Morocco, General Holiday Report Review

Overall Rating

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 our 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 stopped 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 it is still an impressive site.

In Fez we had a full day touring this imperial city, most of which was spent in its huge Medina, which is a fascinating cultural experience for anyone, especially the famous tanneries (not for the faint hearted as 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 Kasbah's. 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), which is highly recommended, and we 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, which is used in the film set of Gladiator. On arrival at Imlil, a small village in the High Atlas Mountains, we transferred 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 Marrakesh, and 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!

Members' Comments onCrisshowe's Review

• Bertie on 8th May 2006

  Crisshowe, I'm glad you enjoyed Morocco. Wasn't that where Bing and Bob went?