MOROCCO with LORILEE BELTMAN

From Casablanca to Marrakesh

April 24 – May 5, 2025

Come along with Lorilee Beltman and Susan Italo, aka Wild Onion as we explore gorgeous, cultural Morocco. Experience this magical trip, with the colors, music, and history that are sure to linger in our memories for a lifetime.

Itinerary

Day 1: Morning travel from Casablanca to Rabat. Tour Rabat in our private coach, with a private, English-speaking tour guide. Welcome dinner and knitting an exclusive pattern from Lorilee.
Day 2: Depart for Chefchaoen, the Blue Pearl City. Explore the village with its Medina, famous waterfall, and 15th century mosque.
Day 3: Today is all about knitting, in our private classroom. Lorilee introduces us to vertical color knitting, with a pattern we can work on during our evening knitting times.
Day 4: Drive to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on our way to spend the afternoon and tomorrow, in Fes.
Day 5: We stay in Fes today, touring the old quarter, ending with a visit to an embroidery workshop. Evening embroidery project with Wild Onion.
Day 6: Drive to Ifrane, then on to Midelt, before arriving in Erg Chebbi, our luxury camp site in the Sahara Desert.
Day 7: Today we’ll experience a knitting day at the desert camp, enjoying a class with Lorilee, and a dyeing project with Wild Onion. Adventure through the Saharan sand dunes on an optional camel ride.
Day 8: Travel through the Tinghir and Todra Gorges in the High Atlas Mountains, then the Dades Valley, proceeding on to Ourzazate, with a tour of Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in Morocco.
Day 9: Visit a women’s weaving co-op, where we will watch the various steps of carpet making.
Day 10: Drive to Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas Mountains. Visit the Jemaa El Fna, the famous square in front of the Medina.
Day 11: Enjoy a private tour of Marrakech, with a visit to Koutoubia Mosque from the 12th century, and the Bahia Palace. At 4:00pm, depart for a private Moroccan cooking class; this is our Farewell Dinner.
Day 12: Depart for Casablanca Airport on private transportation.

click here for more details about the itinerary

What is included:

11 night lodging in hotels/riyads with breakfast, based on double occupancy
Single occupancy available with a supplemental charge
Breakfast daily, lunch in the Sahara Desert camp, 7 dinners
Welcome and Farewell Dinners
Tours as noted in the itinerary; included tours will include any entry fees
Private cooking class
Traditional dinner with live music
Glamping in the desert, in a luxury tent, with optional camel ride
Private English-speaking guides for tours and excursions mentioned in itinerary
Transportation by private coach for tours and excursions mentioned in itinerary; private transportation to the Casablanca airport, on Day 12.
All knitting and project classes, including some materials
Luxury swag bag

What is not included:

Airfare to Morocco/baggage fees
Land travel and lodging outside of the retreat
Excursions outside of the itinerary, including transportation to/from meals not included in itinerary
Meals not specified in itinerary
Alcoholic beverages
Optional camel ride
Personal items including but not limited to laundry, email, telephone, souvenirs, etc
Travel Insurance
Covid-19 testing, if required
Bringing more than one standard suitcase will incur an additional fee owed to the tour agency

click here to read about Lorilee Beltman, and the classes and projects offered on this trip

Reserve a Spot

Before reserving your spot, please refer to our Cancellation and Refund policy for this trip, as well as our general COVID-19 Policy. It is your responsibility to find out about and comply with all entry and exit requirements for Morocco, including any special Covid-19 protocols or testing.

Reservations must be placed and paid for in full before February 15, 2025
Cost is $6970 per person, based on double occupancy; includes all hotels, meals as noted, private transportation and guide, luxury camping in the Sahara, knitting and fiber classes, excursions, entrance fees, workshops, cooking class, swag bag
Single supplement is an additional $1500; upon registration, you will receive an invoice for the single supplement.
You may pay in full or hold your place with a non-refundable $500 deposit, due upon registration. The Single supplement incurs an additional non-refundable $500.
Upon receipt of your deposit, we will divide your remaining total into 3 separate payments of $2157 each.
The first payment is due on or before October 30, 2024; the second payment is due on or before December 15, 2024, and the balance of payment is due on or before February 5, 2025
Registration on or after October 30, 2024 requires both the $500 deposit AND the first partial $2157 payment at registration.
Payment is accepted through Paypal (as a guest, if you don’t have an account) using your account or credit card, or choose Paypal’s Pay Later button, to break up your payments and pay interest-free over time; or Stripe, which is a Level 1 (highest level of security compliance) secure online credit card processor.
We require a non-refundable deposit to hold your spot. Should you need to cancel, all cancellations need to be in writing. This retreat requires significant financial and logistical planning; refund/cancellation terms are detailed on the Terms and Conditions page.
Should you be unable to attend, AND you can fill your spot, we will refund you less the $500 deposit fee.
The full balance is due February 15, 2025. If you are not paid in full by that date, we reserve the right to offer your spot to our waiting list or the public, and to retain your payment to date.
There are 2 optional excursions, not included in the price. A camel ride on Day 7 ($65 plus gratuity) and a one hour visit to a Hammam ($115 plus gratuity) on Day 10, prior to dinner. We will email you at a later date, and send an invoice if you indicate interest in either or both options.
Moroccan hotels have fewer rooms per hotel, and we will be doubling up, unless you pay for the single supplement. If you don’t have a room-mate, we will match you with a like-minded guest.
Non-knitters are welcome! Non-knitters will travel with the group, and they will be welcome at meal times and will participate in all excursions and tours. They will not attend the knitting or project classes; the non-knitting cost is $6410.
Proof of travel insurance is required for you to attend this retreat. We recommend buying a “cancel for any reason” policy.
Currently, there are no visa requirements to enter Morocco, however you must have at least six months of validity in your passport at time of entry, and at least one blank page for entry stamp.
There will be a moderate amount of walking, including stairs and uneven pavement, during this tour. You will also be responsible for carrying your own luggage. Please take your personal fitness level into account when booking this tour.
In the case of acts of God, war, disaster, pandemic, border closure or unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to retain your fees and reschedule the retreat.
Once registered, you will receive future emails with helpful tips, explanations, knitting material requirements, and a special Zoom meeting, so we can meet everyone “face to face” prior to Casablanca.