Escorted tours specialist Newmarket Holidays has launched a tour to Morocco, the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains.
It has also expanded its European range with a new group itinerary, staying in historic hotels across Spain and Portugal.
Imperial Cities of Morocco & the Sahara Desert is a nine-day tour that explores the country’s oldest cities, visiting Marrakesh, Rabat and Fes for highlights that include the world’s largest mosque and tallest minaret, traditional souks, old towns and ancient ruins.
The tour then travels to Erfoud, for a driving experience though the Merzouga dunes as the sun sets, followed by two days in the High Atlas Mountains, exploring limestone canyons, Dades Valley and enjoying lunch with a local Berber family.
Prices start from £1,492 including return flights from Gatwick.
Departures range from May 2024 to December 2025, with dates to tie in with the Geminids meteor shower, which streaks across the Sahara skies each December.
Paradors & Pousadas of Spain & Portugal is an eight-day tour with accommodation in a selection of historic hotels.
The holiday starts in Lisbon to visit the nearby beaches, historic Belem and Alfama, and castle of Sintra. It travels south visit villages, markets and mountains away from the usual tourist trail in the Algarve, before crossing into Spain and visiting Seville, Cadiz and Ronda, with new and old towns built either side of the El Tajo Gorge.
Prices start from £1,757 including return flights from airports across the UK. Departures are from June to October 2024.
Verity Rice, Newmarket Holidays product, purchasing and operations director, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching only our second tour of Morocco, with a perfectly paced itinerary that takes guests from colourful, vibrant, bustling cities to the awe-inspiring Sahara Desert and the mesmerising Dades Valley, where they get to experience a more remote way of life.
“Spain and Portugal are old favourites, but this is the first time we’ve brought together Spain’s paradors and Portugal’s pousadas to give our guests a fascinating mix of sights and culturally significant historical accommodation. It’s a combination we think will sell well for agents.”
Spain picture by trabantos/Shutterstock; Sahara picture by Majonit/Shutterstock