Kimkim Trip Reviews for Morocco

We are almost back home in Chicago after an amazing 2 weeks in Morocco. Abdullah did a fantastic job choosing activities, tailoring the excursions to what we requested and picking wonderful places to stay in each location. The scenery of the country was so varied, and all beautiful, but ai was most blown away by the people. Everyone was so kind - everywhere we went! Our driver Farid took wonderful care of us and let us adjust times and activities along the way. I would definitely recommend KimKim travel to anyone wanting to customize a trip - and if you ever though about going to Morocco - just do it!

Our family of four had a fantastic 10 day June trip to Morocco in large part due to the planning assistance of kimkim (Abdel and Said) and the reliability, good cheer and guidance of our wonderful driver, Mustapha. The accommodations and activities/excursions were as described (or better!) and our local guides were knowledgable and friendly. We especially enjoyed our Sahara camel riding experience, our cooking class in Marrakech, our various kasbah visits and our time in Essaouria. We had some long travel days (as planned), but the multiple cultural pit stops along the way made the travel time much more manageable and interesting.

After attempting to book a vacation to Morocco ourselves, we realized that we were slightly out of our depth. Finding detailed information was hard, so we ended up contacting multiple travel organizations to get quotes and analyze their suggestions. One individual stood out among the rest - Majid. Majid was the most responsive tour planner we've ever encountered. He was quick to respond, and he always addressed the details or issues we had. We can't say enough good things about our trip - it was magical.

Speaking of being unable to say enough good things, we can't say enough good things about our driver and sometimes tour guide, Moha. He was incredibly detail-oriented, always flexible, and always put us ahead of his own interests. In fact, we can honestly say that his only concern was whether or not we were having a good time. From start to finish, he literally took care of everything. When we wanted to change something on a whim, he made it happen and never gave us any indication that it was not possible. And you never had to ask him for something twice - he always remembers. When we went to Merzouga, he was kind enough to show us the local market, and we even had the opportunity to have lunch with his family! It's those personal touches that make things so special. If you plan a trip to Morocco via Majid, ask for Moha - he's the kind of guide that makes you want to come back on vacation, so long as you get him again as your guide. And if you are lucky enough to get him as your guide, Inshallah, be sure to take his suggestions along the way based on the timing, weather, etc, as my wife and I said throughout the trip, "In Moha We Trust."

Finally, we would be remiss if we didn't mention some of the local guides that we met throughout our experience. This is another nice touch to what Majid plans and Moha organizes: a local guide who lives in the place you are touring. Nabil gave us the perfect introduction to Morocco in Rabat, providing us with a detailed, rich history of the country's capital. Abdou gave us a tour of the Roman City of Volubilis, highlighting its most important architectural features and mosaics (and kindly gave my wife his hat, which she still wears to shade her on a sunny day). Hakim masterfully navigated us through the maze-like medina in Fes on a historical and food tour, ending at a community oven where we had freshly baked Moroccan pizza. Finally, if you are lucky enough to have a stopover in Dades or the surrounding area, be sure to go on a long hike with Mohamed, a local who knows the area like the back of his hand, is impossibly kind, and loves his job.

This was a truly unforgettable experience, and thanks to all those involved!

Wow! Morocco was incredible! Made more incredible by the team at KimKim, Original Travels in Morocco, and our incredible driver. KimKim got us hooked up with Original Travels in Morocco, and they handled the logistics of our trip, which included hotels and tours in Marrakech, the High Atlas mountains, the Sahara desert, Fes, and Casablanca. We had a driver, Reda, who picked us up at the Marrakech airport, and he basically looked after us and our stuff until we said goodbye at the Casablanca airport. All of our accommodations were fabulous, and the nicer ones were quite nice, indeed. All were clean, comfortable, and safe. Our arranged tours were uniformly excellent, other than a misunderstanding with one guide revolving around payment for entrance fees, but that was handled internally, and no hard feelings were left. Food was incredible! All suggested restaurants were outstanding, although we ate many of our meals (especially breakfasts and dinners) at our hotels, which proved to be both wise and worthwhile. We did not have any hotel/riad confirmations prior to the trip, but they weren't needed as all accommodations and reservations were 100% taken care of. Should mention we all got a little GI bug, so bring your Cipro and be careful what goes down the hatch. Our guide, Reda, however, absolutely made the trip. Not only did he get us from place to place and make sure our bags did as well (this even included transport by mule when necessary!), he was quite interested in talking to us about his country, answering questions, providing guidance, always on time, always pleasant. Even when our questions could have been taken as probing. So, off you're reading this wondering if KimKim is the way to go to Morocco, our group would uniformly endorse it. Pull the trigger. Go. Use KimKim. And I hope your trip is as wonderful as ours.

Hotel Reviews

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

Beautiful hotel in the midst of Casablanca chaos (meaning we were back in the Big City after a wonderful time in smaller places), great service and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

Very impressive, beautiful property. A little out of the way if you're walking somewhere or getting an Uber/taxi, but we really enjoyed it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Incredible experience, much nicer than I had imagined. Our tent (and camp) was quite nice, clean, and safe. Food was good. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Berbere Palace

Ouarzazate

Really nice. Excellent food and assistance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah du Toubkal

lmlil

Took a mule ride from town up to the kasbah (along with our bags), and it was so worthwhile. Nice rooms, incredible views, nice people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

A little hard to find, but worth the effort. Very nice spot in the medina. Good food, treated well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was fun, although I'm pretty sure I got my bout of diarrhea from the snail soup. Maybe I'm wrong. But the experience was amazing, with good food and good guidance. We had several stops as "appetizers" before going to a rather out-of-the-way restaurant for an excellent meal on their rooftop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

Interesting. Not entirely necessary for your vivid tot Marrakech, but it was still nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fes to Casablanca via Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Outstanding. The Fes medina is a maze of wondrous sights and smells, but I wouldn't wander in there without a guide, even though you have GPS on your phone.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Fes via Rissani, Midelt, & the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Fun drive. Beware the monkeys on the side of the road and the men who give you peanuts to feed the monkeys with, while grabbing your phones to take pics, all for the one-time low-low price of a tip. No evidence of anything being taken, but it was an unsettling experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Shocking. Of all the places in Morocco to create a community, this would seem to be the least likely. Harsh, remote, no water, etc. But I guess that's what tire looking for. Anyway, quite insightful look at an incredible situation.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ouarzazate to Merzouga via Todra Gorge, Erfoud & Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

The drive was interesting and fun, but the camel ride out to our luxury desert camp was the highlight. Fabulous experience, even if it took a few days for my rear end to recover!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class at Amal Non-Profit Center

Marrakesh

Outstanding experience. Our hosts were professional, funny, fun, and gave excellent guidance. We did all of the prep and cooking ourselves, which added to the fun. And the food was yummy!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

The tour was interesting and worthwhile, but we had a different sort of issue. We were under the impression that the tour was completely paid for, but there were two places we had to pay entrance fees to enter. Our guide apparently forgot to bring money. So, we paid, with the understanding that he would reimburse us after the tour. Then, when the tour was completed, we reminded him of the reimbursement, and he said he would give the money to our driver. I let our driver know of the situation. But then the guide showed up, quite upset that we had informed the driver of the situation. He then hesitatingly reimbursed our 800 dirhams (about $80), saying something about a tip, despite the fact that my traveling partner had just handed him a generous tip. It all ended well after a few more uncomfortable moments, mostly because I gave him another tip, but this interaction turned an otherwise enjoyable visit into something that left us scratching our heads.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jamal is the best guide I’ve ever had! From the moment we arrived, he went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and safe. We ended up going out the wrong door at the airport, and he called us to figure out our location and find us. We didn’t have to stress at all, especially since it was late at night.

Every day he came to pick us up, he was punctual and friendly. When we needed more time to get ready, he was patient while also making sure we had enough time to enjoy our day full of activities.

Jamal was honestly one of the highlights of the trip! He went above and beyond by taking photos for us, making sure I had snacks and plenty of bathroom breaks (which I especially appreciated since I’m pregnant), sharing his knowledge of the different cities, and keeping us entertained during the long drives. We’ve been telling all are friends and family about his amazing hospitality!

Hamza of Original Travels was an amazing guide. He was punctual, friendly and always pointed out new experiences for us to stop and try and shared insider traveler information, like amazing restaurant suggestions. He was receptive to our needs and questions about the area and was a great mediator for working out our needs and plans, like moving our camel ride to an earlier time in Agafay. Having a local guide made the trip much more memorable and fun! It is the best way to get introduced to all of the best spots in Morocco. It was my second time with Hamza and we would love to return and use him as our guide again. He is simply the best!!

Additionally, the accommodations selected by Kim Kim were perfectly located and appointed. I would also like to mention how much we enjoyed the help and kindess of Muhammed at Palais Sabban- he was the best at transporting our bags and answering to our needs while on the property. This riad is a crowning gem and we loved everything about it.

Our tour guide in Essaouria, Hussan, was an extrememly knowledgeable historian and we appreciated all of the details of the area's history and sights that he took time to share with us.

I wish I could remember the name of our camel guide, he was so much fun and was the best photographer!

Again, many thanks to Kim Kim and Said for putting together an amazing itinerary for us. Our local guide Hamza made the trip so memorable and fun, it would not have been the same experience without him. We look forward to returning to Morocco!

Hotel Reviews

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

This was my second time staying at this riad and I loved it even more this time. It is in a perfect location, and a peaceful oasis from the hullabaloo of the city. It is so beautiful and each detail displays the depth of gorgeous Moroccan architecture and detail. We loved the peaceful rooftop with the pool and bar and many comfortable places to sit and relax. Muhammed was our baggage help/doorman, and he made the experience enjoyable for us with his attentiveness and kind conversations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

A wonderfully appointed oasis of a hotel. The location was unbeatable, with the beach and beach restaurant and the sounds of the ocean just steps from the building. Very good breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes We Camp

Marrakech

This was such a special and unique experience. The grounds and rooms were nicely appointed and it was such a curated and special place. The food and the service were spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Ease of access from Marrakesh for a desert experience. Having been to Merzouga, it could never compete with the Sahara, but it provided and unique and fun desert adventure that was easy to get to within our time frame.

Staff

Attentive and kind, every one of them!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Afternoon in Marrakech

Marrakesh

We loved wandering and exploring on our own, especially within the souks and the medina at night was fabulously alive!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

Hussan was a fabulous guide. His historical knowledge of the area shined throughout his tour and we learned so much from him. This was a very worthwhile and greatly enjoyable activity. We loved that it was a small, private tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Camel Ride in Agafay

Morocco

Although it could not compare to the experience I had in the Sahara desert, it was a great experience for it's proximity to Marrakesh. Our camel guide was so kind and the best photographer! The tour company was kind enough to move our time up by an hour so that we would not miss the dinner and performance of the camp.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Marrakech Airport to Agafay

Morocco

Hamza was prompt and waiting for us when we arrived. We love Hamza!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soufiane was great and so were the guides. We enjoyed all of it and had great accommodations

Rida was great and helped make the trip amazing.

Activity Review

Cooking Class at Amal Non-Profit Center

Marrakesh

I would like to begin with Abdellah because he did an excellent job. He is responsive which is so important when planning a trip. He always replied right away. He is knowledgeable and very patient. Abdel connected me with Said who made sure the entire trip flowed smoothly. He let me know that if we needed anything, he would help us.
Now to our amazing driver, Oussama. Oussama is kind, respectful, patient, knowledgeable, and so helpful. He made sure we were comfortable and assisted us with everything. Not to mention what a great driver! We are so fortunate to have had him as our driver.
The local guides were the best. Chefchaouen had Hamid as our guide. Hamid is one of the most caring people we have ever met. He is kind, knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about his city. He took us to the hidden spots and even took our pictures. Chefchaouen is our favorite city in Morocco and Hamid has a lot to do with it!
Our local guide in Fes is full of knowledge! He showed us so many sights and is very patient.
Finally, Marrakech was unbelievable! Our local guide, Youssef, was also amazing. He is caring, informative, and very patient.
It was great to have such kind people welcome us to their beautiful country.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Bayti

Marrakech

Karima is very kind and helpful. She accommodated us and we appreciate it. It receives 4 stars because there are no T.V.s in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is very authentic.

Location

You can walk to the Medina.

Staff

5 stars because of Karima!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel and rooms are clean.

Riad Ghita

Fes

Favorite hotel throughout our trip to Morocco. We stepped out of our room and had breakfast. The best part was that we were the only guests there. I do not know how it would have been if other guests were staying there.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic and good T.V.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic and good T.V.

Location

Only 4 stars because it was hard to get to it.

Location

Only 4 stars because it was hard to get to it.

Staff

They charged us for water when we checked out. If I would have known I would have bought water in the city. Disappointed.

Staff

They charged us for water when we checked out. If I would have known I would have bought water in the city. Disappointed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean.

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Everything was fine. The breakfast needs improvement.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This was my favorite city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean.

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

The hotel was great. The breakfast needs to be improved. Customer service was great. The shower was leaking and they resolved it immediately. They also recommended places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We were able to walk to many places.

Staff

They resolve everything immediately.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Good T.V. and modern hotel.

Activity Reviews

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

Pretty gardens!

Quality of Experience

The garden is very pretty. It has lots of birds and plants.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Marrakech is very busy and interesting city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Youssef, our local tour guide is excellent. He is kind, polite, very knowledgeable, and patient. He explained everything and was vey nice to us.

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Fez was very interesting. 9,000 blocks in the Medina. There was so much to see.

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and patient.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

It was a comfortable ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We did not have a guide.

Transport

Our driver was great!

Guided Tour of Chefchaoeun

Chefchaouen

Most beautiful city in Morocco. It reminds me of Santorini in Greece.

Quality of Experience

The city looks like a postcard.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hamid, our tour guide, is our favorite local tour guide throughout the trip. He is extremely kind, knowledgeable, personable, and patient. He took us to the best spots and took our picture. He is passionate about his city and because of him so are we! We are so fortunate to have gotten Hamid. Thank you so much.

Transport

Private Transfer from Casablanca to Chefchaouen

Morocco

It was a comfortable ride.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We did not have a guide, but had our driver.

Transport

Our driver was amazing!

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

We did it on our own. We did not have a guided tour and it was fine. I enjoyed learning it is the largest Mosque in Africa.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver is great.

Transport

We had a private driver.

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

Casablanca is a beautiful and clean city. It is very modern.

Quality of Experience

It was a business district. Half day is enough.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oussama, our driver, is awesome!

Transport

Oussama, our driver, made it easy.

This trip was a breath of fresh air. Our group was able to experience all of the wonders of Morocco and felt truly accommodated for during every tour and with every city that we visited. The true highlight was our driver, Jamal. He went above and beyond to ensure that we not only arrived to our destinations timely, but provided so much insight into every city we visited and made us feel like family. Jamal was incredibly kind, patient and thorough, which was much appreciated; especially during long travel days. I know that when we visit again, we will be requesting Jamal, personally! We can’t thank him enough.

Absolutely one of the best trips I've taken. I found MITA via KimKim and from the first contact I was treated as a valued old friend. I worked with Sharon directly to create a robust tour that was a combo mix of budget friendly and luxury with a private guide, and she delivered above and beyond.
Our tour began in Casablanca where we were met by our driver Rachid, who would become our best buddy, ever so kind and helpful and always at the ready to take us on to our next adventure.
Over the next 10 days we stayed in Rabat, Fez, Merzouga (Sahara desert), Valley of the Roses and ending in Marakesh. Each city/town had it's own unique flavor and Sharon chose the best local guides for each area. We walked long distances of antiquities, local markets, wandered in the desert at sunset and learning in depth history and the colorful culture of Morocco. What I most appreciated was the hotel/riads that we stayed in, right in the heart of the medinas, that at first was perplexing until I found my rythym of navigation. Each riad was special, the rooms spacious and well apointed and the staff hospitiable When I was lost a few times, I never felt unsafe at any time. Our stay in Valley of the Roses included a lunch at a personal friends home, where we cooked together and dined, spending the afternoon talking about our different cultures, what dreams each of us had, and our commonalities...young Ikram, a lovely young girl worked double duty translating and helped in getting us dressed in tradtional muslim attire, very fun to feel this age old tradition amongst women. This day was special beyond, the family was absolutely delightful.
I really appreciated knowing each day what to expect as our driver Rachid took full ownership of coordinating all of our guides and meeting points. One day there was a slight hotel issue and immediately he, Sharon and Abdou jumped in to remedy in a heartbeat.
Morocco is truly the heartbeat of civilization and learning the culture in the tour MITA created was tremendous. I cannot stress enough how impressed I was to feel so taken care of, my needs and desires met with 'can do' service.
If you're looking to travel to Morocco, this company is hands down, the best.

This is my second trip using KimKIm, and I will do so again...the vetting of numerous tour operators is challenging and they strive to deliver, and do, the best experienced travel professionals with in depth knowledge of each area of the globe.

Date of experience: May 2026

Thanks so much to Majid for his patience in helping us create a fantastic trip and itinerary.

Special thanks and appreciation for Khalid, who was super fantastic! He always had a smile, was super helpful and insightful about local culture and history, provided great insights everywhere we went and ensured a fantastic experience for us. He was invaluable and helped to really make the experience special and unforgettable.

I cannot adequately put into words how fantastic our 12 Day Moroccan trip was for my daughter, 23, and me, from the planning stage with Maryem to being dropped off at the Casablanca airport by Ziad at the end. We ventured to Rabat, Tangier, Chefchouen, Fez, Merzouga, Ait Ouffi, Marrakech, and Casablanca, and even with all of that, it was not enough; I need to go back and explore even more of this wonderful country.
It all started when I stumbled across the Kim Kim site while attempting to plan the trip on my own. My daughter created a profile, and the next thing I knew, Maryem was assigned as our travel planner. She put together an outstanding package for us, capturing everything we wanted and making the process so much fun! She encouraged feedback and changes and gave advice when solicited. We changed a couple of the riads to ones we found, and I regret not using the one she originally selected for us in Marrakech.
Maryem built an incredible journey for us through Morocco, allowing us to experience the diversity of the country; my daughter and I felt the love she poured into designing our adventure. After everything was planned, she provided tips to help us, and then we kept in contact with her throughout the trip. She is a sweet and amazing lady who stole a piece of our hearts.
Ziad, our driver & travel manager! Oh my goodness, he made this trip spectacular for us, and we will forever be grateful to have him assigned to take us on this grand adventure. He was so much more than a driver for us; he was our protector, translator, storyteller, and ultimately, our friend. Ziad was a true professional as he navigated the roads, arranged meetups with our tour guides in various cities, made suggestions for stops along the way based on our conversations, and helped us get situated at our riads. We absolutely adore Ziad!
We stayed in 6 riads, 1 hotel, and a luxury camp. Our #1 rated lodging was Dar Rihana Dades in Ait Ouffi in Dades Gorge. It was the perfect setting with an amazing view, a beautiful and spacious room and bathroom, a comfortable bed, delicious dinner and breakfast, and a very welcoming and personable host. Our next favorite riad was the stunning Riad Nila in Chefchouen, and our 3rd was Riad Kalaa in Rabat, with a beautiful courtyard and delicious food.
The Tiziri Luxury Camp in the Sahara Desert was a wonderful experience with a camel ride, stopping to watch the sunset, dinner, and traditional music afterwards.
We had two amazing and passionate tour guides during our journey: Othman in Rabat, who has never met a stranger, and then Mountain (Mohamed), our hiking guide in Dades Valley, who welcomed us into his home for a meal with his family.

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

What a fun experience to camp out in the Sahara Desert! We were offered the choice of riding on a camel out to the camp or riding in a vehicle. We chose the camel, and it took about two hours, with a stop to watch the sunset. We arrived and had a delicious dinner, followed by traditional music afterwards around a fire. The tent was very spacious, and the bathroom was much more than what I expected for tent life. The staff was fantastic! We met with them down at the bottom before our ride up to the camp, and then they fed and entertained us into the night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casablanca Marriott Hotel

Casablanca

This is a beautiful new hotel with very comfy bedding. The staff were very friendly, and we enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Zahia

Old Medina, Tangier

This riad was in the middle of the medina, a perfect location for exploring the town. It had lots of character and charm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryad Salama

Fes

What a beautiful riad in Fez! The hosts were very welcoming, and the courtyard was gorgeous with lush vegetation, a fountain, and a pool. The room was huge with beautiful stained glass windows.

Authenticity & Character

We loved the stained glass windows in our room and bathroom, and it was the most beautiful courtyard of all the ones we stayed in over 12 days there. The bathroom had an incredible sunken tub & shower.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

This riad was so very clean and lovely and served amazing food. My only complaint is that these were the hardest beds during our trip. I probably could have asked for a mattress topper, but I didn't even think about it at the time. I found an extra blanket in the closet and used that as a mattress pad for two nights.

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

This was our first experience staying in a riad, and we loved it. The staff were very friendly and gave us our first mint tea and cookies in Morocco, which I came to love. The room we stayed in was beautiful, as was the courtyard and patio on the roof. The food was exceptional at dinner and lovely at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nila

Chefchaouen

This riad was simply stunning with its elegance, neutral color patterns, and numerous nooks and crannies to explore, including multiple patio levels overlooking the gorgeous town; I would recommend it to anyone staying in Chefchouen.

Authenticity & Character

The design of the hotel is spectacular and simply beautiful.

Location

Very easy to get to and the views from the room and the patio were wonderful.

Staff

Everyone we encountered was very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Of the 8 places we stayed in during our 12-day adventure, this was our favorite one. It is located in the perfect setting with an amazing view, and it was so calm and peaceful; I could have stayed there for much longer and was sad to leave the area. The room was beautifully appointed, serene and spacious, had very comfortable beds and a large and lovely bathroom. Dar Rihana Dades provided delicious breakfasts and dinners in a lovely dining room, with quantities of food that made you groan, but you kept eating because it was so good. And as wonderful as all of this was, it was made even better by the very welcoming and personable host, who also served our meals and entertained all the guests with his charm and wit.

Authenticity & Character

The colors throughout the riad are simple and elegant, and the walls are adorned with captivating portraits. The rooms and bathrooms are beautifully designed, the patio areas have lovely wrought iron railings and spiral stairs. The pool is a stunning blue, very clean and the lounge area around it is large and well laid out.

Location

The riad is located in the lush, green Dades Valley, surrounded by terracotta colored hills. The view here was by far the best one we had. I fell in love with the serenity of the area, and we went hiking with a guide while there.

Staff

Everyone at Dar Rihana Dades was very welcoming and happy, but none more so than Mohamed. He greeted us with a huge smile when we arrived, brought our luggage to our rooms, and served us breakfast and dinner; I'm not sure when he sleeps! As he moved around the dining room, he easily conversed with all of the guests, making everyone comfortable with his wit and charm, making us smile and laugh. I had gotten hurt before arriving at the riad, and during dinner I asked if we could move to a table near the window because I was starting to feel light-headed. He quickly moved us and opened the windows on both sides of the room for a cross breeze. He checked on me repeatedly to ensure I was okay, and at the end of the meal he brought me ice for my swollen lip. In addition, each day he would check in with the guests to see if we slept well and if there was anything we needed. While the quality of the Dar was outstanding, Mohamed's attention to the guests made it an even better experience. Oh, and whenever we were out on the main patio, he would bring us refreshing ginger and orange juice drinks.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not only was the riad very clean and beautifully decorated, it smelled so good in the lobby/lounge area; I commented on it to my daughter each time we passed through it. As for the beds, of the 8 places we stayed in while venturing around Morocco, these were the most cozy and comfortable. It turns out Moroccans like their beds more firm than I'm used to, so it was very pleasant to fall deeply asleep in a nice cozy and comfortable bed.

Activity Reviews

Tangier to Chefchaouen: Hercules Caves, Tetouan & the Rif Mountains

Morocco

It was a beautiful drive from Tangier to Chefchouen! We made numerous stops along the way with our phenomenal driver/travel manager, Ziad. We had fun at the Hercules Caves, getting dressed up in traditional clothing.

Guided Tour of Tangier

Tangier

We liked our guide, Kalid, a.k.a. Columbo. He was very nice, but I would have liked to explore more of Tangier and not just the medina. He was very sweet and did take us to a nice restaurant to grab a bite to eat because we were so hungry; maybe this took away from our tour time and from exploring more with him.

Rabat to Tangier with Guided Tour in Both Cities

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ziad, our driver & travel manager! Oh my goodness, he made this trip spectacular for us, and we will forever be grateful to have him assigned to take us on this grand adventure. He was so much more than a driver for us; he was our protector, translator, storyteller, and ultimately, our friend. Ziad was a true professional as he navigated the roads, arranged meetups with our tour guides in various cities, made suggestions for stops along the way based on our conversations, and helped us get situated at our riads. We absolutely adore Ziad!

Transport

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Osman (Othman) was our tour guide, and we loved him! He was so personable and knowledgeable about the history of Rabat. He smiled, laughed, knew everyone throughout the city, and shared his passion for his town with us. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting Rabat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our personal driver and travel manager, Ziad, made the trip throughout Morocco amazing.

Youssef our driver was incrediable. He was on top of everything and ensured our trip was top of the line. Youssef well portrayed the culture he represented by his honesty, compassion and willingness to go out of the way so that our trip was perfect.
We appreciated the families we had dinner with . The dinners were a special occasion for us to meet new people

Sharon put together the perfect itinerary for us. After that, it was smooth sailing. Ahmed, our lovely driver, met us at the Casablanca airport as planned, and it was game on from there. I can't remember exactly the names of all the people we interacted with, but every one of them was amazing!!!

Our guide in Casablanca was so nice to us, very knowledgeable, and gave us a great tour. Then off to Rabat, where again our guide was super sweet and knowledgeable, and the tour was great.

Sayeed is the best as he took us all through the various parts of Fez allowing us to experience the old city and its neighborhoods and Souqs, the pottery coop, the tannery, and many, many other fascinating structures. Everything about our time in Fez was wonderful, and it is our family's favorite city to explore. Plus, since we are a family who like cats, it was heartening to watch Sayeed interact with and feed many of the cats on our tours - they love him too!

Ikram - what's to say about the most beautiful person we had the opportunity to spend time with. She is my daughter Megan's "twin flame" and they continue to chat. Ikram and her entire family were the sweetest and most welcoming ever ... who does that? Well, they do. We love them! We don't remember the name of the young woman who gave us a tour of the ruins, but she was so kind, and we loved that she was trying so hard to learn English.

Abdul was so very kind in giving us a tour of the 'Valley' - and how he remembers the most intricate details of the area's history is far beyond us, but we so very appreciate his passion for the history, the land and the people. Hakeem, our Marrakesh guide, was also super knowledgeable, and we loved the tour. He also connected the dots on how everyone is related which was both fascinating and helpful to better understand the people and culture of Morocco.

The family consensus of our top memories are the Sahara (riding camels, atv's, glamping, sunrise/sunset), the Valley of Roses with Ikrams family (the experience with Ikram was such a genuine experience with Moroccan culture and hospitality), and the souqs in Marrakech - they were definitely fun to explore.

However, none of that compares to Ahmed ... he is a very kind, smart, compassionate person who did everything he could to make us feel comfortable, safe and welcome. We very much appreciated his driving skills since we weren't exactly prepared for the drivers of Morocco (much crazier than those in the States!). And because of his deep love for his family and his Valley, we feel a close bond to him , his family and the Valley as well. We hope so much that Ahmed fulfils his dream of visiting the United States someday, and we hope even more that he takes the time to visit us in Cincinnati.

A big thanks to everyone who helped make our dream vacation the most heartwarming, educational, eye-opening and fantastic journey ever.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

This was an outstanding hotel for us to end our trip. Its location is perfect for exploring Marrakesh.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Just when you think the hotels can't get any better, you stay here and are treated by the kindest people. The garden area was beautifully kept, the breakfasts were so yummy, and the rooms were spacious and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I half expected to see something from my Boy Scouting days, but boy was I blown away at these accommodations. I'd never heard the term 'glamping' before ... now I understand.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

Best staff by far. Very welcoming and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I was allowed to stand in the kitchen and watch breakfast being prepared. It was wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Breakfasts .... oh my!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

The lunch was perhaps some of the best food we had. I'd like to think my family contributed a lot to that, but all the accolades go to the professionals who made the lunch incredibly special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Quad Tour of the Desert

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabat to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Majid was extremely responsive. We had one minor snafu and he responded in a very timely manner. Any questions we had while planning the trip were also rapidly answered.

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

This was clearly the nicest facility that we stayed in. It was located just off one the main streets in the Medina and the alleys we walked through were cleaner and wider than the prior Riad. Rooms were large and clean with elegant bathrooms and efficient AC. Staff was readily accessible. On 1 occasion, we asked for directions and a staff member actually walked us out to the street in the manner of a Ritz Carlton. When we received the itinerary, I was actually indifferent about the spa and massage. However, it was well appreciated after the trek through the desert and a nice conclusion to our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

See above

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

I feel like we should rate this an incomplete. It just felt very eerie as we were the only people staying in this facility and it was hard to tell "the vibe". The grounds, including the pool, spectacular view and chaises outside of each room were luxurious. Not unexpectedly, we had great service. There was a gentlemen who was our server at dinner who had very limited English and seemed so worried that he would get something wrong. Everything he served was perfect and he warranted a 100% tip on our dinner drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

See above

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Hnini

Oulad Yahia Lagraire

We enjoyed the facility as it was the first time we encountered other travelers that we could socialize with in the desert and enjoyed chatting it up around the pool and dining room. Refreshing is an understatement when describing the feeling jumping in the pool after the previous day's camel root and tent stay.

