We know Morocco, and we know it very well. And over the years, we\u2019ve become partial to those places that sit quietly (and compellingly) under-the-radar. On this eleven-night trip, we\u2019ll take you on a sensorial sojourn through Morocco\u2019s north \u2013 from the busy souks of Fez and blue-tinted Chefchaouen to effortlessly cool Tangier, before winding down beachside at La Fiermontina Ocean. It\u2019s warm and inviting \u2013 and so many other good things. Keep scrolling to see why.<\/p>\n
After touching down in Casablanca and a restful night\u2019s sleep, you\u2019ll begin your journey in Fez.<\/p>\n
From your dazzlingly palatial pad at Riad Karawan, you\u2019ll link up with your local guide in the medina. Between centuries-old qur’anic schools, hidden leather tanneries and donkeys carting goods, you\u2019ll gain insight into the deep cultural and spiritual lineage of the city. Come the afternoon, your souk tasting tour begins. Down a warren of busy alleyways, taste traditional fava bean soup (loaded with garlic oil and harissa is best); bread fresh from the community wood oven; sticky walnut-stuffed dates; prickly pear fruits that turn your whole mouth fuchsia pink. Anything you want to try, you can.<\/p>\n
The following morning, you\u2019ll head to a private drum-making workshop with local artisans who have honed their craft \u2013 passed down from father to son \u2013 over decades. From decorating, drumhead stretching and sewing to learning how different hides change the instrument\u2019s timbre. You\u2019ll probably have formed a percussion band by the end.<\/p>\n
Departing from Fez, your next stop is the incredibly preserved archaeological site of Volubilis. From entire roads to detailed mosaics, you\u2019ll explore this 40-hectare Berber-Roman city with a local guide; walking in the footsteps of those who laid its foundations. You\u2019ll then enjoy a Moroccan feast at nearby Scorpion House with panoramic views over the hilltop town of Moulay Idriss, before continuing your onward drive.<\/p>\n
And we\u2019re not talking about the ocean here. Arriving in Chefchaouen, you\u2019ll cast your eyes across Morocco\u2019s famous \u2018blue pearl\u2019, perched high (and blue) in the peaks of the Rif Mountains. After settling in at Dar Jasmine, you\u2019ll take an evening stroll with your guide to dine with a local family in their home \u2013 a chance to chat, break bread together, and dive deeper into local life.<\/p>\n
We’re convinced that all the best mornings begin in medinas. Today, you\u2019ll discover Chefchaouen\u2019s quaint cobbled streets and staggered steps lined with bright plant pots. It\u2019s very blue. And very pretty.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll then forge ahead, pausing on the drive for a light afternoon hike to the beautiful Akchour waterfalls (or rock climb instead, if you’re up for the challenge).<\/p>\n
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Tangier has been something of a creative mecca for writers, artists, and musicians for decades. With its laid-back cafe culture, it has drawn the likes of Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, The Rolling Stones and Henri Matisse to its free-spirited shores at one time or another. Case in point, you\u2019ll call Villa Mabrouka home for the next two nights \u2013 the impossibly stylish former home of fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berg\u00e9, reimagined today by British designer Jasper Conran.<\/p>\n
With your guide, you\u2019ll uncover a melting pot of cultural influences in Tangier \u2013 where greens and blues pop against white-washed buildings and contemporary and traditional artisanship thrive. Where else in the world would you find a vinyl record store in the middle of an ancient medina? That\u2019s pretty funky (and the LP\u2019s are too).<\/p>\n
The next morning, you\u2019ll head \u2013 via the busy food market \u2013 to a private cooking class with the most wonderful team of local ladies. By the end, you\u2019ll not only have learned the secrets to a perfectly spiced fish tagine and shared a pot of Maghrebi mint tea \u2013 you\u2019ll have made new friends too. There\u2019s nothing like cooking to bring people together.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow? It\u2019s time for a change of scene as you begin your journey towards your final destination \u2013 with a quick stop to explore the seaside town of Asilah en route.<\/p>\n
They say you should save the best for last. And La Fiermontina Ocean \u2013 spread across the wild coast of Larache \u2013 is just that. Here, you\u2019ll have three nights to take things at your own leisurely pace.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s plenty to keep you busy, from breakfast in the local village of Dchier and horseback rides along the beach to traditional hammam scrubs and sunset picnics set up beneath mulberry trees. Or simply kick back in your private pool villa, overlooking dunes that roll into the sea. It\u2019s entirely up to you.<\/p>\n
One thing we will say, is that the views here are really something \u2013 from sunrise to sunset and beyond. Our top tip come the evenings? Wrap up, then look up. There\u2019s so little light pollution here that the stargazing is phenomenal. Really.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t want to leave this place behind. But no doubt you\u2019ll be back soon enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We know Morocco, and we know it very well. And over the years, we\u2019ve become partial to those places that sit quietly (and compellingly) under-the-radar. On this eleven-night trip, we\u2019ll take you on a sensorial sojourn through Morocco\u2019s north \u2013 from the busy souks of Fez and blue-tinted Chefchaouen to effortlessly cool Tangier, before winding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101077,"featured_media":277016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Morocco"],"class_list":["post-277002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-morocco","type-experience","feeling-contentment","feeling-freedom","feeling-revitalized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n