Strabo Photo Tour Collection

Magical Morocco 2011 with Karen Schulman

We invite you, the inquisitive traveler, to join photographer Karen Gordon Schulman on this special tour of Morocco. We will have a cordial welcome in this country with its irresistible allure and warm hospitality.
Combining the history and natural beauty of this rich and fascinating country with first-person encounters, we will visit native villages, ancient medinas, and craftsmen’s workshops, sharing experiences and sipping mint tea: symbolic of the warm, sincere Moroccan generosity. We will enjoy a tranquil setting our first evening, amidst a beautiful garden and seaside lagoon, moving on to the sights in vibrant Marrakech and ancient Fes, rug shopping, palace visits, and an unforgettable journey into the Sahara on camelback for sunrise, and much more. Hotels are comfortable, as is the private, air-conditioned coach for land transportation. An expert local Moroccan guide will add his unique touch to this extraordinary trip, sharing his insights into and his love of this exotic land. Travel with Karen to the exotic souks, the dramatic Sahara, photographing veiled women, laughing children, and the exquisite scenery.

Photographic artist and teacher, Karen Gordon Schulman is based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. For more than twenty-five years the camera's lens has served as a tool for Karen and participants, to develop inner strength and grow through the delicate 'art of seeing'. Her current color work is predominantly digital, and she invites digital camera users to explore this wonderful newer creative realm with her. Karen also enjoys doing Polaroid SX-70 manipulations, as well as continuing her longtime work with black and white infrared imagery, which she often hand colors. With a background in education, Karen relishes the chance to incorporate trip participants’ personal awareness with a once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity in the intimate group settings of photo tours. In the process of photographing the world around them, Karen believes that participants gain more than just great photographs.

"I encourage each person to give themselves the permission to make mistakes, the permission to create," Karen says. "The more we learn to “see” with our mind, heart, and spirit, the more of an adventure life becomes. I welcome all skill levels and enjoy offering guidance to those with stronger left-or right-brain approaches to photography, to strengthen the other side."

“On a photo tour, I enjoy guiding participants to expand their creativity and/or technical skills, increase their confidence and have fun! Instruction can be as much or as little as they prefer. A small portfolio of small prints or digital files can be brought along for review if desired. I look forward to seeing you on one of my tours!” www.focusadventures.com

Itinerary

March 20: Home

Depart from home today on an overnight flight to Casablanca, arriving early morning March 21, to begin the tour.

March 21: Arrive Casablanca early morning

The local guide will meet us upon arrival in Casablanca, and we will board the deluxe, air-conditioned coach, meeting the group members taking the extension. We then drive on to Oualidia, a quiet village that falls in a scattering of houses, bourgeois summer villas, and hotels, down a hill towards a sandy inland lagoon. The accommodations consist of simple rooms, surrounded by magnificent gardens, providing a relaxed setting and a beautiful introduction to this amazing country. Overnight HIPPOCAMPE (l, d)

March 22 - March 23: Essaouira

Driving south, we will travel through the Moroccan countryside, passing through small villages bustling with people, donkeys, and bicycles. Our final destination is Essaouira, a charming place of white shops and houses, set against a clear blue sky. Over the centuries it has been home to Phoenicians, Romans, Portuguese, and a large Jewish population. We may have time in the evening for a leisurely stroll through the town or along the colorful harbor. rnrnEssaouira (pronounced Esa-weera) is the most popular of the coastal towns, with magnificent beaches and relaxed atmosphere. The fortifications of the old city are a mixture of Portuguese, French, and Berber military architecture, and their massiveness lends a powerful mystique. You’ll find narrow lanes, whitewashed houses with blue painted doors, tranquil squares, pleasant cafes, and artisans in tiny workshops carving away at fragrant thuya wood. We will spend the day exploring this delightful place, with time to absorb the unique flavor of the old town, the harbor, and the friendly people. Essaouira is full of the irresistible angles and picturesque sights that are so attractive to photographers. Overnight HOTEL RIAD AL MADINA. (b, l both days)

