Iberian Discovery & Morocco — Self-Launched
13 days · Spain, Portugal & Morocco
Globus charges £2,764
No-markup version: ~£785 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 13-day Madrid–Salamanca–Lisbon–Seville–Tangier–Costa del Sol–Granada–Toledo loop, done on public transport and hostel/budget-hotel stays. You'll cover the same headline sights — Prado, Segovia's aqueduct, Ávila's walls, Lisbon's trams and Belém, Seville's Alcázar-adjacent Santa Cruz, a Tangier day trip across the Strait, the Alhambra and Toledo — but booked yourself via Renfe/CP trains, ALSA buses and the FRS/Tarifa ferries, with self-guided or GetYourGuide tours where a guide genuinely adds value (Alhambra, Prado). Roughly a third of the coach-tour price, with the flexibility to linger where you like.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madrid — welcome to Spain
Madrid
Fly or train into Madrid and settle into a hostel in the Huertas/La Latina area — walkable to everything and surrounded by cheap tapas bars. Rather than a hotel welcome dinner, do a self-guided tapeo: order a caña and a pincho at 3–4 bars around Plaza de Santa Ana (€2–4 each). Pick up a rechargeable Mulhiete/Multi card for the metro (€2.50 card + €10 top-up covers most of your city travel).
🚌Airport Express bus (€5) or Metro from Barajas into the centre; no transfer needed
🛏Hostel dorm or private twin in central Madrid (~£18–25pp)
- →Settle in and explore Huertas/La Latina
- →Self-guided tapas crawl around Plaza de Santa Ana
Madrid — Prado, Retiro & Plaza de España
Madrid
Book a Prado Museum ticket online for the first slot (€15) — or go free in the last two hours of the day (Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00, Sun 17:00–19:00, book the free slot in advance). Add on the Reina Sofía or Thyssen if you're an art person. Walk up to Plaza de España and the Templo de Debod for sunset, then eat in the Mercado de San Miguel or (cheaper and better) Mercado de San Antón or La Latina.
🚌On foot + metro (day travel ~£4)
🛏Central Madrid hostel (~£18–25pp)
- →Prado Museum (timed ticket via museodelprado.es, €15 or free evening slot)
- →Templo de Debod & Plaza de España
- →Retiro Park stroll
Madrid → Segovia → Ávila → Salamanca
Salamanca
A big travel day, done the local way. Take an early Avant train Madrid–Segovia (25 min, ~€13); walk the Roman aqueduct and the Alcázar from outside (free), then a regional bus Segovia–Ávila (~1 hr, ~€5) to walk the medieval walls (wall walk ~€5). Continue Ávila–Salamanca by regional train or ALSA bus (~1.5 hrs, ~€9). In Salamanca, check into a hostel just off Plaza Mayor and grab a cheap menú del día (~€11) or a wine-tasting dinner at a bodega — the Hacienda Zorita wine experience is easily swapped for a tasting at a city-centre vinoteca (~€15).
🚌Renfe Avant Madrid–Segovia ~€13; bus Segovia–Ávila ~€5; bus/train Ávila–Salamanca ~€9
🛏Hostel or pensión near Plaza Mayor, Salamanca (~£18–22pp)
- →Segovia Roman Aqueduct & Alcázar exterior
- →Ávila medieval walls walk
- →Plaza Mayor Salamanca orientation stroll
- →Local wine tasting in a Salamanca vinoteca (~€15)
Salamanca → Fátima → Lisbon
Lisbon
Salamanca to Lisbon isn't quick by public transport — the cleanest route is an early ALSA/Rede Expressos bus to Badajoz (~3.5 hrs, ~€20) then a train up the line, or the direct overnight-ish ALSA coach Salamanca–Lisbon (~6 hrs, ~€30). To keep the Fátima stop, break the journey: bus Salamanca–Badajoz–Lisbon with a hop off at Fátima on the Rede Expressos network (~€25 total if booked as segments). The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary is free to enter — time it with an evening candlelit rosary if you can. Arrive in Lisbon's Baixa/Alfama and crash.
