Photo Tour
Landscape, People, Portraits, Cultural
Casablanca (CMN)
Marrakech (RAK)
September 24, 2024
October 7, 2024
4-12 Participants
Relaxed
Morocco’s variety of photographic subjects is unparalleled. The Royal Kingdom of Morocco is fun, almost like a kid’s candy store for any travel photographer that enjoys culture, diversity, and architecture.
This is your chance to capture some fantastic pictures of North Africa’s most exotic and enigmatic country. With its ancient medinas, bustling souks, traditional life, and sweeping deserts, Morocco is an endlessly fascinating destination for photographers of all experience levels.
The cultural diversity of Morocco is reflected in the myriad of architectural beauties that can be seen across the Kingdom. Morocco has many fabulous buildings to admire, from majestic mosques to traditional riads, brilliant palaces, and sublime religious study centers. Many buildings feature the traditional tilework, zellige, decorative carvings, woodwork, and plasterwork, often considered works of art.
This photo expedition to Morocco is crafted to reward you with awe-inspiring portfolio images.
Daniel has been leading photo tours to Morocco since 2017; his experience and understanding of the culture will help you make the most of your time in this enchanting land.
Our Moroccan photo adventure starts in Casablanca and will end in Marrakech, visiting Checfchaouen, Aith Ben Haddou, Fes, Erfoud, and of course, the Sahara desert.
Together we’ll photograph the twisting and turning streets of the medinas, discover the hidden treasures amongst the chaotic streets of Marrakech, photograph camels and Berbers in the Sahara, and sleep under the stars. Adventure awaits you on this photo tour to exotic Morocco.
Unique to this year is an extension to the coastal town of Essaouria. Past participants rated this extension as one of the most memorable and striking of the trip. The extension assures a remarkable and relaxing way to end this Morocco photo tour. Still, it is nevertheless filled with unique photo wonders.
Join us on this unique photo adventure. You’ll come back home with fantastic memories and tons of portfolio-worthy pictures.
When: September 24th to October 7, 2024.
Who: Open to all skill levels, non-photographer spouses are welcome.
Group Size: Minimum 4 People, Maximum 12 People.
Where: This photo tour starts in Casablanca (CMN) and ends in Marrakech (RAK)
Fitness Level: Relaxed; most photo opportunities are within one mile or so from where we leave the vehicle. You may need to be able to stand and walk for long periods of time. There is a chance that you can encounter steep terrain (e.g., cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, an absence of elevators, and climbing aboard trains or coaches with big steps); and some longer walks to get to city centers where vehicles are prohibited.
The tour is open to all levels of photographic skills, from beginner to experienced. However, there will be no formal workshops or critiques. We will share knowledge and skills along the way in the spirit of real adventurers.
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 heading out to dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel Novotel or similar.
Today will head out for an early sunrise shoot on the beach overlooking the Hassan II Mosque, then return to the hotel for breakfast.
During the morning, will have a visit to the interior of the Hassan II Mosque and then take a walk around the city to capture some of the art deco buildings and local food markets.
After lunch, we’ll visit the old medina where you will photograph and learn about the fruit and vegetable souks. You might want to taste some excellent dried fruit like dates or apricots.
Hotel Novotel or similar.
After an early breakfast, we’ll leave towards Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of Morocco in the Rif Mountains. On route, we’ll stop at Rabat, the capital city and residence of the King, to enjoy the beautiful coastal city. This will be a relatively quick stop, but you can capture some great shots of the La Tour Hassan Tower, Mausoleum & Chellah.
Once we have finished the Rabat visit, we’ll set off towards Chefchaouen for the night. We’ll stop along the way for an outdoor lunch in a traditional local restaurant.
Upon arrival in Chefchaouen, we’ll check into our Riad and have an early dinner. Afterward, we may have some time to wander around Morocco’s famous “blue town.”
Hotel Riad Lina & Spa or similar
We’ll head out for an early walk and photography on the streets of Chefchaouen and return to the Riad in time for breakfast.
After breakfast, we’ll have a tour of this “cool” blue town tucked away in the mountains. This city is honestly picture-perfect for photography. As we wander the streets of “Chaouen,” you’ll find ample opportunities to capture this wonderful town’s vibrant colors and textures.
We’ll have dinner at a local restaurant and then photograph the blue hour overlooking the city from a vantage point.
