Culinary Tour to Marrakech Morocco

Morocco has been slated as one of the top travel destinations in the world for the last few years, and if it's on your travel bucket list, you're in luck! My Moroccan friends and I have assembled a stunning, varied, and all-encompassing itinerary where we will share many of Morocco's hidden gems and insider secrets.

After traveling and taking groups to Morocco over the previous 16 years, it's still hard to find enough glowing adjectives to describe this alluring country's sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. I often use the word exotic or sensuous in the true sense of the word. With so much rich history, breathtaking scenery, extraordinary artisans, architecture and design, amazing food, and welcoming and loving people, it's a destination like no other.

Discover Morocco's feast for the senses and heart-warming hospitality.

Having visited Morocco over a dozen times, I feel deeply connected to this country and am excited to share this tour with you. Really, it's two trips in one as we spend the first few days exploring the vibrant and historical city of Marrakech, and then travel by private coach 90 minutes to the serene and fertile lands of the majestic Atlas Mountains, where we'll stay in a Kasbah. For the duration, we'll immerse ourselves in cooking, culinary traditions, the best restaurants, architecture, Moroccan landscapes, history, and culture in the colorful and bustling streets and architectural sites of Marrakech and then on to the majestic Atlas Mountains with its lush green hillsides and abundant olive groves of the Ourika Valley.

Oh, and our homes for the week? First, we'll stay at a gorgeous traditional riad in Marrakech. This beautifully restored 5-star boutique luxe riad in Marrakech is brimming with features, like a peaceful courtyard garden and pool, beautifully appointed rooms rich with Moorish motifs, and a full-service spa for a relaxing massage and envigorating hammam. Yet, this haven is just minutes from the ramparts of the Medina--or ancient marketplace—and artisan-filled souks. We will be in the center of it all.

We'll visit the famous souks, where I've found some of my favorite treasures, meander the narrow passageways, and discover local shops selling everything from designer kaftans, spices, preserved lemons, rugs, colorful handmade slippers, and painted pottery. It's this rich tapestry of culture that makes this city so vibrant and so loved. Our knowledgeable guide will lead us through historic sites, such as the Bahia Palace and the mullah of Marrakech-- considered the country's second oldest Jewish Quarter. Not to be missed, we'll explore the contemplative lush green Majorelle Gardens where YSL lived for many years, as well as the fascinating Berber Museum.

As this is a culinary adventure, we'll spend quality time in the kitchen! Prepare to get your hands dirty as you master, with guidance, the tried-and-true method for making the lightest, most delicious couscous you've ever tasted! We'll combine the freshest ingredients and spices to create our own personal tagines, slow-cooked over a charcoal fire, along with Moroccan salads and bisteeya, the phyllo pie filled with chicken and dusted with cinnamon.

Once we've taken in the wonders of Marrakech, we'll board a private luxury coach and head to the country's Atlas Mountains and Ourika Valley, where we will stay in a 5-star over-the-top kasbah, or castle hotel, perched among one of the highest Atlas peaks with 360 ° views. Imagine sitting on your terrace in the warm sunlight in the afternoon and enjoying the spectacular sunset each day. There's so much to see and do here. We'll visit our Berber friends at the herb farm, where you will work with the local women to make their traditional Berber bread, which we'll bake in a wood-fired clay oven and dip into the local Ourika olive oil and honey. Another day, we can discover saffron fields or visit an argan oil cooperative, walk through a village that feels like time has stopped, and weave through a bustling outdoor Berber market.

I have many repeat guests on my tours, and I often ask, "Which destination is your favorite?". Morocco is usually right up there on top of the list! I'd be surprised if you don't feel the same way. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime! We can't wait to take you along.

Scroll down for all of the details!

* Price based on double occupancy. Limited availability for sIngle occupancy rooms. Single supplement charge of $1500.00 applies for solo travelers. Airfare not included. Deposit of $2000.00 per person required to secure a spot. Please read the tour terms linked here.

Reserve Your Space

Marrakech offers a vast number of incredible hotel options. The most authentic and palatial are the historical riads in the heart of the bustling Medina. Initially, these centuries-old homes or riads accommodated royalty and wealthy families. From the exterior, they look very unassuming; however, once you step inside, they are filled with elaborate architectural details like tile mosaics, intricate carvings, geometric patterns, floral motifs, arches, and columns, adding to the overall grandeur and elegance of the space. To top it off, imagine fragrant red rose petals floating in a central fountain and palm trees reaching the open sky, all built around the heart of the house-- the courtyard. Riads are works of art, and these days, many have been lovingly restored and transformed into luxurious hotels. We've chosen one of the most gorgeous.

This hidden gem riad has a lush courtyard oasis, indoor and outdoor pools, a spacious sun terrace, and well-appointed rooms. Riad Nashira is a 5-star, tranquil retreat that is a short stroll away from major attractions like Medersa Ben Youssef, the Marrakech Museum, the Souk, and the iconic Jemaa el-Fnaa Square; it offers the perfect balance of relaxation and exploration.

For the remaining two nights of our adventure, we'll head to the Atlas Mountains and stay at another gorgeous property, Kasbah Bab Ourika. This boutique hotel is the perfect place to soak up a different side of Moroccan life, enjoy warm and inviting Berber hospitality, and bask in the stunning landscape. Perched on a hilltop at the apex of the Atlas Mountains, this kasbah has 360° views and looks down to the river, green fields, and groves of olives, oranges, and lemons and up to the dazzling snowy mountain peaks in the distance.