🚌ALSA/Rede Expressos coach Salamanca–Fátima–Lisbon ~€25–30
🛏Alfama/Baixa hostel dorm (~£18–22pp)
- →Sanctuary of Fátima (free entry)
- →Evening wander through Alfama's lanes
Lisbon — trams, ginjinha & Belém
Lisbon
Ride Tram 28 (single ticket €3.10 on board, or load a Viva Viagem card and buy the €6.80 24-hr pass) through Alfama and Graça, hopping off for a shot of ginjinha in a chocolate cup at A Ginjinha (~€2). In the afternoon take Tram 15 to Belém: Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries are free to view from outside, and the Jerónimos Monastery cloisters cost €12 (book online, Mon closed) — or just enjoy the Pastéis de Belém queue, which is worth it.
🚌Viva Viagem 24-hr pass €6.80
🛏Alfama/Baixa hostel (~£18–22pp)
- →Tram 28 ride through Alfama
- →Ginjinha tasting at A Ginjinha
- →Belém Tower & Monument to the Discoveries
- →Jerónimos Monastery cloisters (€12, book ahead)
- →Pastéis de Belém
Lisbon → Azaruja cork country → Seville
Seville
Bus or train Lisbon–Évora (~1.5 hrs, ~€12), then a local bus or short taxi to Azaruja (~20 min) where the cork factories still cut and press cork — several small workshops welcome walk-ins and a cork coaster/€15 bag makes a great souvenir. From Évora, take the ALSA/Rede Expressos bus to Seville (~3 hrs, ~€20). Evening in Seville: free flamenco in a Triana bar or a €15–20 tablao set, and a plate of espinacas con garbanzos for under a tenner.
🚌Train/bus Lisbon–Évora ~€12; bus Évora–Seville ~€20
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Seville's Centro/Alameda (~£20–26pp)
- →Azaruja cork workshop visit
- →Évora old town wander
- →Cheap flamenco night in Triana
Seville — Plaza de España, Casa de Pilatos & Santa Cruz
Seville
Morning at Plaza de España in María Luisa Park (free) with a rowboat on the canal for €6. Casa de Pilatos entry is €12 and far quieter than the Alcázar — worth the swap if you've already done Moorish palaces, otherwise prebook the Real Alcázar online (~€21 including the upper apartments) and skip Casa de Pilatos. Wander Santa Cruz's alleys and finish with an evening at the Setas (Metropol Parasol, €5 walkway) for sunset.
🚌On foot; occasional metro/tram ~£3
🛏Seville hostel (~£20–26pp)
- →Plaza de España & María Luisa Park
- →Casa de Pilatos (€12) or Real Alcázar (prebook ~€21)
- →Santa Cruz Quarter stroll
- →Metropol Parasol sunset (€5)
Seville → Tarifa → Tangier
Tangier
Bus Seville–Tarifa (ALSA, ~2.5–3 hrs, ~€22) then the FRS or Intershipping fast ferry across the Strait (~1 hr, ~€40 return if booked same-day/later return). Arrive in Tangier, clear immigration (UK passport holders get a free stamp on arrival; no visa needed for a short stay) and change money to dirham — euros aren't useful. Get a taxi to Cap Spartel/Caves of Hercules (agree a price ~200 MAD round trip or use a shared grand taxi), and take mint tea with biscuits at Café Hafa overlooking the Strait (~30 MAD). Evening in the medina.
🚌Bus Seville–Tarifa ~€22; FRS/Intershipping ferry ~€40 return
🛏Riad-style guesthouse or budget hotel in the medina (~£20–28pp)
- →Ferry crossing the Strait of Gibraltar
- →Cap Spartel & Caves of Hercules by grand taxi
- →Mint tea at Café Hafa
- →Evening medina wander
Tangier → Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol (Nerja/Torremolinos)
Morning walk to Grand Socco and up into the kasbah (free), with a stop at the Kasbah Museum (MAD 30) or the American Legation if it's open. Then ferry back to Tarifa (~1 hr) and take the bus or train along the coast to the Costa del Sol — Tarifa to Málaga/Fuengirola by ALSA bus is ~2–2.5 hrs (~€15). Base in Nerja or Torremolinos for easy beaches without the resort prices of Marbella.
