Majid Mrabti

Where to start? This was SUCH a terrific trip! As we were planning our Morocco trip, we Zoomed with Majid to talk about priorities for a 9-day, 2-person trip with a driver; he put together a detailed itinerary that fit our needs and budget. It took us on a counterclockwise loop from Marrakech to the desert to Fez, then Chefchauen and finally to Casablanca. Rabat, Tangier and Agadir will have to wait until next trip.

We are the kind of travelers that usually prefer to make our own itinerary, but choosing KimKim to plan our trip turned out to be a wise choice. Having a van and driver felt indulgent, but for such an epic trip, it made our trip so relaxed and enjoyable. The accommodations were mostly family-owned, safe, clean, friendly, charming places, which we loved. If you looked for things to complain about, they could be found (a light bulb out, a confusing shower controls situation, whatever), but nothing unclean or impacting sleep or hygiene, and all had decent Wifi and wonderful Moroccan food, but could also accommodate other dietary needs. Most places were riads (older, renovated buildings with a central garden/courtyard with all windows facing the courtyard), and at least this time of year (late January), quiet and super customer-oriented.

For two of us with a driver, the driver can make or break the trip; Mohamed was just terrific. Personable, low-key, smart, flexible, experienced and very safe. Since we wanted to touch a lot of far-flung bases, we were literally 30+ hours on the road. One thing I hadn't anticipated was, at least with Mohamed, how relaxing the road travel can be when you don't have to drive and don't have to worry about the unknowns. We just sat back and enjoyed the ever-changing landscapes, and whenever the urge to take a photo struck, Mohamed would pull over or tell us that a good photo spot was coming. He also was able to adapt our itinerary by stopping at local places of interest, time permitting.

That road-time also gave us plenty of time to ask whatever questions we had about the country, the people or what we were seeing out the window, which made for pretty effortless learning. I basically travel to gain perspective, and having ready answers to whatever crossed my mind was a joy.

A tension point with guided tours is that shops incentivize guides/drivers to bring customers, so you can end up in way-overpriced shops where they ply you with food/drink treats, have a personable host guide and inform you, then give you the hard sell at the end. Mohamed avoided such places, though I'm sure there are endless such establishments. Such a blessing.

In Marrakech and Fez, local guides took us through the city sites, and both were personable, knowledgeable fluent English speakers who provided good perspectives on what we were seeing. There seemed to be less personal crime in Morocco than other developing countries I've been, but Mohamed and our guides were nicely safety-oriented. We never felt unsafe, and it made for an stress-free relaxing trip. Sometimes, 9 days in a developing country can feel exhausting; with a trip like this, I could have stayed indefinitely.

We were connected with Majid via WhatsApp, in case we had any questions or concerns, which we appreciated. In the end though, we never needed to call him for anything. The only suprise along the way was a dinner with a host family that had to be cancelled due to host illness. Majid and Mohamed deftly handled that, and provided a delightful memorable private rooftop dining experience at our riad that we'll long remember.

We stumbled upon KimKim online, so we sent our deposit, part of me was thinking, I hope KimKim is real - maybe this trip is a little too good to be true? Alas - Mohammed actually WAS waiting for us at the Marrakech airport with a little sign with our name on it. And so began one of our all-time favorite trips. Morocco is a fascinating country, with friendly people, amazing landscapes, and wonderful food. And KimKim provided an unforgettable experience.

Morocco is truly a magical place. The magic we experienced was carefully and thoughtfully planned by Majid and perfectly delivered by our driver/spirit guide/new family member Mouad. From the initial itinerary planning through the all-too-soon drop off at the airport to return home, our every request and interest was catered to. We cannot thank Majid and Mouad enough for sharing their country, culture, history, homes, and most of all themselves with us.
Majid crafted a perfectly tailored experience based on our requests. He did this quickly, affordably, and with great communication. He included every highlight we dreamed our Moroccan trip could include: the narrow ancient streets of the Medina in Fes, the other worldly dunes of the Sahara on camel back, the awe inspiring mosque in Casablanca, the frenetic square in Marrakech, and so much more. The best highlight though was our private driver Mouad. Not only did he work incredibly hard as our driver (getting us to our destinations safely, comfortably, and calmly), but he truly went above and beyond making stops along the way to share hidden gems, teaching us about life in Morocco, looking out for our safety and comfort, and even inviting us to his family home in the desert. He anticipated our needs (snacks!) and comfort making adjustments on the fly. For example, he anticipated that we would be too cold in our luxury desert tent (January nights get very cold in the desert) and was able to secure us accommodations in a sister luxury hotel for the evening. Speaking of which, the Sahara is an absolute must part of a trip to Morocco and we recommend giving yourself a few days in the area to experience as much as you can.
We would absolutely go back to Morocco, and if that opportunity arises, we will absolutely be calling Majid and Mouad again.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah du Toubkal

