Original Travels Co

Our journey was amazing and smooth, starting with the planning stage with Mohamad and Said, who quickly suggested several itineraries for us to choose from that fit our travel plans for the five of us ladies from Brunei.

Upon arriving in Marrakesh, we were welcomed by our fantastic driver, Sameer, who stayed with us throughout the trip, ensuring a smooth and safe experience in Morocco. Hanan, our female tour guide in Marrakesh, showed us the city's highlights and introduced us to the best Marrakesh food. We also enjoyed a hot air balloon ride in Marrakesh with stunning views of the sunrise.

We had an unforgettable glamping experience in the Agafay Desert, where we rode camels, learned to craft a tajine pot, and wore turbans. Waking up to the stunning view of the Atlas Mountains was breathtaking, and the performances during dinner by the camp staff were truly amazing.

Sameer also took us to the impressive Hassan II Mosque and arranged a quick trip to Rabat on our way to Fes. In Fes, Sharif guided us through the historic city and helped us learn about Morocco’s handicrafts.

This trip gave us a deep dive into Moroccan cuisine, including the delicious tajine, grilled lamb, couscous, Moroccan breakfast, and the famous Moroccan tea.

The accommodations arranged by the team were fantastic, and we had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people at Riad Le Pelerin, Inara Camp, and Riad Salam Fes.

We hope to return to Morocco to explore more places, like the Sahara Desert and Chefchaouen. We highly recommend using kimkim and will encourage our fellow Bruneians to book their travels through kimkim for an unforgettable experience.

Our recent trip to Morocco, organized by Original Travels Co via KimKim, was absolutely fantastic. From start to finish, the experience was seamless, personalized, and stress-free. The team truly listened to our specific requests and tailored the itinerary to fit our interests, even accommodating special activities like a relaxing hammam experience. They also made sure to remove any activities that didn't appeal to us, which made the trip even more enjoyable.

One of the standout features was how the trip took our health conditions into account. KimKim was thoughtful in ensuring that all activities were accessible and manageable, so we could focus on enjoying the experience without any worries. We also loved the balance between guided excursions and free time for exploration. Having the flexibility to explore on our own was perfect, while the local guides provided insightful and enriching tours when needed.

The safety aspect was also a top priority. We always felt well-informed and secure, knowing what to expect each day. This made the trip truly worry-free, which was especially valuable in a country where navigating remote areas could otherwise be challenging.

What really set this trip apart, though, was the Moroccan guide, Tayeb who took us around and was highly knowledgeable about all the parts of Morocco we went to (Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fez, Merzouga, Chefchaouen, Ouarzazate). He helped us experience Moroccan culture in a way we wouldn't have been able to on our own, from hidden gems to authentic experiences. This local perspective added depth to our understanding of the country and made the journey even more memorable.

Overall, Original Travels Co via KimKim Travels provided incredible value for the cost. It's an investment that was absolutely worth it, especially in a destination like Morocco where the logistics of travel can be complex. I highly recommend KimKim for anyone looking for a stress-free, customized adventure with a personal touch. They even gave us a free upgrade in our stay in Marrakesh for when we were celebrating our wedding anniversary.

Our guide and driver Oussama is superb. He is considerate, responsive, pragmatic, knowledgeable, has a good sense of humour, and he goes extra miles to be helpful. We have enjoyed his company over the journey and are thankful for his presence and assistance throughout the trip.

The organizers Said and Hazma are both excellent, indeed impeccable.

The place they chose for us to stay, Riad Le Pèlerin, was both modern and beautiful. The staff—Abdul Karim, Rashid, and Ismael—were incredibly hospitable and accommodating, helping us with our luggage through the long alleyway to the riad.

We had a wonderful female tour guide, Hanan, who showed us around Marrakesh, including the Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fna, and the vibrant market. Although there was a lot of walking, Hanan provided us with insightful historical and cultural knowledge. Her restaurant recommendation, Hajd Mustafa, was excellent, and the lamb was particularly delicious. A highlight was the stop at Koutoubia Herbal, where they introduced us to their own beauty products, which was a nice touch for us ladies.

Our decision to take a hot air balloon ride turned out to be a fantastic one; the views were breathtaking. The overnight stay at Inara Desert Camp was also a memorable experience, especially the camel ride.

Riad As Salam was equally beautiful, with its vibrant decor and warm hospitality. The staff was very helpful, assisting with carrying our large bags to our rooms.

In Fes, our tour guide Sherif took us through the souks and intricate alleys, sharing fascinating stories about the different family artisans who have been practicing their crafts for generations and along with it, we had the chance to shop for unique treasures. We had a lot of fun, especially during our laugh-filled exploration of the "hug me" alley.

Throughout our entire journey, Sameer was an excellent driver. He was always accommodating and ensured we felt safe, especially as we were all women traveling together. He was also knowledgeable, providing explanations and answering our questions during the road trips.

The trip was flawless and everything planned went smoothly. Hamza and Said were extremely helpful in helping us decide on the route and stops. Illyas was our driver and was extremely friendly and a very safe drive. Local guides were all very good as were the hotels.

Our favourite stop was our overnight in the Sahara as well as the spectacular drive the following day through the Atlas Mountains.

Cannot say enough about how well this trip was organized and the thoughtfulness of each and every person who helped us.

Noureddine - was the driver extraordinaire! We told him as well but he is a young man his parents should be very proud of. He was a safe driver in addition to thoughtful and funny. We were particularly grateful for his driving skills going to and from the Agafay Desert (those were questionable "roads") and while in Casablanca. We were genuinely sad to part company with him.

Marrakech
Hanan - was a terrific guide both for our walking tour of Marrakech as well as the food tour. She was knowledgeable, kind and showed us some very special places. She also introduced us to our new favorite cookie - the chebakia. She set the bar very high for the rest of the guides in Morocco.

La Maison Arabe Hotel was lovely. They graciously fed us when we arrived later than planned (thanks to flight delays). The room was perfect and breakfast was very filling. We enjoyed eating by the pool and hearing the birds.

Agafay Desert
Inara Desert Camp - never did I think our one night in the desert would involve a significant rain storm and thick clouds which meant no glorious sunset or stars. The one bright spot was our sunset camel ride was rescheduled to a sunrise ride the next morning. Our dinner was DELICIOUS! We were honestly floored by how yummy it was. The Inara staff were fun and charming.

Essaouira
Hassan - was a knowledgeable and considerate guide. He made the history come alive and told wonderful stories.

Heure Bleue Palais - was stunning. Our room was well appointed and we loved that the room looked out on the grand courtyard. It was pretty magical hearing from our room the little trio play into the evening. They sang Beseme Mucho which is one of our favorite songs.

Casablanca
Noureddin - handled driving us around very well and ensured we got to the Hassan II Mosque in time for our tour (which was tricky due to road closures) as well as a walk around the Medina.

Le Casablanca Hotel - a lovely hotel. Dinner and breakfast were very good and reading by the pool was a surprisingly quiet considering the city was just outside the walls.

Rabat
Noureddin - once again handled the driving with care for our day trip to Rabat. We are still talking about our visit to Chellah. It was fascinating and not what we expected.

We definitely felt that our requests were heard and expectations met. Thank you to all - both who we interacted with but also who managed "behind the scenes" - for a truly awe-inspiring trip.

Hotel Reviews

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

A stellar hotel with excellent food. Our room was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a different experience than one in a riad but it was grand in a modern way.

Location

Casablanca is so big it isn't clear if there is a great location. Not a fault of the hotel but we appreciated where it was located.

Staff

Everyone was attentive and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was all well done.

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

A beautiful hotel that was very accommodating when we arrived late due to flight delays. They ensured we were fed that first evening in Morocco. The room was lovely and eating by the pool was very pleasant especially with the birds chirping away.

Authenticity & Character

Nicely decorated and highlighted its history.

Location

It was very easy to walk from the hotel to the Medina.

