G-Adventures logo

Explore Spain, Portugal and Morocco: Coastal Waves & Desert Dunes

26 days, Barcelona to Marrakech

26 days

Barcelona to Marrakech

From$3549USD
Valid on Apr 10 2026
Trip Code: ESBA

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Fast, fresh, and fun adventures that never slow down, made for young, budget-minded travellers.

Service Level: Basic

Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities.

Physical Rating: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, avg 14.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

26 days

Barcelona to Marrakech

From$3549USD
Valid on Apr 10 2026
Trip Code: ESBA

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world with Trees for Days. Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 26

Ripple Score

Create ripples that change lives. The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 78

Map of the route for Explore Spain, Portugal and Morocco: Coastal Waves & Desert Dunes

Places visited

Itinerary

Day 1Barcelona

Arrive at any time.

Because first impressions matter, begin your journey the right way - by heading out with your CEO and group for drinks. Explore and unwind in Barcelona’s most renowned neighbourhoods for nightlife - El Raval, El Born, or The Gothic Quarter.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group| Your First Night Out Moment Connect With New Friends| Your Discover Moment

Day 2Barcelona/Madrid

Enjoy an orientation walk along Las Ramblas. Take some time to visit the Gaudí buildings, or explore the Gothic Quarter before boarding an afternoon train to Madrid.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Day 3Madrid

Enjoy Spain's beautiful capital on an orientation walk. Free time to visit its many sites, from art museums to sprawling squares. Enjoy a night out with the group. Madrid's nightlife is world renowned!

Day 4Madrid/Granada

Transfer to Granada in the morning, then dive into the city's vibrant life with an afternoon orientation walk.

Day 5Granada

Enjoy a free day in Granada. Opt to relax in one of the many hammam baths around town. In the evening, join your group for a tapas bar crawl. First drink's on us!

Day 6Granada/Seville

Journey to Seville and take an orientation walk with your CEO before some free time to explore. Opt to visit the Real Alcázar, a Moorish palace, or take in an evening flamenco show.

Day 7Seville/Lagos

Cross into Portugal, and enjoy the Algarve Coast.

Day 8Lagos

Spend the day on the Algarve with free time for hiking, water activities, or chilling out oceanside.

Day 9Lagos/Lisbon

Journey up the coast to Portugal's vibrant capital, and enjoy an orientation walk. Free time to visit Cristo Rei for sweeping views of the area, check out the monuments of the Belem neighbourhood, or relax in a café. Indulge in the town's great nightlife on your Big Night Out.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Big Night Out Moment

Day 10Lisbon/Casablanca

Fly to Casablanca and enjoy free time in Morocco's largest city.

Day 11Casablanca/Chefchaouen

With a good night's sleep behind you, set out from Casablanca. With the bright blue waters of the Atlantic to your left and the sun drenched wonders of Morocco to your right, travel up the coast to Morocco's capital city, Rabat. Stretch your legs as you wander the ramparts and colourful alleys of the city's old quarter. Take in breathtaking views from Kasbah des Oudaias, then indulge in lunch. After you've eaten the hangry away, continue toward Chefchaouen. Here, beneath the soaring Rif mountains, feeling the blues takes on a different meaning. Take an orientation walk through the blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen before settling in for the night.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 12Chefchaouen

Hoping for free time to explore all Chefchaouen has to offer? Wish granted! Spend your day taking in the splendor of the city and it's surrounding geography. If the (Rif) Mountains are calling, you should definitely answer. Opt to pre-book the Rif Valley Mountains Hike. Or, later opt to visit the Spanish Mosque for breathtaking sunset views of the city.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 13Chefchaouen/Fès

Fès awaits! Upon arrival, put your free time to good use by visiting an Amazigh (or Berber) pharmacy (a far cry from the kind of pharmacy you may be used to at home). Wander the many mazes of Fès's colourful, ancient tanneries.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 14Fès

With so much to see, another free day in Fès is always a good idea. Breathe in decadent spices (oxygen is for the weak anyway, right?) as you sample treats from the many food carts scattered throughout the medina. Explore the artisan quarters as you take in the city that is often referred to as the cultural heart of Morocco.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 15Fès/Marrakech

After getting back on the road and watching the scenery roll by, arrive in vibrant, bustling Marrakech. Spend the evening exploring the gardens, souks, and other wonders of Marrakech.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 16Marrakech

Spend the day exploring Marrakech on your own. Your CEO can help out with some recommendations for sights and activities in the area.

Day 17Marrakech/Skoura

Depart Marrakech in the morning and transfer to Skoura, one of Morocco’s beautiful oases. While Ouarzazate, further west is now the region’s commercial centre, Skoura’s historic mud-brick castles remain a testament to the past. Explore the area on a guided visit, soak up the atmosphere of this green haven, and listen to the wind catching in the palm trees lining the streets. During your visit you will see different Kasbahs in the area, and learn about their historical and cultural significance. Later, spend free time at the hotel and enjoy a swim in the pool before an included dinner this evening.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 18Skoura/Merzouga

Leave Skoura behind and journey into the vast, golden reaches of the desert. Along the way stop to spend some time walking in Dades Gorge before continuing on to Tinghir for a lunch stop on your own. Later, saddle up and travel by camel to the perfect perch atop the dunes to view the sunset as it paints the sky hues of red, blue, and yellow. Under a canopy of stars, enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment by the campfire. Let your imagination run wild as you listen to traditional music on the drums alongside stories about the region. We dare you to top this campfire experience!

