On the Trail of the Moors in Spain and Morocco

The Spanish capital is bursting with life and passion and through its well planned streets course Madrilenos, the city's inhabitants who really know how to live

Madrid is a powerhouse of culture, and no trip here could miss a tour of the the Golden Triangle of Art, encompassing the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Music is also an important feature and the city marches to the beat of flamenco, jazz and live music of all kinds. And don't forget that Madrid serves some of the most delicious tapas that there is.

Your host will take will take you to enjoy the flavours of Madrid, visiting different taverns across La Latina District, such as Casa Lucas, one of the best places in Madrid to taste good selection of wines and tapas.

Visit the places that best represent the old essence of the capital of Spain, such as the Royal Palace – home to paintings by Velazquez, Goya, Rubens, El Greco and Caravaggio – the Royal Theatre, the old City Hall and the Plaza Mayor.

Spain's main art museum, the Prado has one of the greatest collections of European art in the world, with around 9,000 paintings by artists such as Bosch, Titian and Rubens. Built under the instruction of King Carlos III, the museum opened in 1819 and was intended to provide Madrid with an outstanding painting gallery, large enough to match those opening at the time in Europe. Recently the prestigious Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo, has enlarged the old building by adding a new wing with additional rooms and a fantastic 15th-century cloister.

The jewel in the Moorish Caliphate of Cordoba and the capital of the most powerful Castilian Kingdom, Seville has been left with eye-popping architecture and majestic grace. While Seville reached its peak in the 17th century and then suffered terribly in the Spanish Civil War, today it has resurrected itself as the capital and largest city of Andalusia. You'll need to spend a few days here at least to experience the true essence of Spanish grandeur.

Meet your local host for a horse drawn carriage ride of the promenade, then visit the remains of the Ibero-Americain exposition of 1929 and San Telmo Palace. Walk through Maria Luisa Park, Exhibition Casino and Real Pavilion, Plaza de España and Santa Cruz Quarter, meeting local people and visiting markets before an informal tapas dinner sampling local dishes.

Discover the tapas world capital in this exclusive route and taste the most delightful bites of Seville, accompanied by an expert gastronomy guide who knows all the best spots.

Enjoy a walking tour through Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville's oldest quarter, learning about its history from the Roman times right up until the present day. You'll visit the cathedral which sits on the site of the Great Mosque of the 12th century; the only part of this that remains is the minaret, now known as the Giralda Tower. The Royal Alcazar was the site of the marriage between Carlos V and Isabel of Portugal and is centred around two courtyards. The Ambassador's Hall is beautifully decorated with plasterwork and tiles, while the top floor is accessed by a 16th century staircase featuring paintings by Roelas and Madrazo. The pretty gardens reflect the passing of historical periods and are a lush hideaway filled with pomegranate, orange and palm trees.

Cordoba is perhaps Spain’s most handsome city, an historic centre of culture and lasting testament to a golden age of religious tolerance during its time as a caliphate. King Ferdinand III then claimed the city for Castile during the Spanish Reconquista, bequeathing it its gothic and renaissance finery. Visit today, and you'll find Cordoba's grand past beautifully reflected in the city's magnificent architecture. During your tour, explore the Moorish, Jewish and Christian quarters including the Alcazar with its beautiful gardens. You'll also discover Roman remains and the famous Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral.

Seville's brooding Andalusian sister sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Iberian Peninsula's highest massif. Renowned as the last stronghold of the Moors who were driven out of Western Europe in the 15th century, it's here that you'll best discover Andalusia's splendid Arabic architectural heritage including the beautiful Alhambra Palace.

The lavish Alhambra is Granada's most visited site. Once a palace and fortress for the city's Muslim rulers, the Alhambra means ‘red fort' and is named after the red clay used in its construction in the mid-13th century. The Generalife was the country residence of the Nasrid king and the recreational courtyard and its beautiful gardens sit on the slopes of the Cerro del Sol, offering spectacular views.

A combination of dance, song, guitar and rhythm, flamenco draws from both mysterious Gypsy tradition and age-old Andalusian music. This evening you will enjoy an insider’s look at the shrouded-in-mystery world of flamenco in Granada. With your local host you will explore the Sacromonte, a neighbourhood made up of cave dwellings with a rich Gypsy heritage, exploring the unique homes and flamenco tablaos that are hidden here and which served as inspiration for some of Spain’s most important poets and playwright. Afterwards, head to a classic tapas bar for dinner and time to chat about the art and history surrounding the art, ending the evening with a flamenco show.

Enjoy some time at leisure, relaxing on and exploring the sandy beaches, glamorous harbours and rustic interior of Andalusia's Costa del Sol, a sun-soaked stretch of sandy coastline punctuated by Marbella and the glamourous Puerto Banus Marina, as well a number of sleepier fishing villages and low-key retreats.

Take the fast ferry across the narrow Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier in Morocco.

Morocco’s northernmost city, looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, Tangier is a place with a fascinating history. Known as ‘The Door of Africa’, it has changed hands dozens of times, from the ancient Carthaginians, Roman Empire and early Islamic caliphate, to Portuguese and Spanish rule, and the 20th century when it became an International Zone and an infamous hive of spies and international espionage.

It’s also long been a favourite of artists, a multicultural melange of Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities along with a stream of immigrants from Europe and Africa, attracting painters such as Delacroix and Matisse, as well as being a favourite haunt of Beat writers Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg.

Today, now firmly a part of Morocco, it’s a thriving city that still retains its bohemian heart in the old Kasbah where you’ll find bustling marketplaces, informal dining venues and occasional views across to Europe which is just minutes away by ferry.

