Destination Morocco Podcast

This episode also has a video version on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "What Are Some of Morocco's Unique Cultural Experiences?"

Or stay here for the audio version - your choice!

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Morocco offers many unique cultural experiences and attractions, including many you might be aware of, but with their own distinct Moroccan twist.

This podcast episode explains particular Moroccan cultural activities, to help you understand what they are, how they work, where you can find them and how you can participate yourself.

Azdean is joined by podcast producer Ted to chat about: 

• the Moroccan spa and hammam experience,
• the hammam sand bath, 
• what's involved with visiting the desert (whether on a day trip or overnight), 
• camel riding in Morocco, 
• where to find Berber (Amazigh) cultural experiences, 
• how to visit mosques and other Islamic sites, and
• where to find Morocco's rich Jewish heritage.

Our goal is to clarify those lingering mysteries and ambiguities, and to identify what makes these wonderful activities and experiences unique to Morocco, in their own way. 

You'll come away knowing what to look for, what questions to ask, and most of all, if it's something you want to add to your itinerary when you come visit!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

This is a replay of the Live Q&A recording of Friday, September 6, "Discover Morocco's Amazing Selection of Luxury Accommodation."

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel for even more details and tourist ideas, and particularly for the visuals that accompany our conversation. Maps, photos and more await you there!

"Discover Morocco's Amazing Selection of Luxury Accommodation" (YouTube)

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Morocco is a country that can hold its own when it comes to luxury accommodation. Stunning five star hotels are matched with our distinct riads and desert camps, offering comfort and style in unique and unexpected settings.

In this replay of our recent live Q&A on YouTube, Azdean, Sam and podcast producer Ted take you on a tour from Casablanca to Rabat, Chefchaouen to Fes, Marrakech and beyond, to explore the many options available at each destination.

You'll hear familiar names like Four Seasons, Marriott and Mandarin Oriental, and discover one-of-a-kind, made-in-Morocco properties that can compete on a global stage for luxury and service.

Every once in a while, a Moroccan property breaks through into everyday conversation and awareness. You may have seen recently in the news (CNN) that the Royal Mansour Marrakech earned the "Art of Hospitality" award, by The World's 50 Best Hotels, for its outstanding service and hospitality, as well as its unique concept. Royal Mansour takes inspiration from riads by creating effectively mini-riads within its walls, combining authenticity with privacy.

You may be curious about standards, expectations, grading scale (is 5 star in Morocco the same as 5 star elsewhere?), service, inclusions and more.

This live Q&A gives you more background on luxury hotels and riads, and useful, practical details on logistics, practicalities and what to expect during your stay.

Destination Morocco is here to get you started, get you inspired, and to help you discover the many options available in this stunning country.

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

Today we have a two-part episode with some excerpts of audio recordings on location from Azdean and Sam's tour around Morocco in 2023. It continues the theme from our previous episode (#67), where we were in Chefchaouen on the same trip.

Today, we are still in northern Morocco. We start off in Rabat, looking out over the ocean from the Kasbah Oudaya, at the edge of the old Medina. A beautiful site with beaches down below, and the river Oued Bou Regreg dividing the cities of Rabat and Salé. You'll hear Azdean and his guide for the day, Mr. Ali, talk about the difference between the two cities, and some of the highlights and sights to see in Rabat.

Then, for part two of this episode we head right up to the northern tip of Morocco to visit Tangier. Azdean and Sam are standing at Cap Spartel Park, a famous lighthouse just west of the city that looks out over the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain is off in the distance, and you can imagine all the history that's taken place right before this spot, over thousands of years.

Sam gives us a bit of background into the place and role of Tangier in Morocco's culture and history, and things to see and do, not just in Tangier but some of the surrounding area as well.

And then we have a final clip where Azdean and Sam head down to the bottom of the cliffs, only about a mile or so south of Cap Spartel, to the Caves of Hercules. Right on the west coast of Morocco, looking out to the Atlantic Ocean, it is a place full of mythology and legend, and which is very much alive and active to this day.

Both the cape and the caves are just a short drive from downtown Tangier, roughly 20 minutes, so very easy to get to when you're there.

We love sharing these little clips with you recorded on-location, live on site. You'll hear the echo of the caves when they're standing there. You'll hear the waves crashing down below. Seabirds flying around. People relaxing and having fun down on the beach below the Kasbah. It's a really wonderful ambiance and we hope it adds to your excitement to come visit.

Don't forget that you can check the episode transcript to confirm spellings, to help you in your research!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

Azdean sits down on location with local guide Hamid to learn about the history of Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of northern Morocco.

This small town roughly 4 hours north of Fes, or 2 hours south of Tangier, has been attracting tourists for decades and, in the age of Instagram, gets more popular every year.

As Hamid and Azdean emphasize, Chefchaouen is not just about the stunning colours, but the beautiful architecture, historic Medina and kasbah, and its natural setting in the Rif mountains. 

