Destination Morocco Podcast

In today's episode of Destination Morocco podcast, Azdean and Sam discuss common misconceptions about traveling to Morocco.  They debunk myths related to the dress code, safety, LGBTQ+ community, and whether there's more to see in Morocco than just Marrakech (!).  They also address the availability of Western amenities, the use of credit cards, and the fact that Morocco offers far more t...

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Friday, June 7, "Shopping in Morocco: What to Buy and How to Buy It." 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! Shopping in Morocco: What to Buy and How to Buy It (YouTube) -- This replay...

Dan & Cierra McPherson travelled to Morocco with Destination Morocco and discovered far more than a generic tour experience. From secret stops to amazing cubbyhole restaurants, they received an authentic, unique exposure to Morocco’s people and culture. Cierra & Dan had a tall order for Destination Morocco when they got in touch with Azdean, looking to travel to Morocco just a short time l...

We've talked about scams in Morocco a few times on the podcast, from one of our early episodes ( Scams! How to Understand and Avoid Them ) to one of our recent Live Q&A sessions, ( Latest Scams: Staying Safe While Traveling in Morocco ). It's a topic we often circle back to, because we want to make sure that all tourists, whether they travel with Destination Morocco or on their own,...

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Friday, May 8, "Finding a Morocco Tour at an Affordable Price." 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! Finding Morocco Private-Style Tours at an Affordable Price (YouTube) -- If you enj...

Hop down after the episode description for an update on our podcast schedule and our new donor link! --- You've heard that Morocco is a modern, plural, largely Westernized country and, well, that is largely true. Dress or behave, within reason, as you would in most of Europe or North America and you won't feel out of place at all. But as always, there are exceptions, and this episode of...

In our recent Live Q&A session on secret places in Morocco off the tourist path , one such location is a stunning lake located east of Marrakech, a roughly three hour drive from the city. Perhaps because of this distance, and the fact that it is not on the main tourist routes, it is still largely known only to locals and the occasional informed tourist. You are about to become one of those in-...

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Wednesday, April 10, "Getting off the tourist path in Morocco." 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! Getting Off the Tourist Path in Morocco (YouTube) List of sights mentioned (doc) -...

"Travel Fails:" a popular theme in this era of do's, don't's and travel research, comes to the Destination Morocco podcast with today's episode, featuring Azdean, Hiba and Sam. They share their knowledge of travel in Morocco, as well as first-hand experience as travellers themselves in their country, to give you some useful tips of what to do (and what not to do) when...

Azdean and his local Fes guide extraordinaire, Moulay Hafid Alami, conclude their tour of the old city with a visit to the pottery and ceramic studio, " Mosaique et Poterie de Fes ." Located just to the east of the medina, this is more than a simple shop selling their beautiful craftwork (and there is a lot of it!). When you arrive, you get a guided tour of the facility, starting with ha...

Experience the sounds and ambience of Fes in this live walking tour of the medina, during Azdean's tour in 2023. Accompanied by expert guide Moulay Hafid Alami, we start in Fes el Jdid, the 14th century quarter, learning about the Royal Palace of Fes and its seven golden doors (only created in the 1960's), and the importance of the neighboring Jewish Quarter, or Mellah, the first in Moro...

This is an excerpt of the Live Q&A recording of Wednesday, March 13, exploring the vibrant city of Fez. 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! Exploring the Magical City of Fez, video replay Azdean, Sam and Ted expand on our recent episode on...

We have dabbled in Fès since the start of the Destination Morocco podcast, as it has made an appearance in episodes such as our tour overview of Morocco, our discovery of famous Moroccan food, or in particular from our guests' stories, such as with Chantal and her family, who spent some memorable days in and around the city: Episode 4: A Guided Tour Around Morocco Episode 14: Dig Into Genuine...

You can also watch this video episode on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/FhPkzzzYjns Ramadan in 2024 starts on the evening of Sunday, March 10th and goes until Tuesday, April 9th, 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 world, Morocco being no exception. As Azdean,...

We conclude our cultural tour of Morocco with a performance of Gnaoua (also spelled Gnawa) music, recorded live on location at a Merzouga desert camp and at a Marrakech restaurant. In between performances, Azdean sits down with Mohamed, a musician and member of the Gnaoua performers in Qser el Khamliya, a small village just south of Merzouga. Mohamed started playing when he was eight years old, an...

This episode is the audio replay of part our Destination Morocco live Q&A session, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. You can find the full video version here on our YouTube channel. Our live Q&A session this month focused on identifying useful phrases in Moroccan languages that travellers can use while in the country. As a very multilingual country, this means doing so in more than one language...

Continuing on a bit further south from our last episode in Telouet, we follow Azdean on his summer tour down to Aït Ben Haddou, southern gateway to the High Atlas mountains and their stunning scenery and hiking. Aït Ben Haddou is a small town but is known for its traveller services, restaurants and accommodation, and its welcoming hospitality. In this episode of Destination Morocco podcast, Azdean...

We continue our exploration of Berber/Amazigh culture with a visit to Telouet, a small village deep in the High Atlas Mountains, known for its kasbah, trekking and beautiful scenery. Azdean met with local guide and historian Ali Ahdadi to delve into Berber influence in the area and activities for travellers passing through. Telouet is a bit off the beaten path, hence why it was largely a secret un...

In today's episode of Destination Morocco podcast , Azdean, Hiba and Sam expand on the historical canvas and cultural fabric formed by the Amazigh, or Berber, tribes across North Africa. Our focus is an overview of some of the more prominent tribes and communities, who have had a long and lasting impact on the region. Long before modern political borders, invaders and settlers, and contempora...

This episode is the audio replay of our Destination Morocco live Q&A session, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. You can find the video version here on our YouTube channel. In this month's session, Azdean, Sam and podcast producer Ted, navigate the labyrinth of traveller scams in the bustling streets and markets of Morocco. With a focus that is as practical as it is necessary, they will equip y...

Who are the Moroccans? To a large extent, the native population of Morocco are the Amazigh people, whose presence and influence date back thousands of years. Commonly known as “Berbers,” in fact their preferred term, “Amazigh,” is a more positive, inclusive name that means “the free people.”  Speaking the Tamazight language, and pronounced similar to “A-ma-zirgh,” (with the “rgh” a soft guttural s...

You’ve spent a lot of money to get to Morocco, especially to see it thoroughly and comprehensively. And even more importantly, your trip is the culmination of months or years of dreaming, planning, research and preparation.  We all know that unexpected things can happen, from getting sick to breakdowns or even just surprisingly poor customer service. But to sort out these problems, you’ll want to...

One of the great travel stories we’ve heard from a guest on the podcast was just over a year ago now. It was with Rachel Metcalfe, for whom Morocco went from being a remote, distant idea to, a month later, sitting on the airplane on her way to Casablanca. Destination Morocco took on the challenge of organizing her last-minute trip, and in this episode Rachel explains how that made all the differen...

This episode is the audio replay of our Destination Morocco live Q&A session, on Wednesday, Dec. 13. You can find the video version here on our YouTube channel, with lots of visuals that go with the conversation. In this month's session, Azdean and Sam answered your questions about Morocco's fabulous food and cuisine. You've likely heard at least a bit about tagines, pastillas,...

Over the course of many episodes of the podcast, we’ve often mentioned a certain guide based in Casablanca. He has had a lasting and indelible impact on those who have had the pleasure of meeting him. Our guests on the podcast, from Chantal to Pablo and even Ted have remarked on his knowledge, warmth and spirit. Khalil Nejjary is his name, and when Azdean visited Casablanca and the incredible Hass...