Staff

All thoughtful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

They honestly made what could have been a disappointing stay (it was a hard rain for a good part of our afternoon and evening) fun and comfortable. The dinner was delicious and the staff were fun and charming.

Authenticity & Character

We are not into camping so this was the perfect type of stay in a tent for us. The extra touches (e.g. the shop, fun sculptures) were fun.

Location

A reasonable drive from Marrakech. The next day's drive to Essaouira was very reasonable as well.

Staff

Charming and made us laugh out loud. They made us feel very welcomed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was amazingly clean considering we were in the desert with whipping winds that night.

Heure Bleue Palais - Relais & Châteaux

Essaouira

Heure Bleue was marvelously grand. Breakfast was yummy and they took care of some laundry for us which we desperately needed. Probably our favorite moment was hearing the trio playing in the courtyard while in our room play Beseme Mucho which is a song we love.

Authenticity & Character

It wonderfully retains the glamour of old school travel without sacrificing comfort.

Location

It was incredibly convenient to all we wanted to do in Essaouira.

Staff

Everyone we encountered was helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean and well tended.

Activity Reviews

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

Marrakesh

We ended up having to take this tour our second evening and after our walking tour because of flight delays. It was all delicious. Our guide, Hanan, took us to a variety of places which was fun. We particularly liked chebekia and sought them out during the rest of our stay in Morocco as well as in Barcelona.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chebakia, harira soup, snails and the sfenj.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan was an excellent guide who shared her love of food. We could've spent days and days with her.

Transport

We walked so this is a bit of an odd question.

Explore the Magic of Marrakesh: A Guided Tour

Marrakesh

This was our first tour and Hanan was an incredible guide. She was knowledgeable and had wonderful things to share. We particularly enjoyed getting to see a neighborhood oven (and help with some bread) as well as the underground heat source for the baths.

Quality of Experience

Hanan ensured that the Medina didn't feel overwhelming.

Food

We got a little snack which was yummy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan set the bar very high for all guides for the rest of the trip. She was thoughtful and gave us really interesting as well as useful information that helped us throughout the rest of our trip in Morocco.

Transport

Again - odd question. We walked.

Le Jardin Secret Gardens Tour

Marrakesh

A lovely little garden.

Essaouira Revealed: An Immersive Guided Experience of History and Heritage

Morocco

We learned so much about Essaouira from our guide, Hasan. He was knowledgeable and very enthusiastic to share his city with us.

Quality of Experience

Food

We got a yummy little snack.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was really wonderful and gave us terrific insights into the city.

Transport

We walked.

Essaouira to Casablanca via Eljadida & Safi Coastal Route

Morocco

Our driver did a great job driving us along this route and we got to stop and see some wonderful views.

Quality of Experience

A nice way to get from Essaouira to Casablanca.

Food

We had a good lunch along the way.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Noureddine was a great driver and pointed out interesting things to see.

Transport

Noureddine was a thoughtful and contentious driver.

Casablanca Odyssey: Explore Casablanca with your driver

Morocco

Seeing the mosque was beautiful. It is truly an inspiring place in a stunning location.

Quality of Experience

It would have been nice to have a smaller tour. Being part of a very large group, after days of very thoughtful guides for just us, was a bit jarring. We did see other very small groups and wished we could have had that experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver could not come in with us but he dropped us off and picked us up right at the entrance despite all the other buses and cars.

Transport

Noureddine was terrific.

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

A beautiful location and stunning experience.

Quality of Experience

Wish we had a smaller group or even a private tour. After all the wonderful private tours it was jarring to be in a very large group. We had been trying to avoid large groups for this trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Noureddine made sure to get us to the entrance and picked us up.

Transport

Day Trip from Casablanca to the Capital City of Rabat

Casablanca

We had no expectations for Rabat and were surprised. We particularly enjoyed Chellah. That was a marvelous site to visit with the different structures from various time periods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Noureddine was a terrific driver and super helpful. He couldn't be a formal guide and we respect that.

Transport

Noureddine was thoughtful and made sure the drive was smooth.