lmlil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RIAD NILA

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

Guided Hike in Imlil Valley

Imlil

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride via Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou via Alnif

Morocco

Fes Food Tour

Fes

Private Tour of Marrakech, the "Red City"

Marrakesh

Marrakech Food Tour

Marrakesh

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Merzouga Area Desert advanture

Merzouga

Guided Tour of Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Cooking Class La Maison Arabe Marrakech 10 AM session.

Marrakesh

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

4WD Dunes Tour & Sandboarding

Merzouga

Morocco is truly a magical place. The magic we experienced was carefully and thoughtfully planned by Majid and perfectly delivered by our driver/spirit guide/new family member Mouad. From the initial itinerary planning through the all-too-soon drop off at the airport to return home, our every request and interest was catered to. We cannot thank Majid and Mouad enough for sharing their country, culture, history, homes, and most of all themselves with us.
Majid crafted a perfectly tailored experience based on our requests. He did this quickly, affordably, and with great communication. He included every highlight we dreamed our Moroccan trip could include: the narrow ancient streets of the Medina in Fes, the other worldly dunes of the Sahara on camel back, the awe inspiring mosque in Casablanca, the frenetic square in Marrakech, and so much more. The best highlight though was our private driver Mouad. Not only did he work incredibly hard as our driver (getting us to our destinations safely, comfortably, and calmly), but he truly went above and beyond making stops along the way to share hidden gems, teaching us about life in Morocco, looking out for our safety and comfort, and even inviting us to his family home in the desert. He anticipated our needs (snacks!) and comfort making adjustments on the fly. For example, he anticipated that we would be too cold in our luxury desert tent (January nights get very cold in the desert) and was able to secure us accommodations in a sister luxury hotel for the evening. Speaking of which, the Sahara is an absolute must part of a trip to Morocco and we recommend giving yourself a few days in the area to experience as much as you can.
We would absolutely go back to Morocco, and if that opportunity arises, we will absolutely be calling Majid and Mouad again.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Full of character

RIAD NILA

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Absolutely stunning property

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah du Toubkal

lmlil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride via Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

Marrakech Food Tour

Marrakesh

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Our guide, Atman was sensational and spoke perfect English

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Hugely impressive architecture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes Food Tour

Fes

Merzouga Area Desert advanture

Merzouga

Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou via Alnif

Morocco

Private Tour of Marrakech, the "Red City"

Marrakesh

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

Cooking Class La Maison Arabe Marrakech 10 AM session.

Marrakesh

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

4WD Dunes Tour & Sandboarding

Merzouga

Guided Tour of Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Guided Hike in Imlil Valley

Imlil

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

We had a wonderful trip in Morocco. Every detail of the trip was clearly laid out by Majid & we covered all the major attractions 100% as part of our trip. We truly appreciated the rich culture & heritage of this wonderful country. All in all this is one of our most memorable trips & we thank Majid for making sure that we are taken care of throughout our trip.

