Travel across Morocco and develop a portfolio that captures the diversity of the country and your skills as a photographer. Guided by professional photographers, you’ll have both private and group lessons to improve your technique. Explore markets, learn about Berber culture in the high Atlas Mountains, ride a camel through the Sahara, and marvel at the mosques in Marrakech. Get a comprehensive understanding of this diverse country and come home with photos to show family, teachers, and possibly even editors
Welcome to Morocco, your GME driver will be waiting for you to take you for a visit to Hassan II Mosque. Transfer to Rabat, B&B accommodation in a hotel in Rabat.
Begin the journey with a visit to Rabat, the political capital of Morocco along the Atlantic Coast. Explore the old medina and visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum for a sunset photo shoot before dining on a traditional boat along the corniche.
Wake up, have your breakfast and head to the blue-washed medina of Chefchaouen. Upon arrival, guided visit to explore the bleu pearl and photograph the bright blue town with its colorful alley marked by the vivid colors of scarves, carpets, and blankets dangled on its bleu walls. Catch a beautiful sunset over the blue-washed medina from the Bouzafaar Mosque on the hill facing the medina before dinner in the charming Placa Outa Hammam nearby the Kasbah in the heart of Chefchaouen Medina!
Get up early, have your breakfast and venture out to photograph the sleeping medina of Chefchaouen when all shops and bazaar are closed. After a morning photo expedition, take the road to the national park of Talassemtane and hike to Akchour Waterfall and God’s Bridge, another opportunity to photograph the gorgeous nature of the park. In the evening, you will have more time to explore more the medina by night.
Rise and have your breakfast, then depart for the old medina of Fez, the largest city in the world without cars and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On your way, stop by the ancient Roman city of Volubilis to capture the diverse history of Morocco as a Roman province. After checking into a traditional riad in the medina of Fes, walk to the Merenid Tombs overlooking the medina for a beautiful sunset to photograph the beautiful city of Fes. Back to your Riad, dinner and overnight
After breakfast visit the most important sites throughout the medina, including the Bou Inan madrasa, al-Karaouine, the souks, the tanneries, spice shops, and more. Lunch will be at a charming restaurant in the medina serving local delicious food.
In the late afternoon continue your exploration and take advantage of taking photos in each stop intended for shooting. Dinner and overnight in a traditional Riad in the medina
Rise and have your breakfast and get ready for your big journey. Today journey will take you from the north of Morocco to the south. You will see a significant contrast in weather, land and culture as you drive from the Rif to the High Atlas Mountains. Your driver will be at your disposition to stop at the most extraordinary places for photography.
Arrive to the Ziz valley which will be your break between Fez and the desert. You will stay in a guesthouse in the picturesque village in cozy rooms along the mountainside and awake to the spectacular juxtaposition of vertiginous cliffs and verdant valleys. Dinner and overnight in the Ziz Valley
After a morning expedition into the surrounding area, you will continue your journey to the largest non-polar desert in the world, the mighty Sahara. Upon arrival you will embark on an hour-long camel ride into a Bedouin camp site. Dinner and overnight in Nomadic tents under the huge sky of the golden desert
Get up early before sunrise, take your camera and ride your camel to a nearby dune to photograph the sunrise over the wide expanse of sand. Afterwards, continue to Merzouga for breakfast and shower and drive along the “route of a thousand kasbahs” to Dades Gorge to photograph the magnificent Dades Gorge. Dinner and overnight in Boumalen Dades
Rise , have your breakfast and make your way to the kasbah town of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO world heritage site famous as a setting in dozens of Hollywood hits such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Afterwards, explore and photograph the Kasbah. Visit Ouarzazate film studio. Spend the night at Ait Ben Haddou
Breakfast at your riad and start your journey towards Marrakesh . you will pass the olive fields of the Oued Zat as you ascend to the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260 metre high) that will take you through spectacular mountainous land. Along the road you will see panoramic sights of the High Atlas Mountains as well as rich valleys, colorful villages, and striking geology.
Explore Ait Benhaddou kasbah which is located at 32 km from Ouarzazate. It is situated in Souss-Massa-Draâ on a hill along the Ouarzazate River. The site has been declared as a world heritage by UNESCO and many movies has been filmed there: Lawrence of Arabia, Sodom and Gomorrah and Jesus of Nazareth. Ait Benhaddou was a caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Most of the town’s inhabitants immigrated to other nearby villages and only few families still live within.
On the way you will visit also Kasbah Telouet which is one of Morocco’s hidden gems. It is the ancestral home of the Pacha Glaoui Family and former route of the caravans from the Sahara over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. The Kashah was established in the 18th and 19th centuries and represented the El Glaoui family's power hence named Glaoui Palace. It can still be visited but it is steadily becoming more damaged and is slowly collapsing. In 2010, work was underway to restore the property
On the way stop for lunch and visit the Argan Cooperative where argan oil, argan butter, and argan cosmetics are made by hand from argan nuts by Berber women. You will be invited to taste the argan natural products. Drive to Marrakesh , dine and spend the night in DAY 12/ MARRAKESH
Breakfast and explore Marrakesh at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at a riad in Marrakesh Medina
Breakfast at your Riad. Explore the fascinating city of Marrakesh starting from new part Gueliz or Nouvelle Ville of Marrakesh. Continue to the magical Majorelle Gardens designed by Jacque Majorelle and preserved by Yves Saint Laurent. Its bleu and yellow colored paths make of it a attractive garden with various ponds, cacti, and plants. On our return to your Riad, a stop at Mamounia Hotel and Garden.
Explore the El Bahia Palace which is a set of gardens located in Marrakesh. It was built in the late 19th century, planned to be the greatest palace of its time. The name means "brilliance". As in other buildings of the period in other countries, it was intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style. There is a 2-acre (8,000 m²) garden with rooms opening onto courtyards.
Visit the Saadian Tombs are mausolea in Marrakesh which date to time of the Saadian dynasty sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were discovered in 1917 and were renovated by the Beaux-arts service. The mausoleum includes the burials of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River. Among the graves are those of Ahmad al-Mansur and his family.
Next visit the old Medina. Explore this charming area on foot. In Djemaa el Fna, you will visit the famous 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. The guide will take you through the intricate streets and alleys of the Djemaa el Fna. Enjoy the smells of food and explore the souks specializing in Berber carpets, silver jewelry, handmade shoes, and leather tanneries. Enjoy a delicious lunch at one of Marrakesh’s most tasty restaurants.
After lunch, visit the Museum of Marrakesh, a Contemporary Moroccan Art Museum, a private museum devoted to popular arts & crafts situated within a beautiful Spanish-Moroccan house.
Evening free to explore Marrakesh on your own. Your private driver will be available to escort you to a variety of restaurants we recommend. B&B accommodation in a nice Riad. Dine and spend the night at a 4 or 5 star hotel in Marrakesh
Breakfast at your Riad. Drive to the former Portuguese fishing village of Essaouira passing by roadside towns and Berber village. Essaouira previously known as Mogador by European sailors and traders, is a city in the western Moroccan economic region of Marrakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast. The modern name means "the little rampart", a reference to the fortress walls that still enclose part of the city.
Visit of the medieval town Essaouira with its lovely white-washed and blue houses and learn about the local tradition and enjoy the fresh seafood.
Essaouria is famous for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival that attracts many visitors in June. It also has an wide beach for surfing called Plage de Safi.
wander along the main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan, and then visit the Skala du Port, the fishing harbor, offers remarkable views of the Portuguese ramparts. Discover the ramparts, the spice and jewelry souks of the medina, and the Jewish Mellah. The medina of Essaouira , an example of a late-18th century fortified town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch
After lunch visit Orson Welles’ Square and memorial, designed by Samir Mustapha, one of the towns artists, which pays homage to the filming of Othello in Essouaria.
In the early fifties, the film director and actor Orson Welles stayed in Essaouira filming his classic version of Othello which contains several memorable scenes shot in the labyrinthine streets and alleys of the medina. Return to Marrakesh in the evening. Dinner in a nice restaurant. B&B accommodation in a nice Riad in Marrakesh. Spend the night at Riad in Marrakesh
Wake up early and head to the airport to return home or continue your summer adventure.