Gardens of Spain Portugal and Morocco Ross Garden Tours European Collection

Gardens of Spain Portugal and Morocco – Ross Garden Tours European Collection

Please note our years of experience means that our tours are timed to exactly coincide with the peak times for Gardens and Flowers around the world and so if you have missed this years tour – you can still contact us to ensure you have all the information possible for our next tour – simply CLICK HERE

26/04/2009 – 16/05/2009
Fully escorted throughout

Day 1 Sunday, 26 April 2009

Madrid

Check in to your hotel located in the heart of the old city, close to Royal Palace, Opera, the Senate and Gran Via. Remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Tryp Ambassador, Madrid

Day 2 Monday, 27 April 2009

Madrid (B/D)

A guided tour of Madrid this morning finishes at the Botanic Gardens. This afternoon an option to visit The Prado, one of the world’s greatest galleries.

Dinner is included tonight in your hotel.

Accommodation: Tryp Ambassador, Madrid

Day 3 Tuesday, 28 April 2009

Madrid – Segovia – Madrid (B)

A full day excursion with your local guide to UNESCO World Heritage Segovia, a city that demonstrates Roman architectural mastery.

Visit the famous Alcázar and La Granja de San Ildefonso to see the baroque palace that was built for Philip V of Spain and set in gardens in the French formal style with fountains.

Accommodation: Tryp Ambassador, Madrid

Day 4 Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Madrid – Casablanca – Marrakech (B/L/D)

Leave Madrid this morning on a flight to Casablanca in Morocco. Travel by air-conditioned coach to Marrakech. A light lunch will be served in the gardens of the hotel.

Travel by calèches (horse-drawn carriages) to Marjorelle Gardens with colours that contrast vividly with the bright blue façade of the villa.

As the dusk falls walk through Djemma El Fna square to see the jugglers, story-tellers, snake charmers and acrobats, that perform beneath the magnificent illuminated backdrop of the Koutoubia Mosque.

Accommodation: Meridien N’Fis, Marrakech

Day 5 Thursday, 30 April 2009

Marrakech (B/L/D)

Morning tour to the Bahia Palace, the Menara Gardens, the Medrasa and souks (market). The Menara gardens with the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, were built in the 12th century by the Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu’min. Lunch is included at Terrasses d’Epices in the heart of the Medina. Evening drinks at the famous Mamounia Hotel then dinner is a lavish Moroccan feast at the renowned Yacout restaurant.

Accommodation: Meridien N’Fis, Marrakech

Day 6 Friday, 1 May 2009

Marrakech – Ourika Valley – Marrakech (B/L/D)

Visit herbal gardens in the Ourika Valley, enjoy mint tea. Return to Marrakech with a stop at the Saffron Gardens for an explanation of how the saffron is produced. Try the herbal tea and Moroccan pastries.

Accommodation: Meridien N’Fis, Marrakech

Day 7 Saturday, 2 May 2009

Marrakech – Fes (B/L/D)

Travel to Fez through the Atlas Mountains. Stop for a light picnic lunch en route at the Barrage Ahassenal (dam) with beautiful views. Arrive in Fes late afternoon. Dinner included tonight in your hotel overlooking the Medina.

Accommodation: Les Merinides, Fes

Day 8 Sunday, 3 May 2009

Fes (B/L/D)

Explore the UNESCO world-heritage listed medinas of Fes, the oldest of Morocco’s Imperial cities, rich in traditional culture and the symbolic heart of Morocco. Visit new town, Fes J’did, the old Kasbah des Cherarda, the souqs, the Royal Palace and the Blue Gate. See the famous cobalt blue pottery of Fes and learn about colourful tribal Moroccan carpets.

Accommodation: Les Merinides, Fes

Day 9 Monday, 4 May 2009

Fes – Tangier (B/L/D)

Depart for Tangier with stop at Volubilis, the largest and best preserved roman ruins in Morocco. Then visit Meknes, magnificent Imperial City (with lunch included here). Continue to Tangier. Dinner tonight in your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel El Minzah, Tangier

Day 10 Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Tangier (B/L/D)

Learn about this fascinating port city with special visits this morning to the American Legation Museum followed by lunch in a private house and garden, owned by an interesting local expatriate. Afternoon at leisure to wander into the Kasbah where Betty Hutton (Woolworths Heiress) lived. See the Continental Hotel steeped with history and subject of exotic tales. Another private garden visit this evening before dinner at the Yacht Club at the Port overlooking the busy marina and Tangier city.