Gentle creeks of water wind their way through the town, artisans and craftsmakers line the paths and lane ways, and fresh orange juice vendors squeeze delicious nectar to help you on the climb up to the Spanish mosque, where you get stunning views of the mountains, valleys and the rolling hills of blue. 

Hamid explains the historic founding of Chefchaouen as a refuge for both Muslim and Jewish refugees during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The town is a perfect snapshot of Morocco's welcoming and tolerant nature, as well as having its share of rebellion and defence against invaders. The ancient kasbah is a reminder of the not-so-peaceful aspects of the region's history as well.

We learn the meaning of the name "Chefchaouen" in the Berber dialect, and finally get a definitive answer as to why the city is blue. Although you may expect that this is something dating back centuries, the reality may surprise you!

Chefchaouen is a calm and quiet jewel of Morocco, with many wonderful features to attract travellers looking for the exotic and colorful, as well as peaceful retreats, fresh mountain air, tremendous hiking and a laid-back spirit and hospitality. 

We know that it won't take much to convince you to add it to your Morocco itinerary!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

This episode also has a video version on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: Just how easy is it to travel to, and around, Morocco?
or stay here for the audio version - your choice!

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In today's episode of Destination Morocco podcast, Azdean and Sam respond to a common question they receive: Just how easy is it to travel to Morocco? 

This is then a starting point for a detailed discussion on some useful, practical logistics when it comes to travel to, and around, their beautiful country.

Starting with visa requirements, particularly for U.S. and Canadian travelers, they then talk about passport validity and various direct flight options, more of which are starting all the time.

They go over the diverse range of accommodations in Morocco, highlighting both luxury international and local brands. Many, if not most, of the familiar hotel brands are well-established in Morocco, from Holiday Inn to Four Seasons. Plus some particular Moroccan-owned specialty hotels, some of whom have had a role in history.

But if you're a regular listener, you'll know that Sam and Azdean will always tout the virtues of Morocco's wonderful riads. If you're looking for an authentic accommodation experience, with comfort, quality and genuine hospitality, prioritize staying in riads wherever you go in Morocco. Sam highlights a few today, and don't forget we have other dedicated episodes too on riads, with even more detail. (Episode 29: The Allure of Moroccan Riads)

We then talk about transportation options within Morocco, including flights, trains, and buses. Modern Morocco has high-speed trains, luxury AC buses, and increasingly frequent and widespread domestic flights. 

Whether you're a solo traveler or planning a group trip, this episode will guide you through those basic fundamentals, and get you started on a wonderful Moroccan adventure.

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

This episode also has a video version on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: How Discount Tours in Morocco End Up Costing You 3X More (Or Worse),
or stay here for the audio version - your choice!

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Our good friend Siham (Ep. 24) returns to continue the discussion with Azdean and Sam from Ep. 62 (May 15, 2024) about dangerous scams and unseemly tourism practices in Morocco.

This time, the topic is discount "tour operators," the type you see in the Jemma el-Fnaa square in Marrakech (or seemingly on every street corner and cubbyhole), offering "$80 tours to Merzouga Desert" or "$20 to visit Aït Benhaddou." Impossibly cheap prices, yet tantalizing as a result.

As has been said, "We hear a story too go to be true - it ain't."

You might be wondering therefore what exactly comes with one of these tours, do they even go to the destination at all? How could they possibly advertise transport, breakfast and accommodation for that price? What actually happens when you sign up?

Well, Siham did us a solid and went on one of these tours to Merzouga, posing as a regular "tourist," to find out.

She tells us about:

• Having to pay extra for AC in a hot van,
• Being pressured to buy "mandatory Sahara scarves" for the desert,
• Hearing "Guide included," but it's not the guide who ends up meeting you, for whom you then have to pay,
• Sharing a room with other travellers, because the tour wasn't advertised as "private rooms,"
• Visiting a Berber "house" that turns out to be a rug shop,

and much more.

Imagine, you're stuck in the middle of the desert, without any other options: no grocery store, no alternate accommodation, no other transport out. They've got you trapped, and that $80 price is suddenly a faint memory.

Even for more substantial, multi-day tours, Azdean has a story of what starts as an $800 fee then turns into $2800 in expenses once all is said and done.

Tune in to this episode for not just valuable information and some head-shaking examples, but how you can be sure to avoid any of this happening to you!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

This is a replay of the Live Q&A recording of Friday, July 5, "Movies Filmed in Morocco (And How to Visit the Locations)."

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel for even more details and tourist ideas, and particularly for the visuals that accompany our conversation. Maps, photos and more await you there!

Movies Filmed in Morocco (And How to Visit the Locations) (YouTube)

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Morocco is one of the most popular locations in the world for filming movies, and Hollywood is a regular visitor. Many of your favorite movies and TV series have been filmed there:

Game of Thrones, Mission: Impossible, James Bond, John Wick, The Witcher and Indiana Jones are just some of the big names at least partly filmed in Morocco.

Why is Morocco such a popular location? Filming movies in Morocco goes back many decades, but it was a couple of hits around 1999/2000 that really brought it more attention: The Mummy and Gladiator. The setting and environment was as much a star as the actors and story, and triggered a new era of big-budget, blockbuster productions.

The country can easily double for anywhere from Egypt to Greece to ancient Rome, fantasy lands to anywhere that needs a desert. The architecture of the cities and medinas have filled in for India, Italy and medieval Europe.

And, as the industry has grown in Morocco, so has the Atlas Studios, where massive sets can be built and desert and mountains are right on the doorstep. The success of Atlas has made it even easier for major productions to choose the country, especially for weeks-long shoots.

So, would you like to visit these locations yourself?!

We've done the research and will show you the locations of famous scenes in film and TV, how they appear in real-life, and then, how you can visit them too!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

In today's episode of Destination Morocco podcast, Azdean and Sam discuss common misconceptions about traveling to Morocco. 

They debunk myths related to the dress code, safety, LGBTQ+ community, and whether there's more to see in Morocco than just Marrakech (!). 

They also address the availability of Western amenities, the use of credit cards, and the fact that Morocco offers far more than just deserts. If you're a surfing fan, discover some amazing beaches you probably haven't heard of yet!

Our podcast aims to offer honest insights to prospective travelers, from native Moroccans like ourselves, and highlights the rich cultural heritage and hospitality of Morocco. Tune in to learn why Morocco should be on your travel list and how Destination Morocco can help craft your perfect itinerary.

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Friday, June 7, "Shopping in Morocco: What to Buy and How to Buy It."

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel for even more details and tourist ideas, and particularly for the visuals that accompany our conversation. Maps, photos and more await you there!

Shopping in Morocco: What to Buy and How to Buy It (YouTube)

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This replay collects many of your questions over the past few weeks, asking about how to shop in Morocco, which is a much different experience from what you may be used to!

Learn about the most popular items to bring home, what to look for, how to barter and find a good price, and what are the specialties of certain cities and regions.

Hear insider tips on how to approach bartering, negotiation, how to say no, when to say yes, and how to confidently find the authentic item you're looking for.

From rugs to tagine pots, argan oil to beauty products, major items to tiny carry-ons: this was a very useful live Q&A session!

Make sure that what you get is authentic, genuine, fairly priced and, most of all, what you wanted to buy. Not what someone pressured you to buy, or something you have no idea what it is, or what it does.

Remember to visit our Live Q&A page to send in more questions on this and other topics, whatever you need help with. We put them together into a topic for our monthly live sessions; join us on YouTube, the first Friday of each month!

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.

Dan & Cierra McPherson travelled to Morocco with Destination Morocco and discovered far more than a generic tour experience. From secret stops to amazing cubbyhole restaurants, they received an authentic, unique exposure to Morocco’s people and culture.

Cierra & Dan had a tall order for Destination Morocco when they got in touch with Azdean, looking to travel to Morocco just a short time later. They wanted to see as much of the country as possible, but over just 11 days. Could it be done?

This episode recounts their journey. Thanks to Azdean and his team, these world travellers had an experience that ranked with the best of their many destinations.

Hear their stories about enjoying Tangia stew, Moroccan bread, and yes, a dish that consists of cooking (then eating) an entire sheep: head, eyes and all, that has been slow-cooked in a hole in the ground (Shoua).

They met Khalil, the blind tour guide of Hassan II Mosque, whom you've heard numerous guests rave about on the podcast. Their guide used his connections to allow them early access to the mosque, before the regular crowds arrived.

In Chefchaouen they sampled fresh peanuts, boiled in honey, and freshly-squeezed orange juice on the walk up to the Spanish mosque overlooking the city. 

Thanks to their flexible schedule and efficient transport, they were able to visit both Volubilis and the camel hump town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun on the same day, when most tour groups have to choose one or the other. 

And learn about more local delicacies from their personal experience: Having tried a camel burger, which would you now choose, camel or beef? 

Dan & Cierra were lodged along the way in Morocco's beautiful riads, which can accommodate no large groups, just a few guests at a time. A great opportunity to mingle and chat with the hosts and other travellers.

Meanwhile, it wasn't planned as a romantic trip, but in such a romantic country, they were swept up in the spirit. Dan & Cierra were treated to their own Moroccan wedding, with henna designs and Berber attire, and enjoyed memorable meal after memorable meal: breakfasts, lunch and dinner. 

Whether on a private tour such as theirs, or on a small group tour that combines nimble flexibility with an affordable price, you can craft your own indelible Moroccan experience with Destination Morocco, and this episode gives you some tremendous ideas to add to your list.

Learn more about Azdean and Destination Morocco.