
Morocco
Morocco: Melting Pot of Cultures
Program No. 7158RJ
Discover the vibrant culture of Morocco as you get hands-on with cooking classes, meet local artists, explore stunning landscapes and learn the complex story of this ancient land.
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Protecting the Environment
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18 days
17 nights
42 meals
16B 14L 12D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
7
Chefchaouen: The Blue Pearl City From 1471
Chefchaouen
17
Hassan IInd Mosque guided visit
Casablanca
18
Program Concludes
Casablanca
At a Glance
Centuries of living mere miles from Europe and the Iberian Peninsula impressed upon the indigenous Berber people of northern Africa the imprint of a long parade of invaders, settlers and colonists. The result is today’s Morocco, a modern nation where a blend of Arabic, Berber and European heritage infuses every souk, square, medina and oasis.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles daily over varied terrain. Elevations up to 7,200 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Watch the sun set over the desert, then enjoy traditional Moroccan music under the stars.
- Gain insight into daily life when you meet local artists, activists, herders and villagers as well as visit an exceptional public primary school.
- Take an exclusive Road Scholar field trip around Rabat with a Moroccan academic.
General Notes
We will do our best to accommodate special diets and needs on this program, but we must be informed in advance and appreciate flexibility.
Featured Expert
All trip experts

Farah Cherif D'Ouezzan
Farah Cherif D’Ouezzan founded the Center for Cross-Cultural Learning in 1995. She is presently its General Director as well as the President of Thaqafat Association. Her academic interest is in research on comparative religion with a focus on teaching Islam from a cross-cultural perspective. Farah holds a degree in comparative Literature from Mohammed V University in Rabat and a certificate on Women and Gender Issues from the University of Hanover, Germany. She lectures and conducts seminars worldwide and in Morocco for Road Scholar.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Farah Cherif D'Ouezzan
View biography
Farah Cherif D’Ouezzan founded the Center for Cross-Cultural Learning in 1995. She is presently its General Director as well as the President of Thaqafat Association. Her academic interest is in research on comparative religion with a focus on teaching Islam from a cross-cultural perspective. Farah holds a degree in comparative Literature from Mohammed V University in Rabat and a certificate on Women and Gender Issues from the University of Hanover, Germany. She lectures and conducts seminars worldwide and in Morocco for Road Scholar.
Suggested Reading List
(29 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Morocco: Melting Pot of Cultures
Program Number: 7158
Culture Smart! Morocco
History, religion, daily life, food, health and safety are all covered in this accessible pocket guide to Moroccan customs, etiquette and culture, by an author who lives and teaches there.
The Voices of Marrakesh, A Record of a Visit
Canetti portrays the people and life of the city's bazaars, cafes, and streets in a series of acutely observed essays, including vivid sketches of the storytellers in the Djema el Fna, the everpresent beggars and rituals of Moroccan family life in the 1950s. Canetti is particularly good on the Marrakesh Mellah, the old but then still living Jewish quarter.
Traditional Moroccan Cooking, Recipes from Fez
First published in 1958, Madame Guinaudeau’s charming guide to Moroccan cuisine explores the rich culinary traditions of Fez with anecdotes, recipes, drawings and chapters on everything from choosing spices and preserving lemons to The Art of Making and Drinking Tea.
The Food of Morocco
A Mediterranean cuisine icon brings a lifetime of experience and taste to this gorgeously illustrated cookbook and cultural guide.
Lonely Planet Fez Encounter
A lively shirt pocket guide to the imperial city.
The Sheltering Sky
Bowles' most famous work, by turns stark and transcendent, is a tale of three people whose lives unravel in the desert of North Africa. Originally published in 1949.
Morocco, The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges
A penetrating look at political, social and cultural life in Morocco under King Mohammed V, by a former New York Times correspondent.
Morocco Map
An excellent road map in the Michelin style, featuring city and town plans and a full place name index.
Living in Morocco
From exquisite rugs and textiles to vibrant mosaics, courtyards and homes, this gorgeous photographic collection celebrates the beauty and allure of Morocco's architecture, with a particular focus on interiors.
