Long trip report for Morocco - bill. Date of travel: Jan 2010
I with 7 other people did a tour in Morocco from Dec 27th to Jan 5th starting from Casablanca and ending in the same city. At Casablanca airport we met our guide and driver from Rough Tours Company, based in Morocco. After a short visit to Hassan II mosque, we left to Meknes where we spent the night in Bab Mansour hotel with dinner and breakfast. The next day we travelled through Meknes with a local guide that the company appointed as they know more about their cities. We did not want to book with foreign companies. We spent the night in Batha hotel which is a lovely hotel and good for the small budget. Fez is great; mainly the medina and we did a little shopping. We left Fez with our bus on the way to Merzouga, the gate of the Sahara desert. Here we spent our first night in a small hotel called Petit Prince. People in hotel are excellent. The tour of the sand the next day with four wheel drive. The pizza in Rissani, and the tour of the market. These days, the whole area is full with tourists. The camel trek is wonderful. Rough Tours company deal with kids and that is also why we book with them. The night in the Berber camp is great. We ate our dinner in open air enjoying the moon and shining stars. After dinner, we climbed the nearby dunes. We did not sleep early as we were waiting for the New Year. We met some Spanish people and we had a long chat though we do not speak much Spanish. Coming back to our hotel the next morning, we had breakfast then left to Rissani, where we found Hami bought some dates that we ate during the trip to Boumalene de Dades. The series of Berber villages on the way was excellent. All of us enjoyed the trip and what we paid was nothing to what we saw and ate and the services we got. We started the next day visiting the studios of Ourzazate, then Ait behaddou. The tichka pass is great. We arrived in Marrakech where we spent 3 nights in hotel Akabar and a guided visit with a local guide was done. The next day was a free day and we went to see Marrakech by ourselves. It is a good opportunity to explore some hidden places in the city. We left Marrakech to Casablanca. We have lots of memories about Morocco and honestly we miss our friends from Rough Tours Company and surely we want to go back to Morocco. I highly recommend them to anyone going to this North African country.

Lovely riads in Morocco - Sharon. Date of travel: Jan 2010
I loved the stylish Moroccan designs in riads in Fez, Marrakesh and Essaouira.

Morocco - Sharon Moreta. Date of travel: Jan 2010
Having just recently returned home from a 2-week vacation in Morocco , including a 3 night/3 day stay in the Moroccan southeastern desert at Merzouga, my boyfriend and I were thrilled to have found private tour guide Hassan Bouaouina. I wasn’t originally looking for a private tour guide for Morocco, but stumbled upon positive reviews about him in the frommers.com and tripadvisor.com forums and thought I would reach out to him. Hassan was quick to respond to my inquiry, answer all my questions and was flexible to arrange a tour that met our needs for a price that was more than fair. From the moment he picked us up at the airport in Casablanca, we never had to worry about our safety or our itinerary. He stayed with us around the clock showing us the sites and sounds of the country from the main tourist attractions, to off the beaten path restaurants and locations. He is a certified tour guide, speaks fluent English, Spanish , French,Arabic,German and Berber, he was friendly, funny and went above and beyond to make sure our trip to Morocco would provide us with a lifetime of wonderful memories. We now have a friend in Bhalil(the town where he lives).He invited us to lunch with his mom and sisters.the food was stunny,delicious and it was the great meal we had. here is our itinerary: Day 1 : Hassan II mosque(Casablanca),Browsed Rabat sights(Chellah,mausoleum,Hassan tour),Roman ruins and night in Meknes . Days 2/3 : Fes medina,Sefrou and Bhalil.Day 4 : Travelled south via Midelt and Gorge du Ziz to the desert settlement of Erfoud. Day 5 :We Visited Rissani market and discover the majesty of Merzouga Sand dunes,we rode camels and slept under the stary sky. Days 6/7 :we did Boumalne Dades the canyons of the Dades Gorge on foot. Day 8 : Ait Benhaddou Through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Morocco's most iconic village and Kasbah. Days 9/10 : Anti Atlas Discovering berber villages and the stunning scenery of the rugged Atlas mountains. Days 11/12 : Atlantic Coast Relaxing among the white-washed walls of the old Portuguese fishing port of Essaouira(the place got a great atmosphere,not easy to describe it. »No words ». Days 13/14 : Stayed in Marrakech Discovering the sights and sounds of one of the world's most celebrated cities. Day 15 : Transfered to Mohammed V airport . Check out his site at atlastour.webobo.com He can also be reached via e-mail at gutentagdiewelt@gmail.com.

