Category Archives: Travel Exploration

by | May 16, 2013 · 8:01 am

Moroccan Wine Bars, Your Morocco Tour Guide

El Minzah Wine Bar, Tangier

Wine bars are the new trend in Morocco. These new and upcoming Wine Bars offer a nice reprise for expats, travelers and those interested in a more local scene when traveling or living in Morocco. Wine bars in Morocco also offer a nice balance of wines ranging from imports to local Moroccan specialities along with light fare. With all the new craze in the USA and Europe – and some with a long trend of unique wine bars, Moroccan cities are at the forefront offering up some truly charming wine bars for those who want to expand their pallet and enjoy the new cities after sunset.

The Wine bar at the  El Minzah hotel  on the edge of the medina in Tangiers is decorated with the photos of stars who stayed at the historic El Minzah founded by the Marquis of Bute in the 1930’s and ate in the wine bar. Tangiers enjoyed an international reputation with the rich and famous and writers and artists during this period and  with the photos of past movie stars and personalities such as Sir Rex Harrison, Rita Hayworth, Rock Hudson, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jacques Cousteau and many others, you can relive the city’s  glittering past glories as you wine and dine.  An impressive wine list is accompanied by excellent cuisine . Start with a drink in the Caid’s bar which has an imposing picture of Caid Sir Harry Maclean who commanded the Sultan’s army. In Casablanca Bistrot Chic Casablancais is a brasserie serving modern French cuisine with tapas and home   made desserts. The restaurant has a floor where a wine bar is located on 8 rue Taha Houcine and French cheeses are served, diners can choose their own wine from the cellar. The Riad Fes , 5 Derb Ben Slimane Zerbtana,Fes is renowned for its luxury, impeccable service and fine restaurant. Its Andalous pavilion and lounge .Its wine bar offers great wines from Morocco to satisfy the most discerning wine lovers. It overlooks the swimming-pool and its green walls.    The black glass tables and  the gray Tadelakt walls provide a clear modern architectural back drop to the discovery of Morocco’s best wines. Meknes is Morocco’s wine capital and the surrounding countryside has many fine vineyards. The largest of these is Les Celliers de Meknes which has achieved international recognition. Morocco has excellent reds, rosés and some fine white wines and sampling them is an important part of experiencing Moroccan cuisine. Meknes has the Bistrot Art et le wine bar located at the Hotel Transatlantic which is well known for its excellent cuisine.

Cheese Me Wine Bar, Marrakech

Marrakech has a new wine bar at 68 rue de la Liberte  called Cheese Me. It can be quite difficult to find good cheese in Moroccan restaurants so this is a really welcome addition to the Marrakech  restaurant scene. A stylish modern décor is matched by a friendly welcome and an excellent menu of cheeses and wines. You can select various options such as tapas and different selections of cheese with a  very generous cheese platter. Wines are available by the glass or the bottle.

The Loft Wine Bar, Marrakech

Loft, also located in rue de la Liberté in Gueliz in Marrakech, is a relaxed and stylish venue influenced by New York and Paris where one can sample the wine on the terrace or at the bar,  or enjoy the excellent and reasonably priced international  and French cuisine. For More Information on a Morocco Tours and Wine Bars 

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | January 25, 2013 · 4:11 pm

Morocco Festivals, Music Celebrations and Culture Festivals, Morocco Tours

Celebration is an important aspect of Moroccan culture. Morocco is an exciting and entertaining country that lays claim to cultural, historical and religious holidays and festivals.  At any given point of the year there is a Moroccan city or Berber community hosting glorious festivities. Moroccan celebrations can last anywhere from a few days up to two weeks. There are hundreds of local festivals and mouassems in Morocco. The dates when Morocco Festivals and moussems are someimes decided by religious authorites consulting the moon so dates oftheseevents are sometimes not announced very far ahead . Here are some of the more well known ones with exact dates in 2013, where available.

January Morocco Festivals

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Marrakech International Marathon

Marrakech International Marathon 2013 – Marrakech Tensift El Haouz ,Sunday, 27 January 2013

Departing from the Avenue de la Menara behind the Sofitel Hotel, the Marrakech International Marathon covers a distance of 42.195 kms (or 21.097 kms for half-marathon) the route winds its way through some of the city’s most picturesque attractions.

February Morocco Festivals

The Almond Blossom Festival

This beautiful spectacle takes place in Tafraoute where the trees  are in full blossom for only a short time and whose colours greatly admired. The festival includes singing, dancing and other performances by the locals.

March Morocco Festivals

International Magic Festival at Marrakech 19-22 March 2013

The annual magic festival is held in Marrakech and has several performances by both international magicians and up and coming local artists. The festival has performances  at the Royal Theatre in Marrakech and there is plenty of magic being

performed on the streets  as well.

April Morocco Festivals

The Sand Marathon

The Sand Marathon is an incredibly gruelling marathon that covers 150 miles and lasts for 11 days. The marathon takes place in Ouarzazate, usually towards the beginning of April.

Grand Prix Hassan II

This popular motor racing  event attracts some the very best players on the ATP World Tour and takes place at the Complexe Al Amal in Casablanca… more about the Grand Prix Hassan II

May Morocco Festivals

The  Mawazine Festival 24 May – 1 June 2013.

This modern festival takes place in the city of Rabat and has several artists performing concerts that range from top international performers to local artists, past performing stars include Elton John and Sting. Also on offer are art exhibitions and plenty of street entertainers to keep the huge crowds entertained.

Marrakech Grand Prix . This event has been revived and takes place in Marrakech 13-15 April 2013.

Desert Music Festival

The Desert music Festival offers an outstanding selection of music genres that ranges from traditional Moroccan music to music from international musicians from around the world. The event takes place annually in Errachidia.

Festival of  the Roses in the Dades Valley in mid May, a small oasis town called Kelaa-des-Mgouna is home to Morocco’s largest rose water distillery plant. The entire town is fragrant and the spectacular harvest in May is celebrated with song and dance.

June Morocco Festivals

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Fes Sacred Music Festival

Fes Sacred Music Festival Saturday, 7 – 15  June 2013.

The festival offers a wide range of traditional music performed by both Moroccan musicians and those from around the world.

Under the theme of “Fes: Reflections of Andalusia, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music” is one of the premier events presented by the Spirit of Fes Foundation. The stated goal of the Festival is to harness the power of the arts and spirituality to promote human and social development, and the relationships between peoples and varying cultures.

Essaouira Gnawa and World Music Festival ,Essaouira  20-23 June 2013.

This music festival based on the traditions of Gnawa music has grown to include musicians from all over the world. This successful annual festival has been around for a decade and venues are dotted all around the picturesque town of Essaouira.

The origins Gnawa music  lie in a unique mixture of Berber, African and Arabic songs, religious rites and dance and was originally the music of African slaves.

July Morocco Festivals

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Marrakech Popular Arts Festival

The 48th Marrakech Popular Arts Festival (FNAP)

The festival features traditional Berber music, singing  dancing, story tellers and entertainers and takes place in the vibrant and bustling city of Marrakech. A full stage showof different regional tribal  dancing expertly chereographed  led by Maawalems takes place in the floodlit  Badi Palace with other concerts and peformances taking place in other locations in the city.

August Morocco Festivals

Imilchil Marriage Festival August/September

This unique event is steeped in tradition and takes place in the village of Imichil close to Marrakech. The event provides local Berbers the opportunity to meet and agree to marry, with everyone wearing traditional dress along with plenty of music and dancing. Exact date for 2013 not yet announced.

Festival of Fantasia

The Festival of Fantasia or Tbourida involves traditionally dressed berber riders and their mounts charging with flintlocks which  they fire with a thunderous roar at the end of the charge. It takes place in Meknes usually towards the beginning of the month, and offers participants the chance to show off their horses, riding ability and timing.

September Morocco Festivals

Imilchil is located high up in the lake plateau of the Middle Atlas Mountains inMorocco. In this quaint village you will find primarily Berber tribal clans who have a strong sense of culture and tradition that has been preserved for decades. The Imilchil Marriage Festival  is the prime attraction of this village and takes place annually in September. Each September, the surrounding tribes, Aït Sokham and AïtBouguemmaz celebrate the Imilchil Marriage Festival, held in Souk Aam and Agdoud N’Oulmghenni. This festival, also known as September Romance, features the Aït Yaazza culture of an annual collective marriage where women search and choose their husband.

October Morocco Festivals

2-3 October El Jadida Horse Show. This is  major  international event including horse jumping,dressage and fantasia.

Tissa Horse Festival

The Tissa Horse Festival is held near Fes and provides the opportunity for hundreds of riders to compete against each other and show off their beautiful mounts and skills as horsemen.

Erfoud Date Festival Late September/ early October.

More than a million date palms are grown in the Erfoud region and after harvest, the party really starts. Local tribesmen come together for a 3 day festival dedicated to the sticky and delicious date. Berber tents play host to traditional dancing, food and music. There’s also a dromedary race

November Morocco Festivals

Tan Tan Moussem

This is a traditional festival gathering, of nomadic tribal members who come together in celebration of their culture and religion. The event takes place towards the end of November or beginning of December in the town of Tan Tan, to the south of Morocco.

Eid Al Adha Festival

During this annual festival, the Prophet Abraham is honoured with the sacrifice of a ram, goat or cow.

December Morocco Festivals

Casablanca International Art Fair

The art fair offers a huge selection of art forms such as sculptures and photography as well as workshops to participate in. The event takes place in the Exchange Office in Casablanca usually at the beginning of the month

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | October 20, 2012 · 7:23 pm

Morocco’s Tin Mal Mosque and the Gandoufa Valley, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Tin Mal Mosque, High Atlas Mountains

Tin Mal is 100 kms from Marrakech  just past the village of Ijoukak on the road to Taroudant in the High Atlas Mountains. It was the spiritual home of the Almohads, who went on to  conquer Marrakech defeating the ruling Almoravids and then creating an empire that stretched  from all of what we know as the Maghreb, southern Portugal and Spain and part of Africa.

It began when Ibn Toumert of the Masmoudi tribe established the mosque at Tin Mal with a fortified town, called a ribat, in 1122. He proclaimed himself the Mahdi and established a strict and puritanical rule over his followers. All you see today is the imposing mosque which was rebuilt by Ibn Toumert’s successor, Abd el Mumin who went on to take Marrakech in 1148. It has been recently restored. It is one of only two mosques that non muslims can enter in Morocco, the other being the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

Tin Mal Mosque, Arches

The mosque is high up in a striking position over looking the river N’Fis andbears witness to the fervour of the Almohads with high walls and strong towers. It has been recently renovated and is one of the most memorable sites of historical significance in Morocco. There is a small museum housing architectural fragments. The mosque maybe closed on Fridays when the villagers of Tin Mal come to pray. In former times the mosque would have covered in white plaster and true to its founder’s puritanical ideals is free from the decorative features  normally found in Moroccan mosques.

The prototype for Tin Mal was the Great Mosque at Taza (near Fès), also built by Abd el Mumin. The Koutoubia at Marrakech  (the Almohad capital as of 1148) was in turn modelled on it. Tin Mal was the starting point of the Almohad dynasty which lasted till 1269. In 1276 the Merinds stormed Tin Mal leaving only the mosque standing killing the entire population. It remained the heartland of the Almohads and its rulers would come in pilgrimage to visit the tombs of their predecessors and pray at the mosque. It is a place to soak up the atmosphere of a movement and dynasty which saw the beginning of the Morocco we know today.

Further on from Ijoukak,Tagountafte, Souk Lara and Ikhfe N’Boul is the remains of the kasbah of the once-powerful caid of the Goundafa  tribe. The Gandoufa vied with the Glaoua and the M’Touga tribes for control of the Atlas Mountains at the end of the 19th century. The Gandoufa Kasbahs  which are now in ruins controlled the entry to the valley. Si Taieb Gandoufa succeded as caid in 1883 and fought other tribes with his army of 5,000 tribes men to increase his territory. In 1906 rival tribes plundered the N’fis valley and burned his Kasbah , Talat –n-Yakoub, whilst the caid was away in Fes.

However in 1912 the Kasbahs of Azemmour and Aguergour were returned to him and the French gave him money and weapons to conquer the Sous valley. He captured Taraoudannt  in 1913 amd was appointed Pasha of Tiznit. He retired to his mountain kasbahs in 1924 where he died at the age of 65. The French left it to leaders like Si Taieb Gandoufa and Thami al Glaoui Pasha of Marrakech to secure the south of Morocco during the protectorate and the ruins of their Kasbahs are their memorial and the relics of the last bastions of feudalism in Morocco.

For more information about visiting Tin Mal & The Gandoufa Valley Marrakech

For More Information About Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate
Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | July 29, 2012 · 2:28 pm

The Draa Valley & Berber Villages, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Kasbah Tamnougalt, Draa Valley

The Draâ Valley is Morocco’s longest river. It’s formation is that of the Dades River and Imini River and flows from the High Atlas Mountains southeastward to Tagounit and from Tagounit mostly westwards to the Atlantic Ocean somewhat north of Tan-Tan. The water from the Draâ is used to irrigate Palmeraies and small horticulture along the river. The inhabitants of the Draâ are called Drawi, used to refer to the dark skinned people of Draâ that make up the largest portion of its inhabitants.  The Draa Valley originally was known as the Valley of Olives but when the 19th Century caravans passed through the date palms arose within the trails they traveled.  The palms proved to be a better choice to continue as a grown commodity because they bare dates, are used to make baskets, leafy carpets and over shade for the inhabitants.

Agdz, Draa Valley View of Palmeraie

The Draa Valley is surrounded by and made up of volcanic rock and breathtaking landscapes that lend to traces of the old routes of the caravans. Agdz, referred to as the Door to the Draa Valley and famous for its market of dates and palmeraie is a charming, town with a palmeraie view worth visiting on a Draa Valley one-day tour. From Agdz Moroccan travelers can journey on a seven-kilometer pise in the Draa Valley to discover old Ksars where the Berbers have been living for centuries. This area is known for the Haritine people who are black descendants from the region of Mali.

Located in the heart of the Draa Valley is  Kasbah Tamnougalt. Kasbah Tamnougalt is an incredible example of a traditional Moroccan Kasbah with its soaring spaces built of red pise (mud), tunnels and interior spaces. Kasbah Tamnougalt also has a large Jewish quarter (mellah)

Ait Ouzzine, Berber Village

A visit to the Draa Valley is not complete without experiencing an afternoon or a Moroccan lunch with a Berber family.  Just 5 kilometers after Nkob, another Sahara and Draa Valley town, one can find a famous village called Ait Ouzzine (the nice village). Ait Ouzzine is nestled within the Middle Atlas Mountains. Aït Ouzzine is a Berber village inhabited by over 300 families who live in beautifully painted crenulated Kasbahs, with their own henna fields, water wells, livestock and gardens. This peaceful village is tucked away along an impressive desert route connecting the Draa Valley (Tansikht) and Rissani. On a Draa Valley tour travelers can meet a Berber family, partake in a cooking lesson of how to make traditional bread and a tajine. This unique experience includes waalking in the green fields and see how the traditional Berbers live with their gardens of herbs, livestock, and henna plants.

For an in-depth experience, Moroccan travelers can have lunch in Ait Ouzzine. An example menu would include a traditional meal of fresh baked bread with spices and a chicken and vegetable tajine and fresh local fruits for desert. Compliments of the Berbers guests who travel the Draa Valley region can end their visit with a Henna party or if visiting during the month of October, they can participate in date selection and date picking in the Draa Valley.

For more information about a Draa Valley  Tours

For More Information About Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert, Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate
Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | July 23, 2012 · 7:31 am

Tarodaunt Tour From Agadir, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Tarodaunt Walled City

Taroudant is a Moroccan city located in the Sous Valley in the southern part of the country. It is situated east from Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and south from Marrakech. Tarodaunt can be easily visited as a day tour  from Agadir. Tarodaunt is called the “Grandmother of Marrakech” because it is a scaled down, slowed down town that resembles Marakech with its orange colored surrounding ramparts. Since Agadir is only one hour from  Tarodaunt a Tarodaunt Tour is the perfect way to spend an afternoon when arriving from a cruise ship at the Agadir Port.

Tarodaunt Souk

Tarodaunt has the feel of a small fortified market town on a caravan route and is known for its local crafts like like jewelry and carpet. On a Tarodaunt Tour from Agadir the city can be explored fully as a result of it’s intimate size. Unlike Marrakech, Taroudant contains almost the whole city within its ancient walls. Recently, however, a new area is being developed outside the city walls around the huge campus of a faculty of the Ibn Zohr university of Agadir.  Tarodaunt was occupied by the Almoravides in 1506. On a Tour of Tarodaunt you can explore the sites and sounds of this charming old city.

 Tarodaunt Tour from Agadir – Day Trip Itinerary

► Pick up at your Hotel or the Port in Agadir.

► By the roadside you will see Argan Trees, with their gnarled and twisted trunks. This tree is typical of south-west Morocco and produces nuts that are the source of a rich and tasty oil.

►See goats clambering along the knotted tree trunks and branches to feed on the leaves and fruit, and your vehicle will stop to let you take photos. Continue on to the beautiful walled city of Taroudant, former capital of the Saadian dynasty. Stop for photographs by the ramparts and then visit the Jnane Soussia restaurant for a refreshing cup of mint tea or a glass of soda.

► Visit an Argan Cooperative whereby you can see how Argan nuts, oil and butter are made from the Argan Tree.

► Afterwards explore the medina (the maze of narrow streets near the town center) and visit the excellent souks. The Berber market in Taroudant sells vegetables and spices and also clothes and household goods, while the Arab souk specializes in handicrafts such as terracotta, wrought iron, pottery, brass and copper, leather, carpets and rugs, and jewellery

►Visit the ancient walls of Tarodaunt that extend around the entire city and Place al Alouvine which is a large, central square and the heart of the medina. It plays host to a mini Djemaa El Fna most evenings. Storytellers and musicians are there.

►Have lunch at a charming cafe in the old city or at the Riad Zitoune restaurant with an interior palmary and gardens or Restaurant La Valla. If time allows stop in a Berber Village just outside of Tarodaunt for tea with a Berber family.

► Return to your Hotel or the Port in Agadir.

For more information about a Tarodaunt  Tours

For More Information About Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert, Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate
Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | July 2, 2012 · 10:18 pm

Casablanca Excursion With Morocco Experts, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca Excursion

Each month the Port of Casablanca is filled with various cruise ships that dock offering cruise critics and cruise ship travelers the opportunity to take in the sites and sounds of Casablanca. Casablanca is known for the Hassan II Mosque, 1920′s classic Art Deco Architecture, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism and the famous hot spot Rick’s Cafe. The city of Casablanca is the perfect place to take a Casablanca Excursion with Morocco Travel Experts.

Two cruise ships that frequent the Casablanca Port often are the Oceania Marina and the Oceania Riviera. These Mediterranean cruises stop in Monte Carlo, Naples, Casablanca along with other a select group of other Ports in the region. Most of the Mediterranean cruises offer Casablanca excursions for large groups. As a cruise ship traveler if you prefer not to participate in a large group then considering a private Casablanca Excursion with Morocco Experts is a good choice.

A Casablanca Excursion with Morocco Experts that takes you on a private tour through Casablanca’s historic sites, monuments, the Corniche, shops and markets is the ideal way to see Casablanca in a day. A private Casablanca Excursion offers both value and ease of travel.

