A Most Memorable Week in Morocco
Morocco | May 15 - May 22, 2023

Jeremy
Jeremy B.
Marina del Rey, CA | Reviewed on Mar 24, 2023

This was our second time booking through KimKim and it was easy and convenient. Saïd at Original Travels was responsive and accommodating throughout the booking and planning process and continued to check in with us throughout our trip. We really appreciated Saïd’s patience in designing our itinerary options, and flexibility when we requested alternative accommodations after reading reviews online from other sources. In the end, every place we stayed was superb. Our driver Soufiane simply made the trip for us. Soufiane was with us from airport pickup in Fes to airport drop off in Marrakech. Throughout that whole time he made us feel safe and well taken care of. He’s an excellent driver and his English is very good. We had several long drives. I would not have wanted to do any of the driving myself. There are frequent police checkpoints on the highways and some of the highways in the mountains are not in the best condition. In the cities, driving habits of other drivers, motorcyclists and bikes require you to be an experienced driver of Moroccan streets. Finally, Soufiane really embodied the best aspects of Moroccan hospitality and warmth. By the end of the trip we really felt like family. We did a 7-day itinerary. It was enough time, but it required several long drives. Ideally 10 or more days would have allowed more time in each place without back to back driving days but we didn’t have the extra days. In Fes, we stayed at Riad Laaroussa. Beautiful, serene and intimate Riad in the Medina. We did the haram and massage at their spa which we really enjoyed. Very reasonably priced for a private spa. The Desert Luxury Camp in the Sahara was great and unique. We stayed in a geodesic dome tent with a glass wall that allowed us to go to bed to a view of the starry night sky and wake up before dawn to ride camels to a peak in the sand dunes to watch the sun rise. The Ksar Inghnda in Ait Benhadoo was beautiful and our suite had a private patio. The food at the Ksar was not great but we didn’t mind. All of our other food experiences were memorable. In Marrakech, we splurged on La Mamounia. It really is luxurious, a large hotel, and the most western of the places we stayed, but it was a bit over the top and everything there costs extra and is expensive. Be warned. We are glad to have done it as it is a thing, but there are many other great options in Marrakech that may be preferred by others. Overall, we highly recommend going to Morocco. If you use KimKim and Original Travels, you can expect a seamless and effortless travel experience.

Hotel Reviews
Riad Laaroussa
Fez medina

Riad Laaroussa is a beautiful oasis in the Fes Medina. We had a hammam and massage at its private spa. It was a great way to have the Moroccan hammam experience. We did it as a couple together. We also ate dinner and breakfast at the Riad. Food was very good and in a lively rooftop restaurant. The staff was very friendly and always looking for ways to make our stay enjoyable. They had double booked our room by mistake and upgraded us to their best suite at no extra charge. The room was clean and the bed comfortable. They also packed a breakfast for us on our last day because we were departing very early.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi
Merzouga

I commented on this camp in my main review. I’ll only add that the staff was very pleasant and the amenities really very nice for being in the desert. It was very peaceful and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Riad Ksar Ighnda
Ait Benhaddou

The only reason for the 4-star rating is that the food was not great, but it was just fine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Mamounia
Marrakech

It lives up to the hype, but it comes at a price.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Over the Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga, Sahara
Over the Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga, Sahara
Morocco

Unfortunately, to experience the sands of the Saharan Desert, you have a long drive to get there. Our driver Soufiane made that a most enjoyable drive with stops along the way for quick sightseeing or views at which we stretched our legs. Soufiane never seemed to tire of the driving. The vehicle was also very comfortable.

Quality of Experience
Food
Soufiane took us to his favorite date vendor in a small town who gave us free samples of the most delicious dates.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Valleys, Kasbahs, and Roses: A Scenic Drive to Aït Benhaddou
Valleys, Kasbahs, and Roses: A Scenic Drive to Aït Benhaddou
Morocco

Again Soufiane made this drive easy and enjoyable. We stopped for lunch at a place that served the most delicious oranges for desert. Morocco has great produce and the oranges are plentiful and sweet.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech: A Journey through Time and Nature
Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech: A Journey through Time and Nature
Morocco

This was our shortest drive and had stunning views as we wound through the mountains. The train changes dramatically as you cross Morocco, something you would miss if you just flew from one city to the next. Soufiane offered us some excursions but we were eager to get to Marrakech.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Saïd Nayt Addi
Saïd
Saïd Nayt Addi
Local specialist in Marrakech | Replied on Mar 24, 2023
Dear Jeremy, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us and that our team was able to make your experience seamless and effortless. We are especially glad to hear that you enjoyed the accommodations and experiences we suggested for you, and that Soufiane, our driver, made such a positive impact on your journey. It's great to know that his hospitality and warmth embodied the best aspects of Moroccan... Read more

Dear Jeremy,

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip with us and that our team was able to make your experience seamless and effortless.

We are especially glad to hear that you enjoyed the accommodations and experiences we suggested for you, and that Soufiane, our driver, made such a positive impact on your journey. It's great to know that his hospitality and warmth embodied the best aspects of Moroccan culture and left you feeling like family.

We appreciate your feedback on the accommodations and will take it into consideration for future clients. We are always striving to improve and ensure that our clients have the best possible experience.

Thank you for choosing KimKim and Original Travels again for your travels in Morocco. It was our pleasure to assist you, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future.

Best regards,
Saïd.