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 19Merzouga

Have breakfast at camp before returning to civilization. Then, opt to spend time further exploring the undulating golden sand of the dunes, and discovering the surrounding communities on a land cruiser desert excursion, or simply relax at the hotel. Later, attend a cooking class to learn about local cuisine and taste your creations. Cap off the day with a sunset sand boarding experience from the highest dunes with the sun turning everything a shining gold!

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 20Merzouga/Aït Ben Haddou

Leave right after breakfast and travel along the Route of 1000 Kasbahs to Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most iconic and beautiful kasbahs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the narrow alleys and admire the uniqueness of this place both in traditional architecture and historical significance. At the end of the visit, climb to the highest point of the kasbah and witness the views of the surrounding desert and the Ounila River around golden hour and sunset. In the evening, you can choose to join an optional cooking class to make tajine. Otherwise, dinner will be on your own.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 21Aït Ben Haddou/Marrakech

Journey to the "Red City," Marrakech. Unlock the many secrets this ancient city has to offer in its maze-like alleys, ornate palaces, and lush gardens. Enjoy a guided visit of the medina and see the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and Jamaa el Fna square. End the day with an optional group dinner in the famous food stalls of Djemaa el Fna.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 22Marrakech

Enjoy a full free day in Marrakech. Choose from a variety of optional activities in the area.

Day 23Marrakech/Taghazout

Today we make our way through the High Atlas Mountains and visit the market town of Taroudant. Concealed within striking red walls, Taroudant is often called “Little Marrakech.” Wander through the old town at leisure and browse its lively markets before continuing on to the fishing village of Taghazout.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 24Taghazout

Wake to the soft tones of waves crashing along the shoreline, then suit up for a surf lesson. Hit the waves for a free afternoon of surfing or swimming. Prefer land surfing? Opt to go hiking or do yoga. After a day of embracing your wild side, what could be more fitting than gathering around a bonfire on the beach as the sun kisses the horizon goodnight?

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 25Taghazout/Essaouira

Take coastal living northward to colourful, sun-drenched Essaouira. After an orientation walk around the city, enjoy free time to get to know the ramparts and rocky beaches of Essaouira further. No rest for the weary? Not true here — opt to pre-book the Traditional Hammam Experience and enjoy a spa experience that is ritual for the many of the locals.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 26Essaouira/Marrakech

Hit the road one final time and return to Marrakech. Even though your trip ends on arrival, make sure you take the time to take plenty of photos with newfound friends to commemorate the memories made. (Morocco scrapbook, anyone?)

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Discover Moment: Barcelona
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Big Night Out Moment: Lisbon
  • Tapas bar crawl (Granada)
  • Orientation walks in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville, and Lisbon
  • Enjoy free time in Rabat
  • Explore the blue city of Chefchaouen
  • Visit the medina and souks of Fès
  • Discover the bustling city of Marrakech
  • Dades Gorge walk
  • Camel ride in the desert
  • Traditional dinner and drums under the stars
  • Sand boarding in the desert dunes
  • Aït Ben Haddou kasbah tour
  • Guided medina visit in Marrakech
  • Surf lesson in Taghazout
  • Sunset beach bonfire
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • "

Accommodations

Hostels (9 nts, multi-share with 4-6 people), Simple Hotels (13 nts, twin-share), desert camp (1 nt, multi-share), Surf House (2 nts, multi-share).

Meals

14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners
Allow USD645-840 for meals not included.

Transportation

Train, public bus, air-conditioned private vehicle, walking, camel.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Hot Air Balloon Marrakech - From $225.00

Get an early start and watch the sunrise over the red dust, palm groves, and majestic open landscapes of Marrakech from a hot air balloon. After soaking up the sights, refuel with an authentic Amazigh breakfast in a Moroccan tent. *Please note if you purchase the Marrakech Hot Air Balloon ride on the final day of your tour you will not finish until 10am. We recommend booking your departing flight no earlier than 1pm to ensure you have enough time to make it to the airport.

Merzouga Land Cruiser Desert Excursion - From $67.00

View the golden dunes of the Sahara desert on a land cruiser excursion. You'll be driven around the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in land cruiser cars, taking in the views of the seemingly endless sea of sand. Pass a kohl mine en route to the village of Khamlia. Witness the delightful sounds of the African music of Gnawa — played by members of the community — as you enjoy a cup of mint tea with the locals.

Rif Valley Mountains Hike - From $67.00

Lace-up your hiking boots, and trek through the scenic Rif Mountains – the perfect natural playground for adventure seekers. Hike along lush mountains, passing small waterfalls and streams en route to the Spanish Mosque for spectacular panoramic views of Chefchaouen. Continue on through the mountains, passing plantations and stopping for a traditional lunch at a local gîte. Once you reach the piste, jump in a jeep and head back to the main road to meet your driver.

Traditional Hammam Experience in Essaouira - From $54.00

Visit a hammam, a great way to get squeaky clean and soothe sore muscles. Enjoy a body scrub and massage in a traditional Moroccan bathhouse. Begin with a dry or hot room to prepare your skin and body, followed by a hot steam room. Enjoy a body scrub and massage followed by a traditional mint tea.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Explore Spain, Portugal and Morocco: Coastal Waves & Desert Dunes

| 26 days - Barcelona to Marrakech - from $3549 USD