9 Day Private Cooking and Cultural Tour in Morocco

This Morocco culinary tour is a treat for the senses, particularly the taste buds. Arabic, Berber, French, and Spanish influences merge to make Morocco one of the most fascinating and flavorful destinations in the world. From urban Casablanca to the fishing town of Essaouira to Berber villages of the High Atlas Mountains to mesmerizing Marrakech, Morocco’s distinct culture is a story best told through its cuisine.

Because Morocco sits at a crossroads of several civilizations, ancient traditions are still part of everyday life. It’s seductive, as sweeping deserts contrast with more than 1,000 miles of coastline. Daily life in this predominantly Muslim country follows the rhythms of calls to prayer —and also the rhythms of the souks — the frenetic and near-mystical markets. Alleyways are filled with fresh baked goods, fresh produce, and pungent aromas wafting from colorful barrels of exotic spices, alongside displays of tassel purses, leather slippers, silver lanterns, and jeweled caftans.

Is this Morocco tour right for you?

This exclusive Morocco tour is for those who crave sensory richness and cultural depth—travelers who want to explore Morocco not just by seeing it, but by tasting it, smelling it, and being part of it.

You’ll love it if you’re drawn to fragrant spice markets, hands-on cooking classes in family kitchens, slow-roasted tagines under desert skies, and discovering the rhythm of daily life in both vibrant cities and quiet villages.

You don’t need to speak Arabic or French, or even know what harissa is—just bring an open mind, an adventurous palate, and a desire to connect with people and traditions in meaningful ways. Please note that although this trip is not an exceptionally active trip, there is quite a bit of walking, including some on dirt trails and uneven pavement.

This private tour is perfect for couples, friends, or small families who want to explore Morocco on their own schedule, with expert guidance and plenty of personal touches along the way.

Itinerary

Day 1: Moroccan food tour begins

Welcome to Morocco! Prepare yourself for one of the most fascinating, colorful and culture-rich countries on the planet. Also prepare for some of the world’s best food tour experiences. They will pick you up at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport and drive you to your beautiful 5-star hotel conveniently located in the center of Casablanca. Dinner tonight is at a family-owned restaurant highlighting modern takes on classic Casablanca dishes.

• Drive time: 45 minutes
• Meals included: None

Day 2: Hassan II Mosque and drive to Essaouira

Casablanca is the most cosmopolitan of all Moroccan cities, a vibrant economic hub with the largest port in the Maghreb. After breakfast at your hotel you’ll set off to visit the highlight of this modern city: the majestic Hassan II Mosque, the third largest religious monument in the world, and the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims are permitted to enter. After your mosque tour you’ll head out of town, embarking on a scenic 5-6 hour drive along the Atlantic coast to Essaouira. You’ll stop for lunch along the way to enjoy a relaxed seafood lunch on the beach, arriving in Essaouira in the early evening. A short walk through the mellow medina will lead you to dinner at a laid-back local spot with live Gnawa music, or you may choose to dine at your exquisite ocean-view riad.

• Drive time: Approximately 5-6 hours, not including stops
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: City tour and Moroccan cooking class

You’ll wake up in the charming fishing town of Essaouira, with its relaxed and artistic vibe. Today you’ll explore the town’s impressive medina, whose massive ancient fortifications are a mixture of Portuguese, French and Berber architecture overlooking the emerald sea. Along the way you’ll visit the port and fish auction, where you’ll select your fish for tonight’s cooking class. Then you’ll stroll through the spice market to gather more ingredients. Enjoy a spectacular seaside lunch, where freshly caught fish is grilled to perfection before your eyes, and top it off with famous Moroccan mint tea and delectable French pastries at one of Essaouira’s many cafes. Spend the afternoon strolling through Essaouira’s serene squares, browsing artisan workshops and perusing art galleries, or take an optional camel ride along the beach. In the early evening you’ll experience the first cooking class of your Morocco food tour, where you’ll prepare a classic Moroccan chopped salad and fish tajine using the fresh catch of the day. And then you’ll enjoy the scrumptious meal you just created!

