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Sharon Louthian

American by birth and Moroccan-Berber by marriage, I first traveled to Morocco as a tourist and fell in love with the country and its people (one in particular). Since my initial visit, I have traveled extensively throughout the country and especially enjoy discovering secret places off of the beaten path. Together with Abderrahman Idrissi, my Moroccan husband who has over 20 years experience in the tourism industry, we enlisted the help of his brothers (who serve as our in-country tour managers) to create Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures. As a family business, we enjoy developing relationships with our guests that continue beyond their trips to Morocco and our goal is for our guests to leave with a little of our love for the country and its people.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"People always ask me what there is to do in Morocco and I always reply that an easier question would be what can't you do there! And we can help you with all of it. Of course, we share the rich history and the important landmarks that any tour to Morocco includes, but we also provide unique opportunities to mix and mingle with the locals that allow our guests to gain insight into day to day life. So if you are looking for an authentic experience (budget or luxury) that takes you off the beaten path, then we are the company for you. And if you want to throw in a little hiking, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, surfing, kite-surfing, mule trekking, horseback riding, or even skiing (yes, I said skiing), we can do that, too!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"My path towards a career in travel was a crooked one, but began with a vacation to Morocco in 2012 where I met the most amazing guide, Abderrahman (Abdou for short). He was so amazing, in fact, that after a few more visits we decided to get married. After he had settled into life in the United States, an opportunity presented itself for us to create Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures. And so, after many years of discussion, we "pulled the trigger" and Morocco Immersion was born."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Obviously, my trip to Morocco in 2012 was life changing - talk about transformative travel experiences! Besides meeting my soulmate on that trip, I was mesmerized by the desert and upon my return dreamt about it for 30 nights in a row. Abdou told me that that was the magic of the desert. In subsequent trips, I got to learn more about the culture and meet more of the locals, and that's when I discovered that despite the breathtaking beauty of the landscapes, the true beauty of Morocco is the rich culture and the warmth and generosity of its people. "

Sharon is part of the following groups: Morocco Travel Agents, Morocco Family Travel Agents
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Recent trip reviews for Sharon

The perfect way to experience Morocco.
Morocco | Mar 9 - Mar 17, 2024

Dan
Dan T.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2024
My good friend Tim and I decided to take a trip to Morocco to see a land I had never explored. We decided to hire a guide to make the trip easier for us. Had we had the opportunity to design the perfect guide, we could not have done better than Jamal. If you are fortunate enough to be able to meet and travel with Jamal, then you will have a beautiful experience in a wonderful country. His knowledge and energy can not be over stressed in this review. His driving ability is second to none. We... Read more

My good friend Tim and I decided to take a trip to Morocco to see a land I had never explored. We decided to hire a guide to make the trip easier for us. Had we had the opportunity to design the perfect guide, we could not have done better than Jamal. If you are fortunate enough to be able to meet and travel with Jamal, then you will have a beautiful experience in a wonderful country. His knowledge and energy can not be over stressed in this review. His driving ability is second to none. We got to travel Morocco with the perfect guide. Every city we visited, and every stop we made were enhanced by his presence. Often I don’t ask enough questions, and Jamal could even fill in all the blanks to anticipate what I should be asking. The eight days spent with him will remain with me till my final breath. He knows the ins and outs of Morocco like nothing I could have expected. It brings tears to my eyes even now thinking of the care he took to make my trip perfect. Please seek this young man out for your adventure. I only hope we can meet again someday. I hope he has a great life. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Said and the other guides who also guided us around on the other city tours. Said lead us through Fez and his high energy made that part of the trip perfect. Thank you Said for your service in Morocco and also in the United States Army.

