Highlights of Morocco Discovery Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 67 reviews.

Kathy Macey

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written September 2011
A photo opportunity around every corner. Colours you'll remember forever. The golden sands of the Sahara, the stunning "Berber" blue, the silver moon and stars over the desert and the vibrant colours of the carpets, slippers and tagines lining the walls of the medinas and the ladies colourful floating robes.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Yes, there were a few.... standing in awe at the size and oppulence of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, whizzing around the souks in Fez, Meknes and Marrakesh, sleeping outside at the Sahara Auberge in Merzouga, the sunset camel ride into the Sahara and the sunrise ride back again. Watching the families enjoying the cool waters of Todra Gordge with those vertical golden cliffs rising high on either side. The peaceful, humble life of the Berbers living so simply and happy up in The Atlas Mountains - enjoying "afternoon tea" with a family there. Dodging the seagulls enjoing their free meal whilst fishermen gutted and prepared their catch at the harbour in Essaouria. Tasty Moroccon food... served in family homes and restaurants you'd never find again! ...but guess the most inspirational moment for us was tracking down a beer on arrival in Casablanca on a Sunday evening... yes it did happen and we eventually find one!!

What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha - a credit to Exodus. Caring, considerate, informative, knowledgable. Passionate about his work and his country. Always willing to assist where necessary. Always jolly with a good sense of humour....and he found some rather good restaurants.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I guess by reading other reviews it's all been said before....
Hygiene is the main criteria, so plenty of handgel, tissues, loo roll - although, the loos weren't that bad!
.....the bus, yes be prepared for long and short uncomfortable travel. We had a full complement on board, 16 or us, plus driver/guide. No leg room on a majority of the seats and not much overhead storage available. We were with a good crowd and always rotated the seating arrangements.
Travel light.. but if you should have the odd fleece no longer required, please take it and donate it to the folk up at Tijhza Village, they have so little and temperatures drop like a stone in the winter months.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Another experience - another adventure. If you've not been to that part of the world nothing prepares you for the sights, sounds and smells - just go with the flow. Stand and admire the stunning sights of the Mosques, the ancient sights, the amazing construction of the Kasbahs, the hustle and bustle of the souks, the busy market towns. Listen to nothing lying in the desert at night staring up at the moon and stars, to the call to prayer, the gabbling voices of the traders, to the children's laughter playing in the river... lastly to the guys in the souks who have picked up a variety of accents/punchlines from us tourists.... lovely jubbly!! Smell the tagines cooking by the roadside, the spices and herbs in the souks BUT take a large piece of mint when you smell the tanneries in Fez! Go and enjoy the experience.
Olwen Moss

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written September 2011
Amazing experience, certainly no time to be bored!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Ours was another wonderful group. The desert and mountains were for me the most memorable, though for some of us the much anticipated camel ride and desert sleepover transposed into an ambulance ride through the sahara; such a pity! The Auberge in the Sahara is a wonderful place to be; somewhere I would love to return to and have more time to enjoy. The walk in Todra Gorge was fantastic. Couldn't make the walk from the gite but others said that was brilliant too. I loved Volubilis
What did you think of your group leader?
LHoucine was fantastic, caring, patient and knowledgeable
our driver Abdul also deserves a special mention
Thankyou to them both
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
only the usual
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip covers 2500 miles or so, so obviously it was rushed. but it would have been more enjoyable to have an extra day in some of the cities, Fez and Essaouira in particular. This was even more relevant for our group (the sickest in LHoucine's 11 years' of guiding!); when ill, it's harder to keep going...and going...and going! I knew the hotels were on the basic side, but with such beautiful riads in Morocco I personally would have preferred a higher standard in the cities (and would have happily paid a bit extra). The hotel in Marrakech was good, and the 'basic' gorge hotel and gite were absolutely fine. The start of the trip covers too much too quickly; a whistle stop tour from Casablanca (uninspiring) to Rabat (no time to visit the old town) and Meknes......then on to Fez. The guide we had in Fez was only interested in rushing us from place to place where we were persuaded to spend, spend, spend.....the products were lovely, but it was too much for one hot afternoon. A pity we could not have flown direct home from Marrakech (had to fly via Casablanca and waste 3 hours at the airport there)
Maureen Lansley

