Storytelling is experiencing a revival in many Western countries right now, but the tradition of oral storytelling, or hikayat, in Morocco is almost 1,000 years old. Morocco has a strongly oral culture – everything from recipes to stories to legal agreements have been passed down from generation to generation in the absence of the means to record such information and against the backdrop of widespread illiteracy. In the past, storytellers travelled around to perform in public places and at community events and palace celebrations. They were not only a form of entertainment – they were also used by the authorities to pass information and moral messages. In today’s era of satellite TV and the internet, storytelling is a dying art. Although visitors to Marrakech may find the odd storyteller on Place Jmaa el Fna, the crowd around them is smaller than ever and because the stories are told in Arabic or a Berber dialect, the performers cannot attract the support of foreign tourists.
Moroccan Festivals & Holidays
Asilah Arts Festival
Casablanca Jazzablanca Festival
Desert Music Festival
Erfoud Date Festival
Essaouira Gnaoua Festival
Fantasia Festival
Fes Festival of Sacred World Music
Fes Sufi Festival
Gnaoua Festival
Imilchil Marriage Festival
International Film Festival Marrakech
International Film Festival Tangier
M’hamid International Nomad Festival
Marrakech Music Festival
Mawazine Rabat Festival
Meknes Fantasia Festival
Merzouga International Festival of World Music
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun Mousseum
Rabat Jazz Chellah Festival
Sefrou Cherry Festival
Timitar Festival Agadir
Valley of Roses Festival
There’s no better place to take it all during a Boutique, Private Tour to Morocco then to stay at the Best Boutique hotels and boutique riads. Morocco offers a wide range of accommodations year round including restored medina houses, world class hotels, charming guests houses, luxury desert camps, mountain kasbahs and beach resorts. The ideal choice is to spend it in a Boutique riad given Morocco is the only destination in the world that offers this style of accommodations.
Morocco is well situated on the far northwestern corner of Africa and has an expansive shoreline that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Straight of Gibraltar. Morocco’s weather is temperate year round. The Best Time to visit Morocco on a Private Tour is spring and fall. With its dramatic landscapes such as the High Atlas and Sahara Desert Morocco is ideal for couples, families and small group travel. Morocco’s weather makes the country a perfect destination for a variety of activities ranging from camel trekking to hiking, biking, horseback riding and sunbathing. “Morocco’s weather” also enables travelers to enjoy site seeing year round at architectural sites, monuments, gardens and mosques.
Experience the famous Djemaa el Fna at sunset on this authentic Food Tour, Tasting Marrakech. Get ready for an evening of Tasting Marrakech in the Djemaa El Fna Square lead by a licensed guide and special host who will take you on an authentic culinary journey of local Moroccan cuisine. Experience a five-course dinner tasting local street food.
In December 2014, Boeing and Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s national carrier, announced the 787 Dreamliner, a new addition to the airlines’ fleet of travel offerings for flights to Morocco. Royal Air Maroc is the first airline to operate the 787 Dreamliner in the Mediterranean region making Morocco as a destination more attractive to travelers. The 787 Dreamliner will enable Royal Air Maroc to expand it’s network of long flights while reducing costs. Royal Air Maroc’s new 787 will also enable passengers to have a luxury Morocco travel and flight experience in comparison to those offered by its prior fleet of 737 planes.
UN statistics suggest that average literacy rates in Morocco are as high as 67% (in 2011). However, this figure hides large discrepancies between males and females and between urban and rural populations. Typically, girls in Morocco are less well-educated than boys. Additionally, in rural communities or poorer areas of the medinas, parents may remove children from school at an early age to work or help the family. The Medina Children’s Library in the medieval old city of Fez aims to support children’s learning and make it fun.
Morocco is a captivating travel destination for families with children of all ages ranging from tweens to teens. Morocco’s temperate climate allows for a variety of family activities and cultural experiences that are a good fit year round. On a private tour to Morocco families can participate in adventure activities such as zip lining across the Atlas Mountains, hiking in valleys and gorges, quad riding in the Sahara and camel trekking across the desert dunes. Moroccans love children and are family oriented. A family vacation to Morocco is not complete without an up close cultural exchange in a Berber village that comprises of a bread baking, a hands on cooking class of how to make a tajine along with a henna party.
TripAdvisor has awarded Travel Exploration Morocco Private Day Tours the 2015 Certificate of Excellence. This achievement is a direct result of Travel Exploration’s consistent great reviews from Morocco travelers who have shared their experiences on TripAdvisor’s website. The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award is a testament to Travel Exploration’s High Standards and Service provided for couples, family, and small groups tours who have visited Morocco with Travel Exploration. The Trip Advisor award is given annually to exceptional travel agents and Morocco tour operators. TripAdvisor places a spotlight on businesses that are focused on delivering great service to customers.
The 18th Annual Gnaoua Music Festival took place in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast from May 14th -17th. Every year, the festival showcases the best of Moroccan Gnaoua musicians and a wide array of Gnaoua and world music. Gnaoua is a musical genre based in Sufi Islamic culture with its roots in sub-Saharan Africa. Moroccan and international artists are also invited to perform, often, in unique fusion concerts alongside Gnaoua groups. One of the most anticipated World Music acts at this year’s festival was Hindi Zahra, a Moroccan-born vocalist who played Essaouira for the first time.