Kimkim Trip Reviews for Morocco

My wife and I booked and paid for this trip in 2019, with the aim to travel in the spring of 2020. Then, when COVID of course nixed that plan, we had to pivot and delay the trip for what turned out to be (due to the pandemic and other circumstances) THREE YEARS. Abdellah from Original Travels was a patient and thoroughly helpful voice in all the time between when we booked and when we actually traveled. He honored our booking, and despite all the time that had passed, not one aspect of the trip fell out of step with our original booking and that's an especially impressive feat given when we finally ended up going.

We made this trip in the late summer of 2023, landing just hours after the historically destructive earthquake rocked the country. Under those tragic circumstances, we were humbled by the kindness, generosity and warmth of the Moroccan people that we encountered throughout the trip - especially in the form of our local guide from Original Travels, Soufian, who, despite having family in the impacted Atlas mountain region, somehow chose to remain with us for the duration of our trip and displayed an almost miraculous good spirit and humor through all of it. He was personable, knowledgable and very genuine. He and his colleague Said were tremendously helpful as we navigated our way from Casablanca to Chefchaouen, Fez, Merzouga and the epic desert, with more stops along the way to Marrakech.

The trip itself was a whirlwind drive across the country where we stopped to awe at imperial sites, eat amazing food, and interact with remarkable people. I cannot recommend Morocco more, and hope people rest assured that it's safe to travel post-earthquake. Finally, I'd easily use Kim Kim for future trips because they clearly find good, fairly-priced local tour companies to make the journey better in every respect.

We had an amazing time in Morocco. A highlight … our overnight in the desert. So magical!
I also really enjoyed our time in Marrakesh and loved the Riad we stayed in … gorgeous ! I wish all the places we stayed at were at that level of excellence.
Our entire Moroccan experience was elevated by our driver, Tayeb , who I can’t say enough about … his knowledge , attentiveness and charming personality made our trip so much better.

Hotel Reviews

Le Grand Alcazar

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dine with a local family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Ait Benhaddou to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou

Morocco

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a wonderful experience with Original Travels, notably, Abdel, Said, and Tarik on our 10 day trip to Morocco. Some of my most memorable experiences included our stay in the Sahara and our time in Marrakech. While in Marrakech we had a tour, hit air balloon ride, cooking class, and visited a hamam. Planning a long trip like this with multiple stops and activities can often be overwhelming but we were consistently in good hands and had a good experience.

Hotel Review

Orient Desert Camp

Merzouga

Who knew staying the Sahara could be some comfortable and fun? Big thanks to Mohammed for taking such good care of our group!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Dine with a local family

Morocco

I’ve done cooking classes all over the world and non as efficient, well organized, and put together as this one. We had a great time!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A big thank you to Said for planning a perfect holiday in Morocco for us. He was able to adjust the itinerary to make sure we visited all the areas of the country that we wanted to see.
The trip into the desert and the luxury camp was a highlight. I experienced one of the best evenings of my life sitting under the stars around a fire in the Sahara desert as our Berber hosts sang traditional folk songs. It’s a moment I will never forget.
Not everything was perfect though.. During the planning, I told Said we wanted to visit a sculpture garden just outside Marrakesh, and he told me our driver would be more than happy to bring us there on our first day in the city. Our driver Faissal said he wasn’t aware of that plan and told us there was not enough time. He said it was an hour away, and that the garden isn’t as nice as the one we would see the next day. He may have been looking out for our best interests but it was a disappointment.
The accommodations were very good for the most part Although our hotel in Chefchaouen was disappointing. We were not warned that we would be carrying our bags through the streets to the hotel. When we arrived, the place was in disrepair. There was no door knob on our room door so it was difficult to get in. After we complained they put one on, but I noticed another room had the same issue. Did they take the knob off that door to put on ours? The button was broken off the toilet to flush. The towels were damp, but at least they were clean. We were told not to drink tapwater in Morocco and were reminded by our driver and guides. But there was no complementary water at that hotel. We had to pay double what we paid at other shops in the country.
The private tours by guides in each city were well done, especially the tour in Fes by Sharif. As with most tours, these always involved a “shopping” trip to a factory or craft center. While it’s always nice to support local craftspeople we were not really interested in shopping.
I also could have skipped the movie studio tour - even the guide seemed bored.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved Morocco and the tour

My wife and I wanted a trip that allowed us to see many parts of Morocco. The team went back and forth with us until we finally had a plan that we really loved. We started in Tangier and our driver, Soufyan, picked us up from the airport. The SUV was very nice and clean. Soufyan took us to a store to make sure we had things for the night. We drove from Tangier to the Blue City to Casablanca to Marrakesh to the Agafay Desert. Soufyan made sure we had very authentic experiences, as we stopped at various local restaurants and shops along the way. We even met Soufyan's mother and brother and shared a meal with them. Soufyan knew where to find anything we needed and let us play music in the car to get the vibes right. He was available 24/7 and we were very happy to have him around. I'm committed to always finding a person like Soufyan wherever we travel to--it makes the experience all the more memorable.

