Rif Mountains: 2-Day Pottery Workshop & 3-Night Homestay

Summary

Hands-on pottery in the Rif with clay gathering, firing, and homestay

You’ll spend two days learning traditional pottery in Morocco’s Rif mountains alongside master potter Zhour — from gathering raw clay to shaping and firing your own piece by hand. Stay three nights with a local family, share meals, laugh at your wonky creations, and carry home a handmade souvenir shaped by your own hands.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I was mostly worried about embarrassing myself in front of Zhour when we started this pottery workshop in the Rif mountains. She’s got these strong hands and this quiet way of showing you things — I thought I’d mess up right away. But then she just handed me a lump of cool clay (still sticky from the riverbank) and said something to our guide Hicham, who laughed and told me not to overthink it. The donkey carrying our haul kept snorting every few minutes. I don’t know why that made me feel more at ease.

The first morning was all about getting our hands dirty — literally. We walked out from Hicham’s homestay after mint tea (the smell of fresh bread still hanging around), following Zhour up a stony path with her donkey. Gathering clay isn’t just scooping mud; you look for certain colors, feel for a kind of stickiness. My shoes were caked by the end. Back at her place, Zhour showed us how to pinch and roll the clay into shapes that sort of looked like bowls if you squinted — mine looked like a potato with ambitions. She didn’t judge though. Lunch was simple but good: bread, olives, something stewed that tasted smoky.

The next day we burnished our pieces with smooth limestone — mine squeaked under my fingers — and painted them using brushes made from twigs and goat hair. The natural pigments smelled earthy, almost sweet when wet. Firing happened outside; there was this low crackle as the kiln heated up, smoke drifting through olive trees behind us. I tried to say “thank you” in Tamazight and Zhour grinned so wide I almost forgot how tired my arms were.

After breakfast on the last morning (I swear their honey tastes different here), we picked up our finished pottery — still warm from the fire. Mine has a thumbprint pressed right into one side; I kind of love that it’s not perfect. There’s something about those two days in the Rif mountains that sticks with me, like red dust on your skin after a long walk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Clay Gathering and Hand-Building

• Walk from homestay to meet Zhour
• Gather clay with donkey
• Learn traditional hand-modeling
• Shape your own pottery

Day 2 — Polishing, Decorating, and Firing

• Burnish pottery with limestone
• Apply natural pigments
• Use handmade brushes
• Fire pottery in open-air kiln
• Breakfast with host family
• Collect finished pottery souvenir

Top questions

How long is the Rif pottery experience?

The workshop lasts two days with three nights’ homestay included.

Where does the pottery workshop take place?

It takes place in Morocco’s Rif mountains near Hicham’s family home.

Is lunch included during the pottery workshop?

Yes, lunch is provided both days along with welcoming tea.

Do I need any pottery experience?

No experience is needed; Zhour guides you through each step.

Can children join this activity?

Infants or small children can join if they use a pram or stroller.

What will I take home from this experience?

You’ll take home your own handcrafted pottery piece as a souvenir.

Is pickup included for this tour?

No pickup is mentioned; guests stay at Hicham’s homestay nearby.

Are there any health restrictions?

This activity isn’t recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or cardiovascular issues.

What’s included

Your time includes guidance from a local interpreter and master potter Zhour, all raw materials for pottery making, welcoming tea when you arrive each day, plus lunch during both workshop days before heading back to your host family for dinner and rest each evening.