Morocco Real Food Adventure

Trip Type: Food
Morocco | 12 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 1,832.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

Clear your plate for flavour-filled Morocco, where Amazigh, Arabic and European influences mix to create an adventurous culinary medley. On this 12...

Morocco Real Food Adventure

Clear your plate for flavour-filled Morocco, where Amazigh, Arabic and European influences mix to create an adventurous culinary medley. On this 12-day journey, follow the smell of food through mesmerising markets and master recipes taught by those who know them best. Grab street food from a souq and share traditional meals in local homes. Take a handful of bustling medinas, mix with a sprinkling of spices and season with fresh local produce, all drizzled with warm Moroccan hospitality for an adventure that will linger long on the tongue and in the memory.

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Morocco. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. As there's little free time included in Casablanca on this trip, consider coming a day early to fully explore the city. Modelled after Marseille in France, the city is famous for its art deco buildings and you can wander the old medina and the city walls, then jump in a taxi to visit the Quartiers des Habous – the new medina. Maybe walk along the corniche, watching the locals play football on the beach or take it easy with a glass of sweet mint tea in one of the many great cafes. Tonight, join your group for a welcome dinner full of delicious traditional specialties.

Say goodbye to Casablanca and take an early train to Meknes. In the 17th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail turned Meknes from a provincial town to an Imperial city. When you arrive, get to know Meknes on an orientation walk with your leader. For lunch, visit a local restaurant in the medina to try a Moroccan delicacy – a deliciously rich camel burger! Next, drive on to Moulay Idriss and settle in at a local guesthouse, where the art of hand-rolled couscous is lovingly demonstrated, followed by an authentic Moroccan meal.

This morning, drive to Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’ – arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco, set against a wide valley between two peaks in the Rif Mountains. Its medina has been lovingly cared for with striking blue and whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and artistic doorways. Much of Chefchaouen was recreated by Andalusian refugees escaping the Reconquista, so you might feel like you're in the hills of Spain while exploring its streets. Tonight, you’ll get a real insight into Moroccan food with a homecooked dinner prepared with seasonal ingredients. As part of your meal, enjoy a taste of the town’s famous goat’s cheese. Herds of goats wander the sparse hillsides that surround Chefchaouen, and their cheese is popular accompaniment to any meal.

Enjoy your morning in Chefchaouen, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the medina. In the afternoon, you’ll travel to Fes – the most complete medieval city in the Arab world. Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – a visual and pungent feast for the senses. You’ll have free time for the rest of the day to explore. This evening is a great time to seek out Moroccan specialities like harira (chickpea soup).

Take a guided group walking tour of the Old City, known locally as Fes el Bali. Step back into the Middle Ages as you explore the labyrinth of the medina, which is alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Pass donkeys piled high with goods (this is one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world) and explore the specialty sections that divide the souk. Look out for the Medersa Bou Inania – one of the city's most beautiful buildings, which has recently been restored and is now open to tourists. Then, visit a ceramics factory where you can see traditional handmade pottery being made. Your local leader will guide you on a 'tasting trail' along the way today before enjoying an evening cooking demonstration, where you’ll learn how to create one of the city's signature dishes – pastilla (a salty and sweet pastry parcel).

Start the day right with a tasty street food breakfast of msemmen (flatbread) with olive oil and boiled egg or omelette paired with coffee or mint tea. Then, leave the intensity of the city behind for the simplicity of the Middle Atlas Mountains. On the way, stop at a local supermarket and get a broader view of the contemporary food habits of modern Moroccans. Here, your leader will pick up some local snacks for the group. Drive south, through varied scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. The area is populated with wandering nomadic shepherds attending their flocks. Pass through cedar forests, home to North Africa's only monkey, Barbary apes, to Midelt. Sitting in a valley, Midelt is a market town originally built as a mining base and surrounded by farmland and orchards. Stretch your legs as you explore the nearby village of Bremmen and take a closer look at local farming life. Tonight, a special meal will be prepared using the aromatic herbs native to the region.

Enjoy a scenic drive towards the Sahara this morning, stopping along the way to admire the panoramic views of the kasbahs and palm groves (valleys lush with date palms, fields and orchards). You may also have a chance to pause in some of the frontier towns such as Erfoud and Rissani before reaching the small Saharan settlement of Merzouga. Enjoy a demonstration of medfouna (also called Amazigh pizza, this is a traditional stuffed bread prepared with meat, herbs and spices by the nomadic peoples of the High Atlas). Traditionally prepared by women to feed local farm workers, this hearty delicacy is a great introduction to the cuisine of the desert region. Later today, leave your gear at a simple auberge and then ride camels to the edge of the Sahara, enjoying a spectacular sunset along the way. Dinner this evening at your desert camp will be a traditional spread of Moroccan soup, tagine and seasonal fruit.

After breakfast, prepare for a scenic drive filled with changing landscapes on the way to the M'Goun Valley. The journey will take you past ancient kasbah ruins, former military outposts, austere mountains and valleys of palm trees and irrigated fields. Dinner tonight is an Amazigh tagine prepared in a traditional clay pot cooked over an open fire.

Early this morning, maybe explore the nearby village souk of Kelaat M'gouna or see some Moroccan bread-making techniques in action with a demonstration. Then, you’ll head out on foot to explore the beauty of this largely untouched Moroccan backcountry. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll pass through Amazigh villages, meeting local people along the way. Pass through agricultural land and learn about the produce grown in the region, then try it for yourself with a plant-based dinner this evening. Tomatoes, beans, walnuts, almonds, figs, apples and grapes are all grown in the M'Goun Valley, which you might enjoy in a tagine, couscous, Moroccan soup and seasonal fruit platters.

Today, you’ll head to your final destination – Marrakech. On the way, stop by a women's cooperative, where they produce locally grown argan oil. A product that’s endemic to Morocco and used for both culinary and cosmetic purposes, you’ll see the trees that produce the argan oil and learn the process of how the workers extract it. Learn about how it’s used and all the benefits before continuing to Marrakech. When you arrive, a local guide will take you on an orientation walk and tasting trail through the medina. Visit a locally owned coffee shop for an insight into how this cultural practice uses hot sand to brew a unique, spiced coffee. This evening, maybe join the crowds for dinner at the famous Djemaa el-Fna – one of the largest public spaces in the world and unique to Marrakech. When night falls on this square, it transforms into a hive of activity, with henna painters, performers and storytellers sharing the square with a street food bazaar (where you can try snail soup)!

Start your day by learning to prepare splendid Moroccan salads, a staple of the table, at the amazing Amal Association (our Intrepid Foundation partner) cooking centre – a non-profit empowering women through culinary skills and education, then feast on your creations for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore the sights of the city – you might like to drop by the Koutoubia Mosque or the dazzling Bahia Palace. In the evening, perhaps ascend the stairs of one of the surrounding restaurants for a birds-eye view of the action or head back into the medina for some shopping, where every step brings a new smell, a new sight or a new gift. This evening, you may like to join your group for a farewell dinner.

Your food adventure across Morocco comes to an end this morning. If you’re extending your stay, maybe stroll through the tropical gardens of the French painter Jacques Majorelle or return to the medina. The Saadian tombs are another recently uncovered gem of the medina. Be sure to take a break from the bustle to sip on tea or eat a tagine, filled with the quintessential flavours of Morocco.

Meals
11 Breakfast(s), 3 Lunch(s), 8 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private Vehicle , Train , Taxi

Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights), Guesthouse (1 night), Gite (2 nights), Desert Camp (1 night)

Included Activities
  • Casablanca - Welcome Dinner
  • Meknes - Medina walking tour
  • Moulay Idriss - Couscous Demonstration and Dinner
  • Chefchaouen - Home-cooked Dinner
  • Chefchaouen - Goat Cheese Tasting
  • Fes - Medina Tasting Trail including Pastilla Demonstration
  • Fes - Guided walking tour
  • Midelt - Supermarket stop
  • Fes - Street food breakfast
  • Merzouga - Medfouna cooking demonstration
  • M'goun Valley - Guided Half Day Hike
  • Tichka - Argan Oil Cooperative Visit
  • Marrakech - Tasting Trail
  • Marrakech - Spiced Sand Coffee
  • Marrakech - Amal Association (The Intrepid Foundation partner) cooking class
  • Get a real insight into Moroccan food with a home-cooked dinner in the ‘blue city’ of Chefchaouen. Prepared with seasonal ingredients, you’ll tuck into a dish that’s bursting with local flavour and made with love.
  • Do it yourself during hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations where you’ll learn how to make cous cous, pastilla, stuffed medfouna and local salads.
  • See behind the scenes when you meet local producers of goat’s cheese in Chefchaouen, follow tasting trails through Fes and Marrakech’s medinas and visit a women's cooperative producing Argan oil.
  • Grab a fork and dig into Morocco’s most iconic dishes – tagine, pastilla, cous cous and camel burgers await!
  • Watch the sunset from the back of a camel in the Sahara, then enjoy a homecooked dinner at your desert camp stay under the North African stars.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Amal. Donations support them to provide women in Morocco with culinary skills training to help improve livelihoods. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
  • Morocco is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you'll have a great time on this trip. For vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to the Morocco which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements. As this trip covers quite a lot of ground there are some long drives. These are excellent opportunities to get to know your fellow travellers, catch up on some reading, or simply appreciate the scenery. On Days 8 and 9 you'll visit M’Goun Valley. This remote area of Morocco is an amazing place to discover on foot, but to do so you'll need a moderate level of fitness and have the relevant footwear and clothing with you. Don’t worry if trekking isn’t really your thing, there are plenty of other activities to do in the valley. The weather in Morocco can be extreme. Summer temperatures can be uncomfortably hot, especially for those who aren't accustomed to the heat, so please consider carefully what time of year you travel. Although you shouldn’t expect any aggressive selling techniques in Morocco, please be aware that you may be approached by shop owners and street vendors offering their goods to you on regular occasions. 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.

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Availability

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,515.00 NZD 2,012.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,615.00 NZD 2,092.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,715.00 NZD 2,172.00

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NZD 2,380.00 NZD 1,904.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
XMZF
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Casablanca, Morocco
Trip Finishes:
Marrakech, Morocco
Countries Visited:
Morocco
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Destination Details
Morocco | 12 Days | 1 - 12 People

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