This was my first time booking with Kimkim and I was nervous because I prefer to book every step of my vacation myself. Leaving my trust to the Kimkim team was a new experience that paid off. We had a good itinerary, nice accommodations, great guides (Sharif, Said, Hanan) and driver (Tarik) for our entire trip. This style of travel was definitely outside of my comfort zone but visiting Morocco would have been impossible to plan without Kimkim's vetted drivers and guides (Original Travels). For future travelers to Morocco specifically, I would suggest to budget $300 minimum in cash as there are lots of tips involved and unexpected, cash-only visits. Also, work closely with your Kimkim advisor to reduce number of cities to minimize drive time. The driving estimates were much longer than listed and, had I known in advance, I would have cut out some places to spend more time in cities instead of on the road. For me, traveling to Morocco was a once in a lifetime experience. I felt supported by the Kimkim team and they were responsive during our trip when we had problems or questions. I would recommend Kimkim for complex itinerary travel.

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

Dated, dusty hallways, stuffy rooms. The rooftop restaurant was incredibly slow for dinner (2 hours for pizza). Day time service was much better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

2Ciels Boutique Hotel

Marrakech

Typical city hotel with city amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best breakfast of the trip was at this hotel.

Orient Desert Camp

Merzouga

Wonderful! Perfect setting. Campfires were a lovely touch. Food was pretty good. Real plumbing was a nice luxury. Only thing noticeably missing was air conditioning in the tents. If you needed to stay inside during the day (due to illness, for example), it was pretty difficult due to the daytime heat.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful setting in the Sahara

Location

In the sand dunes. Stargazing can't be beat!

Staff

Mohammed made the desert experience fun and authentic

Cleanliness & Comfort

We needed AC and outlets in the room but otherwise it was great. Lots of hot water, flush toilets, beds were excellent.

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

No complaints about Dar Mounir. Room was comfortable. My one suggestion would be to have more food/ staff at the breakfast buffet. There were many many guests nearly fighting over eggs. The hotel did not seem prepared for the high number of guests.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Grand Alcazar

Fes

Beautiful, well located riad. I loved the food, comfortable beds, pool, wifi. We did have a problem at check out where they asked us to pay for our pre-paid rooms. We needed to reach out to Kimkim to get it resolved before we could leave. It was incredibly awkward and delayed our early start for the day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Literally everything was great until check out. It seemed that the staff working the morning of our checkout was disorganized which left a poor feeling at departure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

We arrived here after dark and it was clear this was a remote mountain hotel. The door to our room did not shut fully (and could not be locked) and we had no hot water. The views from the balcony were nice in the morning. The staff were nice but the dinner food in the restaurant was subpar and expensive. Because of too many issues, I cannot recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Not enough time to enjoy the pool

Location

This was a stop we could have skipped. Not much else in this area so were limited to eating at the hotel.

Staff

Staff were great

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but no hot water and felt a bit unsafe not being able to close or lock our room.

Activity Reviews

Dine with a local family

Morocco

Going into a stranger's home for a meal is very questionable endeavor anywhere in the world, but it was great here. Surprisingly enjoyable! The family was very nice, kind, welcoming. They made sure to keep us fed and entertained. It's clear that they host families often and I think we all had a good time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

Definitely not tranquil. Walking in was very chaotic with lots of loud talking and people milling around. The reception was frazzled and we did not feel welcomed. There seemed to be only 1 service available (scrub and massage) so there was no point in looking at the spa menu. The changing room was very small and hot-- not much privacy. There was 1 toilet in the building for probably 15 ppl there. It felt like an assembly line. By the time you get to relax, it's time to leave.

Quality of Experience

We were a party of two woman who wanted to celebrate our key milestone birthday with some adventure in the desert.
We were looking for certain things that were not on the suggested itineraries and Megan helped us pull together a bespoke plan that met our needs and was augmented with her experience and suggestions.
The result was exactly what we had hoped for. Our driver, Mohammed, was an absolute star making sure we were taken care of, checking in on us, ensuring each evening that we ran through the program and timings for the next day and acting as a guide as well. We certainly felt we benefitted from his local knowledge, especially in Merzouga which was his home town.
The accommodation and food were all great. All in all despite the long drives our trip was full of stops at interesting places and meeting interesting people and we felt we really got a feel for the culture and the people of Morocco. The highlights for us were certainly the hike in the desert, the walk in Toudra Gorges and Ait Ben Hadou.
Thank you.