Authenticity & Character

Well, I can now say that I slept in a Kasbah.

Location

The only criteria for location seems to be that it was along our route. The views from the facility were breathtaking but there really is not much to do outside.

Staff

The staff of the facility has missed an incredible opportunity. There clearly is a history behind this series of buildings and a receptive audience ready to listen. Why not assemble guests before dinner with a 15 minute presentation?

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC didn't work. I had it set to 18 and never dropped below 27. Told them about it in the morning and he claimed I had it set to 27. Never had a problem operating the AC in any of the other facilities.

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I think by desert camp experiences, this probably rates highly but you need to be prepared for the overnight desert experience. We stayed in very early June and it never cooled adequately at night despite the attempts with fans.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you wanted to stay in the desert, then you're there.

Staff

Manager was very attentive. Ensured we made it back to our rendezvous point with our driver Mohammed in time, and the 15 minute desert drive was a nice finish

Cleanliness & Comfort

Despite the luxury label, we never felt truly comfortable due to the heat.

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

The place was charming and well situated by a small creek. The location in Dades Valley was provided a relief from the otherwise sweltering temperatures and we were able to sleep with the windows open. The owner Mohammed was always available and attentive. Clearly obsessed with the operation as we would hear him barking instructions in the kitchen, then serving our meal, escorting us back to the hotel situated in the next building and then running back to the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Had a small "B and B" character to it. We almost expected Bob Newhart to suddenly appear

Location

Very quaint small village, situated creekside with walking paths in the rear.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

The location was very deep in the Medina as opposed to the last Riad and we had to navigate some questionable alleyways to get to the location. . The facility itself was very clean and food was excellent. We had a problem with the cold water faucet and were left with scalding water which prevented us from showering on the last day. I probably would have given this a 4 initially but downgraded it after our last Riad which was far superior.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but see above comment regarding shower.

Activity Reviews

Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou – Skoura/ Dades Gorge ( 5/6 Hour Drive)

Morocco

Not much to say. It was a long drive with frequent scenic stops as were most of the drive. Full disclosure, drives are not something I would ever rate as a 5. However, I am going to make an exception here as there is no place to rate our driver Mohammed. The most important criteria for both of us is safety and that was one of my concerns. We never felt unsafe on the roads. It is easy to become impatient behind slow cars on single lane roads but Mohammed always waited for safe distance and visibility for passing. There only white knuckle experiences we saw were when other drivers tried to pass without adequate room and we would see cars in the opposite direction veering to the shoulder. Mohammed never attempted this. We also learned a great deal from Mohammed about daily life in Morocco and especially the small desert towns. Would definitely recommend him to other clients.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohammed!

Transport

Mohammed!

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

We've never done his before and not something I was looking forward to at the beginning of the trip. It was a very cleansing and refreshing experience after 5 days of heat, sand and saddle sores.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka Pass & the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

A short ride, glad to be done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Prior to the tour, we were exhausted and it was incredibly hot. I was not looking forward to this but glad we acquiesced. The climb to the top was difficult on such a hot day. Our guide was excellent and we were also pleasantly surprised to learn about the Jewish-Berber coexistence in AB from our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no actual food on the tour but we feels compelled to comment on the restaurant stop immediately prior. This was our worst experience in the week. We arrived not very hungry, but had 2 prix fixe meals of poor quality forced upon us. We were not very hungry and left with numerous untouched plates that we paid for. Given the number of tour vans in the parking lot, we almost sensed there was an incredible amount of untouched food that was reserved. And then when leaving there was an open door to the kitchen. After seeing this, we clearly regretted here. Find another option

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Day in Darra Valley.

Agdz

It was a drive, not much else

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

I wouldn't do it again but could not leave Morocco without the experience. The guide (Abdul) was incredible. I was in awe watching him walk up the dunes in 100 degree temps and in flip-flops. Yes, it was physically uncomfortable. However, the overall experience, particularly watching the desert sunset was a once in a lifetime bucket list item.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skoura/ Dades – Tinerir – Todra Gorge – Rissani – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( 5/ 4 Hour Drive)

Morocco

This was a long drive!

