Course itinerary
The coastal town of Essaouira is the perfect host for this combined photography and cooking holiday, famous for its history, maze of Souks, rich culture, stunning landscapes and bright North African colours and flavours.
Photographers will be inspired on this unique course as you’ll get out and about to discover the Souks, the deserts, seascapes, Medinas, Argan oil producers, stunning sunsets and much more. You’ll also benefit from the private one-on-one tuition also included in the course.
As well as learning the fundamentals of photography, this holiday is a real opportunity to explore your culinary creative side and the fascinating Moroccan culture with two added cookery lessons, a chance to quietly study and absorb the richness of this enchanting town, allowing you to produce photographs that go far beyond the usual holiday photo snaps, and create delicious authentic dishes to enjoy once you’re home.
During this memorable photography and cookery holiday your attentive hosts will be on hand to organise many elements of your week, inviting you to relax, visit Hammans, soak in a baths of milk and even learn the secrets of the traditional Gnawa music.
Accommodation is set in magnificent boutique Riad, the Maison du Sud in the centre of Essaouira which boasts a lovely roof terrace ideal for enjoying warm evenings sat outside admiring – and even photographing- stunning sunsets and the view over the town.
Get more from your Digital SLR camera and improve your culinary repertoire on this unique photography and cooking holiday in Morocco, enjoy the warm climate and hospitality, great food, stunning surroundings and take home memories from this beautiful area to treasure for a lifetime.
Suitability
Photography
- Photography is suitable for all levels from beginners to advanced
- Minimum age 18
- The course is mainly focused on digital SLR photography and we strongly recommend you bring your own DSLR camera with you
- If you do not have a Digital SLR, there is a digital SLR available at the school for use at an extra charge so please contact us in advance of booking to check availability and to reserve hire of the school’s camera
- If you would like advice on which DSLR camera to buy before your holiday, your tutor will be happy to advise once the holiday has been confirmed
Cooking
- Cooking lessons are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to competent cooks looking to gain an insight into local country style cooking
- Your hosts are British and Moroccan with and all classes are taught in English
Travelling Solo?
- This photography and cookery holiday makes a great singles holiday as there are no single supplements
- Courses have a maximum of 8 people in each group, singles are very welcome as you'll meet others with a passion for photography and cooking and the course is very sociable
- Essaouira is very relaxed and welcoming town with a great Bohemian feel because of its music and art scene
- The majority of people who take these courses are solo travellers and everyone loves the location and the social aspect of this course which includes plenty of group meals and activities
Photography And Cookery Holiday Start Days
- Photography and cooking courses start on set Fridays or Saturdays throughout the year
Photography And Cooking Holiday Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1 - Arrival and pick up
- You’ll be collected from Marrakech airport and transferred to your accommodation in Essaouira (around 2.5 hours drive)
- Please note that you should plan to arrive between 3pm-8pm as transfers for arrivals outside of these times are charged as an extra
- You will have time to settle into your luxurious Moroccan Riad and soak up the creative atmosphere, in the evening you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal and mint tea
Day 2 – Photography camera fundamentals and tutor feedback
-Your photography course starts early after breakfast with a wander around the beautiful town of Essaouira, the home of your photography tutor and famous the world over
- Essaouira has stunning architecture, fishing ports and labyrinths of Souks and bustling markets
- In your first lesson you’ll work on camera fundamentals workshop (camera controls, exposure - ISO, shutter speed and aperture)
- Lunch is not included but there are plenty of places to eat lunch at reasonable prices and the group tends to eat together
- After your day’s photography, head back to the Riad for the evening
- Enjoy a group dinner together in the evening
- After the evening meal you will have the chance to talk to your tutor one on one to have feedback on your initial images
Day 3 – Cooking class and evening sunset photography
- Today is the start of your cooking course which lasts around 5 hours together with the market visit
- After breakfast head to the kitchen to meet your cooks Sara and Naima