Activity Review

Trek into the Dunes

Erg Chebbi Dunes

This was the highlight of our trip. Our guide, Said, collected us after breakfast from our overnight camp and we walked with him through the desert and back to our hotel. We had to learn how to walk up dunes - Said in his flip-flops and us in our hiking boots! We had a mixture of dunes and a bit of the road. Said showed us how to spot where water was found, milk plants, wells, the camel parking lot, and a desert spring that fed the town's central garden/crop area. Walking in the desert was just the best experience - cresting the dunes to look for the town in the distance only for it to disappear and feel like we were in the middle of nowhere. The walk was 3 hours long and just enough for us, ending up at the Riad for a swim and a shower was sublime.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a phenomenal trip to Morocco. Louis designed a thorough itinerary for our ten days. Our driver, Youniss, was an excellent informal guide as well as driver. Perhaps the highlight of the trip was spending the day in Fez with Zara, our guide. Her enthusiasm and pride in her city, as well as her friendship with so many in the souk, made for a memorable trip. Even the long drive out to the desert was relaxing, with stops along the way. Highly recommend for any first-time or experienced Morocco visitor.

This trip was my second and my husband's first trip with Morocco Immersion (via kimkim). My first trip was with my sister-in-law on a 14-day trip that took us around Morocco - it was perfect for the two of us. This 10-day trip for my husband and I was just around northern Morocco and was much slower pace and was perfect for the two of us. Sharon did an amazing job tailoring both trips to fit our style of travel and needs. Our guides were absolutely fantastic on both trips.

On this trip, our tour guide was Amnay (with Omar being in-training), who I met on my first trip and knew my husband would love to meet him. I definitely enjoyed seeing the men share their love of music. My favorite memory is in Asilah on the second day of our trip - the four of us found a great spot overlooking the ocean and sang (for me, listened) and talked as we watched the sunset. That sunset is my favorite memory from our trip.

When it came to the hiccups that all trips have, Amnay and Sharon were understanding, flexible, and found solutions (laughing with us and listening patiently depending on what was needed). Knowing they were there to help us helped make the frustrating into funny stories. Being able to easily contact them really made a world of difference in those moments.

One of the best parts of getting to explore the northern part of Morocco with Amnay and Omar was being able to ask them random questions about topics from the best restaurants to building codes to where Moroccans like to vacation to the king's economic plans for Morocco, and so much more. The local guides were also great at answering questions, both on the history of the locations visited and present day topics. I also loved the flexibility of the local tours, for example getting to enjoy tea/coffee in Tangier's medina with our local guide and hearing about his experiences moving to and living in Tangier. The fish market in Tangier's medina is worth a visit, too!

For my husband, his top 3 memories are touring the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, and all the cats. And he's really excited to see the southern parts of Morocco (including riding a camel in the Sahara). On that trip, we'll also be using Morocco Immersion.

While we haven't met everyone who's a part of Morocco Immersion Tours and Adventures, they feel like family and friends.

Finding an amazing vacation in Morocco with KimKim was so easy and fast.

Original Travels had a nice variety of itineraries and one matched perfectly with what we wanted to do. The team was very friendly and responsive- and massively helped us when we realized we gave them the wrong flight date on the first day of our vacation. I’m sure they scrambled to fix all the hotels, and by some miracle Said saved our vacation.

From start to finish, our trip was quite smooth starting in Casablanca with nights in Chefchaouen, Fez, the Saharan desert, Skorha, and Marrakesh. A couple of long days of driving were necessary to fit everything, but totally worth it.

Our experienced driver Lahcen is such a lovely person- funny, friendly, and patient. He made sure we were taken care at every moment along the way. We had a lot of fun and interesting conversations. I wondered if it would be awkward to have a driver for 11 days straight, but it wasn’t at all.

All of the guides and excursions we did were also incredible. Our guides in the medinas of Fez (Adib) and Marrakesh (Hanan) were very knowledgeable - showing us things we would’ve never seen or understood by ourselves.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is magnificent. The wood carved panels, intricate plaster carvings, and zellige tile work is beautiful and amazing. Be sure to tag along with a guided group to learn about the historic and religious importance of this place.

Chefchaouen was a great place to start and I wish we had a little more time there. While there isn’t a TON to see. It’s beautiful and relaxing. A good place to start immersing yourself with the culture, food, language, etc… Helpful tip: consider packing light for the night(s) here since you may have to walk a few blocks through the narrow, cobblestone streets (closed to cars).

A stop in Volubilis to see the Roman ruins was fascinating. There are signs in the park, but it’s worth it to pay a small fee for a guide who can show and explain more than you would see on your own. A short stop in Meknes for a late lunch and the Mausoleum of Ismail.

Fez - exploring the Fez medina was like exploring for hidden treasure in an Indiana Jones movie. Our guide showed us local artisans skilled at weaving, zellige tile work, pottery, silver and leatherworks. Since our guide is a local, it was quite nice to see him shaking hands and saying hello to almost everyone he saw. The food we had in the medina as well as the food we had with a local family was delicious.

