Chef Hassan Ziadi of Moroccan Flavors and former Star Tribune restaurant critic Jeremy Iggers invite you to join us on a 10-day food adventure in Morocco. Our first tour, from March 23-April 1 is completely booked, but if there is enough interest, we plan to offer a second tour from April 1 -10.
We’re calling this tour an adventure because we will be taking you to some places that few tourists visit, and some that we have never visited before. Our focus will be on food, because we love to eat, and because it’s a great way to connect with people and learn about Moroccan culture. But we will also visit some of the famous historical sights, and look for opportunities to see local musicians perform.
If you are interested, please complete this short survey: https://forms.gle/y9vYwzjt7toB98dD9
Our final itinerary will depend on the feedback we get from you, but here are some of the activities we have planned.
- We’ll start with three nights in Rabat, Morocco’s capital city. As the Washington Post’s travel writer noted, “Most visitors to Morocco want to see Marrakesh, Fes and Tangier, and for good reason. But Rabat is Morocco’s most underrated city in plain sight, a tranquil and historic seaside jewel that hasn’t yet turned into one big Instagram reel. You can still discover it on its own terms…All without the crowds you’ll find elsewhere.”
- Rabat also happens to be chef Hassan’s hometown. Hassan will take you along as he goes shopping for ingredients at local markets and shops. Back at our riad (a traditional Moroccan guesthouse) Hassan will prepare a dinner for us. (You can help chop vegetables, if you like.) We’ll also plan a visit to one of Rabat’s top-rated restaurants for traditional Moroccan cuisine.
- Two nights in the pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss. Until around 1912, only Muslims were allowed to enter the town, and it wasn’t until 2005 that non-believers were allowed to stay overnight. We’ll stay at a local guesthouse with a restaurant that features traditional Moroccan dishes such as tajines, couscous and pastilla. Moulay Idriss will be our base for visits to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, and a wine tasting and lunch at a nearby winery.
- The freshest fish and seafood you will ever eat, from the stalls at the fish market in the coastal town of El Jadida – sardines, oysters, shrimp, spider crabs, razor clams and more – if you can’t eat it on the spot, we can have it prepared for you at a nearby restaurant.
- Learn about Berber life and foodways on a two-day walking tour of traditional Berber villages in the High Atlas mountains, with meals, tea breaks in family homes along the route, and an overnight stay with a local family. Or opt for a one-day tour, and return in the evening to Marrakech, where you can spend the next day exploring Marrakech with Hassan or on your own.
- A home-cooked dinner with a Marrakech family, organized by a local non-profit. We’ll enjoy a full meal of traditional Moroccan dishes, and an evening of hospitality and conversation.
- A walking street food tour of Marrakech, sampling more than a dozen snacks and dishes, at the places where the locals go – foods like escargot and grilled sardines, tagines of lamb and chicken, olives and dates, sweet and savory pastries and much more.
Cost: $3200. Included: all meals, transportation and accommodations as well as all gratuities and service charges. (We’ll cover the standard 15% for our driver, local guides, restaurant servers, room service, etc. You are free to give more, but it is not required.)
Not included: airfare, single room supplement ($450), activities you do on your own.
Group size: a maximum of 10 people, plus Hassan and Jeremy.
Transportation: We’ll travel in a 17-seat Mercedes minivan, with English-speaking driver.
Accommodations: We’ll stay in top-rated riads (traditional Moroccan guesthouses) in Rabat and Marrakech and in comfortable but more basic accommodations in Moulay Idriss .