Morocco, General Holiday Report

We just returned from a phenomenal 10-day tour of Morocco. We found our guide through a posting on a Website, and he subsequently sent me half-a-dozen references, one in my own hometown whom I met for coffee. After speak to him by email and phone and then meeting his reference in person, I felt quite comfortable booking him for our trip. He helped me plan our itinerary and booked hotels for us. Our itinerary was: Marrakesh - Ouarzazate - Tinghir - Merzouga - Midelt - Fez - Rabat - Casablanca. He picked us up from the airport with his driver and a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser. He stayed with us the whole time as we sped across southern Morocco, stopping in tiny Berber villages along the way. He also arranged a 2-day camel trek into the desert, along with sandboarding - one of the most amazing experiences we have ever had. He was a knowledgeable, friendly and very competent guide. We never felt uncomfortable with either of them, and in fact we became very good friends with both of them. If we ever took a local guide in one of the big cities (local guides are required by law in each city), our guide personally introduced us to him in advance. the driver himself owns the Toyota and always made sure it was clean, functioning and safely guarded. He even arranged a cell phone for us, and texted us while we were with local guides to make sure everything was OK. Due to their knowledge and hard work, we felt like guests in Morocco, not tourists. He introduced us to numerous locals in a way that you are never able to in groups. We had tea with a Berber woman who lives in a cave and has 11 children. As he put it, She has very little money but a very big heart. This trip really put into perspective the diversity of life in our world, and we returned to Morocco amazed in every way; by the rich culture, geography, language, cuisine, and hospitality. We could never have had such an amazing experience had we not had the good fortune of finding a good guide.

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!