Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in MoroccoSacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco

After breakfast, we will begin our day exploring Marrakech with a locally-guided market tour and cooking class. Our guide will take us through food stalls in Marrakech’s world-famous souks (markets) and teach us how to shop like a Moroccan chef. Next, we will join her at her guesthouse and learn how to prepare an emblematic Moroccan dish, the tajine. After feasting on our creations, we will embark on a guided tour of the Walled City. The highlights of this tour will be the architectural masterpieces of the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque, two must-see stops on any trip to Marrakech. While the Koutoubia Mosque only allows entrance to Muslims, the minaret of the building is the most famous feature and we will learn the story behind its conception. The evening is free to explore the labyrinth that is the Medina and be energized by the snake charmers and fortune-tellers that enchant Jeema-el Fna at night. It's  Africa's largest city square and truly one of the wildest places on earth. 

We will set off from Marrakech to UNESCO World Heritage Site Kasbah Aït Benhaddou. This was an important stop on the trading route between the barren Sahara and the oasis of civilization in Marrakesh and an important chapter in the story of how North African cuisine was influenced by the lifestyle of nomadic traders. The Kasbah is one of the best-preserved earthen clay settlements in Africa. Walking the winding lanes recalls biblical times, which is probably why it has been used to depict the ancient world in movies from The Last Temptation of Christ to Gladiator. Recently, the Kasbah was used to film episodes of Game of Thrones. We’ll have lunch at a co-operative of women from surrounding villages. They will make us tea and handmade food from traditional Moroccan recipes. After the meal, we’ll explore the Kasbah and take in the breathtaking panorama of the surrounding remote desert from the vista point where traders once spotted caravans coming in from the desert.

We now set off into the mighty Sahara, driving through the date palm-lined roads of the scenic Ziz Valley. Along the way, we will stop in the village of Tamegroute, home to a Koranic Library filled over the centuries by pilgrims returning from Mecca. This center of knowledge within an Islamic religious complex contains some of the oldest books found in Morocco. These volumes are full of scholarship on all subjects, from art to science. To refuel, we will experience the regional cuisine of the Sahara and eat Medfouna, also known as “Berber pizza.” When the roads and villages of clay houses end, we will go off-roading through the desert into the otherworldly landscapes of Erg Chigaga, the largest “sand sea” in Morocco. Once it gets too sandy to drive, we will continue by camel to the heart of the dunes and witness a true desert sunset. On a good day, we will be able to observe the starry night sky with breathtaking clarity, miles from electric light pollution.

We will greet the desert sunrise and have breakfast at our camp. After we drive out from the Sahara, we will continue on to the oasis of Tissint. The inexplicable water flows of this oasis village feel especially refreshing coming from the parched dunes. Here we will set up camp again, and then head back out into the remote desert to see the inspiration for the trip: the granaries (igoudar). We will enjoy a picnic of traditional snacks under the shade of palm groves, before continuing to the village granary for our first look at a historic food vault. Once back at camp, we will dig into nomadic culinary tradition, learning the technique for baking bread in sand pits. For dinner, we will experience a traditional, communal Moroccan BBQ, or Mechoui, where meat is slow-roasted on a spit (a vegetarian alternative is available).

After so much desert exploration, a day of relaxation is in order. Along the morning drive to our hotel, we will stop at the Akka village granary to witness another historic desert fortress. After that, we will have the afternoon and evening free at our hotel to refresh after nights spent camping in the desert. We will soak in the pool or enjoy the serene beauty of the surrounding desert. All meals will be provided on-site to make the day as leisurely as possible before going on to the main attraction tomorrow. This tranquil resort is the staging point for the Amtoudi Granary.

It’s just a short drive from the hotel to see one of the unsung wonders of the world, the Amtoudi Granary. We will embark on a scenic hike from the town of Amtoudi to the fortified hilltop granary that began storing food and valuables in the 12th century. It was at institutions like this that the most precious ingredients and materials, from wheat to silver, were protected under lock and key from rival tribes and monsoonal flooding. This structure held all the ingredients that would come to form Moroccan cuisine over centuries. It is a fortress of culinary wisdom. Our walk will be led by a knowledgeable local and they will explain the architectural, agricultural, and historical stories behind this, the most impressive collective granary remaining in North Africa. After an interpretive walk and some free time to get lost in this amazing relic, we will continue our study of culinary tradition with a visit to a market and a home-cooked meal prepared by a family in town. Over dinner, we will taste the fruits of centuries of culinary wisdom.

The oasis of Tafraoute is a seat of Berber tradition, practically unchanged by the shifting of power to Arab and French empires. In the 20th century, its relaxed beauty attracted hippies and wanderers from around the world that left their mark on the village. During our stay here, we will see the Les Roches Peintes (The Painted Rocks), striking brightly colored stones painted by Belgian artist Jean Verame. From atop the rocks, the stark contrast of the monochrome desert surrounding us reminds us of what an unlikely place for public art this is. Surrounded by the Anti-Atlas Mountains, this scenic valley is a cool retreat from the desert. For those that wish to adventure further, there is an optional walk to observe the striking landscape and an optional visit to a traditional bathhouse (hammam).

Our next destination, the fair city of Essaouira, is fortified against ocean invasion by a golden stone wall with ramparts facing the Atlantic. The Skala de la Kasbah protected the city from invaders, but it can only do so much against the famous "Alizée" trade winds that Essaouira is known for. These winds make the beaches less hospitable for much of the year but are a draw for windsurfers and wave-chasers from around the world. For our purposes, they will carry the powerful scent of market spices around us while we explore the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Argan oil is one of Morocco’s most famous exports. The nimble tree goats that climb trees to eat the skin off of the nuts are almost as famous. At the Woman-run Argan Co-op, we will learn the process of harvesting and pressing argan and watch as the workers craft raw oil into various beauty products. If we’re lucky, we’ll also see some climbing goats along the way.

The day will begin with a guided walk around the seaside Medina, including the Jewish Quarter. While the Jewish population is mostly gone, there are still silversmiths practicing the craftsmanship that they were once known for in this bustling trading port. Lunch will be an interactive experience at a seaside fish market. First, we will scour the souks for vegetables to accompany our fish selection, then we will select a fresh catch from the fishmonger. After we’ve sourced our ingredients, we can enjoy a cup of mint tea while our haul is grilled for lunch. Those that wish to can participate in an optional horseback riding excursion. Otherwise, the evening is free for us to explore the dynamic culinary scene of Morocco’s seafood capital or explore the city's famous tide pools before catching the sunset on the beach.

We will return to the dreamy cultural capital of Morocco, but armed with the experiences akin to those that once made Marrakech such a splendid sight for the weary eyes of Berber nomads. With this new perspective, we will explore the Medina with a guide to help us find wonders that we missed the first time. After exploring, we will have a bit of time to shop and sightsee before our grand finale dinner with a local family that will serve us a Moroccan feast to cap off our delicious adventures.