Flavors of Morocco
Morocco
12 days
Treat your senses to an exquisite culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds and transcends all expectations. With a harmonious fusion of Arabic, Berber, French, and Italian influences, this luxurious experience will immerse you in the captivating flavors of Morocco's imperial cities and the enchanting landscapes of the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert.
How Your Trip Matters
Enjoy a diversity of private tours of Morocco's iconic cities and landmarks, this journey has something for everyone including a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Forging meaningful connections with local communities as you delve into the heart of Moroccan culinary culture, learning cherished secrets from locals who embody this extraordinary cuisine. Uncover the traditions, techniques, and flavors that have shaped Morocco's gastronomic heritage.
Highlights
Explore the enchanting allure of Morocco's open markets and indulge in the sensory delights of its savory souks, accompanied by a knowledgeable local foodie.
Discover the richness of award-winning Moroccan wines as you journey through esteemed local wineries.
Experience a symphony of flavors with a traditional, opulent meal at the welcoming home of a local Berber family, where time-honored culinary secrets are passed down through generations.
Enjoy an unforgettable, moonlit Marrakech food tour in the illustrious Djemaa El Fna Square, where the vibrant tapestry of culture intertwines seamlessly with the finest gastronomic pleasures, creating an ambiance like no other.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences chosen with great care based on the positive social or environmental impact they have both on their communities, and on those who experience them: our guests. You can identify these experiences across our trips by locating the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience seal.
Accommodations
1. Le Casablanca Hotel
Casablanca, Morocco
Located in one of the residential and green areas of the city of Casablanca, 5 minutes from the business center, the corniche and the royal golf course, Casablanca Hotel is the essence of this destination. With an uncluttered architecture reminiscent of the beautiful Art Deco period, and an exceptional garden planted in the city center, it asserts its imprint of an Urbain Resort with its cozy elegance.
2. Hotel La Tour Hassan Palace
Morocco, Rabat
Built in 1912, the Tour Hassan Palace is a tribute to the splendor of Moorish architecture. A showcase for the art of Moroccan hospitality, refinement is in the smallest details, with attentive and discreet service. Exuding ornamental elegance and grandeur, the decor strikes a subtle balance between modernity and tradition. Spacious rooms promise a sumptuous and relaxing stay. The restaurants and bars serve a diverse selection of gastronomic delights, a feast for the eyes and mouth. Recharge your batteries at the first-class fitness center, go on a sensory journey at the luxury Spa, or refresh in the swimming pool surrounded by the tranquil Arabo-Andalusian gardens. The Tour Hassan Palace is without a doubt a haven of peace in the heart of the Capital.
3. Hotel Sahrai
Fes, Morocco
The five-star Hotel Sahrai, designed by the architect and designer Christophe Pillet, enjoys spectacular views of the largest medina in the Arab world, taking in twelve centuries of the city’s history in one fell swoop. Standing on the former site of Marshal Lyautey’s summer palace, the hotel revisits the distinctive motif of the great arches that once adorned the façade of the building that stood here. Fifty spacious rooms along with the comfort of two restaurants, a rooftop with a bar opening onto the panoramic terrace, and an exclusive Givenchy spa, combined with a traditional hammam and a gym with Technogym equipment.
4. Auberge Café du sud
Merzouga
Experience unparalleled luxury at Auberge Café du Sud in the Erg Chebbi region. The Luxury Desert Camp offer fully equipped tents amidst the majestic dunes. Immerse yourself in Saharan-style rooms adorned with hand-crafted furniture, king-size beds, private terraces, and inviting sitting areas. Relax in the tranquil garden and pool area. Auberge Café du Sud invites you to experience the allure of the Sahara, providing an extraordinary stay in this mythical desert landscape.
5. Hotel Dades Xaluca
Boumalne Dades, Morocco
Located just 12 mi from the Dades Gorges, this 4-star hotel is set in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. You can relax in the outdoor swimming pool and hot tub or in the spa’s hammam and massage rooms. Exposed stone walls and a modern, Moroccan décor are offered in the rooms and suites at Xaluca Boumalene Dades. All accommodations has views of the Dades Valley and the suites have a terrace. An American-style buffet breakfast is served every morning under the restaurant colorful glass ceiling. You can also enjoy international cuisine after an aperitif in the large bar. Free Wi-Fi access, a fitness room and tennis courts are some of the other facilities at the hotel.
