Flying into Marrakech from Gatwick at around 14.00, we would hope to be ready to venture out into the rich and crazy experience of the Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech as the sun sets.

 

This famous square is the throbbing heart of Marrakech where fortune tellers, snake charmers, poets, and storytellers come to entertain the crowds. They generate an intoxicating atmosphere whose cultural importance inspired UNESCO to create its “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

All life is here. As the sun sets Berber musicians and Gnaoua dancers begin their nightly performances, acrobats and slapstick comedians start performing all across the square, and clouds of smoke rise up from purveyors of street food as they barbecue their nightly offerings. The sounds and smells are unmistakably exotic, intriguingly unfamiliar and utterly compelling.

 

Marrakech has the largest traditional Berber market in Morocco. We will have time to wander around the narrow streets of the medina, with its vibrant energy and patinated beauty. The soft pink of the stone will give our images a romantic warmth and the reflected light will bathe everything in dreamy rose-tinted hues

 

We will make time to visit the famous Majorelle Gardens - purchased by Yves Saint Laurent.

 

After three days we leave behind the urban hustle of Marrakech and head southeast towards the Sahara Desert......hoping for almond blossom along our route.

 

The route is spectacular and dramatic - as we drive we will be presented with astonishing views of the snow topped peaks of the Atlas Mountains. We will take to stop at tiny Berber villages Stopping en-route at Boumaine Dades - considered one of the most attractive villages in Morocco. The traditional adobe houses will further enhance the warm colour palette of the images we have been making. The ancient buildings and the humble lives of the villagers will offer us a very different view of life in this ancient land.

 

We will drive along the Rose Valley and then onto Todra Gorge, a spectacular gash in the hills that surrounds Tinerhir. The cliffs loom above as you approach the mouth of the Todra Gorge. Rising 300m, the honey-colored hues of the sheer face change constantly as the sun moves across the sky. Nomads can often been seen in the gorge. Many deserted Kasbahs, mud brick villages and green oasis, dot the whole area.

 

From here were continue deep into the desert where we finish this segment of our journey in 4x4's across the dunes. We arrive to the comforts and luxury of our desert camp where we will be greeted with mint tea and fresh dates or nuts.

 

We will be served a delicious dinner followed by campfire entertainment - listening to the songs and rhythms of the desert as we enjoy music, drums, and singing from our Berber guides. Chilled wine around the camp fires will certainly help the evenings along. The sights and sounds of the desert at night will surely enchant us as our guides share the secrets of the Sahara. We sleep in luxury canvas tents - this is glamping in every sense of the word, make no mistake.

 

As we depart from our camp we pass through Ouarzazate - known as the gateway to the Sahara. Although Ouarzazate is arguably not the prettiest town in Morocco it provides a useful place to stay en-route to the coast. Close by, Aït Benhaddou - an ighrem (fortified village) along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech - is now perhaps the most reknowned collection of earthen buildings in the area, being one of the locations where Game of Thrones was filmed. Of course we will find our own ways of interpreting the warm burnished tones and soft shapes.

 

Our final port of call is the laid back town of Essaouira. Offering us a relaxed seaside vibe, it is undoubtedly popular with tourists, however the quiet, uncommercial side of it can be discovered with little effort. The colour palette is very different - a tapestry of blue and white set against golden sands while the gentle breeze and salty air invigorate our senses.

 

Essaouira translates as “little picture” from Arabic, and it’s not hard to see why. A painter’s dream location (and by logical extension, a photographer's too), we will capture the unpretentious architecture with the colourful rugs hung up on sun-bleached walls.

 

After a couple of days winding down slowly beside the ocean, we make our leisurely back towards Marrakech for an early evening flight back to London

 

 

There is a diverse selection of accommodation on offer in Morocco - our belief is that we want to be at least as comfortable as we are at home while enjoying the essence of being in a foreign country. Therefore, when we select our riads, our first consideration is comfort and a memorable and authentic experience.

Because we choose to stay in riads rather than Western-style hotels we often take over the whole property, we have to take all the rooms they offer us. The fairest way is to  structure the prices to reflect the grade of room (classic, superior, suite) selected.  It is perhaps, necessary to point out that all rooms in a given price bracket are going to vary slightly. Some may be larger, have better views or nicer bathrooms. We can only  be guided by what the raids charge us and our pricing structure is based on that. Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

MARRAKECH

Riad de Charme - This Riad is located in the Medina and a 10-minute walk to Jamaâ El Fna Square. It offers swimming pools, a hammam and a panoramic roof terrace.

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BOUMAINE DADES

Xaluca Dades. Exposed stone walls and a modern, Moroccan décor are offered in the rooms and suites. All accommodation has views of the Dades Valley and the suites have a terrace.

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SAHARA

Luxury Desert Camp - on the undulating apricot sands, an escape from the crowds of the cities – as well as other tourist camps. Aside from your guide and your companions, the only other people you may encounter during your stay are the native Berber Nomads that call this harsh yet beautiful environment home.

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OUAZARZATE

Kasbah Dar Daif is located 3.1 miles from the centre of Ouarzazate and offers views on the Atlas Mountains and the lake.

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ESSAOUIRA

Next to the ocean, the Mimouna is a traditional riad offering peaceful accommodation and a large terrace with panoramic sea views in Essaouira.

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31st Jan - 9th Feb 2022 - ONE SPACE AVAILABLE

10 day tour

Based on our experience in 2020, we will once again include all food and wine on the tour. This drastically cuts down the time (and frustration) spent at the end of each meal calculating who owes what. Certainly, the upfront costs, for you, the client, are higher but, we feel, these decisions will help to make the tour relaxed and memorable.

We have pre-booked our riads so we can be assured of the quality and let our clients know what they will be getting for their money. Some of the cheaper tours rely on local guides to assign accommodation just prior to arrival. I have read enough reviews to realise that this approach is wholly unsatisfactory.

Because we choose to stay in riads rather than Western-style hotels we often take over the whole property, we have to take all the rooms they offer us. The fairest way is to structure the prices to reflect the grade of room (classic, superior, suite) selected.  It is perhaps, necessary to point out that all rooms in a given price bracket are going to vary slightly. Some may be larger, have better views or nicer bathrooms. We can only be guided by what the raids charge us and our pricing structure is based on that. Thank you for your understanding.

 

ONE SPACE AVAILABLE - EMAIL TO BOOK

PRICING:

Standard room (4 available) £3,395 - Sold

Superior room (6 available) £3,495 - 1 available

Suite (2 available) £3,650 - Sold

Partner rate (non photographing)  £1,650

 

DEPOSIT DUE AT TIME OF BOOKING - 20%. Balance due 60 days before departure

Includes £10 carbon offsetting fee. This is a voluntary contribution. Please advise us if you would rather opt-out and we will cover your contribution.

INCLUDES:

Nine nights single room accommodation at the riads specified under the accommodation tab

Transfers to and from Marrakech airport (if your flight coincides with ours).

Tuition from Doug and Valda

All meals, drinks and snacks, when taken with Doug and Valda.

Wine and beer and yes, G&T's at sundown

All entrance fees

Max, 10 clients.

 

EXCLUDES

Flights, insurance, meals (apart from those listed), airport transfers, should your flight not coincide with ours.

Fitness level - moderate. Some walking on dunes and on uneven pavements.

Average temperature High 20C°, Low 5°C

Very little rain.

 

RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS:

TO BE CONFIRMED.

Flying time about three and a half hours.

GMT +3 hours