Morocco Photo Adventure

Set out to document the contrasting landscapes of Morocco on a photo adventure that combines hiking, legendary cities, and a three-day camel trek. Capture the many moods of the Sahara on early morning and late afternoon shoots, and take portraits of our cameleers. Delve into the bustling souks of Fez and Marrakech to photograph towering piles of colorful spices, artisans at work, and merchants hawking their wares. Hike into the Atlas Mountains to photograph life in a typical Berber village, and frame the age-old architecture of rose-colored kasbahs, Roman ruins, and mosaic-clad mosques and palaces.

Day 1 — Casablanca, Morocco/Rabat

Arrive in Casablanca and gather for a welcome breakfast, followed by a visit to the extraordinary Hassan II Mosque, whose exquisite stuccowork and soaring minaret make for an excellent first photography outing. Travel to Rabat and enjoy a late lunch before checking into our hotel. The evening is free to relax or explore on your own.
Golden Tulip Farah Rabat (B,L,D)

Day 2 — Rabat/Meknès/Volubilis/Fès

Photograph Rabat’s architectural treasures today, from the minaret of the Hassan Mosque, left incomplete in the 12th century, to the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Continue to Meknès, Morocco’s 17th-century capital, and capture the geometry of its grand gateways and mausoleums decorated with zellij, or mosaic tiles. After lunch, delve deeper into the past on a photo shoot at the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Travel to Fez this afternoon.
Hôtel Les Mérinides (B,L,D)

Day 3 — Fez

Spend the day exploring Fez, the oldest of Morocco’s four imperial cities. With your camera in hand, venture into the narrow streets of the souks to photograph the myriad textures and colors of merchants hawking spices, copper, and carpets and tanners plunging skins in pools of dye. Zoom in on the mosaics of Nejjarine Fountain, and see the Kairaouine Mosque. After lunch, visit the historic Jewish quarter in Fès Jedid and the Dar Batha Museum of Moroccan arts.
Hôtel Les Mérinides (B,L,D)

Day 4 — Ziz Valley/Erfoud

Stop for a hike in the cedar forests of the Atlas Mountains, home to Barbary macaque monkeys. In the alpine town of Ifrane, document the French colonial architecture. On our way to Erfoud, descend into the spectacular Ziz Valley and its lush oases of date palms. (3-4 miles hiking, 1-2 hours)
Kasbah Hotel Chergui (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Erg Chebbi/Begin Camel Trek

Drive in 4x4s to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. After learning about camel riding from Berber cameleers, embark on our Saharan trek, camel riding (and walking, if you wish) across dunes interspersed with volcanic rock and populated by nomadic herders. Photographic opportunities abound in this otherworldly “sandscape” of shifting colors and shapes. Arrive at our tented camp and dine under a star-studded sky. (4-5 miles camel riding and walking, 2-3 hours)
Camping (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Remlia Well

Awaken for an early photo walk as the light of the rising sun casts changing colors and shadows on the dunes. Then set out on our camels across a varied desert terrain. Traverse fan-shaped landforms and dry river basins, keeping an eye out for fossils as we approach our camp in the dunes near the well at Remlia. (8 miles camel riding and walking, 4-5 hours)
Camping (B,L,D)

Day 7 — End Trek/Alnif/Boumalne Dadès

Mount our camels for a final morning trek. Then drive off-road in 4x4s to search for trilobites and other ancient fossils around the town of Alnif, a renowned fossil-hunting region. After lunch, continue to Todra Gorge, where sheer rock walls reach nearly to 1,000 feet. Later, check into our hotel at Boumalne Dadès, perched on an outcrop amid canyons and plateaus. (1-2 miles camel riding and walking, 1 hour)
Hôtel Xaluca Dadès (B,L,D)

Day 8 — Dadès Valley

Travel through the “valley of 1,000 casbahs” linking the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara, and stop to photograph palm oases; rose plantations; and casbahs, or fortified villages, along the way. Set out on a hike through the terraced fields of Dadès Valley. Later this afternoon, visit the Berber village of Bou Tharar. (4-5 miles hiking, 3 hours)
Hôtel Xaluca Dadès (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Valley of the Roses

Spend the day hiking in the Valley of the Roses, a fertile region known for its pink Persian roses. Our hike passes through photogenic landscapes, into a gorge and over hills dotted with casbahs. During lunch with a local Berber family, learn about their rich cultural heritage and photograph their everyday traditions. (7 miles hiking, 4-5 hours)
Chez Talout (B,L,D)

Day 10 — Aït Ben Haddou

Embark on a hike in the Skoura oasis, known for its beautiful casbahs. Arrive in the hilltop village of Aït Ben Haddou in time to catch the afternoon light on its adobe towers. (3-4 miles hiking, 3 hours)
Riad Ksar Ighnda (B,L,D)

Day 11 — High Atlas/Marrakech

Today’s journey takes us over the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, which rise above a landscape of oasis pastures, willow and poplar groves, and picturesque villages. Stop for a photo walk in the stunning Ounila Valley before continuing on to Marrakech. (2-3 miles hiking, 1-2 hours)
Hotel Es Saadi (B,L,D)

Day 12 — Marrakech

Enjoy a full day exploring Morocco’s “pearl of the South.” Photograph the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs, and Bahia Palace. Meander through the twisting lanes of the medina, capturing the vibrant bustle of merchants, artisans, and bartering townspeople. In the central plaza, snap portraits of snake charmers, magicians, and costumed water sellers. Tonight, toast your photography adventure at a farewell dinner.
Hotel Es Saadi (B,L,D)

Day 13 — Marrakech/U.S.

This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight.