This Isn’t About The Highlights
Less rushing. More wonder. Same magic.
DAMNNNNNNNN. Egypt sold out in 10 minutes and that waitlist is LONG.
And if I’m being honest, Egypt overshadowed Morocco in this launch. And I’m happy about that. Egypt deserves all the love. It’s iconic, it’s powerful, it’s an absolute once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.
But I have to remind you that Morocco is, in fact, that girl.
Even though Morocco doesn’t have the pyramids or the Nile, there’s a reason why its one of my favorite places in the world and one of the most popular destinations I’ve ever taken people.
Morocco is alive in a way that sneaks up on you. Here’s what Susan, who traveled with me on my last Morocco trip, said:
Morocco is a place that feels ancient and wise, almost incidentally, while at the same time very much steeped in the present through the warmth and hospitality of its people. A place of many landscapes, many stories, many histories, waiting to unfold. Traveling with Anela through the country was an exploration in the most expansive sense of the word. Both she and our local guide Ibrahim were generous with their time and narration. So much of Morocco is behind walls, and yet still manages to be inviting - through the stories and the food (oh my god the food!) and the spaces people made for us and invited us in. It is a place where you might come to believe in the common magic that connects us all in unexpected ways.
Why I Split Morocco In Two
Morocco is so special that my mom has been there with me multiple times, and she has still booked herself onto Morocco South to come back for a deeper dive. That’s saying something, because at this point she’s seen more of the country than most tourists ever will.
That’s also why these trips are designed the way they are, split into two.
The last time I ran a Morocco trip, we basically did North and South smushed together. And while it was incredible, it was also… a lot. We’d wake up early af, run around all day, see mind-blowing things, eat meals we wished we had time to linger over... and then we’d have to get back on the bus, get to our beautiful riad, not really have much time enjoy it, go to bed late, wake up, and do it all over again in a new city.
There was so much wonder in that experience that never had space to sink in.
No time to journal.
No time to wander.
No time to stop and take the photos we actually wanted.
So I split Morocco into two trips: North and South. Same magic. More breathing room.
Morocco North
Yes, we go to the blue city of Chefchaouen.
Yes, we go to Fes and the famed Medina—an absolute shopper’s heaven if you want local handmade goods, custom leather jackets, fabrics, and tiles.
Yes, we go to Marrakesh with its bustling medina, maze-like streets, bright colors, and nonstop energy.
But Morocco North starts in Tangier. And that’s intentional.
A lot of tours skip Tangier. A lot of tourists skip Tangier. It’s not as shiny or as “Instagrammable” as other cities. But there’s something really special about it.
Tangier is a port city, just a stone’s throw from Spain. And over a lifetime of travel, I’ve developed a firm belief: port cities have the best food. The best food.
Yes, there’s fresh seafood. But more than that, port cities are places where cultures, people, and goods have been mixing for generations. That kind of exchange shapes everything. Music, language, energy, and especially food.
Port cities can feel like places of work rather than play. But if you slow down and look closer, there’s so much more there than meets the eye.
That’s why Morocco North starts in Tangier.
Morocco South
There’s a big irony here.
Morocco South is currently the least popular of the three trips I just dropped. And yet, every single time I’ve brought people to Morocco—friends, past group trips, family—their favorite moments come from what we’ll be doing on Morocco South.
I think that says a lot about travel.
Some experiences are harder to market. They’re more communal, more grounded, more subtle. Less shiny. But they’re often the ones that stay with you the longest.
That’s Morocco South.
Yes, we’ll start in Marrakesh. We’ll have busy city days. And then we’ll go deeper.
We’ll head into the Atlas Mountains.
We’ll gasp at the Todrah Gorge.
We’ll stay at a small bed and breakfast that’s my favorite rural retreat in the country. Truly a retreat to unplug and let go.
We’ll glamp (because I don’t camp) in the Sahara and experience the kind of vastness that makes you feel both completely alone and deeply connected at the same time.
We’ll stop at a rug cooperative and shop authentic Moroccan rugs directly from producers (at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in the US).
But we’ll also do quieter things.
We’ll go into a local home for tea, an integral part of Moroccan culture.
We’ll explore parts of Morocco that are foundational to its history.
We’ll learn about the Amazigh, indigenous people who have a long, complex history and who, to this day, are often marginalized.
Getting a window into Amazigh culture, being welcomed into homes, experiencing daily life, these are not things that are easy to replicate on your own. We’re able to do them because of our incredible local guides, who have built real relationships in local communities.
That’s hard to sell as its much more subtle, but in Susan’s words recently, “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? SIGN THE FUCK UP. 😂”
Or as Kari said, who’s also traveled with me to Morocco before:
Initially, I overlooked Morocco - I knew there were medinas and tagine and deserts, though I really never looked beyond the surface level of what actually experiencing Morocco could be like. On Anela’s trip, I found myself sitting at a fireplace at a cozy riad high up in the Atlas Mountains, sipping mint tea, and debriefing with the group what we had shopped and bargained for earlier in the medinas - all the while thinking, is this real life? Now Morocco is a place I can’t shut up about and dream about returning to again. My home is filled with mementos of the trip - hand-woven wool rugs, hand-painted pottery, and plenty of other beautiful artisan handcrafts that remind me of moments in the souks with the playful banter of bargaining and discovering something beautiful at every turn.
I personally can’t wait to experience the wonder, the colors, the hospitality, and so much tea in Morocco. It’s a privilege to be able to explore it with so many of you.
Happenings & Housekeeping
If a departure you want is sold out or a room type you want is not available, GET ON THE WAITLIST on the trip page! I open new rooms to waitlist folks first and if by some miracle the boat for Egypt is available for another charter later in October 2026, waitlist folks will get the first shot at the second departure date.
DC area folks: Community Money Moving Project is doing their annual holiday fundraiser. Even small donations go a long way to this project that provides consistent support to Black Washingtonian families in need.
1 Thing I’m Loving Lately
Chief of War on Apple TV. It’s violent, gory, and stunningly beautiful. I’ve been watching this show at home this month with my mom in Hawaii and I’m astounded at the cultural care and detail that went into making this.
I’ll be taking the next week off, spending some much needed time with my family for the holidays. I hope you have the best holiday season, one that feels abundant and joyful. I’ll be back soon with so much more for you (like a supper club?!!!!)
OMG - CHIEF OF WAR. I have been telling everyone I know to watch this - so, so, so beautiful (the robes and headdresses!!) and such an important and pivotal piece of history that so few people know anything about. I learned about it from listening to the Smartless interview with Jason Momoa. The level of care (not to mention the years he and his co-creator put in to get support when no one was interested) that went into the making of it made me want to give it a try. I'm glad I did. I so appreciated the intentionality behind the use of Hawai'ian and the gradual introduction of English. What really made the show for me was how they pulled the women's stories up front and put them at the center of the story. And the actors... holy mackerel. I cannot wait for season 2. Yes, I'm gushing. It's that good. Watch it EVERYBODY.