Kasbah Bab Ourika

Writer Alex Preston describes this wonderous place well, stating that "There is a quality of silence, up here in the clear, still air, a sense of timelessness that tricks you into believing that the fortress-like building, with its rose earth walls and cool courtyards, might have been here forever..." (Harpers Bazaar). Yet, we'll still have an easy commute back to Marrakech when our tour concludes.

Please note: These are two fabulous properties, yet if you want to take things up a notch, please inquire about room upgrade availability.

Morocco is a feast for the senses. Picture spices piled into high conical peaks, sands shifting on the Sahara, terraced hillsides next to snow-capped mountains, frothy mint tea, and feeling welcomed like a warm hug. Whole cities are painted blue, tasty morsels steam bake in earthenware tagine pots, and camels bleat as they traverse the desert. It's an intoxicating place, and together with my Moroccan associate, we've gathered our favorite flavors, sensations, and destinations to share with you.

In the heart of Marrakech, we'll immerse ourselves in this beautiful city's flavors, history, and culture as our knowledgeable guide takes us through the famous "souks" (markets) and marvels of architecture like the extraordinary Bahia Palace. Another day, we will explore the stunning Majorelle Gardens and Berber Museum. We will make another stop at the new Yves Saint Laurent Museum. One evening, we can even join in on the excitement at Jemaa el-fna square! Of course, we'll reserve some time to shop, and I'm happy to guide you to my favorite places where I've discovered some incredible hand-crafted artisanal treasures. So much to do and see!

Then, we'll venture to another blissful place, the Atlas Mountains and Ourika Valley.

This is the perfect place to soak up a different side of Moroccan life with a visit to an exceptional herb farm and garden where local Berber women teach us how to make traditional Berber bread in a wood-fired clay oven. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch and dip our feet into the healing herb baths. The kasbah where we will be staying has a lovely spa, and this is the perfect place to relax, take a hammam, and/or have a soothing massage. As the sun sets, we will enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace.

As the New York TImes (2024) describes:

"The Ourika Valley in Morocco seemed like the dreamiest of escapes: silvery-green olive groves that give way to the dramatic reddish ridges of the Atlas Mountains, simple guesthouses and luxurious boutique hotels, farm-fresh cuisine, hiking, horseback riding — and all just an hour’s drive from Marrakesh" (NYT, 2024).

As I said, I like surprises, so prepare for some extraordinary experiences you won't find in a guidebook.

Moroccan cuisine is as sophisticated and diverse as its aromas and flavors. The food is truly a culmination of centuries of trade and cultural amalgamation, and the history associated with it shapes the way its people eat their favorite meals. Starting with the Berbers over 2000 years ago, local ingredients, including olives, figs, and dates, were combined with lamb and poultry.

Then, the Romans, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians introduced new recipes and ingredients. Ingredients were slowly braised in conical vessels called tagines to retain the succulent juices. Arabs brought new types of bread and introduced new spices such as cinnamon, ginger, saffron, and caraway to the region. The Jewish people introduced the Moroccan people to various pickling and preservation techniques for fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the Moors in southern Spain shared their sweet-and-sour combinations and delicious savory pies called pastillas. No wonder Moroccan food is so unique!

We'll learn about traditional techniques and Morocco's rich culinary culture and create delicious memories.

Think orange flower water, rose water, cinnamon, ginger, preserved lemons, cilantro, ras el hanout. These are the aromas you will smell and the flavors you will taste in our classes. My Moroccan friends and I will teach you how to make classics, such as a four-step method to make the fluffiest couscous you can imagine. We'll also show you how to combine the area's incredible ingredients and spices to braise your own tagine over a charcoal fire in clay braziers! We will also make our own basteeya wrapped in the thinnest phyllo dough-like wrapping called warka. To round out our meals, we'll create colorful trios of salads with seasonal vegetables and sumptuous desserts, such as Sweet Bisteeya with Orange Blossom Custard and Almonds.
You will be amazed at how easily you can use these techniques to bring the flavor to the table at home.

The price for this tour is $6950.00 US per person, based on double occupancy. A deposit of $2000.00 US per person is required to register for this tour. Limited single occupancy rooms available and a single supplement charge of $1500.00 US applies for solo travelers. Please read the Terms and Conditions for details.

We strongly recommend trip insurance. Policies vary, so be sure to review the details and make sure that it suits your needs.

Your tour begins with a group transfer to Riad Nashira, followed by an evening reception and dinner on the first day. The tour concludes with breakfast and a return transfer to Marrakech on the final day of your tour. We will arrange for your pickup at the Marrakech airport or Central Marrakech locations and will transport you directly to our accomodations at approximately 4pm on Day one. We will transport the group to Marrakech Airport on the final day of the tour at approximately 9am on the final day.

East Coast friends-- United Airlines now offers direct flights to RAK from New York!

We are committed to following Country, State and local health guidelines to the best of our ability during this tour.

Included:

Limited group size and carefully curated itinerary
Meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner (one exception) with wine
Accommodations for 6 nights
Hands on and demonstration cooking classes
Excurions, day trips and multilingual guides
Tastings
Transportation during the tour
Group transfer from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) or central Marrkesh location to our Riad and return group transfer to the airport on the final day.

Not Included: