A memorable Moroccan trip
Morocco
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May 9 - May 19, 2025
Our group of 6 (3 couples) just returned from an unforgettable 10 night trip to Morocco! I probably would never have attempted to organize a trip for the 6 of us to Morocco, but with Hassan's great communication and expertise in putting together an excellent itinerary and Khalid's help (our driver) in executing that itinerary, it was possible for us to see this beautiful country. And I'm so grateful we did.
Our trip took us from Tangier to Chefchouen, then to Fes and Merzouga, the Dades Valley, Skoura and finally Marrakech. The landscapes were much more varied than we had imagined and watching the scenery, and how it changed, from the inside of our car as we drove was incredible. I'm thankful we got a glimpse of the ways of the nomadic people in this region during our time. If we had only visited a big city like Fes or Marrakesh, we would have missed this. For example, we saw shepherds moving with their sheep or goats, the temporary homes they use, and some collecting water at a spring to be carried back by their donkeys.
Khalid, our driver, made sure to point out everything that was noteworthy so we didn't miss anything as we drove. He was a well of knowledge and taught us so much. And thanks to him we could relax and enjoy our time as he managed all the navigating and timing, as well as facilitating the hotel check-ins and city guides. He did a superb job and anyone getting him as their driver is very fortunate!
The highlight of our trip was our 2 nights in the desert staying at Tiziri campsite (which we rode camels to). Other highlights were the walking tour of Fes and the meals we spent with locals - both a dinner with a family in Fes and a lunch with Mohammed in the Dades Valley (after a very enjoyable 3 hr hike). L'ma lodge in Skoura had one of the most peaceful and beautiful gardens I have visited and by the time we arrived there (around day 8) we were thankful for this restful 'oasis'.
I would say our least favourite part of the trip was Marrakesh. It was our last stop and the busyness of the city felt a bit overwhelming. We did really enjoy our hotel, however - Maison Arabe. And we did a cooking class and Hammam in it which we'd definitely recommend.
If I could add a night or two I'd book a second night in Chefchouen, to enjoy the quiet tourist-free mornings and evenings, and a third night in the desert because it's simply amazing!
Hotel Reviews
Activity Reviews
Overall a good experience. Didn't realize we'd be in a room with our friends while doing the hammam! Also, two of us had skin reactions after which took a number of days to heal. I don't think it was the fault of anything the spa used - probably just over sensitive skin. But something for people to consider before doing this if thorough exfoliation isn't something you're used to or have sensitive skin.
Really just a place to stretch your legs. Not a noteworthy hike. Seeing the monkeys on the side of the road with their babies was fun though!
This day was very long so I think driving straight to Fes and not stopping at Volubilis and Meknes would have been a better choice for us. Volubilis was interesting but it was just too much for a day.
This was quite disappointing. There were so many tourists, souvenir stalls, and our guide gave us almost no information. His accent was extremely hard for us to understand. But he didn't speak very much. He spent most of his time on his phone or speaking to other tourists and jumping into their photos. I didn't learn anything about this place from the visit.
Saw a panoramic view of the city, wandered the markets, and visited a mosaic workshop and tannery. Would recommend all of it!
Did the ATV tour which was fun. Again, I would have loved a little introduction before we set off. Our guide did not speak English, so that was a bit challenging too, especially since there had been no intro.
No instructions given. Just walk up to the camel and get on and off you go! I would have appreciated a little intro in order to feel more comfortable.
We had berber pizza and a berber family owned restaurant. It was delicious and I'd recommend travellers go there for a great meal and nice hospitality. However this was a little different than we had expected. We thought we were going to a berber family's home and eating with them.
Loved this hike. Giving it a 4 though because there seemed to be a bit of miscommunication as we thought we had asked to reduce it to 1.5 hrs and it ended up being the full 3 hrs. It was a beautiful hike and we were glad we had gone that long in the end, but would have brought more water/sunscreen if we knew the length. It also ended with a meal at our guides home which was fantastic and we were thankful for. However, again the communication was a bit off on this morning. We didn't realize we were having this lunch until right when we were leaving for the hike. And as we were asked after to pay for the lunch, it seemed odd we weren't made aware of it before hand. I still don't see it in our original itinerary either. So it felt like a bit of a surprise.
A cool sight to see. The most interesting thing was watching a nomadic woman collecting water from a spring at one end of the gorge. As for walking through cool rock landscapes though, the 3 hr hike we did later when we got to Boumalne Dades was more memorable.
Hi Andrea,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience in Morocco! We're thrilled to hear that Khalid, made your trip unforgettable. It's fantastic that you got to experience the diverse landscapes, cultures, and ways of life in Morocco. We'll definitely take your feedback into consideration for future itineraries. We're glad you enjoyed your stay at Tiziri campsite, L'ma lodge, and Maison Arabe. Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back to Morocco someday!
Hassan