COOKINGCOOKINGCOOKINGLANGUAGELANGUAGEEXCURSIONSSouk Cuisine
Offline map Google map ( 0673 80 49 55; www.soukcuisine.com; Zniquat Rahba, 5 DerbTahtah, Medina; per day incl meal & wine Dh400) Learn to cook as the dadas (chefs) do: shop
in the souq for ingredients with English-speaking Dutch hostess Gemma van de Burgt, work
alongside two Moroccan women wedding-feast dadas , then enjoy the four-course lunch you
helped cook. Courses are two-person minimum, 12 participants maximum; vegetarian courses
possible.
Jnane Tamsna
( 0524 32 84 84; www.jnanetamsna.com; Douar Abiad, Palmeraie; course incl meal
Dh600) Whip up a healthy Moroccan lunch of salad, pastry, tajine and light dessert with
instruction from chef Bahija and just-picked produce from Tamsna’s organic gardens – and loll
by the pool afterwards.
Bled Al-Fassia
( 0524 32 96 60; www.bledalfassia.com; Rte de Fez, Douar Sidi Mbarek) Learn the secrets
of the chefs behind Al-Fassia restaurant (Click here ) in the spotless stainless-steel kitchen of a
luxury villa on the outskirts of Marrakesh. Rates available on request.
Institut Français
Offline map ( 0524 44 69 30; www.ifm.ma, in French; Rte de Targa, Guéliz; 10am-noon &3-6pm Mon-Sat) Offers private classes in Arabic and French (Dh250 per hour), plus courses in
Moroccan dialect (Dh1800) and French (Dh1000). Also hosts worthwhile concerts, films and
dance performances.
Study Arabic in Marrakech
(www.arabicmarrakech.com) Private teachers here cover the basics of polite Arabic
conversation in five lessons.
Tours
Having a guide in the medina undermines its adventure, but you may want one to cover specific
landmarks in an hour or two. Just don’t expect sweet souq deals: guides get commissions on
whatever you buy, which inflates prices. Hotels, riads and travel agencies can arrange guides,
or you can book official guides directly via the tourist office ( Click here ) for Dh250/400 for a
half/full day. Many travel agencies have offices in Guéliz. For a good, safe time had by all,
request licensed, insured guides and specify English-speaking guides as needed.
Inside Morocco Travel
( 0661 18 20 90; Riad Bledna; 9am-noon & 3-7pm Mon-Sat) Get to know Morocco
inside-out on bespoke adventures designed for you by ecotourism expert Mohamed Nour and
his multilingual team – sunset tea for two in the Sahara, hikes and home cooking in pristine
Berber mountain villages and Moroccan crafts workshops with visits to inspiring women’s
cooperatives. It’s at 2km on Rte de Ouarzazate.