When physician and photographer Yael Moussadji travels the world with her family, she brings along two essentials: a deep appreciation for connection and a sharp eye for beauty. Her Instagram feed, @rusticluxurytravel, is a dreamy collection of evocative photos and stories that invite you to slow down, look closer, and travel with heart.

But her story isn’t about luxury in the traditional sense. It’s about barefoot luxury—a feeling of grounded calm and design-forward simplicity that’s become the guiding principle for how she builds her home life and chooses where to explore.

In this conversation, we got to talk with Yael about her recent family trip to Morocco—how she planned it, how she saw it, and what moments left a lasting impression.

From Food Photography to Family Travel

“This isn’t work—it’s love,” Yael says when describing her journey into travel blogging. Originally rooted in food photography, her passion evolved as her family grew.

Now with two children, aged 14 and 11, travel has become a shared joy. Her mobile photography, often captured with specialized lenses, is intimate, textured, and featured in publications like Amateur Photographer UK and Travel + Leisure.

Planning a Meaningful Moroccan Journey

Yael’s trip to Morocco lasted two weeks and was crafted with intention: four days in Marrakech, three at the serene Berber Lodge outside the city, and several more heading toward and into the Sahara. Every destination was selected for a reason.

“We gravitate toward grounded, earthy spaces,” she explains. “Calm, raw textures, organic materials. Places that feel real.”

The Berber Lodge was a highlight—a design-forward escape that felt aligned with the principles of wabi-sabi and rustic luxury. It was from here that the family launched into the mountains for a day hike and ultimately made their way to the desert.

Real Connections, Not Just Beautiful Spaces

For Yael, travel isn’t only about aesthetics—it’s about people.

Their guide, Saeed, stood out. “He was so generous with his knowledge of Morocco and its food culture—and just an interesting person. He spoke fluent Japanese!” she laughs. It’s this spirit of real, unexpected connection that defines her most meaningful memories.

One standout moment came during the Ramadan experience we host here at Moroccan Food Adventures. They walked through the medina, tasted olives from a local vendor, and eventually found themselves in a home, seated at a family table for iftar. The sheer abundance of food was humbling.

“We were full—and then they brought out more. It just didn’t stop.” Yael recalls, smiling. “And we weren’t sure we were going to get the real experience because it was Ramadan. We certainly did!”

Through Her Lens: Sentinel Photos

Each trip leaves Yael with what she calls a “sentinel photo”—an image that captures the spirit of the experience. One came in Tofino, BC. Another at Giraffe Manor in Kenya, when a giraffe poked its head through the window long after the tourists had gone.

In Morocco? “I don’t even know if my kids fully understood it, but in the Atlas Mountains, we passed kids walking four kilometers each way to school. You look at the valley and the scale of their daily life. That stays with you.”

Why She Always Brings the Kids

When asked whether she ever travels without them, Yael is clear: “Of course the kids come. That’s the point.”

For her, raising curious, compassionate children means showing them the world. Not just the postcard version—but the complex, diverse, real one. Travel, for Yael and her husband, is a chance to build empathy, explore difference, and remind their kids how much they’ve been given.

“There’s just such joy in experiencing different foods and cultures and seeing how much we’re alike, despite all the differences.”

Final Thoughts: Food as a Portal

“If there’s one theme in everything I do, it’s food,” Yael says. “Food connects. It teaches. It welcomes.”

Whether it’s a photo of olives in a Marrakesh market or a full table of tagines in a mountain home, Yael sees food as the entry point to story, place, and people. And her blog is an invitation to see travel not as escape, but as connection.

As our team at Moroccan Food Adventures continue building experiences that center human connection, Yael’s perspective offers the perfect example of what slow, intentional, family-centered travel can look like: full of flavor, framed in beauty, and grounded in care.

Thanks so much, Yael!