Current Photo Tours 2019/2020 Schedule

Morocco Photo Tour - "A Journey of Colour & Culture"

Morocco Photo Tour - Morocco would not be complete without a visit to Casablanca, the city made famous by the Hollywood movie of its namesake. We will journey east to Fez, we will see colourful palaces, bustling markets and narrow alleys, which make for variety of sights, sounds and sensations. The colours of the buildings and cityscapes are a photographers paradise. During the tour we will travel via 4 wheel jeeps into the desert, to spend the night in Luxury tents under the stars. This would not be complete without a sunset ride on camels.

I look forward to you joining us on our Morocco photo adventure.

James Cowie

Morocco Photo Tour Itinerary - May 1st to 11th, 2020

Day 1: May 1,2020 Late morning our bus departs Staybridge suites from London, On. Our flight departs Pearson International at 4:00 p.m. via Air Canada to Casablanca, Morocco.

Day 2: May 2, 2020 Arrival of our group at Casablanca Airport, meet our local guide and transfer to our hotel. We have have time to relax and explore around our hotel and some leisure time before dinner at our hotel. Kenos Basma Hotel 2 nights.

Day 3: May 3, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel then depart to explore and photograph the city of Casablanca. Our tour will include: Habous Quarter: This is the heart of the city’s second Medina, built long after the original old town standing near Mohamed V place. It included beautiful Moorish monuments like the great mosque and law courts, hundred of well stocked bazaars, shops and picturesque houses. United Nations Square: Famous for the neo Moorish monuments which surround it and the musical fountain which splashes out multi-coloured water to the sounds of Strauss and alousian music, this is without doubt Casablanca’s focal point not to be missed and many colourful photo opportunities. Mohamed V place: This is the heart of the city, standing between the two contrasting s ides of this Metropolis: The medina or old town and the elegant modern section with its skyscrapers and large boulevards.

Lunch in the city

This evening dinner at Rick’s cafe. Made famous from the Hollywood movie Casablanca film Rick' S Cafe is located on the ramparts of old the Médina of Casablanca, opposite the port. This will be a memorable dinner. Return to our hotel Kenos Basma hotel.

Day 4: May 4, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. Departure for Fes we will be doing photo stops en route and visit of Meknes and Volubilis:

Meknes: one of the four imperial cities in Morocco. Although it is the smallest one, it really deserves a visit. Nowadays Meknes is more an agricultural centre of the region, but one day in history the city was supposed to host the biggest Royal Palace in the nation.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Meknes then continue towards Volubilis city of Roman ruins dating back to the years 200 and 300. You can find traces around the entire city.

Arrival in Fes in the late afternoon, a short tour then check into our hotel. Hotel Barcelo for 2 nights.

Day 5: May 5, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. We will start our day with a Panoramic visit of Fes, offering up many cultural and landscape photo opportunities. We will then visit the religious capital of Morocco with its ancient mosques in the old Medina. Then a visit to Dar Batha Museum: We have made special arrangements to visit interior of a spectacular privately-owned 18th century structure - traditional Islamic courtyard house- once one of the wealthiest mansions in the city Fes. After lunch a photo visit Fez Jdid, the newest part of the city and its chic cafe – lined avenues that provide a jarring contrast; the modern flip side to the ancient city. Return tk our Hotel Barcelo. Dinner at leisure at our hotel this evening.

Day 6: May 6, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. Depart for Erfoud via the mountains of the middle Atlas passing by Ifrane. We continue to Midelt where you will have a pause for lunch at leisure. After lunch on to the high Atlas Mountains via the Ziz Gorges and Errachidia. Arrival to Erfoud; we are now at one of the largest oases in all of Morocco. This region is famous for its almost one million date palm trees. More photos!

Our overnight accommodations, private encampment by the foot of the dunes of Merzouga at Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp: http://merzougaluxurydesertcamps.com/

(We will be using four wheel drive vehicles to reach the camp). Dinner under the stars. Camel riding at sunset.

Day 7: May 7, 2020 Early wake-up. Board a 4x4 to be driven to watch the sunrise over the Sahara desert at the dunes. Back to your encampment for breakfast.

Then we will drive in our four wheel drive vehicles back to Erfoud. Your transport will take you through Tinghir, the scenic Todra Gorges, wonderfully sculpted by Mother Nature. Hugging the lush river bed are many of Morocco’s most scenic regions. We will continue towards Dades and check-in at our hotel Xaluca Dades.Dinner and overnight.

Day 8: May 8, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. Then morning departure towards Marrakech and a photo visit en route to Ouarzazate. We will also visit Kasbah Taourirt: situated at the city's centre. This is one of the most significant kasbahs of the area and the stronghold of the Glaoui chiefs in the 1930s. It sheltered the members of the dynasty of Glaoui and their many servants. In recent years UNESCO undertook the restoration of whole sections of the building.

UNESCO-restored kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou: stands out as an exquisite example of how to take care of one's heritage with style. Seeing the kasbah from the other side of the river is a great photo experience. Through a frame of the palm branches you see the structures of the kasbah slightly bending and stretching to the sky. We continue towards Marrakech. This evening check-in at our hotel Hivernage Hotel & Spa: www.hivernage-hotel.com for the 3 nights.