Our time in the Saharan desert camp was a true highlight. The camel ride into the desert was a surreal, special moment. Seeing the sunset and the stars come out on a camel is likely a once in a lifetime opportunity to many. The camp itself was relaxing with delicious food and interesting excursions. The staff was welcoming and kind - with good senses of humor!

As geologists, we had an extra fun stop in Erfoud to see all of the fossils from the region and how they are processed into the cool specimen worthy of museums.

Our time in Marrakesh was filled with so many fun activities. Our Medina guide was full of information and gave great tips on places to go when exploring on our own. She was also our guide for the gastronomic tour which was a delicious experience. We also opted for the hot air balloon ride, cooking class, and spa treatment - these were all incredible in their own ways and a nice escape from the fast paced nature of the Medina.

Good to note for future cooking class attendees- you are gifted a small tagine so I’m glad we had not already bought one in the markets.

We would highly recommend our friends and family visiting Morocco. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the culture is rich. We had wonderful vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

This hotel was actually quite unpleasant. We were only there one night before catching an early morning flight. So not worth raising a stink about. But it was kind of dingy, the elevator was suspiciously creaky, and our floor had a slight Seager smell in the hallway. The grout in the bathroom was dirty with missing tiles. Permanent water stains on the counters. All light fixtures and wall hangings were crooked. Definitely not five stars. After seeing the state of our floor and room we did not really want to eat at the hotel. Close enough to walk to restaurants, a park, and cathedral, and large square but the cathedral and square were both closed off.

Authenticity & Character

No character at all, seemed like it hadn’t been renovated since the 1990s

Location

Close enough for walking to restaurants and some attractions, but most attractions were closed for unknown reasons

Staff

The staff was fine- no complaints

Cleanliness & Comfort

It seemed dirty, dingy — have definitely stayed in worse places through my life but this ranks pretty low. Definitely not five stars.

2Ciels Boutique Hotel

Marrakech

A modern hotel in a nice part of town, maybe 10minutes drive from the medina. Clean and comfortable with a nice restaurant and multiple pools.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a modern hotel; hard to compare with the character of the riads.

Location

Easily walkable to many restaurants, a short drive to get to the historic medina

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Wish we had more time here because it was a small oasis. The food was delicious (but note- it’s not included in the stay.) They also only take cash- so be prepared if you have dinner/drinks/spa treatments. Very cool spot to stay.

Authenticity & Character

It was an old kasbah which has a ton of character, with some of the older architecture showcased. They also grow much of their own produce and make the food from scratch with local ingredients.

Location

It’s kind of in an unexpected area, an hour or so away from most things attracting people to the region. Our booking was actually changed to this location after the original hotel was damaged in recent earthquakes.

Staff

Everyone was kind and wanted our stay to be perfect

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Such a special experience to stay out in the Saharan desert. The camp is clean, good food, lovely staff, and the camel ride out there is unforgettable.

Authenticity & Character

Glamping at its finest. Moroccan rugs, poofs, and lighting give a nice ambiance.

Location

Quiet location out in the Saharan dunes. Excursions are available to near by sites and towns - easily organized with the camp.

Staff

The staff has a great sense of humor and love interacting with the guests. They serve delicious food and play some great music in the evenings. Perfect hosts.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa

Fès

Very beautiful riad. Amazing mosaics and carved cedar (on par with some of the palaces and museums.) Very friendly staff and close to the Medina.

Authenticity & Character

The interior is just stunning. Each room has its own character, and views from the terrace were great!

Location

Near the medina and restaurants

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

This quaint hotel has a ton of character and situated within the non-motorized part of the city. Pack light as you have to walk a few blocks over cobblestone and may be situated a few floors up. Not so fun to drag a heavy suitcase over.

Authenticity & Character

Colorful with mosaics, carved wood, and colorful glasswork

Location

Near restaurants, food, a central square, easy to find, nice views.

Staff

Everyone was kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable! Couldn’t ask for more. Near blackout shades and AC/heat in each unit, Wi-Fi and tv available.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

It was really fun to explore the medina with our guide Hanan. She was very knowledgable and shared a ton of cultural, religious, and historic information with us. It was great to hear her stories, experiences, suggestions for places to adventure on our own later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan was great. It was really nice to have a female guide. She had a great sense of humor and a ton of great experiences to share.

Transport

Private Transfer from Skoura to Marrakech

Morocco

It’s a beautiful drive with scenic variety from the desert up into the high atlas mountains.

Transport

Our driver was fantastic as always.

