Kimkim Trip Reviews for Morocco

My husband and I picked Morocco fairly randomly for our honeymoon. We knew we wanted a true adventure - somewhere completely unfamiliar to us and truly immersive. Neither of us knew much about Morocco, and the KimKim sample itineraries looked intriguing - so we went for it! Best decision EVER. Morocco is beautiful in every sense of the word. The landscape is diverse - mountains, desert, ocean, etc, the people are so kind and welcoming, and the culture is incredibly vibrant. There is a wonderful mix of old and new - centuries-old medinas are blocks away from brand new shopping districts. And the FOOD - absolutely incredible! There are so many flavor combinations and methods of cooking that we had never experienced before, and it is clear that Moroccan food relies heavily on fresh, seasonal ingredients and traditional spice mixtures.

Planning the trip was a breeze, as usual. Our trip planner Yassine was responsive, knowledgeable, and definitely took all of our input into consideration. Our trip also happened to fall during Ramadan, and Yassine was a huge help in prepping us for that. Every experience went smoothly, all of our travel between cities and experiences was prompt and easy, and our accomodations were all lovely, clean, and felt safe.

Going to another country where you don't speak the language, are completely unfamiliar with the culture and geography, and have no idea what to expect, sounds daunting and overwhelming. But with KimKim it was easily the best trip of my life, and it is an experience I will remember forever.

Activity Review

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

I have never experienced anything like this but it was incredible! I felt slightly apprehensive going in, but ultimately I really enjoyed it! I have never felt so exfoliated in my life! Despite a significant language barrier, everyone was very friendly and made sure to treat me like any other guest! I do wish we had been given a better idea of what to expect. It was a great experience, but definitely not quite what I was expecting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TBH I was wary of Kimkim until I actually spoke to Sharon and wish I had made that move earlier. I am used to more convo than tech in planning a trip but all was fine.
More driver than guide I would say, Yassine was charming, great driver, calm and efficient. He was always on time and smiley and we enjoyed his company - a really good person. Tough gig as we did a lot of miles every day in order to get out to the Big Dunes and he was fasting so must have been hard and he was understandably keen to get to our destinations for sundown.
The highlights were many and varied but Big Dunes was a big hit, the southern side journey back to Ouzarzete was stunning, lunch by the road sides, Berber pizza and the small souk in Rissani, our lovely last Rhiad was an oasis after the long drives and the must see of Jardin Majorelle is magical. Lower lights - we were sad not to hike or walk in the monkeys fingers (not sure why we didn’t) and whilst the Kzr in Boumain Dades was excellent, I was a bit frustrated by the carpet showroom. I wouldn’t stay in Ouzarzete if you don’t have to - the Khasbar is empty and a bit too spotless relative to those still occupied and we did see a lot of them!
All in all we were happy, loved Morocco, certainly would go again and would use Morocco Immersion but more likely would fly in and out of different cities.
The boys said they felt they’d been away for 2 weeks, not 5.5 days, and seen loads.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

Great location as first stop to see Marrakech. Staff were friendly and v helpful. Pretty Rhiad and nice cool pool and comfy sun beds. Breakfast was great. Would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Wasn’t too spotless - felt more traditional

Location

Easy to find.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

Dinner was v good. Breakfast felt v much like “ the morning after the night before”.

Authenticity & Character

A bit modern and not traditional although not sure how to improve if want comfort.

Location

Staff

A bit laid back and casual

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Draa Valley

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the first time for my sister and I to Morocco. We learnt ALOT about berber culture and history from our driver-guide Karim who is truly the best out there.

Blessed to have Karim who was also attentive and caring like a friend. He was understanding, and patient with us every step of the way. We were intensely curious about Karim's background as he was raised with a nomadic family in the Atlas mountains. He openly shared his life, his family, and his goals with us, and took us to see people and places we would have never discovered on our own. After two weeks in Morocco, we felt sad to leave Karim, our new friend. We could not have hoped for a better experience in this country so rich in history and tradition. I cannot emphasize enough that you will be in great hands if you turn over your trip planning to Abdellah and Karim. They are absolutely the best. We will be forever grateful to them for sharing their country with us.”

