Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Really hard to choose just one! Walking through the sand dunes of the Sahara in Merzouga just enjoying the silence and amazing scenery, sunrise, sunsets and post dinner drumming and singing sessions with our local guides. Sitting at the summit of our hike admiring the view of the snow capped High Atlas. Listening to the call to prayer and experiencing Moroccan tradition and culture.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Rachid was knowledgable and enthusiatic and proud of his Beber heritage. Special mention also has to go to Hassan our driver - he did an amazing job and alwys felt extremely safe on the roads, even when other drivers were kinda crazy!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are travelling in winter then be prepared for some very cold weather. The hotel in the gorge and the gite in the mountains do not have any heating so make sure you have enough warm clothes, thermals and a decent sleeping bag. Hot water for showers was available though thankfully! Desert was also v cold at night so be prepared. The gorge and Atlas mountain hikes do require some level of fitness. Although not technically difficult, you are hiking for 4-5 hours with a lot of uphill. We did hike in rain and a blizzard in the gorge and through snow in the mountains so decent waterproofs recommended! Shopping seemed to be better and cheaper in Essouira than in Marrakesh. Prices were cheaper and they were more willing to bargain.  Although there are a couple of long travel days, you do make frequent stops. And with so much to see out the windows of the bus the time did seem to fly by very quickly.  Try to pack light for two reasons - there isnt a whole lot of room for luggage on the mini bus and you will end up shopping and buying stuff there.  Oh and dont forget earplugs - the first call to prayer at 530am can be very very loud!!!! 

Suggestions

This was my first trip with Exodus and I was impressed. From the pre-departure support to a well planned itinerary I had no complaints at all. If you are keen to visit Morocco then this trip will definitely show you the highlights. Go on, book!

Most Inspirational Moment

Morocco really does have a lot of contrasts - from the Imperial Cities, the Desert, Mountains and the Atlantic coast as well - personally I find it difficult to pick a favourite, although I did enjoy the walking and would have liked a bit more.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha was all you could want from a local guide - always helpful, polite and knowledgeable - unfortunately on the bus the technology (microphone & speakers) often let him down, meaning we couldn't hear a lot of his commentary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For winter departures of this holiday, pack for a winter holiday - it gets very cold at night in the desert, the mountains and especially in the gorge.  Most hotels do not have room heating, so thermals and thick jumpers are required.

Suggestions

If the trip is full (16) then do not expect any comfort or room in the minibus!  Also, pack as light as you can as there's very little boot space either and rucksacks etc will have to stay with you under your legs or on your lap.  And bear in mind that there are two very long transfer days - Fes to the desert took us over 11 hours.

Most Inspirational Moment

The reason I booked the trip was the camel trek into the Sahara and camping out under the stars in the desert.  I wasn't disappointed.  It was amazing sitting around the camp fire after a delicious dinner, singing and drumming Berber style.  Teaching four Berber men how to do the Hockey Cockey was absolutely hilarious, their ability to let themselves go was inspirational and a memory I won't forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very knowledgable and enthusiatic.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would pack a range of clothing when travelling in winter months.  The temperature dropped whilst travelling and walking in the Atlas mountains and it was essential to have some dry warm clothes to come back to.  A good way to warm up was going to the local Hamam or baths, lovely hot steamy water and interesting insight into everyday Morrocan life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Essaouira, hiking in the mountains, sleeping in the desert under the stars

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was great.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you go during November take warm clothes and your sleeping bag with you.

Suggestions

I would have liked to spend one more day in Fes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the Berber Villiage in the High Atlas. The Gite we stayed in was the most sparse accommodation of the trip, with mattresses on the floor and communal bathroom/showers, but with warm Berber blankets and good food. Hot porridge in the morning, a fabulous pasta and salad for lunch, and delicious tajines for dinner. Our visit to a Berber home for strong, spicy Berber coffee and sponge cake was an experience that doesn't come around often, if at all. I felt honoured to be invited into this home. Our guide Mustapha provided all the details on how people live in the High Atlas whether we were relaxing together, eating or walking through the village and the surrounding area.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha was friendly, caring, genuine, and kind. He is proud of his Berber heritage and was happy to explain it all to us as the two week trip unfolded. His patience was exemplary as it's tough juggling 14 people's tastes and wishes. When I mentioned to him it was sort of like herding cats, he just smiled as if it was no trouble at all. He went out of his way numerous times to make sure we were comfortable with our questions answered, sometimes over and over again. He even came back to visit my partner and I in Marrakech after we had been travelling on our own for a week. He had previously helped us book our last night of accommodation in a Riad off the Jemaa el Fenad, which made me feel much better that I knew where we were staying on our last night in Morocco. You have a first rate guide in Mustapha and I hope he has an opportunity to travel himself, perhaps on a complimentary Exodus tour! He deserves it. I consider him a friend and hope to stay in contact.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring warm clothing for the High Atlas and don't forget your sleeping bag. Sunscreen is more important than you think, even if you're travelling during the cooler months. As a Canadian I was introduced to the Moroccon sun  - real sun that can burn (but only slightly because fortunately I had 30 SPF on - another traveller wasn't so lucky) regardless of the temperature outside.

