Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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97 Reviews

4.4 out of 5

Reviewed April 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

An enjoyable introduction to Morocco. Fantastic scenery, great group and good food. Beautiful trekking but not enough!

Most Inspirational Moment

The last day's walk along the river and opening up into a wonderful view of the Atlas mountains.Staying in the village - welcoming smiles, slow pace of life and beautiful setting. It was a privilege to visit such a remote part of Morocco.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hasan was very calm, experienced and caring. It was great to have a local guide who understands the Berber culture and language and was able to relay his knowledge to us. He had a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothes! The Gite was very cold in early April - it even snowed. Most of us were under-prepared and needed gloves, hats and thermals and a warm coat/jacket.

Suggestions

I would have given the trip a 4 or 5 star - the walking was beautiful and Hasan was a great guide. However, I was dissapointed by the following:- 1st day tour of Marrakech. The itinerary said this was an orientation tour, but we spent the majority of time in two rather boring museums/palaces with a guide(Mohammed) that rambled on too much and then took us to a herb shop where we were subjected to quite a lot of hard selling techniques and then an over-priced restaurant. I am sure he got great commission but I ended up feeling taken for a ride - which I would never have fallen for had I travelled independendantly.- We didn't actually start trekking till day 4 there was a one hour walk to Gite on day 3, but no afternoon option). My main aim was to do a trekking holiday and really enjoyed it once the trekking got underway, but felt that we could have started a day earlier. We also missed out on doing the last full day's walk due to weather concerns, but the last day turned out to have the best weather so I felt we could have done another shorter walk in the afternoon.

Reply from Exodus

It is unfortunate to hear that on this particular departure, the weather affected one of the included day walks. It is surprising that an extra optional walk was not offered on the first day or the final day yet this does depend on the pace of the group. I will certainly pass this feedback onto our ground partner so we can consider if amending the itinerary for 2013 is a possible option. The local city guide for Marrakech will also be advised of your comments, as please be assured this is not standard practice for Exodus and is a rare occurrence.

Thanks Sarah for the valued feedback.

Reviewed April 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

The Atlas Panorama trip was a great introduction to the variety that Morocco has to offer. Perfect combination of mountain peacefulness and vibrant city life. Good company, with lots of laughs. Food very good and certainly plentiful.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to decide on a favourite part, but probably have to settle on the walks in the beautiful mountain scenery, with the views of the snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys and picnics by the river. Then again, the square and the souks in Marrakesh at night were a smorgasbord of smells, sounds and sights. Lots of nice memories - sitting chatting over cups of mint tea in the gite at night, wrapped up in blankets then venturing outside to see a skyful of stars.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We felt very confident in Hassan's experience and knowledge of the mountains. He had an innate sense of timing in terms of walking pace and stops. Certainly won't forget the snowball fights at the pass on the second day's walk! He was always calm, friendly and good-natured. The staff at the gite were lovely, too. Managed to get some recipes out of the cook.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Always take warm clothes - especially gloves and hats! Don't believe forecasts that predict the mountain temperatures will be 3-5 degrees lower in the mountains than the city. We travelled in April and it was very cold, although worth it for the snow scenery!

Suggestions

Visit the Marrakesh Museum and Ben Yousseff Medersa if you have time once back in the city - beautiful buildings. Don't miss the square at night.

Reviewed April 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

Wonderful varied holiday with the delights of Marrakech vying with the stunning beauty of the High Atlas Mountains. The latter won!

Most Inspirational Moment

Waking up to snow one early morning in the High Atlas.Taking tea with a local family and watching it being prepared - pure magic and humbling. Hearing a nightingale in the valley near the gite.The last walk on the last morning down to meet the van when we were leaving. The morning was perfect and we ambled along with Hassan while some went ahead (breaking the golden rule we'd kept all week) and felt very relaxed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Absolutely wonderful. Kind, patient, but with enough authority for us all to want to do what he requested.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You must take warm clothes - you will need them on the mountains (we climbed in snow and very strong winds); you will need a hat and gloves whatever the season! Waterproofs essential. Take a torch.Be prepared for being cold in the gite at night before you retreat to your (hopefully) very warm sleeping bag. Once again, thermals needed and extra layers. Use a rucsac rather than carry the free unwieldy Exodus bag. When we received it, we checked it was ok to take a large rucsac instead and it was - much prefer to carry stuff on my back. (Plus of course a day sac).

