Excited About Food in Marrakech with James Beard award winner Cheryl Alters Jamison

A Culinary Adventure to Morocco hosted by award winning cookbook author Cheryl Alters Jamison. We’ll feast on exotic Moroccan dishes and enjoy cultural experiences.

Morocco as a former French colony retains a strong French flavor along with its own distinct identity. I suggested Marrakech as a new destination to four-time James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook author Cheryl Alters Jamison with whom I have formed a successful partnership by offering “Excited About Food” culinary tours to the south of France. It seemed natural to go beyond French borders to offer exotic gastronomic and cultural experiences. Cheryl loved the idea! This second edition will bring you to wildly atmospheric settings and all manner of Moroccan dishes are on the menu, from homey preparations to elegant chef-style cuisine.

You’ll be staying at a fully privatized 4-star elegant and sophisticated Riad Elegancia with spa, pool and gym, located within the walls of the Medina, the old fortified central part of the city.

Saturday, May 17  WELCOME TO MOROCCO

You will be picked up at Marrakech airport for a 15-20 minute transfer to the Riad.  At 6pm,  welcome cocktails will be served while Cheryl provides an overview of Morroccan cuisine followed by a poolside dinner at the Elegancia’s sister hotel, the ornate 5-star La Maison Arabe.

Sunday, May 18   MARRAKESH 

Our local guide will take us for a guided tour of Marrakech which will include the major historical and architectural sites such as the Majorelle Gardens, the Yves St. Laurent Museum and Morocco’s history told through an immersion sound-and-light show. After lunch on a rooftop, you’ll be taken on a walking tour to the secret places of the Medina.  Dinner will be at the confidential Café Litteraire, a superb 17th century riad, which has preserved painted ceilings of rare beauty.

Monday, May 19  FOOD  & MORE FOOD 

 Today will be your first  Moroccan cooking workshop where you will be greeted by a historian and Moroccan food expert for an introduction to the history of the gastronomic culture. We’ll  make bread, learn about spices and teas followed by a hands-on cooking workshop and  lunch in the gardens of the sophisticated Maison Arabe country club.Your foodie day will end experiencing  an early evening Night Market street food tour in the Medina with a local food expert guide.

Tuesday, May 20  ESSAOUIRA, WINE & ARGAN 

Today will be our day trip to the Atlantic port city Essaouira. We’ll  enjoy lunch at a French ex-pat’s winery (from Chateauneuf du Pape). After lunch, you’ll be taken on a guided tour of peaceful  Essaouira where you will succumb to the charm of this historical and multicultural seaside town. On your way back to Marrakech, you’ll be welcomed by two sisters in their home to experience the production of the traditional moisturizing argon oil. You’ll have free time this evening for dinner.

Wednesday, May 21  ARTISANS & AGAFAY DESERT 

In the morning, our guide will take us on a walking tour to the Medina and the artisans’ district to learn how all the major handicrafts, elaborate mosaics, and painted pieces are crafted. First there will be a cooking demo of a very special dish called Tanjia that will be baked in a traditional communal oven for lunch after the artisans tour.  We’ll have time to relax after lunch before our ride to the Agafay Desert for a grand sunset dining experience.

Thursday, May 22   OURIKA VALLEY,  SAFFRON PARADISE  AND COOKING WORKSHOP

Safran Paradise in Ourika Valley is a privately owned  organic saffron farm where we will learn all about the rare and delicate saffron plant. Women from the nearby  Berber village will prepare our lunch with local ingredients including saffron of course! We’ll enjoy a special saffron ice cream dessert at André Heller’s Anima Garden where we’ll stroll to admire sculptures by renowned artists including Pablo Picasso. Not far away is the potager (kitchen garden) where Chef Tarik will greet us for a cooking workshop followed by dinner with local entertainment.

Friday, May 23   SOUKS AND HAMMAM 

You can’t leave Marrakesh without shopping in a souk and being pampered at the hammam, luxuriating in meticulously crafted and ancestral treatments. A Riad Elegancia signature hammam,  scrub and massage, will be arranged for your holistic well being.
Our farewell dinner will be at the fabled 5-star La Mamounia.

Saturday, May 24  FAREWELL 

Time to bid farewell to Morocco. Breakfast and airport transfers.

Read here what Cheryl has to say about travelling with our tour guests.