Hotel Riad Lina & Spa or similar
Today, we’ll have one last chance to photograph the streets of Chefchaouen in the morning.
After breakfast, we’ll head off towards Fes, Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital.
Upon arrival in Fes, we’ll visit the potters; this fascinating visit will give you a picture of how this handi-craft has existed for hundreds of years.
This afternoon, we’ll catch the sunset over the ancient medina of Fes.
Hotel Riad El Yacout, Riad Myra, or similar
Today we’ll photograph and have a guided tour of the medina, one of the world’s largest walled-in cities.
Together, we’ll explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit & mounds of spices, the tanneries, and the artisans of Fes.
In the afternoon we’ll have some time to explore the Galawi Palace. This ancient palace is the perfect backdrop to a photo session with models in traditional costumes.
We’ll have some free time to relax in the late afternoon before dinner.
Hotel Riad El Yacout, Riad Myra, or similar
We’ll start our day with a relaxed breakfast; then, we’ll have the opportunity to visit and photograph the Jewish quarter.
We will have more time to photograph in the medina in the afternoon.
Alternatively, you could take a cooking class (not included) or a shopping trip.
Hotel Riad El Yacout, Riad Myra, or similar
After an early breakfast, we’ll begin our ascent across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Most of the day will be spent winding our way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages.
Halfway, we’ll stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks.
Next, we’ll make our way down along the Ziz River Valley in the afternoon. Finally, we will jump in 4x4s and head out to the dunes upon arrival in Erfoud.
Hotel Auberge Dune D’or (rustic)
Today, we’ll arrange for a camel caravan on the dunes for the anticipated sunrise picture.
Then we’ll return to the lodge for breakfast, and you will have some time to relax on the edge of the dunes.
In the afternoon, we’ll set off by camel for a 1/2-hour trek out into the dunes, where you will enjoy photos around sunset.
Tonight, we’ll sleep in luxury tents in the desert (glamping) but may return to the Auberge if you prefer.
Glamping in Authentic Superior Camp (Dunes D’or)
After breakfast in the desert, we’ll take the SUV back to the Auberge and head towards Ouarzazate.
We’ll pass by the Dades Gorges along the route and get to Ouarzazate. Finally, we’ll continue to the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou.
Hotel Kasr Ighanda
We’ll start our day photographing sunrise in the Kasbah; we’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and then go back to explore the Kasbah.
The Kasbah has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco, including Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, The Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. In typical Moroccan fashion, the true photo treasures must be searched out and discovered…usually off the beaten path.
This afternoon is free, so you may have some time to swim and enjoy the Hamam or have an image review session with the tour leaders.
Hotel Kasr Ighanda
Today we’ll continue our journey to Marrakech. First, we’ll have lunch on the scenic route known as the Tich-n-Tichka Pass.
Once in Marrakech, we’ll check into the hotel and then head to the medina square, the famous Jemaa el-Fna, for a sunset photo shoot in the evening.
The square comes alive at night with local storytellers, entertainers, and mouth-watering barbeque pits.
Hotel Riad Adore or Similar
After breakfast, the group will have a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. We will start with the Majorelle Gardens, then onto the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous Djemaa el-Fna.
In the afternoon, you will have time for image review & sharing with the group. A farewell dinner will be served at the Riad.
Hotel Riad Adore or Similar
Today is the last day of the tour.
After breakfast, and at the appropriate time, your driver will take you to the airport.
If you continue with the extension, today we’ll drive towards the coastal city of Essaouria.
Anyone who loves photography will tell you that Essaouira is one of Morocco’s most beautiful and photogenic cities. With its charming whitewashed buildings, brightly painted doors, hidden alleyways, and sandy seafront promenade, it is a simply stunning place to spend a couple of days wandering with your camera in hand.
Just imagine winding streets and maze-like souks to the crashing blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean. There is no shortage of extraordinary photographic opportunities in this wonderfully sunny coastal city.
So why not make it a whole Morocco photo tour trip and add Essaouria? Its rich history and breathtaking scenery make it a photographer’s paradise!
After breakfast, we’ll set off to the coastal city of Essaouira, a picturesque fishing town lying on the southwest coast of Morocco.
Essaouira has become one of Morocco’s most popular seaside towns, with an exquisite beach to the south and a magnificent coastline to photograph. Many of the country’s woodcarvers and artists make Essaouira their home.
Hotel Riad Mimouna
This will be a full day to enjoy Essaouira’s coastal town, the old medina, ancient fort & fishing port. We’ll be timing our activities around town according to weather conditions.
Hotel Riad Mimouna
Another full day to enjoy Essaouira’s coastal town, the old medina, ancient fort & fishing port. We’ll be timing our activities around town according to weather conditions. If you choose to do so, there will be time for image reviews in the early afternoon.
Hotel Riad Mimouna
This morning we’ll travel towards Casablanca via the coast. We’ll visit and photograph the historic city of El Jadida. We’ll reach Casablanca in the late afternoon and spend our last night in a hotel close to the airport.
Hotel Atlas Sky
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for departure on the free airport shuttle.
Darlene Hildebrandt is a photographer with over 33 years of experience. She’s photographed everything from food, editorial, products, portraits, weddings, and events. Nowadays she prefers doing street and travel photography, but still considers herself a people photographer first and foremost, which is where her portrait lighting skills and experience come in handy.
She’s been sharing her skills and experiences with beginner and intermediate photographers since 2011 through articles on her website, Digital Photo Mentor, video tutorials on her YouTube channel, and photography workshops (in-person and virtual classes or webinars). She is also a skilled trainer for Lightroom Classic and Luminar Neo.
Morocco is an incredible country, with rich stories and extraordinary people.
You’ll get to photograph one of the best countries in North Africa, mingle with locals eager to share their culture and traditions, discover, document life and fantastic landscapes.
While several photography tours are offered to Morocco, none provide a similar experience and value for money. We have traveled and led photo tours to Morocco for several years. This itinerary is a photographer’s dream, and it was perfected to the dot during our several iterations and experiences there.
If you enjoy photographing places with rich traditions, landscapes, old medinas, and hidden treasures, Morocco is the perfect photography trip.
Morocco is a safe place to visit. Tourists are unlikely to be assaulted or hurt in Morocco. As in every other place in the world, if you use common sense, you won’t encounter any serious problems. However, despite being safe, petty crime and pickpocketing can occur if you don’t stay vigilant; thus, traveling in a small group is even safer and better.
We have rated this tour as Relaxed.
Relaxed; most photo opportunities are within one mile or so from where we leave the vehicle. You may need to be able to stand and walk for long periods of time. There is a chance that you can encounter steep terrain (e.g., cobblestones, city hills, stairs without handrails, an absence of elevators, and climbing aboard trains or coaches with big steps); and some longer walks to get to city centers where vehicles are prohibited.
Travelers wishing to travel to Morocco must present a health form, to be downloaded online before boarding, duly completed. It is also distributed on board or at the airport.
Vaccine certifications or negative Covid tests are not longer required to enter Morocco. For updated information about this topic, please visit this link.
For more information on the covid-19 health situation in Morocco, click on the following link: http://www.covidmaroc.ma/
Also, take along any prescription medication with sufficient supplies, as those might not be readily available in Morocco.
The best time to visit Morocco is during April and May or September through November. These are the shoulder seasons when it’s neither too hot nor cold. Another perk during that time is that there aren’t many tourists, so there are better photographic opportunities without interference from others!
The first thing you should know about dressing in Morocco is that it’s not strict. Still, the country has a conservative culture, with 99% of its population identifying as Muslims. Therefore we recommend concentrating on trekking/outdoor clothing and lightweight walking shoes. Also, pack long sleeves or cover your arms (primarily women) so there won’t be any showing off undergarments. Finally, don’t forget a light jacket for colder nights and sunglasses.
All travelers arriving in Morocco must present a passport that is valid for at least six months from the time entering the country.
For North Americans and Europeans, no visa is required to stay up to three months in Morocco.
It is required that all of our guests have their own travel insurance, which should include evacuation for medical reasons.
The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, denoted as MAD or Dhs. Notes are available in denominations of (Dhs) 200, 100, 50, 25, and 20, all in new and old varieties, and coins are also available.
Most of the leading foreign currencies may be exchanged at a Bureau de Change in the airport upon arrival, at a bank, and in most hotels. Exchanging money in the street is illegal. If you bring paper currency in Morocco (U.S. Dollars, British Pounds, Euros, etc.), these must be in good condition, with no tears or ink marks.
