Destination Morocco Podcast

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: The Magic of Meknes! Morocco's Imperial Secret  (YouTube) Today we feature the imperial city of Meknes, which has a prominent place in Morocco's history and culture, particularly as it relates to the Alaouite Dynasty, who continue to reign as the ruling family of Morocco today. This epis...

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   " Create the Tour YOU Want in Morocco " When you're the type of traveller, particularly to Morocco, who would like to get past the overwhelm and uncertainties of crafting your own trip around the country and take a guided tour instead, it's easy to then get bombarded by the v...

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   "Why Chefchaouen is a Unique Gem Within 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 touri...

You can also watch this episode on video, where you'll see some of John's fabulous photos!  You can find it on our YouTube channel here: A Morocco Travel Itinerary That's Made for Photographers! ---- Photographer and dedicated world traveller John Hernandez joins Azdean today to share his inspiring travel experience to Morocco, with an emphasis on photography.  John recently travell...

We recommend watching this episode on video, on our YouTube channel. You can find it here: Shopping in the Souks of Marrakech: An Insider's Tour! ---- If you want to see what it's like visiting the souk, going into a real artisan shop: the sales pitch, the bartering, the valuable information and explanations, the language barriers and yet finding common ground and understanding - this wi...

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   "From Texas to Marrakech: American Impressions of Morocco" ---- One evening in Marrakech, at the conclusion of their tour, Azdean sat down with three of Destination Morocco's tour guests from Texas: Eric, Allison and her brother Matt, to chat about their tour experience, and their impression...

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   " What Travel in Morocco Was Like in 1989 " ---- World traveller Cathy Nesbitt joins Azdean on today's episode with a special story of visiting Morocco way back in 1989. Cathy and her future husband arrived off the boat in Ceuta, thinking they were already in Morocco, but a crash course in g...

This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   How do Moroccans Celebrate Ramadan? ---- Ramadan in 2025 starts on the evening of Friday, February 28th and goes until Saturday, March 29th, followed by the feast of Eid al-Fitr, or the ‘Feast of Fast-Breaking.'  Despite its perhaps solemn reputation, Ramadan is a joyful time for Muslims around the wo...

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   "Buy a Moroccan Rug and Support the Work of Local Women" Today's episode features the Akhnif Lglaoui Carpet Co-Operative, located just south of Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, about 150 miles south of Marrakech. Akhnif Lglaoui Carpet Co-Op Learn about rugmaking in an informative, cu...

We recommend watching the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here:   "Exploring Hiking & Berber Culture in Telouet, the High Atlas mountains of Morocco" Combine outstanding hiking and trekking with authentic Amazigh (Berber) cultural experiences by visiting the town of Telouet, in the heart of the stunning High Atlas Mountains.  Our episode today fe...

This episode also has a video version on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: " Travel to Morocco in 2025: Travel Highlights to Help Your Planning " Or stay here for the audio version - your choice! --- Morocco had a banner year in 2024, with tourist numbers reaching over 17 million, a number predicted for 2026 and yet reached two years ahead of time. With new air routes getting un...

Palm trees and snow? T-shirts in the afternoon, winter coats in the evening? This is Morocco in winter, and it's a fun time to explore! As we head into 2025, if you are thinking of putting together a quick winter trip to Morocco, especially for those of our listeners in Europe, this replay episode gives you some useful info on what to expect and how to prepare.  January, February and March ar...

Come with us and discover some of Morocco's amazing local food, direct from the source in this dynamic live-recorded walking tour of the food stalls in Marrakech. Azdean is joined by local food guide Ahmed, who takes us through the sweet and the savory, from dishes that are common across the country to those only found, or perfected, in Marrakech specifically. We start with the olives. Olives...

We continue our series on the history of the Amazigh (Berber) people, with part four of the conversation between Azdean, co-host Sam and our researcher, Hiba. In this episode, we delve into the Amazigh language, its importance to cultural identity, and the role of the Amazigh flag. Azdean, Hiba and Sam discuss the Tifinagh script, its ancient origins, and the preservation of the Amazigh language d...

Riads are a wonderful way to experience Morocco, and we highly recommend you include them in your itinerary as much as possible. This episode is a replay of a popular episode devoted to riads, and talks about what exactly are riads, their history and development, how they have evolved as options for travellers, what to expect in terms of service and amenities, and so much more. Shortcut your resea...

This episode also has a video version on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: " Travel Agents' Special! How to talk about Morocco to your clients " Or stay here for the audio version - your choice! --- We take a behind-the-scenes look in today's episode of Destination Morocco podcast, with a different theme and focus than our usual series. Azdean and producer Ted explore...

Today we visit the imperial city of Meknes, which has a prominent place in Morocco's history and culture, particularly as it relates to the Alaouite Dynasty, who continue to reign as the ruling family of Morocco today. In the mid-17th Century, sultan Moulay Isma'il chose Meknes as his capital. Over the next 50 years, he rebuilt the city on a monumental scale, fitting of a new, imperial c...

We return to our series on the history of the Amazigh (Berber) people, with part three of the conversation between Azdean, co-host Sam and our researcher, Hiba. Our first two episodes covered an overview of Amazigh culture and history (" The Amazigh Chronicles" - The Berber History of Morocco, Part 1 ), followed by an in-depth look at the various tribes, which stretch across not just Mor...

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! --- 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...

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...

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 beautifu...

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...

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! -- 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 discus...

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! -- 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...

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) --...