6. Temple des Arts
Ouarzazate, Morocco
In the heart of Ouarzazate, this luxurious hotel offers design rooms and suites, each with a unique film-inspired theme. Under request, the property features an outdoor pool, and a spa and wellness centre with Hammam under reservation. The air-conditioned guest rooms at Le Temple Des Arts are decorated with unique features, such as hand-painted walls, fireplaces, Buddha statues and marble bathrooms. Each is equipped with free Wi-Fi access and a flat-screen TV, and most also have balconies overlooking the garden or swimming pool. Guests can enjoy traditional Moroccan cuisine at the Temple Des Arts’ gastronomic restaurant, Out of Africa.
7. La Mamounia
Marrakech, Morocco
For more than 95 years, La Mamounia has been a beloved destination for discerning international travelers. Located in the heart of the enchanting imperial city, this luxury hotel has recreated the intoxicating mood of a Moroccan palace. The sprawling gardens are ripe with citrus trees, fragrant rose blossoms, ancient olive groves, and a vegetable garden where one might see La Mamounia’s chefs foraging for ingredients to be prepared that evening at the hotel’s three signature restaurants. Completing the regal experience, La Mamounia’s service epitomizes Moroccan hospitality with attentive and friendly staff, always with a warm smile.
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrive Casablanca, Morocco
As you arrive at Casablanca airport, an African Travel team member will greet you with a warm smile, ready to ensure every moment of your journey is pure luxury. Be whisked away to your exquisite hotel, a haven of comfort and elegance. For an extra indulgence, we invite you to an optional dinner at the renowned Dar el Kaid restaurant, where tantalizing flavors await your palate.
Le Casablanca Hotel
Day 2. Casablanca / Rabat
After breakfast discover Casablanca. Start your visit at the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world that stands besides the sea and boasts stunning views. Enjoy lunch at Casablanca’s Marche Centrale, a well known fish market, where an abundance of fresh fish and seafood awaits you. Your selections will be cooked to order at a nearby restaurant. Continue your day discovering the Art Deco Architecture on a private tour. Make sure you have a camera in hand to take pictures of the famous clock tower, art deco hotels. Continue to Rabat, an Imperial City and the capital to the Knigdom of Morocco. Arrive in time for a welcome cocktail. (B)
Tour Hassan Palace
Day 3. Rabat
Start your day by taking in the views from the cliff-top Kasbah of the Udayas, home to the Museum of Oudayas and the French-style Andalusian Gardens. Continue to Hassan Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn how the lone standing minaret was built as part of Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour’s never-finished mosque. In late afternoon, take a stroll along the seafront promenade. It’s a picturesque spot to watch the sunset, with views over Rabat Lighthouse. (B)
Tour Hassan Palace
Day 4. Rabat/ Fes
Continue to Fes and discover the world of Moroccan street food. Visit food souks allowing the chance to try traditional Moroccan street food. At the honey souk taste an array of delicious wild honeys, discuss their flavors and health-giving properties and find out why honey is so important in Moroccan cooking. Or learn to bake bread in the 400-year-old community oven with the baker overseeing your hands-on efforts. Take your hot bread to the honey souk to try it with 8 artisanal wild honeys, aged butter or khlii, spicy dried beef. The Moroccan Culinary Experience hands-on cooking classes take place right in the heart of a family house – the kitchen. You’ll learn the intricacies of Moroccan cuisine and then of course savor your creations. Take the afternoon to explore Fes Palaces and Andalusian Gardens. Visit the Dar Batha Garden and Museum, Jnana Garden, Les Jardin De Bierhn and end the day with tea at the Ruined Garden in a remote neighborhood of historic Fes. (B)
Hotel Sahrai
Day 5. Fes
Begin your day with a Cooking Class in Fes. Shop the souks led by a Moroccan chef. Discover how locals buy vegetables, meat and other goods direct from sellers in the market. During your first class you will see how ouarka (the dough used in b’steeya) is made and perhaps have time to buy a few spices to take home. Depart for a guided tour of Old Fes to learn some of the history, tour the souks, see the mosques and medersas and visit the famous leather tanneries. The famous Exhibition of Antiques and Modern Carpets is one of the places in Old Fes where you can see a Berber carpet demonstration. Enjoy mint tea and follow your guide up a coil of stairs to a small area to watch carpets being made. Later visit the baboosh souk where beautiful hand-made shoes, caftans, pottery, local Fassis crafts and fabrics are sold. Enjoy your evening at leisure. (B)