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written July 2011
A truly magical experience, we did so many new things and had so many great experiences in such diverse surrounding. So glad i went, what an experience!!!!!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Everything from sitting in Todra Gorge at night having some wine in great company to laying in the desert after a sand storm..... The High Altlas mountains are also beautiful and the walk is lovely. All Incredible!!!!!! There were many inspirational moments and it is difficult to list them or to pick one out specifically.....
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha was our group leader, nice guy, knowledgeable, helpful and kind.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Before i went i read many of the reviews and there are certain things that have really stuck in my mind....
If you are going during the summer month i cannot reiterate enough to tell you to Drink, Drink, Drink loads of water..... Water seems to come out of every pore in your body and you MUST replenish it!!!!!
A must to take: Toilet Tissue (paper hankies), Torch, Antiseptic and Antispetic hand wipes, always have 1 dirhams for the lady in the toilets, dont fill you case too much as there are so many lovely things to buy (in Fez, Mezouga, Essaouira), bottle opener and cork screw if you like to have a drink, Immodium/Dioralyte (our group had lots of trouble in this area), antiseptic cream and plasters for small emergencies.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The Djemma el Fna square in Marrakesh was not what i imagined. It may have been better to go there first as by the time you get to the square at the end of the holiday you have already had so many lovely experiences that it is really a let down and not as magical as it possibly could have been if you had gone there first. Some very sad sights to see, people and animals....
A very interesting holiday and great fun if you get a good group which i did... The food gets pretty boring unfortunately as do the drinks. Alchohol is hard to find as it is a muslim country, but if you get taken to a shop stock up on wine and beer (on the way to Merzouga you can go into an off licence), you can put it in the fridges of some of the hotels. Be prepared for hotels without air conditioning and believe me it is so so hot at night in the summer months (and days).... Unfortunately no ice is available as they use their tap water which we cannot drink.
Be prepared for a lot of travelling and rushing here and there and being cramped on the bus.....
Even so, Enjoy...... I am sure you will...
Jo Tew
HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written July 2011
A well organised trip - felt so good to be guided around without having to make many decisions - a real break from the reality of life! Morocco proved to be a beautiful country full of colour, life and diversity. Away from the hustle and bustle of the souks and medinas, the people were friendly and welcoming. A good mixture of city, desert, mountains and a brief trip to the coast. Personally, I found the time spent away from the cities most enjoyable but this trip has a bit of everything.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
My top 4:-
Getting up before dawn to climb the dunes in the Sahara to watch the sunrise. Despite there being too much cloud cover to see anything really spectacular, the feeling of being up high on the dunes, away from civilisation and the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, overlooking a reddish/orange version of a lunar landscape was so peaceful.
Sleeping out under the stars in a bedouin camp in the Sahara. I loved the sound and feeling of the light rain and sand being blown against my sheet I had cocooned myself in, and waking up at dawn surrounded by so much open space.
Seeing the most amazing starry sky in the Atlas mountains. I have never seen anything like it - truly beautiful and very calming!
Gaining a better understanding of Berber culture and life - humbling experience. Tasted some great thyme and mint teas!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was very good at including everyone and really wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time. He bought local treats and snacks for us to sample during some of our long minibus trips. He was knowledgeable and had a good balance of seriousness and fun and was very kind and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It's been said before but....
Make sure you have wet wipes and toilet paper...
Keep small change for the toilets
Remember to pack a torch
Take swimwear
If you go on holiday hoping to read lots, this may not be the holiday for you!
If travelling in the summer months when it is hot, make sure you have some lightweight sleeved tops to cover up - both to protect yourself from the sun and to be culturally sensitive - it is a Muslim country after all.
Drink, drink, drink (bottled water) and then drink some more! And don't forget to brush your teeth with bottled water - it's not worth the upset stomache if you don't!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was my first organised trip and the first time I had been away on holiday on my own with a bunch of randoms. Was very apprehensive at first but, when booking, ask the lovely people at exodus for a breakdown of who is already booked on the trip. I nearly ended up going on a trip with a family of 4 plus me until the guy I spoke to on the phone warned me - not what I was after. So, if travelling alone it is always good to know whether everyone else is buddied up or not - that's why the solo departures are so good for not making you feel on your own.
If you know what you do and don't want from your holiday then there will be a trip for you - read the trip notes first and do some research and then get booking!
Maria Bakalouli

