This is a country where you can find herds of camels, goats, & sheep wandering roadside, souks with gorgeous handmade carpets, locally made Argan oil, and handmade pottery. You will taste the classic Moroccan dish, tagine, and feast on dates, figs, pomegranates, and olives, plus a variety of fresh and delicious breads. You can have your body scrubbed clean at a local hammam, ride a camel, watch a snake charmer, listen to traditional music, hike through spectacular gorges, share mint tea with local women, and have your hands or feet painted with henna.

Join me for 2 weeks of discovering some of the best that Morocco has to offer.

September 17 – October 2, 2026.

We will begin our tour in Casablanca as that is the easiest city to fly into from the U.S. If you are coming from another country we can discuss which city is best for you to arrive in and arrange our meet-up.

We will travel to Essaouira for a 3-night stay filling our days with a balance of activities and down time in our lovely riad (B&B). In addition to other fabulous foods, you will get a chance to taste Amlou, a special mixture of ground almonds, Argan oil, and honey. Amlou is served at most riads around the country for breakfast as it has a unique significance; it is a symbol of generosity, warmth, and sharing, particularly amongst the Amazigh (Berber) communities. The production of Amlou is deeply rooted in Moroccan tradition and it is a cherished food. Additionally, legend suggests it has both medicinal and aphrodisiac qualities.

In Marrakech we will take a cooking class, experience a hammam, learn how a variety of local traditional art is made, visit a couple of the more typical (but worthwhile) tourist attractions, dine at some fun rooftop cafés, explore the famous Djemaa El Fna square, which can’t really be described – you’ll just have to see for yourself. 

Next we travel in the Atlas Mountains to fascinating ancient cities and towns, some of which are Unesco World Heritage Sites. Movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and the television series Games of Thrones were filmed in various locations throughout this area. 

The mountains are home to the Amazigh people, more commonly known as Berber. They prefer Amazigh, which means free person, over Berber, which means barbarian, a name given to them by the Romans. The Amazigh are the indigenous people of North Africa, with roots in the region dating back to prehistoric times. Some of the women will show us how they make their traditional breads over open fire and a grill, while others demonstrate how their rugs are made. We will be invited into Iija’s home for tea. Iija is a woman I met a couple of months ago when she invited me in one day as I walked past her house. This will be a new experience for her – to host a tea for tourists – so you can imagine how excited we all are about that. 

There will be an opportunity to ride a camel if you like, swim in a cool river, walk through a date grove, listen to local music, and relax and enjoy our beautiful eco-hotel with its salt water swimming pool. 

There’s more, but I think you get the idea.

The truth is, this tour is not for everyone. If you want the more common experience of hitting the main tourist spots with a fairly rigid itinerary, there are plenty of those opportunities, but that’s not what I offer.

I began organizing, then leading retreats about 30 years ago, then became interested in cultural tours where I could show people beautiful places and let them have experiences that they might not otherwise have if traveling on their own or with a more traditional tour company. This is because I aim to stay off the heavily treaded tourist trek, choosing instead the “road less traveled.”

What’s included: 

• Guides & translators
• All lodging – 13 nights, single or double occupancy
• Breakfast daily
• All transportation within the country as part of the tour
• All excursions, classes, demonstrations, etc. included in the itinerary
• A lunch or dinner most days 

Not included in the price:

• Plane fare
• Alcohol
• Some lunches and dinners
• Tips

Prices: 

$4,680 double occupancy

$5,480 single occupancy

If you are interested in participating in this tour, please request a registration form and phone call with me to see if we are a good fit. 

I will also provide you with a payment schedule and cancellation policy. 

A $1,000 deposit is required to hold your spot. 

The tour is limited to 8 people.

Your guides:

Deanna Figueira – As a tour leader, Deanna ventures off the beaten path, immersing her groups in the vibrant cultures of destinations like Brazil, Kenya, Morocco, Mexico, and Portugal. With each adventure, she creates opportunities for authentic connections and meaningful experiences, inviting travelers to delve deeper into the heart and soul of the place. Deanna has been leading tours for over 30 years and speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Yassine Mazid – Yassine has worked as a tour guide for the past 10 years, living in Skoura, Morocco with his wife and five children. With a father from Mali and an Amazigh (Berber) mother, he speaks Arabic, Amazigh, French, English, and bits of other languages. Yassine loves meeting people from all over the world and sharing his culture and experiences with them.

Nadia Bekar – Nadia is from Beni Mallal, but currently lives in Casablanca. She speaks Arabic, French, and English and has begun studying Spanish. She has always loved travel and discovering new places. She is excited to be part of this (her first) tour as a translator and guide, and to share her passion for connection and exploration with the group.