leader, you might choose to head out for an optional welcome dinner at one of the gorgeous local restaurants or explore the surrounding neighbourhoods and discover why this city is known for its romantic appeal.

Day 2 Paris

This morning after breakfast, you’ll hop on local transport to Montmartre – one of the most romantic enclaves within Paris, over 2000 years old. Discover the squares, churches and why this district has been popular with artists for generations on an included Urban Adv...

Day 3 Nimes

This morning, you’ll have some breakfast then leave Paris behind. Take a fast train to Nimes – a city in the south of France known for its well-preserved Roman monuments, left over from the Roman Empire. When you arrive, enjoy free time to explore and find some lunch ...

Day 4 Nimes

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then head out on a day trip by public bus to Pont du Gard. This magnificent aqueduct bridge spans the Gardon River and is a marvel of Roman engineering. You can walk across the bridge and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding la...

Day 5 Barcelona

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you’ll have some free time in Nimes to explore, relax or head to a local café and enjoy the local delicacies. After, take a local train to Barcelona – the capital and largest city of Catalonia in Spain. When you arrive, you’ll...

Day 6 Barcelona

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head out on a leader-led walking tour of Barcelona. See some of the city's main sights, including a visit to Antonio Gaudi's incredible La Sagrada Familia Cathedral. The architect worked on this hugely ambitious project for decades...

Day 7 Madrid

Have breakfast at your hotel and then hop on another train towards Madrid. When you arrive, head on an orientation walk that will introduce you to the city's most iconic landmarks. Discover the bustling Puerta del Sol – the symbolic centre of Madrid. Admire the iconic...

Day 8 Madrid

Welcome to Madrid! The sassy central capital is known for its elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks, but it also pulsates with energy, and is without doubt a vibrant city. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at either 6 or 7 pm, depending on commo...

Day 9 Salamanca

Say farewell to Madrid this morning and head north-west by public transport to the historical university town of Salamanca. Situated among beautiful pastures and rolling green hills on Spain's northern plateau, the rose-hued medieval town of Salamanca is great to expl...

Day 10 Coimbra

Head further west by private bus today and cross the border into Portugal to the laidback city of Coimbra. Coimbra will be your base for the next two nights. Sitting dignified on the banks of the River Mondego, Coimbra was once the capital of the county, and its royal...

Day 11 Coimbra

Enjoy a free day of exploration in Coimbra before witnessing a traditional Fado performance. Fado songs must follow a particular structure, and though this traditional music can really be about anything, it popularly features mournful tunes with lyrics about the sea o...

Day 12 Lisbon

Today, jump on a bus through the countryside of central Portugal to Lisbon. As one of Europe's most pleasant and affordable capital cities, Lisbon combines the best elements of Portuguese life, offering fantastic architecture, a multicultural population, delicious sea...

Day 13 Lisbon

Today is free for you to explore more of Lisbon, or maybe take a 45 minute train ride out to the mountainous region of Sintra, an absolute jewel of Portugal where you will see a beautiful Pena Palace. This area offers great walking, stunning cliff-top palaces and uniq...

Day 14 The Algarve / Olhao

Take a bus journey to the southern coastline of Portugal, the Algarve. Known for fertile plains rich with orange and olive groves, fig trees, almonds and maize fields, this region is perfect to explore. Your base is Olhao, the Algarve’s biggest fishing port. With an a...

Day 15 The Algarve / Olhao

Olhao is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a series of barrier islands, creating a beautiful landscape of canals, salt pans, lagoons and sandbanks. Today board a local passenger boat and head out to one of these islands, Ilha de Culatra, where you can wander along ...

Day 16 Seville

Leave Portugal behind and return to Spain, travelling by private vehicle to the charming city of Seville. If the legends are to be believed, Seville was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. To the Romans it was Hispalis, and...

Day 17 Chefchaouen

This morning you'll rise early to start your long journey to Chefchaouen. You'll head toward Tarifa and then leave Europe behind as you make your way to Africa. After leaving the ferry, you'll be picked up by our Moroccan crew, and journey to a mountain town peppered ...

