Morocco Photo Tour

Next Photo Tour of Morocco dates: September 24th – October 7th, 2023

Get lost in the twisting and turning streets of the medinas. Discover the hidden treasures amongst the chaotic streets of Marrakech. Adventure awaits you on this photo tour to exotic Morocco.

Exotic Morocco 14-day Photo Tour

• Where: Morocco
• When: September 24th – October 7th, 2023
• Who: Maximum 12 photography enthusiasts.
• What: A 14-day photo tour of Morocco, catering to photographing in the best light of the day, in the field practice in a fun small group setting, with a flexible schedule and customized photography lessons to match the group members!
• Why: Total photography immersion, in a safe environment, with experienced professional photographers providing lots of hands-on help!

How much is this tour?

This tour is designed to offer you both adventure and comfort.

We stay in comfortable and clean rooms in properties with local character and style when possible.

All your meals are included and we also take care of little incidentals like water daily, small change (which you’ll need for tips and for visiting the toilet), entrance fees for all attractions, and snacks on the bus have all been taken care of for you for a smooth easy experience.

Maximum group size: 12

Single Supplement Price:

• Prices quoted are for double occupancy. NOTE: You will be paired with someone of the same gender if you do not have a travel partner and request a roommate – if one is not available you will be charged the single supplement.
• The price for a single room is $1895 USD.

This is less than many other Morocco tours which include 15 people or more – please look at that when researching and comparing tours! If the group for this tour has 10 or fewer guests, you will have one tour leader (Darlene), with 11-12 guests you will have two photography leaders (Darlene and Kav.)

NOTE: We have lowered the maximum number of participants on this tour to 12. This allows for a smaller, more intimate group in order to give you the best experience. This means you will have more time with the tour leader, and a really nice group size for wandering through the narrow streets of Morocco.

Do you love to travel? If you are as obsessed with travel and photography as we are then you need to join us on this tour of Morocco. Not only will you learn how to take better photographs, through the support of our 2 expert teachers, but you can rest assured you will travel to the best locations Morocco has to offer.

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The Best Light

This photography tour to Morocco has been specially curated to make sure we are photographing in the best light possible. You will learn about the best time of day to photograph and how to overcome challenging lighting situations. Relaxing when the light is harsh and shooing when the light is good.

Expect sunrises and sunsets over the Sahara Desert, portraits of the Berbers of the desert and private photoshoots with traditionally dressed men and women.

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The Best Locations

Don’t expect the typical tourist locations! Where others might go in, we go around. This is a custom designed travel tour, by a photographer, for photography enthusiasts. Expect sunsets in the Sahara, Camel Caravans on the dunes, perfecting your street photography in Marrakech and dinner under the stars deep in the desert.

Prepare to lose yourself in the musical magic and cultural richness of this Berber-Arab-Spanish-Portuguese-French exotic land.

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Less Rushed

On our Photography Tours, we like to take our time. In each place, you will get to fully explore the location. This means you will discover all the hidden gems and meet people on a deeper level.

We want to make sure you have time to get the best photographs possible. That means if you feel like taking a break, and skipping a location or exploring on your own, that’s not a problem. We are here to support your photographic passion, and if that means taking a break that’s fine by us!

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This is a tentative schedule, may not be exactly as shown here:

Day 1 – Casablanca (D)

Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be met and transferred by van to your Casablanca hotel, where you will check in and relax for the afternoon. The group will have a welcome meeting and orientation before you head out to dinner at a local restaurant for some traditional Moroccan cuisine.

 

Hotel Novotel – Casablanca

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Day 2 – Casablanca (B, D)

In the morning, you will have a visit to the Hassan II Mosque then take a walk around the city to capture some of the art deco buildings and local food markets. After lunch is an optional photo lesson and image review time with the tour leader. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

 

Hotel Novotel – Casablanca

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Day 3 – Rabat / Chefchaouen (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we will leave Casablanca and head towards Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of Morocco in the Rif Mountains. On route, you will stop at Rabat, the capital city and residence of the King, where you can capture some great shots of the La Tour Hassan Tower and Mausoleum, we will also visit the Chellah (ancient ruins of a fortified city and opportunity to photograph stork nests). Upon arrival in Chefchaouen, you will check into the Riad Lina and have an early dinner. After dinner, you have the option of some night photography with your tour leader. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

 

Riad Lina and Spa

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Day 4 – Chefchaouen (B, D)

After breakfast, you will have a tour of this “cool” blue town, tucked away in the mountains. You will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the Rif Mountains. Perfect for photography, this blue city offers every shade of blue. As you wander the streets of “Chaouen,” you’ll find ample opportunities to capture the vibrant colors and textures of this wonderful town.

