Photoghraphy Tour
Please note you supply all your own shooting and editing equipment for this tour. You will need to hire any drone once in Morocco as it is illegal to bring in your own. Also, some prior, at least basic familiarity with how to use your camera equipment, is assumed.
Itinerary
Airport or train station pickup at Marrakech. Settle into your accommodation, possibly Riad Spice or equivalent and we all assemble for a welcome dinner in the evening.
Photo opportunities of early morning and astro photography with a photography mentor from or near Marrakech today. Have an early morning photoshoot with a photography mentor – the light in the medina is special then. We will probably stop for a late breakfast somewhere along the way. (Morocco doesn’t do early breakfasts as a rule). Late morning goes back to the riad for a relaxed photo editing and feedback session – over a glass of mint tea. The afternoon is otherwise free. In the early evening, we will travel to the Agafay (stone) desert about 45 minutes from Marrakech for dinner and to do some astro photography. Note the new moon is expected on 19 March and on 22 March it will be a waxing crescent moon, so there may be some minimal moonlight interfering in the shots of the stars, even if the weather is otherwise clear. Return to our riad for our final night in Marrakech.
Photo opportunities of landscapes and kasbahs Following breakfast, drive to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage hillside village used in various famous films. Then onward to Ouarzazate (the gateway to the Sahara) and on to Skoura Oasis for your overnight stay (or nearby). Possibly L’Ma Lodge or equivalent. Dinner included.
More nature shooting, including hopefully of nomad life, without a photography mentor, but with a local guide well-known to the nomads. After breakfast drive to Roses Valley and Dades Valley for more nature shooting. Go off piste to meet (and if possible, photograph) nomads, with the assistance of our local guide. Wear sturdy walking shoes too for very uneven ground. You will also
have a BBQ lunch by a stream. Stay overnight. Possibly at Chez Pierre or Riad Dar Blues. Dinner included.
Riad Dar Blues
After breakfast, drive to Erfoud and stay at La Rose du Desert. Option to have either a local hammam or a cooking class this afternoon or on DAY 7. We will have discussed your preferences and the options with you a few days beforehand, so that preparations can commence in time to welcome you to the activities.
Afternoon and evening with a photography mentor from the local area. After breakfast, take an overnight bag as you’ll stay in a desert camp (Camp Sandfis(c)h). Its’ relatively isolated position means that there is less interference from human-generated light sources when shooting at night. Today’s shoot includes markets, a famous mausoleum and desert life at Rissani. Then on to the dunes for golden hour, sunset and blue hour shooting with your mentor. Your stay in the camp includes dinner.
Today, you’ll be up before the sun to capture an amazing sunrise. Then return to La Rose at Erfoud to relax, to do a hammam or a cooking class or a feedback session with your photography mentor since yesterday. Dinner included tonight.
Early morning flight from Errachidia to Casablanca (you book separately on the single daily flight with Royal Air Maroc – not included in the tour fee). Pickup at Casablanca airport for the drive to Fez via the archaeological Roman site, Volubilis. Time there for a nice lunch on a farm near Volubilis. There’ll be ample opportunities for photos along the way, and you’ll stay overnight in a riad in Fez. Possibly Riad Toyour. Evening is free.
Accompanied by a local photography mentor today, plus a one-on-one final feedback and photo-editing session, as much as time and energy permit. After breakfast, a morning shoot of the Fez medina under the guidance of a photography mentor. In the afternoon there’ll be a feedback and photo editing session – with priority to those who may have missed out on an earlier session for
whatever reason. We end the tour with a goodbye dinner and awards for Best photos on Tour as
determined by each photography mentor, from those of you who have uploaded images to our specially created google drive folder per the specifications we will give you. The prizes: TBA.
This part of the tour ends with drop-off at Fez airport or the Fez train station. Please note that if you are ending your tour here, and have a connection from Casablanca, it is at least 3.5 hours from Fez, and it is best to be at Casablanca airport 3 hours before departure as it can be chaotic. If you want a car to take you to Casablanca this will be an extra fee as the tour car will be taking those who are continuing on tour, to Chefchaouen today.
You will have been driven to Chefchaouen the day before and stayed overnight at a quirky, artistic Dar in the heart of the medina. So today is at leisure, with a morning local guided tour and an afternoon visit into the nature surrounding Chefchaouen, for which it is famous.
Drive to Tangier. If you would like to go via the picturesque town of Asilah with its ever-changing art scene, let us know. If you leave early enough you might be able to enjoy lunch there or on a permaculture farm 15 km away. Stay at La Maison Blanche, a restored 14 th century riad, or equivalent.
La Maison Blanche
Morning guided tour of the town. Afternoon and evening free. We will have some restaurant suggestions for you for your final evening on this tour.
You will be taken to airport or train station, or ferry port drop-off. END TOUR
Services
Includes
- private licensed driver in air conditioned vehicle throughout your stay
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.