The great Morocco - Emily. Date of travel: Jan 2010
Hassan Bouaouina is one of the best tour guides in Morocco. My friends and I recently returned from ten days trip in Morocco using him as a private guide. Until this trip we had never thought of using a guide. However for Morocco we felt we could use some help and Hassan was all that and more. Hassan was with us for the whole trip, and even when he hires local guides to help him for Fes and Marrakesh. Hassan speaks perfect English, Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish, German... We called him the master of all languages. Hassan is highly educated and knows a great deal about his country, the sites, people, religion and culture and I can definitely say we learned more on this vacation than on any other. Hassan is such a good guide with whom you feel you are travelling with a friend and not a guide. What we didn't realize when we initially booked is that we would have a totally private tour from sunrise to sunset. Hassan took care of all details well beyond what we expected. While there we toured all days and then he would take us back to rest. After resting Hassan would return to his driver to drive us to dinner and then come back and pick us up after dinner and drive us back to our riad. He insisted on walking us to our door each time even though it was a one way alley and there was no way to get lost. That's just the kind of professional he is and how seriously he takes his work. He was always making sure that we were ok and he made us experience the best of Morocco. We couldn't recommend a guide more enough and are confident that you will have a memorable trip if you hire him as your guide. (he can be reached at gutentagdiewelt@gmail.com)

Dar Imlil - guest house in the Atlas Mountains - john. Date of travel: Nov 2009
Dar Imlil was fabulous, we have stayed there after Toubkal Ascent with Atlas & Sahara Tours, which was well organise. This is a highlight of our holiday in Morocco, we have really enjoyed it, we recommend these people to everyone heading to Morocco.

Morocco, Merzouga-Ergchebbi dunes - josef. Date of travel: Oct 2009
Morocco - Merzouga or Hassilabied villages are the amazing places in Ergchebbi dunes. And these places are the best places in desert to enjoy a sunrise and sunset in full dunes of Sahara. There you can also have one night or two in desert camp by riding camels to the camp. If you like to do your preferred sport in desert, there's quands and bicycles and surf. There are hotels that offer that and also there is organizers Camel Tours. Many used Camel Tours and really they enjoyed it because the company are very helpful in anything you need during your travel to desert of Merzouga. They can arrange transport for you and they can meet you anytime in any place near Merzouga and make it easy for you to get to Merzouga. They offer good services with good price like the camel ride and desert camp and also touring around Merzouga area. For anyone who like to enjoy and have good time in Merzouga contact Camel Tours and be sure you can find all what you want for a real desert experience.

Review on a trip with Dunes Line Morocco - Katy. Date of travel: Aug 2009
We ( sister, mother and I ) have traveled with Dunes Line Tours to Morocco in August 2009. We booked our custom made holiday and it was really the best we'ver been on. We were very satisfied with the excellent offered service, we enjoyed the colors of Morocco, the breakthtaking scenery of the Atlas mountains and the trip to the desert was a fantastic one, the night in the Nomad tent was great fun even with the sandstorm outside. The people were very friendly and charming everywhere and the food was outstanding ( and inexpensive). Our driver/guide was great, very professional and spoke great English he really made our trip extra rich! I cannot speak highly enough of everyone involoved in making our holiday so memorable, we would use them again in a heartbeat!

Morocco - Rough Tours - Ali. Date of travel: Jul 2009
I am from Dubai and had my first trip to Morocco. My trip was an unforgettable and wonderful trip filled with adventure. My plane landed in Marrakech where I stayed at a hotel (Riad Assala) in the older part of the city. It was also a convenient location because it was close to the famed Jami Lafna where entertainment, food, and other merchandise are sold. There I met a couple from Greece who visited Morocco many times. I got a lot of valuable information from them about Morocco besides little in yahoo travel forums. In the same place I met my tour guide for the journey which I booked already. I recommend this tour guide because I found him to be fair and most of all honest. I went to my hotel and he explained to me the itinerary of the places I wanted to visit. Before I left, he made arrangements for me for the transport, hotel accommodations, and activities. My first day took me to the Gorges via Ticheka, Ait ben haddou Ouarzazate. The view was spectacular and incredibly beautiful on the way. I visited the Skoura palms and a small kasbah. The most unforgettable moment of this trip took me to the original people of Morocco who lived in a cave, the Berber tribe. I visited these people and sat down to drink "Berber Whiskey", aka mint tea, and ate some lamb kebabs. These people welcomed me and really enjoyed the company of foreigners. It is good advice to travel with some medication (commonly used OTC). I was asked by most of the people at this place for aspirin. They somehow thought I am a doctor. My trusted guide was so funny when he interpreted what they were saying to me. Well, I gave them the bottle of aspirin I had as I could easily get more at the next pharmacy. The next day my trip took me to Merzougha, also known as the Erg Chebbi dunes. I passed through the towns of Erfoud and Rissani before getting to Merzougha. I was booked on a camel trekking trip for the day. This place was so awesome and breathtaking. I had a night's stay at the Moha yut Hotel. I wanted to stay another night because I was treated well at this hotel and service was out of this world. I decided to go on a tour of the dunes the next day. I got up early to take photos of the sunrise and then I was on my way to a small village in the middle of the desert. As I was travelling I came upon a nomadic tribe who lived in tents. I stayed to look around and our guide spoke with them for a while as they looked at me with curiosity. I finally got to the little village, where the local people played Gnawa music. Very interesting music so I bought a CD from one of the locals and he was very happy and satisfied to make that sale. The next day I was on my way to Fes via Midelt. As I passed through Azrou I got to see my first animal (besides the many stray dogs) - monkeys. My guide was making me laugh trying to act like the monkey. I stopped in Ifrane, aka the Snow City, and had a very good lunch at an outdoor eatery. I stayed in Fes for 2 days and had such a great time on this trip. I would like to recommend this tour guide to anyone planning to travel to Morocco. He was flexible in his scheduling and made time for me to make changes. For those of you who take trips and think traveling or vacation is about saving money, I did not save any money but I made sure that what I got was worth it. English and little Arabic helped me a lot to communicate. It is also advisable to be respectful and treat them the way you want to be treated. I think you will get more out of your trip. Oh, the name of my tour guide is Youssef. Very funny guy and definitely a great tour guide.

