Flavours of Moroccan Cuisine
“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… the people who give you their food give you their heart.” -Cesar Chavez
By popular request, I’ve put together longer, food-focused tours of Morocco along with parters at Roaming Camels Morocco. We’ve worked together to build great itineraries (there’s also a 10 day and 12 day option) that will create an amazing culinary adventure for you and your travel partners.
Our seven day itinerary focuses on Marrakech (and surrounding areas) as well as Essaouira. It’s an easy introduction to Morocco with a variety of experiences including the city, mountains, deserts and ocean.
This is a private tour so if you’d rather experience the sites and tastes of Marrakech with your own private group instead of a tour bus of strangers it’s a great option to consider.
You can book this option any time of year! There are no set dates to work around because this is a private, custom tour!
You’ll also get a digital copy of my Marrakech Food Guide when you book this itinerary to help you plan a few of the meals that are on your own.
Itinerary
On arrival to Marrakech you’ll be picked up from the airport by your driver and taken directly to your accommodation. You will have the option to relax or embark on a half day city tour to begin acquainting yourself with Marrakech. We are happy to make lunch and/or dinner (depending on arrival time) at your riad or a restaurant in the city and occur at your discretion.
Enjoy morning breakfast in your riad followed by a departure for your cooking class! Instead of sharing an informal classroom with a group you’ll be welcomed into the home of a local Marrakechi family to learn in their kitchen. Afterwards you’ll be able to taste the fruit of your labors over lunch.
All of that hard work deserves a reward! Post lunch you’ll have the option to be delivered to a hammam to experience a traditional Moroccan bath.
In the evening feel free to explore on your own or we can make your dinner reservations.
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Today, you’ll venture outside of Marrakech to explore both the High Atlas Mountains and the Agafay Desert. In the morning you’ll be transferred to the mountains where you’ll be able to go for a hike (if desired) and have a home cooked local meal.
From here you’ll transfer across the Kik Plateau and head to the Agafay Desert. A luxury glamping experience awaits you! Relax in your private tent and enjoy dinner under the stars.
After being picked up from your camping experience, your driver will bring you to the beautiful Anima Gardens set on 2 acres of local fauna mixed with quirky sculptures. Enjoy at your leisure before moving on to a saffron garden for a saffron infused lunch experience.
Next it’s back to Marrakech to have a little downtime at your riad before embarking for a nighttime street food tour adventure with Marrakech Food Tours in the souks!
Ready for a seaside adventure? You’re off to the coastal city of Essaouira today! A morning transfer gets you to the city before lunch with enough time to get acquainted with the city thanks to a short guided tour.
For lunch indulge in a Saouri specialty of grilled fish. The afternoon is yours to explore or we can help you plan an extra activity. For dinner you’ll be treated to a meal in a local home.
There’s a plethora of “co-ops” in the region however we’ve sourced a true argan cooperative for you to visit! See how this precious oil is made and sample the oil and products made from it.
In the afternoon head to Val d’Argan winery, one of the only wineries in this part of Morocco. Lunch will be served and you have the option of doing a wine tasting as well. If you’d rather not visit a winery we can suggest an alternate activity instead.
You’ll have the option of spending the night in Essaouira or transferring back to Marrakech depending on your further travel or return plans. Dinner tonight is at your discretion.
Departure day or extension if you would like to extend your Moroccan adventure.
Services
Icludes
- accommodation throughout your stay in moderate, well reviewed riads or hotels (typically 3-4 star quality) specific locations dependent on availability.
- most meals unless specified.
- any admission required to be paid
- private licensed driver in air conditioned vehicle throughout your stay
- Licensed national and/or city guides where applicable
Important Notes
Check-in after 2:00 pm & Check-out before 12:00 pm. Early check-in or late check-out is subject to room availability and may generate additional full-day room charges. * In some remote or protected areas in Africa, such as Uganda, solar power is the main source of energy which is not suitable for using Air Conditioners at their lodges, and they will provide fans in the room, and in fact, air-cons are not necessary in these National Parks or Reserves.
In case of snowing during November and February in the High Atlas Mountains, we would drive slower than usual to ensure safety. In this case, you may reach Erfoud later than expected. If snow blocks the road, we will stay in Midelt for the night, and head further south the following day. Though mostly clear days, winds are unpredictable in the desert area. And even luxurious tents are not totally sanding-proof on windy days. If you would like to return to the Erfoud hotel for the night, we could arrange it upon the availability of hotel rooms.
Your passport should be valid for a certain period beyond your intended stay in the destination country. The required validity can vary. Six months beyond your planned departure date from the destination country is a common requirement. And ensure you have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps. Visa requirements vary from country to country; please consult your travel consultant for more details if you are unsure whether a visa is required for your trip.
Pick ups in each city or area via private air-conditioned vehicle as listed in the itinerary. Appropriate size vehicles will be used according to the number of your group to ensure you have enough leg room and luggage space. Please be aware that the arrival or departure transfer is based on all members arriving or departing on the same flight, additional cost will be charged when arriving or departing on different flights and separate transfers.
Spring (March – May) and autumn (September – October). Coastal areas such as Essaouira remain pleasantly warm and not too hot in summer (June – August). The Mediterranean north is pleasant in spring and summer.
We arrange an English-speaking driver for the entire trip. Whilst you tour at Fez and Marrakech, we will arrange private English-speaking guides on sites, and your driver will be in charge of driving you from site to site and city to city, of course, your driver is also able to give you general information on Morocco. On your request, we are also able to arrange a private tour guide throughout the entire Morocco trip with a supplement.
Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
There are a couple of long travel days on this trip, particularly the day travelling to the Sahara Desert. Rest stops will be made on the way and you’ll be rewarded with great views on the drive itself.
