Highlights of Morocco Discovery Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

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Average Review Rating: from 69 reviews.

Kenneth Blanchard

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written January 2011
Great trip with a packed but very good itinerary. Some long days in the bus but worth it to see the full range of sites and changing terrain from deserts to mountains and back.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The arrival at and walking in Todra gorge is spectacular. I won't spoil the surprise of the arrival but you should have your camera ready when you get off the bus. The drive through the pass on the way to Marrakesh is also amazing particularly when you consider the desert landscape you were in only two days previously. However the best part for me was watching the scenery change as we moved around the country.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha was an excellent guide with masses of local knowledge and great pride in his country.
Our driver Hasan was also one of the best tour bus drivers I have ever seen always keeping safety ahead of everything on some very difficult roads and manic traffic in the cities.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
- I would suggest not taking the Royal Air Maroc flights which were the designated group flights. They were quite disorganised in getting people on and off the plan although once we got going the flight was ok. However the timing of the flights is also not very good as you arrive very late into Casablanca on the first day so you only get the following morning in the city which is spent at a couple of the sites so no exploring time. You would be better off taking an earlier flight or arriving a day before if you want to explore this city. The flight on the way back is not direct and takes six hours when direct flights are available with other airlines and take about 3-4 hours.
- Be aware and ready for the fact that some of the hotels are very basic and not up to Euro standards but this is not a real problem as long as you approach it with the view of this being an adventrue and not a luxury trip.
- Pay a lot of attention to the recommended packing list in the trip notes as there is very little on that list that you won't be using (or borrowing!) during the trip.
- take some entertainment for the bus trips if you get bored watching the scenery. The bus we had was quite small for the size of our group (15 plus driver and guide) so you may need to make allowances around personal space.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
One thing people should be prepared for so there are no false expectations is around the desert camp. It is a Bedouin camp in the sense that the tents are put up by Bedouin people and there are cooks that prepare the meal, and of course you do ride camels to get to it which was a lot of fun. However it is not a actual Bedouin community of any kind and the only people who will be there (at least in our case) will be your group, your guide and the camel herders that bring you out there. This does make sense as the camp is only a fairly short actual distance from the small town that you stay in the previous night (although once you are over the dunes and out of sight of the town you still feel like you are a million miles from anywhere). For me this was fine and being able to light out under the stars without any sounds of civilization was highlights of the trip. However if you are expecting to see an actual working camp and community then you may be disappointed. For that you will need to wait until you get to the mountains where you do experience an actual local community feeling.
Nansi Williams

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written January 2011
Excellent itinerary which meant you could see a huge portion of the country in a short space of time. A couple of long days on the minibus....but i enjoyed watching the changing scenery!! Due to time constraints it did sometimes feel a bit hurried but again we did get to see the country's many highlights!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
New Years Eve in the Saraha Desert was an excellent way to welcome in the New Year, one i won't forget for a long time. Watching the sunset from the top of the Sand dunes, then star gazing round the camp fire.
Atlas mountains ~ really enjoyed walking through the Berber village and then relaxing on the Gite's balcony reading my book.
Essaouira a wonderful seaside town, easy place to shop and lovely fish restaurants!!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha was excellent! Very knowledgeable and gave plenty of recommendations and advice. Great sense of humour!
Ali the bus driver didn't speak much but was an excellent driver!!!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Best to layer your clothes, in December it did get quite chilly at nights in the desert, gorge and the mountains.
Toilet roll and anti-bacterial gel a must in your day bag!!! Advisable to have coins ready for the toilets.
When haggling start your price below 1/2 of the price the seller is starting with, that way you can ensure you won't be overpaying and get a fairer price. Souvenirs at the desert are very overpriced but as long as your happy with the price your paying its's all good!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Met a great bunch of fellow travellers which made the trip even more memorable!!!
Catherine Ryan
HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written December 2010
This trip is a great way to see the highlights of a really interesting and diverse country. There were so many highlights. I'm really glad I went.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The Sahara desert - what can I say?
Faz - for the medina and the fab meal at Dar Hatim
Marrakesh - the hammam and the gardens
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader (Mustapha) is knowledgeable and organised. He looked after us very well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Haggling is fun if you go about it the right way - with patience! The Moroccan way of shopping is very different to ours so being aware of that may make your shopping experience more enjoyable. A lot depends on your attitude - if you interpret the shopkeepers' enthusiasm to sell you things as hassle, you'll feel hassled. Talk to the guide about the best place to buy things. Quality may be variable in different places - I wish I'd bought leather goods in Fez because I never saw the same quality esewhere. Your guide should be able to advise you on how much to pay for things.
It's probably not the easiest country to travel in if you're a woman on your own but it's fine in a group. You do get attention from men but I never found it threatening or unsafe. The only time I felt wary was in the souk in Marrakesh at 10.30pm on Saturday night when we went looking for Cafe Arabe. I think that wariness was understandable but we were actually fine. Common sense and ignoring any unwelcome comments worked fine.
I read in one of the previous reviews that toilet roll and anti-bacterial hand gel would be useful - thank you that person! Also useful was a pocketful of 1 or 2 dirham coins for the toilet ladies.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It's a great trip.
Elizabeth Evans

