This journey to the ancient kingdom of Morocco, led jointly by Steve Franck and a Kudu tour guide, gives you the opportunity to create beautiful and captivating photos. During the week, you will learn and experience a wide spectrum of photography encompassing candid portraiture, landscape, architectural, composition, creative storytelling and the clear night sky of this magnificent north-west Africa country.
Photography in Marrakech and Essaouira with Steve Franck
We begin our visit in Essaouira, an Atlantic port dating back to the Phoenician period, exploring the city and the beaches in the area. We spend a night in a peaceful country hotel with a delightful rose garden, set in the foothills of the High Atlas mountains, before moving into the heart of historic Marrakech, where our riad has a rooftop terrace and an inner courtyard. From this tranquil base, we explore the culture and history of Marrakech, visiting exotic souks, royal palaces and gardens and the Jewish quarter.
Guests' comments on this trip:
Excellent tour. The small numbers made it very easy to get personal advice on photographic techniques. Katharine and Steve were excellent company and very good at the different aspects.
I thought the combination of photography and Morocco was excellent. I loved learning about Morocco, its culture and people and experiencing the different aspects from the Atlantic coast through to the bustle of Marrakech. I was initially drawn to this holiday by the photographic aspects which certainly met my expectations but also to the venue - i.e. Morocco which I have long wanted to visit. The lighting and colours were perfect for photography, although the people disliked being photographed making it more challenging!
DAY 1
L, D included
After meeting at Essaouira airport in the morning, we have a 20-minute transfer to the medina (walled city) and our comfortable riad. An orientation walk through atmospheric narrow streets takes us to the photogenic fishing harbour and the 18th century battlements in time to watch the sun setting over the ocean. We have dinner in a delightful traditional restaurant.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
We continue our exploration of Essaouira. Lunch by the harbour consists of the freshest fish imaginable, grilled on charcoal and served with lemon, parsley and crisp baguette.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
Today we follow the coastline south from Essaouira and our goal is the wild and windy beach at Sidi Kaouki.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
We head inland to Ouirgane (4 hrs), a hamlet sited about 3,000 feet above sea level in the wooded foothills of the Atlas. Our hotel is set in acres of park and farmland and has an enchanting rose garden.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
We transfer by road to Marrakech (1.5 hrs) and settle into our riad in the medina. A stroll round the famous Jemaa el Fna – alive with musicians, storytellers, acrobats, snake-charmers, monkeys and clowns – is a colourful and essential ritual before dinner.
DAYS 6 AND 7
B, L, D included
We spend two days exploring Marrakech and the highlights include: the celebrated Saadian Tombs, dating from the early 14th century; the Bahia Palace with its series of grand paved courtyards and Andalusian gardens; the vast ruined palace of El Badi ‘the Incomparable’, now just hinting at its former glory, with many white storks perched on their nests on the walls; the mellah, the atmospheric Jewish quarter; and Ben Youssef Medersa, a beautiful Koranic school, founded in the 14th century, which is particularly noted for its rich decorative detail.
DAY 8
B included
Our Moroccan journey concludes with a morning transfer to Marrakech airport.
Per person sharing: TBC
TBC deposit per person
TBC single room supplement
Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotel and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible.
Price Includes
- All accommodation for Days 1 through 8, on a twin shared basis
- All meals as listed in the daily notation (with wine/beer/soft drinks at lunches and dinners but please note that some traditional Moroccan restaurants don’t serve alcohol)
- All land transportation in a private vehicle, as described
- All entrance and sightseeing fees, as described
- Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff, driver and local guides
- Services of a specialist photography guide and a tour leader
Price does not Include
- Flights to Essaouira and from Marrakech
- Trip cancellation, medical or other insurance
- Immunisations, prescriptions or other medical requirements
- Passport, visa and health documentation
- Personal expenses (laundry, alcohol other than wine with group lunches and dinners, free time activities, etc.)
- Transport and transfer of excess baggage
- Moroccan departure tax, if any
VALUE FOR MONEY - SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
- 3 nights in Essaouira, in a comfortable riad in the medina
- 1 night in Ouirgane, in a peaceful country hotel with a delightful rose garden, set in the foothills of the High Atlas mountains
- 3 nights in Marrakech, in a riad in the medina with a rooftop terrace and an inner courtyard
Tutor
Steve Franck began his love affair with photography at the age of 14 and has been working as a full time freelance photographer since 2007. His work is predominantly commercial/editorial with regular clients ranging from high profile news providers such as the BBC and Financial Times, through commercial clients such as Carlsberg and East India Co. and direct private clients and grass roots charities. Steve has been teaching photography and running workshops since 2010. He has travelled through many parts of North and West Africa, Western Europe and parts of Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. He lives in London with his wife and two children.
Photography course information
The tour is intended for those who want to improve their photography skills and some knowledge of photography is assumed. You may have been using your camera on auto mode for years and now want to get more out of it, or you may already be quite knowledgeable and want to progress.
You will need a camera which has a manual mode and a tripod, and ideally a prime lens. Andrew will give more advice on this, if needed.
We plan to cover a mixture of technical and creative concepts to allow you to take better photos. At the end of each day, we will spend some time looking at our photos and editing.
Concepts covered will include:
- Technical considerations, such as shutter speed and depth of field. This will be tailored to an individual’s. level of knowledge.
- Using available light and how to take good photos in a variety of lighting conditions, including hard sunlight, shade and low light.
- Landscape photography techniques.
- Using colour vs black and white.
- Candid portrait photography.
- Street photography techniques.
- How to tell stories with photography.
- Composition techniques and thinking about what makes a good image.
- Techniques for astro photography (in the Atlas mountains).
- The daytimes will be hands on, taking photos, helping out, working on projects, and getting feedback.
- In the evenings, we will look at examples of good photos and photographers to inspire and give ideas, plus we will discuss the day, do editing and give feedback on photos.
Visa and Health Requirements
Visitors from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Morocco. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Morocco.
At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Morocco, but you may wish to consult your doctor (at least 6 weeks before you travel) about updating your immunisation against Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid, or anything else they consider advisable. A dental check-up is also sensible. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the Department of Health and the FCO.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.
If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of party
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 guests.