Day 18 Chefchaouen

Meet your local guide early in the day to explore the maze of streets in Chefchaouen. The ‘blue city’ is arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by...

Day 19 Fes

Say farewell to Chefchaouen today and jump on a private minivan trip to the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. Arrive in the city of Fes and step back in time to the medieval medina thick with exotic smells, tastes and sounds. Vibrant, noisy, fascinating and ove...

Day 20 Fes

Take a guided walking tour of the old city, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back in time in to the labyrinth of the Medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban ...

Day 21 Marrakech

Travel by train this morning to Marrakech. On arrival in Marrakech, ead out with the group for a quick visit to the main square, Djemaa El Fna before dinner. The square is filled with a hive of activity. Henna-painters, performers and storytellers share the square wit...

Day 22 Marrakech

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Marrakech in Morocco. This vibrant city has a myriad of things to see, do, taste, smell and enjoy! Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. There's not much time to explore Marrakech this, but if you arrive early there's plenty to see and do. Just speak to your booking agent to organise extra accommodation.

Day 23 Aroumd

This morning, take a short drive into the High Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil. When you arrive, store your main luggage and load your overnight bags onto pack mules. Make the 1-hour trek to the peaceful village of Aroumd. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the remot...

Day 24 Ait Benhaddou

This morning, journey along mountain roads and over Morocco's highest pass, Tizi n'Tichka (2260 metres above sea level), to Ait Benhaddou on the edges of the Sahara. Perched on a hilltop and almost unchanged since the 11th century, Ait Benhaddou is one of Morocco's mo...

Day 25 Ouarzazate - Zagora

This morning you'll journey south towards the Sahara Desert, stopping in the regularly used film location of Ouarzazate along the way. Continue to travel through the lush Draa Valley to Zagora, a small oasis town on the Sahara fringe that is perfect for an overnight stop. Here, take a stroll through the palm groves, explore the ksars and wander around the surrounding countryside.

Day 26 Tamegroute - Erg Chigaga

After breakfast today, you’ll drive along the rugged and desolate Jbel Tadrart ranges and through seas of sand past the occasional desert oasis of date palms, to the township of Tamegroute. Here, you’ll visit an intriguing library filled with ancient scripts of scienc...

Day 27 Oulad Berhil

Travel to the market town of Oulad Berhil today after breakfast, stopping along the way to stretch your legs and take in some epic views. Today will be a long travel day, so stock up on snacks, your favourite playlists and your go-to book. Enjoy desert scenery along a...

Day 28 Taroudant - Essaouira

In the morning, take to the souqs of Taroudant and haggle with local traders for silver jewellery or colourful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics. After, head west to the coastal town of Essaouira. The name Essaouira means ‘pretty picture’, which is appropriate, since it's...

Day 29 Essaouira

Today after breakfast, join a local guide for a walking tour through the old medina, Jewish mellah, port and skala (sea wall). Essaouira is one of the oldest port cities in the country, and fishing here is still quite traditional. You’ll have the chance to meet one of...

Day 30 Marrakech

Enjoy a free morning in Essaouira, then catch a bus back to Marrakech in the afternoon. Enjoy free time when you arrive, to explore or partake in optional activities. Walk around the famed Jemaa el-Fnaa Square – one of the largest public squares in the world – and tak...

Day 31 Marrakech

Your adventure ends after breakfast. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Marrakech (subject to availability). Just speak to your booking agent.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,462
Price per day$208
Last Updated: 11/6/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
23 Nov 2024
23 Dec 2024
$6,462

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Camp site (1 night),Gite (1 night),Hotel (25 nights),Riad (3 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Train,Ferry,Metro,Private vehicle,Public bus,Taxi,

Transportation & flights

Train,Ferry,Metro,Private vehicle,Public bus,Taxi
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. EUROPEAN LEADERS Intrepid trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. We also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Hotel Le Caspien
  • 12 Rue Loubnane
  • Gueliz
  • Marrakech
  • 40000
  • MOROCCO
  • Phone: +212 524422282
Trip ID
intrepid-BMSPC

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