Thank you Karim! Hope to hear more from your knowledge on Morocco and berber history and culture again in the future.

My mother and I booked through Kim Kim to travel to Morocco together and we are beyond grateful for all of Kim Kim’s service! We had such an adventure and it was truly a trip of a lifetime! My mother and I adore driving and seeing new landscapes so our tour was perfect because it included 3 days of traveling by car through the Atlas Mountains and Moroccan dry lands and desert! *if you get carsick easily however, this trip itinerary is not for you haha, but if you enjoy winding roads you NEED to visit Morocco! KimKim booked us excellent accommodations, they were comfortable, clean and welcoming, and perfect places to rest after a day of exploring and recharge for the next day. KimKim always responded promptly to any of our questions and the customer service overall was good. Thank you KimKim for everything! We will be sure to return to Morocco!

This trip was absolutely amazing. My friends and I had the best time and we learned so much. Having a private driver was key to a wonderful, personalized experience and Samir took great care of us. I would definitely recommend KimKim to friends and family and I hope to be able to book with them again!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Staying at Tiziri Camp was such a unique and fun experience. We absolutely loved staying in the desert, riding camels, watching the sun rise, learning about Berber culture around the firepit, and riding ATVs. The staff was so friendly and helpful and the food was some of the best we had on the whole trip. I recommend this experience for anyone thinking about going to the Sahara!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

The location of Dar Mounir was great and close to the square. Unfortunately, we were only in Chefchaouen for one night, but if we had been able to stay longer, we would have been happy to stay here longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

This Riad was absolutely beautiful and very comfortable. The staff was very welcoming and we loved our visit here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

We loved staying at Dar Rihana! The staff was so friendly and helpful when we had a mishap with our tour. The food here was delicious (I recommend the strawberry juice) and the views on the terrace of the garden are absolutely beautiful. They also provided us with the best welcome tea of our trip. We wish we could have stayed here longer than just one night!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Pachavana

Marrakech

Riad Pachavana was in a great location in Marrakech. About a 10-15min walk to the main square and not too noisy at night. The inside of the riad was beautiful and the staff was so friendly and welcoming. We made some great friends here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Morocco

This was one of our favorite experiences of the whole trip. The Aloui family treated us so well and the food was amazing. We had so much fun dancing, getting henna, drinking tea, and chatting. Would definitely recommend getting dinner with a local family!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Over the Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga, Sahara

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonders of Fes: Exploring the Medina in Half a Day

Fes

Quality of Experience

It was not made clear to us what exactly we would be seeing that day. There were some things we would have liked to have skipped to make time for other sites. It also lasted a full day so we didn't have much time to explore on our own.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samir was amazing, as always!

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

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Dades Valley via Todra Gorge: Enchanting Valleys, Kasbahs, and Villages

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a hike with a local guide in Dades Valley & Lunch with a Berber Local Family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Marrakech via Roses Valley, Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion from Marrakech to Essaouira: A Day of Cultural Exploration

Marrakesh

Essaouira was beautiful and we are so glad that we were able to include this is the trip. I was nice to see the coast and experience a smaller city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an absolute blast during our 5 days in Morocco, thanks to Hakim's excellent planning and our driver Rachid's knowledge, humor, and wonderful personality! All of our requests were met in the planning process (locations, extra pit stops, tours & dietary restrictions) and the Riads & Hotels that were picked were absolutely stunning, centrally located and exactly what we our travel weary bodies needed. We did both a food tour & guided city walk through Marrakesh, both of which were expertly conducted by our local tour guides and we walked away incredibly full (food tour) and absolutely amazed at the history & culture of Marrakesh/Morocco (guided tour). It is definingly extremely helpful having someone walk you through your first day at the Souk in Marrakesh!
We truly enjoyed our experience and can't wait to come back!

