Gain a newfound appreciation for Moroccan cuisine during this small-group, 4-hour cooking class, including shopping at the market, preparation of a traditional dish and lunch. Learn some Arabic phrases from your guide to shop at the ‘souq’ (market) for ingredients. Then create a traditional Moroccan meal such as couscous or ‘tagine’ (a meat and vegetable dish named after the pot used for cooking). Finish by enjoying lunch with fellow students in the courtyard of a ‘riad,’ a traditional Moroccan dwelling. This small-group class, limited to 12 participants, also includes a recipe sheet so you can replicate the dish later.

Get a taste for the lively flavors and vibrant culture of Morocco during this small-group cooking class, allowing you the chance to shop for ingredients at the market, cook a traditional dish and enjoy your efforts for lunch inside a typical riad dwelling. This food-lover’s tour is the perfect blend of cultural immersion along with a chance to explore the delicious flavors that characterize this North African country’s culinary heritage.

Start your trip by meeting your group and guide at 9am in the Djemaa El Fna, the central square at the heart of Marrakech. Follow your guide through the winding city streets back to a riad to kick off your food experience. Pick up a few Arabic words that you’ll put to use as you bargain for ingredients like vegetables, meat and, most importantly, spices at the local souq. During your shopping trip you’ll be on the lookout for typical Moroccan ingredients including mint and olives from the city of Meknes, saffron from Taliouine and citrus from Fez.

Once you’ve finished your shopping, return to your riad to begin your hands-on cooking session. Follow your guide’s instructions as you prepare a typical Moroccan dish such as tagine or the comparable tangia (composed of couscous with vegetables and meat), pastila (an apple-based dessert) or harira (a traditional North African soup served with dates).

Afterward, dig into your freshly-prepared meal set inside the beautiful courtyard of your riad. You’ll also leave your session with a recipe sheet, allowing you to re-create your dish when you return home (and impress family and friends).

Finish your culinary experience by returning to the city’s Djemaa El Fna, where you can continue your day by shopping for spices and immersing yourself in the whirlwind of smells, sights and sounds that characterize this unique city.