Excellent travel guide for Morocco - Valerie Merges. Date of travel: May 2009
I had a very enjoyable trip to Morocco and I would like to recommend my guide Moha. I had done some preliminary research on cities I wanted to visit, but I only had five days to spend touring Morocco. Moha was able to accommodate all my requests and schedule an itinerary which maximized sightseeing within my limited time constraints. My visit included Fes, Volubilis, Meknes, Merzouga and Marrakesh. I also went on a camel safari to overnight in the Sahara desert. The desert adventure turned out to be the highlight of my journey. It was surreal to ride the camel up and over the beautiful sand dunes. After dark, I was mesmerized at the beauty of the night sky without the interference of city lights. We toured in an air conditioned 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser. I was able to request many photo stops. Local guides explained the sights of Fes, Volubilis and Meknes (respectively). Medinas (hotels) included dinner and breakfast each day. I was female a traveling alone, and I did not speak any French. Without Moha, my visit to Morocco would have been very difficult and stressful. See versionalholidays on the Internet.

Our magnificient trip in Morocco - Rebecca V. Date of travel: Apr 2009
We recently returned from a trip to Morocco and Hassan Bouaouina was our guide. From the beginning Hassan was professional and knowledgeable. He gave us suggestions regarding hotels and itinerary, and booked the hotels for us during our drive through the Sahara. We stayed one night in Casablanca. Although we enjoyed our visit to Hassan II Mosque, we found the rest of Casablanca not very interesting. We had heard this from others before so we were not surprised. Most restaurants were good and some were excellent. We enjoyed seeing the Moroccan countryside on our drive from Casablanca to Fes via Meknes and Volubulis. The landscape was lush and green. In Meknes, we went to a craft museum and a covered market. This market was one of our favorite things. In Volubulis, we had a guided tour of the roman site and enjoyed the mosaics. In Fes, we stayed at Riad Fes. It was a nice hotel with a good location. Hassan always met us at the door of our riad because it is dangerous to go into the Fes medina alone. One of our favorite things in Fes was when we walked around some medina neighborhoods. It was interesting to see how people live in addition to the main cultural sites and a panoramic view of the city. We also visited an antique store and a leather shop. At the shops we learned a lot about the crafts and felt no pressure to buy. We enjoyed the 3 day drive from Fes to Marrakech. We saw many interesting villages and landscapes. We stayed at the Hotel Kasbah Tizimi in Arfoud, not up to our standards. In Merzouga dunes (the Sahara desert), we stayed in Auberge Kasbah Dunes d’Or. On our trip to the desert, Hassan reserved a Berber tent and a hotel room for us so we could use a private bathroom and have the choice of where to sleep. We slept in the tent and really enjoyed it. We took a camel ride to watch the sunrise. In Skoura, we stayed in the Kasbah Ben Moro, which we loved. The location was beautiful, especially the back terrace overlooking the oasis. What we enjoyed about the itinerary were the many stops at craft shops and cultural events. During our trip we toured a pottery and mosaic factory, a fossil shop, a craft emporium, a rug shop, a leather tannery, an antique store, and a small music center where we had a private concert of Gnaoua music. The best part of our entire trip was visiting Berber semi-nomads in their dwelling. In Marrakech we stayed at the Riad Kniza. It was fabulous, luxurious and within walking distance of many good restaurants and one of the medina gates. The hotel staff was helpful and friendly. Marrakech is where you do your shopping and get to wander around the medina on your own. Marrakech was very busy and we found it a bit stressful but we’re glad we got the chance. We like the square. Visit it during the day and at night. We had a good meal at La Maison Arabe. Overall, we enjoyed our trip to Morocco, especially the drive through the Sahara. We learned so much about Morocco.

Trip Experience Morocco - Sarah Briten. Date of travel: Mar 2009
Well, we are home again after an absolutely wonderful trip to Morocco!! - The arrangements worked perfectly... we were very delighted with everything, the selection of places ; Atlas mountains, Sahara Desert, canyons ... everything was as we desired, if not much better !! Our guide was great, helpful and knowledgeable. We give Morocco high credit for implementation.

Great experience in Morocco - Loriana. Date of travel: Mar 2009
Morocco - We arrived home at 4 o'clock in the morning, very tired (we had a long lay-over in Amsterdam) but very, very happy. I am so pleased to tell you that our Morocco vacation was excellent! Everything was just as the itinerary said it would be. We were very pleased with the hotels, and the transfer people and guides were always there and everybody was so nice and knowledgeable. We learned a lot about this very exciting country and its history, particularly about the berber culture. We will always remember the Jama el fna in Marrakech. I am so glad we were able to see that. Of course Sahara desert was also a great highlight. And, Michael and I also very much liked Fez. We didn't know much about that city, but we had a great time there on our free day and visited the souks, spent a lot of time going through the narrow street and, of course, went to the medina to see mosques Beautiful architecture there too.

