Marrakech Tours and Trips

Loved the whole experience although it was a challenge to me. Was v grateful for the patience of the 2nd guide with me, the slow one always last. Impressed by the standard of meals in spite of v basic facilities. Also impressed that the flimsy looking tents at base camp actually kept us warm and withstood a significant storm. They were v good. I would have liked an even slower pace to allow time not just to recover breath, but to appreciate the views and take photos more frequently. I was sorry for the others’ disappointment that the summit could not be attempted due to dangerous wind conditions, but I was satisfied to have made it to base camp. We were grateful to Explore for flexibility that was required to accommodate us in Aremnd due to a necessary early descent (because of the poor weather). That last place was the nicest. Omar was an excellent guide. Both he and Jamal had a great sense of humour, they did their job well, usually there was v good communication at every stage, and they were totally accountable with the tips. The first night in Hotel Kennedy was not v promising, as the toilet was broken, initially there were no towels or soaps and the room just a bit dowdy, so we were pleasantly surprised that the rest of the expedition met all expectations and upon our return, the room we had was significantly nicer. We were glad we had booked 2 extra nights.

Wonderful! Enjoyed the range of experiences. For a first guided tour with a group, this was amazing! Our guide, Samir, was very well suited for the job. He was knowledgeable, funny, read the group, and helpful. Our group turned out to be wonderful. We enjoyed experiencing and seeing so much of Morocco.

I loved the varied programme of places to see - green parks, ancient buildings, mosques (pity we could only go inside one mosque...but that is the Islamic tradition), mountains, lovely footpaths in oasis, markets and fine views of city. Also I like the varied places to eat - restaurants, picnic, local family houses, little cafes with rooftop views, even motorway service area, and of course the desert tent! Superb Local Moroccan Guide - polite, respectful, well connected to locals, knew the history, customs, and told us what we needed to know without being over prescriptive or too long winded. Very varied activities, food, scenery, countryside, city sights. Lovely other people (by chance) in our group.

Our tour leader, Hassan, was excellent. He anticipated our needs. He also responded to occasion unrealistic requests by clients calmly and with diplomacy. He is a charming, funny, knowledgeable, professional tour leader.

The tour manager, Mohamed, was exceptional. Very informative, engaging, and entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the camping in the Sahara, even with the dust storm! The accommodations were much better than I expected, where a "Moroccan 5 star" was as good as any "5 star" in the US. I also liked having a bus for transport that gave us room to spread out and sit where we liked. Also, the food was excellent, varied, and delicious (though I did get a little tired of tagine by the end). Well done overall.

A great variety of different things to see and do, from ancient to modern. The four cities we visited were very different experiences, the Atlas mountains were dramatic and the camel trekking in the Sahara a lifetime highlight. A great bunch of people on the trip and a good tour guide.