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian

Shukran to our guide Jamal
Morocco | Mar 9 - Mar 17, 2024

Redd
Redd L.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024
I put off writing this review for a few days after our trip just to see if my thoughts and feelings might change. I'm actually feeling more wistful about our time in Morocco. My photos show me in markets and madrasas, ruins and modern boulevards, beautiful roads and restaurants... and now I think I will have to go back.
I know everyone compliments their guides and planners. I enjoyed and appreciate their care and thoughtfulness. Thank you for combining these wonderful sites into a thrilling...
Read more

I put off writing this review for a few days after our trip just to see if my thoughts and feelings might change. I'm actually feeling more wistful about our time in Morocco. My photos show me in markets and madrasas, ruins and modern boulevards, beautiful roads and restaurants... and now I think I will have to go back.
I know everyone compliments their guides and planners. I enjoyed and appreciate their care and thoughtfulness. Thank you for combining these wonderful sites into a thrilling 9 days. Morocco Immersion indeed.
My greatest thanks go to Jamal, our driver and manager. It's been over 40 years since I've done a road trip with just the boys. Even better, I didn't have to do any of the driving!
Of course, Jamal was a safe, courteous, and considerate driver. Of course, he offered us many opportunities to stretch our legs or grab a photo. Of course, he had suggestions where we should stop and just enjoy the countryside, feel the sunshine, and smell the air.
I know other drivers will do this too.
Jamal showed me so much more than Morocco. He showed me a people and a culture and an appreciation for this corner of the beautiful blue marble I live on. There is Morocco... and there is Maghreb.
I spent nine days with one of my oldest besties and we were guided through an adventure I couldn't have imagined us ever sharing when we met 50 years ago. He's here. I have that.
I hope you enjoy your Morocco vacation. I know your guides and manager will be thorough and professional.
I pray that you get Jamal as your guide. When you're walking through the departure gate, you'll realize the hand shake and embrace you just received were from a new friend that really cared about creating memories and not just making sure you rode the meanest camel in the caravan.

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Mar 22, 2024

Hi Tim,

Thanks so much for the amazing review. We agree with you that Jamal is a gem and we are happy to have him on our team and part of the Morocco Immersion family. We are thrilled that you had such a great experience in Morocco and especially with Jamal. And, of course, we will all will be waiting to welcome you back should you wish to return to our beautiful country!

Thanks for trusting us with your trip!
Sharon, Jamal, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family

A Perfect Experience - Start to Finish I ca...
Morocco | Jan 6 - Jan 16, 2024

Z
Zenia Z.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2024
A Perfect Experience - Start to Finish I can't say enough good things about our experience with Morocco Immersion Tour and Adventures and, in particular, Sharon. From our first conversation she was nothing but available, responsive, and attentive in her planning of our entire trip. We had ideas of stops for the trip, but didn't have a full picture in mind. She took the time to lay out a trip plan, had us weigh in, and tweaked accordingly. She answered any and all questions (of which I had... Read more

A Perfect Experience - Start to Finish

I can't say enough good things about our experience with Morocco Immersion Tour and Adventures and, in particular, Sharon. From our first conversation she was nothing but available, responsive, and attentive in her planning of our entire trip. We had ideas of stops for the trip, but didn't have a full picture in mind. She took the time to lay out a trip plan, had us weigh in, and tweaked accordingly. She answered any and all questions (of which I had many) and prepared a packing list / materials ahead of our departure so that we knew exactly what to pack and were prepared. We felt so confident that this trip was going to be great - before we even left - because of her planning and support.

The trip itself did not disappoint. The itinerary was so well-timed. Our tour took us beyond the city and into more rural areas, through different landscapes, and gave us the chance to see more of Morocco than we ever would have found on our own. Our hotels were all beautiful. Our tour guides at each city or point of interest were phenomenal - experts on the area and great communicators. And I would be remiss if I didn't call out our guide for the trip - Omar - who drove us around the whole country, made sure we always had everything we needed, that we were enjoying yourselves, and taught us so much (including introducing us to Moroccan and Amazigh music).

10/10 would recommend Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures, Sharon, and her extended team. They will not disappoint!

Hotel Reviews
Chez Ichou
Dades Gorge

This hotel was dreamy. The room was beautiful, overlooking the mountains. We had the most amazing meals - be it breakfast or the four-course dinners by the fireplace. The staff was so friendly and available for whatever we needed. I would highly recommend and would definitely book again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Riad Farouzi Fes
Fes

Beautiful accommodations and a great location. However, the best part was the service. Badr was available for anything we needed, including preparing the most amazing breakfasts - eggs, pastries, juice, and the best mint tea we had on our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Jan 29, 2024

Hi Zenia and Zac!

We are so happy that you had a wonderful experience in Morocco from the start (planning with me) until the end (with the wonderful Omar)! We hope that this will be the first trip of many as there is so much more to explore and we, of course, look forward to working with any of your friends and family that decide to visit us.

Keep in touch and thanks for trusting us with your trip!
Sharon, Omar, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family

The perfect way to experience Marrakech and Southern Morocco
Morocco | Jan 2 - Jan 8, 2024

Jenny
Jenny N.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2024
Wow! How do you sum up 7 days of adventure in a few sentences? This was our first time to Morocco and I was travelling with my older father. Sharon and the team couldn't have been better in organising a trip that was tailored to both of our interests and abilities. We felt like we really saw and experienced Southern Morocco in ways that wouldn't have been possible on our own. From women's craft collectives in the Atlas Mountains, to 16th century architectural marvels, incredible food,... Read more

Wow! How do you sum up 7 days of adventure in a few sentences? This was our first time to Morocco and I was travelling with my older father. Sharon and the team couldn't have been better in organising a trip that was tailored to both of our interests and abilities. We felt like we really saw and experienced Southern Morocco in ways that wouldn't have been possible on our own. From women's craft collectives in the Atlas Mountains, to 16th century architectural marvels, incredible food, watching the sun rise from the top of a sand dune in the Sahara desert, visiting a musician's village and having a private concert, seeing the stunningly beautiful Ben Yousef Madrassa up close... We met so many wonderful local people only too happy to welcome us and share a bit of themselves and their country with us. Special thanks must go to our guide and tour manager, Jamal. Patient, kind, caring, knowledgeable, hilarious and unflappable - our trip wouldn't have been the same without him. Thanks too to all of the local guides we met - you were all amazing! I know this is the start of many future visits to this amazing country. See you again soon, Morocco...

Hotel Reviews
Chez Ichou
Dades Gorge

While the staff are lovely and the rooms comfortable, this is not the hotel for you if you're light sleeper. Positioned on a main road, there's a lot of road noise. Also the room doors have heavy metal bolt closures on them that aren't easy to use. So guests do a lot of door slamming and metal grinding trying to get in and out of their rooms. The hotel is a central open atrium style with tiles, so all internal noise is captured - including people just speaking in their rooms. Even with ear plugs, it wasn't a restful evening. The bathroom was dirty when I arrived - with food and hair on the floor. Be sure to ask for the price of wine if offered to you with dinner. We were charged 400 dirhams (approx USD$40) for the bottle (our mistake though).

Authenticity & Character
Location
On a well used main road - a lot of constant traffic noise.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathroom floor dirty with food and hair on the floor. Bed and main room comfortable, clean and warm. Very noisy door design - heavy bolts with double doors on each room. Difficult to close/use, so lots of noise from guests entering/exiting their rooms. Staff hadn't switched on main lights by the time breakfast started, so had to use phone torch to get down the flights of stairs to the dining room for breakfast.
Kasbah Itrane Tamnougalt
Tamnougalt

Totally lovely. Not the fanciest, but def the most authentic accommodation of our visit. Food was the best on our 7 day trip. Quiet, clean and beautiful grounds - we didn't want to leave. Thanks so much for having us!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Jan 15, 2024

Hi Jenny,

Thank you for the fabulous review. We are thrilled that your trip to Morocco beat your expectations and that you had an amazing time with Jamal. We agree that he is awesome and we are super happy to have him on our team! We look forward to hosting you on your future visits to our wonderful country!!

Thanks for trusting us with you trip!
Sharon, Jamal, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Morocco. ...
Morocco | Nov 8 - Nov 12, 2023

N
Naomi K.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 12, 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Morocco. Some things that could have been better: our guide was terrific, but it was impossible to hear him when we were driving. I sat right behind him and could not hear at all. My husband sat behind the passenger seat and heard a little. Not sure how that can be fixed - a microphone, maybe? The trip to the desert was great as was the stops along the way and the overnight in the desert- top notch, nothing I would change. On the return, we... Read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Morocco.

Some things that could have been better: our guide was terrific, but it was impossible to hear him when we were driving. I sat right behind him and could not hear at all. My husband sat behind the passenger seat and heard a little. Not sure how that can be fixed - a microphone, maybe?

The trip to the desert was great as was the stops along the way and the overnight in the desert- top notch, nothing I would change. On the return, we stopped at a kasbah that was closed due to the earthquake. There was no reason to stop there. We then spent the night in a hotel that was about 3 hours outside of Marrakesh. The hotel was in the middle of no where - you could not walk anywhere, so we were stuck in the hotel. The room was in the basement and the prepaid dinner was absolutely awful. The breakfast was fine and the owner was very pleasant. It was truly a wasted day. It would have been much better to drive the three additional hours and get back to Marrakesh later in the evening so we could have had a full day in Marrakesh on our last day in Morocco.

The city tour of Marrakesh was terrific and the Riad that was stayed in on our last night was lovely.

Overall a great experience but I would make some changes in the future.

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Dec 31, 2023
Hi Naomi, We are delighted to hear that overall you enjoyed your trip to Morocco. I am sorry, though, to hear that you weren't happy with the accommodations near Ait Ben Haddou. We have already spoken to the manager there and will monitor closely if we use them again. We did plan that stop so that you wouldn't have two long driving days in a row (which was the preference of your travel companion), but we can understand why you may have preferred to go back to Marrakech instead. We also have... Read more

Hi Naomi,

We are delighted to hear that overall you enjoyed your trip to Morocco. I am sorry, though, to hear that you weren't happy with the accommodations near Ait Ben Haddou. We have already spoken to the manager there and will monitor closely if we use them again. We did plan that stop so that you wouldn't have two long driving days in a row (which was the preference of your travel companion), but we can understand why you may have preferred to go back to Marrakech instead. We also have passed on your feedback to your tour manager in order to improve our services.

Thanks for taking the time to write a review! I hope you had a great holiday season!
Sharon

Unforgettable Adventure in Morocco
Morocco | Nov 22 - Nov 28, 2023

S
Sindhu N.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 11, 2023
We are beyond grateful to Kim Kim for connecting us to Sharron, an incredible trip planner, and to Sallam, our remarkable tour manager. This dynamic duo made our journey an unforgettable experience. Sharron's role in planning our trip was nothing short of brilliant. Her attention to detail, understanding of our preferences, and ability to create a seamless itinerary set the stage for an extraordinary adventure. She curated a journey that perfectly balanced adventure and relaxation,... Read more

We are beyond grateful to Kim Kim for connecting us to Sharron, an incredible trip planner, and to Sallam, our remarkable tour manager. This dynamic duo made our journey an unforgettable experience.

Sharron's role in planning our trip was nothing short of brilliant. Her attention to detail, understanding of our preferences, and ability to create a seamless itinerary set the stage for an extraordinary adventure. She curated a journey that perfectly balanced adventure and relaxation, ensuring we experienced the best of each destination.

Sallam, our tour manager, was the embodiment of professionalism and warmth. His impeccable management skills and profound knowledge of the locales we visited enriched our journey immensely. He was always attentive to our needs, ensuring each day was comfortable, enjoyable, and hassle-free. Sallam's personal touch and dedication to our well-being truly made us feel cared for and safe.

