Kimkim Trip Reviews for Morocco

Majid was excellent at responding to our many questions and requests. There were many details involved in our trip and from the minute we met our terrific driver Hamid we realized they were all covered! The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is we would have appreciated more time in modern areas, maybe only 1 Riad, and a more comfortable car for the many kilometers we travelled.

Hotel Review

Widiane Suite And Spa

Bine El Ouidane

Beautiful and luxurious, good prix fixe dinner. Wish we could have spent more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Moroccan staff.

Location

Beautiful lake.

Staff

Polite, considerate, patient with directions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful room with balcony and view. More comfortable and better amenities than riads.

Activity Reviews

Walking tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Local guide Hamid was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Marrakech and Moroccan history. He spoke to us for a very long time before we started walking and it was difficult to retain all the information he shared. We walked through more of the large souk than we cared to. The merchandise was repeated over and over and the roaring speeding motorcycles were dangerously close most of the time. We decided not to do the food tour in the market square because we were very tired and toured out. Hamid was understanding about the change in plans and quickly brought us to a nearby restaurant. However, it didn’t serve alcohol and we would have liked wine and vodka.

Quality of Experience

Food

I liked the food but most places had the same menus.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hamid the driver was organized and upbeat. Local guides were nice but not as much fun.

Transport

Tight fit over many kilometers. We requested a more comfortable van but it wasn’t part of the program and unavailable.

Essaouira Day trip: Exploring Essaouira

Morocco

Interesting walk and nice restaurant.

Explore the Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Fes

Beautiful interesting ruins, good local guide.

Explore Ouzoud Waterfalls hike for 2 hours

Marrakesh

Nice local guide who tried his best but a man in our party wasn’t feeling well and we tried taking the easier route down. Unfortunately it was very commercial. More of a giant souvenir stand than a natural wonder. We cut the walk short. Lunch was the same menu as everywhere.

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

Knowledgeable guide. It as fine for the imperial city but we would have enjoyed seeing more modern parts of Fes.

Dinner with a local Family in Fes

Fes

Very nice family and it was interesting to see a home in the old city but food was the same as every other meal.

Day trip from Fes To Chefchaouen

Morocco

Loved the town but round trip in a day in uncomfortable car was tough.

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Very nice people. Unoriginal food and very commercial, again. We did find some streets without shops and appreciated seeing the homes.

The planning for our 21-day visit to Morocco was made quite efficient and stress-free due to the terrific assistance of Hamza. We were able to get suggestions, ask questions and tailor the experience to meet our particular desires. During our stay, the local support from Said certainly made us feel comfortable knowing we could count on assistance at all times. Both Hamza and Said were very prompt in responding and extremely polite. They answered all of our inquiries and were instrumental in assuring that we had a delightful time in the beautiful country.

A definite highlight of our trip was getting acquainted with our Driver, Soufiane. Not only was he an very safe driver but also helped us learn about the cities and countryside we visited. He was dependable, prompt, exceptionally polite and friendly. We appreciated that he could easily converse with us in English. It was such an honor to get to meet Soufiane's family and enjoy a delicious Moroccan meal that his mother prepared.

We didn't want to leave Morocco!!
Karen

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

We stayed at Movenpick Hotel 2 nights upon arriving and leaving for the airport. The first visit, we had no hot water. The breakfast was very good. It seems a bit far from the airport and we might have benefitted from lodging closer to our flights.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mokhtar Tanger

Tangier

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful

Location

Convenient location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Lots of stairs to climb to get to bedrooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

Comfortable and Clean. Good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Lovely setting and accomodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Grandeur of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Beautiful Mosque!! Tour was very informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey of Colours: Roman Ruins of Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Very hot the day we toured. Remember to take water. Certainly worth the time to visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide that met us for this visit was certainly knowledgeable but we found him difficult to relate to.

Transport

Wonders of Fes: Exploring the Medina in Half a Day

Fes

Excellent guide!! The Medina is a vast maze! We would have been lost without a guide and would not have enjoyed the visit nearly as much. I am so glad we didn't try to tour it by ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

Our Driver shared with us a visit to his home where we met his mom, dad, cousin, and brother. They were all so gracious and welcoming. Mom prepared an amazing meal with three courses of Moroccan delights. This experience was an honor and highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Morocco's Historic Path: Fes to Marrakech Adventure

Morocco

Long but pleasant drive

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great action packed trip. We had limited time (7.5 days) but squeezed in everything we wanted. We loved Marrakesh and our night in the Sahara desert the most. Our driver Ayoub was amazing.

My husband and I are writing to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding service provided by your travel agent during the recent planning and execution of our trip.