Cadogan Guide Marrakesh, Fez and Rabat
This personal, comprehensive handbook combines Rogerson's insightful cultural and historical background with his savvy practical information and recommendations on what to see and where to stay and eat.
The Caliph's House, A Year in Casablanca
Shah is a marvelous storyteller, weaving Moroccan customs and history with deft portraits of neighbors, craftsmen and others in this entertaining tale of the transformation of a crumbling palace in Casablanca.
A Street in Marrakech, A Personal View of Urban Women in Morocco
Fernea's account of her unpredictable journey though the private and public world's of a traditional Muslim city includes marvelous descriptions of daily life in and around the medina in Marrakech.
In Arabian Nights, A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams
Shah (The Caliph's House) weaves his own family tradition of storytelling with commentary on Moroccan spiritual traditions, culture and history in this account of his adopted home on the sea in Casablanca.
The Spider's House
Set in Fez during a 1954 nationalist uprising, this richly descriptive novel may be the most evocative of Bowles' many works set in Morocco. Originally published in 1955.
In Morocco
Wharton's enjoyable account of her month-long journey through Morocco after WWI captures the landscapes, architecture and many aspects of Muslim culture and history, and especially the cities of Rabat, Fez and Marrakech.
Morocco, The Traveller's Companion
Pepys, Defoe, Twain, Orwell and Wharton, as well as famous Muslim travelers such as Leo Africanus and a host of others -- merchants, sailors, consuls and scholars-- are all included.
Living in Morocco
From exquisite rugs and textiles to vibrant mosaics, courtyards and homes, this gorgeous photographic collection celebrates the beauty and allure of Morocco's architecture, with a particular focus on interiors.
The Land of an African Sultan, Travels in Morocco
This classic by the intrepid Walter Harris, the Times correspondent in Tangiers from the 1890s to 1933, takes in the artists and eccentrics of Tangier, the darkness and decadence of the sultan's court In Marrakech, celebrated Fez, marvels of the High Atlas -- and his remarkable ride, in disguise, to Sheshouan -- the second of only three Christians ever to enter the Berber town.
Morocco Courtyards and Gardens
Splendid color photographs and aerial views of the palaces, mosques, and signature walled gardens of Fez, Marrakech, and Rabat.
A Traveller's History of North Africa
Wide-ranging, accessible and effectively condensed, this brief history marches confidently through the centuries, covering key events and personalities in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to 1999.
Marrakesh, Through Writers' Eyes
A choice collection of travel writing on the Red City by 40 luminaries, including George Orwell, Winston Churchill, Gavin Maxwell and Peter Mayne.
Eyewitness Guide Morocco
Gorgeously illustrated and filled with excellent maps, this compact guide introduces Morocco's history, culture and attractions.
Lords of the Atlas
Set in the medieval city of Marrakech and the majestic kasbahs of the High Atlas mountains, this rousing history vividly portrays life in French colonial Morocco. Maxwell (Ring of Bright Water) follows the fate of the despotic Glaoui clan from 1893 to independence.
A Year in Marrakesh
This brilliantly entertaining, insightful classic account of Marrakesh captures the rhythm and spirit of life in the alleyways of the Medina in the 1950s.
Islam, A Short History
Armstrong brings authority and experience to this vivid, clear-headed survey of the history and impact of Islam from the birth of Muhammad to present-day challenges. The best short introduction to the subject.
Dreams of Trespass, Tales of a Harem Girlhood
This captivating memoir by one of Morocco’s most outspoken women opens, "I was born in a harem in 1940 in Fez, a ninth-century Moroccan city." Mernissi captures not only the spirit of the place, but also the hierarchy and decorum of a Muslim family compound.
Shopping in Marrakech
Divided into seven separate walks through shopping areas, this small, handy guide with excellent maps is extremely helpful for navigating the labyrinthine mazes of Marrakech and its markets.
Marrakesh & Northern Morocco Map
Featuring a detailed walking map of the Medina and surrounding New Town on one side and a map of Northern Morocco at 1:740,000 on the reverse. With insets of Rabat and Tangier.
Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook
This handy phrasebook includes pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary.