Ancient Architecture, Fascinating Culture, and Desert Beauty

April 2 – 16, 2024

Morocco is renowned for its photogenic villages, medinas, markets, and desert landscapes, and on this two-week-long voyage, we’ll show you the best of them! Meet us in fabled Casablanca, where we’ll launch our expedition, then journey to the blue city of Chefchaouen, the bustling markets of Marrakech, windswept dunes in the Sahara, the limestone canyons of Todra Gorge, and much more. This workshop has it all: colorful culture, renowned architecture, intriguing history, and awe-inspiring nature!

We’ll travel by comfortable Mercedes Sprinter, with plenty of room for you and your gear. Our accommodations have been carefully chosen for their proximity to photography sites and will consist of a mix of luxurious 4-star and 5-star hotels and riads (small, luxury homes). We’ll also have one night in luxury tented accommodations in the Sahara Desert: think comfy beds, electricity for charging, hot showers, and flush toilets. Expect to photograph sunset, stars, and sunrise!

This will be an exclusive small group workshop with only seven guests. Photographic instruction in the field will be intensive, and you’ll also learn plenty of Lightroom processing techniques. Everything is all-inclusive, so you can focus on this diverse and fascinating experience!

Your Pro

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Location

Morocco

money
Tuition

$13,995

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Dates

April 2 – 16, 2024

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Availability

2 Spots Left
Limited to 7 Guests

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.

April 2, 2024: Upon arrival in Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, you will be transferred by van to our Casablanca hotel, where we will relax for the afternoon. Group welcome dinner will be served at the hotel.

April 3, 2024: After breakfast, we begin our tour of the impressive Hassan II mosque in a small, charming medina, where we will enjoy street photography.

April 4, 2024: We head towards Chefchaouen, the famous blue city of Morocco in the Rif Mountains. En route, we stop at Rabat, the capital city and residence of the King, for lunch and time to enjoy the beautiful coastal city. We will visit the King’s Palace, the La Tour Hassan, Mausoleum, and more. After lunch, we continue to Chefchaouen for the night. This picturesque blue city is built right into the mountains. As a result, you will find that the streets are very hilly and there are lots of stairs throughout the town. All accommodations in Chefchaouen have multiple stairs leading to the door and more stairs inside. This famous ‘blue city’ is not to be missed – but it will take lots of steps to experience it.

April 5, 2024: We have all day to photograph this “cool” town, tucked away in the relaxed atmosphere of the Rif Mountains. Perfect for photography, this blue city offers every shade of blue.

April 6, 2024: We will climb up the mountain’s edge early in the morning for a beautiful shot of this small Berber town. After breakfast, we set out to explore the 2,000-year-old Roman ruins of Volubilis, getting a picture of life during the Roman Empire. Lunch will be in Meknes, one of Morocco’s Imperial cities. After lunch, we have a Meknes tour, including the Moulay Ismael stable, the Bab Mansour, and medina. In the evening, we will head off to Fes, Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital.

April 7, 2024: We will be ready for some shots of the ancient city from the beautiful overlook at sunrise. After breakfast, we begin our guided tour of the medina, one of the world’s largest walled cities. We explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, and many other art objects of Morocco. For lunch, we will eat in a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina. After lunch, we will complete the tour and return to our hotel for the evening.

April 8, 2024: This will be a free day to explore and photograph Fes. Whether you visit the potters, King’s palace, or wander for candid photos, Fes is worth the extra day.

April 9, 2024: After an early breakfast, we will begin our ascent across the Middle Atlas Mountains. Most of the day will be spent winding our way through the beautiful forests, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages as we cross the Atlas Mountains and descend toward the Sahara Desert. Halfway, we will stop for lunch in Midelt, famous for its fossils and rocks. In the afternoon, we will go down along the Ziz River Valley. Upon arrival in Erfoud, we will jump into our 4x4s and head to the Sahara dunes. We will photograph sunset, the night sky under a new moon, and sunrise in the Sahara desert.

April 10, 2024: Our desert camp is nestled in private sand dunes off the beaten path. This white-canvas tent experience mixes modern luxury with a rural desert experience! With its white linen beds and tasteful, chic décor, this Deluxe Tent experience is the most luxurious in the region. The private camp is about 15 minutes south of the main Erg Chebbi sand dunes, making this experience feel more exclusive and protected from large tourist groups.