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Absolutely stunning locations, once you get up all of the front steps you have an incredible view of Chefchaouen. Room was beautiful and had everything we needed for our 1 night stop.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Once you find the hotel (a little difficult, but everything is a touch hard to find when you've never been before) it's a beautiful little oasis in Rabat. Staff was very helpful, breakfast was delicious and dinner at their sister Riad was delightful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Chergui

Marrakech

Stunning Riad with good sized rooms, great staff & a beautiful pool right in the courtyard! We stayed 2 nights and had a wonderful time - it was a nice, tranquil atmosphere, which was especially lovely after the busyness of Marrakech!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Rabat to Marrakech

Morocco

Our driver Rachid took us on a quick tour of Casablanca since we were driving from Rabat to Marrakech and didn't want to drive right passed without a little stop. He made sure we had time to visit Hassan II Mosque & take a tour, as well as drive us around the city. It was a perfect stop on our 3.5hr journey!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Our food tour was delicious! We tried plenty of food we would have never thought to try on our own - our guide was extremely knowledgeable and was very accommodating of my dietary restrictions, making sure we added an extra stop so I could experience more options.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Morocco

Definitely in the top 5 of our experience in Morocco - our tour guide was so knowledgeable, and did an amazing job of giving us the history, background and cultural significance of so many spots throughout Marrakech. The 3 hours flew by and we both walked away with a lot more knowledge of Morocco/Marrakech because of this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The best time in Morocco!
We were two families - 4 adults and 5 kids (age 8-16). Said and Ali helped organize the trip starting in Tangier to Blue city to Fes to Marrakech including the Agafay desert. We had the best time with Tarik, our driver! Definitely a trip of a lifetime for everyone! Everyone was very helpful and accommodating.

This trip has been just brilliant-From airport pick up to airport drop. Picked up from the airport by our driver Mustafa with a placard with my name written on it(felt like a celebrity)🤣. Mustafa speaks English amazingly so no difficulty in communication. His driving skill is perfect as well. My partner is amazed by it🤣. We have different hotels every night so a total of 6 hotels for a week trip and all of them has been so comfy. Morocco trip has been comfortable and very much enjoyed. Sayid has been our guide in Marrakesh and he is good. Kamal our guide in Fes is very knowledgeable of the history and the streets in the Medina. He even took us to the secret market of leather that only happens for an hour every day. We were the only tourists in the secret market as not all guides knows about it. I can go on and on in this review but to wrap it all up—- THE TRIP WAS AMAZING 🤩

Hotel Review

Paradis Du Sahara

Merzouga

Comfort in the middle of the desert

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We felt like VIPs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot shower in the middle of the desert? Yes please

Activity Reviews

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakesh

Sayid took us everywhere. Amazing day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ouarzazate to Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Very comfortable ride with non stop of incredible views

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

Unforgettable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erg Chebbi to Fes by way of the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

That visit to the wild monkeys was fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

We would have been lost inside the Medina for thousands of years without Kamal. He was just brilliant and knowledgeable about everything in the Medina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Morocco

Our guide Adbul has been so good. Old man with lots of energy and knowledge about the place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Incredible place. Just wow

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco has been on my wife’s bucket list for years and the only regret we have is that we did not take the trip sooner. There were so many wonderful experiences, it is difficult to narrow it down. However, the one impactful experience that will change our lives personally is our exposure to the kindness and love of the Moroccan people. We personally experienced their daily commitment to family, faith, happiness and kindness. Our guide Karim Chemmi was a perfect daily example as he did everything possible to make sure we were happy, exposed to the culture, entertained and even introduced to his wonderful family for tea in their home. His English was excellent, but his personal heart and commitment to excellence was beyond the norm. We are so lucky to have had him with us for 12 days as we traveled across this amazing country. Our experiences with the people were equally amazing in all the hotels, restaurants, guides, etc. Our favorite places were the Blue City, the desert camp in Mezouga, but Skoura stands out the most on all fronts. There is nothing we would change really. The itinerary allowed us to experience all that Morocco has to offer. It was amazing!!

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Excellent view of the Blue City and great room and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kebbaba

Skoura

The staff was like family. They invited my wife and I to join their staff for Ramadan dinner with them. This Kashba was truly amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mamounia

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

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

Morocco

Great historical location and guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Morocco trip was truly one of the most amazing trips we have taken! Both Abdellah and Said were very in tune with what we wanted out of this trip and made sure everything by was in order! . Very professional! The hotels were top notch, each with their own charm and elegance! We started in Marrakesh for 2 days, stayed in Riyad Elegencia! Absolutely gorgeous! Then we went to the Atlas Mountains and spent a few days there. Experienced the thrill of 2 hr camel rides in the Sahara Desert to the Tiziri camp where we had the most magical experience with Yousef and Mustafa! They were so kind and caring! After an amazing meal nine BerBer gentlemen entertained us around the campfire with traditional BerBer song with drums. We also played the drums and everyone told jokes and sang. It was an absolute blast! On our way back we stayed at the Highly recommended Ait Ben Haddou! Then we went to Essauira and stayed at the charming Riyad Chbanate! We wanted to upgrade our room to the top larger room with a gorgeous view of the water and city. When we called Said he said it was not a problem and took care of it with no problem or additional cost!

I have to say our driver Karim was the best part of the trip. He was so kind, caring, making sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. He drove us for 6 days as we galavanted in Morocco! He always had a big warm smile and his English was exceptionally good. He speaks 6 languages! He shared so much knowledge of all the places we visited and most amazing his own traditions of being from the Berber tribe. Karim gave us great recommendations on where to shop! He stopped at all the beautiful sites so we could take pictures and enjoy the views! I highly recommend Karim as a guide for anyone planning a trip to Morocco! We will definitely ask for him again when we return! By the end of the trip I feel like Karim became a part of our family and we plan on keeping in touch with him! The whole experience was magical thanks to him!

On the last 2 days of our trip we had a driver named Faisal who drove us from Marrakesh to Essaouira.
We made a few stops where he felt were picture worthy locations! So happy he took the time to do that! He was very kind and courteous! He showed us some very special Moroccan hospitality at dinner which we were very grateful and honored!
Great guy! Highly recommend Faisal!

Morocco is an incredible country! We loved our driver Samir. Everything we saw was spectacular.

My friend and I recently returned from a 9 day trip to Morocco and we had a spectacular time! We had very limited time to plan the trip so we decided to use an online travel agent to help us. The kimkim platform is excellent - very easy to use and Hamza helped us put together a custom itinerary based on one of their recommended routes.

Having them take care of the accommodations, overall itinerary, and finding us a driver removed so much stress from the planning process. If we were to return to Morocco, we would definitely feel comfortable doing our own planning, but for the time we had available and what we needed, it was great. We were able to request days without a tour guide so we could explore on our own, and they were receptive to specific requests about types of activities we were interested in. The one thing I'll say is that because kimkim is working with a local tour company, certain days didn't follow the original itinerary exactly. We were pretty easy-going about where we went but if you prefer to know exactly what's happening and when, make sure to communicate this and do a final itinerary overview before your trip.

One of the best parts of our trip was our driver, Said, who ended up feeling more like a friend. He did an amazing job, was fun to hang out with, and was proactive in giving us advice on feeling safe as two women travelers. I'd recommend him to anyone interested in visiting Morocco and we'll certainly be calling him if we return. Other highlights: the night in Merzouga and 4x4-ing through the desert, the gorgeous scenery between Merzouga and Ouarzazate, the Berber Museum, and just about everything in Marrakech. Make a few restaurant reservations in advance to take advantage of Marrakech's amazing food scene and if you have any interest in contemporary art, be sure to spend a day exploring the galleries and museum in Gueliz.

Our trip to Morocco was fantastic. I've always enjoyed researching destinations, finding the perfect hotels, and booking tours, but this was a girls' trip to celebrate 50th birthdays, and we wanted to make it special. I did some of the research, and Abdel and Said took care of the rest. Everything Kim Kim had planned was great. Working with Abdel was simple, and the website facilitates communication for everyone.

We chose to stay in riads instead of hotels. Each one was unique, but they all provided excellent service, friendly staff, and delicious breakfast. The only thing that could be improved are the tour guides. We felt some pushed us to go to specific stores to shop, and one ended with a demand for a tip (which we had planned to give).

Tarik, our driver, was awesome! He was friendly and caring, and he looked after our group well. We made some changes along the way, and he was accommodating. I will most certainly use Original Travels and Kim Kim again!!

Huge thanks to Hakim, our local expert based in Morocco who planned a wonderful holiday for us in Morocco. I shared with Hakim all our requirements - dietary, interests, activities, tastes and he worked with them without giving us a standard package. The bespoke trip included several experieces which gave us a taste of real Morocco. We had a new, luxury mini-van at our disposal and this was an excellent way to cover the different terrains(plains, valleys, mountains, desert, cities and villages alike) of the country in comfort. Abdur, our driver was so friendly and loved sharing his knowledge of the country. He co-ordinated with all our tour guides and accommodation staff, leaving us to focus on just having fun and enjoying our time. Our guides in Marrakech, Abdelali & Youssef, guide in Irfane, Karim and Hafid in Fes were generous with what they shared with us about the local place, taking us to different sites of interest, helping us decide what to taste and flexing the plan based on needs. The hot-air balloon ride, food tasting along the streets of Marrakech, the shopping in the Souks of Marrakech & Fes, camel ride in the Sahara, dancing and drumming around the camp-fire in the luxury desert tents, the stunning setting of Ait Benhaddou, walk along Gorges Dades, hiking in the Ifran national park, spending the day in Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, the several Kasbah tours and the Riad stays are all the highlights of our trip. When we struggled to choose the most favourite part of the trip, we realised how blessed we were to have such a great time. Truly, the people we met during our time in Morroco have made this a very memorable trip for our family.

I traveled to Morocco with 3 other women and we had a wonderful trip. We had many questions before we left, and the representatives at Kim Kim promptly answered all of them. Then helped us plan a tailored itinerary based on our interests. We had an excellent driver, Samir we drove us all around Morocco and we always felt very safe in his van. Samir was very helpful finding us places to exchange money and even helped us make reservations as various restaurants for us. He was very informative about each area we visited. He was always on time to pick us up each morning and always bought us each a fresh bottle of water for our next journey. Morocco is a beautiful country! Kim Kim made our journey extra special providing recommendations and local guides at various stops. Highlights were wandering through a maze of brightly colored markets in each city, visiting Chefchaouen, the Blue City and camping on the Sahara Desert, arriving on camels. I would highly recommend calling Kim Kim to help plan your next trip! Thank you for helping create this unforgettable trip for us!

Our trip to Morocco was conceived as a way to visit our nephew, who is currently serving in the Peace Core. Initially we considered planning the trip ourselves - but soon realized we could not confidently decide on which cities and sites to visit, let alone which accommodations in what neighborhoods, how to navigate and get around in each location or the whole country for that matter! With an eight day window to see and learn as much as we could about this fascinating and mysterious culture my wife started looking for travel websites that specialize in tailored solutions and luckily stumbled upon KimKim. What a game changer!
Within minutes of her first inquiry -confidence and excitement replaced ALL of our confusion and anxieties.

From the first conversation, Ali was friendly, patient and helpful, describing multiple options in multiple combinations and all directions -north, south, east and west, coast, desert, mountains, etc., this country has it all! He described many exciting excursions and experiences, all in organized and thoughtful detail. We were flying in with my wife's brother and his wife from Paris with the idea that we would meet up with their son in Fez near his "Peace Core" assignment. Ali was even happy to secure separate arrangements for our nephew to be picked up in his small village and brought to our hotel in the city.

Upon arriving at the airport, the unique culture, the architecture, the sounds and even the fragrant air was apparent and intoxicating - this was going to be an adventure!
Starting on the right foot KimKim assigned to us the always smiling and exceedingly kind and respectful "Mohamad" as our permanent driver (and new friend) for our entire 8 day romp. This young man would turn out to be our constant connection to this vast country -an incredible ambassador to Morocco and it's sense of values and welcoming spirit. After clearing customs, we were immediately greeted by our smiling new driver, welcomed by name in perfect English and escorted to our comfortable, gleaming new mini bus, and whisked off to our hotel in Fez.