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written July 2011
It was a magnificent trip! Full of different feelings and activities every day. A mixture of adventure and culture. Medinas, desert, kasbahs mountains and the ocean!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The route from Fes to the desert was the most inspirational part of the trip. Watching the landscape changing from pine and cedar tree hills to moonscapes and sandy oasis with palm trees and desert bushes.... Final destination... Merzouga.. a sea of sand, where one could enjoy the silence and peacefullness of the desert... At dusk everything would seem magic... The heat wave at noon felt like just a warm blanket on my shoulders while everybody else would stop for siesta... Sleeping on the terrace or on the sand, watching the sky and the stars... Incredible feeling...
Essaouira and Todra Gorge are second best inspirational destinations in this trip.
Moroccan culture would emerge from all smaller or bigger cities with their Medinas. I enjoyed a lot the dinner at the family house in Fes.

What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha would show his concern about us at every single moment. He would always ask how we feel, if we are ok. He was protective and always happy to help us or answer our questions. He got us to the best places to see local craftsmaship. After many tours around local Medinas I can tell the difference amongst original and fake stuff.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read Trip Notes and follow Mustapha's guidelines and you will be happy and safe. Antibacterial! Your best friend in this trip!
Best carpet quality at Merzouga!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy!
Heather Bamford

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written July 2011
A wee adventure in good company
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The stay at the gite in the High Atllas Mountains. The visit to Essouaira - I'd go back for their music festival.
What did you think of your group leader?
Just lovely
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
July in Morocco is very, very hot
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Royal Air Maroc were three hours late arriving at Heathrow so I missed my flight home and the last flight that day. Is this a common occurance?
Andrew Scalisi

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written July 2011
I Went on the Solo's departure Trip and It provided a enjoyable and much different and stimulating experience than if I would gone on my own. The trip really packs in as much of morocco as possible which is good for those on limited holiday leave, but at times you also find yourself having to leave just when you started getting used to a place. Overall it offered something for everyone the cultural and historical tours, to fun and sun with options for camel rides or the swimming pool. There’s walking both on the mountains, dunes and villages. There is plenty of beautiful scenery to take in. In the evenings it was meals out with plenty of laughs.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I loved the chance to spend a hour of calm and splendour with only myself on top of a hill high up in the Tijhza Valley - the scenery was fantastic.
What did you think of your group leader?

He was very informative and always looking to ensure everyone was happy and that the trip met their expectations.
Our leader was helpful to the extent of spending hours with me in a police station when my Iphone was stolen. He was always willing to talk and share the Berber point of view and came across as a nice guy in general he was generally cautious to ensure nobody got sick.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

1 Be vigilant of your valuables - don’t take anything too expensive - Cameras don’t like sand blown at them and the Exodus insurance does not cover phones!
2 Be prepared to have to pay tourist prices for everything - if the locals pay 4 drm , you pay 10 drm it may seem unfair or even comical when prices change from tourist to tourist but try not to let it get you down.
3 Try to haggle for items like 80% even 90% to get their real prices.
4 Try different food and attempt the language
5 Get as much change / coin and small bills as possible lots of 20s. - The locals dont like having to have to find change for 200 s.