Reviews

an experience but quite tiring

What you get to see and do is quite an incredible variation: one minute in the hustle and bustle of cities – old and new – next in the snow on mountains, then in the desert and next on the coast! Through all of this you get to experience what Morocco is in terms of a modernising African country but you also get to see that it is not all modern ‘1st world’ living, it hasn’t forgotten or left its past; for me the latter was why I came on this trip.

Even for a premium trip some hotels etc and their locations weren’t great; generally cold, damp and you weren’t exactly encourage to explore the local areas at times.

The trip downtime all but vanished and this left us with very prescriptive days which wasn’t what I expected or wanted. Add to this the very uncomfortable bus seats and you’re left feeling very drained and stiff at the end of most days, but also feeling that you’d not been able to make the most of what you visited. Sometimes you want to get lost in a city to explore it, not jolly around on a ‘follow the brolly’ excursion; for me that’s not an adventure.

Our biggest disappointment was the food. Due to the hotel locations or how your guide presents restaurants there is very little variation beyond beef (or is it goat) / chicken tagines, kebabs and salads. And despite the myriad of spices and herbs in the markets most meals were really very bland.

Overall it was quite an experience and I’m glad I’ve done it.

Most Inspirational Moment

By quite a distance the time in the desert, it is amazing. We had a little bit of time whilst at our auberge to explore the nearby dunes getting a taster of what was to come, but the trip on the camels into proper desert environments and spending the night out in the desert I would happily do again tomorrow. Seeing the wonderful changes of colour as the sun dips down across the dunes, watching the shadows grow and the landscape change is magical.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but at times quite aloof and trip timing seemed to come from a different time zone - 8 hours journeys were 11 hours+.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would suggest that the rating of leisurely is compared to other tours they do. Whereas we found it ok some didn't; don't expect just gentle inclines or less and for winter tours bring proper walking shoes - trainers won't be good enough. At the back end of Feb early Mar it is a pain knowing what to pack. During the day in the desert it was mid 20's at night though around freezing. Cities at the start were just into double figures but Riads and hotels a little chilly, not so bad if you can get the a/c blowing warm air though.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Steve for his review, although we sincerely regret that some of the properties on this tour fell below his expectations and that he did not enjoy the food in Morocco. We use client and staff feedback to review each property and if any concerns are raised by clients throughout the year, these will be addressed and dealt with accordingly. We are pleased that Steve overall had an interesting experience; however we have taken both his and Teresa’s (please see above) feedback on board and will make any necessary changes.

Tom Harari – Product Manager

Moroccan Highlights Solo Travel

Highly recommend this trip. A really varied trip showing the best that Morocco has to offer. Marrakech is very manic and a bit ‘in your face’ but thanks to an excellent tour leader and local guide the group were able to find our way to such hidden gems as the Majorelle Gardens (Yves St Laurent’s former gardens) and the ‘Secret’ Garden. The trip up to the Atlas Mountains and stay in Douar Samra was nothing short of magical, I got to stay in the Tree House while others stayed in the very unusual and individual rooms in the house or annex. Meals were a delight thanks to the marvellous cooking of Rashida the resident cook and the atmospheric use of candles (there is no electricity in the main house) and traditional low level seating and tables. Your luggage is transported the final distance by donkey and there are also ducks and all vegetables are grown in the Douar’s vegetable garden. Fabulous views and sunsets and great walking in the mountains. However the gem is absolutely Essaouira. I had never heard of this place before but it is the most delightful and fascinating seaside town. Again great orientation tour from local guide Rashida and plenty of time to enjoy the shopping, sweeping sandy beach, bars, restaurants and busy exciting fishing harbour. Our leader, Abdul, was very informative and accommodating and great fun. Morocco is well worth a visit and I will be back!

Highlights of Morocco

I appreciated the comprehensive nature of this 15 day trip. We visited the Imperial Cities, focusing on the history, usually staying in the Medina, with time spent touring the souks. In addition, we toured the diverse, gorgeous countryside of Morocco, with overnight stays in the desert, Todra Gorge, and a remote Berber village in the Atlas Mts. I enjoyed the size of our group of 10 people of diverse ages. We all got along well, laughed a lot and enjoyed each other’s company.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the overnight trip into the desert was the highlight. The weather was perfect, our ride on camels was unforgettable and the night we spent sleeping under the stars at the Bedouin camp will remain with me forever. Our accommodations were unbelievably nice, the food the nomads prepared was delicious and their drumming, inspiring us to dance, was delightful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Samir, was awesome. He had a delightful personality, was patient in answering questions, well informed, told us just the right amount of information. He managed to get us in several places for a meal or tea that would not have happened with a larger group or another leader. He genuinely seemed to like our group and commented that he found us especially great since we didn't "winge" like other groups do.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be sure to take several credit cards for getting cash from ATMs. We had difficulty with some cards and some cash machines. Trip will require more cash than the trip notes suggest.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Gayle for her feedback and we were pleased to read that she found her tour leader, Samir, to be delightful and knowledgeable. We regret, however that she found the members of staff involved in the booking process to be unhelpful. Julie is a very experienced and conscientious member of our Canadian office, so we were surprised to learn of this feedback. Julie was of the impression that a departure transfer had been arranged independently, she did not book a transfer for Gayle; we are sorry for the disappointment caused. We have discussed Gayle’s comments with Julie and we trust that she has taken this feedback on board.

Simon Clifford – Product Manager for Morocco