A Journey of Moorish Echoes & Mediterranean Grace

Itinerary

1. Day 1 , Lisbon, Portugal 2027-11-24 Departure 18:00
   Enjoy the rich buzz of Lisbon. Dip into the city’s strong architectural, cultural and historical connections. Wander charming-cobbled streets, colourful buildings, the river Sado and endless nature. Pilgrimage to Fatima, tour hilly villages, learn Portuguese cooking techniques and listen to the Lisbon blues. Slip to charming Cascais for quieter energy and golden beaches. And as you bathe in the captivating light, enjoy plates of petiscos which - like fado - you’ll soon discover is vibrant, warm and most appealing.
2. Day 2 , Lisbon, Portugal 2027-11-25 Departure 14:00
   Enjoy the rich buzz of Lisbon. Dip into the city’s strong architectural, cultural and historical connections. Wander charming-cobbled streets, colourful buildings, the river Sado and endless nature. Pilgrimage to Fatima, tour hilly villages, learn Portuguese cooking techniques and listen to the Lisbon blues. Slip to charming Cascais for quieter energy and golden beaches. And as you bathe in the captivating light, enjoy plates of petiscos which - like fado - you’ll soon discover is vibrant, warm and most appealing.
3. Day 3 , Cadiz, Spain 2027-11-26 Arrival 09:00 Departure 20:00
   Go back in time - where cobbled streets clatter with horse drawn carriages, culture and history seeps through this Spanish city’s soul. Enjoy locally produced tapas and admire the form of iconic Andalusian horses. Drift into tasting tours at sherry wineries in Jerez, then step out to twirl the flamenco. Explore Seville’s architectural marvels; baroque churches, palaces, gothic cathedrals, aristocratic mansions and medieval buildings. With no less than three Unesco World Heritage sites to visit, you’ll feel truly inspired by what Cadiz has to offer.
4. Day 4 , Casablanca, Morocco 2027-11-27 Arrival 09:00
   Like a lighthouse, the majestic Hassan II Mosque beckons us to the shores of this bustling port city, its minaret soaring 690ft to the sky. Africa’s biggest mosque is one of only two in Morocco open to non-Muslims, inviting us to marvel its mosaics, marble columns and 50 Murano glass chandeliers. Casablanca conjures a charismatic collision of tradition and modernity, the Habous Quartier’s faded grandeur of French colonial Art Deco, whitewashed Moorish houses, narrow alleyways, small souks and olive markets in companion to its cosmopolitan nightlife, buzzing restaurants and Parisien-style cafes.
   
5. Day 5 , Casablanca, Morocco 2027-11-28 Departure 17:00
   Like a lighthouse, the majestic Hassan II Mosque beckons us to the shores of this bustling port city, its minaret soaring 690ft to the sky. Africa’s biggest mosque is one of only two in Morocco open to non-Muslims, inviting us to marvel its mosaics, marble columns and 50 Murano glass chandeliers. Casablanca conjures a charismatic collision of tradition and modernity, the Habous Quartier’s faded grandeur of French colonial Art Deco, whitewashed Moorish houses, narrow alleyways, small souks and olive markets in companion to its cosmopolitan nightlife, buzzing restaurants and Parisien-style cafes.
   
6. Day 6 , Tangier, Morocco 2027-11-29 Arrival 09:00 Departure 19:00
   At the crossroads of Europe and Africa, this once rakish, countercultural Moroccan city has retained its bohemian, beguilingly artistic feel. People watch the demi-monde from the Petit Socco, heart of Tangier’s seductive café scene, before strolling the Kasbah and cobblestone Grand Socco among a tangle of streets saturated in colour from tiles and painted cedarwood shutters and doorways. Iconic must-visits might include the 64-year-old Librarie des Colonnes, a sumptuous bookshop of literary greats; Café Hafa, for sunset sweet mint tea overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar; and El Morocco Club, for a nightcap on its rooftop terrace or in the city’s only piano bar.
7. Day 7 , Motril, Spain 2027-11-30 Arrival 09:00 Departure 19:00
   Accustom yourself to the main Town of Costa Tropical, a sub-tropical slice of Spain bursting with mangos, bananas and locally made rum. Protected by Andalucia's Sierra Nevada mountains, head up to the castle and sugar cane plantation in Salobreña, wallow in rum at Motril, eat tapas in Granada and bask in the sensual splendour of the Alhambra palace. Visit Elche where UNESCO-protected date palm trees form a unique urban park, sip vino de costa, taste exotic custard apples and trawl out the remains of Roman heritage in Almuñécar. With a Caribbean style climate and glittering seas yonder, the sounds of the flamenco and old town squares whisper Andalusian charm.
8. Day 8 , Cartagena, Spain 2027-12-01 Arrival 09:00 Departure 17:00
   March into a hidden Spanish gem with centuries of deeply ingrained culture and history. Not forgetting gourmet cuisine fit for a king. Take part in cookery lessons, wine samplings and coffee workshops, or the heart stopping elevator to the top of the Castillo. Head back to Roman times at the theatre and sanctuary for relics and mosaics. Inspect weaponry at the military museum and explore shipwrecks, artefacts and Mediterranean history at museums. View delightful street art in the bustling city centre and sample the traditional sailor tipple, Asiático. Cartagena has sites you won't see in the rest of Spain, from Roman ruins, Byzantine walls and Belle Epoque architecture to marble streets and war memorials.
9. Day 9 , Algiers, Algeria 2027-12-02 Arrival 07:00 Departure 19:00
   Losing yourself is a rite of passage in the UNESCO-listed Casbah of Algiers, where labyrinthine alleyways reveal hidden courtyards, artisan studios and the remarkable architecture of Ketchaoua Mosque. In the palm-shaded gardens of Jardin d’Essai du Hamma, cast your eyes uphill towards the upraised hands of Maqam Echahid, symbol of gratitude of those who fell during Algeria's War of Independence. Delve deeper into Algeria’s prehistory at the Bardo National Museum before strolling the Promenade des Sablettes under a sultry Mediterranean sunset.
   
   Guests are advised that, due to local immigration and port security regulations in Algeria, disembarkation in Algiers is restricted. Guests wishing to go ashore may only do so if they are taking part in an Explora Journeys Destination Experience. Independent disembarkation is not permitted.
10. Day 10 , Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2027-12-03 Arrival 09:00 Departure 19:00
    Leave craggy coastlines behind and venture to the heartland of the biggest Balearic. Where endless authentic charm, history and nature await. Celebrate at Spain’s oldest winery, shop chic Palma boutiques and marvel at blossoming UNESCO-limestone mountains aboard a vintage train. Experience a tranquil monastery, art at a historic hacienda and tons of protected wildlife. Delve into nature at reserves, feast on wood-fired paella at lively hangouts, pilgrimage to historic churches and tour old-world Mallorcan villages. And as for sapphire seas that frame spotless beaches - Mallorca is truly an immense Balearic beauty.
11. Day 11 , Barcelona, Spain 2027-12-04 Arrival 07:00
    Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.