Deposit
To secure a place on our tour, we ask that you fill in our reservation form, which indicates that your 30% deposit will be required on reservation. The balance will be due 2 months prior to the tour.

Included

Breakfast and all meals indicated in the program with wine at dinner, gratuities in restaurants, taxes, professional tour facilitator & guide, activities and admission fees as indicated in program, airport transfers on the first day of the tour and in the morning of last days of the tour, transportation in a mini coach, vans and jeeps, accommodation in an exquisite Riad in the Medina.

Not Included
Round trip airfare to Morocco, tip to tour guide and coach driver,  any personal souvenirs or purchases outside of this tour and not indicated above, additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals, and all the sweet treats you pick up along the way, spa services at the Riad, travel insurance (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age).

Terms and Conditions
If insufficient numbers of participants register for the tour or in the event of conditions deemed unsafe for our clients, the tour may be cancelled or postponed. While we endeavor to operate all trips as described,  we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary owing to circumstances beyond our control or for more interesting and exciting opportunities.  Any changes will be of similar or superior quality and  content. If Cheryl is unable to travel, the tour will go ahead as planned with Nancy McGee, Tour with Absolutely representative.

Cancellation Policy
This is a non-refundable package group tour, with no refunds even in the case of injury, illness or personal emergency. Cancellation must be notified by email to emma@tourwithabsolutely.com. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance including medical assistance and cancellation. If you get sick from Covid or any other disease, before the trip departs or during it, you will need to have your own medical and trip cancellation insurance to cover any costs incurred.

Payment
We accept Visa and MasterCard.

Travel with insurance – and rest assured
Check out  SquareMouth, insurance specialists that compare coverage, including Covid, from 19 reputable providers. Just select what best suits you (Covid-19 cancellation,  Covid-19 medical, cancellation, interruption, medical evacuation…) . Prices are reasonable and well worth it for a stress-free trip.

Arrival and Departure
On arrival, May 17, airport transfers are included from Marrakech airport to the Riad. You will be welcomed at the meet and greet by Cheryl and Nancy, Tour with Absolutely representative who will be your tour leader the entire stay. On the last days of the tour, May 24, airport transfers are included in the morning from the Riad to Marrakech airport. When searching for flights, check out  Skyscanner which compares flights and prices from numerous airlines which compares flights and prices from numerous airlines. European low-cost airlines flying to Marrakesh  are EasyJet, RyanAir and Transavia.

Photo Release
You hereby grant Tour with Absolutely permission to use your likeness in a photograph, video or other digital media in any and all of its publications including web-based publications, without payment or other consideration. In addition, you waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein your likeness appears.

What to Pack
Phone chargers, medication, clothing for hot weather, swim suit, sun screen,  comfortable walking shoes, head scarf and/or hat.  Laundry service is available. Amenities,  iron and umbrella  are in every room.

Weather
Temperatures should be pleasant. We expect clear sunny skies with average daytime temperatures of between 29°C / 83°F and overnight lows of 15°C / 58°F.

Physical Requirements
This tour is  “physically active.”  Tour guests must be able to walk without assistance and carry their personal luggage.
You may be on your feet, walking and standing, for over an hour, indoors and outdoors, rain or shine. That means if you need help climbing in a tour bus or if you are winded after walking 50 feet, Emma has other tour options you may want to explore.

Accommodation
You are staying in the luxurious fully privatized boutique hotel and spa  Riad Elegancia in Marrakech.

CONTACT US

To reserve your spot or request additional information,  please fill out the form below. Emma will then contact you to discuss the tour details and arrange your booking.

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Tour Details

Dates: May 17 – 24, 2025
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Cost: Private room 5780 euros / Shared room 4975 euros twin or double occupancy
Participants: 12

Tour HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit with artisans and craftsmen in the Medina
  • Immerse yourself in the sound-and-light show about Morocco’s history
  • Enjoy a  grand sunset dining experience in the Agafay Desert
  • Visit a saffron farm in Ourika Valley
  • Have dinner at the fabled 5-star La Mamounia
  • Get excited about spices at 3 Moroccan cooking workshops
  • Visit a Berber family’s home for an argan oil-making demo
  • Go on day trips  to the peaceful Agafay Desert, to  the lush Ourika Valley and to  the colorful seaside fishing  town of Essaouira
  • Embark on a guided visit of the souks, meeting artisans in their workshops

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