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written December 2010
This holiday was a good mix for travelers who want an insight into the lives of the native berbers both in the cities and in their mountain home, the mixture of arab and Jewish culture in the cities too. I tried to absorb the fascinating history and beautiful scenery, the mountains, the architecture, the skills of the carpet makers, the date palms, the Argan trees.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably because it's not an everyday event , the night in the desert and the camels (mine I called Brian)!
We had a great night at the hotel interacting with the drummers too - making them sing very silly english songs. !!
I loved the gorge - well the walk - seeing the goat herders and the feeling of achievement after completing the walk - I wanted more of that really. Esouirea was my favorite place- the sun shone and the shopping was easy there.
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustafa was superb - a true gent with a lot of patience and endless knowledge.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for a few long journeys in a mini bus - long legs not advisable! Make sure you have very warm clothes for the gite in the mountains. Quick dry walking stuff a must too as there aren't many opportunities to do washing.
Take some travel games and a good book too........
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It's always a gamble not knowing who will be on your trip especially if you are traveling on your own - I was lucky as we had a great crowd and we had a lot of laughs -
I'm a vegetarian but had plenty to eat - so no problem there.
I didn't like Marakesh - couldn't wait to leave.
Mark Smith

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written November 2010
The Highlights of Morocco trip does excatly what it says on the tin. Its a great whilstestop tour of the country. Its gives you a flavour of all the northen regions of the country. If you want an in depth visit to anyone one place then this is not the trip for you but is ideal for you to experience the country in order to come back. The number of places you visit on this trip is astounding and you soon find yourself emerged in the culture. The locals are always friendly although watch out for the kids in the medina's. They have a great game called misdirecting the tourists which ends up with you completey lost in the medina. An experince that everyone should have as its great fun (and yes we had to be rescued by a friendly local adult who happily escorted us out and didn't ask for a tip).
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The walk and stay in the Todra Gorge was amazing. Staying in a hotel with cliffs towering above you was fantatsic. The gorge walk was great, the views were wonderful and it wasn't too packed with tourists. The end of the walk ended in a small local hotel where you have a meal. This was possibly the best meal we had on the trip.
After walking the medina in Mekenes I recommend sitting in the roof top bar that over looks the Place el-hadim and watch the would go by. A great way to relax your aching feet.
Essouria is a lovely seaside town. The hotel was very nice (although a little noisy and had problems with hot water i.e. there wasn't any). Although its location made up for its short comings. The hotel is in the medina so you can just wander about, watch the street entertainers or walk to the beach which is about 5 minutes away. Just being near to the centre of this laid back and very friendly town was brilliant. In some ways ending the trip here would have been better than Marrakesh. A definate place to come back too.
What did you think of your group leader?
The leader was satisfactory. He did what he needed to do to keep the trip running but that was about it. He was friendly and enthusiastic. A little more effort on his part would have made this a more memorable. One issue we did have was some of his advice on where to buy things. At times he recommended us to buy things from places we were going to visit later as they were cheaper and it turns out that they weren't.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Enjoy the walk around the medinas although the walk is soley aimed at getting you inside selected shops. Don't feel pressured to buy something form every shop. The walk through Marrakesh is interesting but can be a bit overwhelming as it is very touristy. You will have monkeys and snakes thrust at you, people asking for money if you take any photo's etc. Its was all a bit of a shock after spending two nights in a small village in the mountain. The main square at night is an experience you should have, just watching it all from a balcony bar is amazing.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Over all the trip was very good and I really enjoyed it. You do hit the ground running on the first day and it slows up is the second week. I opted out of a couple of activities and this wasn't a problem. At times I thought it was a bit rushed but there is just so much to see. I felt that the camel ride was proabably the biggist let down although sleeping under the stars wasn't. There wasn't a lot of time to take in the desert or enjoy the evening to its fullest. A small camp fire at the camp would have been fantastic but the food was amazing. I also felt that we were pressured to leave the camp in the morning very early because the camel guides wanted to get back. For me this spolit the desert trip, although the Auguerge was a lovely place to stay. I recommend anyone to take a star chart with them so you can sit on a dune and work out whats what in the sky.
There did seem to be a lot of stops at restaurants during driving days. At first this was fine but within a few days it was a bit much as we lost time on some of the visits or tours. As the variety of food is quite limited (although good) I felt that maybe picnic lunches would have been a better idea due to time constrants (especially in the winter months when the days are shorter).
Valerie Laney

