Maryem Kouna

A Feast for all the Senses
Our Morocco Immersion and Adventure Tour was indeed a feast for all the senses.
Thanks to Abdourachman Idrissi, Sharon and Maryem and Hisham and Mustafa,our driver.
A feast of Touch - from the hammam in Fez, the camel ride and the feel of the rugs in Toudhra.
A feast of sights - from the vistas on top of the Atlas Mountains, from the Ksar at Ait Benhaddou, the sea of Date Palms, the olive groves and most specially the amazing sunset at the Saharan Desert.
A feast of smell - from the spices at the souk, to the roses at Valley of the Roses, and the seafood at the market in Essaouira.
A feast of tastes - the home cooked meal at the Idrissi home and the food we helped cook at Khadija’s Kuzina were the best.
A feast of sounds - from the drums and Rababs in the restaurant in Fez and the night music at the camp in the desert, the ululation of the women at the Hamamatsu and at the Argan cooperative and the muezzins’ call to prayer.
We are left with an abundance of wonderful memories to last our lifetime. Again Shukran to Morocco Immersion and Adventure

Our Morocco Immersions 14 day tour of Morocco was great. Our visits were generally well planned and organized. The driver, Mustafa, was excellent. Abdu, our tour manager, did a consistently very good job guiding us, keeping us informed, and organizing our days. The local tour guides were all good to very good. Our guides in Rabat and Fez were the strongest. Some of the most enjoyable experiences were ones where we engaged with Moroccans more closely. Lunch at Volubilis was very enjoyable. Couscous at Abdu and Sharon’s home was fantastic. Our cooking lesson in Essouaria was great fun. Hussein and Khalidya were wonderful hosts at that cooking lesson. Camping in the desert was great. Finally be sure you get a Berber pizza! What’s a Berber pizza? Visit and you will see 😎

Hotel Review

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

Morning Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Nourjaddin was an exceptionally well spoken and informed guide in Rabat. Said was a wonderful information source since he grew up in old Fes. The home hospitality offered by Abdou and Sharon was exceptionally kind and generous and offered a nice view and personal introduction into Moroccan family and relatives. (We wish for a heathy delivery for Aziza and baby!) Kazbah Tiziri and Michelle were a a unique treat. She was amazingly attentive to our food habits and a fabulous interpreter of Moroccan cuisine. She noticed we were not eating raw fruits and parboiled the grapes so we would feel comfortable eating them! Michelle was also very open to our suggestions about improvements in the rooms. We hope for her success. The introduction to ancient to modern Moroccan water management (khettaras) was important to learn for today’s climate stressed world. Moustafa was an exceptional driver; careful and experienced. He did an amazing job navigating the high Atlas mountain passes. Thank you Abdou for recommending the pigeon pastilla and for an amazing and unique birthday cake in Palais de Fes. I will never forget “Berber Pizza”. - shopping for it as well as eating it. What a fun experience. Kadijha and Husseine helped us make the finest tagines we ate over the whole trip. They represent the finest and kindest of Moroccan citizens. A wonderful finish to the trip.

Our group of 4 had a magical encounter with Morocco. Our tour guide, Omar Daoudi, set the tone: welcoming, hospitable, knowledgeable, a fabulous driver, full of pride for Morocco - particularly Berber - culture. We quickly became a group of 5. All of our accommodations were excellent; Riad El Amine and Kasbah Tiziri were standouts. Maryem put together a balanced itinerary of urban and rural. We learned a lot about local history and culture from our many tour guides, yet it was Omar who was able to pull the local particulars into a broader context and level of understanding. Morocco has a rich and varied culture…there’s a lot to process! It was a special treat to meet Sharon and Maryem from Morocco Immersion. The woman who took us to the market, had us in her home in Marrakech, and prepared the most delicious meal of our trip is especially memorable. There were so many highlights. I loved the desert camel ride!

Hotel Reviews

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

A gorgeous read with outstanding service.

Authenticity & Character

Everything about its architecture and decor was sumptuous.

Location

It was easy to get to from our parking.

Staff

Welcoming, attentive, respectful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate, spacious, elegant

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

The owner purchased this kasbah in bad condition and spent 7 years restoring it to magnificent condition. The owners are super hospitable; the rooms are beautiful, with Berber rugs; the outdoor courtyard has many features, including a beautiful fountain, garden and dining area; there is great detail to indoor and outdoor architectural elements; the food is delicious!

Authenticity & Character

It gave us a sense of the importance of a kasbah in a small rural village.

Location

Very much tucked away. It was a surprise to find it in a small rural village.

Staff

Very hospitable and welcoming. Offered to do some laundry, which was a special treat.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate, both in and outdoors. Very comfortable, beautifully decorated room.

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

The desert camp near Merzouga was a beautiful location, providing a peaceful camel ride experience under clear blue skies. However, one employee's demeanor was off-putting, lacking hospitality. The camp was smaller and offered a more intimate desert atmosphere compared to some larger camps we passed.

Activity Reviews

Morning Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Omar said our tour guide was not Morocco Immersion’s regular tour guide, but I would rate him as our best local tour guide. The gardens and museums inside the kasbah were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Our riad was in a convenient location, and we got our first glimpse of the royal life of the King.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding local guide.

Transport

Omar navigated the varied stops and traffic effortlessly.

Hike to Cascade d'Akchour

Chefchaouen

The ride to and from the hike was scenic and we got to see lots of traditional wood burning bread ovens along the way.

Quality of Experience

The many stops along the hike where there are sitting areas beside small waterfalls and get food and drinks. There is no need to go to the top of the trail to enjoy the hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Omar was our guide…the best!

Transport

It was a fairly long ride to and from Chefchaouen, but it was lovely, green scenery.

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

I enjoyed both the pottery and leather/fabrics tours. Fès-Meknès is rightly proud of its work in these fields.

Quality of Experience

Fes is a very large city with a lot to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Omar knows all of the local guides used by Morocco Immersion, so there are easy handoffs. Our tour guide was a lifelong resident of Fes. He shared a lot of information about the Islamic faith.

Transport

Our time in Fes was mostly on foot. No vehicles are allowed in the Medina.

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

We had beautiful weather for our camel ride so we didn’t need any scarves, but still it was fun to wear a scarf Berber style. The camels were docile and obedient to our leader. I loved the beauty and peacefulness of the desert. I thoroughly enjoyed the camel ride.

Quality of Experience

Well-trained camels and a perfect day to be in the desert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A sweet young man.

Transport

I loved the camel ride.

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

We had beautiful accommodations at the Desert Camp, but the lead staff person was a bit snarly.

Quality of Experience

We arrived at the desert camp a bit late, which may have compromised the hospitality of our arrival.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff who checked our passports and was our dinner and breakfast server was unfriendly, truly the only unfriendly person of our entire trip.

Transport

We had pretty wild 4 wheel drive rides to the desert. It was rough but good-spirited.

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

It was lovely being in a private home with a master chef of Moroccan cooking. Her college-age daughter helped with cooking, spoke good English, and added to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Every aspect of this, from market to being in the kitchen helping a bit, to eating in a private home, was wonderful.

Food

Amazing! The best meal of the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hostess is an amazing cook and in particular focused on the spices.

Transport

Omar knew the neighborhood well, so it was easy. It was nice to have an experience outside the Medina

In a word, this trip for four friends was "wow." First thanks need to go to Maryem, who graciously revised reservations both when we changed the number of folks traveling and also when our airline cancelled our original flight, and all riads and tours had to be rebooked. Maryem was also great at answering questions and helping us prepare for the trip.

General observations. Our timing (late September-early October) was perfect. Weather was sunny and hot, but not unbearable. We packed rather modest clothing (legs and shoulders covered) but saw that for many tourists, anything goes. Nevertheless, we felt we were being respectful of our host country. We were vigilant about keeping bottled water with us. Most, but not all, accommodations provided it. There was a lot of time spent in the car whenever we were between cities. But there was also much to see. The architecture and landscapes were fascinating to watch, and we had many short stops. You want to have coins and toilet paper handy at those stops!

Best of the Best. Our local guide in Rabat (and I'm sorry I can't remember his name) was so personable and knowledgeable
and got us off to a great start with not just the local but also the country's history and political setting. The riad in Fès (Riad El Amine Fès) was so gorgeous and had such wonderful service that we were tempted to spend the rest of our tour, if not our lives, there. Learning about the ancient irrigation system in Toudgha El Oulia was one of just many great geographic experiences. We really did get into the geography of Morocco in general.

And the top award goes to our "tour manager", Omar, who was superb at navigating our car through all kinds of traffic, including donkey carts and the gendarmerie. Omar was responsible, caring, personable, funny, and always on the lookout to take advantage of serendipity. For instance, we stopped at a "fantasia" at the Ouezzane Airport, getting to experience a local festival that probably few tourists see. His sharing of Berber culture, Moroccan history, and his family's story all helped to make those car trips speed along. It was hard to say goodbye!

Hotel Reviews

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

This place was just fantastic! The public areas were sumptuous, the rooms were lovely, the service was superb. We gladly ate dinner there both nights we stayed.

Authenticity & Character

The central garden/public area is full of daylight and charm. And all around are smaller rooms for dining or relaxing.

Location

Staff

The wait staff was attentive and personable. The hotel host (a woman) was attentive to us and our desires. We really felt like we were important company.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Palacio

Chefchaouen

This hotel was in a good location but not in really good shape. Our closet had no pole for hanging clothing. Water was not provided. (The host told us the drinking water was safe; our tour guide went out and got water for us.) There were no towels in our room, nor in the room of one of our companions. When we returned from dinner, we were given terry cloth spa robes that had just been laundered and were still a bit damp to take to our rooms. I probably would rather not stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad La Croix Berbère Luxe

Marrakech

Great rooms! Wonderful location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The person welcoming us decided to focus on me and make a fuss over me. I think he was trying to be teasing, but I was tired and not in the mood to engage, and he wouldn't quit. That was the only unpleasant experience. In general, the staff was were helpful, particularly in making sure we knew how to get to and from the riad.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike to Cascade d'Akchour

Chefchaouen

The hike to Cascade d'Akchour turned out to be a wonderful experience, far better than its description suggested. We were hesitant at first due to concerns about the distance (10 miles round trip), but the actual walk was full of beautiful sights, local interactions, and peaceful places to rest and enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice. The drive to the hiking start point was equally fascinating, with insights into local bread ovens.

Morning Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

The morning guided tour of Rabat was excellent. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, particularly about history, and it really enhanced our understanding and enjoyment of Rabat and Morocco in general. This was the best local tour we had during our trip, and I highly recommend it.

great attention to detail in the planning.

Omar is the best as a guide and driver.

Hotel Reviews

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

Riad El Palacio

Chefchaouen

our room was two floors with a narrow winding staircase. Tough to carry bags up.Noise from the lobby could be heard into the evening.

Activity Review

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes