Watercolor Art Tour

Watercolor Art Tour with NW US Artist Jennifer Bowman

Jennifer Bowman

Experience the magic of Morocco on our Watercolor Art Tour! Journey through Marrakech, Essaouira, the Agafay Desert, and the High Atlas Mountains, painting breathtaking landscapes, vibrant souks, and rich cultural sights. This tour is for artists of all levels: enjoy expert watercolor instruction by Jennifer Bowman, or simply immerse yourself in the beauty—painting is optional! A creative, unforgettable adventure awaits.

Jennifer Bowman is an internationally recognized artist who has been exhibiting and competing professionally for the past 25 years. She has shown throughout the Puget Sound region, Arizona, California, and Mexico.   Her work can be found in both private and corporate collections, as well as local and international collections, including those in France and the Netherlands. Through her sales rep at Island International Artists, she has exhibited in over 185 galleries in the United States.

9-day tour/Oct 25-Nov 2:
$4400 USD (2 to a room), $5600 (private room)

15-day tour/Oct 25-Nov 9 for those who wish to join the Magical Morocco! Tour and continue exploring this incredible country!
$6100 (2 to room), $7500 (private room)

Click on the tour map for a larger view of the Watercolor Art Tour itinerary.

Included in all of our tours:

• English-speaking tour director/guide/translator
• Hand selected accommodations
• Air-conditioned vehicle and professional driver
• Pick-up and drop-off from ports of entry and exit
• Luggage handling
• Breakfast daily, select lunches and dinners that will be listed on your itinerary
• Entrance fees
• 24/7 support
• Options to add (not included in price): Cooking class, a wine tasting tour, hot air balloon ride, horseback/ATV/carriage rides.

Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech

We will arrive in Marrakech, known as the “Red City”. After checking into our lodgings, we’ll have an evening tour of the medina, Jemaa el fnaa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where you will find snake charmers, fortune tellers, monkeys, entertainers, and smoking grills that entice you with delectable scents. The medina is surrounded by labyrinthine alleyways filled with motorcycles, bicycles, donkeys pulling carts, and friendly greetings from every shop. Vendors sell honey-drenched pastries and assortments of fruit, olives, and nuts.

Day 2,3: Marrakech

Jemaa el fnaa medina, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), at night.

During our stay in Marrakech, you can paint in some of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see: Jardin Majorelle, the amazing garden created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by the design legend Yves Saint-Laurent. The gorgeous Bahia Palace. The fascinating Saadian Tombs. And the breathtaking Koutoubia Mosque.  And that’s just a few sights to set your creativity ablaze. Everywhere you turn, from colorful souks to out-of-the-way gardens and alleyways, Marrakech abounds with mystical light, intense colors, and rich textures just waiting for you to capture.

Optional things to see and do:

• Horse-drawn carriage rides
• Hot air balloon rides
• Casino fun
• Cooking classes
• Great restaurants!

Bahia Palace (19th Century)

Saadian Tombs (16th Century)

Jardin Majorelle, restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, has plants from all over the world, and an Yves Saint Laurent costume and antique collection.

Day 4: Agafay Desert

Next, we will travel to the Agafay Desert, where the dunes’ surreal and mystical changing colors will inspire you. Painting landscapes and cultural artifacts in this region will be a highlight of this Art Tour!  You’ll also have a chance to ride a camel or ATV, spend the night in a luxurious tent, and take in the incredible starry night in an experience you will never forget!

A desert camp in Agafay

A Moroccan luxury tent camp under the incredibly starry skies of North Africa.

Days 5/6: Essaouira

On your way to the beautiful fishing village of Essaouira (the windy city), you will stop at an Argan processing business run entirely by women. There, you will have an opportunity to purchase the many products they create (cosmetics, cooking oil, medicinal argan butter).

Essaouira has a relaxed vibe. Musicians, including Prince, Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones, used to hang out here, playing their music on the beach. Kite surfers come from all over the world to enjoy the wind and magic of the surf here. You will see them on your way into town.

In Essaouira, the opportunities for painting natural beauty expand even further. All over this seaside town, you can find captivating subjects, including the local alleyways, shops of handcrafted Thuya wood (native only to Morocco), leather and textile artisans and their works, jewelry, and spices, not to mention several galleries where you can peruse the work of other artists. Along the rampart, you can find other intriguing subjects, including the fishermen who bring in their catches of the day and cook them right there on the pier. This is where you can sketch and paint the iconic blue fishing boats Essaouira is famous for.

Day 7: Atlas Mountains

There are many options for painting in the High Atlas Mountains, filled as it is with rivers, groves of olives, oranges, lemons, and dazzling snowy peaks. You can easily find a view you like along one of the many trails and perhaps see Ouzoud or Imlil Falls, barbary monkeys, locals traveling on donkeys, and observe life in a Berber village.

High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Imlil Falls in the Atlas Mountains.

The Berber natives have lived almost unchanged for centuries. Depending on your energy level, your trek can take from an hour to several hours. Or we can just take you for a drive.

A Berber village in the High Atlas Mountains

 

Day 8: Free day in Marrakech

Today you’ll be free to paint more of this fascinating city, or simply relax and do whatever is still on your wish list. In the evening we’ll meet for a complimentary final dinner where we can recap our tour and enjoy reminiscing about the art experiences we were blessed to share in this magical place.

Souvenirs on the Jamaa el Fna market in old Medina

Day 9: Departure

Day 9, November 2nd, is departure day for those on the Watercolor Art Tour who are not continuing on for the full Magical Morocco Tour. So, B’ slama till next time!