Morocco: Immerse in Vibrant Culture and Elegant Flavors

Day 1

Wednesday, November 03

Welcome & Djemaa el Fna

Check into La Naoura with a welcome Moroccan tea and pastry. We’ll meet in the early evening for a Welcome Session with Chef Cassie Piuma and Sara Baer-Sinnott from Oldways. We’ll walk to a nearby restaurant for our first dinner, strolling through the Djemaa el Fna where UNESCO-recognized cultural performances transform the space from bustling marketplace to evening carnival. Musicians, acrobats, storytellers dressed in traditional costumes, and food vendors create a sensory experience that captures the essence of Moroccan culture.

Day 2

Thursday, November 04

Spices and Hands-on Cooking

Our first full day will start with a guided visit to food markets/souks with our guides Ali and Hakim and Chef Cassie. We’ll tour the Old Spice Market, a colorful market filled with a wide array of typical Moroccan spices including cumin, cinnamon, saffron, dried pepper and many more. We’ll have a spices session in the Berber Pharmacy as a group. Then we’ll move to the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum for a museum tour, lunch and hands-on cooking class. After the Museum, you’ll be free for dinner on your own! We’ll provide restaurant recommendations.

Day 3

Friday, November 05

Agafay Desert

In the morning, we’ll visit the carpet and textile souk with our guides, engaging directly with makers to understand their techniques and inspiration. You’ll have time to buy carpets (that can be sent to you at home)! After lunch on your own, we’ll leave the city in vans to discover a rocky part of the Marrakesh desert, called the Agafay desert. Once there, you’ll have a choice of riding on a camel or exploring the desert in a quad bike or dune buggy. Our day will conclude dramatically—with a desert sunset dinner.

Day 4

Saturday, November 06

History and Cooking!

Our day will start with a cultural tour guided by Hakim and Ali. We will visit the Koutoubia Mosque, renowned for its magnificent architecture and 77 meters high minaret decorated with elegant arches, geometrical patterns and traditional Moroccan design. You’ll also see Medersa Ben Youssef, Morocco’s largest theological college; its courtyard is among the most beautiful in the Medina with intricate carved cedar and Zellige tilework, representing the pinnacle of Islamic architectural achievements.

You’ll have free time for shopping and lunch on your own before we gather in the late afternoon for a cooking class with our Chef Cassie Piuma, followed by a Gala Dinner at a Marrakesh restaurant.

Day 5

Sunday, November 07

On the Road

We’ll check out of La Noura and drive to our next stop – the seaside town of Essaouira, the ancient Mogador, the bride of the Atlantic. Today, Essaouira remains a symbol of Morocco’s rich history, cultural openness, and coastal beauty. Its relaxed atmosphere, artistic spirit, and well-preserved heritage make it one of the most captivating destinations in North Africa.

We’ll make two producer stops along the way. First, we’ll stop in Ounagha to visit Domaine du Val D’Argan to learn about Moroccan wine and enjoy lunch there. Our next stop is Cooperative Marjana to learn about Argan oil and the goats that feast on the fruit of the argan trees. When we arrive in Essaouira, our new home away from home, we’ll check into the beautiful Heure Bleue Palais. In the evening, we’ll have a group dinner at one of the restaurants inside the Medina.

Day 6

Monday, November 08

Coastal Essouaira

Hakim and Ali will lead us on a guided tour of the Medina of Essouaira. One of Essaouira’s most distinctive features is its historic medina, surrounded by impressive stone ramparts overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional preservation and cultural significance. We will wander through narrow streets filled with artisan workshops, galleries, colorful souks, and traditional crafts–particularly products made from thuya wood, a rare, highly prized conifer native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Our lunch is a classic Essaouira experience – a Fish Lunch on the dock. You’ll be free in the afternoon for time on your own or shopping in guided small groups, and free for dinner on your own.

Day 7

Tuesday, November 09

Heading to Casablanca

Our last full day includes a coastal drive to Casablanca. We’ll stop in Safi for a roadside lunch at Restaurant Riad des Pêcheurs. When we arrive in Casablanca, we’ll check into the Sofitel and conclude with a Farewell Group Dinner.

Day 8

Wednesday, November 10

Departures or Continuing onto Fes

Departures for those not adding on the 2 ½ day tour of Fes.

For those continuing to travel to Fes, we’ll leave Casablanca and stop in Meknes for lunch and a winery visit at Chateau de Roselane. When we arrive in Fes, you’ll check into your hotel and have dinner on your own.

Day 9

Thursday, November 11

The Magic of Fes

Your day in Fes will start with a guided tour of the Medina of Fes with guides Ali and Hakim.
Founded in the 9th century, Fes was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, and is the spiritual, cultural, intellectual and handicraft capital of Morocco. The geographical position of Fes gives the opportunity to its people to excel and develop in many domains: architecture, hydraulics, handicraft, culture, science, music, gastronomy…etc. So, you will have the opportunity to learn about everything.

In the morning we’ll explore the medina of Fes, including a visit to the oldest university in the world and a visit to a cooperative of carpets, where you’ll discover traditional Moroccan weaving and embroidery techniques passed down through generations. Learn about the creative process, cultural significance and social impact of the cooperative while supporting local women artisans and their handcrafted textiles.

After lunch, we’ll organize small group excursions for shopping and a visit to the tannery and the weavers. Dinner will be on your own.

Day 10

Friday, November 12

Artisanal Fes

Today features a tour of the new city of Fes: Royal palace, the Mellah Jewish quarter, the panoramic view, the village of the pottery with guides Hakim and Ali, including lunch at a Moroccan family-style restaurant. You’ll have free time in the afternoon, or you can choose group time with guides for shopping and exploring. This artisanal tour is designed to give you an overview of production methods and step-by-step explanations as you go beyond the traditional medina tour to delve deeper into the world of the artisans of Fes. The day will end with a final Gala Dinner in Fes.

Day 11

Saturday, November 13

Departures