March 24 - March 25: Marrakech

After breakfast we will continue our exploration of Essaouira with its ramparts and colorful markets. We will take a picnic lunch with us to enjoy enroute, or dining just outside Marrakech, the city of drama. In the afternoon we will have our first introduction to the famous Djemaa el-Fna Square, perhaps the greatest open-air spectacle in the world, where one can see the colors and feel the pulse of Morocco. Drift with the smells and sounds of the souks. Marrakech follows the beat of an African drum. This imperial city has been almost continually occupied since Neolithic times, and was once the Berber capital. Traveling back in time 2,000 years, we’ll see snake charmers, magicians, acrobats, and dancers, delighting children and adults alike. rnrnThe next morning we will stop to visit the exquisite Majorelle Garden. It is part of the former residence of French artist Louis Majorelle, beautifully renovated by the late couturier Yves St. Laurent. In among the floral smorgasbord is what was Majorelle’s deep-blue villa, which is simply breathtaking. The afternoon will be spent exploring more of Marrakech and its fabulous souk (market), home to a maze of Berber rug vendors, dried fruit and spice stalls, leather and ironworkers’ shops. There is a wonderful Berber pharmacy where, nearby, we can photograph in a local neighborhood. We’ll capture a glimpse of daily life, as we stroll the narrow streets; perhaps we’ll see a young boy taking his family’s bread to the community bakery, veiled women carrying bags of food for the next meal, or children playing in the streets. Overnight HOTEL TICHKA SALAM. (b, picnic l, d; b, l, d)

March 26 - March 27: Ait Benhaddou – Skoura

Driving south from Marrakech, we will cross the High Atlas Mountains at 7,400 feet, with panoramic views of arid mountains and lush oases shadowing the rivers far below. We will continue on to one of the most exotic and best-preserved Kasbahs in the whole Atlas region; it has been used for scenes in films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazareth. We’ll eat lunch with the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou in view; UNESCO has designated this as a World Heritage Site. Our destination for tonight, a renovated Kasbah hotel provides and ideal location for private photography in the early morning and late afternoon. rnrnWe’ll spend the next day in and around the hotel. A walk through a small palm grove leads to the gorgeous site of Amerhidil, a Kasbah located on the opposite side of the river behind the hotel. This afternoon there will be free time, so you can enjoy more photography within walking distance of the hotel or relax amongst the gardens and veranda of Kasbah Ben Moro. HOTEL KASBAH BEN MORO. (b, l, d both days)

March 28 - March 29: Erfoud – Merzouga

A drive along the “Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs” will take us through stony desert landscapes with many villages and Kasbahs. Turning off the main road this morning, we will enter the stunning Dades Gorge, filled with unusual red rock formations and fascinating villages and Kasbahs. On the way we may see Berbers tending their camels or sheep, women swathed in dark haik, embroidered with vivid colors, or children playing soccer in a stony desert field. rnrnAfter enjoying a picnic lunch enroute, we will continue to Erfoud, an oasis region at the edge of the Sahara. We will travel by Land Rovers to our Berber tents in the desert. We are invited to enjoy Sudanese music and dance at Khmlia, where we learn about life in the Sahara. A camel ride awaits us at sunset, or sunrise, taking us into Morocco’s only genuine Saharan Erg – a huge, drifting expanse of sand dunes that typify much of the Algerian Sahara. The dunes themselves are fascinating, especially as the sun reaches the horizon and the colors change from pink to gold to red. This will be your most extraordinary and unforgettable desert experience. Overnight LA BELLE ETOILE (Accommodations are in typical Berber tents with mattress and blankets, rooms may be available in lodge, these can not be guaranteed nor can a single room). (b, picnic l, d; b, l, d)

