A springtime visit to Morocco’s famed Rose Valley, near Boumalne Dades, offers a rare and delightful cultural encounter. During the blooming season—typically from late April to early May—you’ll participate in two experiences: a traditional ftour (second breakfast) in the fields and a rosewater distillation workshop. Start your morning with a delicious meal among the rose bushes, featuring local favorites such as bread, olives, cheese, tea, and honey. Then, join local women to hand-pick rose petals, learning about the harvesting process and its significance to the community. Head to a nearby cooperative where artisans explain how rose petals are carefully dried and then distilled into precious rosewater and rose oil—sought-after ingredients used by perfumeries worldwide. While your souvenir bottle won’t be from the exact petals you picked, the experience brings you closer to centuries-old traditions of this region. This hands-on visit is only available for a few weeks each year and offers insight into both cultural customs and the global fragrance trade, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Morocco’s blooming Rose Valley.

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