Suggestions

Very sorry bad weather 2 days running meant we had to curtail 2 walks. We missed the long trek to the lake because the weather was dodgy when we set out so had to settle for a curtailed walk - and cruel irony, the day turned out to be beautiful. We also missed the panorama of the Atlas because we could barely stand up in the wind and had to descend. Just as likely to happen in the Lakes!Checking in process at Marrakech was hopeless on return. The computerised passenger list went down (so we were told) and we were delayed by 2 hours. BMI staff pretty unhelpful there. Better on flight.

Reviewed April 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

The trip is good as you get to see a little bit of the city and a little bit of the Atlas Mountains so you can do your shopping and get to see the great outdoors. The mountains were stunning and weather was superb. The food was freshly prepared everyday and delicious every time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The most memorable moment was day 2 – standing on top a mountain and seeing the Atlas panoramic – it was breathtaking to look at the beauty nature can create.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The local guides were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You have to take a camera that can take panaramic shots - better still a video so you can attempt to capture the beauty of the panaramic when you see it.

Suggestions

The mountain can warm in the day but pretty cold at nights...

Reviewed March 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

First trip to Morroco and wont be the last! From Marrakesh to the mountains a very different but spectacular landscape.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 18 mile walk to the lake was beautiful and varied. We have walked a few mountains over the years but this landscape really has the WOW factor. On our descent from the lake we arrived in the valley to be suddenly greeted by our guide Hassan who appeared like Sheharizad from the Arabian Nights! Whilst waiting for the group I was surprised to spot a figure on top of the very highest peak who seemingly, aware of my gaze, disappeared like magic. Hassan smiled at my disbelief saying he was a Berber shepherd "they are like ghosts" and so he was..

Thoughts on Group Leader

Hassan is very proud of his culture and has a instinctive knowledge of the landscape and nature and this inspires interest in his country and confidence in his ability to guide the group. I found him attentive without being overly fussy (not treating us like a school trip- which can at times be a temptation!) with a sense of fun and good humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Buy supplies in Marrakesh because you are very limited in the villages. I quite liked a week without alcohol as it made the walking more enjoyable (speaking from experience of some pretty boozy treks in the past) but must admit a cool beer after a long walk tastes pretty good and cant be brought in the villages. Walking grades are notoriously difficult to assess (like beauty its always in the eye of the beholder) but I would say this was a low B easyish to moderate walk. Yes there are a few huff puff bits but generally these are short and very manageable. Nonetheless to walk 18 miles takes reasonable stamina so don't over estimate your fitness otherwise you will endure rather than enjoy it - but as said by another reviewer you can always hire a donkey!

Suggestions

Read previous review about the school not allowing visitors on our trip and wanted to add that any speculation on this is always risky and often ill informed. Personally, I don't agree with tourists visiting schools as it feels somewhat patronising. Would we allow a gang of passing tourists to visit our schools? Not without a health and safety and police checks! If you want to help the school, and it IS much needed, then take pens and pencils shampoo toothpaste and other educational materials / basics with you. Finally, I really enjoyed this first trip to Morroco and can recommend it to you. We will definately return to see more of this country perhaps climb the highest Atlas peak and catch up with that disappearing shepherd.....

Reviewed February 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

Marrakech is a vibrant city, full of culture and full of fun. Life in the mountains was alot more colder than I had expected but overall very enjoyable too

Most Inspirational Moment

Most inspirational moment of the trip has to be the last day of the hike, it was a nice short walk up to a summit located north east of the Atlas. The day was sunny and warm which meant the views were alot more stunning

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Yahyia was the right person for the group. He obviously knew exactly where he was going in the middle of nowhere, always kept an eye on us and always willing to help. His overall knowledge about Morocco was very good too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No matter what season you decide to go, always make sure you bring proper hiking shoes and a warm jacket, even if you go in the summer time, you never know if it may come handy up in the mountains at 2500 metres!

