Most Inspirational Moment
The best parts of the trip was the local guide at Volubilis who was very entertaining and informative. Also Essaouira is a lovely place, a total tourist trap but it just doesn’t matter. No hassle from anyone, loads of history and a Medina that is easy and interesting to walk around.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The tour leader is a nice enough guy, But he will make excuses to suit his needs. One minute it was OK for half the group to eat at a local market, then when he got the whole group together it suddenly was dangerous for us to eat here and the other half of the group was going to be eating far away. Then when he was pushed on the issue it suddenly became OK to eat at the market and the other half of the group was only going to be 10 minutes way. The tour leader gets a free lunch if he gets his group to eat at certain places, so even when we asked that we stop eating at expensive hotel/restaurants all the time he still kept taking up to expensive places.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The premium trip in November is not worth the money. They advertise pools etc. but none of them are heated so they are too cold to use. Also a number of hotels at the start of the trip have loud music playing till late so take ear plugs. The premium hotel in Fez is in the middle of nowhere so you are stuck listing to the load music from the basement club at night, the pool is also a public pool and across the road from the hotel. Take a good sleeping bag as you will need it for the desert camp and the stay in the mountains. If you don't want to eat where the tour leader keeps taking you stand your ground and tell them you want to eat somewhere else more authentic and local,
Suggestions
The details about being shown how local products are made is misleading, you are basically being taken to a shop where they show you how they make something for 5 minutes and then spend the next 15 minutes or so trying to sell you it at a "Very special price my friend", the tour guide also gets his cut. In Fez the guide will explain you are going to eat at someone’s house in the Medina...how many houses do you know that are 3 floors of restaurant?. This is the second trip I have been on with Exodus where I have been disappointed with the local tour guide company. A number of people on the trip had booked with the Adventure company for the same trip but it was cancelled due to lack of numbers which left people little choice but to use the Exodus premium trip, funny how both company’s are part of the same group “Peak”, strategic marketing perhaps?,
Reply from Exodus
Thanks for your valued feedback. We take all comments on board and have communicated your concerns to our local operator. We are particularly concerned re the mention of shopping stops as this is against our policy and something that we stipulate is avoided at all costs. This is being investigated and the leader will be questioned related to this claim. We also thank you for raising your concerns re the hotel in Fez not being up to the Exodus standard. Again, we are discussing alternative options with our local operator.