The Casablanca Port is located in the center of Morocco and is one of the most enticing sights available for those looking for a one-day Casablanca excursion. Various places to visit on a Casablanca Excursion with Morocco Experts are the Hassan II Mosque which is the largest in the world, the Corniche, the Notre Dame De Lordes Cathedral and then opt for the Museum of Moroccan Judaism or Temple Beth-El.

On a Casablanca excursion with Morocco Experts be sure to take time out to shops in the city stalls of the old medina and the Habous Market. Fine Arabic carpets and the best copper and brass goods can be found on a Casablanca excursion.

The Exposition Nationale d’Artisanat offers superb carpets, quality leather goods and craft ware that are worth purchasing. Moroccan painted pottery, belts made of leather, embroidered clothing and handmade jewelry are other things which you can find there on a Casablanca excursion.

For lunch during a Casablanca Excursion don’t miss out on the famous Rick’s Cafe or if you are on a budget check out La Cigale or Snack Amine. For desert those on a Casablanca Excursion can visit Benis Patisserie is known for its delightful pastries. It is said to be one of the best.

For more information about a Casablanca Excursion with Morocco Experts 

For More Information About Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert, Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel.We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | April 29, 2012 · 7:09 pm

Morocco’s La Mamounia Spa, Your Morocco Tour Guide

La Mamounia Spa Pool

La Mamounia is Marrakech’s most iconic hotel. Every square foot La Mamounia is infused with traditional Moroccan design mixed with a modern French modern glamour. Care of Parisian designer, Jacque Garcia, Marrakech’s La Mamounia and its opulent spa boasts an atmosphere rarely seen out site of the “grande dame” hotels in Paris. La Mamounia Spa is located in a lavish 27,000 square ft underground complex that ranks among the worlds best.

Visitors to La Mamounia’s Spa in Marrakech will be impressed by the spa’s appeal of traditional treatments. La Mamounia’s Spa has interconnecting rooms that open out into sensual spaces where guests can have a luxurious experience. Morocco’s La Mamounia Spa is deliciously decorated from ceiling to floor with a majorelle blue color palette. The walls and floor are delicately lined with Moroccan tiles and oversized Moroccan glass lamps.

La Mamounia Private Hammam

Marrakech’s La Mamounia Spa offers a combination of elegant wellness packages for both guests of the hotel and outside clients. La Mamounia Spa offers a bespoke experience that is second to none.

Guests at La Mamounia Spa can choose from treatments that include being pampered at their Royal Hammam. A Royal Hammam treatment at La Mamounia’s Spa begins with the traditional black soap grommage, made from pressed olives and salt, then an intense scrubbing followed by a soothing mud body mask. After down time in one of La Mamounia’s relaxation rooms, there is another treatment that follows which is a moisturizing Tadelakt massage, using an argan balm that is comprised of amber, honey and rose water dream.

A treatment at La Mamounia’s Spa is not complete without a visit to their  private gardens, which spans 20 acres and boasts 100 year-old olive, palm and fruit trees, roses, bougainvillea, geraniums and other species. The fragrance of fresh orange blossoms will permeate your entire essence, as there is nothing quite like a day at La Mamounia’s Spa.

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration in the USA at 1 (800) 787-8806 or in Morocco 1 (212)618-88-26-81 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | February 10, 2012 · 10:17 am

Morocco Just For Women Tour, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Fes Henna Party, Morocco Just For Women Tour

Imagine the opportunity to Roam Like Royalty Through Morocco’s Imperial Cities and Sacred Spaces with fellow women travelers. Touring Morocco with women who you could connect with and share lifetime memorable experiences with is a stand-out opportunity. If this sounds like something appealing as a Morocco single woman traveler then Travel Exploration’s Morocco Just For Women Tour is the perfect 2012 travel program.