After spending the afternoon settling in at the hotel, Mohamad picked us up and drove us to our first authentic Moroccan meal (a birthday dinner kindly arranged for by our extraordinary trip handler Said) at the beautiful rooftop restaurant "L;Amandier Palais" overlooking the Old City of Fez. It's hard to say what was more incredible - the food or the view. Either way - the stage was further set for the humbling sense of hospitality and more exciting mysteries ahead!
After a night cap at an equally beautiful, very modern boutique hotel bar (suggested by our server) we called day 1 "a very good first impression" and slept like the royalty we were being made to believe we might be! ;)

After an incredible buffet breakfast of Moroccan delights, mint tea and maybe the best plate of eggs I've ever eaten, we were greeted in the lobby by our trusted ambassador Mohamad and our new local guide to the city of Fez "Hamad".
It was immediately clear that Hamad (short for Mohamad) knew his city (and by all appearances, everyone who lived there) very well! with the help of our driver, He took us on a whirlwind tour around the outskirts and towering walls of the entire city, helping to orient us to this vast and beautiful ancient metropolis. He shared his fond impressions of his King and the palace walls and gates that dominate much of the architecture you see immediately outside the Old City and medina. Though, once inside the walls is where the real excitement begins. The medina was unlike anything a humble Westerner like myself might have imagined. The narrow alleys and passageways are almost indescribable. Averaging maybe 8-10 feet wide at most, under 2-4 stories of walls, windows and other structure - lined with shop, after shop, after shop, then another alley to the left, then another secret route to the right, all filled with activity, chatter, animal sounds, deals being haggled, children playing, laughter, music, tv's, birds flying over shoulders, and air so thick with smells good and bad you swear they're holding you up! -This maze of amazement is nearly impossible to comprehend when first encountered. Don't try too hard. It will catch up to you eventually. This experience for me was less about seeing as it was feeling. A total immersion into all things ancient, rich and mysterious. This is Morocco of old. This is history.
I won't try to describe the details of Old Fez any more than I have as I believe (like life) we will all experience those details very differently. I will say this: Do not be afraid. Be alert and aware as you can for the obvious reasons of not being crowded out by a passing donkey and cart, or losing your companions or guide... but don't be afraid... the smiles are warm and real. The locals know your there, and why. Let them have the dignity of sharing their culture -and maybe even a chance to share their wears with you. And yes... haggling is expected, and actually more fun than you might think... Just approach the subject as if you were trying to sell your old lawn mower to your neighbor! i.e - don't take it too seriously. Everything is inexpensive. If you paid a little too much... add the experience to boost the value! Have fun!