Suggestions

The overall trip is highly recommended, especially if you have the knack of mountain hiking. And you won't have to worry if you're travelling alone because there is bound to be more than one person doing the same and you all end up getting along and staying in touch long after the trip had finished.

Reviewed January 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

Wanted a trip to escape the winter gloom in Europe (UK) but at the same time did not want to spend too much or venture too far. The trip involved a 3 of days in Marakkech and about 5 days in the mountains. Initially was sceptical about travelling in January given it was winter in Morocco. However the trip was great and the weather perfect! Was sunny and pleasant in the day allowing us to do plenty without getting too hot or bothered

Most Inspirational Moment

Living in the village gite where things were basic and simple.Exodus has a very responsible role within Tighza by providing for villagers. For us this created a nice enviroment where as tourist we were priviledged to live and visit this small village without the feeling of being too intrusive.The views during the walks were probably the most inspirational !

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yahya was a fantastic guide. Genuine person. Always helpful and friendly. Able to explain about morocco and enlighten on Berbor life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Marrakech in the evenings is a little chilly but only to the extent of a jumper/ sweater. The mountains- light jumper in the day. However on the walks which ascends up to 2700m, one needs a warm waterproof jacket and good comfortable waterproof walking boots (as though you were visiting a ski resort). Morocco is a developing country. Tourist may sometimes dismay or feel shocked at things like the traffic, slightly mad taxi driving, hassle in souks, haggling down prices of hourse carriage rides, rubbish/ poverty in the old town streets etc. I felt a little like this on the first day. However once I realised that we are in North Africa, this is the way it is and the whole point to visiting an exotic place; the holiday proved to be a truly wonderful enlightening experience.

Suggestions

Haggle all the time. Taxi's from airport to Marrakech are about 100 Dirhams. Calleche rides (horse carriages) are also about 100. The asking price usually starts at 250.Also if looking for a hammam, the is a significant difference between a spa type place in a luxury hotel and a public one frequented by locals. The later is much cheaper and the real way, but its definately not for the faint hearted!!

Reviewed January 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

great trip – superb organisation and just the right mix of trekking, sightseeing, relaxing and shopping!

Most Inspirational Moment

can't decide between the breathtaking views over the Atlas mountains, chilling out with the group in the comfort & sunshine on the balcony after a hard mornings trekking, the joy of making it back after the super-long trek to the lake or seeing all the souks and sights of Marrakesh.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yahia was great. helpful, punctual, considerate of the slower walkers, and a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

take some water purifictaion tablets so you can refill your bottles, take really comfy walking shoes as you're in them a long time!, bring some warm clothes if you're there at Easter as the nights get chilly, and don't forget your waterproof!

Suggestions

Do it! you won't regret it. It's a great trip - amazing photo opportunities, lovely people and wonderful and friendly hostel in the mountains with great food!! :)

Reviewed January 2012

ATLAS PANORAMA

A wonderful trip. Morocco is a good place to be. Our guide Abdullah was knowledgeable and informative. A nice person to meet. He explained the Berber culture. The walking tour of Marrakesch was a real bonus, helping us understanmd the development of the city and the history of Morocco. The main square in Marrakesch is indescribable in 500 words. As a vegetarian I good special treatment, and excellent food.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting a Berber family for tea, bread, cheese and cakes. So welcoming, so friendly. So generous with their smiles and humour

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excelent. Extremely good at his job. It was a pleasure to meet him. Very caring. A good organiser and team member. A fantastic snse of numour - understanding our jokes.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go as sson as yopu can.Take warm clothes for the Gite (this is in the trip notes).Take some souvenirs/pictures from your part of the World for the Berber family - pencils etc for the children Buy a carpet for lonmg time meories. Haggle, haggle, haggle in the souks. .

Suggestions

Didn't rate BMI at all. Very poor communication when the plane failedto takje off. Then the next day we were bounced onto another airlines flight to Gatwick not Heathrow! All promises about incurred expenses, but no £ yet,However the trip was so good we won't let BMI detract from our great memories.

Reviewed January 2012