Mt Atlas in Ouarzazate - Sussa. Date of travel: Feb 2009
Our guide took us out of Marakech to Ouarzazate where we viewed Mt.Tichka (the highest peak of the Atlas Mts.) Our guide was gracious enough to stop and allow us to take photos. Then we lunched at the kasbah Ait benhadou, which is under municipality protection. Lots of movies are made there. Our took us through the studios of cinema and there we were told that Lawrence of Arabia was made there... Whewwwwwww! We stayed at the Berber Palace. Comfortable, clean, swimming pool and the staff very helpful and hospitable. We drove to the Dades Gorges, which took our breath away. The road that led up to the gorges and looking into the valley was just spectacular. We took so many photos in this place. The gorges looked like rose buds and mounds of rich brownish red landscape captured our eyes. The road almost reminded me of a French countryside. The village in the gorges was amazingly kept and well maintained. There were some B&Bs that was newly built and some that resembled castles.

The Sahara - Sussa. Date of travel: Feb 2009
Entering the Sahara was so full of sand dunes surrounding us. The shape of the blown sand and the formation of dunes was miraculously beautiful. Few nomads were on the beaten path caring for thier camels, goats or sheep. We had the privilege to drink tea with some of the local people living along our path. We stayed at the Hotel Yasmina and found the place to be clean, king size bed, regular bathroom, hot water, and linens. The staff always made sure we were well cared for and always asked us if there was anything they could do for us. Later we took some camels with our guide to the oasis and spent the night in the heart of the dunes. Someone came and played drums for us and we took out our bottles of wine and the guide took out his tea as we toasted to the newlyweds (us). We danced and laughed till the wee hours of the night and decided to retire to our tent in the middle of the beautiful moonlit Sahara Desert. Thanks to our wonderful guide Ali and his crew. We had so much fun and we are thinking of going back to celebrate our anniversary next year.

Experience city breaks in Essaouira and enjoy horse rides - Carla Da Silva. Date of travel: Jun 2008
If you want to discover the country by an original way, I recommend horse treks in Morocco and especially the team of Zouina-cheval in Essaouira. With Najib and Sophie, you will experience the countryside in the surrounding of Essaouira, Argan trees forests, beaches and dunes, small traditional Berber villages. You can also swim with the horses!!They propose 2 to 6 days treks and you can have airport transfers from Marrakech to Essaouira. They also propose horse rides from 1 h to 1 day on horseback with a picnic! They are very professional and qualified for those trips and their horses are pretty good!

Agadir, Morroco - Jean S.. Date of travel: Jun 2008
The beach front in Agadir has a beautiful board walk full of restaurants and shops. I enjoyed the wide beaches as well but be aware that the Kings palace is on the north end of the beach and it is prohibited to walk in front of it. This developed city is great because there are several colorful and well constructed mosques, all the need amenities, as well as the beach.

Essouira is awsome - Jean S.. Date of travel: Jun 2008
Any trip to Morroco is not complete with out a trip to Essouira. A small town about 3 hours drive from Agadir is a natural wonderland. There are boulders on top of boulders, birds, and sparse plants. I stayed in Agadir and made it a day trip but there are hotels available in the town.

Great guide for Morocco! - James/Barbar and their Daughters. Date of travel: May 2008
My family’s dream of visiting North Africa came true in May 2008, thanks to our guide Hassan who was recommended to us by a friend. From Fez airport, Hassan took us to our exotic Riad in the 1200 years old labyrinth of winding streets Medina. We had an air-conditioned comfort 4x4 for 10 days throughout Morocco. We started in Fez and toured through the streets of the old medina. Our tour included the Attarin Mederas, which is a 14th century Koranic school, Seffarine site and the terrasse des tanneurs; medieval tanneries that are unforgettable for the nauseating smell of rotting animal flesh on goat, sheep and camel skins. Next morning, we continued on to the Atlas Mountains, where we experienced the Barbary apes, ending up with the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebi where we had a stunning night under the stars. Next day we had an excursion around the huge dunes, where we shared mint-tea and had a delicious lunch with a lovely Berber family. Our camping trek into the Sahara Desert on camels with a Berber camel man was one of life’s thrills. We spent a few days in the spectacular Dades and Todra gorges, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben haddou Kasbah, through the High Atlas Mountains and then to Marrakech. Our Riad in Marrakech was simply divine and air-conditioned. In Marrakech we had an exciting tour of the Medina, Bahia palace, Saadian tombs, Koutoubia Mosque and the famous square Jama el F’na. The horse Fantasia evening on our last night there was magical. We departed for Casablanca where we had a nice lunch at an ocean café before continuing on to Rabat, where we had a charming hotel with glorious food. In the morning we explored the Medina and toured the old walled city on the bluff, then drove to a small beach town called Oualidia where we enjoyed oysters. Our family loves to travel, when I envisioned our family’s trip to Morocco, I had an idea in my head about travelling around the country. We wanted to experience the cultural side of the country with some adventure. Hassan made the dream a reality for us, I highly recommend him for everyone heading to this wonderful country. Look for Under Moroccan Sun on the internet.

Tetoun Morroco - Jean S.. Date of travel: May 2008
Tetouan in Morocco is a clean historic city. I stayed at Hotel NaNa at Plaze Mulay Mehal. The hotel is tiled and trimed in traditional Moroccan design but smells like an ashtray. Great location to visit the Madina. Sit at any street cafe to watch the city go by while enjoying a cup of green mint tea or espresso. I liked walking around the Riz Mountains; just 8km outside the city.

Walking the Rif Mountains - Jean S. Date of travel: May 2008
A guided tour of the Rif mountains is a great way to see the rural life of Morrocco. Their fields or full of soy, marijuana and sheep. When night fall comes approach a local farmer in Bin Hassin for a place to stay. They will give green tea, bread, milk, and butter to fill your belly.

Visit the Sahara in Morroco - Jean S.. Date of travel: May 2008
Rassini to Marzouga and Ouarzazate are good places to arrange camel treks into the desert but beware of pushy camel jockeys in Rassani. Be sure to shop around and bargain. The cheapest trek can be about 250 dirham a day. Don't miss out on dates and olives of the desert or the traditional medicine shops in Rassini.

A good stopover in Laayoune - Jean S.. Date of travel: May 2008
The military town of Laayoune has a huge UN presence. Because of this you can eat in an expensive restaurant and stay in a fantastic hotel. As a low budget traveler I found a great hotel called the Rif Hotel for 30 dirham a night and ate at small restaurants selling white beans or meat with bread for 10 to 15 dirham. A nice walk by the dunes and small river as well as the gardens on the south side of the town are great.

Desert Trip in Morocco - Peter. Date of travel: Apr 2008
Morocco - These amazing dunes, which rise up out of the stony, sandy desert extend for 30km (19 miles) and reach a maximum height of 250m (820ft). At sunrise and dusk, the half-light gives the sand a fascinating rang of subtle colours. Although they are nearer to Risssani, Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi are easier to reach from Erfoud, the services of the Desert-trips company were really necessary when high winds whip the sand , and we couldn't make the trip without their guide Youssef. From Erfoud going in the direction of Erg Chebbi, the views of the black Erg absorbed us. Our guide suggested stopping at a few places to let us know about the history of some nomads and the homeland of the old fossils, from where it comes as raaw materials. The stop I remember was at a village named Karyan which contain lot of fossils, some of them just visible and still stuck in the ground. Next stop was at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes, from where we started our camel trekking and stayed the night at a camp. The camps belongs to the company which we contacted to book our camel trek and 1 night under berber tents. The following day was cool and sunny, the sunrise was perfect and my travel folks made some great pictures of the dunes while changing the colours, the place is just amazing and peaceful. After the great time we spent at the camp and dunes, the camels were ready to carry us back to the hotel where we started the camel trek. Next step will be the lake. We drove along the edge of the dunes and crossed a few villages to reach this lake. Our guide reported "Dayet Serji", the name of the lake, which is a small lake west of the village, sometimes fills with water during the winter after sudden rainfall. It attracts hundreds of pink flamingos, storks and other migratory birds.

Amazing trip with Bari - Dianna. Date of travel: Feb 2008
My sister and I have just come back from the camel trekking tour with Bari in Morocco and it was FANTASTIC. I highly recommend it. It takes in all the places you mention. He picked us up from our Riad in Marrakech in a 4 wheel drive. There was another couple with us in the vehicle, plus a minibus behind with 2 families. Bari travelled in our 4 wheel drive and was great at answering all our questions about Morocco. He took us to nice places for lunch and the hotel at Dades Gorge was a delight. He stopped off at all the good views, so we could take photos. He advised on what things should cost to help us barter for fossils and minerals and scarves in the Atlas Mountains and the plains. My mind is still reeling from all the vivid impressions - site sound taste fragrance... Morocco depends on its tourist trade,its tourist guide/driver so you'll see other 4 wheel drives - not much else on the road apart from donkeys- and when you get to base camp in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi you'll see other camel caravans. But the place is so huge and exciting it doesn't matter a bit. The dunes swallow us all up! For someone not used to camel trekking, the hour and a half to our night camp was just about the right length, and I felt quite the old hand the next morning on our return- sad because I would have liked to spend a few days out there really. Bari does do longer treks if you want by the way- I had to get back to work here in London, so did the 2 nights/3 days. Mint tea was waiting for us at the camp and loads of blankets and mattresses and cushions to keep us warm and comfy. The evening light was brilliant for watching the desert change before your eyes and the night sky - well, it was silver with stars. I just lay back and drank it all in. He employs a Berber family to keep the camp and cook. Delicious chicken tagine - or vegetable if you're vegetarian. The two camel drivers came out to light a fire and play their drums later - Bari joined them in drumming and invited us to have a go too, before telling us jokes and setting us mental puzzles. He really was an excellent host - personable, quiet, calm,so funny, good humoured. Although there were 13 of us, it felt very intimate. I booked it with him via his site on the Internet, called saharaeyes. Search for it.

Morocco Trip report - Alexandra// Eric// Marry. Date of travel: Jan 2008
We have just returned from a two weeks holiday to Morocco. We were meet at the airport in Casablanca and spent our first night in a nice hotel at Rabat city which is the capital of the country. Our second day took us to Fez via Meknes, Volibulis and Moulay Idress with a guide in each site. Fez is beautiful with it's labyrinth of ancient winding streets, we had three days of visiting all the historical and interesting parts of the city and learning of some of the amazing crafts Moroccans are known for, such as pottery, mosaic, carpets, weavers, leather and the well known dying vats. Then on and out to the desert. The drive over the mid Atlas Mountains was quiet spectacular. Berber dwellers had just taken their animals up into the mountains to graze. Over the other side a big change of scenery. It can only be called dramatic. From arid hillsides, spectacular sand dunes to lush oasis. We camped in Berber style tents (but with all the comforts needed) and were fed extremely well. Rode Camels into the sand dunes and camped one night out there and woke to see the sun rise. We were taken to a small village to visit a folkloric Gnaoui show with a great spirited music and dancing. Later on we headed to Rissani town where we bathed in a local Hamman and were feeling very privileged to have been part of locals’ lives though only for a short time. We left the desert with memorable experiences and on to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge, and Kala Magona. Our hotel in Ouarzazate had an outstanding view of the snow capped Atlas Mountains; Kasbah Ait Ben haddou which is a UNESCO heritage site was outstanding. The drive over the mountains again was quiet spectacular and on into Marrakech. Our Riad in this city was absolutely exquisite, and we had three nights enjoying the hustle and bustle that is Marrakech offers. Then on to Essaouira. A picturesque fishing town and it would seem a movie set with a romantic port. The Medina is easy to navigate, and the people were extremely friendly. We strolled in the market and were enthralled to see every form of livestock, tool, grain and even medicines, food and clothing up for grabs and it made for some really good photographs. On up the coast to Casablanca and sadly to the end of our fabulous holiday.

The Amazing Morocco - Elissa Moriane. Date of travel: Dec 2007
Morocco is the tantalising lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, a Muslim land so rich in mystique it seems to hover like a magic carpet somewhere between myth and reality. Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakech...just the names of these cities and towns should stir a hint of spice in the nostrils of the most geographically challenged. Many Moroccan destinations have been mythologized, and for good reason, but the more jaded traveller may well moan about the extinction of the `real' Morocco. Still others will extol the country's unique living history, its shimmering light, its art. Morocco is the ideal starting point for the traveller to Africa. An easy hop from Europe, it can be a friendly, hectic and stimulating place to get around in. Open-air markets throughout the country are piled high with rugs, woodwork, and jewellery.

I recommend private tour guide Moha - Elissa Moriane. Date of travel: Dec 2007
We just returned from a phenomenal 10-day tour of Morocco. Our itinerary was: Marrakesh - Ouarzazate - Tinghir - Merzouga - Midelt - Fez - Rabat - Casablanca. We sped across southern Morocco, stopping in tiny Berber villages along the way. There was a 2-day camel trek into the desert, along with sandboarding - one of the most amazing experiences we have ever had. We felt like guests in Morocco, not tourists. We had tea with a Berber woman who lives in a cave and has 11 children. This trip really put into perspective the diversity of life in our world, and we returned from Morocco amazed in every way; by the rich culture, geography, language, cuisine, and hospitality. You can get hold of Moha through email or on the Internet.

Morrocco Holiday - John Davidson. Date of travel: Jun 2007
I had waited a long time to visit Morocco and despite all the hassle from the determined locals I found it very rewarding. The crazy souks of Marrakesh and Fez feel as if they have not changed for a thousand years, Casablanca feels like a french city 50 years ago and the coastal towns like Essouria and Ouluidia are so beautiful and unspoilt. The Atlas mountains are amazing and you can still find the Bedouins living as they always have. A strange and challenging place to travel, Morocco will test your patience and reward you with rich experiences.

Morocco, the place to visit - John & Jay McCrum. Date of travel: May 2007
We spent two months travelling around Morocco and can not praise it and the people highly enough. The country has everything from great beaches to fantastic mountains, secret valleys with clear lakes to swim in and everything so green (in the north) to the Sahara, which we only visted briefly and were caught in a sand storm. The barganing for everything gets to you a first but after a while you learn to ask everyone what they paid, thereby getting an idea of what things should cost. I will certainly come again.

We Loved Tangier and the Local Tour guide - Alison & David J. Parker. Date of travel: Sep 2006
According to our local/private-guide appointed by the hotel reception, Tangier was a playground for adventure seekers and the rich and famous, attracting all those seeking a tax haven or a mystic destination; from authors to artists, and spies to aristocrats. Regular visitors included the likes of Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, and Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. When Spain relinquished Tangier back to Morocco in 1960 its duty-free status went with it, and the city lost a great deal of its flair. Our wonderful guide (Nezha) showed us the Caves of Hercules and Tangier’s 17th century fortified residential quarter, or Kasbah, is a place of arcades, winding alleys and hidden terraces, where it is possible to wander among the wealthy homes and sometimes manage a peep behind the unprepossessing facades, enjoying views of the medina and the bay. The Kasbah mosque features an interesting octagonal minaret, and stands in the mechovar (parade ground). We were very welcomed at the Sultan’s Gardens in the Rue Riad Sultan to the north of the mechovar, where they can watch local craftsmen at work and sit awhile on the terrace of the Moorish café Le Detroit. On a clear day it is possible to see the Spanish city of Tarifa about 18 miles (30km) away. Our Personal guide Nezha, is a registered Private-tour guide in Morocco. Thanks to her efforts, our visit in Tangier was a total success. Nezha old Morocco come alive and she guided us through the energy and dynamism of today’s Morocco. She offered new insights on sites I thought that I already knew, she took us to places that I had been waiting years to see, and she introduced us to spots that I didn't even know existed. Nezha’s knowledge is vast and her generosity in sharing it is unlimited, she gave us lectures on Moroccan history, Politics, Culture, and current events delivered in colloquial English, peppered with incisive witticisms and informed by his acumen. Her background is impressive. I hope to be lucky enough to have her as a guide in the future and I recommend her wholeheartedly to any visitor to Morocco.

Morocco trip report. - Cris. Date of travel: Mar 2006
A short flight from London and I was in Casablanca, the joining point for the trip. I had arrived a few days before the trip giving me some spare time to enjoy the city. I spent my time exploring and getting totally lost on the Moroccan trains, which was not helped by the fact that my French vocabulary stretches as far as "bonjour" and "merci" -- I knew I should have paid more attention at school! After meeting the group for breakfast, we set off for the impressive Hasan the 2nd Mosque before the short train journey to Rabat and the start of my Moroccan Adventure. Once in Rabat we set off on a city walking tour, taking in the highlights and fascinating history of the city. The guide was very informative and it was here we would have are first experience of the Moroccan Medina and the hustle and bustle of the evening traders. Next we headed for Fez stopping at a weekly market (en route) where locals will travel by donkey to buy and sell goods for the week. We also stoped at the ruined Roman city of Volubilis, where we had a guided tour of the ancient site. The city was damaged by a major earthquake but still is an impressive site. In Fez we had a full day touring this imperial city, most of which was spent in its huge Medina -- a fascinating cultural experience for anyone, especially the famous tanneries (not for the faint hearted -- it stinks). The medina of Fez has to be the world's biggest maze with street sellers, blacksmiths and carpenters around every corner (the list is endless). After some time in the cities it was time to head south and over the Mid-Atlas Mountains. This is a full day's drive of stunning scenery, with flowing hills dotted with random Kasbahs. We finally arrived, covered in dust and sand at Erfoud, our gateway to the dunes of the Sahara. The following day we had some free time to explore the local markets before heading off to Erg Chebbi. That evening we made a caravan of the 4 legged kind plus Omar at(www.cameltrekking.com), highly recommended, and set off into the dunes to watch the sunset. Camel riding, for those who have never done it, is very enjoyable and really good fun. It just all adds to the experience of being in the Sahara. That night we opted to sleep under the stars and with a clear sky and no light pollution you could spend all night gasping at the beautiful sky. The next morning we awoke to rain and although we missed out on the sunrise not many people can claim to being rained on in the Sahara! Another long days drive took us to Todra Gorge. This stunning gorge with brilliant red cliffs 250 metres high was the highlight of my trip. Here we spent the day walking in the gorge and just taking in the brilliant scenery this place has to offer. For those who want to, there is the option to do some rock climbing here. We travelled towards the High Atlas mountain stopping en route at the famous Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou used in the film set of Gladiator. On arrival at Imlil, a small village in the High Atlas Mountains, we transfered to our home for the next few days. Here we stayed with a traditional Berber family and experienced the lifestyle they live. A full days trek followed in this beautiful region, and led us to a stunning waterfall and an amazing view over the village. The walk was most enjoyable. There is also the opportunity to make the ascent to North Africa's highest mountain, Mt. Toubkal, at 4167 meters -- for those willing and able. The following day we had just a short drive to Marrakech here we had a horse drawn carriage ride around the city taking in the many historic buildings and monuments, complete with a guide advising us of the history and answering any of our questions. In the evening Djemaa-el-fna is a must. The square comes alive at night with snake charmers, acrobats musicians and more. Another huge attraction of the square has to be the food stalls, just choose a stall and pull up a seat to sample a mouthwatering sheeps head. Don't worry as well as the unusual, there are the usual brilliant Moroccan dishes and you can also get many European favourites at great value. Overall this trip has a great mixture of adventure and culture combined with the stunning scenery Morocco has to offer -- a truly wonderful experience.

Morocco trip report.(2) - Cris. Date of travel: Mar 2006
The remainder of our stay was pure delight. During the day we talked to Omar about life in Morocco and his travels in Desert. At night, we played drumms together. We learned how to cook Moroccan dishes under the tutelage of omar's mother. The sand dunes were no more than 300 meters from the house, and we ventured up a 100 meter high dune each day. We would have been content to stay an entire month. On our final morning, Omar drove us to Erfoud, 50km north of Merzouga, where the bus for Fes.