Moving on...
One of Ali's suggestions while planning our trip was to ride camels and spend the night in a Bedouin camp in the dunes of Merzouga (in the southeast of the country) on route to Marrakesh. Per the website photos and other reviews we all agreed this was a must and this leg did not disappoint! Though it is a long drive from Fez to Marrakesh (think California is roughly the same size as Morocco... so... San Francisco to L.A.) the country is stunning and much more diverse than any of us imagined. Leaving Fez you begin to ascend up into hills eventually becoming an alpine forest full of baboon like monkeys everywhere. Our driver stopped to give us a closer look and we were instantly approached by men and children trying to sell us bags of peanuts to feed the monkeys, when suddenly a large one snatched the bag up for sale leaving all involved cracking up and the monkey beaming with content. A short while later we stopped for a breather in a University town of Ifrane, known for its giant stone carved lion in the middle of town. Further research tells me the lion was carved by a soldier during WW2 to commemorate the last of the wild "Atlas Lions", which was shot near here in the 1920's. Mohamed proudly informed us also, that this was considered the "cleanest" city in all of Morocco. Between its alpine setting, beautiful yet austere architecture and the name of the nearby hotel (Hotel Chamonix) you would be forgiven if you thought you were stretching your legs in Switzerland.
As you then begin to descend into the desert valley you really begin to understand the vastness and diversification of this intriguing country. Flanked to the west by the snow capped Atlas Mountains, the road begins to drop into the beautiful and mysterious desert and dunes ahead. Our able driver, determined to get us to our desert camp before the sun sets succeeds with time to spare as we pull into Merzouga to meet our Bedouin hosts who will drive us deeper into the dunes and our Arabian adventure. We pile into 4x4's that will take us another 30 minutes or so deep into dunes that I never realized are so big and awe inspiring. Truly another world - past or future - hard to tell.
We arrive at the most elegant "glamping" experience you could ever imagine, with individual tents complete with king sized beds, working lights, toilets, sinks and showers. They even have USB outlets to charge your phones!
Once we settled in for a quick freshening up... we were invited to climb on board a group of large and noisy camels. Our Bedouin hosts first tied our traditional style turbans, then helped us "saddle up" atop our individual camel and walked us even deeper into the dune paradise. A little while on we dismounted (be prepared - lol!) then climbed on foot in the cool sand up the crest of the highest dune in sight to watch the sunset! Just in time to watch the day end in the most surreal setting this somewhat worldly traveler has ever witnessed. If you love any movies that have the great desert landscapes... this moment will make your life richer for living it!
Back at camp dinner is being prepared while your hosts treat you to a surprisingly very "western" list of refreshments and cocktails (with plenty of ice!) and a raging bonfire in the most romantic setting anyone could design.
Dinner does not disappoint and after, the chef comes out to join the staff for a traditional drum circle/song/chant that should not be missed.
If it's possible, the desert is even more quiet at night than you might imagine, and the stars and moonlight lay a diamond like haze over the already alien landscape that force the world (and earth) to be rethought -if only to give you any hope of remembering your normal life. I'll leave you this advice... Do not miss this. Get up in the middle of the night and step out of your tent. ...you may never get another chance at being this close to heaven.
The next morning we all slept in as if by divine intervention, and reluctantly bid farewell to our hosts and their paradise.

Another day of driving west through the mostly a barren landscape of the Dades Valley we arrive in what can best be described (correctly or not) as an Oasis. The Riad Ksar Ighnda cannot be described better I think. This hotel near our morning destination - the infamous Ait Benhaddo - is simply magnificent in its abililty to take you back to another century and mindset. Its opulence is subtle, its details simple yet breathtaking. As a songwriter in my youth and an architect by profession - I had "I wish I'd written that" moments all evening over dinner, and "I wish I'd built thats" over breakfast. Truly one of the most tasteful examples of manmade architecture and design I've ever witnessed.

Just a mile or so from the riad is the World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddo. A centuries old walled village made famous in movies like Gladiator and HBO's Game of Thrones. The village is dripping in history and is still occupied by families who's descendants have lived here for millennia. Our guide and his brother who live here as their ancestors did beamed as they shared photos of their participation as extras in both productions I mentioned. As we are all big fans of both it felt good to make such a fun (if not strangely modern) connection with these handsome men with huge movie star smiles! Movie fan or not -This is another must see in a country I'm realizing is full of them.

After saying our farewells to history we began our relatively easy 1/2 day drive to Marrakesh. "Easy" being relative depending on how you feel about heights. Driving over the Atlas Mountains is extraordinary. Having a professional driver, especially one as good and capable as our Mohamed made the experience even more breathtaking as it allowed us all to simply gawk at the awesome surroundings. That is most of us. Mohamed's spirit seemed to shine even brighter on this leg as he shared his own dreams of some day retiring with a few humble sheep in this place. As he pointed down into the valley below during a rest stop to say "that little plot would do", I sighed and thought "yeah it would". All those moments on our massive adventure covering hundreds and hundreds of miles all came down to pointing at this one magic little glade on a small terrace just above the valley floor. That would do.