Each deluxe tent has a simple, Western-style bathroom built from cedar wood with a toilet, shower, and sink. You will enjoy a 30-minute camel ride through the sand dunes to see the sunset and back 30 minutes to the luxury camp. In the morning, we will have a 4×4 ride around the dunes and visit the Nomadic Berber Villages. Listen to some of their music while you get some people photos.

April 11, 2024: We leave the desert by camel, then transfer to 4x4s, where we will head back to Erfoud and continue behind the High Atlas Mountains to the Dades Gorges. In the afternoon, we will walk up in the towering Todra Gorges (600 feet high), where you can view the picturesque river valleys as they take a beautiful journey towards the southeast of Morocco. We will stay the night in Skoura before crossing the High Atlas Mountains again.

April 12, 2024: We set off very early towards Ouarzazate along the route of 1,000 Kasbahs and visit the ancient Kasbahs in the palmaries. Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, we photograph this southern town, probably most famous now for the films made in the area. We will then head out to the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, where you will shoot sunset and sunrise. In typical Moroccan fashion, the true treasures must be searched out and discovered—usually off the beaten path. This setting has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco, including Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and The Gladiator.

April 13, 2024: Today we go to Marrakech over the High Atlas Mountains. We’ll take some time to enjoy this beautiful landscape. Once in Marrakech, we will check into our riad and then head off to the famous Djemaa el-Fna, the center square of the medina and one of the major attractions of Marrakech. The square comes alive at night with the local storytellers, entertainers, and mouth-watering barbeque pits and is well worth a visit. A quiet cup of tea on the terrace of an adjacent café provides a spectacular aerial view of the bustling square.

April 14, 2024: We will have a guided tour of Marrakech, the southern pearl of Morocco. We photograph the Palace of the Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, and many other hidden treasures. After lunch, we will continue the tour to the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque. Our tour will conclude with an exploration of the souk (market), perfect for photography: lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, and many other art objects of Morocco.

April 15, 2024: After breakfast you will enjoy a free day to explore and photograph the medina of Marrakech. This will be a great time to revisit a place that you noticed the day before and spend more time capturing better light.

Lunch and dinner will be served in local resturants.

April 16, 2024: Breakfast then flights home anytime after 10:00AM

Gallery

Fitness

Moderate: Long days with plenty of walking in the cities and villages. There are one or two small climbs, as well as a day in the sand dunes.

Flights

Arrive Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Casablanca, Morocco before 4:00 PM on April 2, 2024. Depart Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Marrakesh, Morocco after 10:00 AM on April 16, 2024. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.

What to Bring

Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.

What’s Included

  • Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,995 supplement.
  • All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
  • All permits and park fees.
  • All transportation during the workshop.
  • Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
  • Multiple image reviews and post-processing sessions.
  • English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
  • Photographic guiding and instruction from Richard Bernabe.
  • Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!

Not Included

  • Travel to Casablanca, Morocco and from Marrakesh, Morocco.
  • Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
  • Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
  • Items of a personal nature.
  • Alcoholic Beverages.
  • Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
  • Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
  • Anything else specifically not listed as included.
  • Single rooming available for $1,995 supplement.

Payment Terms

  • Your deposit of $4,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
  • Further payment of $5,000 is due by September 1, 2023.
  • The balance is due not later than December 1, 2023.
  • All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“What was great was the variety of types of photo opportunities, from landscape, to street photography, to portraits. The highlight was the camel photo shoot. Just plain awesome!!! Richard gave many opportunities for night photography and even though I personally did not take advantage of all of these, I was impressed that he was always up for another adventure and for maximizing time out in the field shooting. I recommend Muench all the time - you are "first in class". ”

— Sue Hall, Morocco '22

“Not only was Morocco fabulous, the trio of Abdul the driver, Richard the Cool on imaging leadership, and Ali the ultimate guide that anyone can ever dream to exist, was so very nice. It was first class all the way, thank you. Just need to say one more time how lucky we all were to be on an adventure with Ali guiding. He even lined up models for us in the best places. ”

— Jeffrey Sipress, Morocco '22
Behind the Scenes
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$750 Off Any Workshop

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Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.