Morocco, from Medina to Mountain 2024

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Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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