From the moment we engaged with your agency, it was evident that your team operates at a level of expertise that is truly commendable. However, it was my interaction with Hakim that left an indelible mark on my travel experience.

Hakim demonstrated an exceptional degree of attention to detail throughout the entire process. Every aspect of my itinerary was meticulously crafted, leaving no room for oversight or uncertainty. His thorough understanding of our preferences and requirements translated into a tailored journey that exceeded my expectations.

What truly sets Hakim apart is his ability to anticipate potential challenges and provide effective solutions proactively. This level of foresight is a testament to their extensive knowledge and expertise in the travel industry. It was evident that Hakim invested a significant amount of time and effort into ensuring that every leg of my journey was seamless.

Moreover, Hakim exhibited exemplary communication skills. His messages were not only clear and concise but also conveyed a genuine interest in our travel experience. It was evident that Hakim was not merely facilitating a transaction, but rather, building a relationship based on trust and mutual understanding.

In today's fast-paced world, finding professionals who balance professionalism with a personable touch can be rare. Hakim exemplifies this balance effortlessly. Their warm and approachable demeanor made me feel valued as a client, and we knew that we were in good hands.

In conclusion, our experience with Hakim and your agency has been nothing short of exceptional. Hakim not only met our expectations but surpassed them, leaving us with memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. We wholeheartedly recommend your services to anyone seeking a travel agency that combines expertise with a personal touch.

Thank you once again for providing such an outstanding service.

Morocco has always been on top of our Must-Visit places list and hoped the experience measure up to our dream vacation expectations. Abde and his amazing team made this all possible and more. From planning the trip, Abde was with me throughout the process. He was responsive to all my queries on a timely manner. He made the planning stage exciting with his knowledge and caring customer service.
Soukaina, our driver-guide was perfection. She made us feel welcomed, shared so much about Morocco, her pride and joy about her country and its people. She is an incredibly good driver, our comfort was her priority. She introduced us to authentic Moroccan food, Moroccan music and to people we met along the way.

Our highlights were the dinner with a local family in Fes where we ate delicious food, swapped stories and even some dancing. The Sahara desert camel rides, visit with a nomad family and 2 nights at a Berber camp where we were welcomed like family, entertained with their music and danced under the wondrous star filled Sahara sky. The drive up to the Atlas mountains that made us hold our breath with awe experiencing the ever changing landscape. So many sights to behold! And the adventures in Marrakech, the dizzying adventures in the medina and being guided to learn more about Moroccan food during our food tour.

What an impressive immersion into Moroccan culture in 10 days made possible by Abdeh and his lovely team. We are very grateful for this once in a lifetime adventure!

Our trip to Morocco’s was well planned by Ali and included 9 nights. The communication with Ali during the planning stage was excellent and trip was modified according to our needs. The chosen accommodations in each city were unique and amazing . The assigned driver Lahcen was friendly, courteous and provided excellent service during our entire trip.
While in Morocco our trip was coordinated by Said who promptly responded to our travel questions. I highly recommend Ali and his team.

We recently returned from our trip to Morocco, and while we cut our trip a bit short due to illness, I wanted to say that our trip organizer, Hakim was excellent. Right from the beginning, he provided great support in allaying any of our concerns and tailored the trip according to our wishes. The accommodation was all outstanding, particularly the Riad in Fez - where staff went out of their way to accommodate our extra needs. Our driver, Ali was excellent - again extremely kind and supportive. Kudos to all involved.

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

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Grand Alcazar

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou: Tracing the Caravan Routes of the Past

Morocco

Unique Journey from Ait Benhaddou to the Enchanting Merzouga Desert

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

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

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Activity Reviews

Serenity Unleashed: Indulge in a Tranquil Hammam & Spa Experience

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

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Activity Reviews

A Captivating Journey through Marrakech's Exquisite 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

Serenity Unleashed: Indulge in a Tranquil Hammam & Spa Experience

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!

Indulge in a Three-Hour Cooking Experience 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

Explore the Grandeur 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

Rise with the Sun: A Majestic Hot Air Balloon Adventure over 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.

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

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!

Fez to Merzouga Desert - The Road to Serenity

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)

Casablanca Odyssey: Explore Casablanca with your driver

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

Journey of Colours: Roman Ruins of 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!

Fes Unveiled: Unravel the Riches of Morocco's Ancient City

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!

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

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

Harmonies of the Dunes: An Experiential Desert Odyssey in Erg Chebbi

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!

Transcending Landscapes: Skoura's Mesmerizing Route 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.

Mystical Marrakesh: Unveiling the Allure of Morocco's Vibrant Jewel

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

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.