What to say about Marrakesh?
We've been to Fez... so big doesn't necessarily impress anymore.
But there is something... but what is it?
Oh I know! Snakes!
Yes, SNAKES!
Every age appropriate westerner has some sense of what "exotic Marrakesh" might be... and chances are it involves some vision of hoards of people pressing through more people, surrounded by mystical sounds of magic flutes and hissing snakes. Well... we're all right! - and It's amazing!
But it is so much more.
Yes it's crazy busy and bustling in every corner of every street and alleyway. It's absolutely electric with energy and the exotic. Yet, it's also very sophisticated. Gorgeous came out of my mouth so often I began to feel I was placating my own perceptions. This place could take weeks, months or even years to truly get a handle on... but what I got immediately was this is humanity at its most revealed and mysterious at the same time. Shockingly raw in this corner... unbelievably decedent in this one... and I haven't moved an inch. If you like extremes - you're going to love this place.
Our lodgings at the Elegancia Riad Boutique were exquisitely appointed and managed. The staff appeared to be everywhere at once, every request replied to "with pleasure". Absolutely 1st class in every way.

After a great day with our city guide Henine, a young woman who expertly shared her favorite parts of the city we took another free day to shop and explore on our own. Marveling at the richness of the wears and culture just then catching up to each of us. This country happens fast. But the experiences seep in slow. So don't be surprised if your memory seems to be on delay while you visit. It's coming. In fact it's still coming to me as I write this many days after returning home and to my normal every day life.
That may be the real beauty and allure of Morocco... It's ability to take you in and give you all your brain can saturate in the moment - then secretly, quietly offer you more. Like a good mint tea... the longer you brew... the richer the flavor.

To all our new friends in Morocco... shkraan jzylaan.

Chris, Eve, Arline, John and Max
United States (Cleveland, OH and San Francisco, CA)

Abdellah, Said, Ali, and the best SAMIR, our driver!!! All were so accommodating!! Samir really took care of us and went out of his way to comfort us.

Amazing trip. Sallam is an incredible driver with an even better sense of humor. A true joy.

We started off at the Al Hassan Mosque 🕌 in Casablanca, and just when you thought things couldn’t get more memorable, they did. Our first night was in the blue city of Chefchouaen. Our family of 4 (teenagers) loved exploring this Medina in the evening. We were surprised though of all the garbage and the smell of cat pee. If you can beyond that, the experience and vistas are incredible. We stayed at the Dar Jasmine, which was a hike up, but the views were definitely worth it from the top. We loved the food in Meknes. This was probably one of our favourites when our amazing driver, Faisal, took us to the restaurant in the palace to eat. One dish that MUST be tried is the ‘Pastille’. Our kids actually ate the vegetables when they normally turn those down. My husbands favourite was touring the ruins of Volubilis . This is definitely worth the stop on the way to Fes. Our experience with eating with a local Fes family was likely one of the more highlights of our trip. They had us dancing and gave us traditional clothes to try on. It was such a fun and special evening; one we will never forget. We very much enjoyed our guide, Mohammed, who took us through the labyrinth maze of the Fes Medina. This was my daughter’s favourite part of the trip. Mohammed was so knowledgeable and taught us so much, in addition to bringing us right into the heart and soul of Morocco. One of the biggest highlights for my son would have to be riding a camel and ATV’ing at the famous sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. He loved the adventure. We had an excellent guide, Ali, who took us around to some of the Berber villages. I will never forget seeing a 2 week old camel and getting to kick a soccer ball around with some beautiful kids. Essouria had such a relaxed feel: it was here that we had some family down time and we really appreciated it. We found the food to be overpriced , especially the fish, but we loved the ocean vibe and the Medina which wasn’t so overwhelming. Finally, Marrakech we had so much fun and laughs. We loved the energy of this city and we really enjoyed our guide, Hannad who showed us so many things. Our ryad , Palais Sebban, has an amazing outdoor lounge/ swimming/ eating area where you could just relax with the family. We did not like our bedroom. It was small and smelled it our kids had an amazing room which made up for the lacking of ours.

A fantastic holiday from start to finish.
Samir our driver/guide looked after us extremely well for the whole week from airport to airport.
He is passionate about Morocco and his enthusiasm definitely helped bring our trip to life.