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Journey across the High Atlas Mountains

After a relaxed breakfast you’ll head inland through olive groves and red-earth hills and into the High Atlas Mountains, stopping for lunch en route. Along the way you’ll visit an argan oil cooperative where you can try your hand at the traditional grinding process, side by side with the local women. You’ll take another short break for tea and olives at a small village. In the early evening arrive at your charming ecolodge in the Ouirgane Valley and receive a warm Berber welcome. This evening you’ll enjoy a short bread-making workshop in a clay oven, followed by a simple dinner using garden ingredients.

• Drive time: Approximately 4.5 hours, not including stops
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Village life and afternoon cooking class

Awake to a delicious Berber breakfast, and then you’ll head to the weekly souk where villagers trade produce, herbs, and livestock. This is rural Morocco at its most authentic. At the souk you’ll select organic vegetables and meat—everything you need for your cooking classes at the lodge. Following a short hike through juniper forests and terraced farms, you’re invited into a traditional Berber home to share a lunch of slow-cooked couscous and freshly-baked bread with the family. You’ll then head back to your charming ecolodge for your next authentic cooking workshop where you’ll learn classics like pastilla, Berber tagine, and roasted vegetable salads—another of the delicious meals you’ll cook (and eat!) during your Morocco culinary experiences.

• Drive time: 1.5 hours
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Preserving mountain traditions

This morning, after another delicious breakfast at the lodge, you’ll learn how the locals dry herbs, pickle cucumbers, and preserve lemons. You’ll then visit a village herbalist to learn about plant-based remedies and flavoring Moroccan food. Returning to the lodge for a late lunch, the afternoon is yours free to relax or swim at the pool. In the evening you can choose to participate in another cooking class, making harira soup, couscous, and pastilla a la creme for dessert. Or just sit back and enjoy the delicious meal under the stars, serenaded by local musicians.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Explore magical Marrakech

Today you drive to exotic and mystical Marrakech, an enchanting palm oasis set against the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas mountains. You’ll visit the beautiful Moorish palace of Dar El Bacha which was once the residence of Thami El Glaoui, pacha of Marrakech. Some illustrious guests who spent time at Dar El Bacha include Maurice Ravel, Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, and Winston Churchill, among others.

Next you’ll enter the ancient royal Saadian Tombs, and then explore the vibrant and historic Jewish mellah (quarter) and view the majestic Koutoubia Mosque before entering the 11th century walled medina. You will wind your way through the serpentine labyrinth of the ancient bustling souk, where you’ll see Moroccan craftsmanship at its finest. In the late afternoon you may choose to relax by the pool at the riad, or enjoy a hammam or hot bath.

This evening enjoy a food tasting tour in the walled medina. You’ll sample traditional Marrakech specialties such as msemen, lentil soup, lamb tangia, and orange blossom sweets. Then thrill in the magic that emerges from the heart of the famed square, Djemaa el-Fna. Mystical snake charmers, hustlers and mischievous monkeys are part of the nightly drama that unfolds, as Berber acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and engaging storytellers seduce rapt crowds.

Accommodation tonight is at a charming riad inside the Marrakech medina.

• Drive time: 1.5 hours
• Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Moroccan cooking class and more exploring

After breakfast you’ll start the day with a morning cooking class in the riad courtyard kitchen. You’ll learn to prepare kefta tagine, and mouthwatering Moroccan pastries.

Following lunch, your last afternoon is flexible. You may want to visit local artisan co-ops and learn about traditional Moroccan crafts as you pick up some last minute gifts and souvenirs. Or you may choose an optional visit to the Yves St. Laurent museum and Majorelle gardens.

You’ll end the journey with a heartfelt farewell dinner in a charming private home tucked inside the historic Medina. This evening is always a favorite. You’ll join local friends from all walks of life—artists, entrepreneurs, scholars, and an expert on Moroccan cuisine—for an unforgettable night of conversation, connection, and cultural exchange. It’s a chance to discover Morocco through its people, share stories, and experience the warmth of true Moroccan hospitality.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9: Morocco food tour ends

Your Moroccan food travel itinerary ends today as you transfer to the airport for your return home. Depending on your flight plans, they will either drop you off at the Marrakech airport or arrange for a private car transfer to Casablanca’s airport. Or continue on with them for a Sahara Desert Safari!

• Drive time: 15 – 20 minutes (to Marrakech airport)
• Meals included: Breakfast

Please note: This itinerary is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the Morocco food tour but it is not set in stone. What you actually do on a given day is flexible and can be tailored to the interests of the group.