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Announcing...
A Culture Pursuits Hosted Trip to Morocco
March 2023
Culture Pursuits are unique, immersive travel experiences for people who want to stretch their travel muscles and personally grow by exploring new and different destinations, but feel more comfortable leaving the planning to experts and traveling with a personal tour guide.
Enjoy the freedom to explore. You don't have to think or worry about anything but having meaningful experiences that intoxicate you with happiness and ooze feelings of being alive again!
Please enter your contact information to learn more about this AMAZING trip, including a more detailed itinerary and costs.
This is a 12 day/11 night life-changing luxury trip to the Middle East, with 4- or 5-star accommodations!
Trip highlights:
- Discover Morocco’s culinary wonders during Exclusive Experiences, including a picnic at the ruins of Volubilis
- Dive into the Moroccan way of life through a visit to a typical home in Fes and meeting the women of the Tawesna social enterprise in Ait Benhaddou
- Marvel at iconic sights during visits to the remarkable Sahara Desert and the bustling cities of Fez and Marrakech
- Attend a hands-on bread making workshop with local women in Ourika
Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco!
- Welcome dinner: Celebrate the beginning of a new adventure with a wonderful banquet style dinner set in the courtyard of a beautiful riad. Nowhere is Morocco’s cultural heritage more evident than in its food, and tonight you’ll have the chance to try classic dishes like tagine, couscous and pastilla.
Accommodations: Hotel Idou Anfa
Day 2
Meknes
- Casablana - Mosque of Hassan II: Second only in size to the great mosque at Mecca, the huge building sits partly on land and partly over sea, and is one of the only religious sites open to non-Muslims.
- Rabat - Kasbah des Oudaias: Enjoy an included mint tea in a little treasure of a café overlooking the ocean and Bou Regreg river.
Accommodations: Riad Ritaj
Day 3
Fez
- Meknes - Medina walking tour: There’s something particularly special about exploring this lesser-known medina as the locals go about their daily lives. Walk to the shrine of Moulay Ismail, visit the granaries and stop by a local market selling vegetables, olives and sweets.
- Roman ruins of Volubilis: A local guide will show you around and help you imagine the bustling city that once was. Enjoy a picnic lunch of fresh bread, cheese and seasonal fruits and olives from the market.
- Home-cooked Dinner: You are warmly welcomed into the home of a local family for a pastilla dinner. Learn how the iconic Moroccan pie is made as you chat with your friendly hosts about life in Fes.
Accommodations: Riad Salam
Day 4
Fes
- Fes el Bali: Walk through the twisting streets and alleyways, passing donkeys piled high with goods, and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Filled with historic khans, medresses and dye-pits, stalls loaded with fruits, herbs and soups, and where the squawk of chickens, smell of spice and sound of hammering of copper fills the air. Spend the day exploring the old city, visiting Al-Attarine Madrasa, the tanneries and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th-century inn.
Accommodations: Riad Salam
Day 5
Erfoud
- Moroccan Landscape: Prepare for a long driving day and have your camera ready as there will be plenty of stops to appreciate the ever-changing Moroccan landscape along the way. Wind past olive groves, shepherds tending to their flocks, forests of cedar, pine and oak, and valleys filled with date palms – all with views of the High Atlas Mountains in the distance. Arrive in Erfoud, your gateway to the Sahara Desert.
Accommodations: Kasbah Hotel Xaluca
Day 6
Sahara Desert
- Khemliya - Village walking tour and cooking demonstration: Spend the morning exploring this village on the fringe of the orange-coloured Erg Chebbi sand dunes. This traditional Saharan village is known for a distinctive style of music and dance. For lunch today you will get to see how the local speciality dish of medfouna is made, and then sample some yourself.
- Camel ride: Ride a camel through the desert towards your accommodation – a spectacular camp hidden away in the sand dunes of the Sahara.
- Amazigh dinner with Gnaoua music: Embrace your extraordinary surroundings and enjoy a traditional feast beneath a sky jewelled with thousands of stars, followed by live Gnaoua music around an open fire.
Accommodations: Golden Camp
Day 7
Skoura
- Camel ride: Start the day with a truly unforgettable experience – a camel ride across the desert during sunrise, watching the landscape turn remarkable shades of orange.
- Todra Gorge - Home-cooked lunch: Lunch with a local family living within an old kasbah. Here you’ll enjoy some regional dishes and another look inside a typical Moroccan home.
Accommodations: Sawadi Ecolodge
Day 8
Skoura
- Palm grove walk: Venture out for a beautiful walk through the shady palm groves. During your walk, you'll learn about the importance of date farming in Morocco and see examples of the agricultural practices of the area.
- Kasbah Amridil: The kasbah bears its original form and is still maintained by the same family who built it, giving you a look at what life here was like 300 years ago – from goats wandering the courtyards to a traditional olive oil press and ovens.
Accommodations: Sawadi Ecolodge
Day 9
Ourika
- Ait Benhaddou - Ksar walk: Walk through the winding streets of the Old Town, making your way to the top of the hill for some scenic views. You may recognize sites from a long list of film and TV credits, including Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator.
- Ait Benhaddou - Lunch at Tawesna: Visit Tawesna – a local teahouse on the river – for a tasty lunch including freshly made Amazigh bread, soup, Moroccan sweets, and of course some mint tea. This community-run establishment provides women with a small income to support themselves and their children. The women use natural ingredients sourced from local cooperatives to prepare tea and pastries, taking great pride in sharing their stories and giving visitors an authentic Amazigh experience.
Accommodations: Riad Dar Ikalimo
Day 10
Ourika
- Bread-making workshop: Join a hands-on bread making workshop, letting you in on the tricks of the trade. The fresh bread will then be enjoyed as part of your breakfast.
- Valley walk and picnic lunch: Explore the Ourika Valley on a pleasant walk and enjoy more insight into everyday life as the locals go about their mornings. You will be met by a local family from the village who will bring you a wonderful fresh lunch of bread, olives sourced from the area, couscous or tagine and seasonal fruits.
Accommodations: Riad Dar Ikalimo
Day 11
Marrakesh
- Medina walking tour: Take a tour of the old medina, through the bustling souks that are the lifeblood of the city. Explore tranquil courtyards filled with the scent of orange blossom and the many salons and chambers that make up Bahia Palace. Stop by the Koutoubia Mosque; the inside is for Muslims only, but the famous minaret is a sight to behold. Walk back through the streets of the old medina to Djemaa el-Fna, stopping off to taste some of the marvellous freshly squeezed orange juice from a local stall – this is sure to be one of the most delicious glasses of orange juice you ever have.
Accommodations:Riad BCK
Day 12
Farewell!
Your trip ends today, after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12.00 noon and you are free to leave at any time.
Day 13-16 (Optional)
La Mamounia Resort - Marrakesh
- Once upon a time, nearly a hundred years ago, a legendary and luxury hotel was born…
And 95 years later, it continues enchant, captivate and amaze the thousands of people who still come in search of luxury, peace and a little bit of magic...
Over the top yet, at the same time, chic and refined...
Here, you might spot an Emirati prince, a French fashion designer, a New York socialite (not Anna, but a real one), or Kim Kardashian herself!
Why is La Mamounia the Best of the Best?
- Very ornate and oh la la! Think exposed wood-beam ceilings and intricate tiles.
- The cocktails at Le Churchill! Celebrity inspired and infused with herbs from La Mamounia’s gardens.
- The lavish pools! There's nothing like an afternoon spent poolside at the luxurious La Piscine.
- The smell of the place! The entire resort smells of La Mamounia’s signature cedar, date and citrus fragrance.
- The lush gardens! Endless aisles of roses, jacaranda, and ginger, a cacti garden featuring twenty one different types of cacti and a kitchen garden that overflows with lemongrass, coriander, and mint.
Accommodation: La Mamounia
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- We are traveling in March 2023, but you can travel anytime!
- The information in the itinerary provides an example of daily activites, but are subject to changes based the final itinerary.
- This is a luxury trip. Wherever possible, 4- or 5-star hotel accommodations have been booked.
- Visit www.culturepursuits.com to learn more about us and our services!
We are Kenia and Kevin Collins, Founders of Culture Pursuits
We are world travelers who help people travel differently!
We create enriching travel itineraries that help you personally grow through hands on learning experiences. With our trips, you travel deeper. You'll feel totally safe, confident, and even pampered, while you explore the unknown.
Get the latest information about this trip to Morocco!
Please enter your contact information to learn more about this AMAZING trip to Morocco, including a more detailed itinerary and cost.