- Either Sara or Naima will take you on a tour of the spice markets to explore the ingredients that are used in Moroccan cuisine
- After the market you’ll head to the kitchen to produce your first two dishes that you will enjoy for lunch
- Enjoy some free time this afternoon to practice your new found photography skills or if you prefer, head to the beach or to the souks for some shopping
- In the early evening you will have a tutor led sunset photography session, a chance to get some good shots of camel riders in the dusk
- After this there will be an evening group meal and a chance to review the images of the day
Day 4 – Photography abstract workshop and private one on one session
- The focus of today’s tuition will be on an abstract workshop, focusing mostly on using depth of field
- You will also benefit from a private one-to-one tutor session to assess your progress, provide feedback on your images and take your understanding a step further
- After lunch you will have the afternoon free to explore, relax, visit the beach or practise your photography independently or you can take part in an optional afternoon activities
- Following the evening group meal you will have a chance to review the images of the day with your tutor
Day 5 – Photographing Berber communities, visit cascades and argan oil production
- Today will be given to exploring and photographing the stunning Moroccan countryside, flowers and Berbers communities
- Your tutor will take you to untouched countryside north of Essaouira and to visit a Berber souk at Had Draa and to the south of Essaouira to Sidi Kouki
- From here you will walk to the cascades at Sidi m’barek and passing numerous Argan trees, the region’s main agricultural source, you will arrive at a co-operative for Argan oil production
- A group meal of traditional Moroccan food is planned for the evening
- You can retire to the roof of the Riad with your fellow students to enjoy the sunset and a sweet mint tea
Day 6 – 2nd cooking class and photography review
- Following breakfast you’ll begin your second cooking class from a choice of Harira - traditional Moroccan soup or Zaalouk (aubergine and tomato salad) followed by a choice of tagine (lamb with almonds and dates, beef with prunes and walnuts, chicken with olives) or the world famous Moroccan pastille (filo pastry traditionally wrapped around pigeon or more usually chicken)
- You’ll also get to make some delicious traditional Moroccan flatbread
- At the end of the session you’ll take away your own free tagine so do pack some space in your luggage
- The afternoon is free to explore, relax, visit the beach or practise your photography independently or you can take part in an optional afternoon activity (extra charge)
- As on previous days you will enjoy a group dinner followed by a review of the day’s workshop and your images
Day 7 – One-on-one private photography tutorial
- After breakfast you will enjoy another one-to-one tutorial with your tutor (time to be confirmed on arrival)
- You will also have a free time photography session before lunch (lunch is an extra cost)
- You will have the afternoon to photograph or relax independently and your tutor Darren has a host of suggestions of what to do in your free time depending on how much energy you have you can perhaps try Kite surfing, a spot of shopping, visit to a hamman and more or if you prefer, just relax on the beach
- In the evening it will be time for your farewell dinner where you will all eat together in the restaurant of your beautiful Moroccan Riad and take time to select your favourite images and create a slide show
Day 8 – Departure and transfer
-On the final morning you will be taken on an early morning tutor led tour of fishing port returning to the accommodation in time for breakfast
- After breakfast you will check out of the Riad in time to be taken to Marrakech airport for your return flight
About Your Photography Tutor
- Passionate about photography, your British photography tutor Darren has been a photographer and filmmaker for over 25 years
- With over 25 years’ experience working as a professional photographer, Darren has taught photography at all levels from City and Guilds to degree level with a masters in photography and filmmaking himself
- He completed his own film on Essaouira based on Gnawa music and the international music festival and has been visiting Essaouira since the early 90s
- Your tutor now lives in Morocco and is best placed to fulfil your expectations for getting the most out of the area
About Your Cooks
- Your cooking classes will be led by Sara who spent 15 years managing a small hotel in Essaouira and teaching interested guests how to make tagines
- Sara is Moroccan with good English and she's a friendly lady born and raised in Essaouira and mother of 3 grown up daughters
- One of her daughters, Naima may also join the class as your second cook
Where Will The Cookery Classes Take Place?