March 30 - April 1: Fes

After sunrise photography in the Sahara we will have breakfast and return to Erfoud. We will re-board our bus and begin our drive to Fes. Since this will be our longest day of driving, your escorts will take into account the interests of the group, and stop for photographic opportunities they feel appropriate and timely. Examples of such locations are the spectacular Ziz Valley, often called the “Grand Canyon of Morocco,” which offers sweeping vistas and fascinating rock formations. rnrnAfter lunch, we climb into the Middle Atlas, the moorlands, and granite outcroppings; brooding skies and sheep pastures may remind you of the British Isles, driving through majestic cedar and cork forests, where troops of Barbary apes forage and bird songs fill the chilly air. We may have time to stop in the quaint village of Ifrane, where you’ll have to remind yourself you are in Morocco. The French built it in the 1930’s as an alpine resort. Our final destination is Fes, the most completely Islamic medieval city in the world. rnrnThe next day we will enjoy a full-day guided tour of Fes, Morocco’s oldest imperial city and the center of culture and religious learning. Fes is arguably the symbolic heart of Morocco, as all the great dynasties have left their mark on the city; it has, however, retained its Arab identity. The medina, Fes el-Bali, is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world. Its narrow winding alleys and covered bazaars are intricate in their design and are awash of brilliant colors – a veritable assault on the senses as you squeeze past recalcitrant donkeys and submit to the sounds and smells of this jostling city. The dye makers, hills of spices, vats of tanners, and palaces of merchants will beckon us. During a visit to a tannery we can watch the tanners as they work in the varied colors of this land. After lunch in the medina, we’ll continue our explorations, with time to shop for beautiful craft caftans. rn rnWe return to the beautiful sights and sounds of Fes el-Bali, where we will learn about the different styles and techniques employed in the creation of Moroccan rugs. If we want to make a purchase, we will follow the ancient Moroccan custom of bargaining for our choices, as we sip mint tea. This afternoon we’ll enjoy photographing the winding streets of Fes. Overnight HOTEL RIAD YACOUT. (b, l, d; b, l; b)

April 2: Fes – Rabat - Casablanca

This morning we depart early for the Capital City of Rabat. There are areas closed to traffic, making this an ideal location for our last photo opportunity. The Oudaia Kasbah interior is a delightful whitewashed Andalusian village built by refugees, combining winding city streets, public gardens and iridescent blue and white houses. Re-boarding the coach, we’ll arrive in Casablanca in time to freshen up before enjoying a farewell dinner. Overnight HOTEL SHERATON. (b, l, d)

April 3: Casablanca – Home

After an early breakfast, leave for the airport for the flight home. (b)

Extension

Casablanca Pre-Night

Karen's 2010 prenight extension is September 30-October 1, 2010.

March 19, depart on an overnight flight to Casablanca. Arriving in Casablanca, early morning of September 20.

March 20: Arrive Casablanca

The local guide will meet us upon arrival in Casablanca, and we will board the deluxe, air-conditioned coach. We will have our first photography session outside the King Hassan II Mosque. North of the medina and rising up on a point above the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque is the largest religious monument in the world after Mecca. King Hassan II Mosque, building cost estimated at $750 million, is entirely funded by citizen donations. It was completed in 1993, after 6000 Moroccan craftsmen worked on it day and night for five years. The 200m high minaret of this vast new mosque floats above the skyline of Casablanca, the sun glancing off its façade of pale marble and glazed tile and from the three gilded balls at its summit. The tower is offset from the enormous rectangular twenty-two acre prayer hall; three times the size of St. Paul’s Cathedral. After lunch at a lovely seafood restaurant our group will enjoy a tour, where we will have an opportunity to photograph in one of the world's most famous cities, Casablanca. In North Africa, only Cairo can compete with Casa in growth, verve and vibrancy, but it is this city facing out to the Atlantic that seems the more oriented to the international pattern of trade and sympathetic to Western influences. Overnight HOTEL SHERATON. (l, breakfast March 21)

Accommodations

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Guides

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Food & Drink

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Pricing Info

Tour land cost: $3,745 US Dollars based upon minimum of 8 paying participants. There is a small group surcharge of $300 if 5-7 paying participants. All our program prices are based on double occupancy unless noted in exceptions.

Single room supplement: $595; single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

Extension land cost: $255 based upon minimum of 3 paying participants. There is a small group surcharge of $0 if paying participants.

Single room supplement: $55; single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed.

Note: The land costs on international tours is based upon current exchange rates. Although the rate has been relatively stable, should it change, there may need to be an adjustment in the land cost.

General Tour Info (includes, excludes and other details)