We did a 10-day circular tour of Morocco via KimKim as planned and booked by Majid. It was an amazing experience to see the VAST beauty of the country and experience the hospitality of the people. Ismail, our driver, performed an outstanding job, driving what seemed like endless hours, all over the country, and brought us safely and in one piece to our intended destinations. Besides, the amazing views, Ismail was also a highlight of the trip, with his professional service and local knowledge; his humor was well appreciated, but his taste for music in the van, perhaps needs to be adjusted. Overall, we really enjoyed the trip, but looking back at the number of hours on the road, we perhaps would have liked to have been given some options. We just never thought Morocco was so vast, but the changing landscapes were amazing and certain made for some amazing photo opportunities. The blue city was awesome with its tight alleyways and shopping, but it was certainly the trek and camel ride across the desert and the camping in the desert that were the top highlights that will stay happy and long in our hearts and minds. My friends were literally blown away by the stars that they saw that night in the desert. The accommodation in the desert was also one of the best and it was greatly beyond our expectations. The other accommodations in the tour need some reviewing: access to the hotels were very limited, some of the rooms were awkwardly laid out, some with washrooms but without doors, or showers that sat behind the bed, but worst was that some did not offer enough drinking waters in the room and told us to buy our own water? Certainly, nowhere near the service we expected. Better hotel choices would have made the trip 10 out of 10. Finally, the dinner at a local home at Fes, was the best Morocco meal we tasted. The granny who cooked us that fabulous dinner will stay in our heart for a very long time. p.s. it was too bad that we did not get to meet Majid himself, and some of the other local tour guides can perhaps lighten up on the local history which were too too long and took away the time to explore the sites.

We just came back from a fantastic two-week trip from Morocco, and it could not have happened without the company and help of our driver and guide Mouad! Besides being a seasoned and experienced driver, Mouad exudes positivity and is earnest, and always tried to make sure that everything was going well with us on the trip. Every hour or so in the car, he would turn around and check in that we were "all good"! We also appreciate his focus on us having as good a cultural experience of his country as possible, avoiding too many shopping experiences, and thank him again for his invitation to have lunch with his family when we were in the desert.

Booking the trip with Majid was also a painless process. We indicated our start and end dates, some of preferences on activities, and were quickly presented with an itinerary. Adjustments to the itinerary were easily done, and Majid was always responsive and replied quickly.

Some of the highlights on the trip we would recommend:
1. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. Just the setting of the mosque against the crashing waves was worth a visit.
2. Spend two nights in Chefchaouen so that you have time to slowly wander around and experience the town at a leisurely pace. Ask for Muhamed if you are getting a guide. Muhamed was a great guide keen on sharing the history and culture of his town and country, and we appreciated that he did not need to include visits to "artisan workshops".
3. Volubilis. The site, especially the mosaics, is impressive. We got a good guide (sorry forgot his name, might be Hamid) who is from the nearby town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, who really knew his Greek and Roman legends and could connect them to the ruins.
4. Medina of Fez. A good guide is definitely required to explore the medina. Mouad was not joking when he said we will get lost if we try to navigate the medina on our own (google maps does not work), which we tried one night. Herbal tea with Abdullah was a highlight. The tannery is clearly a must-see. Shout-out to Badar at Riad Farouzi for being an accommodating host.
5. Camel ride and sunset in the dunes. Touristy as it might be, it was still a wonderful experience.
6. Glamping at Tiziri. Well set up operation. Watch the stars and sunrise at the small dune at the back of camp.
7. Dades gorge. We did not know much about this before the trip, but it turned out to be stunning. Dar Rihana where we stayed a night is a definite recommendation.
8. Ait Benhaddou. The UNESCO site on the way to Marrakech was another pleasant surprise.
9. Cooking class at La Maison Arabe in Marrakech. Highly recommended if you are looking for such an activity.
10. Essaouira. We stayed only one night, but would definitely recommend two nights. Mouad said that Essaouira is one of his favourite cities, and we understood why we when got there. Riad Mimouna was stunningly located.

Thank you Mouad and Majid again for a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Riad Mimouna

Essaouira

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Riad Madu

Merzouga

Activity Reviews

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

Muhamed was a great guide!

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Volubilis

Wonderful run and mosaics.

Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( Transfer By Camel Or 4×4)

Morocco

Camel ride and sunset in the dunes were still amazing experiences even if touristy.

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Camel ride and sunset in the dunes were still amazing experiences even if touristy.

Erg Chebbi – Tinejdad – Todra Gorges – Tinerir – Dades Gorge( 4 Hours)

Morocco

Dades gorge was stunning and a very pleasant surprise. Dar Rihana was an amazing B&B.

Free Day in Essaouira

Essaouira

We only had one night, but would recommend two nights in this stunning seaside town.

Dades Gorge – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Telouet – Marrakech ( 5 Hour Drive)

Morocco

Ait Benhaddou is definitely worth a visit.

Cooking Class La Maison Arabe Marrakech 10 AM session.

Marrakesh

One of the best cooking class experiences we've had.