Morocco with Meagan Morrison of Travel Write Draw

Salam alaikum! Welcome to Marrakech, the heart of a thousand-year-old desert empire full of art and artistry. Marrakech is a showcase of tile and textiles, ceramics and swirling stucco designs, with a creative energy that has long drawn artists. It continues to thrive thanks to the craftspeople of the ancient souqs (street bazaars) and the contemporary art and design scene of the modern Ville Nouvelle. 

We’ll meet up with Meagan at our hotel, set our intention for the week, and dive right in. Our first order of business: a late-afternoon visit to Djemaa el Fna. As the sun sets, the square at the heart of Marrakech comes alive—a mesmerizing open-air show. It’s also the perfect prelude to our welcome dinner under an elegant, hand-painted zouaké ceiling surrounded by flower-filled patios and fountains. Tonight we toast to our Moroccan adventures to come!

Design is our theme for today, starting inside the dusky-pink walls surrounding the medina (old city). We’ll explore the warren of ancient streets and narrow lanes, stopping at Morocco’s largest mosque, Koutoubia, and at Palais Bahia, a grand 19th-century palace drawing upon the geometric patterns, heavenly arches and bold colors that have dominated architecture here for centuries. After lunch in the medina, our design-forward exploration continues as we wander through market stalls overflowing with intricate textiles, colorful ceramics and pungent spices. We’ll also meet some of the artisans who are keeping centuries-old Moroccan traditions alive through their work.

We’ll have time back at the hotel and then regroup for dinner, a sumptuous gastronomique experience at iconic Dar Yacout, deep in the medina, with sweeping rooftop views over the old city.

Sketchpad or camera in hand, we start today at the eye-catching Yves Saint Laurent Museum. It honors the late French fashion designer, who considered Marrakech both his second home and a wellspring of inspiration. The soothing interiors showcase YSL art and fashion pieces. Adjacent Jardin Majorelle—named after French artist Jacques Majorelle, and occupying his former home and studio—is a magical garden space: an oasis of palm trees, cacti and waterways. It’s a favorite of Meagan’s, and the perfect spot for us to sketch or paint, or simply to enjoy, as Meagan brings to life her own creative process with us.

Lunch today is at +61, one of Marrakech’s top modern kitchens, with a focus on simple, fresh and seasonal. We’ll round out the afternoon at Mushmina, a pop-up fashion brand designed to empower Moroccan women. We’ll sit down with designer/co-owner Katie O’Neill for a conversation about running a creative business in Morocco, and the origins and integrity from which all art is created. Afterwards, the evening is ours to explore.

The old world is never far off in Marrakech, but this morning’s focus is the upscale Gueliz district, and its wide-open avenues lined with art galleries and fashion boutiques. We’ll visit a selection of galleries with a diverse collection of Moroccan contemporary art on view. Then we’re off to Riad Yima, the brainchild of Moroccan pop-art icon Hassan Hajjaj. He transformed Riad Yima into a gallery and traditional tea room. We’ll have the intimate space to ourselves, with Meagan leading a discussion about creativity, design and travel, inspiring us to think about all we’ve seen and experienced so far.

Then it’s time to get hands-on at a zilij (zellige) tile workshop, where we learn the art of forming, firing and glazing traditional zellige clay tiles like a true maâlem (master craftsman) passing knowledge down from generation to generation. This is how the true artist experiences Marrakech.

Today we head to the Atlas Mountains, swapping African, French and Arabic influences for Berber. The Saharan Berbers—who call themselves Amazigh, or “free people”—have ruled unconquered for thousands of years. They were once instrumental in setting up trade networks between North Africa and the Middle East; today they live in scattered communities in the Atlas Mountains. 

After a traditional Amazigh lunch, we’ll meet the weavers of a local cooperative whose rugs are made by hand, exclusively by Amazigh women, on looms passed down for generations. Each piece is unique, featuring an abstract geometric language reflecting key phases of the creator’s life: as a virgin, a new bride, through marriage, pregnancy and motherhood. After, we’ll soak in the views high up in our blissful mountain retreat, then reconvene for dinner together to celebrate this next phase of our journey.

Awake in serene luxury, as sunshine filters gently through our kasbah’s terrace windows. After breakfast, we lace up our shoes and walk the foothills to the home of a local Amazigh family. After tea and a traditional lunch, the family has graciously set us up in a private area for an interactive discussion with Meagan, setting our artistic intentions in our new setting, and leveraging our experience of the mountains to stimulate our senses. The rest of the evening is ours to put our new insights to use, whether it’s writing in a journal, sketching the panoramic views from the kasbah, shooting photos or simply reflecting on this magical journey.

We say goodbye to our Atlas hideaway and head to the coastal city of Essaouira, all white-washed buildings and wind-swept beaches (and the setting for Slaver’s Bay in Game of Thrones). On the way, we’ll take time to visit another co-op, this one dedicated to argan oil, used cosmetically and in cooking for centuries. It’s produced from the seeds of argan trees, native only to this narrow strip of desert between Essaouira and the mountains.

Although Islamic tradition forbids alcohol, viticulture has a thousand-year history in Morocco. We’ll stop for lunch and a tasting at one of the most acclaimed local vineyards and wine producers, noted for its full-bodied reds produced using traditional wine-making methods. Refreshed and recharged, we’ll spend the late afternoon enjoying our traditional riad accommodations on the edge of the medina, possibly with a cocktail in hand, taking in sunset from our rooftop deck.

A guided tour kicks things off today, showing us the wonders of our new coastal setting as we wander along the ramparts, scoping out beaches and watching kite surfers ride majestic waves. For lunch, we feast on fresh seafood overlooking the harbor, and think of the vast differences in scenery we’ve experienced throughout our travels. Next, at a thuya wood workshop, we’ll learn about this biblical cedar and why it has been praised by Greeks, Romans and Moroccans for centuries. Gathering in the evening for one last ritual, we’ll meet for a farewell dinner at Caravane Café, easy to mistake for a Parisian bistro and cabaret. But like everything this trip, it is quintessential, mesmerizing Morocco. It’s also the farewell celebration to define all farewell celebrations!

Our time has come to an end, but the inspiration and insights from our trip and from Meagan are sure to nurture our creative heart and soul. Bid farewell to the group and transfer to Marrakech or Casablanca Airport. Here’s looking at you, Morocco.