Bellydancing, Marrakech

Morocco Just For Women - Roam Like Royalty Through Morocco’s Imperial Cities was created for women by women to experience the wonders that Morocco offers. The Morocco Just For Women Tour will visit breathtaking architectural sites in Marrakech and Fes, majestic palaces in Rabat, glorious houses of worship and opulent gardens. Attending the Morocco Just For Women Tour offers on site visits to see traditional Moroccan crafts being made by local artisans and shopping in the dazzling array of Morocco’s marketplaces. On the Morocco Just For Women Tour, all women travelers will enjoy exquisite cuisine and elegant accommodations throughout this magical voyage.

Included in the Morocco Just For Women itinerary is a henna party and a ceramics workshop in Fes, an exotic cooking workshop in two Imperial Cities and a Hot Air Balloon ride over Marrakech’s Atlas Mountains. To top the itinerary the Morocco Just For Women program also includes Camel Trekking in the Palmeraie of Marrakech, Spa time, visits at women’s cooperatives, a wine tasting in Essaouira and more. The Morocco Just For Women Tour Group will rise and overnight at charming Riads & boutique hotels as they intimately discover the best of Morocco.

Fes Medina, Embroidery

Morocco is one of the ancient intersections of civilization. Boldly situated on the far northwestern corner of Africa, its expansive shoreline stretches from the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean. The cultural diversity of contemporary Morocco reflects its historic vantage point as a gateway to Europe and the world.  Morocco’s heritage offers visitors an encounter with an exotic society and its customs, an incomparable cuisine,  and a shopper’s paradise of magnificent markets.

Cooking Workshop, Morocco Just For Women Tour

Morocco Just For Women Tour Highlights:

  • Embroidery Lessons in Fes
  • Traditional Cooking Workshops Of Local Cuisine in Fes & Marrakech
  • Henna Party & Gastronomic Dinner in Fes
  • Spa indulgence in Marrakech
  • Hot Air Balloon over the High Atlas
  • Yves St. Laurent’s Majorelle Garden in Marrakech
  • Shopping at charming Moroccan boutiques and cooperatives
  • Bellydancing Lessons in Marrakech
  • Wine & Cheese Tasting in Essaouira
  • Pastry & Argan Cooperative Visits

For more information about a Morocco Just For Women Tour & Morocco Tours

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration in the USA at 1 (800) 787-8806 or in Morocco 1 (212)618-88-26-81 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | February 6, 2012 · 10:49 am

Moroccan Seffa Medfouna Recipe, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Moroccan Seffa Dish

Seffa Medfouna is a famous Moroccan dish. When traveling to Morocco for a Cooking Vacation or to take a Moroccan Cooking Workshop Seffa Medfouna is one of the options that Moroccan travelers can learn to make.

Seffa Medfouna is made with crushed or fried almonds, cinnamon, raisins, fine vermicelli noodles and powdered sugar. Seffa Medfouna is typically served in Morocco before a meal. This light and tasty dish of Seffa Medfouna can also be made with beldi chicken, lamb or beef. When served with meat this traditional Moroccan dish can be used as a meal. Seffa Medfouna is made slightly different in each region of Morocco and its ingredients vary also by season.

Seffa Medfouna is a Moroccan favorite with some of the best found at Ines Guest House located in Tingerhir not far from the mouth of the Todra Gorge region of Southern Morocco.

Ingredients To Make Seffa Medfouna:
- 1 kg of fine vermicelli noodles
- 1/2 Moroccan cooking oil
- salt to taste
- water
- 150g of raisins
- 2 table spoons of butter
- 100g pouched, friend or crushed almonds
- powdered sugar
- cinnamon

How To Make Seffa Medfouna:

Step #1:  Boil 2 litres of water, with lemon juice, added into a large saucepan.

Step #2: Place fine vermicelli noodles into flat and large plate, with oil. Transfer them into a couscous steamer and cooking over moderate heat for approximately 20 minutes.

Step #3: Remove steamer and place the fine vermicelli noddles into a large place. Spray with 1 glass of salted water, mix well and run hands through to remove any knots that were created. For the second time, place the vermicelli noodles into a steamer. Repeat until the vermicelli noodles are completely cooked.

