Spain & Morocco vacations guide

Spain and Morocco vacations reveal the long, shared history of these two countries, both at the tips of their continents, and just 14km apart. Andalucia’s cobbled streets, whitewashed buildings and geometric tilework merges almost seamlessly into the architecture of Morocco’s cities, and these tours join the dots with buses, trains and boats.

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Spain & Morocco vacations guide

If there was a bridge between Spain and Morocco, you’d be able to walk across it in three hours at a brisk pace, but once you cross the Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa, it feels like you’ve travelled much more than just 14km. Gaze across at the Rock of Gibraltar and wonder how so much can change in so little distance. A tour of Spain and Morocco, however, will reveal that these frontier countries have much more in common than you may think.

Disembarking at Tangier, you’ll swap the beer and bikinis of Tarifa’s beaches for the djellabas and camels on Tangier’s; raucous Andalucian Spanish for the throaty tones of Arabic.

The Moorish architecture of cities such as Seville, Granada and Cordoba blends almost seamlessly into that of Marrakech and Rabat, all with whitewashed houses, mosques and minarets, and exquisite geometric tilework. The plaintive flamenco vocals sound eerily like the Muslim call to prayer, and the decorative Islamic gardens with their gently splashing water features and cool temperatures calm souls on both sides of the Strait. Find out more in our Spain and Morocco vacations guide.

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Best time to go

Depending on the route you choose, some of our Spain and Morocco vacations run throughout the year, while others depart only in spring and autumn.

March-May and September-October are the best times of year for this trip; Spain’s interior and Morocco’s low lying cities bake to a crisp from mid June to mid September, and while the Moors and Andalucians really know their stuff when it comes to cooling architecture, sightseeing is not fun in 40°C heat. Conversely, winter is damp and chilly, with particularly icy temperatures in Madrid and Salamanca, and Morocco dropping to 5 or 6°C at night. However, a Christmas trip here can be magical, while Easter sees processions and orange blossom across Andalucia.

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Things to do in Spain & Morocco...

From Andalucia south, it’s all about the Moorish architecture – created by Berbers and Arabs who migrated to Spain; by Spanish Muslims who returned to the Maghreb when ‘al-Andalus’ fell once again to the Christian Kings; and by Catholics in ‘reconquered’ Spain who turned the mosques into cathedrals with the simple addition of a chapel. Low whitewashed houses, tiled roofs, geometric tiles and labyrinthine medinas are ubiquitous, wherever you go – even in Portugal, which was ruled by the Umayyad Caliphate until the 12^th century. Not only is the food in this part of the world particularly moreish (sorry...), but you don’t need to fork out for Michelin stars to try the best. Andalucia is the home of tiny plates, and tapas bar crawls around cities such as Seville and Granada will seek out the specialty dish at each little place. Salmorejo soup, tortillas made with tiny shrimp, and stewed spinach and chickpeas are all local recipes. In Morocco, you’ll feast on tagines, couscous and sweet chicken pastillas, washed down with orange juice and glasses of mint tea. The highlight may come at the end of the tour, as you dine in Marrakech’s crazy Jemaa El-Fna square by night, savouring the atmosphere as much as the food. Overland tours use public trains, buses and ferries to whisk you from one city to the next. This reduces costs, as well as carbon footprints. Traveling on public transport as part of an organised tour means all tickets and timetables are sorted out for you, as well as transfers when needed, so you won’t be hanging around at the station, wondering which way to your hotel. Private minibuses may be used for the odd excursion, but in general you’ll be riding – pretty comfortably – alongside local people.

Things not to do in Spain & Morocco...

Enter the mosques, unless you’re Muslim. These stunning buildings are one of Morocco’s big tourist draws, but the vast majority are off limits to non Muslims. A notable exception is Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque, which offers guided tours outside of prayer times. On the edge of the Atlantic, this is largest mosque in Africa, able to hold 25,000 worshippers. To get your Islamic architecture fix, visit the many restored madrassas instead, particularly in Marrakech and Fes. Resent the Moroccan shopping experience. Don’t confuse a souk with a supermarket – you won’t find everything with its own neat price tag. Shopping in Morocco means haggling; it’s as much a part of the experience as the item itself, so just go along for the ride and enjoy it. Guides may select stores for you to shop in, from which they receive a commission. Some vacation companies are upfront about this – it’s not corrupt, or unethical, it’s just the way that some things are done here. You’re in Morocco to discover and embrace cultural differences – this is one of them. Stay glued to maps, apps and guidebooks. These streets were made for walking – quite literally, as many of the labyrinthine alleyways of Morocco and Andalucia are simply not wide enough for cars, and even the donkey carts struggle. When you have free time to wander, don’t stare down at a book or phone – freestyle it, and see where the streets take you. You might discover hole-in-the-wall cafes, spice merchants, exquisite floral patios and beautiful churches not described in any guidebook, and see local life away from the tourist hotspots. If you get lost in the lanes, just ask for directions, the old fashioned way.