Head out to discover the city of Tangier. Walk in the footsteps of the Beat Generation, from the Socco squares to the Hotel Continental, stopping at the American Legation Museum (gifted to the US in 1821 as the the first piece of American real estate abroad, and today the only US National Historic Landmark on foreign soil) and legendary libraries on the way.

Head to the emblematic Café Hafa for a Moroccan mint tea and the sea views from its cliffside perch. Seemingly unchanged since opening in 1921, it has remained a perennial stop for writers, artists and musicians for almost a century.

Just inland from Tangier and surrounded by the rugged Rif Mountains, the blue-washed walls and alleys of Chefchaouen make for one of the most photogenic spots in Morocco. The old kasbah dates back to the 15th century and is a rich mix of both local and Andalusian heritage thanks to the many Moors and Jews who settled here from Spain after the Reconquista. It's a great place in which to relax and wonder around seeking out unique handicrafts and pretty mosques along the alleyways emanating from the central Plaza Uta el-Hammam.

The city of Fes, Morocco’s second largest, is considered to be its cultural and religious capital. Divided into three districts, the oldest and most fascinating is Fes el Bali. Founded in the 9th century, venturing through its vast gates into the medina is like stepping back in time. Its dense maze of some 9,000 alleys are plied by donkeys and hand-pulled carts (said to be the largest car-free urban area in the world), with narrow passageways leading through beautiful squares, into the middle of a spice-scented food market or to a dead end and the ruins of an abandoned house. Head up to a rooftop terrace to really appreciate the maelstrom at street level.

The fresh air of the public Jnan Sbil Gardens connects the old medina to Fes el Jdid, or ‘New Fez’, the 13th-century extension which contains the vast Royal Palace and the Mellah which was once home to some 250,000 Jews, many immigrants from Spain. Built by the French at the beginning of the 20th century, the Ville Nouvelle is the third and most modern of Fes’ districts.

Fes, Morocco’s ancient imperial capital, is the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, and a guided walk around its incredible medina is the best way to soak up its timeless atmosphere without fear of getting lost amid the maze. Spend today with your guide seeking out historical highlights, markets and more. The most famous landmark here is The University of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest educational institute in the world, with UNESCO status.

Follow your guide to Fes' old Jewish neighbourhood, the Mellah. Created in 1438 as an area for their protection, Jews in the city, many immigrating from Spain after the Reconquista, were relocated to a site known as al-Mallah, 'the saline area'. Situated near the royal palace in order to protect its inhabitants due to their vital role in the local economy, it was initially a quarter of large and beautiful dwellings with street facing windows and balconies - in contrast to the riad courtyards in the rest of the medina - with its own synagogues, fountains, markets and burial grounds. 'Mellah' later came to designate segregated Jewish quarters in other Moroccan cities and with growing populations and persecution, they became ghettos. Though European colonisation in the 19th and early 20th century brought new opportunities, most Morocco Jews moved to Israel, France and the Americas after the 1950s. Today, the Mellah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many buildings of interest have been restored which you'll explore with your guide, learning all about this area's rich history.

Drive through miles of vineyards and olive groves to Volubilis, a partly excavated and remarkably preserved Roman city. Built in a fertile agricultural area, it developed from the 3rd century BC onward as a Phoenician, then proto-Carthaginian, settlement before being the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania. Through olives and wine, it prospered under Roman rule from the 1st century AD and gained a number of major public buildings and fine town-houses with large mosaic floors. Falling to local tribes in 285, it remained habited for another seven centuries as a Latinised Christian community, then as an early Islamic settlement. By the 11th century Volubilis had been abandoned after the seat of power was relocated to Fes.

With its rich atmosphere, fascinating history and rich Berber culture, the city of Marrakesh encapsulates what draws people from around the world to Morocco. Near one thousand year old red walls surround the historic medina, with monumental gates leading through to a warren of winding alleys. It’s here you’ll find Marrakesh’s vibrant souks, markets and artisan workshops selling fragrant spices, leather-ware, jewellery, Berber carpets, spices, fabrics, lamps, pottery and more. The centrepiece is Jemaa el-Fnaa, a bustling market place square that hosts storytellers, musicians and performers in what is an unforgettable nightly spectacle.

On the other side of the walls is the rest of the city, known as the Gueliz. The lavish El Badi, Bahia and Royal Palaces flank the kasbah, each wonderful examples of Berber design and craft. Also out here are wonderful gardens such as Yves Saint Lauren’s Jardin Majorelle and the sprawling Menara gardens set against the Atlas Mountains.

Meet your local insider guide and head to the magical medina of Marrakesh. Reach the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square to really feel the oriental wonders of this place. Your guide will awaken your five senses during this tour as you stop at the tastiest food stalls, visit olive and nut souks and sample local specialities. Moreover, you will see various artists ranging from snake charmers to acrobats which will make your first evening in Marrakesh an outstanding experience.

Your private guide will show you around some of Marrakesh's historic highlights in the medina, the old fortified city which is ringed by some 19km (12 miles) of walls and monumental gates which date back to the 12th century. The entirety of the old town is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as narrow streets, riads and bazaars, the walls encompass grand palaces, gardens, mosques, bustling squares, tombs and museums including Bahia Palace, the Saadian tombs, the Medersa ben Youssef, and the ever-present Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret will always help you to find the right direction.

In the Medina's beautiful maze, through the ancient French neighborhood or in the mythical palm grove, Marrakesh is full of surprises. A vivid flea market, secret gardens behind closed doors, old art deco buildings or khettaras in the palm grove are just a few of the many hidden treasures your rider guide will introduce you to on this unusual open-air ride aboard a vintage motorbike and sidecar outfit.

Your ride is tailor-made, off the beaten path and designed according to your level of knowledge of the city and your interests, respectful of the local culture and all inclusive to offer you a memorable experience.