Spain and Morocco Small Group Tour

Cuisine 

Morocco

Moroccan cuisine has a diversity of influences from Berbers, Arabs, Moors, Jewish Moors and let's not forget the Ottoman Empire. The cuisine of the Berbers still exist today with dishes such as couscous and tagines, the Arabs bringing spices, nuts and many varieties of dried fruits, the Moors bringing olives and citrus whilst the Jewish Moors introduced preserving techniques such as preserved lemons and pickles with the Ottoman Empire introducing kebabs. Over time dishes have been perfected to blend each of these distinct tastes varying with the season, region and the market. Spices such as dried ginger, cumin, turmeric are found in most kitchens in Morocco and these are used in almost every tagine or couscous. Bread made from durum wheat, barley or rye flour is an essential part of any Moroccan meal and used to soak up sauces and pick food from communal dishes. On our cultural tour of Morocco you will experience Morocco's famous Pastilla. This unusual dish (and one of our personal favourites!) combines pigeon, roasted almonds, sugar, cinnamon, eggs, all wrapped up in a pie then sprinkled with icing sugar. Moroccan patisseries, pancakes drizzled with honey, cakes made with almonds and raisins all accompanied by the Morocco's famous mint tea.

Spanish

The history of Spanish cuisine is quite rich and varied as it has been influenced by many different cultures.  The ancient Romans and Greeks were among the first to introduce their culinary traditions to the area, which were then adopted and adapted by the Moors who ruled the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. This resulted in a unique mix of flavours, ingredients and cooking techniques that are still seen in Spanish cuisine today. Paella is the best known example of the Moorish influence as it combines rice, meat, and vegetables in a single dish. Other iconic dishes include Gazpacho, a cold soup made with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil, and Jamón Serrano, a cured ham that is a staple in Spanish cuisine. Their cuisine has also been shaped by the country’s colonial history with many dishes inspired by the flavours of Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean.   The most noticeable feature of Spanish cuisine is that it focuses on freshness, regional dishes, and seafood and produce.

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Highlights of our Tapas and Tagine Tour

Madrid

Madrid is one of the world’s most vibrant and seductive cities. It is a city with a charming and infectious atmosphere that you can immediately sense, feel a part of and enjoy. A city that takes unabashed pleasure in its past traditions, it is proud to display a wealth of cultural treasures and architectural glories. Each neighbourhood has a flavour all of its' own and the city wonderfully juxtaposes its' grandeur – elegant marble statues, spectacular fountains, the awe-inspiring Royal Palace – with lively bohemian districts, where funky restaurants and cafes are sprouting up between old established local favourites. 

Barcelona

With its' enchanting Gothic quarter, lively cosmopolitan streets, spectacular modern structures, relentless creative spirit and cutting edge cuisine, Barcelona makes a fascinating place to visit.

Gaudi is the essence of Barcelona; the Sagrada Familia is the city’s icon and his other fantastical works – Parc Guell, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló – continue to be the inspiration for today’s designers. 

Seville

Captivating and beautiful the capital of Andalucia intoxicates and excites. It is the city of flamenco, bulls, Carmen and Don Juan; its history and culture give rise to pride, tradition, passion and joy.

Granada

People come to Granada from all over the world to see and visit one of the world’s most stunning monuments, the Alhambra. Dominating the skyline above the city, this Moorish palace was the jewel in the crown of Moorish kingdom in Spain. With its spectacular location, high on a hill top with the Sierra Nevada mountains rising in the background, the Alhambra is highly impressive from afar. Once within its walls, there are so many delights to revel in but recommended with an expert guide. The ornately decorated Casa Real, the intricately adorned chambers, the leafy gardens of the Generalife and the old walls of the fortress Alcazaba are just some of the treasures within.

Cordoba

While the rest of Europe was languishing during the Dark Ages, southern Spain, al-Andalus, thrived. Its scholars – Christian, Muslim and Jew – created a society that became the safeguard of Greek and Roman learning. As capital of el-Andalus until its fall in 1236, Cordoba was a city of half a million people, with thousands of mosques and the first street-lighting in Europe. Students and merchants flocked to Cordoba from all over Europe, Africa and even Asia. Its libraries boasted hundreds of thousands of volumes, its palaces and baths were renowned for their opulence and its luxury goods were coveted all over Europe.

Ronda

The town has an incredibly scenic location, set amid the mountains, and its' Moorish and Christian legacy mean that it has a wealth of history and culture packed into its' tight narrow streets, as well as Spain’s second-oldest bull ring and a well-preserved Islamic bath-house dating back to the 13th century. There are fantastic food options in the area and the wine scene is one of the hottest in Spain right now, 

Marrakech
One of the delights of Marrakech is the joy of wandering around aimlessly through the labyrinth alleys and medina of this quintessential city. It is a city teeming with culture and unfathomable amounts of inspiration. If you have the time why not take a half day photography tour and not only improve your skills but get those hard to get shots.

Imlil
Tucked away in the Atlas Mountains is the quaint village of Imlil and the famous Kasbah du Toubkal (we like to call it our own piece of Shangri-La). The peace and quiet in the High Atlas and at the Kasbah is hard to imagine and the genuine nature of the "staff folklore" is a magical experience. It certainly is a tribute to Berber culture and hospitality. Why not do some trekking while you are there.

Essaouira
No wonder Jimmy Hendrix loved this place. Local markets and seafood are two things that we love to devour and explore when travelling and the Essaouira medina with its’ vibrant colours, sounds and smells won’t let you down. The city is an eclectic blend of many elements from eighteenth century fortifications embracing a quintessentially Moroccan city with a history that goes far back. Essaouira's waterfront locale and laid back attitude make it the perfect place to spend a couple of day soaking up the atmosphere of this mellow, relaxed coastal town.

Chefchaouen
You will feel anything but “blue” when you visit this town with its’ blue washed houses, narrow cobbled streets there is a photo to be taken around every corner. Loose yourself as you explore the maze of narrow streets, ideal for meandering and getting lost in this magical city. This city is a dream for the adventurous and the wanderer with vendors peddling a colourful array of goods from leather products, carpets to the traditional woven blankets. The old medina is certainly a calming place when compared to the sights and sounds of Marrakech.

Merzouga
With nothing ahead but vast golden spaces, settle into the steady rhythm of the camel's step and enjoy the sound of hooves on the sand as you trek across the Sahara. For that spectacular nomadic experience enjoy friendly Berber hospitality in the middle of the big dunes of the Erg Chebi Desert. Your luxury desert encampment awaits you!

Oualidia
Overlooking a truly magnificent coastal lagoon the small sleepy village of Oualidia could arguably be one of the most picturesque places in Morocco. It is the perfect place to chill out and enjoy some of the best seafood this region has to offer.

Ouarzazate
Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, Gladiator, you name it they have all been filmed here in pursuit of that mud turret cityscape. If your inner child needs waking up and you want to feel like Indiana Jones or Russell Crowe then this is the place to visit. Ait ben Haddou will give you a taste of what a true old Moroccan kasbah looks like. Make sure you see either sunrise or sunset from the top of the Kasbah you will not be disappointed.

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