Destinations Morocco Cultural Programs Destinations Morocco Travel Tours Festivals and Celebrations in Morocco Music of Morocco Tours-Music in MoroccoMusic of Morocco Tours (12 Days)
Itinerary
Enjoy music and dance in local Moroccan homes! This is the Music Tour in Morocco that will entice your senses. We will experience the diverse music of Morocco, including Gnawa, Issaoua, Hmadcha, Chaabi, Chikhat, Rai, and Andalusian music and much more.
Morocco, as an ancient Mediterranean culture, is known by its surviving rituals and beliefs, poetically expressed in the daily life of its people. Music is a reflective mirror to the secular and spiritual life of Moroccans; it is expressed in every occasion to reflect the thoughts and feelings universally known to be difficult to express otherwise.
The musical essence of this journey will take you to a world of marvels and reflections. Become immersed in diverse types of music from Moroccan pop music, known as Oughnia and Chaabi music, to Sufi spiritual music of different paths expressed in chants of Samaa of the Tariqa Boutchichia or Tijani, or Shadhiliya Tariqa, to trance drumming and invoking as in Issawa, Hmadcha, Jilala, Heddawa, Gnawa and the music of many other Sufi orders in Morocco.
Rai music, Reggada and Jajouka have attracted even big stars of Western Pop music such as the Rolling Stones, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, the Dooby Brothers, Cat Stevens, Jimmy Hendrix, Peter Gabriel, Sting and many others. These artists and others have fused with or barrowed some rhythms and melodies from traditional Moroccan music.
Come learn about the first structured written music, known as the Andalusian music (old Muslim Spain), that gave birth in 13 and 14th centuries to Classical Western music and to the popular Flamenco and Fado in Spain and Portugal.
The Malhoun is a rhythmic prose in a very popular style, which originated in the 12th Century and has remained unique to Morocco, as a style that still does not exist anywhere else. Some of the Berber Tribal music is hard to trace back in time, as some rituals and beliefs in Morocco can go as far as the Neolithic time.
Join us for this very informative palette of music that will enrich your repertoire and add to your knowledge of world Music! Learn about the history of some handmade musical instruments that exist only in a few western history books. We invite you to dance, share, participate and absorb a wide spectrum of indigenous Moroccan music.
Day 1: JFK / Casablanca
You will begin your exotic journey on a direct, overnight flight via Royal Air Maroc carrier. With exceptional service and Moroccan hospitality, you will enjoy beverages, a delicious dinner, and a complimentary movie on your six and a half hour flight.
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Day 2: Casablanca / Volubilis
Once you will arrive at Casablanca airport you will be greeted by your guide. Your guide will transfer you to Volubilis, a striking site visible for miles from the various bends in the approach road. . Volubilis was a critical city in the imperial Roman department of Mauritania (modern day Morocco, and the Western Sahara) during the reign of Caracalla. Volubilis is impressively well preserved and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact. The two central integral streets in every Roman castrum, the Cardo and Decumanus, are prominent. The cardo is the boulevard which runs north-south and the Decumanus, east-west. The intersection of the two is the heart of every roman city. There you will find the ruins of the ancient forum. This ethereal place was the central point of the introduction of Judaism by the Jewish traders, Christianity by the Romans and Islam by the grandson of the prophet Mohamed, Moulay Idris Al Akbar to the Berber natives of Morocco.
You'll have a relaxing day at the peaceful hotel of Volubilis overlooking the valley and the ruins of this ancient sanctuary of great spiritual stature. You'll have an afternoon walk to the holy city of Moulay Idriss, the first Islamic city in Morocco and home of many Sufi orders that have been formed throughout centuries. This is an important introduction to a spiritual aspect of the Moroccan society. Explore the labyrinth of this medieval and venerated city in Morocco. You'll have a brief intro session and rhythm get-together after dinner. You'll end the evening early and have our first overnight in Volubilis.
Day 3: Volubilis / Moulay Idriss
We'll begin our day Volubilis, the Roman capital of Northwestern Africa in the morning with a meditation session in the ruins of this ancient site. After, you'll walk back through the ancient olive tree grove that attracted Martin Scorsese in "The Last Temptation of Christ".