Suggestions

Now that I'm back home, I can honestly tell my friends that I really got a chance to see Morocco. This was my first tour ever, and I found Exodus to be the right mix of both easy and rough and ready travel. I liked the pace of the two weeks, relaxing into a routine of rising early for breakfast, ready to hit the road by 8am, a few sites along the way, at our next destination by late afternoon and dinner around 7pm or so.I have learned that tours bring people from all over the world together to learn about cultures often far different than our own. It opens our minds, sets our prejudices aside, and allows us to learn that people everywhere are more alike than we often realize.   Thank you for allowing me to find my mode of travel!

Most Inspirational Moment

Living in a High Atlas mountain gite in a Berber village and touching all-too-briefly on the simple, hospitable, authentic and friendly Berber lifestyle -- simply unforgettable. A close second was briefly experiencing the nomadic Berber lifestyle with camel riding and a night in the desert.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding. Mustapha is an authentic Berber man and the perfect guide to the real Morocco. He was funny, social, knowledgeable, warm and caring, with endless energy in dealing with a diverse group of travelers and their needs. He took the time to help people individually when needed, and was clearly loved and respected by the many Moroccans who crossed our path. Kudos to Exodus for providing a leader who was the "real deal" for this quintessential Moroccan odyssey.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't show too much interest in merchandise in the Fes medina, unless you're clear in your own mind on buying, especially in the leather area. Though the Fes medina is obviously a must-see, these merchants can be somewhat ruthless in their sales approach. I needed help from Mustapha to extricate myself from a leather jacket deal that most merchants would have realized I had no intention of completing. Don't expect too much from the much-vaunted Jemma-el-fna square in Marrakech. Though tourists/travelers pay most of the freight in Marrakech's economy, this square is completely aimed at Moroccans. My anticipation of hearing some authentic Moroccan stories that I could understand was misplaced and, though I take personal blame for this, it nonetheless was disappointing that this important aspect of Moroccan life was inaccessible here. On the plus side, pay no attention to the hype about hawkers here being rapacious. And do purchase some dirt-cheap ginger tea (ask for a little eucalyptus to be added too) here; makes a nice change from the excellent Berber whiskey (aka mint tea).

Suggestions

If you have 2 weeks to devote to Morocco, this is the tour for you. Though I tend to shy away from tours generally, I came to realize that to accomplish the same on my own would have taken twice as long and involved significantly more hassle, and likely cost too. And I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of travel experience, much of it pretty rough-and-ready, among the tour participants. I will certainly consult Exodus before taking my next 3rd world trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

Ours was another wonderful group. The desert and mountains were for me the most memorable, though for some of us the much anticipated camel ride and desert sleepover transposed into an ambulance ride through the sahara; such a pity! The Auberge in the Sahara is a wonderful place to be; somewhere I would love to return to and have more time to enjoy. The walk in Todra Gorge was fantastic. Couldn't make the walk from the gite but others said that was brilliant too. I loved Volubilis

Thoughts on Group Leader

LHoucine was fantastic, caring, patient and knowledgeableour driver Abdul also deserves a special mentionThankyou to them both

Advice for Potential Travellers

only the usual

Suggestions

The trip covers 2500 miles or so, so obviously it was rushed. but it would have been more enjoyable to have an extra day in some of the cities, Fez and Essaouira in particular. This was even more relevant for our group (the sickest in LHoucine's 11 years' of guiding!); when ill, it's harder to keep going...and going...and going! I knew the hotels were on the basic side, but with such beautiful riads in Morocco I personally would have preferred a higher standard in the cities (and would have happily paid a bit extra). The hotel in Marrakech was good, and the 'basic' gorge hotel and gite were absolutely fine. The start of the trip covers too much too quickly; a whistle stop tour from Casablanca (uninspiring) to Rabat (no time to visit the old town) and Meknes......then on to Fez. The guide we had in Fez was only interested in rushing us from place to place where we were persuaded to spend, spend, spend.....the products were lovely, but it was too much for one hot afternoon. A pity we could not have flown direct home from Marrakech (had to fly via Casablanca and waste 3 hours at the airport there)

Most Inspirational Moment

How our great group pulled together in Auberge Sahara when everyone was falling ill. Everyone Selena acting as mum, Husein our guide sorting out the hospital, the Auberge Sahara staff accommodating us every way possible. The group members who gave up a morning visit for others & helped their fellow travellers in everyday possible. It was the spirit of this group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hussein organised so well but we took advantage plenty of times. I think he just gave in especially at the Berber clinic. It was meant to take 15 mins but took 45 & gave some us some of his mint tea! Taking our crew in to a shop you could double the time needed. When a lot of us fell sick he did everything he could. Always in great humour. We were sad not for him not to see us off at the airport!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Carry diarolyte & baby wipes plus a spare camera. Travel light if you love shopping. Be prepared for a truly exhausting trip because you will see so much & experience wonderful things like a lunch we had in Fez which resembled a private home but was a restaurant from Ali Baba, truly magic.