This experience has not only left us with memories to cherish for a lifetime but also set a new standard for what we consider exceptional travel planning and management.

In conclusion, a heartfelt thank you to Kim Kim, Sharron, and Sallam. Your combined efforts made our trip not just a vacation, but a series of unforgettable experiences. We eagerly look forward to our next adventure with your team!

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Dec 31, 2023

Hi Sindhu,

Thanks for taking the time to write such an amazing review. We are thrilled that you had an amazing experience and we all look forward to your return trip to visit the rest of the country! Just let us know when!

Happy New Year and thanks again for trusting us with your trip!
Sharon, Sallam, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family

Extraordinary Morocco Adventure
Morocco | Sep 14 - Sep 20, 2023

Christine
Christine W.
San Rafael, CA | Reviewed on Nov 21, 2023
Our trip to Morocco this past September exceeded all our expectations. We knew from the very start that we had a great company because our Morocco Immersions contact, Sharon, not only lives in Morocco and knows the country very well, but she treated us like ‘old friends.’ She worked with us in a very collaborative manner, asked questions, and listened carefully to our ideas. She came back with a very unique and reasonably priced 7 day itinerary. When we first arrived in... Read more

Our trip to Morocco this past September exceeded all our expectations. We knew from the very start that we had a great company because our Morocco Immersions contact, Sharon, not only lives in Morocco and knows the country very well, but she treated us like ‘old friends.’ She worked with us in a very collaborative manner, asked questions, and listened carefully to our ideas. She came back with a very unique and reasonably priced 7 day itinerary.

When we first arrived in Casablanca, we were picked up at the airport by Hicham who was both an incredible and personable tour guide (as well as a very competent and safe driver). He stayed with us our entire visit, from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the High Atlas Mountains, the Dades Valley, the impressive Todgha Gorge and into the dunes of the Sahara (albeit via Camel), staying at a luxury desert camp where we watched the sunset and enjoyed dinner and lively local music. Following our trek into the Sahara, we continued into the High Atlas Mountains and then into the Middle Atlas, driving through the lush cedar forest and home to the Barbary Apes (who eagerly ate the apples we offered). We then found ourselves in the mountain village of Ifraine ("Little Switzerland) where we stopped for a coffee/tea and sweet. Our tour wasn't finished (and it's only day 3!). Days 4 and 5 found us in Fes where we had a tour of the old Jewish Quarter and the Medina where we wandered around the very colorful Souk, had an amazing lunch and explored the various artisan sections (I bought a beautiful scarf made from the Agave plant!). That evening two of us enjoyed a Turkish bath called a Hammam. Unfortunately our trip was winding down with Hicham taking us through the Rif Mountains and to the UNESCO Heritage City of Volubilis dating back to 3rd Century BCE. From there we found ourselves in the wonderful Blue City of Chefchaouoen where we had another great accommodation and delicious meal while listening to the evening Call to Prayer.

Our itinerary was busy and fulfilling and we were so grateful to Hicham who answered an incredible number of questions regarding the cultures and history of Morocco. He guided us through beautiful scenery, suggested unique and satisfying meal options, and helped us navigate the Moroccan ATM machine. The Riads were perfect, the hosts very accommodating, and our visit to the Sahara and luxury camp an experience we will never forget.

We had such a great time because of the personal care given us by everyone involved. My only regret is that I didn’t give Morocco Immersions more days so that we could have seen more!

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian

Truly the trip of a lifetime!
Morocco | Oct 13 - Oct 23, 2023

Anjani
Anjani P.
Utica, NY | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2023
I never write reviews, but this trip was so wonderful I had to put my experience into words!

I have always planned and operated my travels. Morocco was my enigma; for some reason, I didn’t want to jump right into the planning as I usually do. So, I decided to look for a private tour. I Googled, found the kimkim website, and was connected with Sharon at Morocco Immersion. After doing all the research and decisions as to which areas and places to visit, I gave my plans to Sharon from...
Read more

I never write reviews, but this trip was so wonderful I had to put my experience into words!