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written November 2010
I absolutely loved this trip. Even though you are on the move a lot, the sites are so diverse, it is worth it. My highlights were the desert, the mountains and Essouira. I couldn't believe how beautiful the countryside was even though a lot of it is desert. The Moroccan people are very friendly, just give them a smile and a "Bonjour" and you will see what I mean. I loved getting lost in the medinas. For those of you who like photography, this is the trip for you — the medinas, sand dunes in the desert, the mountains and the blue boats in the harbor in Essaouira (go around 9am to see the fisherman come in then go back around 3pm when there are dozens of blue boats crammed into the harbor). The food was really good and I never got tired of it (excpet the breakfast, which was always bread and maybe an egg, but great jams!).
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The camel ride into the Sahara Desert. The dunes were gorgeous in the setting sun and also the next day on the ride back (although we were a little sore in certain places). We had a wonderful stew cooked for us that night and we ate sitting on cushions under a full moon while we dined and told stories. All of us opted to sleep outside under the stars instead of in the tents, they give you cushions to put your sleeping bags on (I slept like a baby). In the morning you must climb the huge dune to watch the sunrise over Algeria. By the way, the place we stayed here was fantastic and my favorite of the whole trip, nice rooms, bathrooms and atmoshpere.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader was Moustapha who was forever patient with us, always making sure we had planty of stops on our long journeys with enough time to have our mint tea or coffee. He has a great sense of humor and always delivered his country's history in an interesting way and loved answering our many questions. Make sure you take his recommendations for dinner, these made for fun evenings among the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Someone suggested a wine opener...what a great idea. Moustapha would always let us know if we were going somewhere that didn't serve wine for dinner, so we could always pick up some (great fun, don't forget to bring it with you on the camels). Shoes: Hiking shoes or athletic shoes with good traction are fine for the hikes/walks (don't really need full-on hiking boots). These are also good for the desert, or even flip flops because the sand will be cool by the time you get off the camels. Bring layers, because in October it could get chilly in the desert at night (but certainly pleasant). The mountain gite and Todra Gorge accomodation could get cold at night this time of year (late October), so fleeces on top of long sleeved shirts worked well, wool socks and knit caps optional.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
SOUVENIERS: Buy them in Essaouira, its far cheaper than Marrakech and they have lots to choose from. They are not as pushy here either. If you want a rug, buy it early when we stay in the desert in Merzouga (you will be taken to a rug place and they had beautiful rugs). If you want really good quality ceramics, buy it at the factory near Fez where they will take you, same with the leather, buy it at the tannery. I know its early in the trip to be buying things, but if you like it, buy it, you proabably won't see it later. And be sure to BARGAIN hard! Start at less than 1/2 what they want (even if they call you crazy).
Mark Leddin

HIGHLIGHTS OF MOROCCO

Written November 2010
What a trip! Has a bit of everything. It has been one of the first holidays I've had where I come back really appreciating what I have got have seen the humble dwellings of the Berber people. A real eye-opener. The trip was reasonably well balanced. Some of the site seeing was a little hurried and you did feel little bit like sheep at times but that is the nature of the tour. We also kept bumping into another tour group doing the same route. However, the free days were great and staying up in the mountains was an amazing couple of days. You really did feel out of your routine which is the whole point of a holiday. The gite was surprisingly comfortable and the Auberge near the Sahara was fantastic - a welcome sight after nearly 12 hours of travelling! Sadly the hotel by the Gorge was a sacrifice of location vs. comfort. It was a little dank but we did have the drama of a flash flood 10 minutes after we arrived that made that stay more memorable! However, overall if you are prepared to 'slum it' a couple of times and get a real taste of the country then go for it! Great value of money!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Had to be the Berber village. Seeing the humble surroundings and the smiles on the faces of the kids running around was an amazing moment. The sunset and sunrise in the Sahara is a close second!
What did you think of your group leader?
Mustapha was fantastic! Looked after all of us and really knew his stuff! Just the write balance if humour and history lesson.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't eat too much at lunch as dinner will be even bigger. Did find a great restaurant in Marrakesh - corner of Rue du Draa and Rue du Capitiane Arguii (I think!). Name escapes me right now but it took 3 and 1/2 hours for dinner - an event!