Accommodation: Hotel El Minzah, Tangier

Day 11 Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Tangier – Granada (B)

Depart by ferry from Tangier across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tarifa in Spain. Meet up with your coach and local guide then travel on to Granada, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, located in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountain range. During the period of Muslim domination of Spain, Granada was the finest city on the peninsula.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Granada

Day 12 Thursday, 7 May 2009

Granada (B)

Granada is home to the greatest Muslim legacy in Europe and one of the most inspiring, the Alhambra, that dominates the city skyline from its hill-top perch. Today you will visit The Alhambra Palace, built in the 14th Century, an Islamic Persian garden. The Alhambra is one of the greatest accomplishments of Islamic art and architecture. Continue to The Generalife, the summer palace of the sultans, set slightly above the Alhambra Palace. Experience the flavour of the Islamic paradise chahar-bagh garden, literally a ‘four-fold’ garden where the area is divided into four parts by intersecting water channels with a pavilion at the centre.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Granada

Day 13 Friday, 8 May 2009

Granada – Cordoba (B/D)

Late morning arrival into Cordoba, a World Heritage-listed medieval city. Under Moorish rule, Cordoba was once the largest and most civilised city in the western world. Cordoba preserves splendid vestiges of its long history. Visit the gardens of 17th century Viana Palace, now restored. See its 13 patios, each with its own character.

Accommodation: Occidental Hotel, Cordoba

Day 14 Saturday, 9 May 2009

Cordoba (B)

A full day in Cordoba today to see the Mezquita, a superb mosque, one of the most magnificent Islamic buildings. See the gardens of the Alcazar, some of the finest in Andalucia. Loquats, citrus, myrtle and other herbs fill the formal parterre. Extensive gardens here have been restored in the style of their 15th century Moorish origins. May is the month to discover Cordoba’s ‘Festival of the Patios’. Visit the award winners today.

Accommodation: Occidental Hotel, Cordoba

Day 15 Sunday, 10 May 2009

Cordoba – Seville (B/D)

Travel to Seville with time for lunch before an orientation tour to understand this exciting city, its parks and gardens, Muslim monuments, flamenco dancing and bullfights: it’s a lively place. Visit The Alcázar, a magnificent fortress-palace dating from the Moorish times of Spain and gardens.

Dinner and Flamenco Show included tonight.

Accommodation: Melia, Seville

Day 16 Monday, 11 May 2009

Seville – Evora (B/D)

Leave Seville this morning bound for the Portuguese border, to Evora. A gentle walking tour this afternoon will visit the richly endowed cathedral, monument of Romanesque-Gothic transitional architecture. See the ruin of Templo Romano, Evora’s landmark, a Roman temple dating from 2nd Century with 14 Corinthian columns capped with Estremoz marble.

Taste the cuisine of the region tonight with dinner included in the hotel restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel Da Caruxa, Evora

Day 17 Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Evora – Borba – Estremoz – Evora (B)

Today you will visit three ‘marble’ towns of the Alentejo region. All of them ‘glow’ with the lustre of white marble. The ancient town of Vila Viçosa is one of the most beautiful.

Travel on to Estremoz, ringed by huge marble quarries and into the heart of the Alentejo, one of Portugal’s seven provinces. This region of huge plains and rolling hills is home to thousands of olive trees with gnarled trunks and silvery foliage that catch the light and give Portugal its precious olive oil each autumn season. See vast cork forests; dark handsome trunks, whose bark is harvested every ten years.

Accommodation: Hotel Da Caruxa, Evora

Day 18 Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Evora – Lisbon (B/D)

Arrive in Lisbon late this morning with a tour of the city. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and River Tagus from St George’s Castle.

Walk down the Avenida da Liberdade to Rossio and Baixa, the old part of the city with historic streetscapes. Here you will find elegant shopping within its two central squares, the Rossio and Black Horse Square. Catch the Elevado to reach the upper part of the city at Bairro Alto and see views of the castle, river and ruins. Wander through the historic Alfama District, the true home of ‘Fado’, the melancholy Portuguese "blues".

Dinner included tonight in a traditional ‘Fado’ restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel Altis, Lisbon

Day 19 Thursday, 14 May 2009

Lisbon (B/L)

Explore Lisbon this morning with its tree-lined streets, Art Nouveau buildings and mosaic pavements. Down to the waterfront to visit the historic Belem District, one of the launching pads for Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. See the impressive Discoveries Monument.

Stop here for included lunch, coffee & traditional Portuguese custard tart called Pasteis de Belem.

Frontiera Gardens this afternoon with formal gardens and decorative Great Tank with integrates with the vast parterre garden..

Accommodation: Hotel Altis, Lisbon

Day 20 Friday, 15 May 2009

Lisbon (B/D)

Morning visit to National Palace of Queluz, in the hills outside Lisbon. This Royal Summer Palace achieves a remarkable harmony of architecture and garden. With an abundance of ‘Rococo’ decoration, these gardens were a privileged place of leisure for the Royal Family and the court.

Travel on to Sintra, a unique UNESCO heritage listed site situated on the northern slopes of the craggy Serra de Sintra.

Farewell dinner is included tonight in your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Altis, Lisbon

Day 21 Saturday, 16 May 2009

Lisbon (B)

After breakfast your tour ends. Arrangements will be made for your transfers to the airport in accordance with your onward travel plans.

KEY: (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner

Places on this tour are strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

How to Book:

Please complete the online booking form and forward a deposit of £350.00 to Ross Garden Tours International, 17 Sycamore Lodge , 1 Gypsy Lane ,London SW15 5RH United Kingdom or call us on +44 (0) 208 878 9384