From Córdoba to Fes
Southern Spain to Morocco
Overview
The vibrant cultures of southern Spain and Morocco share a common history, yet retain their own exotic character. Our adventure combining the magic of Spain with the mystery of Morocco features great Moorish architecture, dazzling historical sites, sumptuous cuisine, and wonderful hikes in a ravishingly beautiful countryside. From Córdoba, Andalucia's most northerly province, we journey to passionate Sevilla, then to the striking pueblos blancos (“white villages”) of Ronda and Grazalema. Ferrying across the Straits of Gibraltar to the ancient Moroccan port of Tangier, we head up to the craggy Rif Mountains to meet the Berber people at the dramatic “blue” village of Chefchaouen, dating from the 13th century. Our grand finale finds us in amazing Fes, which writer Paul Bowles called an “enchanted labyrinth sheltered from time.”
Arrive: Córdoba, Spain
Depart: Fes, Morocco
Highlights
- Explore ancient Córdoba and exquisite Sevilla, Andalucia’s most beautiful cities
- Day hikes from the renowned hilltowns of Ronda and Grazalema
- Discover the picturesque mountain village of Chefchaouen, also known as the “blue city”
- Medieval Fes, a World Heritage Site with a spectacular medina
- Overnights in elegant hotels, including a renovated 16th century palace
Itinerary
In the handsome Moorish city of Córdoba, whose Old Quarter is a World Heritage Site, we explore on foot in a maze of ancient whitewashed alleys that open onto the loveliest tiled courtyards in all of Andalucia. Our explorations include the 1,200-year-old Mezquita, a masterpiece of Moorish architecture that was once the epicenter of religious life in Moorish Spain, and the Judería, the old Jewish quarter. In Sevilla, one of the jewels in the crown of Europe, with its jasmine-scented gardens and Moorish monuments, our visits include the beautiful Alcazar Palace. One evening we enjoy a flamenco show, and there's no better place in the world than Sevilla to experience it!
We explore 15th century Zahara, one of Andalucia’s most striking pueblos blancos, set on a rocky outcrop with red-tiled houses nestled below a castle, then head to the flower-filled town of Grazalema for a hike in the magnificent Sierra de Grazalema. In superb Ronda, dramatically perched above a deep river gorge, we visit the old Moorish quarter and famous 18th century plaza de toros, Spain’s very first bullring.
We take the ferry to fabled Tangier, Morocco, set on the Straits of Gibraltar. After a visit to the tumbling streets of the old medina, we drive up to the ancient village of Chefchaouen, strikingly Andalucian in flavor, with its vibrant azure buildings
contrasting with the terracotta rooftops and red-walled casbah. We enjoy a wonderful morning hike to a local village and explore Chefchaouen's friendly souks.
Heading inland through rolling vineyards and olive groves, we visit the striking hilltown of Moulay Idriss, named for Morocco’s most famous saint, and roam the romantic ruins of Volubilis, once Rome’s provincial capital in Morocco. Our grand finale is in unforgettable Fes, whose renowned medina beckons with its mile-long network of souks, open-air cafes, courtyards, hammams (traditional steam baths), and gardens. Depart Fes on Day 12.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 7 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
The majority of our walks through towns and cities will be flat, but there will be some areas with older cobblestone streets and hills. Our two hiking days will be on dirt paths with a moderate level of difficulty, including some rocky sections with uneven footing. There are easier options available on both of these hiking days.
The weather in southern Spain and northern Morocco is notoriously unpredictable. In the early spring and late fall, daytime temperatures usually range between the mid-60s°F and the mid-70s°F, but there can be spikes up into the high 80s°F. The mountain mornings can be crisp, but the days are pleasant. This is generally not a rainy region, but cool breezes and showers can occur at any time.
Overnights are in elegant hotels, including a renovated 16th century palace and luxurious riads in Chefchaouen and Fes. The hotels have both comfortable amenities and historical significance, but please note that the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
The majority of our meals are eaten at local restaurants and at our hotels. We’ve chosen these restaurants to give you a flavor of the variety of delicious cuisine that both countries offer. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 8:00 pm.
Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike or activities and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. On most days, a support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack. Please note that we will take a 45 minute ferry ride from Spain to Morocco.
Client Testimonials
"The trip was well conceived and executed. There was good variety in the activities; the local guides were excellent and provided significant additional local color and cultural understanding. The days just flew by! The Moroccan blended culture is a very appealing one."
Ann D.
Cranford, NJ
"It was a cultural delight with a Trip Leader who shared her enthusiasm and took everyone’s concerns into consideration. We explored history, culture, food, and wine."
Barbara L.
Riverdale NY
"Of the trips I've taken with WT, Southern Spain and Morocco was definitely near the top. That's quite a compliment because it was competing with the Serengeti, Indochine, and the Turquoise Coast among others."
Carol F.
Palo Alto, CA
"This was the best trip I’ve ever taken. An amazing itinerary, beautiful hikes, fantastic WT guides and local guides, and delicious cuisine."
Judith Kirklin,
South Portland, ME
"I loved this trip. The approach of tracing Andalusia's themes through southern Spain, then down into Morocco, is enlightened."
Kathy D.
Norwalk, CT
"We enjoyed all of the accommodations, the quality of the food, the beautiful scenery and knowledge of the additional guides we used in each city and getting to visit local farms."
Melinda H.
Granada Hills, CA
"Great itinerary, excellent food, and hotels. The only drawback was that gluttony was too easy to participate in, but that would be my weakness, not the trip's!"
Walt A.
Cambria, CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.