I have always planned and operated my travels. Morocco was my enigma; for some reason, I didn’t want to jump right into the planning as I usually do. So, I decided to look for a private tour. I Googled, found the kimkim website, and was connected with Sharon at Morocco Immersion. After doing all the research and decisions as to which areas and places to visit, I gave my plans to Sharon from Morocco Immersion Tours and let them immerse us more intensely in the Moroccan culture. It seemed from other reviews that they have perfected that art!

My conversations with Sharon made me realize how good she is at what she does! First of all, she listened. Sharon had the wonderful quality of being able to read between the lines of my messages and find the heart of my intention and desires for this trip. Sharon promptly replied, made requested changes, and suggested changes subtly, explaining the reason when she felt my requests may not give me the experience I expected. Naturally, she must have realized I am a control freak when it comes to my travel planning. Even so, all I had for Sharon was admiration. The combination of her expertise and promptness made me recommend her to my friends who are avid travelers – and, I had not even had the full experience with her and her team yet!

Sharon setup the magic and her team made it a reality! And what a wonderfully magical experience it was!

First, Sharon expertly planned the trip, and then our tour manager Yassine implemented that plan. We were fortunate to be coordinated with Yassine. What an exceptional tour manager! His best qualities included his pride in providing top tier service, his dedication in making sure his guests are totally tended to, and his listening skills. For example, we would express our interest and desire to see or do something, and then get distracted with enjoying something else on the journey. But Yassine was silently taking mental notes. Later, when he made these things happen for us, we would get surprised! With his calm, patient, level-headed, jovial nature, he took care of everything and showed us the best ways to immerse in the Moroccan experience. He is a professional to his core!

All the tour guides we had at different places were very knowledgeable and personable. In Fes, I very much enjoyed the tour with Sayid. The tour with him was informative, intellectually stimulating, and entertaining! He narrates topics and events in a unique way which was quite interesting and thought provoking!

We had the opportunity to meet different team members. Honestly, it was such a pleasure! We met Amnay at Sahara camp. He is the leader of the pack. He was very pleasant and so hospitable! The experience they had arranged at Sahara Desert camp was so much fun and homey. Like backyard barbecue, all the guests and hosts from Morocco Immersion came together and had fun!

Hicham became our tour guide in Marrakech as our originally scheduled guide couldn’t be there. We were glad to meet and have Hicham as our guide. We enjoyed Hicham’s company and learned a lot from him during the tour. He was easy to talk to and we had fun conversations.

For me, one of the highlights of the trip was visiting and shopping at the many co-ops where women-made products were sold, or the co-ops were run by women. It was very meaningful for me to see women in that capacity. I am glad the Moroccan government has made it a policy to enhance and enrich women’s contribution to families and to the society.

I give my heartfelt gratitude to the Morocco Immersion team and all the people of Morocco we met along the way – in Riads and elsewhere – for providing us with this wonderful experience and joy! What a beautiful country, wonderful people, and great culture! We got to experience the country as we did because of Sharon and her team! The experience was so heartwarming and soul quenching! All I can say is that I am filled with joy! I could never have planned this on my own. This was truly the trip of a lifetime.

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian

Fabulous team and amazing trip!!
Morocco | Oct 11 - Oct 24, 2023

Bernardine
Bernardine H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Nov 06, 2023
Right from the start Sharon was really responsive to our requests and gave us some fantastic ideas about our trip. The information before our trip was excellent. Everything was really well planned and managed. Our Driver and Tour manager Omar, couldnt have been better! He was thoughtful about our needs and organised everything perfectly, as well as being fantastic company, we learnt a lot about the culture and life of Morocco thanks to Omar. We laughed and smiled a lot together. When I go... Read more

Right from the start Sharon was really responsive to our requests and gave us some fantastic ideas about our trip. The information before our trip was excellent. Everything was really well planned and managed. Our Driver and Tour manager Omar, couldnt have been better! He was thoughtful about our needs and organised everything perfectly, as well as being fantastic company, we learnt a lot about the culture and life of Morocco thanks to Omar. We laughed and smiled a lot together. When I go next time I will ask that Omar is my driver and tour manager again. Our local guides were all really knowledgeable and shared thier passion and insight into the places that we visited, particularly Saiid in Fes. I really cant fault the planning to the trip itself. I was blown away and I have left a piece of my heart in Morocco!

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Nov 07, 2023

Hi Bernie,

Thank you so much for the great review! We are thrilled to hear that your had an amazing time in Morocco and enjoyed your time with Omar. And of course, so happy to read that you left a piece of your heart in Morocco! We do hope that you will let us know should you ever decide to return! It would be our pleasure to host you again! Thanks for trusting us with your trip!
Sharon, Omar, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family

Review of 7 Day Marrakech, Fes, and the Desert - Marrakech to Tangier by Ruth and Bill Pratt
Morocco | Sep 14 - Sep 20, 2023

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Bill P.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2023
Sharon, I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you since we returned from our trip on October 5. We had a wonderful trip to Morocco (and Spain); I tell my friends that it was "challenging but fun." Morocco was very unique; the highlights were the camel ride and dune camp; learning from Hicham about the Boumaine Dades area and its interesting people, history, topography and clay-colored structures that blended with the local landscape; and beautiful Chefchouen. As a wildlife... Read more

Sharon, I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you since we returned from our trip on October 5. We had a wonderful trip to Morocco (and Spain); I tell my friends that it was "challenging but fun." Morocco was very unique; the highlights were the camel ride and dune camp; learning from Hicham about the Boumaine Dades area and its interesting people, history, topography and clay-colored structures that blended with the local landscape; and beautiful Chefchouen. As a wildlife biologist, I also loved the stop Hicham made on the way to Fes to see the Atlas monkeys in their native habitat. All the riads were nice and my favorite food was at Chez Ichou where we had a delicious dinner, and the stop for lunch (while driving to Rif Mountains) where I loved the fresh trout from a nearby lake. We ended up walking about 5 miles/day on this trip and in retrospect it was a bit tiresome for someone in my age group when combined with the long drives and many tours (although highly educational). Hicham was a great driver and very hospitable and patient with our many questions but I believe the many hours of driving were at times stressful and we should have at least added an extra day between Merzouga and Fes. My main recommendations are that the instructions for tipping tour guides should be clearer because we were confused with our first guide Mohammed (where we first tipped too little and then too much) so that was disconcerting, and a better understanding of distances between desired sites so that the pace of the trip could be better scheduled. Ruth Pratt

Hotel Review
Chez Ichou
Dades Gorge

Lovely hotel, helpful staff, and excellent food.

Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Nov 07, 2023
Hi Ruth (and Bill), Thank you for the great review. We are so happy to hear that you had a great time in Morocco and that you got to experience so much of what makes the country unique and beautiful. Of course, when planning the trip with your traveling companion, Christine, we knew that it was a rather ambitious schedule to try to fit in as much of the country as we could given your limited days there. One more day would've been ideal - either at the beginning of your trip (to give you a... Read more

Hi Ruth (and Bill),

Thank you for the great review. We are so happy to hear that you had a great time in Morocco and that you got to experience so much of what makes the country unique and beautiful. Of course, when planning the trip with your traveling companion, Christine, we knew that it was a rather ambitious schedule to try to fit in as much of the country as we could given your limited days there. One more day would've been ideal - either at the beginning of your trip (to give you a chance to recover from your jet lag) or as you say between the desert and Fes as that is admittedly a rather long day. If you ever decide to return, we will be sure to plan a trip that is a much more relaxed pace! But we are glad that the overall experience was a great one!
Thanks again,
Sharon, Hicham, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family