Morocco Culinary Tour – Savory Spices & Souks

Cancellation by the Client

Loss of monies paid applies to all cancelled reservations. The date of trip cancellation is the date on which the written cancellation is received by the Company. The loss of monies paid is as follows, per person:

Cancellation 90 days or more prior to trip departure – Loss of deposit

Cancellation between. 60 and 89 days prior to trip departure – 50% of total booking cost

Cancellation between. 30 and 59 days prior to trip departure – 75% of total booking cost

Cancellation less than 30 days prior to departure – 100% of total booking cost

Cancellation policy for custom and private trips may differ from these terms and will be communicated prior to booking

No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a trip for any reason after the trip has begun. The same applies if you leave a trip or cannot fully participate in a trip due to injury or illness. Refunds will be at the discretion of the Company if you are involuntarily forced to leave a trip for any reason. No refunds will be made for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals or services not utilized.

Culture: Morocco is a very conservative country. Out of respect for the culture we are visiting, please note the following:

Other than at the beach, men and women should always dress modestly by wearing loose fitting clothing that covers the shoulders, midriff, and knees. Local dress is more conservative outside of major cities and tourist areas. However, it is not necessary to wear a headscarf.

When handling money or shaking hands, one should always use your right hand.

Public displays of affection and public inebriation are considered offensive.

You may want to indulge in a traditional Moroccan hammam or hot bath. This is taken in groups and the custom is for you to be without any clothing during the steam and scrub. If you are not comfortable with this, please let the hammam provider know and bring a bathing suit or extra pair of undergarments to wear.

Some our our guests have requested information on scheduling hamman/spa services while in Morocco. If you are interested in this experience, you may consider making an appointment ahead of time online. You are welcome to use any spa provider you wish, however, we have received good feedback for Les Bains de Marrakech. In terms of the group schedule, the most ideal time to schedule treatments is on Day 7 before dinner, which is generally around 8PM. If you do not schedule anything before your trip and would like to once you arrive in Morocco, please speak with your trip leader as early as possible and he will try to arrange something for you.

Language: Most people speak Arabic. Other common languages are French and Berber dialects.

Climate: Our Moroccan cooking vacation takes us to a wide variety of Moroccan villages and cities. All of the locations we visit have lovely, mild weather most of the year, and we don’t offer this tour in the hottest summer months. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit Morocco, but the winter months are nice as well, with fewer crowds.

In bustling coastal Casablanca, the weather is moderate year round, but can get cooler and wet in the winter. In the relaxed fishing village of Essaouira, the weather is mild, although wind. While in the Berber mountain village, we stay at an altitude of about 1200 feet (365m), so the weather remains mild year-round, although plan for it to get fairly cold in the evenings during the winter months (November to March). In Marrakech, the weather is lovely and warm most of the year. In October and November, the average temperatures are 70F-80F during the day and in the 50’s during the evening. December through April, you may expect temperatures between 65F-75F during the day and 45F-55F during the evening. Beginning in May, temperatures usually begin to climb into the 80’s during the day and cooling off in the evenings to between 50F-60F.

NOTE: During winter months (November to March), please be prepared for some rain and low temperatures ranging from 32F-50F at night and 59F-70F during the day, depending on the location.

We suggest that you bring the following items: Clothing & Equipment * Season-specific casual clothes (men and women should always dress modestly out of respect for the culture they are visiting- no tank tops, low cut tops, or short shorts. It is not necessary to wear a headscarf.) * Clothes to wear for optional dinner at upscale restaurant in Marrakech * Hiking clothes and shoes (NOTE: They can get quite dirty/dusty) * Bathing suit * A pair comfortable walking shoes * A light jacket/windbreaker (NOTE: It can be very windy in Essaouira) * A warm jacket (NOTE: It can be quite cold in the High Atlas Mountains from November to March. Please pack appropriately for cold, winter evenings.) * Power adaptor for 220v, 50 Hz (outlets are two-prong rounded) * Toiletries * Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat * First-aid kit with lip balm, aspirin, band aids, cream for sore muscles (e.g. deep heat), Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, any extra prescription drugs you may be taking