Day 9: May 9, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. Full day touring and photoing in Marrakech. First a visit toJardins Majorelle gardens: This is one of the most delightful and photographic places in Marrakech. A small, meticulously botanical garden created in the 1920s by the French painter Jacques Majorelle. Now superbly mature, it is owned and splendidly maintained by Yves Saint Laurent. In the artist’s former studio, a museum of Islamic arts exhibits Saint Laurent fine personal collection of north African carpets, pottery and furniture. Then we will photograph and visit Koutoubia Mosque, one of the best examples of the Hispano-Moresque art, which combines simplicity with superb craftsmanship. Then on to El Bahia Palace. Standing in a 2-acre garden, is a haphazard arrangement of secret luxury apartments opening on to inner courtyards. A fun place to explore.

Lunch in local restaurant old town centre.

Souks: This afternoon the colour market of Souks. It is colourful activity of wealthy storehouses of all the treasures of this vast and varied country. You will find all the silver merchants in one corner, all the gold merchants in another, and rows of stalls selling exclusively leatherwork or copper goods or jewelry. Many great photos tote fund. The real fascination is to watch the craftsmen at work, gilding on leather, or inlaying with enamel the sheaths of ornate silver daggers, hammering out copper, embroidering silks or smoothing out the surface of cedar wood table. En route back to our hotel we visit Djemaa El Fna square. The name literally translated is assembly. The square where a real image of the charm of Moroccan folklore is operating: story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, folkloric bands. Dinner at leisure and overnight accommodation Hivernage Hotel & Spa.

Day 10: May 10, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. On our last day in Morocco something different. A visit to one of the city squares photos and attend a cooking class where we will prepare a traditional meal. Our chef will teach you all there is to know about cooking local recipes and to do the bread in a Moroccan traditional oven. Lunch of what you prepared.

This afternoon some leisure time to prepare for our trip home.

Tonight dinner at Dar Zellij. Located in the heart of Marrakech, this superb 17th century Ryad, surprisingly well preserved, is one of the most beautiful in the medina.

Enjoy all the delights of Moroccan gastronomy. Enjoy a luxurious and romantic atmosphere, perfect for a moment of relaxation as we enjoy our last evening in Morocco. Dar Zellij, this extraordinary house opens its doors for us for a unforgettable dinner. Return to our hotel Hivernage Hotel & Spa.

Day 11: May 11, 2020 Breakfast at our hotel. Check-out and transfer to Marrakech airport for your connecting flight back home. Our flight departs at 9:10 a.m. arriving in Toronto at 3:22 p.m. We will bid fateful any connecting or GTA guests and board our coach to return to London. We show arrive around 5:30 p.m. back at the Staybridge Suites.

Morocco has an annual temperature range of 14C (56F) to 28C (82F). The temperatures in May are 18C (65F) to 22C (72F). Making it a great time of year to travel.

The cost of our Morocco Photo Tour Departing from Toronto is $5525.00 per person CAD based on double occupancy including airfare departing from Pearson International Toronto, plus air taxes of $533.95CAD plus HST $18.20. Single supplement is available of an additional $1075.00 CAD.

Includes:

Round trip coach via Coach for departures from London & Woodstock to Pearson, Toronto
Round Trip Airfare via Air Canada - Departing from Toronto
Departures from London, Woodstock, and Toronto, other locations available upon request
9 nights accommodations, Kenzi Basma,Barcelo,Merzouga LuxuryCamp, Xaluca Dades, and Hivernage Hotels
All airport and hotel transfers,
Breakfast included each day,
5 days lunch and 6 days dinner
2 bottles of water each day
Entrance fees where applicable according to the itinerary
Photo Workshops,
Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

Excludes:

Items of a personal nature, laundry, phone calls, etc.
Local guide and driver tips and gratuities, we will provide suggestion
Alcoholic beverages,

** Schedule may vary according to weather or traffic

Booking our Morocco tour, a $500.00 non refundable deposit is due at the time of registration with the balance due 60 days before departure.

Photo Tour Trekkers and Tourcan Vacations recommends the purchase of travel and health insurance as tour takes us out of the country. Health insurance is highly recommended. Please note your passport expiry date must be valid for 6 months past our return date of May11th, 2020.

Please click on link below to be linked to our secured tour registration.

Click here to Register for our Morocco Photo Tour

If you have any other questions or require booking assistance please contact:

James Cowie at Photo Tour Trekkers / Tourcan Vacations

1-800-263-2995 ext 2688 or 416-391-0334 ext 2688

or by email james@tourcanvacations.com

Ofelia Cruz at Photo Tour Trekkers / Tourcan Vacations

1-800-263-2995 ext 2672 or 416-391-0334 ext 2672

or by email ofelia @tourcanvacations.com

Tourcan Vacations

245 Fairview Mall Drive, Suite 203

Toronto, Ont. M2J 4T1

www.Tourcanvacations.com

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