Desert Adventures around Merzouga

Merzouga

This was a very interesting set of cultural experiences. We started the day having tea at a nomad camp. Kind of odd because the family was just living their life as our guide poured us tea in one of their tents. Then we drove by some of the old buildings and villages near an old mine and into Merzouga to listen to live music and learn about how the people in down utilize water in their community garden. We then relaxed by the pool for a couple hours before returning to camp.

Food

The Moroccan pizza was delicious! And a nice change from tagine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Youssef was knowledgable and kind. He took us to an additional spot when he knew we were geologists.

Transport

Riding across the dunes and off road is fun!

Dine with a local family

Morocco

I was unsure of what to expect, having dinner in a local family’s home- they were so welcoming and a few of the family members were fluent in English. It was interesting to actually experience entering their home through the narrow medina alley and stairs. The family had recent gathered for a wedding so it was a bit of a reunion of sorts. They sang and played musical instruments. The food was also delicious and plentiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

We felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie- navigating the old Medina. It was interesting to have a guide who grew up there. He knew so much about the city and also knew so many of the people who have shops throughout the medina. It was so interesting to see people making pottery, zellige tile work, working leather in the tannery, and weaving textiles.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our lunch spot was delicious and located in an old palace which had been repurposed. (Palais Mnebhi)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Adib was a fantastic guide.

Transport

Our trusted driver, Lahcen was perfect as usual!

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Volubilis was really interesting! The ruins and mosaics are in good condition and it’s worth paying a guide to explain in more detail. We only stopped in Meknes for a late lunch and to visit the Mausoleum of Ismail. The mausoleum was actually very quiet and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide at the ruins spoke great English and had a good sense of humor, very knowledgable. Service at Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma was also excellent.

Transport

Trusted driver got us everywhere we needed to be!

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-guide

Morocco

There is not a ton to see in Casablanca in our opinion. The Hassan II Mosque is incredible, but then we were happy to be on our way. Our driver stopped at a few places in Rabat. Which was also interesting, but again I think you will see similar if not better examples of medinas, kasbahs, riads, etc… if you also plan to stop in Fez and Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver arranged with the agency was great!

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

The long drive was totally worth riding a camel into the desert at sunset. Likely a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people and we took the option to ride two hours to camp. After sunset the ride continued under a clear night sky filled with stars!

Quality of Experience

The camel ride was so fun!

Food

Honestly we stopped at a gas station with a restaurant for a refuel and grabbed sandwiches that were super good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Lahcen was great as always- he got us where we needed to be safely, always great for a conversation, and played music from the region.

Transport

The drive is beautiful and reminded us of the western United States (mountains, desert, buttes)

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was such a fun experience. Our guide Hanan was fantastic. She took us to try things I would’ve never on my own. Berber “pizza”, olives, tangia, sardine burgers, mango smoothies, snails, and doughnuts. We were stuffed!

Quality of Experience

Food was delicious! It was nice that everything was taken care of ahead of time.

Food

All of the food was interesting and most of it delicious. (Definitely saved some mango smoothie to wash down the snails with! Hah!)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing company. Describing the history of the food and cultural significance.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great- as usual!

Sunrise hot air balloon ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

This is an incredible experience worth getting up early! As our balloon operator said “it’s like being in a dream” as you float upward. The sunrise was very beautiful over the mountains, we were lucky to be in a small balloon with only a few people.

Quality of Experience

Just a beautiful experience!

Food

A good selection in a buffet style after the ride (plus tea before)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hot air balloon pilot was cheerful and excited to answer all our questions.

Transport

The driver for the company was an aggressive driver which was slightly unnerving. He didn’t clearly communicate that we were picking up additional passengers either- which made us wonder why we were waiting in a dark alley at 5:30am.

Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

The Hassan II Mosque is beautiful! I feel very luckily to have had the chance to tour it. The guide was knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. There are options for many different languages throughout the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Three Hour Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

The cooking class was very insightful into cooking techniques, uses of spices, and Moroccan culture. The women teaching us were joyful and interactive. We had a great time and our food was yummy. Each of us were given a tagine too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

Really interesting experience to do a couples hammam spa experience! The scrub was lovely and the massage was a nice way to wrap up our trip.

Quality of Experience

The women working at the spa were very professional and good at what they do!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Slightly annoyed that we were whisked away to a local spice shop after even though we said we were not interested in going or purchasing anything.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great as always!

Guided tour of Marrakech's Gardens

Marrakesh

We actually opted to only visit one of the gardens because four to five seemed like overkill. We were told to avoid the YSL gardens because of long lines and very overcrowded. We instead went to the Bahia Palace and the secret garden which were both on the quieter side. Easily self guided and less people especially in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Karim was a great guide.
He took us through areas of Morocco that wouldn’t usually be seen, meeting people from different walks of the country.

He was conscious about making the trip as comfortable and enjoyable for us. Thanks Karim we have now left with a friend.

This was our first time working with KimKim and Original Travels and we could not have been more pleased.

They took all the stress out of planning the trip. We told them the cities we wanted to visit and our budget for appropriate riads to stay and they put together the perfect itinerary of comfortable and well located riads along with customized day tours of the cities.

We also can’t stress enough how wonderful it was to have a private driver throughout our trip. Reda was not only enjoyable to be with but was so accommodating to our whims of stopping for supplies and amenities. More than an a driver, he was a friend.

And the home base staff of Ali and Said were available instantly when we had questions during the trip or wants to change things at the last minute. There was never a feeling of guilt. They made us feel like we were their only travelers.

So polite and professional. We look forward to using this team again for future travels. If you want to truly relax and enjoy an adventure of a trip that spans multiple cities, you will not beat the prices and service of this team.

Hi
Throughly enjoyed the trip
Saeed was extremely good ,well organised went out of his way to help and make us comfortable
Nooruddin and Ayub kept us well informed with their knowledge. Over all good experience. Thou would have been better less time in coach and staying at places like merzoga our camping one more day. Also really wanted to see Switzerland Marakask Irfan more. Would have loved a day in there.
Over all. All were good. People were friendly. I enjoyed thanks.

First of all, Megan was a fantastic resource and support for planning our Morrocan trip. She was available, had helpful suggestions and listened carefully to our concerns.

Our driver, Hamid, was outstanding in every way. He was prompt, attentive, careful driver, engaging, respectful, knowledgeable, and overall a perfect guide for us! We can’t say enough good things about his presence and functioning with us throughout our Moroccan trip. He added so much value to our trip with all the stories, information, and overall approachability.

All of our local guides were excellent, offering us helpful information and giving us accessibility to what we were seeing and experiencing. We mention Mohammed in Fez, because he was such an interesting person, and offered so much depth to our experience there. His engaging, interactive qualities, and his humor were perfect for us!

The hotels and riads were excellent accommodations, and we enjoyed each and everyone! The food was exceptional. The desert camp experience was outstanding in every way. The warmth and caring hospitality was deeply appreciated!

We highly recommend KimKim company and Wonderlust voyages. We would definitely consider traveling again with this company.

Cheryl & Nelson Lehman Tucson, Arizona

What Cheryl and Nelson have written above reflects very well our experience with KimKim on our trip to Morocco. From the beginning of planning this trip, Megan was very responsive and informative about all the details and specifics of our trip. When faced with the uncertainties of the earthquake that happened 3 weeks before we were to leave, she made sure that all the places we were scheduled to go to were safe and ready for us. Megan was professional and sensitive to what we wanted on this trip.
Our driver, Hamed, was a delight. Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and safe are great qualities to have in a driver and he exhibited them all. One of our highlights was getting to meet his family. We learned much about Morocco, its people and customs from Hamed as well as the city guides that were provided for us through KimKim/Wanderlust. It was a wonderful experience and we plan on using KimKim again for future travel plans.
Marty and Audrey Lowen, Tucson Arizona

Hotel Reviews

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Demeures d'Orient

Marrakech

Zoe, the owner, engaged us in such a lovely manner. Excellent service on all accounts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Mohammad was an outstanding guide. Very knowledgeable. Very engaging. Enjoyed his sense of humor and the stories he told!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

The two hour journey on camel with the full moon was an unforgettable experience. The quiet. The lighting. The color. The guide was friendly and competent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Atlas Mountains Hike

Morocco

Enjoyed hiking in the Ourika Valley with Mohammed, who was enthusiastic and informative. Hiking along the stream to the waterfalls was very relaxing. Enjoyed mint tea at a teahouse with views of the waterfalls. Relaxing along the stream at one of the many cafés while dangling our feet in the Ourika creek was delightful. Highly recommend this hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide/driver Abdol was amazing. He was a wonderful resource. It was comforting to be safely transported from city to city with him going above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed daily. He provided the utmost service. Highly recommend him! Overall planning was efficient as we tailored a trip to the exact cities and places we wanted to see during our time in Morocco.

This whirlwind trip of Morocco exceeded our expectations. Abdel and Saïd were responsive and communicated throughout the entire process, making adjustments that we requested and those which they suggested would make a better experience. I wish we had more time. While we saw a lot of the country, I would spend more time in a closer proximity to explore deeper if we where to do it again. The Riad Elegancia in Marrakech was the most exceptional place we stayed. The experience with Tiziri camp in Merzouga left me spellbound - one of the top experiences of my life. The best part of the trip was Tyeb, our driver, who I give 10 Stars. He made the trip comfortable, entertaining and exceptional. He quickly became a friend and shared about his life, culture and showed us so many things along the path which we would not have known. The trip would not have been the same without him!