Quality of Experience

Food

I honestly don't remember where we stopped

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosewater Workshop in Boumalne Dades

Boumalne Dades

I wouldn't have been disappointed if we missed this. Traveling outside of large cities is dotted with roadside stands and this wasn't much different.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of Marrakech, the "Red City"

Marrakesh

Whenever, we travel to a new location, we like to begin with a history introduction. The Bahia palace was a perfect first stop and introduced us to Morocco, but he was also knowledgeable on colonial and post-colonial Morocco. . There were several planned stops (Bahia palace and gardens). After that we wondered through the Medina and our guide showed flexibility in gauging our interest in various sites, markets, shops, etc. We are Jewish, did not inform the guide but were very appreciative of him pointing out the Jewish merchants and quarter. My only recommendation is to shorten the 4.5 hours. Maybe this is more manageable in the winter and early spring but we actually excused him and said goodbye after about 4 hours as we needed to sit, eat and rehydrate. Also, we wanted to go back to the Jewish quarter and he provided us directions from the square as we departed.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

Mohamed, our driver/guide became like a family member to us. He was thoughtful, caring and very detailed. Our memories would not be the same without him.

From start to finish, the experience was incredible. Hamza helped me put together a tour that included outdoor exploration, desert adventures, cityscapes, waterfalls, gorges and great food. Mustapha was our driver and he was prompt, prepared for our questions and knew exactly what routes and times for the next stops. We had amazing city guides who took us through the main sites and trusted shopping areas.

My only complaint is that the vacation had to end! If you are considering a vacation to Morocco, the services here planned for seamless travel. I highly recommend!

We had an amazing 13-day trip to Morocco, starting in Rabat, then to Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Ait Benhaddou, Imlil, Marrakesh, Essaouira, and ending in Casablanca. From the beginning we were greeted by our driver/guide Khalid who was with us throughout the trip. Khalid was one of the best people we could've spent our 2 weeks with -- as he was very informative, patient, and kind on our trip. He was not only very professional, but also knowledgeable about Morocco and Amazigh culture, and took us to local artisans and museums. We really enjoyed the historical information and cultural background given by our guides at each of the cities we stayed at. Abdelatif in Rabat was our first guide and explained so much to us about Rabat's history across the various Moroccan dynasties and the meaning behind many Darija words. Omar was our guide when we hiked Akchor Falls -- another memorable guide who made us feel comfortable and welcomed. Omar welcomed us into his home for lunch, and the food was so delicious -- it was a pleasure meeting his family. Our guides Khalid (Volubilis) and Abdul (Meknes) were exceptional as well, since we learned about the Roman history of Morocco. Our guide, Reda, in Fes was very good too -- the combination of a walking-and-driving tour was very well-paced and informative as we got to visit pottery, carpet, argan, and tannery artisan workshops. Our Imlil biking guide, Abdul, was friendly and vivacious, and made us feel comfortable as we rode through the High Atlas Mountains and ate lunch at a local family home. Our guide in Essaouira, Jamal, was very friendly as well. Over the course of the trip we bonded with Khalid and many guides over our love of music and languages, and learned some Amazigh and Darija along the way. Our one issue: Unlike all the riads in which we stayed at, the hotel in Casablanca had very bad food, no Kleenex tissues, and unpleasant hospitality. Despite being on the trip in the middle of Eid-al-Adha, we are grateful to have received the utmost hospitality and kindness from our guides, Khalid, and locals.

Hotel Reviews

Kenzi Basma Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Food was not enjoyable at all.

Location

Far from most things

Staff

Staff were not the most hospitable..

Cleanliness & Comfort

No Kleenex tissues were available

Riad Chbanate

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Lamrani

Marrakesh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff were SO kind in helping us twice -- we had a Wifi problem, and secondly the whole room short-circuited at 11pm but they helped us very swiftly!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

As mentioned above, wifi was out and room did short circuit late at night. Also the AC did not work in our 101F/45C stay in Marrakesh.

Kasbah du Toubkal

lmlil

Lovely Kasbah -- we especially loved learning about the Kasbah's history and Education for All Initiative.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

We really liked this riad!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Food was okay -- quite bland. Also the music/dance started quite late and everyone sleepy (nearby we could hear other camps already playing music and celebrating early on).

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Yacout

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shower was inconvenient - might need to be renovated

Taj Chefchoaune Luxury Hotel and Spa

Chefchaoun

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The staff were very earnest and hardworking, but the riad did not have the triple room that we had prior requested in our booking. They did not have an extra room either, so they fit three beds into a very tight room. We adjusted, but it was not ideal.

Euphoriad

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Guided Tour in Casablanca

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour in Essaouira

Essaouira

Jamal was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shopping Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Tour in the High Atlas Mountain

Morocco

Abdul the biker is awesome :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

The camel ride with Abdul was amazing!! He was so friendly and funny. The drive was enjoyable as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was not great at Tiziri Camp - cold and relatively bland

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

Guide Reda was patient and informative :)

Quality of Experience

Pottery, Argan, Carpets, and Tannery were great artisan workshops

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Meknes

Meknes

Abdul our guide was great :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Morocco

Khalid tour guide was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Fes, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khalid made this 7 hour drive fly by -- we were not bored once. It was good day!

Afternoon Guided Tour in Chefchaouen

Morocco

Abdul our Guide was great :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Akchour Waterfall

Chefchaouen

Omar was amazing and super kind!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Guided Tour in Rabat

Morocco

Abdelatif was great :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khalid was great as usual :)

Had a great tour, driver Housanie was great, saw many new sites and enjoyed my time in Morroco.