Step #4: Clean and rinse raisins. Add raisins to vermicelli prior to last steaming and cooking step.

Step #5: Place vermicelli into a flat large, round dish. Add two table spoons of butter, let it melt and mix.

Step 6: Scatter crushed or fried almonds, cinnamon and powered sugar on top of dish.

Moroccan Seffa Medfouna

Moroccan Seffa Medfouna is easy to make and can be learned at a cooking workshop on a  Moroccan Vacation or  at home on your own.

For more information about a Morocco Cooking Vacation or Making Seffa Medfouna

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration in the USA at 1 (800) 787-8806 or in Morocco 1 (212)618-88-26-81 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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by | February 4, 2012 · 10:10 am

Morocco Cooking Vacation, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Cooking Workshop, La Maison Arabe Marrakech

When considering a Morocco Tour there are many options which will make for a unique travel experience. One way for Moroccan travelers to discover the real Morocco is through a Morocco Cooking Vacation. There are various types of Morocco Cooking vacations. Some are offered as culinary tours to Morocco with a focus on creating and making various traditional Moroccan recipes daily. A Taste of Morocco Tour offers the opportunity to discover Moroccan cuisine through cooking workshops in Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira. Morocco Just For Women on the other hand offers group lessons with other women who have come to Morocco specifically to explore the country’s culture through a womans’ eyes which includ cooking workshops.

Le Jardin Des La Medina, Cooking Workshop

When attending a Moroccan Cooking vacation the best place to start is to exploring the wide array of tour offerings and what they include. Some Morocco Cooking Vacations include more of a tasting opportunity for Moroccan cuisine. Other Morocco Cooking Vacations offer the opportunity to create a three-course meal along with recipe books.

Whether you want to come to Morocco on a Morocco Cooking Vacation or to explore Moroccan food you are guaranteed to discover the main cuisine traditions. Morocco’s main cuisine traditions are Moroccan Tajines, Moroccan Bastilla, Moroccan Couscous, Seffa Madfouna, Moroccan flat breads and Moroccan Salads.

Lahcen's Cooking Workshop, Fes

An example of a Moroccan cookery workshop that is experienced on a Morocco Cooking Vacation often includes a three-course meal.

Begin your day with a traditional Fasis cookery workshop learning the age old traditions of Fes. Fes is renowned for some of the best cuisine in Morocco and the world over. Chef Lahcen will pick you up at your Riad and take you through the souk’s spice market where you will buy fresh ingredients for your meal. In the beginning of the lesson, you will receive a booklet of 20 of the chef’s own Moroccan recipes that you will use during the lesson and then take home to try other dishes. Roll up your sleeves and put on your aprons for a few hours of hands-on cooking – Moroccan style! Feel free to take notes and pictures. Your lesson will be a three-course meal.

Morocco Cooking Workshop Menu -Learn One From Each Category: 

Entree

Briouates with Cheese, crispy triangles filled with fresh goat’s cheese
Harira, tomato-based Moroccan soup with chick peas and meat
Zaalouk, cooked eggplant and tomato salad, Carrots with Cumin Seeds, Cheese, and Coriander

Main Dishes

Couscous with seven vegetables, a semolina-based dish with meat or chicken and vegetables
Tagine with Prunes and Dates or with Apricots and almonds, made with chicken or meat
Djaj Mqalli, chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives
Pastilla (Bisteeya), a pastry-style dish with pigeon stuffing

Desserts

Served with spiced coffee or Moroccan Mint tea
Cream Pastilla, a light and crispy dessert with a cream filling
Kateef, a Moroccan pancake stuffed with cheese and almonds, topped with honey
Date Rolls, small cookies with a date paste filling

For more information about a Morocco Cooking Vacation – A Taste of Morocco

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration

Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration in the USA at 1 (800) 787-8806 or in Morocco 1 (212)618-88-26-81 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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