You'll have lunch at the gardens of the hotel, which overlooks the legendary Roman Ruins. After lunch, you'll have an hour workshop of drumming with an introduction to the local trance dancers and drummers of the Hmadsha Sufi Order. These dancers and drummers are well respected throughout the Islamic world for their Praises and Percussions. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at the hotel.
Day 4: Fes
Undeniably fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides of its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world, save electricity.
Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of the city of Fez starting at the King's Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.
Next, you will explore the Jewish quarter, a 15th century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory. Visits to Sephardic synagogues and mausoleums of holy Rabbis will be the highlights of this part of town.
Then, we will drive to the Merinides hill to visit their necropolis. Here you will enjoy the best panoramic view on the old walled Medina, brimful with its countless minarets to call for the prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter an ancient world. Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle is able to be used as tool of transportation. Only donkeys, mules and horses are able to help moving all what the city produces and needs as supplies.
The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers and black smiths interlaced by some caravansaries for tribesmen who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya you will encounter all sorts of crafts but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine square with its variety of activities. From there, you will wind your way to the Sgha square which will lead you to Attarine then Souk el Henna and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine square with its famous fountain, its guild of carpentry and the museum of folk arts at the Fondouk.
You will walk to the tannery and on to visit the great Mosque university of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemma'ine, the market of dried fruits. After that, you will visit the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of book binders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passerby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouani and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani.
You will break at El Hajj Lebbar House for mint tea and an introduction to The Issawa spiritual music. Finally, dinner will be served in a typical Moroccan restaurant in the Medina, after which we'll return to the Moorish house for a complete Issawa night of chanting and drumming.
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Day 5: Fes / Zallagh
Your morning will be spent on an excursion to the Rif Mountains, where you will visit the Sidi Ahmed al Barnoussi shrine. You will enjoy a typical couscous picnic lunch over the red poppy fields with local scribes. Traditionally, this couscous lunch is considered to be a Sadaka, which is an offering to feed the scribes, the guests and the passersby.
Upon your arrival to the shrine in the peaks of Mount Zalagh, you will be met by the Jajouka musicians and dancers, who will enchant you with haunting melodies of their oboes and drums – a ceremony that you will treasure for the rest of your life. You will conclude the day with dinner and dancing in a Moroccan restaurant with Chaabi musicians.
Day 6: Fes
The morning will be devoted to shopping in the Medina for musical instruments and other artifacts. We'll have an afternoon workshop in the Gnawa rhythms, trance ritual and customs. After dinner, we'll make a trip back to the heart of the Medina at the Mernissi Moorish palace for the Gnawa Ceremony, where we will experience a trance dance and Henna ceremony. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at the hotel.
Day 7: Fes / Erfoud
You will spend your day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains' Berbers. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars, and laced with flowing streams, your first view of the Middle Atlas will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Passing by Imouzzer, with a quick stop at the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, you will soon come across the first real town of the Middle Atlas, Azrou.
Azrou is an important market center for the region's Berber tribes, located at a major junction of mountain routes. Your driver will take a little detour in a cedar forest to introduce you to one of the oldest inhabitants of this region, the Berber apes. This may also coincide with the encounter of a nomadic family in its temporary encampment. As nomads are very hospitable people, whenever we encounter them we are all invited at least for a mint tea under their tents.
At Midelt, the Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. You will stop in Midelt for lunch, enjoying the dramatic sight before you. You will then continue to Erfoud, one of the most delightful southern regions consisting of a dry, red belt of desert with a sudden drop into the lush valley of Ziz, with copious date palm groves and flowing streams. Visit the gorges of Ziz and some of the oases and natural sites before you reach the magnificent oasis of Erfoud.
After you arrive in Erfoud, you will leave your vehicle and hop into the 4-Wheel Drive cruiser which takes you to meet a caravan of camels that you will ride to camp. You will conclude your day in your camp over the dunes of Merzouga where tents are pitched for you to enjoy a night under the African Skies. After dinner, the Rokba drummers will illuminate your night with their lively dances and moving chants. Enjoy this encounter of Man and nature at its best.