Morocco’s restaurants, shops, hotels, or riads usually accept debit and credit cards. Those that do are most likely to accept Visa or MasterCard. Amex is not a popular card.
ATMs can now be found in abundance in most towns and accept Visa, Maestro, Cirrus, etc., but these usually incur charges. You should check with your bank as charges for using ATMs abroad may make exchanging cash or paying with a travel credit card a better option.
Unique properties, boutique hotels, and riads that can offer a historical or cultural feature. Most properties are 4 to 5 stars where available.
But as we always strive for the best, some locations are more remote, and we need to settle for convenience instead of comfort. The list of preliminary hotels booked for each location is listed here.
However, remember that there could be occasions where it won’t be possible to obtain final confirmation. In such a case, we will replace it with a hotel of a similar category.
On or around forty-five days before the trip, you’ll receive a list of final confirmed hotels:
Extension Only:
The food of Morocco ranks high on lists of the world’s best cuisines; you won’t be disappointed. Expect to see, smell and taste more spices your senses have ever experienced! The infinite flavor combinations will leave you wanting more. Think about couscous, tagine, bastilla, and oh… dates and mint tea… just to name a few.
We have based our first hotel in Reykjavik; however, international flights arrive in Keflavik. Therefore, to avoid possible delays and make the most of your photo tour, we recommend you arrive a day earlier. If you choose to do so, we can help you arrange an extra day of accommodation at the hotel where we’ll be based. The best way to transfer from the airport into Reykjavik is to use the Flybus service. Use this link to check it out.
Mobile coverage is generally great around Morocco’s cities and metropolitan areas; however, expect limited service in remote, desert, or mountainous areas.
Buy a SIM Card. To avoid roaming charges, buying a local SIM card in Morocco is possible. Using a VPN, Virtual Private Network, is also a good idea when traveling abroad.
In Morocco, the standard voltage is 220 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. Therefore, you can use your electronics and chargers in Morocco as long the standard voltage in your country is between 220 – 240 V. Today, most laptops, tablets, and chargers feature a multi-voltage adapter that can use 110-240 V. currents, in that case, you can also use your devices. If the standard voltage in your country is 110 V (as is in the U.S. and Canada), you will need a voltage converter in Morocco.
Morocco’s power plugs and sockets are of types C and E, so you’ll most likely need a plug converter.
You can also consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.
1) Booking procedure:
We will send you an email shortly after confirming your booking. Do not book your flights at this time unless otherwise indicated by us. We will let you know once the minimum number of guests to run the tour has been reached.
2) Balance of Payments:
The final payment for the trip is 90 days before departure. Such payment shall be made via credit card or wire transfer. Failure to meet the payment schedule will result in cancelation and forfeit of deposit.
3) Cancelation and Refunds
If, for any reason, DAK Photography Inc. must cancel the trip, 100% of paid deposits will be fully refunded. We reserve the right to cancel any trip/tour/group due to insufficient registration at any time. In the event of such cancellation, those with reservations shall be notified as soon as possible, and a full refund of trip payment will be given.
If a guest needs to cancel, we must receive written notification, email is accepted.
The following cancelation fees apply:
In the event that you have to cancel, we will do our best to fill your spot. If we do so, we will refund 100% of the tour fee less an administrative fee of $ 150.-
Refunds will be not be made for any other costs you may have incurred as a result of your booking.
Travel and medical insurance that includes emergency evacuation coverage are mandatory. We recommend that you purchase this as soon as the trip is confirmed to protect your investment.
Price: $ 7,295.00 US dollars.
Single Room Supplement*: $ 1,895.00 US dollars.
Deposit: $ 995 US Dollars secure your spot.
Balance: Due 90 days before departure. Full terms and conditions in FAQ.
*Tour prices are set for double occupancy, so unless you travel with a friend or spouse, you’ll need the single supplement. If you’re traveling alone and choose not to book a single supplement, we’ll try to do our best to pair you with another participant who also seeks to share.
Roommate pairings are not guaranteed; we’ll always pair you with someone of the same gender. However, the single supplement fee will apply if we can’t match you with another guest.
Price: $ 1,895.00 US Dollars
Single Supplement: $ 595 US Dollars
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