I am looking at either the Best of Spain and Portugal tour because it includes Barcelona or Treasures of Spain, Portugal and Morocco for possibly next September. I can't decide which one to select. Anyone have any suggestions, one way or the other? Thanks for your help.

Cheri

I went through the same decision process five years ago and finally chose the Treasures of Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour. At that time, my research showed that the daily distances travelled towards the end of the Best of Spain and Portugal tour were very long and potentially a little tedious:

• Granada to Valencia: 494km
  
• Valencia to Barcelona: 351km
  
• Barcelona to Madrid: 618km

My research also showed that Morocco was a fascinating place to tour for many reasons. The World Factbook (published by the US CIA) paints a clear picture of the Kingdom of Morocco. Its history is quite interesting, as is the role of Berbers who were a part of the forces that conquered many areas of Spain and Portugal as far as the Pyrenees in the early 700s, routing the Visigoths. Periods of great cultural achievement occurred during the following 700 years of Moorish rule (the Berbers inhabited two-thirds of the peninsula for 375 years, about half of it for another 160 years and finally the kingdom of Granada for the remaining 244 years) and there are still many relics to see of this period in a tour of Spain and Portugal, especially in Seville, Cordoba, Toledo and Granada.

Apart from the culture and architecture, the exotic Moroccan cuisine (the rich fusion of native Berber cuisine, the Arabic Andalusian cuisine brought with them by Moors and later Moriscos when they left Spain, the Turkish cuisine from the Turkish occupied Algeria and the Middle Eastern cuisines brought by the Arabs) is most memorable! Among the most famous Moroccan dishes are Couscous, Pastilla, Tagine and Tangia.

Here are some links to websites relating to Morocco:

• Morocco Travel Guide
  
• Lonely Planet World Guide - Morocco
  
• Morocco: news and basic information
  
• Information for the independent traveler to Morocco
  
• Pilot Guide: Morocco

Here are the climate details for Rabat, Casablanca and Ouarzazate.

Here are a few links to websites with photos of Morocco:

• Images of Daily Life in Morocco
  
• Morocco Images
  
• Touring Morocco
  
• Morocco Tour

There is also a link to some fabulous photos of Spain, Portugal & Morocco by BB member KOOT (Koot Marais) in the BB posting Spain, Portugal & Morocco - Photography.

Geography
Morocco is located on the westernmost tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south and southeast, the Atlantic ocean to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountain range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3000m (9850ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains run along the north coast. The ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla on the north coast are administered by Spain.

...click to enlarge

quote:

Modern Morocco is an initiation into the exotic magic of the Islamic, Arabic, African world - the world of medinas and minarets, desert and mountain; yet it almost touches western Europe and, for all the differences, retains a European patina, the legacy of the French Protectorate.

To imbibe the spirit of Morocco, wander the streets of the great cities. Fès—the ancient capital—has a stunning array of medieval buildings, while Marrakech compels attention, its world-famous souk selling a bewildering array of goods; both hark back to the Arab dynasties that ruled the country from the Muslim conquest. Casablanca, a thriving commercial centre and Rabat, the capital, reflect their modern French origins; Tangier is mildly seedy, slightly melancholy. All Moroccan cities are crowded, the hustlers a fact of life.

Morocco’s charm lies in its diversity. There are miles of beaches, while inland lies Berber country with the remarkable snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Beyond the Atlas are the fringes of the Sahara, where the caravans once stopped on their way south to trade in spice and ivory.

Whether scaling distant ridges, idling by the sea, haggling for exotic artefacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marvelling at the pink and indigo of a desert dawn, you’ll be mesmerised.

