Morocco with Jen Jasinski

Salam alaikum! Welcome to Marrakech, a city that rises from the desert and sits at the crossroads of Europe and Africa. Marrakech has a romance all its own, and rich culinary traditions to thrill every palate. After settling into our accommodations, we’ll meet our tastemaker and our fellow adventurists before making our way to an unforgettable welcome dinner.

Dinner is served high above Marrakech, where the city’s rooftops glow amber in the fading light and the sounds of the medina rise from below. It’s a fitting first introduction to Morocco: generous hospitality and local ingredients at their seasonal best. The conversation begins, as does a journey shaped by generous hosts, vibrant flavors, and meals meant to be shared.

Morning begins with breakfast at our riad before stepping into Marrakech’s medina. With a local culinary guide leading the way, we’ll wander narrow lanes where pyramids of saffron, cumin, ras el hanout, and paprika perfume the air, bakers slide rounds of khobz into communal ovens, and market stalls overflow with preserved lemons, glossy olives, dried figs, almonds, and fresh herbs destined for family tables. Along the way, we’ll come to understand how these ingredients shape Morocco’s culinary identity, each carrying its own history of trade, seasonality, and tradition.

The day continues at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum, where a local dada—one of the women entrusted with preserving generations of home cooking—welcomes us into the kitchen. Together, we’ll prepare classic Moroccan dishes while learning the techniques behind carefully layered spice blends, slow-cooked tagines, and time-honored family recipes. Then comes the best part: gathering around the table to share the meal we’ve created together for lunch

The afternoon is left intentionally open, whether that means lingering over mint tea in a quiet courtyard, browsing the souks once more, or simply exploring Marrakech at your own pace. Dinner tonight is on your own.

We’ll soak in the morning light at the enchanting Majorelle Gardens today. They’re a dreamy sanctuary filled with exotic botanical specimens from the far corners of the world and a labyrinth of crisscrossing alleyways and vibrantly painted buildings. Right around the corner, we’ll get our fill of fashion, Islamic art, and Berber culture at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which boasts over 5000 works in their permanent collection.

Next, we’ll step inside Marrakech’s artisan quarter for a rare look at workshops where potters, woodworkers, leather artisans, metalworkers, weavers, and embroiderers continue centuries-old traditions, each piece shaped by practiced hands and generations of inherited knowledge.

Lunch is on your own before we regroup in the bustling Jemaa el-Fna square, where we’ll indulge in fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and spices. 

As the evening sky turns harissa red, our day continues with a lesson in Moroccan mixology and culminates with a rooftop dinner.

We leave the energy of Marrakech this morning and make our way east to the High Atlas Mountains, where rugged landscapes and panoramic views await.

Once we’ve arrived, we’ll dive right into the world of saffron: a local farmer will teach us how the world’s most precious spice is cultivated against the backdrop of the majestic mountains. Our visit to this farm will culminate in a saffron-infused lunch.

From here, we’ll spend time soaking in the tranquility of our kasbah. As evening descends, we’ll regroup for a dinner with a menu inspired by local ingredients, allowing us to embrace the Berber tradition of simplicity and warmth.

After breakfast at the kasbah, travel into the Amizmiz Valley, a region where Berber communities continue to shape daily life around the rhythms of the land. At an organic farm nestled among orchards, vegetable gardens, and ancient olive groves, we’ll discover how Morocco’s most enduring dishes begin with ingredients harvested just steps from the kitchen.

Working alongside local cooks, lunch today is a hands-on experience teaching the art of crafting a traditional Berber tagine. As the tagine simmers slowly over the fire, we’ll head out with a guide for a gentle walk through the surrounding countryside. Forest paths, a winding river, and expansive views across the valley offer a glimpse of a landscape that has sustained generations.

After, we return to enjoy the lunch we crafted together. And, because no Berber meal is complete without it, we’ll end with sweet mint tea that seems to fly into our gorgeous Moroccan tea glasses.

With our bellies full, we’ll head back to the kasbah. From here, the rest of the evening is yours to elaborate, perhaps soaking in the tranquility of our kasbah or adventuring through the nearby mountain trails. As evening descends, dinner will be available at leisure.

After a final relaxing morning in the High Atlas Mountains, we journey toward Morocco’s Atlantic coast. The changing landscape offers its own story, carrying us to the energy of Casablanca, the country’s cosmopolitan gateway where French Art Deco architecture, grand boulevards, and oceanfront promenades reflect a different chapter of Morocco’s history.

En route, we’ll pause at Ferme de Bouskoura, a peaceful countryside estate, for a leisurely lunch celebrating the farm’s seasonal harvest prepared by a local chef. 

Afterward, we continue on to the storied Royal Mansour Casablanca, an Art Deco landmark restored to reflect the elegance that defined the city’s golden age. As the day begins to cool, we’ll stroll along the Corniche, where locals gather beside the Atlantic and waves roll steadily onto the shoreline. 

Our first evening in Casablanca concludes at Le Cabestan, a beloved institution perched above the sea, where timeless hospitality and thoughtfully prepared cuisine are matched only by sweeping views of the Atlantic stretching beyond the table.

After rousing ourselves with a Moroccan mint tea or cardamom-scented coffee, the fabled Casablanca awaits. First, we’ll head to the Hassan II Mosque, the seventh-largest mosque in the world. Erected at what seems like the world’s end, it balances on the ocean’s edge, blending the tradition of handcrafted marble with a retractable roof—a modern wonder steeped in ancient building methods. It’s also the only mosque in Casablanca open to visitors of all denominations.

We continue the day by going deeper into the city with a local guide, visiting many of its defining landmarks, from the stately Royal Palace and the grand arcades of Mohammed V Square to neighborhoods where elegant Art Deco façades stand alongside contemporary cafés and bustling streets. Together, they tell the story of a city shaped by centuries of influence while remaining unmistakably Moroccan.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Perhaps retreat to the soothing rituals of a traditional hammam, browse independent boutiques for finely crafted textiles and ceramics, or simply linger over coffee as Morocco’s largest city unfolds around you.

This evening, our farewell celebration takes place in a beautifully restored 17th-century bastion tucked beside the old medina. Beneath swaying palms and within peaceful Andalusian gardens, we’ll celebrate our journey over classic Moroccan dishes accompanied by live music. It’s a fitting final evening shaped by history, hospitality, and the conversations that always seem to linger longest around the table.

Alas, our time together has come to an end, but our hearts and bellies are brimming with Morocco. We’ll bid farewell to  our fellow Modern Adventurists and transfer to the airport.