Hotel Reviews

Le Grand Alcazar

Fes

This is a beautiful road and the staff is top class. We stayed only a short time so didn’t get to really experience it fully. It is one of the most elegant lobbies of places I’ve ever stayed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Tiziri exceeded my expectations. I prepared myself for a beautiful place - both the desert and the camp accommodations - but it is what you cannot see online that makes it exceptional. The hosts care about their guests and each other. They want to share their culture, not perform an idealized version for tourists. Their commitment to a sustainable camp is remarkable and responds to the impacts of climate change experienced by the Amizigh people. My only complaint is that I didn’t stay longer, but it allows the opportunity to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

This was a wonderful representation of local architecture and the staff was absolutely lovely. The staff made the experience. The building was being reconstructed after some earthquake damage, but is sturdy and very historic. However, it was a bit rundown inside in regards to things which could easily make a difference like shower heads which had no pressure and leaked, or a blow dryer which collapsed. The pool is inside and the roof was inaccessible at this time. The dinner and breakfast were delicious and served with grace from the wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quite far from anything which would be charming if the accommodation was a bit improved.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean but needed some refreshing of small items.

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

This Riad was spectacular. The staff was incredible and the location excellent - close enough to all attractions but quiet. I slept so well! The roof and pool was magnificent as was the hammam. A surprising feature was the shower which was amazing - like a rainfall with the most beautiful orange blossom soaps.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dine with a local family

Morocco

Saïd, Hatim and their family graciously hosted us for pastilla and other delicious food in their cozy Fes home. It gave us a small look into Moroccan family life that lives outside of the Riads and behind other walls in the Medina. The food was delicious and the highlight was when Saïd dressed us up in typical Moroccan clothes, and nephew Mohammed led us in dance. That kid is a star! Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Hanan was wonderful and shared some of her favorite food experiences in Marrakech. She was very kind and easy to talk to. I’m grateful we had time with just three of us so we could be comfortable and have good conversations. In typical Moroccan style, we ended the tour completely full of delicious food. I had to go back the next day to try snails because I couldn’t fit them!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I honestly can't say enough good things about our trip to Morocco. From day 1 of planning, Abdel gave us options and suggestions on places to visit and helped to set our itinerary for our 8 day stay in Morocco. Upon arrival to the airport, we were greeted by our amazing driver, Samir. It was such a blessing to get to know him over the course of our trip. He shared so much knowledge about his country with us as we traveled daily, showed us hidden gems that we would have never found on our own, gave us cultural experiences that we would not have had without him, and engaged in wonderful conversations throughout our trip. He made sure that we were safe and comfortable at all times. He felt like family, and it was difficult to say goodbye at the end of our trip.
Said also worked with us during our travels to ensure that our accommodations were safe and comfortable. He was able to accommodate some last minute changes for us that we made to our itinerary while we were there. Such an accommodating group of people!
It's hard to pick a favorite place between Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Skoura, and Marrakech. Each place had its own special charm. I loved the variety of things we got to experience, from hiking to a waterfall, walking in the medinas, watching the sunset over the "blue city", visiting a pottery shop, riding camels into the Sahara for the night, visiting a nomad family, visiting a local market, doing a food tour, visiting a hammam, and so much more...we can't pick a favorite.
Thank you to the kimkim family for making this an amazing and memorable vacation. I honestly wouldn't change a thing. I highly recommend working with this group if you're planning a trip to Morocco!

We were promptly met by our driver/guide in Rabat. As promised, she is a fluent English speaker. We were thrilled to find out that Soukaina is the only female driver/guide in the Kingdom of Morocco. As we explored the countryside and three different cities over 8 days, she made us feel warm, welcomed, and a friend! She made our 8 days together one of the best experiences of our lifetime!

The first city we visited was Chefchaouen (the Blue City). As we approached the city with it is picturesque beauty and amazing vistas, we were thrilled. During our two days in the city, we experienced the friendliest and most welcoming people you can imagine. This started with the staff of our hotel (Dar Jasmine) and continued throughout the Median in all the shops and restaurants. Dar Jasmine offered a beautiful room that overlooked the city and all its amazing blue hues. One of the best shops we found was Machkour Mohamed (Local Berbere Artisanal located at 23 Derb Bab El Moukaf). The team of folks helped us to find 5 amazing rugs we will cherish for a lifetime. The shop promptly shipped to our home. Another captivating and memorable experience was our guided hike in the Ankour Waterfall. Abdullah was a wonderful guide who was quick to share and point out numerous points of interest.

Our next stop was Fes. Along the way we also toured the Roman ruins. We were able to do this without a guide and found it very easy to navigate. Once in Fes, we were greeted by the Riad Yacout staff. The entire staff was incredibly welcoming. Our room was extremely beautiful, large, and well appointed. Our stay in Fes was highlighted by a day long guided tour with Aideen. His professionalism and knowledge of the Medina was second to none.

