Roam
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Marrakesh — Imlil — Essaouira
Morocco, from Medina to Mountain 2024
Feb 24, 2024—March 2, 2024
? This week is a full celebration of the best of central and western Morocco. The city, the mountain, the coast. All with charismatic local hosts and deep food experiences alike.
Overview
Morocco, from Medina to Mountain 2024
- Feb 24, 2024—March 2, 2024
- Feb 24, 2024—March 2, 2024
Day
1
Welcome to Marrakesh
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- Private transfer from Marrakesh Airport to our riad—one of those stately Moroccan homes centered around secluded courtyards, which we have bought out exclusively for our group
- Welcome cocktails at the Riad with our hosts Anissa, Abderrahim (our local fixer), plus Alejo and Nathan from the League of Travelers
- Easy, lovely first-night dinner at La Taverne, a classic French-Moroccan bistro in the former colonial district
Day
2
Spice and Rice
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- Wake up to the sound of songbirds and the muzzein (not the earliest call to prayer, please) for a morning of spice and cooking techniques with the charismatic Najlae el Rhazi
- Shop the markets with Najlae, helping prepare a traditional Marrakshi lunch in her family’s home
- Eat what we’ve cooked of course
- Back to the riad for a siesta or hammam
- Dinner of street food and street life in the whirling wonderland that is the Medina and Derb Dabachi
Day
3
Chef Bana Day
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- This is Chef Bana’s day, let’s go deeper into the medina
- Join the Marrakesh icon for a day of preparing lamb Tanjiya, a deeply meaningful dish for Marrakshi people.
- Shopping, prepping, then delivering the tanjiyas to the pitmasters be slowcooked for hours
- Quick bite of whole cooked mechoui with Anissa’s friends just off of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square
- Late lunch of Chef Bana’s tanjiya, accompanied by the classic feast music sang by Chef Bana himself
- Quick siesta y’all
- Private dinner back at the Riad with a cooking masterclass from Anissa Helou and friends
Day
4
Into the mountains
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- Up we go into the mountains. Check out of the Riad, private transfer into the Atlas Mountains.
- Visit to the roving Berber market at Tahanaout
- The best Berber tagine you’ve ever had, at a roadside stall in the Atlas trading post of Asni
- Check into our mountain retreat Olinto, which will be our Atlas base for the next two days
- Cocktails poolside or walk through the hills. Dealer’s choice.
- Private dinner of mountain gastronomy at the retreat
Day
5
Lamb lamb lamb
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- Wake to fresh, cool mountain air, as one does
- Travel by 4×4 into the high Atlas village of Aroumd, in the shadow of Mt Toubkal, the highest peak in the Arabic-speaking world
- Meet up with our man in Aroumd, Mustafa: local grandee, lamb whisperer
- Traditional lamb slaughter and cookout overlooking the valleys
- Walk off our sins and fullnesses in the mountain villages while Ahwach music plays in the half-distance
Day
6
Down to the coast
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- Down to the coast!
- Roadtrip across the dusted plains dotted with stone farmhouses and olive groves
- Lunch on the way
- Wine tasting on the way at Le Domaine du Val D’Argan winery
- Arrive in Essaouira, on the Atlantic but with vibes of a Mediterranean coastal village
- Meet up with Chef Imad Fatih for sunset drinks
- Light bites at the coastal riad Madada Mogador, Essaoura’s finest property, which we’ve bought out for our group
Day
7
Imad of the Sea
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- Easy, smooth morning walking the village or just sleeping in
- Shopping with chef Imad at the famed harbor fish market. Fresh catch, fresh grilled, fresh herbs, fresh lemon.
- Friday is couscous day in Morocco, so we’ll have couscous in a private home along with the famed Essaouri fish tagine from Chef Imad.
- Afternoon of bread, music, argan oil with local producers
- Last night by the sea with cocktails and seafood specialties at Restaurant Il Mare
Day
8
So long, Morocco
- One last gorgeous Mogador breakfast
- Private transfer to Essaouira airport for flights home
- Goodbye Morocco, until the next
Ready for a new adventure?