Let's Go To Morocco: MATM 2024 Group Trip!

We're headed to Morocco from November 10th through 21st, 2024!

I LOVE Morocco. I've studied, lived, and traveled there, and on each visit, I found something new to fall in love with. The architecture is gorgeous. The food is amazing! The geography is varied and beautiful. People are so welcoming and there's so much to see.

So let's experience it together on a 12-day, 10-night, food-focused experience that takes us through the Medina of Fes, the bustling center of Marrakech, the Sahara desert, and beyond!

This trip is capped at 16 people (including me), so I expect it to fill quickly. Take a look at the full itinerary and details below!

Image Description: four photos from Anela's most recent trip to Morocco, including a chicken tajine from a cooking class, Anela on a balcony, and Anela in a Riad courtyard.

ITINERARY

Day 1: November 10, Arrival to Casablanca

You'll be picked up upon arrival by an Intrepid representative who will manage your private transfer to our shared hotel. As there's little free time included in Casablanca on this trip, consider coming a day early to fully explore the city. Modeled after Marseille in France, the city is famous for its art deco buildings. A pleasant way to spend a day exploring Casablanca is to wander the old medina and the city walls, then jump in a taxi to visit the Quartiers des Habous, the new medina. Then perhaps take a 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. On the official evening of our group trip, we'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm and a group dinner of delicious traditional dishes. Included Activities: Individual arrival transfer (only if arriving on the official start date into Casablance) and group welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Gray (Standard room) 

Day 2: November 11, Meknes - Moulay-Idriss

This morning, drive to Meknes. In the 17th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail turned Meknes from a provincial town into a spectacular Imperial city. On arrival, get to know Meknes on an orientation walk with your leader. For lunch, visit a friendly local restaurant in the medina and 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 along with an authentic Moroccan meal. 

Included Activities: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and couscous demonstration.

Accommodation: Diyar Timnay

Day 3: November 12, Chefchaouen

This morning, drive to Chefchaouen, or the ‘blue city’ – arguably one of the prettiest places in Morocco. Set against a wide valley and nestled between two peaks in the stunning Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen may take you by surprise. 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. Ease into the relaxed pace of life in this rural retreat. While in Chefchaouen, a photographer will join us to capture our day together. Travelers will receive digital copies of both group and solo portraits documenting the experience in this stunning setting.

This evening, you’ll get a real insight into Moroccan food with a home-cooked dinner prepared with seasonal ingredients – bursting with flavor and made with love. 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 makes a great accompaniment to your meal. 

Included Activities: Breakfast, home-cooked dinner, and photography session.

Accommodation: Dar Echchaouen (Standard room)

Day 4: November 13, Fes

Enjoy your morning in Chefchaouen, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the medina and the shops in the square selling woven goods and small sweets. In the afternoon, travel to Fes, the most complete medieval city in the Arab world. Fes is the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco – vibrant, noisy, fascinating, and overwhelming – 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 specialties like harira (chickpea soup). 

Included Activities: Breakfast

Accommodation: Palais Houyam

Day 5: November 14, Fes

Take a guided 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. Also, visit a ceramics factory where you can see traditional handmade pottery being made. Your local guide will take 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 (or Bastilla) – a salty and sweet pastry parcel.

Included Activities: Guided tour, medersa visit, tasting trail, a cooking demonstration, and dinner.

Accommodation: Palais Houyam

Day 6: November 15, Midelt

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 scenic 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, you’ll get an everyday-life insight into the culture, and your leader will pick up some local popular snacks for the group to enjoy. Drive south, inland, through varied and spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests, and barren, rocky landscapes. The area is populated with wandering nomadic shepherds attending to their flocks. Pass through cedar forests, home to North Africa’s only monkey – Barbary apes – and on to your destination of Midelt. Nestled 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. In the evening, a special meal will be prepared using the aromatic herbs native to the region.

Included Activities: Fes street breakfast, village visit, dinner using local ingredients.

Accommodation: Villa Midelt (standard room)

Day 7: November 16, Merzouga

Enjoy a scenic drive towards the Sahara Desert with plenty of opportunities to stop and 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 your destination, the small Saharan settlement of Merzouga. Enjoy a demonstration of medfouna (also called 'Amazigh pizza'), a traditional stuffed bread prepared with meat, herbs, and spices by the nomadic people 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. Enjoy a spectacular sunset while riding a camel. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets off the colors. Tonight, embrace your extraordinary surroundings and enjoy a traditional feast beneath a sky jeweled with thousands of stars, followed by live Gnaoua music around an open fire.

Included Activities: Breakfast, cooking demonstration and dinner, plus a sunset camel ride.

Accommodation: Madu Camp (Luxury tents) 

Day 8: November 17, Todra Gorge - Dades Valley

Start the day with a truly unforgettable experience – a camel ride across the desert during sunrise, watching the landscape turn remarkable shades of orange. After breakfast, drive to Todra Gorge, a massive trench that rises over 250 meters to form one of the most dramatic and spectacular natural sights in Morocco. The limestone stacks make a perfect area for hiking, so to make the most of the stunning surroundings, you’ll take a short and gentle walk through the gorge. Then, continue to the beautiful Dades Valley, your base for the next two nights. This area offers scenery like no other – sprawling green valleys give way to otherworldly rock formations carved out by the wind. Your accommodation offers a delightful pool and terrace, so take some time to sit back and soak in the ethereal views.

Included Activities: Breakfast, camel ride, Todra Gorge visit, and dinner.

Accommodations: Chez Ichou

Day 9: November 18, Dades Valley

You have a full day to explore the beauty of this largely untouched Moroccan backcountry today, and the best way is on foot. There are a couple of circuits in the area – there’s the option to tackle a 10 km circuit that will take about 4 hours, but your leader can tailor the route based on the preferences of the group. Take a short transfer to the start of the trek, then set out with a local guide. The trail undulates and can be challenging in sections but is accessible to everyone with a basic level of fitness. Stop in a village along the way and enjoy tea with a local Amazigh family. This experience offers a unique glimpse into the Amazigh way of life that few visitors to Morocco have the chance to see. Set against the sensational backdrop of the surrounding mountains and famous Rose Valley, take the opportunity to share stories and learn about family life in the Dades Valley. 

Included Activities: Breakfast, guided hike, tea demonstration, dinner.

Accommodations: Chez Ichou

Day 10: November 19, Marrakech

Today, head to your final destination – Marrakech. On the way, you’ll 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)!

Included Activities: Breakfast, Argan Oil Cooperative visit, tasting trail, and local coffee shop visit. Accommodations: Riad Clé D'or (standard room)

Day 11: November 20, Marrakech

Start your day by learning to prepare splendid Moroccan salads, a staple of the table, at the amazing Amal Women's Cooking Centre – a non-profit empowering women through culinary skills and education, then feast on your creations for lunch. In the afternoon, relax your muscles and clear your mind in a luxurious Moroccan Hammam and Massage session. The traditional rituals, from the exfoliating scrub to the invigorating massage with aromatic oils, transport you to a state of blissful relaxation. This evening, enjoy your included farewell dinner. 

Included Activities: Breakfast, Moroccan salads cooking class, Hammam visit and massage, and farewell dinner.

Accommodations: Riad Clé D'or (standard room)

Day 12: November 21, Departure

There are no activities planned for the final day. Your departure transfer will be arranged based on your flight details. 

Included Activities: Breakfast, individual departure transfer (only if departing on the official departure date from Marrakech)

Note: This trip begins in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech, so be sure to book your flights accordingly.

Click below to download the full itinerary and trip booklet!

Intrepid Confirmed Itinerary - Tailor-Made Beautiful Morocco with Anela Malik, 6517821 - T.

Download • 7.32MB

COST & INCLUSIONS

Trip cost: $2,960 per person. A $500 NONREFUNDABLE deposit is due by August 12, 2024, to reserve your spot. Your spot is not recerved until your deposit is paid.

Costs are based on shared rooms. There are two single rooms available for an additional $810 supplemental cost. Cost includes all accommodations, meals, and activities noted on the official itinerary. Check the day-by-day itinerary breakdown to see all included activities.

After paying the deposit and providing your travel details to Intrepid, the final balance payment is required 70 days prior to travel (by September 1, 2024). 

Not included in trip costs: Activities and meals not in the itinerary, tips, travel insurance (mandatory), and flights to/from Morocco.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• Cancellation prior to 70 days - Intrepid will hold the deposit amount as a credit.

• Cancellation 69 days or inside prior to travel will incur 100% cancellation fees.

• No-shows will be treated as cancellations and will incur 100% cancellation fees. 
  

SAFETY

Safety is often about perception and personal risk tolerance, so questions about safety are hard for me to answer. However, having lived in and traveled in Morocco numerous times, I can say I feel safe and comfortable traveling there. Morocco is a global tourist destination, and the US Department of State gives Morocco the same safety rating as European countries such as Spain or France.

In addition, one of the reasons I organize and host trips with Intrepid, an award-winning global travel company, is so that we have the expertise and infrastructure of Intrepid to rely on while traveling. We will also be accompanied by an expert local guide throughout this tour.

OK, HOW DO I SIGN UP?

To sign up, please email Intrepid's Tailor-Made Travel team at:  tailormadena@intrepidtravel.com

• Include the email subject line: Tailor-Made Beautiful Morocco with Anela Malik 6517821

• So I can track registration, cc Feed The Malik on your email at: contact@feedthemalik.com

• Additional name to include in your registration email

  • Full name as per passport

  • Gender

  • Date of Birth

  • Room preference (shared or single room)

  • Roommate (if any)
    

Also, while I'm opening this trip up to members, feel free to invite your friends and partners! This web page is members-only, but you can print/save and share all the details of this page with your people.