Wow! What an amazing experience. My trip to ...
Morocco
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Nov 26 - Dec 3, 2022
Wow! What an amazing experience. My trip to Morocco exceeded my expectations and I am so thankful to KimKim and Megan for helping to coordinate such a lovely trip. I appreciate that Megan met with us live over Zoom before the trip to really understand what we were looking for in this trip. As two young women traveling together, our biggest concern was safety, and we did not feel unsafe for even a single moment during the trip.
The logistics were impeccably managed. Everyone - from our drivers to our city guides to our Riad hosts - worked together to make sure we were comfortable, safe, and that we enjoyed our time. We traveled across much of the country and the time getting to know our driver, Mustapha, was a highlight of the trip. I'm glad to say we gained a new friend!
It's difficult to summarize the experience because we saw and did SO MUCH in just a week. We explored the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, ate amazing food, saw beautiful sights across the country like Todra Gorge and the historic Ait Benhaddou, we bought beautiful souvenirs, and made many friends along the way. Morocco is a unique and very special place, full of lovely people, sights, and sounds. I couldn't recommend a trip with KimKim and Megan/Wanderlust more.
Hotel Reviews
We loved Dar Victoria! Karim and Abdul were lovely hosts, helping to carry our bags and always making sure we were comfortable during our stay. Our room was spacious, comfortable, and SO CLEAN! Breakfast was delicious and plentiful. We also ate dinner one evening, and the chicken tagine was my favorite meal of the trip. The rooftop has an AMAZING view of the Fes medina and was a lovely place to be at sunset.
Like most of the trip, our experience at Paradis Du Sahara exceeded our expectations. We began with a camel ride to the camp. Riding camels for an hour at sunset in the Sahara was a surreal experience. It was so peaceful and our guide, Said, was kind and fun, always willing to take photos and share a story. This is definitely NOT "camping" but a comfy king size bed with lots of blankets, a working toilet and shower, and plenty of other amenities. The food and service from the staff was just perfect. Being around the fire at night playing drums, dancing, and sharing stories was a highlight of our trip. I can't wait to go back!
Dar Chamaa was lovely! The staff was friendly and helpful, the room was spacious and clean, and the food was great. The property is beautiful, with a lovely outdoor seating area and pool. We especially loved the buffet-style breakfast and the balcony overlooking Ouarzazate from our room. The location is not very walkable, but you really have no reason to leave the property because all of your needs will be met. Would recommend!
We LOVED Riad Merzouga. We were greeted by our host, Brahim, who started the stay with some mint tea (of course) and guitar. The lobby and common space are beautiful, with a pool in the middle, and plenty of space to relax. We especially loved the rooftop and spent time there relaxing. Our room was spacious, clean, and they even included some towel animals for us! The location is great - easy to find and close to the main attractions in Marrakech. Brahim was so kind to even wake up before 4AM to walk us to our driver as we headed for the airport. Everything was wonderful and we can't wait to go back.
Activity Reviews
While this may not be the most expected or "authentic" experience when visiting Morocco, I am very glad that we visited the Volubilia-Domaine de la Zouina winery in Meknes! After a week of travel, this was a perfect way to relax and see a different side of Morocco. Our guide, Mohamed, was so kind and went out of his way to make our time fun, including driving us around the vineyard and sharing wine and cheese with us. We toured the winery, then were greeted with a lovely spread of cheeses and wines out on a lawn by the vineyard. I would hardly call this a "tasting" as we were given several bottles of wine to enjoy as we pleased. We purchased a few bottles to enjoy over the rest of the trip. Overall, it was a lovely experience!
To say we just grazed the surface of Fes with a 6 hour tour is an understatement. The city is incredibly dense, full of lovely people, historic sights, shopping, food, and more. Our guide, Kamal, is so knowledgeable about the history of Fes and Morocco, and it was so interesting to just soak up his brain for the afternoon. Kamal was very helpful in guiding us through the medina to purchase good quality items and seeing all of the artisans at work was fascinating. This tour was a blur in the best way, and Kamal spent extra time with us later in the day to make sure we'd get to see as much as possible.
Riding camels in the Sahara at sunset is surreal. Our guide, Said, was fun and helpful, always willing to snap a picture or share a story. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Such a fun day! We stopped in Rissani to visit the market, visited a fossil shop, tried on traditional Berber clothing, stopped at Berber villages, walked the Todra Gorge, and explored some of the "Hollywood of Morocco" sights in Ouarzazate. It was a fun and busy day, and a great way to see Morocco outside of the major cities. Our driver knew exactly where to stop and when to maximize our time and comfort!
Ait Benhaddou was one of my favorite experiences of our Morocco trip. Be prepared to climb a bit if you plan on visiting the top for the views. The drive through the High Atlas was SO BEAUTIFUL! Our driver was always willing to stop for a photoshoot. I was also impressed with the new, well-maintained roads throughout the mountains. We visited the Argan and Rose Oil co-ops as well, which I would recommend as a nice stop for souvenirs.
We are SO glad that we did a food tour with a guide in Marrakech! It's easy to become overwhelmed with all of the available food options, and the many stall-owners who are vying for your business. With the tour, we were able to try a wide variety of foods that we knew were all of great quality. My only suggestion is to PACE YOURSELF for this tour, as you will eat more than you should!