CAU recommends that you set sail on this sea voyage of epic proportions. Trace the historic maritime routes from Spain's volcanic Canary Islands to Morocco, Gibraltar, Andalusian Spain, and the Portuguese Algarve. With faculty from peer institutions providing lectures throughout the tour, you'll gain behind-the-scenes insights into this incredible intercontinental expedition.

Because cruise pricing can be complex and varies by cabin type, we encourage you to download the brochure and refer to page 7 for a detailed overview of available options and rates.

More details, including rates and ship information, are available when you download the brochure.

With half-day and full-day itinerary options to choose from, you can tailor your travel to your interests and pace level.

Diana Sorensen is James F. Rothenberg Professor of Romance Languages & Literatures and of Comparative Literature at Harvard University. Before joining the Harvard faculty in 2001, she taught at Columbia and Wesleyan Universities. She is a specialist in nineteenth- and twentieth- centuries Latin American literature, and in comparative literature, with additional expertise in cultural theory and gender theory.

W. Frank Robinson is an assistant professor of history at Vanderbilt University. Professor Robinson has lived and researched for extended periods in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He teaches a wide spectrum of courses, including those that cover the colonial and national periods of the rise and decline of the Iberian Atlantic empires.

Christopher Noey is an art historian, author, and Emmy Award-winning producer of films on art and culture. An expert in Asian and Islamic art, Mr. Noey has taught at Williams College and the City College of New York. He documented the building of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Moroccan Court, and traveled to Fes to film mosaic tile production and the great historic courtyards of the city.

Discover how Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands and Morocco’s ancient ports and imperial cities in North Africa are connected by navigation, empire, and exchange. Sail the Strait of Gibraltar to the mighty Rock, then onward to Andalusian Spain and the blissful Portuguese Algarve along the Mediterranean.

Discover how craftsmanship, religion, and trade carried meaning between North Africa and the Mediterranean for more than a thousand years. Your highlights in Morocco include Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira, Tangier, and Safi, Morocco's pottery capital.

Attend private concerts in dramatic settings in the Canary Islands, including the world's only volcanic cave auditorium, Los Jameos del Agua, and the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, whose stage features a window overlooking the ocean.

Take a walk through often-overlooked World War II history in Gibraltar when you visit its 34-mile subterranean city, featuring a hospital, power station, and barracks for 16,000 British troops.

The 60-cabin, 12-suite Exploris One is among the most spacious expedition ships. Step into one of the outdoor Jacuzzis for a moment of relaxation—with a view!

With a fitness and well-being area, panoramic decks and lounges, and meals that will delight your eyes and treat your taste buds, experience magical moments filled with comfort and conviviality.

Depart to Tenerife on an overnight flight.

(Meals aloft)

Upon arrival, transfer the Hotel Botánico. Depending on your arrival time, lunch is included. This evening, attend a welcome reception with canapés.

(Meals included: Lunch (arrival-dependent), Reception)

Today, choose from a full-day visit to Teide National Park, a UNESCO-listed volcanic landscape near Spain's highest peak, a full-day walking tour of La Orotava, a cobblestone-clad city filled with 17th-century mansions built on the island's historic wine trade. A third option (half-day only) brings you to Spain's second-oldest botanical garden, founded in 1788. In the evening, tour the Auditorio de Tenerife before boarding Exploris One.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Discover the city that was Christopher Columbus's last stop before his 1492 Atlantic crossing. Set off on a full-day tour of the old town to discover the city's architectural treasures, or opt for a morning activity: a hike along volcanic trails followed by a yoga session, or a private concert in the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium overlooking the Atlantic. This evening, attend the Captain's welcome reception and dinner aboard Exploris One.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Reception, Dinner)

Step ashore in Arrecife this morning to explore landscapes forged by volcanoes and reimagined as a living canvas by local artist César Manrique (1919–1992). Then, step inside Los Jameos del Agua, an auditorium constructed from collapsed lava tubes, for a musical performance. In the afternoon, enjoy a geothermal lunch cooked on heat from the dormant volcano below you. Take an art tour or a private wine tasting in the afternoon.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

As Exploris One sails towards the Moroccan coast, enjoy a relaxing day at sea. You may choose to attend onboard lectures, savor treatments in the ship’s spa facilities, or simply relax on deck as you cross the open waters.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Arrive this morning in Morocco's pottery capital, and select from two full-day, expert-guided excursions or a half-day pottery experience in Safi. If you opt to go to Marrakesh, go behind-the-scenes at Dar El Bacha, the former palace of a pasha, and discover Yves Saint Laurent's cobalt-blue former home, and Jardin Majorelle. If you opt to explore Essaouira, take in its whitewashed architecture, UNESCO-listed medina, and the once-thriving Jewish quarter.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

From Casablanca, Morocco's largest city and primary port, we begin with a guided look at the innovatively designed Hassan II Mosque, built partially over the Atlantic. Continue to explore Casablanca, or opt to transfer to Morocco's capital, Rabat, to visit the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and stroll through ancient streets.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

In glamorous Tangier, spend a half-day excursion touring local museums, or choose one of two full-day options: Transfer to the mythical Caves of Hercules and stroll through Asilah with its whitewashed architecture and colorful murals, with a guided tour of Rohuna Garden, or visit a traditional art school in Tétouan, followed by a visit to Morocco's largest Jewish cemetery.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Head to the observation deck as Exploris One navigates the Strait of Gibraltar, the Ancient Pillars of Hercules, before arriving at the British Overseas Territory defined by its 1,398-foot limestone rock. Ascend into St. Michael's Cave, a natural grotto known since Roman times and the network of World War II tunnels carved by the British Royal Engineers.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Andalusian Spain awaits you! Opt to spend the day in Seville to take in its remarkable architecture, and extensive tilework, and visit the world's largest Gothic cathedral. Or, will you opt to discover Cádiz, one of Western Europe's oldest cities, or join a Jerez Sherry experience with tapas?

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

On our final day, we'll explore the lush Portuguese Algarve. Choose to explore the art and history of Sagres and Lagos, including witnessing the Baroque guilded woodwork and azulejo tiles of the Igreja de Santo António, and a powerful guided tour through the 15th-century Mercado de Escravos, Europe's first modern market for the trafficking of enslaved people. Or, experience the nature of Trilho dos Moinhos and Monchique, as you walk windmill-lined trails through forested hills rich with birdlife. In the evening, enjoy a festive farewell dinner aboard Exploris One featuring a private concert.

(Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast, disembark Exploris One and transfer to the Lisbon airport for your return flight, or opt to extend your adventure with a post-tour in Lisbon.

Extend your adventure with an optional Lisbon postlude from May 9 – 11, 2026. For more information, contact Arrangements Abroad at 800-221-1944 or email trips@arrangementsabroad.com.

Crossroads of Cultures
Canary Islands, Morocco, and Iberia
April 27 – May 9, 2026

To reserve your space, contact CAU partner Arrangements Abroad
Phone: 800-221-1944 |  Email: trips@arrangementsabroad.com

January 8 – 17, 2027

Featuring Michell Chresfield
Assistant Professor of Africana Studies

Produced by CAU in partnership with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

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