 

We’ll have an early dinner and afterward, will take a walk up onto the surrounding mountainside where you can photograph this whitewashed town nestled in the hills at dusk. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Riad Lina and Spa

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Day 5 – Chefchaouen / Fes (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will head towards Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco. Upon arrival in Fes, you will go directly to the potters. This fascinating visit will allow you to get a picture of how this handicraft has existed for hundreds of years. After checking in, you will some time for possible image review or Q&A with the tour leader.

 

You will have a wonderful traditional dinner in the Riad.

Riad El Yacout

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Day 6 – Fes (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will begin your guided tour of the Medina (with over 9500 alleyways), one of the world’s largest walled cities. You will explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit and mounds of spices, the tanneries, and the artisans of Fes. For lunch, you will eat in traditional restaurants in the heart of the medina. After lunch, you will have some time to explore the Galawi Palace in our own private time (we will have a model dressed in traditional clothes to pose for us as well). This ancient palace is turning to ruins but offers a wonderful look at the architecture of Morocco, and is a photographer’s paradise. In the late afternoon, you will have some free time to relax before dinner out and sunset from a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the city.

 

Riad El Yacout

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Day 7 – Fes (B, D)

You will have a relaxed breakfast before you have an opportunity to visit the Jewish quarter. The group will have lunch at the Boujloud square. In the afternoon, we will have some optional activities like a shopping trip (carpets, linens, silver works) or more free time to shoot photos in the medina (a guide will be provided so you don’t get lost).

 

Riad El Yacout

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Day 8 – Fes / Erfoud / Sahara (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast you will begin your ascent across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Most of the day will be spent winding your way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as you cross the Atlas Mountains and begin to descend towards the Sahara Desert. Halfway, you will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks. In the afternoon, you will make your way down along the Ziz River Valley through Erfoud, and on out to our auberge on the edge of the Sahara. Sunrise and sunset at the dunes is well worth the visit. We will arrange for a camel caravan on the dunes for the anticipated sunset pictures.

 

Dinner will be served in the auberge.

Auberge de Charme Les Dunes D’Or

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Day 9 – Sahara Desert (B, L, D)

Don’t miss the sunrise on the dunes. In the morning, you will have an optional ATV ride around the dunes and a visit to the nomadic Berber villages. Listen to some of their music while you get some people photos. For those looking for adventure and some deep desert shots, you will set off by camel for a 2-hour trek out to the oasis where you will spend the night in Berber tents (dinner is included, served under the stars). A chance for night photography under the stars in the desert is magical!

 

***This is optional if you prefer to return to the auberge to sleep, we will meet you in the morning.***

Deluxe Private Tents ($100 extra for this excursion)

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Day 10 – Sahara / Ait Ben Haddou (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will return by camel to the Auberge and head back to Erfoud. From Erfoud, you set out behind the High Atlas Mountains on route to the Ait Ben Haddou. On the way, we’ll make a stop in Ourzazate, the movie capital of Morocco. The picturesque river valleys make for a beautiful journey as you cross the High Atlas Mountains. Depending on arrival time we’ll head out to our first sunset/blue hour shoot of the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah.

 

Ksar Ighnda

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Day 11 – Ait Ben Haddou (B, L, D)

Before the town fully awakens, we walk up Ait Ben Haddou in the early morning light. In actuality, this setting has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco including; Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and more recently The Gladiator.

 

After a morning out to shoot, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing. You can do a hammam, swim, or even get a massage (extra fees apply). If you like, we’ll go out for a second sunset shoot overlooking the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah (different location than day one).

Ksar Ighnda

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Day 12 – Ait Benhaddou / Marrakech (B, L)

After breakfast we will head off towards Marrakech over the High Atlas Mountains, with a stop to see an Argan co-op where the ladies make this sought after oil. Take some time enjoying this beautiful landscape. You will check into your riad and then head out to the famous Djemaa el-Fna square. This is one of the central attractions of Marrakech. Coming alive at night with the local storytellers, entertainers, and mouth-watering barbecue pits, the square is well worth a visit. A quiet cup of tea on the terrace of an adjacent café provides a spectacular aerial view of the bustling square at sunset. Dinner will be in the square at the food stalls for the more adventurous (or at the cafe for those less inclined).

 

Riad Adore Marrakech

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Day 13 – Marrakech (B, D)

After breakfast, the group will have a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. You will discover the Majorelle Garden and many other hidden treasures.

 

After lunch, you will continue with the tour on to the Djemaa el-Fna square and souk where you will have free time to wander and shop for exotic things to take home. Our final dinner will be served at the Ryad.

Riad Adore Marrakech

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Day 14 – Travel home (B)

Your car awaits to take you to the Marrakech airport and transfers to your home country. Or you can choose to stay on a few more days in Marrakech or join our tour leader for an additional few days journey to the coastal town of Essaouira.

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Darlene Hildebrandt

Your tour leader for this photo tour of Morocco is Darlene. Darlene is the creator of Digital Photo Mentor, a photography teacher, tour leader, traveler, and a cat owner.

She has over 30 years of experience as a professional photographer, has been teaching since 2011 and has led over 8 photo tours and 20 photography workshops.

Darlene is a Fuji user but speaks almost all other photography languages. Whatever your skill level and experience, she can help you unlock the next level and take better photos.

Cost of Photo Tour of Morocco

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[column width=”two-thirds”]The pricing will be a little different than for our past tours. Based on feedback from the first two Morocco tours we have decided to reduce the maximum number of participants to 12! This means you will have more time with the tour leader, and a really nice group size for wandering through the narrow streets of Morocco.

The minimum number of people required to run the tour is eight.

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Maximum group size: 12

Remaining Spots: This tour has been canceled due to Covid-19

Registration Closed

This tour will be open for registrations shortly.

Join the waiting list above to get notified early and grab a spot.

This is less than many other Morocco tours which include 15 people or more – please look at that when researching and comparing tours! If the group for this tour has 10 or fewer guests, you will have one tour leader (Darlene), with 11-12 guests you will have two photography leaders (Darlene and Kav.)

Single Supplement Price:

• Prices quoted are for double occupancy. NOTE: You will be paired with someone of the same gender if you do not have a travel partner and request a roommate – if one is not available you will be charged the single supplement.
• Price for single room is an additional $1295

NOTE: We have lowered the maximum number of participants on this tour to 12. This allows for a smaller, more intimate group in order to give you the best experience. This means you will have more time with the tour leader, and a really nice group size for wandering through the narrow streets of Morocco.

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[column width=”one-half”]The price of the tour includes:

• Airport pickup and return (airport transfers) on the start and end dates as indicated. If you arrive early or stay later you will be responsible for your own airport transportation. We can arrange it for you if you wish at an extra cost.
• 13 nights of hotel accommodations.
• Meals – 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 12 dinners (includes non-alcoholic beverages and tips).
• Air-conditioned transportation – included driver, fuel, and insurance.
• Professional English speaking guide, licensed for tourism.
• Excursions (Hassan II Mosque, Majorelle Garden, Camel Trek & Tents).
• Entrance fees to historical sites including Hassan II Mosque.
• Organized photo shoots.
• Photography lessons and image reviews in a group setting (as time permits).
• Photography tutoring and help as needed, you just have to ask.
• Portage tips for bags.

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[column width=”one-half”]The price DOES NOT include:

• Your flight or other travel to Morocco
• Tips for your guide, driver, and tour leader
• Lunches on your free days
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal spending
• Optional activities like spa treatments or an ATV ride in the desert

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Our Accommodations

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[column width=”two-thirds”]From the center of Casablanca to a Berber tent in the Sahara desert, our accommodations are both luxurious and adventurous. We stay in comfortable and clean rooms in properties with local character and style when possible, putting together a diversity of style and location.