michelle cope. Date of travel: Sep 2005
I visited both Agadir and Marrakech recently and they couldn't of been more different. There is still quite a bit of bulding work going on around Agadir, but its a developing resort so you've got to expect it. It should'nt distract you though from the lovely scenery from the kasbah and the beaches that go on for miles. I did'nt expect to like Marrakech but i really enjoyed it, even more than Agadir! There's a lot more to see and do here. Try Chez Ali Fantasia a good night out with great food, the souks and the djemma el fna square i've never seen so many people in one place at a time! If you see men with funny hats on with cups around their neck don't worry their only selling water but don't buy any stick to bottled water or you will have "moroccan belly" as they call it! have a look at the temperatures before you go if you cant take the heat, in september it was around 90 degrees in agadir and well over 100 degress in marrakech. Food is great out there they do try and put lamb in everything but if trying local food isn't your thing there are still mc donalds and kfc's. I would definatley recommend a twin centre but be prepared for the 4hr transfer between Agadir and Marrakech, but it's worth it in the end!. Tour Operator: panorama

Natalie. Date of travel: Aug 2004
Travelling as single female, Morocco was not as hard as expected but requires a thick skin- no feminist views here.. Be aware of the novelty. Although Morocco is quite westernised, for own benefit I recommend to cover up. Does not stop attention but sure helps. Marrakesh is a must even for a few days- to experience the main square at night is amazing.. Hotel Ali although not the cleanest but I highly recommended- helpful staff when needed, right near the square and the souqs, and can book you a sahara tour. A bit more expensive but once travelled you will appreciate. To recover from the extremes of Marrakesh, catch the bus to Essaouaira- coastal town.. Big difference in people. Be prepared to be constantly annoyed by locals- unfortunately it's their nature. Learn to laugh at it and you'll enjoy.. Tour Operator: N/A

Rob Parker. Date of travel: Mar 2004
One of the highlights of my trip was trekking in the High Atlas Mountains. From Imlil (a mountain village about an hour from Marrakech) we did a 7-day trip around the Toubkal Circuit. We saw hardly any other trekkers and it was fantastic to experience village life and hospitality in the mountains. We passed some incredible scenery, a glacial lake, some high passes and many shepherds with their agile goats and sheep. Really worthwhile. Most people just do the 2-day Jebel Toubkal ascent to bag the highest peak in northern Africa (13,665ft), but this is a horribly overrun route with overweight, unfit wannabe hikers along with their donkey trains. Much better to get away from it all and really see the mountains! Tour Operator: self organised

C.C. Drummond. Date of travel: Mar 2004
We had limited time and had spent it mostly in Spain. I wanted to go to Morroco and with my time constraints picked Tangier. I initally was a little reserved about going there because I had heard negative things said but, I am not one to listen to reviews I'd rather form my own opinion. I was travelling with my 9 year old son,my sister and her husband as well as their 22 year old son who at the time was attending the university in Madrid. The ferry ride over was amazing. It was so clean and the staff were very friendly. My son was thrilled when we saw the mountains in the distance that was the shoreline of Africa. When we came off the boat we were greeted with a few registered tour guides. We picked one after speaking w/a few and our guide was named Jacob. It turned out that he was a history teacher and did this for extra income. He spoke something like 8 languages and was from the beginning a walking text book regarding where and what we were seeing. The markets were amazing and while we shopped he told us he would come back within an hour and let us do our thing inside this great market. They had a show for us regarding the beautiful handmade rugs and the hospitality was overwhelming. We had the most wonderful mint tea and after that they allowed us to go to the roof and take pictures of the town and sea. This was off season and we were the only ones in the group. Our guide then took us to a few jewerly shops were I might add my sister and I spent the most. My son purchased a djelaba and after that he looked like a morrocan. At one store my son elected to sit out on the street curb w/some morrocan children and play ball. My son is half african american and his skin color is a beautiful brown which he found it cool that everyone else had similar color to his. The kids were so friendly and thought he was morrocan at first until he spoke to them. He took many pictures and still to this day he speaks of our visit there as if it was yesterday. The shop owners where pleasant not pushy which irates me in the states. Make sure you bargin.bargin , bargin. One store we went to my nephew bargined for almost an hour. They took us to an upstairs room where we showed them what it was we had in our wicker baskets and then the bargining begins. I would have given in after about 10 mins but my nephew held on at one point we all got up and left to go downstairs, the gentleman called my nephew back and we let the men stay upstairs and my sister and I went back down where the merchindise was. Finally, they resolved the price we paid and all of us were very happy. Of course, we were starved by the evening and Jacob took us to a great restaurant. We were the only ones in there and we were treated to a three piece musical trio. The music was amazing and the food was excellent. I could not get enough of the wonderful sights before my eyes. For one day I had one of my greatest travel experiences. I will always remember our kind guide Jacob and the exciting streets of Tangier. I never felt nervous or at threat from anything. Of course, I did the obvious. I did not carry a handbag my passport was carried under my clothes, it was chilly and I was always covered. I will be re-visiting Morocco in the future and hope the cities I travel to will be as positive as this day was in Tangier.

Barbara Nicholson. Date of travel: Jan 2004
Agadir, Take a white taxi and get the driver to show you Agadir. Take a trip to the green valley, Grand Souk and see life. Tour Operator: Thomson

Morocco in Ramadan 2009 - Laura from Vancouver. Date of travel: Jan 1970
We just came back from Morocco. We spend 12 days in the country touring. We visited Fez, Desert, Berber villages in the atls mountains, Todra and Dades, Marrakesh and Essaouira. We also had very delicious moroccan food.