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There are some superb Moroccan photos in the Earth From Above collection by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

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There are four journals on this BB relating to the Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco tour:

1. Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco: phil
   
2. Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco: Ken W
   
3. Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco: Dragon
   
4. Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco: Rita

There are also seven on the Best of Spain & Portugal tour:

1. Best of Spain & Portugal: jayb
   
2. Best of Spain & Portugal: VeeOne
   
3. Best of Spain & Portugal: tthompson
   
4. Best of Spain & Portugal: Pauline
   
5. Best of Spain & Portugal: AndrewG
   
6. Best of Spain & Portugal, Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4: Cat's Inheritance
   
7. Best of Spain & Portugal, Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3: Dennis H

Best of Morocco tour:
Best of Morocco, Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4 and Tips & Advice: Dawn_Corleone

Amazing Spain & Portugal - Winter Tour:
Amazing Spain & Portugal - Winter Tour: GeorgeJ

phil

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POSTSCRIPT
In contrast to many Islamic countries, Morocco does not allow access to most of their mosques by non-Moslem visitors. I believe the origin of this restriction were some terrible incidents during the period of French colonial rule.

Here are some of the mosques in Morocco accessible by non-Moslems, although there are only two that are operational:

• Hassan II Mosque
  The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was designed by the French architect Michel Pinceau and is the second largest in the world (after the Shah Faisal Mosque near Islamabad). It is sited on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque's courtyard. Its minaret is also the world's tallest at 210m.
  
  Work on the mosque was commenced in 1980, and was intended to be completed for the 60th birthday of the former Moroccan king, Hassan II, in 1989. However, the building was not inaugurated until 1993.
  
  It was built on a reclaimed embankment, inspired by the verse of the Koran that states 'the throne of God was built on the water'.
  
  It is one of only two operational mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, for a fee. Tours begin at 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM and 2 PM (2:30 PM in summer). The afternoon tour is not available on Fridays, as the main weekly religious service takes place at that time. Tours cost 100 dirham.
  
  ...click to enlarge
  
  Satellite view of Mosque
  
  
• Mausoleum of Moulay Ismael
  Moulay Ismael made Meknes Morocco's capital in the 17th century and is buried in this magnificent building. It's used as a mosque but non Muslims can get in. The site is well preserved and it has a soul! Price: up to you, it's a donation to the mosque. Open daily except on Friday morning: 9am - 12pm / 3pm - 6pm
  
• Hassan Tower
  Hassan Tower or Tour Hassan is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. Begun in 1195, the tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world along with the mosque, also intended to be the world's largest. In 1199, Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour died, and construction on the mosque stopped. The tower only reached 140ft(44m), about half of its intended 260ft(86m) height. The rest of the mosque was also left incomplete, with only the beginnings of several walls and 200 columns being constructed.
  
  Instead of stairs, the tower is ascended by ramps. The minaret's ramps would have allowed the muezzin to ride a horse to the top of the tower to issue the call to prayer. The tower, according to tradition, was designed by an architect named Jabir who used a similar design plan for Hassan's sister tower, the Giralda in Seville, Spain. Both of the towers were modelled on the minaret of another one of Jabir's designs, the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh. Renaissance Spaniards later added a western style top to the Giralda, which was converted from a minaret to a bell tower for the Seville Cathedral after the Reconquista. The tower, along with the remains of the mosque and the modern Mausoleum of Mohammed V, forms the most important historical and tourist complex in Rabat.
  
  ...click to enlarge ...click to enlarge
  
• you can get a taste of what a mosque looks like at the Medersa [Madrasa] Ben Youssef in Marrakech. There is a beautifully decorated prayer hall in this former Quranic school. Much of the architecture is similar to the Alhambra in Spain, which was constructed around the same time. The carving around doorways, columns and upper walls is spectacular. Entrance is around 20 dirham.
  
• The ancient Tin Mal mosque at Tizi n'Test (2100 metre above sea level at the point where the numerous valleys of the Marrakech side of the High Atlas tip over into the Saharan side of the Atlas mountains) has recently been renovated and is accessible by non-Muslims.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

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Phil.. what a wealth of information you've provided me with! Fantastic! I've been reading the links you gave me all day and am certainly fascinated by Morocco now. I think I'll definitely have to include it in my future travels. Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate all the time you take to answer questions on this board. Many thanks!
Cheri