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Ksar Ighnda, Ouarzazate – View their website
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Riad Lina and Spa, Chefchaouen
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Our tour bus

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Riad Yacout, Fes

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FAQs

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[accordion_item title=”What is the physical fitness level needed for this tour?”]
There are many stairs and hills and some of our accommodations do not have elevators. If you are in good health and fitness level you will be fine. But this tour is NOT recommended for people with mobility issues.
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[accordion_item title=”Do I have to ride a camel?”]
You have two options: #1 ride a camel into the desert at sunset and stay in a Berber tent overnight – or #2 stay at the Auberge meaning you will not ride the camel or see the sunset from the big dunes. If you choose option 2 you will meet up with the group the following morning when we return from the desert. BUT I highly recommend doing this! Even just to check it off and say “Been there done that!” The desert at night is magical and we’ll have the opportunity to photograph the night sky, star trails, and hear the Berber drummers play for us.
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[accordion_item title=”Are the tents deluxe? What is it like?”]
There are mattresses, blankets, and pillows. There is electricity and shared toilets. But there are no showers or plugins at the tents, it is like camping! It’s rustic but it’s comfortable and peaceful. Because there is no light pollution at the tents, the evening makes for spectacular night photography opportunities.
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[accordion_item title=”What if I don’t have a roommate but don’t want to pay the extra for a single?”]
If you request to share a room and we cannot match you with a roommate you will be required to pay the single supplement fee. We do our best to pair everyone up but due to gender mismatches, we may not always have equal numbers of males or females. You can certainly bring a friend along to share.
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[accordion_item title=”What is appropriate attire in a Muslim country, especially for women?”]
Do I have to wear a head scarf? While it is a Muslim country you are not expected to cover your head as a woman. But it is respectful to wear less revealing clothing so as to have your shoulders and knees covered at all times. Once you have booked the tour with us we will send you a complete guide on Morocco and what to pack and expect.
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[accordion_item title=”Is there alcohol in Morocco?”]
Yes, they have alcohol in most places, although the locals do not drink.
They even make some pretty decent wine and beer.
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[accordion_item title=”I’ve heard it’s harder to photograph people in Morocco, is that true?”]
Yes, unfortunately, that is the case. However, we plan many photo shoots with models and tips photogenic people so you can have the opportunity to take photos of them. So it is possible to come home with some people photographs from Morocco. Our guide makes an excellent model too!
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[accordion_item title=”What skill level do I have to be in photography?”]
We encourage all skill levels to join us on this tour. It is not about what you know it’s about doing photography together, enjoying the adventure, and learning a few things along the way. Whatever your level you can get some tips from the tour leader. You don’t even have to be a photographer, but can come along and appreciate the relaxed pace of this tour.
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5-Day Add-On Extension to Essaouira and Casablanca

Dates: TBD
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[column width=”one-half”]In this add-on extension, you’ll head to the coast to explore the fishing town of Essaouira for 4 days before heading to Casablanca.

DAY 1 – Marrakech to Essaouira (B)

After breakfast in Marrakech we’ll depart to Essaouira. On the way, we’ll stop to check out and do some photos by the goats that climb the trees. We’ll check in at our hotel and we’ll have the afternoon free to rest. If you like we’ll tonight we’ll set out for our first exploration of this magical coastal city.

DAY 2 – Essaouira (B)

At sunrise we’ll set out to photograph the port and surrounding areas. We’ll get back to the hotel for breakfast and then we’ll wander around the city. It’s many alleyways and passages are the focus of this morning walk. We’ll end up in the fish and spice market right on the middle of the city. Free afternoon to rest. At sunset/blue hour we’ll photograph the city from the beach.

DAY 3 – Essaouira (B)

We’ll start our day photographing the sunrise from the roof-top of our hotel. We’ll have have breakfast and afterwards we’ll head out to explore a different part of the city and we’ll visit the Jewish Quarter. We’ll have the afternoon free. At sunset we’ll head back to the port to get to the beach during low tide and take photos of the city from this location.

Day 4 – Essaouira to Casablanca (B)

Today, after breakfast. we’ll depart to Casablanca, in our way we’ll stop to photograph the El Jadida Cisterns. Once we arrive in Casablanca we’ll check in to our Hotel close the airport.

Day 5 – Casablanca (B)

This is the last day of our tour. After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport.
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Riad Mimouna

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Group size: 4-8 people (need 4 to make it happen, maximum 8 plus Daniel)

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[column width=”one-half”]Prices:

• $1195 / person (double occupancy)
• Single supplement pricing: $295

Includes:

• Private van transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira and onwards to Casablanca
• Lodging for 3 nights in Essaouira and 1 night in Casablanca
• Airport shuttle
• 4 breakfasts
• Entrance to the cistern at El Jadida
• A chance to hang out and shoot with the tour leader and explore together in a small group workshop setting

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