Fare news – it pays to book early
Whilst last minute bookings with the two main carriers to Marrakesh: BA(formerly BMI) and Easyjet, don’t offer much for the budget conscious, there are good deals to be had by booking in advance with prices as low as £170 for return flights after the peak rush, beginning in January and February next year with BA. BA’s new policy of going head to head with Easyjet over prices seems to be paying dividends based on a significant number of photography holiday attendees here now choosing BA. Price wise there’s little in it with lunch included on the BA flight.
Ryanair has now curtailed its flights to Marrakesh and indeed most of Morocco with few options out of the UK after a dispute over handling charges this summer. In other news, Thompson are offering good value flights on a Friday to Marrakesh; details here; whilst this site offers a good overview of Europe wide flights to Marrakesh.
Peak season flight hikes are never appreciated by anybody least of all teachers, so we’ve got some offers on the go for this xmas to soften the blow a little. See our offers page for dates.
“Although not new to photography I was new to digital imaging. From refeshing our knowledge about the basics to learning how to improve by using those “hidden” camera controls that I would never have found even with a year studying the manual. Photography is only part of the week though, throw in great accommodation, stupendous food, fantastic fellow pupils, wonderful scenery and some great locals, never forgetting Darren our tutor, guide, surrogate dad and everything else required…This was my first trip alone but Darren and the other four pupils made this solo holidays such a joy, if you are feeling a bit nervous about venturing out on your own then cast aside your fears and go for it, you won’t regret it” Andy.
Sonjai arrived in late April, our first American citizen, to begin a private tour with us. She decided on an itinerary that covered the High and Middle Atlas mountains and the desert region of Merzouga in Morocco’s south. In all she covered nearly 1500km taking in sights such as Ait Benhaddou, Todra and Dades gorges, the Kasbah trail, the fertile Ourgaine Valley as well as the dunes of Merzouga. A camel trek into a storm wasn’t on the agenda but Sonjai weathered it well emerging from her nomad tent the following morning into brilliant early morning sunshine and the vast endless dunes around her; magical. Sonjai travelled for 8 days in a Toyoto Prado 4×4 and stayed in her own private room. Her gallery of images can be viewed 
Since the last blog it’s been a busy time with photography courses in Essaouira, alongside cooking weeks and the launch of a new tour off the back of trip to Morocco’s south east…John and Clare Simmons came out and each enjoyed their own activity, John with a week’s cooking with Naima and Clare with myself and Shimona who’d booked through Goleranto for a week’s photography holiday. An extremely cool head in the kitchen John breezed through the week’s recipes.
photos. The waterfalls as Sidi M’bark have seen a better flow of water in the past but nonetheless the local boys and shepherds still took advantage of its natural beauty and grazing potential. Blue skies and an assortment of rich earthy colours typify the geology of this area south of Essaouira. Gazing at Morocco’s map will tell you that the Atlas mountains start in this region.