Hotel Sahrai
Day 6. Fes / Merzouga Desert
Today your journey takes you to Merzouga. Walk the desert dunes and explore Merzouga’s flora and fauna. Based on spectacular scenes from “1001 Arabian Nights,” enjoy a Moroccan feast accompanied by a dinner show is the perfect way to spend a night in Morocco. Enjoy a host of traditional dishes, followed by a traditional show. (BD)
Luxury Desert Camp
Day 7. Merzouga Desert / Rissani / Dades
You are off to a next adventure, visiting an authentic desert town of Rissani. Visit its vibrant souk and view a demonstration on making Madfouna, a local stuffed pizza indigenous of the Sahara region. Continue by road via Alnif to Ait Ouzzine and enjoy a spectacular sunset and dramatic mountain and desert scenery. (BD)
Xaluca Dades
Day 8. Dades / Aït Ouzzine / Ouarzazate
Visit Aït Ouzzine, a traditional Aït Atta Village. Enjoy a morning tea, then take the road in to the mountains to learn how to make Bourafin bread. Then meet a local Berber family and partake in a cooking lesson of how to make a traditional tajine. Explore the village to see how the locals live with their gardens of herbs, live-stock and henna plants. Later experience a one of a kind henna party with the Berbers. Continue to your next destination of Ouarzazate. (BD)
Le Temple des Arts
Day 9. Ouarzazate / Ait Benhaddou / Marrakech
This morning you’ll visit the Oasis of Fint, a lush, green paradise in the middle of the dry Moroccan desert and a set of several Hollywood blockbusters. Continue by road to Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Kasbah Telouet, a traditional pre-Saharan habitat and a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. (BL)
En route to Marrakech stop at an Argan Cooperative, tasting of Argan oil and Amlou. Enjoy a lesson on how Amlous is made.
La Mamounia
Day 10. Marrakech
Start the day with a visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Majorelle Gardens, an enchanting and mysterious garden, and a place where Alfred Hitchcock wrote “The Birds”. Then explore Marrakech’s iconic sites - The Bahia Palaces, Ben Youssef Medersa, and Saadian Tombs. Continues to the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, the largest mosque in Marrakech. Shop the souks, explore souk Semmarine and enjoy the Djemaa El Fna Square at dusk. Before heading back to your hotel, go on a food tasting walk of the famous Djemaa to taste or watch some exotic meals being prepared. (BL)
La Mamounia
Day 11. Marrakech
Today your half-day workshop will be held at your hotel and conducted by a “dada” a traditional Moroccan cook. Guests follow the Chef’s demonstration and prepare their own meal to enjoy on the terrace with its panoramic view of the Medina. Later enjoy a Moroccan spa and a Hammam massage. It is a place to relax, unwind and detoxify with different pampering treatments. (B)
La Mamounia
Day 12. Marrakech / Depart
As your adventure draws to a close, savor a final breakfast at your hotel before departing to the airport, taking with you cherished memories of "A Flavor of Morocco" – an exquisite journey of luxury, flavors, and cultures that will forever linger in your heart. (B)
Pricing
Land Arrangements (Price per person)
**Surcharges Apply .
Air Arrangements (Internal Airfare)
Similar Trips
10 days
Morocco
Sightseeing
Adventure
Culture
On this adventure, you will discover the charm and beauty of Morocco's imperial cities and beautiful scenery. Explore ancient medinas, marvel at the shifting sands of the Sahara, and relish spices in busy souks. This experience will be one you will treasure for a lifetime.
Add-Ons
5 days
Kenya
Safari
Extend your Africa journey with an unforgettable experience in the southern Maasai Mara! Dive into Kenya’s vibrant culture, amazing wildlife, and beautiful landscapes on this safari of a lifetime.
5 days
Egypt
Active
Sightseeing
Culture
Prized for its strategic location, Jordan has endured the presence of numerous civilizations and each has left its historical marks. Highlights of your stay include visiting Jerash, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea and Petra, the ancient “rose red city” carved into the cliffs.
