VIP Gnawa Music Experience Festival Tour
Essaouira, Morocco
From USD 0.00
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VIP Gnawa Music Experience Festival Tour
Essaouira, Morocco
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Enjoy a VIP twist on our Gnawa Music Experience. The annual Gnaoua World Music Festival is the most exciting time to be in Essaouira, when Gnawi musicians and lovers gather to celebrate rhythms new and old. We’ll introduce you to mystical Gnawa masters to experience their music in underground jams inaccessible to the average festival goer. Gain VIP access to the festival’s hottest events to feel the heartbeat of Gnawa.
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Highlights
- Get the VIP experience of the Gnaoua World Music Festival with behind-the-scenes access to the hottest events and underground jams
- Learn the history and customs of Gnawa, a local population with a rich history and strong ties to the region
- Explore the sacred Gnawa traditions and sites
- Meet the local kuyu (Gnawa dancers) and marvel at their ornate traditional garments
- Learn the history and craft of the ornate guembri instrument
- Groove to the trance rhythms and music of a Gnawa master
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours to 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Next to the clocktower (L’Moganna) near Bab Sbaa
- Starting time: 5.30 PM
- Ending point:
Near Moulay Hassan Square
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking musician guide, VIP festival event access, glass of Moroccan wine.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Before hitting the festival, meet your local musician guide under Essaouira’s iconic clocktower to begin a journey back in time to get the lowdown on Gnawa’s musical roots.
We’ll weave through the medina to visit a zaouia, a sacred Gnawa temple reserved for traditional lila rituals performed to treat psychological ills, drive out evil spirits, or remedy scorpion stings. Lilas take place to this day and last all night long until sunrise.
We continue our music tour through the medina to the private home of a Gnawa dancer or kuyu. Welcomed with local tea, he will demonstrate the acrobatic Gnawa dance moves and explain the colourful, intricate designs of the typical costumes, decorated with embroidery and cowrie shells.
The Gnawa rhythms lead us to meet the maalem or Master to learn about the guembri, a lute-like instrument played in Gnawa music. We’ll see where and how the guembri is made and get to hear what it sounds like. The maalem will then take us to his private quarters, rarely open to outsiders, to understand how one becomes the highly respected leader of a Gnawa troupe.
Finally we’ll head to a hip local music spot to sip Moroccan wine and watch the evening festival activities unfold. You’ll get the skinny on the best insider tips on which shows to see, where to find the best local spots and how to make the most of the Gnaoua Festival.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking musician guide, VIP festival event access, glass of Moroccan wine.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: As we will be entering sacred and private spaces, please be considerate of local tradition and wear appropriate clothing. We recommend both men and women cover up from the shoulders to the knees. As we will walk over some uneven terrain, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Evenings can be cold so a warm layer is advisable.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 8 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: This is VIP tour so maximum group size is 8 people
Child Policy: Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number:
Email address: thuy@whl.travel
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