🚌Ferry ~1 hr (included in return ticket); ALSA bus Tarifa–Costa del Sol ~€15
🛏Beach guesthouse/hostel in Nerja or Torremolinos (~£22–28pp)
- →Grand Socco & kasbah walk
- →Kasbah Museum (MAD 30)
- →Ferry back to Spain
- →Coastal bus to the Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol — beach day & white villages
Costa del Sol (Nerja/Torremolinos)
A proper slow day: swim at Burriana beach or Playa de la Carihuela, eat espeto/boquerones at a chiringuito (~€12), and if you want the mountain villages take a local bus from Nerja to Frigiliana (~30 min, €1.60) — one of the prettiest white villages in Andalucía. Alternatively, the Nerja Caves are €12–19 depending on the tour add-on, and the walk-and-swim along the Río Chíllar is free if you're up for scrambling.
🚌Local buses ~€4 total
🛏Costa del Sol guesthouse (~£22–28pp)
- →Beach & swim
- →Chiringuito lunch
- →Bus to Frigiliana white village
- →Optional Nerja Caves (€12–19)
Costa del Sol → Granada — the Alhambra
Granada
Bus from Málaga/Nerja to Granada (ALSA, ~1.5–2 hrs, ~€14). Book the Alhambra online weeks ahead — it sells out; a self-guided 'general' ticket (€19.09) covers the Nasrid Palaces, Charles V Palace and the Generalife; a licensed GetYourGuide small-group entry tour adds ~£30–35 if you want the stories. Lunch: a Granada bar with free tapas with every drink (€3 beer + free pintxo is the local way). Evening on the Mirador de San Nicolás for sunset over the Alhambra.
🚌ALSA bus ~€14
🛏Granada hostel in the Albaicín or Centro (~£20–26pp)
- →Alhambra & Generalife self-guided (€19 prebooked, or small-group tour ~£32)
- →Free-tapas lunch in Granada
- →Mirador de San Nicolás sunset
Granada → Toledo → Madrid
Madrid
Take an early bus/train Granada–Madrid (~4–4.5 hrs, ~€20–30), drop bags at your hostel, then Renfe Avant Madrid–Toledo (33 min, ~€13 return). Toledo's old town walk is free; a combined ticket for the Cathedral (€12–14 entry), Santa María la Blanca synagogue and Santo Tomé (El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz) is worth the ~€25 — or buy individually. A damascene-steel workshop demo in Toledo is free if you browse; skip the hard sell. Back to Madrid for a farewell plate of jamón and a vermut instead of a set farewell dinner.
🚌Bus/train Granada–Madrid ~€25; Avant Madrid–Toledo return ~€13
🛏Central Madrid hostel (~£18–25pp)
- →Toledo old town walk
- →Cathedral, Santa María la Blanca & Santo Tomé (combined ~€25)
- →Damascene steel workshop demo
- →Vermut & jamón farewell in Madrid
Madrid — depart
Madrid
Final churros con chocolate at San Ginés, one last wander through El Retiro, then the Airport Express bus (€5, ~40 min) back to Barajas. If your flight is late, the Reina Sofía (free Mon evening, otherwise €12) is a good last stop.
🚌Airport Express bus €5
🛏—
- →Churros at San Ginés
- →Retiro Park
- →Optional Reina Sofía
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£785 | £2,764 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,979 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£785
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Iberian Discovery & Morocco — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £785 per person for 13 days in Spain, Portugal & Morocco. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £2,764 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £785 — a saving of roughly £1,979 (72%) per person.
How long is the Spain, Portugal & Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Spain, Portugal & Morocco.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, hiking trip through Spain, Portugal & Morocco, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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