After a day long drive to Marrakech, we were greeted by the impeccably professional staff of the elegant Riad Nyla. We fully enjoyed the night life of the Medina and all the sights and wonders that it provides. Our guided tour was professional and very enjoyable. Shopping in the Souks was an amazing experience. We capped off our trip with a hot air balloon ride in the dessert. This unforgettable ride was completely worth the pre-dawn wake up.

KimKim, coupled with Original Travel, made our trip a memory we will cherish for a lifetime.

We loved our trip to Morocco.
Everyplace we stayed in was a five star accommodation. The plan was a great one...Stays in Chefchaouen, Fes, Marrakech and the Inara Desert Camp. It was a great way to explore the country. We in particular loved our driver Tayeb who was very fun to be around, a great driver and a fountain of information. (He would make a great driver and guide). We also enjoyed all of our local guides including: Abdul in Volubilis; Mohamed in Fes and "Star" in Marrakech. We loved the food. We loved the people. It was a great experience.

Hotel Reviews

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

Never been to a desert camp. Was not sure what to expect, but this luxury tent was really nice. Big bed, air conditioning, shower, safe, tiny fridge, even a hairdryer...not quite the roughing it experience. There is a very nice outdoor pool. The staff were very nice and again, funny...something I was not expecting. Our one night stay was perfect for us.

Authenticity & Character

Staff dressed in authentic Berber and Desert Nomad style. Very colorful.

Location

I'm thrilled we chose the closer desert experience with the much shorter camel ride. Perfect for us.

Staff

Staff very helpful. Food was great. Would highly recommend.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire place was spotless (and that's in a desert). Very comfortable bed.

Riad Nyla And Spa Marrakech

Marrakech

This Riad was amazing. Just 5 rooms in the whole place so you get a lot of individual attention and service. Our rooms (we changed rooms after an overnight trip to the desert) were both very nice. The people could not have been more accommodating. They have a nice warm pool and jacuzzi downstairs in the spa that I really liked as most places on our trip had cold pools. We had two very good massages. The food (we had dinner twice) including the breakfasts were the best of the trip. I would come back to this Riad in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

More modern than the other Roads we stayed in but very keeping in with the rest of Morocco. Very beautiful.

Location

Right in the Medina yet a short walk from a street where our driver could drop us off. I'd say the perfect location.

Staff

Top notch. They were incredibly helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Rooms very comfortable.

Riad El Yacout

Fès

The staff (especially Marco's) at this hotel were so warm, inviting and funny. We loved our room (over the top nice). The food was excellent and my husband enjoyed the massage there.

Authenticity & Character

The building was beautiful.

Location

Honestly didn't walk around the area much but it had the basics.

Staff

Staff the best of our trip and that's saying something as people were very welcoming everywhere we went.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakech to Agafay desert with a traditional lunch in the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Our Driver Tayeb drove us up into the Atlas Mountains for a very nice one hour hike around the town of Achayen. We walked to a waterfall and then to a Berber village where we were served a delicious Tangine lunch by a local woman. Afterwards we drove to the Agafay Desert for our night in the desert and a camel ride. The whole experience was outstanding.

Guided Tour of Majorelle Garden

Marrakesh

Our guide "Star" took us through the Gardens. Beautiful setting.

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

We spent a lot of time wandering in the Medina in Marrakesh. The Tour took us to the biggest Mosque and one of the better shopping venues for more authentic souvenirs.

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

We were able to see the Royal Palace, Jewish Quarters and the Original Medina. We were even taken up a hill to see 3 eras of construction over the years. Our guide Muhammad was very helpful.

Quality of Experience

We got to see a lot of Fes in one day. It felt like a really good overview.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Driver Tayeb was what a driver should be. Prompt, helpful, full of fun information. We were very happy with Tayeb and our guides.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

These ruins reminded me of Pompeii. Very beautiful art and ruins. Our local guide Abdul was very informative. (we just did Volubilis).

Said was absolutely wonderful to plan with and Abdou, our guide was a wealth of information about Morocco!

Hotel Reviews

Les Jardins De La Koutoubia

Marrakech

Delicious breakfast, incredible service, really lovely pool to relax beside after several days of traveling.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Is truly beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Prettiest room we stayed in!

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Looks out on beautiful dunes.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Super close to the Medina.

Staff

Wara was amazingly accommodating. She found us a local guide as soon as we arrived and even brought breakfast to our room before service hours bc we were leaving so early.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Abdul was a great guide and this was a super fun way to have dinner.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

This is a VERY long ride, closer to 10-10.5 hours but Abdou was amazing and being able to spend time in the Sahara was definitely worth it. We absolutely thought it was worth it to stay 2 nights.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Again, a longer drive than maybe we anticipated closer to 7 hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV/Quad adventure in Merzouga

Merzouga

Super fun!

Quality of Experience

Lou

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport