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Southern Spain/Morocco itinerary comments & tips?

Posted by (Vancouver, BC, Canada) on

Hi folks - so looking forward to this trip! We have approx 2 weeks to tour Southern Spain and Morocco so there is a bit of time flexibility but I'd prefer to keep it as close to 2 weeks as possible. I've outlined background on us below, and if you have any comments on how reasonable this is, or other tips they're all welcome. We want to see a lot and we tend to push ourselves, but we don't want to feel overly rushed :

  • Fly into Seville from Canada and overnight (we have visited Seville so want to move to new places)
  • Day 1 = train to Cordoba, stay 2 nights
  • Day 3 = train to Granada, stay 2 nights
  • Day 5 = train to Malaga with stop at Cave of Nerja, stay 2 nights at Malaga
  • Day 7 = Train to Gibraltar, explore Gibraltar, ferry to Tangier, stay 2 nights
  • Day 9 = Grand taxi to Chefchaouen, stay overnight (*note - stay in Chefchaouen is optional)
  • Day 10 = Grand taxi to Fes, stay 2 nights
  • Day 12 = Train to Marrakesh, stay 2 nights
  • Day 14 = Fly to Seville and continue on home

As background, we dislike chains and really want to experience the country, from food to culture. Some previous travelling hilights have included staying in an ex-brothel in Madrid and a tiny, centuries old family owned hotel in Venice, crawling through water filled caves in Belize, touring wineries in Tuscany with a sommelier as our guide and enjoying the long drive down the Oregon coast (though we won't be driving on this trip). We love food and wine, from street eats to fine dining. We love music (from rock to folks to classical), architecture, dance (and dancing), fashion, art, cathedrals, ruins, markets, gorgeous scenery and people. We walk a LOT.

We're Canadian, my wife is late 40's (looks younger) and I'm 59 (and look younger too). We're fit, fashionable and engaged in the world around us. We don't travel on budgets, though we do spend our money wisely and we know that expensive does not always mean good, let alone the best.

We have 2 weeks and have traveled middle to northern Spain. Now it's time for southern Spain and Morocco for our 20th wedding anniversary and my 60th birthday.

Any suggestions are welcome!

TIA - R.

Posted by
28090 posts

I assume this is not a mid-summer trip.

Unless it's essential from the logistical standpoint, I would not spend any time in Tangier. Certainly not two nights. Add the time to Fes and/or Marrakech.

I haven't been to Chefchaouen.

Posted by
5541 posts

I also recommend skipping Tangier. Be aware that ferry crossings to Tangier are frequently interrupted by strong winds, sometimes for several days at a time. The Straits of Gibraltar can often be like a wind tunnel so to avoid that risk I'd fly from Gibraltar to Fes avoiding Tangier completely (it's not an interesting or attractive city).

Posted by
2159 posts

For Granada, I would recommend staying at the Parador, which is right on the grounds of the Alhambra, which makes it easy to come/go and take a break, drop off a jacket, etc. during the day. The Parador offers senior packages (I think that are for those 50 and older) that include a fabulous breakfast. and special pricing for the room. We stayed in one with a little French balcony overlooking the Generalife garden, and it was fun enjoying the view, then taking photos of the Parador from the garden and being able to spot our room. We were there in early March, and although crowds were not bad, we were told by local venue greeters in all cities that lines were very long during typical tourist season.

For the trip to Gibraltar, which we do recommend..my husband loved seeing the siege tunnels, the top of the rock, the cave, the apes, the whole bit......but for that trip, I would recommend checking with Emily with South Ole Spain Tours re: having a driver take you We arrange our transport and a tour of Gibraltar with her, and we could have been more pleased. En route to Gibraltar we had time in Ronda for a quick look and lunch. Check out her reviews on TripAdvisor: www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187437-d2302101-Reviews-South_Ole_Spain_Tours-Estepona_Costa_del_Sol_Province_of_Malaga_Andalucia.html

Emily arranged the most wonderful tour guide for us in Gibraltar who focused specifically on what my husband wanted to see (and we had limited time due to our schedule to make it to Marbella that evening), and he moved us efficiently and with focus on our interests. I wish we could have had more time, but again, the time constraint was our choice. I think he was a retired assistant police chief or something like that, so he is still giving tours, you could request him. He told us about the history of Gibraltar as well as present-day life there. What was extra nice about having Emily arrange the transfer to Gibraltar for us, was that when we arrived, our driver seamlessly connected us with the guide. We did not have to worry about finding parking (parking was jammed even in the very off season), and then upon return the guide connected us back with our driver. We knew our luggage was in safe hands while we toured, too. Perfect day. Emily is an America who feel in love with Spain, so her English is perfect and her follow-up great...both the evening before our morning departure and afterward. She can arrange just about anything for you...lunches in vineyards, wine tastings, private tours of just about anywhere or group tours.

From Malaga, we flew to Casablanca and then had a transfer to Marrakech, where we stayed in a lovely riad within the walls of the Medina. If you have time (and the weather permits) take a hot air balloon ride and camel ride in Marrakech...ours also stopped for breakfast at a local Berber house, and that was an eye-opener re: lifestyles. The Medina market was unlike anything I had ever seen before in my entire life...one simply must experience it to understand. We also booked and totally enjoyed a cooking class/lunch (at a country-club part of our riad just outside the city walls)....fabulous, lovely experience.

Posted by
15788 posts

There's no train to Gibraltar and no ferry from Gibraltar to Tangier.

Posted by
16895 posts

FRS still operates one ferry from Gibraltar to the Tangier Med port, not the city center of Tangier, but it only operates on alternate Fridays and is primarily used by Moroccan workers, according to a snippet I passed online.

Posted by
15 posts

Interesting comments - many thanks!

In regards to Gibraltar, I have heard it's a day trip. So, if we were coming in from Malaga and spent the day exploring Gibraltar, how would you recommend we get from Gibraltar over to Morocco that evening? Is it doable? If we skip Tangier then I'd like to start Morocco off in Fes as flying home from Marrakesh to Seville onward seems to make a lot of sense.

Thanks again for all your help!

  • R.

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