MOROCCO - FES and THE NORTHERN RIF MOUNTAINS

Come with us to Morocco! Souks, Mountains and the Blue City! Trek the Rif Mountains and wander the streets of some of them most beautiful villages in the country! Leaving Fes and ending in Tangier, this trip will take us off the beaten path to discover the hidden gems of Morocco, in the North!

Fes and Northern Rif Mountains

From the exotic souks of Fes, deep in the heart of the ancient Medina, to the peaks in the Rif Mountains, we’ll be traveling some of the lesser known areas of Morocco. Heading north from Fes, to Moulay Idriss, then to the stunning Andalusion Blue City of ChefChaouen, a town that some say is the prettiest in Morocco, painted completely blue. It’s a photographer’s dream! Then up to the white city of Tetouan, an artist enclave, and along the Mediterranean to the closest point between Europe and Africa, with the great Rock of Gibraltar in our sites. Then on to Tangier! Riding donkeys to archeological ruins, eating with locals and trekking through Olive groves to mountaintops with views of the sea! Could it get any better?

Our featured NGO

Dar Zerhoune donkey project
For all you animal lovers, we’ll not only be riding well cared for donkeys, but we’ll also be raising money and awareness for their well being, vet care, vaccinations and owner training! This project is generated out of our hotel in Moulay Idriss and is a wonderful, helpful initiative to further animal rights in the country, while being respectful of Moroccan traditions. The first donkey day in the city, was in June 2015 and nearly 45% of the donkeys of Moulay Idriss attended to have free vet check ups. And the project keeps growing every year! Dar Zerhoune also supports art workshops with kids, so we’ll do our usual giving-back photo workshop with the kids while we’re there!

OCTOBER, 2024

Cost – $4800 usd
Guests – 6-10
Arrival airport – Fes
Departure Airport - Tangier

Quick Pack list

Camera equipment, layered clothing, warm outerwear, rain jacket, bathing suit, school supplies for children, small art supplies, extra reading glasses.

Travel level

Comfortable, some strenuous trekking and walking. Accommodations comfortable boutique hotels All have full western bathroom facilities. 

Recommended Reading

• A Riffian’s Tune - Joseph M Labaki

• Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood.
  Fatima Mernissi

• The Spiders House. Paul Bowles

ITINERARY

TRAVEL DAY
Travel day! Welcome to the most evocative of Morocco’s imperial capitals, ancient Fes is nestled in a high valley and resplendent with minarets and domes. Its renowned medina is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world, hauntingly beautiful and full of visual delights. This city bustles with an exotic buzz that is purely Moroccan!
Welcome Dinner at our Riad
Accommodations: Riad Al Bartal or Maison Bleue

DAY 1
Welcome Photo Class
Meet the team, language tips, intro photo class and orientation. Then we head off to savor the scent of spices, sizzling lamb kabobs and and watch scenes that seem to jump out of a storybook – from donkeys laden with blankets, to women carrying boards of
bread dough to brick ovens. We’ll visit Fes’ famous tannery, where men process
leather in an open-air courtyard lined with knee-deep, multi-colored vats of dye. 

DAY 2
After a breakfast photo class we’ll take the morning to visit the vegetable souk with a top notch Moroccan chef followed by a cooking class in a restored palace. After your delicious meal, a walking tour, in the late afternoon light,
making sure to practice our organic portraiture. 
Cocktails and late Dinner overlooking the city  

DAY 3
Our travels take us on to Moulay Idriss, one of Morocco’s holiest places. Discover whitewashed houses that sparkle with sunlight, relax in a traditional hammam or work with Nance on your ‘Tableau’ photography, in this beautiful city. 
We’ll arrive to our Guesthouse, midday, and our luggage will be carted up to our Riad via donkey!
Accommodations: Dar Zerhoune

DAY 4
Up and out early to get market sellers setting up - Saturday is market day in Moulay Idriss, and this town loves its market – we’ll work our way through the stalls, donkeys and carts to get your amazing shots.
At sunset, we’ll hop on our donkeys and ride up to Volubilis - a world UNESCO ancient archeological site, to catch it at magic hour - the ruined Roman city is the best-preserved archaeological site in Morocco. Its most amazing features are the many beautiful mosaics preserved in situ…we’ll make sure to stop to photograph along the way.

DAY 5
After our Breakfast photo class, we head north to Chefchaouen!
Beautifully perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif Mountains, “The Blue City”is one of the prettiest towns in Morocco – a blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own world with hidden secrets around every corner. The many cats, artisans and architecture all add to the mystic of this most photogenic city!
Critiques on the terrace at our beautiful Riad looking out over the town.
Accommodations: Dar Jasmine or similar

DAY 6
Up at dawn to catch the Blue City waking up!
Breakfast photo class – colour and contrast, it can’t be about anything else in Chefchaouen! Wander and photograph the medina, find the narrowest streets, climbing stairs and peaking in doors. We’ll photograph artisans pounding copper plates, leather makers and Berber men and women weaving strands of rustic cotton textiles called ‘mandils’ on their large looms.
Then off to the local Hammam for a real authentic Moroccan experience
Cocktails on the terrace

DAY 7
Set out on our All Day Hike to Mt. Tissouka (with Nance)
We’ll head off to the heart of the Rif Mountains  - The Talassemtane National Park with a stop in Dardara Village to visit a women’s weaving cooperative! We start the hike at Gite Talassemtane, with a guide, to the top of Mt Tissouka and return in 6-7 hours. 
OR 
Culinary Day in Chefchaouen (with Laurie)
If you aren’t up for a full day hike,  stay in Chefchaouen to explore the culinary side – with a food tasting tour of the town’s best local cuisine and/or another amazing Moroccan cooking class with a local chef!

DAY 8
After our early breakfast photo class, we continue our journey North to the tip of the country, through the mountain town of Tetouan (the white city) which is chock full of local artisans and art galleries! After a delicious lunch, we drive around the tip of country as the sun sets over the sparkling Mediterranean with a view of Spain and the Rock of Gibralter – the closest point between Europe and Africa – to the Port city of Tangier. Blue fishing boats line the beaches – with more great photo opportunities along the way.
Cocktail Critiques at our stunning Victorian mansion Riad
Accommodations: Mimi Calpe

DAY 9
Final Breakfast photo class
Spend the day by the pool going through your amazing images, enjoy a luxurious massage or wander the streets of the Medina and Kasbah in Old Tangier. Or you can sit at the Café Tinjis in the Petit Soco and just people watch over a
Moroccan mint tea…it’s up to you!
Final Cocktail Reception and show of your work, and then dinner at our wonderful hotel!
Accommodations: Mimi Calpe

DAY 10
MARCH 26 - TRAVEL DAY
FLIGHTS HOME from TANGIER
Safe journey home.  We’ll miss you!

WHAT OUR TRAVELLERS SAID

Nance — you are an engaging, motivating, inspiring teacher. Laurie, you are an organized, sensitive, flexible tour leader. Both of you are great, great fun!   ...Greta

Keep up the good work-your work is changing the world for the better-one photo/one person at a time. You certainly have changed my life forever! Many thanks! ...Dea

SAHARA DESERT CAMP ADD-ON

Ask us about our Sahara Desert Add-on Excursion! We can have that arranged for you, before you start our trip with us. Starting in Fes, you will wind your way southwest, down to Erg Chebbi, at the edge of the desert, to meet your Bedouin guide and ride your camel over the Sahara dunes. With the sun setting, you’ll arrive at your desert camp and have the best sleep of your life under the desert stars!