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The Moorish Trail

from £1949
Follow in the footsteps of the mysterious Moors as you forge a path from Marrakech to Madrid. Immerse yourself in rural Morocco as you walk in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains and through Berber villages.

Guided Walking Holidays - The Moorish Trail

Follow in the footsteps of the mysterious Moors as you forge a path from Marrakech to Madrid. Barter with the locals in the Djemaa El Fna as the smell of exotic spices invades your senses. Immerse yourself in rural Morocco as you walk in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains and through Berber villages, where little has changed for centuries. Discover the influence of the Moorish culture in Spain by exploring the impressive buildings, taking in the glorious colours and sampling local delicacies over a glass or two of local wine.

The bustling medina of Marrakech encircled by miles of rose coloured ramparts greatly contrasts with the golden silence of the countryside. As colourful carpets air in the sunshine and donkeys carry the day’s crops back to the villages, workers gather to sip mint tea. Leaving Marrakech, on the first of our train journeys, we travel to Rabat, one of Morocco’s imperial cities, and its modern capital. From the northern port of Tangier, we take the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to southern Spain, into Andalucia.

We board the train to Ronda, our journey giving us spectacular views of the mountains with the beautiful Pueblos Blancos coming into view as we travel. Ronda, with its arched bridge spanning the Tajo gorge, and little cobbled streets, is an endearing town. Continuing to Granada, we visit the spectacular Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens, originally designed for the military and later becoming a royal residence.

Córdoba, once the Iberian Peninsula’s Islamic capital, is famous for the Mezquita with its lustrous decoration. We take the high speed AVE train to Madrid to explore the capital city with the opportunity to visit its galleries, museums and parks.


Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make a difference to the communities we visit on our holidays, particularly in less developed countries. Heart & Sole offers direct financial aid and much-needed support to projects and charities in the UK and overseas, dealing with both large issues such as animal welfare as well as small, and more personal, ventures such as providing schools equipment to the communities we visit. Heart & Sole proudly supports SPANA in Morocco who work on animal welfare projects through education and medical care

Holiday Highlights

  • Travel by train from Algeciras to Ronda, taking in views of the iconic Pueblos Blancos of Andalucia.
  • Walk in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains.
  • Experience the bustling Djemaa El Fna square in Marrakech.
  • Wander the medieval cobbled streets of Córdoba and the Mezquita at its heart.
  • Explore the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens in Granada.
  • Walk in Morocco’s tranquil countryside and admire the spectacular scenery of the Atlas Mountains.
The holiday inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What's included in this holiday Items that are covered in the cost of holiday price.

      Return flights from Gatwick to Marrakech returning Madrid to Heathrow (British Airways) OR Gatwick to Marrakech returning Madrid to Gatwick (Easyjet)
      Airport transfers
      En suite accommodation with breakfasts taken in the hotels
      Dinners at hotels and local restaurants
      Knowledgeable English speaking local guides
      Alhambra Palace entrance ticket
      All local travel and transfers including train and ferry.
Whats not included in this holiday Items that are not covered in the cost of holiday price.

  • Entrance fees to some museums and historic buildings (unless otherwise specified)
  • Personal expenses (such as your bar bill)
  • Discretionary tips
  • Optional excursions
  • Insurance
Please select Departure Date to view:

Please see Holiday Information Sheet for this holidays individual departures itinerary (located under View Departures & Book tab)

Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.

This departure: Grade 2

  1. Day 1

    On arrival into Marrakech, we make the short transfer by private coach to our hotel for 3 nights' accommodation. Depending on our flight arrival time, we may visit the Djemaa El Fna square before dinner.

  2. Day 2

    We'll spend the day in Marrakech, exploring the medina and the souk and have the opportunity to visit the Ben Youssef Medersa, the Saadian Tombs and see the Koutoubia mosque. We can also enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the Majorelle Gardens. Dinner is at a local restaurant this evening.

  3. Day 3

    Travelling to the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, we'll see small traditional villages, where we'll spot brightly coloured rugs laying in the sun to dry, herds of goats being moved to new pastures and road side cafes serving freshly baked flat breads. We have a gentle walk in attractive countryside and may have a chance to visit a Berber village. We have a choice of walks in the foothills with the distances between 6 kms-9kms (3.5 miles-6 miles), and taking approx. 3-4 hours. Picnics are a good choice for lunch today with many picnic spots offering wonderful views for lunch.

  4. Day 4

    This morning, we leave Marrakech and take the first of our train journeys to Rabat, situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and Morocco’s political and administrative capital. We stay here for 1 night's accommodation as we discover some of the city's interesting architecture with our local guide.

  5. Day 5

    Heading north by train we continue to Tangier for 1 night's accommodation.  Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Depending on our arrival time, we plan explore the old part of the city before dinner at our hotel.

  6. Day 6

    From Tangier we travel by ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to southern Spain where we take the small train line from Algeciras, which offers stunning views high up into the mountains, to Ronda for 2 nights' accommodation. Our hotel is located on the edge of the Tajo Gorge, next to the Puente Nuevo, which joins the old and new parts of town.

  7. Day 7

    Today we'll explore the picturesque town of Ronda with Spain's oldest bull ring and the Tajo Gorge. There are panoramic views over the valley from many points in the town. We also have time for a gentle walk in the surrounding countryside, which is approx. 6kms (4.5 miles), although this can be shortened depending on ability.

  8. Day 8

    Leaving Ronda today, we continue by train to Granada located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains for 2 nights' accommodation. Our hotel is ideally located next to the Alhambra Palace.

  9. Day 9

    We spend a full day exploring Granada, both in the old town and with a visit to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. This holiday has prebooked tickets included to visit the Alhambra Palace and gardens.

  10. Day 10

    We travel by coach to Cordoba for 1 night's accommodation and have the opportunity to visit the historic  old quarter and spectacular Mezquita. Our hotel is very centrally located in the old town so you can enjoy a stroll after dinner, when the city is lit up.

  11. Day 11

    Today is the last of our train journeys as we leave Andalucia and take the high speed AVE train  to Madrid for 2 nights' accommodation.

  12. Day 12

    We have a full day at our disposal to visit Spain's capital city. Perhaps a visit to a museum such as the Prado or lesser known Sorella museum; shopping along the city's main Gran Via, the Royal Palace or the Retiro Gardens. 

  13. Day 13

    We transfer by coach to Madrid airport for our return flight to the UK

Travel Details

  • Return flights from Gatwick to Marrakech returning Madrid to Heathrow (British Airways) OR Gatwick to Marrakech returning Madrid to Gatwick (Easyjet)
  • Airport transfers by road c.15mins
  • Upgrades are available on most flights. For scheduled flights this may be Premium Economy, Business or First Class. Most low-cost carriers also have extra legroom seats.
  • If direct regional flights are not available, we can often offer add-on flights to a London airport at a competitive rate. Please ask us for details and a competitive quote.

Trip Map

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Our Accommodation on this holiday

Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday. If you are on a multi-centre holiday, these are highlights of the places where we stay. Please refer to your Holiday Information sheet (which can be found under View Departures & Book), for your departure date and for all your accommodation details.

Hotel Don Miguel

The Hotel Don Miguel holds an enviable position on the edge of the Tajo Gorge and next to the Puente Nuevo that links the old and new parts of the city. The hotel is just steps away from the old bullring, main pedestrian shopping street and numerous cafes and restaurants. The bedrooms are in a simple , traditional style with TV, climate control and wifi. The bathrooms have a hairdryer. There is a cafe with terrace, bar and restaurant within the hotel.



Hotel Guadalupe

We stay at the Hotel Guadalupe, sitting very near the entrance to the magnificent Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens.  The hotel is also a 30 minute walk, or 10 minute bus ride, from the centre of Granada. This small hotel has a friendly atmosphere and English speaking team that delivers a high standard of service. A buffet breakfast is served in the mornings and there is a bar and lounge with café to enjoy a drink in as well. Bedrooms decorated in bright and clean colours or warm Moorish tones come with air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar, telephone, en-suite facilities and hairdryer. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Ryad Mogador Opera, Marrakesh

We stay at the Ryad Mogador Opera, which is very well situated in the Hivernage district of Gueliz (the new town) on Ave. Mohammed VI, close to Marrakech Train Station and the Royal Theatre. The hotel serves as a great base for our walks and has a good range of facilities to be enjoyed during down time, including an outdoor swimming pool, a spa with sauna and traditional Hammam. There is also a Salon de Thé and two restaurants serving Moroccan and international cuisine. A buffet breakfast is served every morning in the restaurants, and we also take some dinners here that include the famous lamb or chicken tagines found in Moroccan cuisine. The rooms are all en suite with air-conditioning, TV, hairdryer and safe. While the hotel does not sell alcohol, there are two hotels close with bars open to non-residents. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

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