Suggestions

Casablanca has the mosque, Fez the shopping, Auberge Sahara fantastic staff, rooms to die for, pool & the Sahara in the backyard. The Atlas mountains with incredible views, Todra gorge with its towering walls, Essouira at dawn for it's harbour photos & evening sunset plus the wonderful Riad where we had the best meal of the trip. Casablanca & it's tee total hotel with fantastic rooms & swimming pool plus the great chicken sandwiches plus Place de f'na enjoyed particularly at dusk from an upstairs bar.The folks you share your trip with, if you are lucky enough to have mixed bunch like ours, it will be trip you will never forget. You get through the stomach bugs when you have people like we had. The sunsets & sunrises on this trip are truly special. Having your dinner by candlelight in the desert, sleeping under the stars & enjoying "English tea" in a Muslim country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Yes, there were a few....  standing in awe at the size and oppulence of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, whizzing around the souks in Fez, Meknes and Marrakesh, sleeping outside at the Sahara Auberge in Merzouga, the sunset camel ride into the Sahara and the sunrise ride back again.  Watching the families enjoying the cool waters of Todra Gordge with those vertical golden cliffs rising high on either side. The peaceful, humble life of the Berbers living so simply and happy up in The Atlas Mountains -  enjoying "afternoon tea" with a family there.  Dodging the seagulls enjoing their free meal whilst fishermen gutted and prepared their catch at the harbour in Essaouria. Tasty Moroccon food... served in family homes and restaurants you'd never find again! ...but guess the most inspirational moment for us was tracking down a beer on arrival in Casablanca on a Sunday evening... yes it did happen and we eventually find one!! 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mustapha - a credit to Exodus.  Caring, considerate, informative, knowledgable.  Passionate about his work and his country.  Always willing to assist where necessary.  Always jolly with a good sense of humour....and he found some rather good restaurants.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I guess by reading other reviews it's all been said before....Hygiene is the main criteria, so plenty of handgel, tissues, loo roll - although, the loos weren't that bad!.....the bus, yes be prepared for long and short uncomfortable travel.  We had a full complement on board, 16 or us, plus driver/guide.  No leg room on a majority of the seats and not much overhead storage available.  We were with a good crowd and always rotated the seating arrangements.Travel light.. but if you should have the odd fleece no longer required, please take it and donate it to the folk up at Tijhza Village, they have so little and temperatures drop like a stone in the winter months. 

Suggestions

Another experience - another adventure.  If you've not been to that part of the world nothing prepares you for the sights, sounds and smells - just go with the flow.  Stand and admire the stunning sights of the Mosques, the ancient sights, the amazing construction of the Kasbahs, the hustle and bustle of the souks, the busy market towns.  Listen to nothing lying in the desert at night staring up at the moon and stars, to the call to prayer, the gabbling voices of the traders, to the children's laughter playing in the river... lastly to the guys in the souks who have picked up a variety of accents/punchlines from us tourists.... lovely jubbly!!  Smell the tagines cooking by the roadside, the spices and herbs in the souks BUT take a large piece of mint when you smell the tanneries in Fez!  Go and enjoy the experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the chance to spend a hour of calm and splendour with only myself on top of a hill high up in the Tijhza Valley - the scenery was fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very informative and always looking to ensure everyone was happy and that the trip met their expectations. Our leader was helpful to the extent of spending hours with me in a police station when my Iphone was stolen. He was always willing to talk and share the Berber point of view and came across as a nice guy in general he was generally cautious to ensure nobody got sick.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1 Be vigilant of your valuables - don’t take anything too expensive -  Cameras don’t like sand blown at them and the Exodus insurance does not cover phones! 2 Be prepared to have to pay tourist prices for everything - if the locals pay 4 drm , you pay 10 drm it may seem unfair or even comical when prices change from tourist to tourist but try not to let it get you down. 3 Try to haggle for items like 80% even 90% to get their real prices.4 Try different food and attempt the language5 Get as much change / coin and small bills as possible lots of 20s. - The locals dont like having to have to find change for 200 s.