Tour Details/Dates/Prices Exotic Morocco. Prices $2,790 (7-Nights) CAD*

Optional:Extended Stay in Marrakech
Spend an extra day or two in beautiful historic Marrakech – sightseeing & exploring the amazing architecture, market and museum visits & shopping for kitchenware to take home with you. The city itself gives unparalleled opportunities for amazing first-hand gastronomic experiences.

Custom Designed Gourmet Safari
If you’d like to spend more time in the kitchen we can easily arrange it for you. There is also a plethora of other activities in the area if you’d like to spend less time in the kitchen or if your partner doesn’t like to cook: exploring the history and architecture of the area, hiking – there are lots of trails, to visits to vineyards for the wine connoisseur, to rest and relaxation as you take in the country air.

Little Extras
• Apron

• Cookbook filled with the recipes of the week
• Certificate of Culinary Achievement

Tour Length: 8 days/7 nights

Tour Begins: Marrakech, Morocco      Tour Concludes: Marrakech, Morocco

Tour Dates 2009:

Spring:

•          February 7 – 14 ** Fully booked
•          February 14 – 21
•          February 21 - 28
•          February 28 - March 7
•          March 7 – 14
•          March 14 – 21

Fall:

•          October 10 – 17
•          October 17 – 24
•          October 24 – 31
•          October 31 – November 7
•          November 7 – 14
All dates are subject to availability.

Tour Price for 2009:

Please contact us for 2009 prices, thank you.

Tour Prices for 2008:
7-Nights Superior Culinary Vacation
$2,790*

7-Nights Deluxe Culinary Vacation
$2,990*

(please note, the deluxe rooms are more spacious and have the nicest views)

*Double Occupancy per Person. Prices in Canadian Dollars (excluding airfare).

Please note:
Solo traveller prices are also available.
If you would like to purchase airfare please let us know and we’ll arrange it for you right away.
All dates and prices are subject to availability.
Prices may be affected by international exchange rate fluctuations.
Interested or any questions? Contact us.

Payment:
Form of Payment.
We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Diners,cheque or money orders in CAD $.
Place a Deposit on Your Dream.
A deposit of 500 Euros is required at time of booking to secure your culinary vacation dates.
Please note: Your deposit is non-refundable due to the fact that our travel partners will be in receipt of monies, however in most instances the deposit can be applied to future travel.

Balance due.
Balance is due no later than 60 days before departure.

Number of Participants:
Minimum: 4 (simply join an existing group)
Maximum: 10

Travel Accessories:
Local Weather
Currency Conversion
Local time

Questions? Just email or call
E-mail: jackie@gourmetsafari.com
Phone: 416.238.9987 (local Toronto) or 1.800.839.5795 (toll free in North America)


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My Safari Notes. (my personal experience)

I had to pinch myself when we arrived at our Villa.  We could see the ‘House of Green Mint Tea’ glowing in its splendour from the gates.  What a place – we’ll start at the smaller of the two Villas.  We explored the five beautifully appointed rooms, each decorated in stunning Moroccan style with comfy beds and all the amenities that you could possibly need.  The house is centred on a beautiful courtyard and is outfitted with a kitchen, dining room, terrace, salon and it own swimming pool.  We took in the view from the terrace and it’s stunning – it feels as though you are in a scene from the Arabian Nights movie with the date palm oasis surrounding the place (the sunset is especially beautiful with the palm silhouettes).

We explored the larger of the two Villas next.  It also has a beautiful courtyard as the central feature of the house, on nice days the roof cover can be removed welcoming the outdoors inside.  The eight rooms all surround the stunning star-shaped fountain and are beautifully designed with bright bold colours typical of Morocco (the love of colour is everywhere).  The kitchen is very well-equipped and perfectly designed for classes.  The dining room, just off the kitchen is very warm & inviting with a beautiful long table and beautiful paintings.

We met the Chef, Bouchra and watched her in action preparing tonight’s dinner.  She is incredibly talented and cooks basically with her eyes closed – without recipe and completely by taste…she knows what she’s doing.  Bouchra delivers all of the cooking classes and has a ready smile for those wanting to learn.  I helped out in the kitchen and watched her as she prepared a delicious meal which combined several cuisines – Moroccan and French.  Moroccan cooking requires fresh seasonal ingredients; in fact ingredients are purchased daily to ensure freshness – that is the true secret to Moroccan cuisine.  Dinner started off with stuffed sardines as a typical Moroccan dish, they were delicious (I was a little skeptical about the sardines, but the flavours were incredible).  Next we savoured a French-style chicken with Dijon mustard, green beans and baked potatoes in butter, garlic and salt, a green salad with tomatoes, zucchini gratin and last but not least dessert.  Oranges were in season, so they were served with most meals (but I didn’t tire of them because they are so good and so fresh).  The dessert was so simple, yet so delicious – Bouchra squeezed fresh oranges into a bowl and then added finely diced strawberries.  It was placed in the fridge to chill for a few hours and then served as a dessert soup – wow, was it good.   

Chef Bouchra teaches traditional Moroccan dishes that are absolutely delicious.  We experienced many of her meals and we were never disappointed – every dish was better than the last.  Some of the traditional dishes that we tasted were B’Stilla (traditional pie of pigeon, but in our case she made it with chicken) it was delicious with a combination of savoury and sweet icing sugar with cinnamon sprinkled on top.  She also makes various tagine dishes, the 7 vegetable couscous and fresh fish dishes.  Bouchra always cooks with fresh seasonal produce and puts her loving touch on every dish – she loves what she does.

We were pampered with massages, steam baths and facials.  I experienced an incredibly relaxing massage lying in front of a roaring fire that seemed to last forever.  The hammam (Moroccan steam bath) is also extremely relaxing for the soul and a great way to alleviate stress.  The hammam is beautifully designed in the traditional Moroccan style.  I also experienced what seemed to be a 2-hour facial, my face was covered with numerous masks and it seemed to take years off!  My skin felt so soft, as soft as a baby’s.

We explored the city of Marrakech, only 20 minutes away from this piece of paradise and tranquility.  The old Medina (ancient walled city) is the place to go for shopping and people watching.  The souks carry everything from shoes to lanterns and fresh produce to leather goods – anything that you could possibly want to purchase can be found here.  Even water sold by the colourful water sellers – I wouldn’t recommend drinking the water but it’s a great photo op, although they will want to be paid.  The Medina is a feast for the senses.  We saw people passing on foot, on motorcycle, on horse drawn caleches – fortunately cars aren’t normally found there (it’s chaotic enough without the horseless carriage thrown into the mix).  The sights of the main square and the souks is amazing with so many things to look at all at the same time, your eye is drawn everywhere and it’s difficult to know where to focus.  The sounds of the place ranged from snake charmer’s music, to musicians to a combination of Arabic and French spoken all around us.  As we walked around we experienced many unique assaults to our sense of smell – from a huge mass of food stalls with smoke billowing everywhere, to the spices and herbs found at herborists, to the donkeys and motorcycles everywhere.  Once of the best taste experiences was the mint tea, I have never been a tea connoisseur and this tea is shockingly good (maybe it’s the cup of sugar that’s steeped with the green tea leaves and mint). 

We enjoyed our trek to Marrakech; however, it was so nice to return to our Villa which was a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Medina.  Being here is like an escape to a tranquil bohemian place where time stands still and you are definitely away from it all.  You will be pampered with every luxury you could possibly desire, from incredible cuisine to massages to a Moroccan steam bath at the hammam, facials and very comfortable beds all in a stunning setting (straight from the movie Arabian Nights).

Jackie DeKnock – Gourmet Safari Founder (and Foodie)

February 2006