Day 8: Merzouga Dunes / Rissani / Erfoud
You will wake up early to reach the highest peak of the dunes and watch the sun rise over the spectacular Merzouga dunes. This is an experience that should not be missed.
We'll have a lecture in the morning on Berber tribal music with an expert in Moroccan music. Visit the holy city of Rissani after lunch, then continue the quest to Erg Chebbi! An experience not to be missed is to watch the sunset from the spectacular Merzouga dunes of the Sahara. This sight is so beautiful that no words can describe it. Afterwards, we'll have dinner with the Touaregs and later the Rokba Tagmount Dance. You'll experience enticing music and camping over the dunes.
Day 9: Erfoud / Tineghir
You will leave Erfoud travelling west toward the Valley of Todra, which lies right between the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. You will reach Tinghir, the town where we will be spending the night. Only 15 kilometers from Tinghir inside the Valley of Todra, you will find the Todra's highest and narrowest gorges in the region.
Next, you will travel through the Dadès valley, where in the spring, thousands of Persian roses bloom in hedgerows, filling the air with their heavenly perfume. You will also see the thousands of Kasbahs scattered along the Dadès River, majestic sandcastles with a visually appealing, timeless beauty
You will experience Ahwash Megounamusic and dance in a Berber home. You will conclude the day with dinner and other accommodations at the hotel.
Day 10: Tineghir / Ouarzazate
Today, you will continue to explore the Dadès Valley, traveling through El Kelaâ De Mgouna and Boumalne to view the inimitable natural vistas and unusual rock formations. You will then continue onward to Ouarzazate, which is one large oasis that intercepts the flow of water between the Dadès, the Drâa valleys, and the majestic High Atlas Mountains. This is an ideal place to stop for the night. You will have dinner at the hotel, then you will experience Berber Ahwash Howara dancers in a local home.
Day 11: Ouarzazate / Marrakesh
You will spend most of your day en route to Marrakesh, exploring the legendary Kasbah of Aït-Benhaddou, a renowned architectural marvel classified as UNISCO world heritage.
Your journey will lead you to the highest pass in Morocco, the Taddart and Tizi Tishka pass, at an altitude of 11,000 feet. This pass divides the mountains into two distinct facets: the harsh, stark side acting as a shield that protects the hinterland from the harsh, dry expansion of the Sahara, and a lush side, soft and evergreen, which collects the moisture from the Gherbi winds of the Atlantic Ocean.
You will arrive in Marrakech, a city of pleasure for both visitors and locals, where southern tribesmen and Berber villagers bring their goods to market and find a variety of entertainment. To tourists, the city is a feast for the imagination, full of incomparable beauty, situated before the towering mountains that provide a thrilling backdrop. After a visit to the bustling Jemaa El Fna square, you will have dinner in a local home with the local Dekka music and the famous Gnawa music and dance. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 12: Marrakesh
You will devote your morning to the exploration of Marrakech's many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice. It was constructed in 1866 for dignitaries, who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. The pool also functions as an innovative irrigation system that is serving dry life in the desert.
Your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (which is identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain), and the Saadien tombs, which demonstrate Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal then the Marjorelle. Finally, you will enjoy a fare-well dinner at a Jewish restaurant in the Mellah, a typical festivity of Andalucian and Sepherdic music. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Marakesh / New York
In the morning, your driver will meet you at your hotel to assist you with your luggage and transport you to the Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca. Your driver will assist you with your check-in and bid you farewell.
Hotels We Use:
- Volubilis: 2 nights, Hotel Volubilis
- Fez: 3 nights, Riad Yacout
- Erfoud: 2 nights, Kasbah Toumboktou
- Tineghir: 1 night, Kasbah Lamrani
- Ouarzazate: 1 night, Hotel Tichka Salam
- Marrakesh: 2 night, Hotel El Andalous
- 11 Night accommodation in 4 Star Hotels
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Land transportation in an air-conditioned, chauffeured vehicle
- Services of English-speaking guides and tour leader
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums
- Hotel tax and service charges
- Exclusive Music Events (as stated in the Itinerary)