- Your cooking classes will take place in a large airy apartment with terrace for dining a short walking distance from the Medina
What Will I Learn?
Photography
- As you are learning in a small group of no more than 8 people, you’ll have expert guidance and tuition will be adapted to your own individual needs whether it be getting to grips with your DSLR camera or taking your existing skills to the next level
- You will get to know the basics such as composition
- You will develop your understanding depth of field, lens choice, exposure- ISO, shutter speed and aperture
- The one on one and workshops will help to develop your awareness of different photography styles as well as developing your feel and instinct for light and situation
- As you progress through the week you will find you’re thinking more thematically & conceptually
- You will also have a chance to explore Landscape, Seascapes, People, Abstract, Documentary and Architectural Photography
Cooking
- In each cookery lesson you will learn to cook an entrée and main course
- How to cook a traditional Moroccan tagine
- Blending of traditional Moroccan spices in your cooking
- Your market tour takes place at a relaxed pace as you are guided by your cooks around the spice market, you'll learn about the different spices used in Moroccan cooking
Typical Menu
Menus may change slightly on the day but will include a combination of the following:
- Crevette briwat or Briouates (small pastillas made with prawns)
- Moroccan couscous
- Harira - traditional Moroccan soup
- Zaalouk - aubergine and tomato salad
- Lamb tagine with almonds and dates
- Beef tagine with prunes and walnuts
- Chicken and olive tagine
- Kefta tagine with vegetables
- Chicken pastilla
- Traditional Moroccan flatbread
What To Bring
- Bring your own digital camera (with manual), charger, memory cards, tripod, filters and flash if you have them
- Point and shoot if you have one
- You may be able to hire the digital SLR at the school but please enquire about availability before you book
- Please bring suitable footwear for walking as you will be spending a lot of time exploring the different areas
- Make sure you leave space in your luggage to bring back your complimentary tagine (the clay pot used to make authentic tagines)
Accommodation And Meals
- Situated just 300 metres from the sea right in the heart of the medina, you will find your beautiful 18th Century Riad lovingly restored into a boutique residential hotel
- Positioned in the heart of the pedestrianised Old City the 18th century Riad is now luxuriously renovated in Moorish style offering 8 rooms on a mezzanine floor
- The Riad boasts 4 twin/double suites and 4 quadruple suites
- The rooms all open onto a light-filled interior patio with traditional Moroccan tiling
- All rooms are en-suite with lounge area and furnished in traditional Moroccan style
- The Riad has a sunny roof terrace with views of the sea and the roof of the Mellah (walled Jewish quarter)
- Moroccan meals are served on request in the traditional restaurant
- Friendly and hospitable staff add to the charm and the character of the Riad
- All breakfast and evening meals are included in the price of your course
- Lunches are included after your 2 cooking lessons when you’ll enjoy the dishes you’ve learnt to cook
- Lunches on non-cookery days are not included for the remaining days but are typically inexpensive in Morocco and your group usually eats lunch together
- Your hosts will be able to advise you on the best places to eat out
- PLEASE NOTE: If this Riad is fully booked we have a second Riad also set in the heart of the Medina and only 20 metres from the original Riad
- It features two beautiful roof terraces and a cafe/restaurant
- Friendly and personal in style with just 7 rooms in total
Transfers And Transport
- A pick up from Marrakech airport with a transfer to your hotel is included in the price (a supplement applies for arrivals and departures outside of 3pm to 8pm)
- You will be out and about for most of the day and all transport will be included
Weather Conditions And Itinerary
- Your photography tutor will alter the photography itinerary accordingly if the weather doesn’t offer the best conditions for photographing the area.
Be inspired by the sights, sounds and smells of this exotic paradise on this unique photography and cookery course for a holiday with a difference.