Kimkim Trip Reviews for Morocco

Our family of 5 took the A Taste of Morocco: Northern cities, desert experience, Atlas Mountains & Marrakech. What an unforgettable trip! Morocco was a perfect destination, reasonable flight time from the east coast, exotic yet approachable, and safe - we felt at ease with our kids (6, 9 and 12).

Our driver Ilyas was a big part of the success of the trip - so friendly and personable, great with our kids, and always made sure we were set at the hotel/restaurant/tour. There were a couple of long driving days to get to the Sahara and back, he was unflappable, even when the kids got raucous in the back.

Our kids were looking forward to our time in the Sahara, and it didn't disappoint. The camel ride at sunset, glamping in "tents", berber music after dark around the campfire, sandboarding on the dunes, and dune bashing in the landcruiser. When we had a hot afternoon, the camp host arranged for us to cool off at a hotel pool in Merzouga!

Two of my favorite highlights were food related. The "Food Tour in Marrakech" - Hanan our local tour guide took our taste buds on an adventure through the market, sampling olives, berber pizza, pastries, fresh fruit juice... and even snails.
We also had a wonderful time in Fes at the "Dinner with a Local Family in Fes". Said and his wife emerged with dish after dish of food. The chicken tagine was probably the best tagine we had in Morocco. I only wish I knew how much food we were in for, I would have tried to save some more space early on for the later courses. While it was set up as a dinner they truly invited us into their home. There were a few generations present, and the youngest had fun playing with our kids even though they didn't share a common language.

The pre-trip organization from Abdellah went so smoothly. We booked the trip only about a month in advance, he was always quick to reply to any followup questions and requests, and the hotels they put us in were top notch.

I can't recommend highly enough the entire team at Original Travels.

Hotel Review

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

This Riad had so much character. Rooms were luxurious and comfortable. Stained glass windows in our room lit up the ceiling with color in the morning. A rooftop patio to watch the sunset over the medina.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

An Evening Food Walk in Marrakech

Marrakesh

I've been eager to write this post - and I usually don't review anything at length (if at all!) BUT, this experience requires it - and I hope it helps you decide.
If you do this trip with Morocco Immersion thru KimKim, WITH SHARON - you will have NO disappointments!
PEOPLE: 1. from the first contact I had with Sharon, I was hooked.
I messaged Sharon with some quick, random questions and she was quick to reply. She replied to everything I asked - promptly, generously and courteously. She was patient and answered the smallest concerns I had. She focussed on designing the trip I wanted and was hoping for. (The trip with Morocco Immersion is not a "pre-planned, 8 other people we didn't know with varying agendas" joining us.
It was designed for us.) And it was reasonably priced which made me skeptical at first!
SHARON totally knows what she's doing!
2. Our driver: SALLAM - He was THE BEST. Really. He's young - yet knew his country, its history, the places we were going, and was proud of his own culture while being super respectful of ours. Sallam was welcoming and always attentive to our questions and needs. He was an excellent driver over some 2500km in 10 days - and was always stopping at all the best look-outs before I even asked! He met with us regularly to make sure we had everything we needed and knew what was coming up next. He was friendly, humourous, and engaged. Great guide! Highly recommended!
3. Our tour guides: in Marrakech, The Sahara and Taroudant knew their landscape, the history and the best places to get authentic food, pottery, jewelry, leather-wear, carptes, argon oil, saffron - you name it. They worked hard at being welcoming and informative. STELLAR guides.
FOOD: My husband and I are foodies. The experience of drinking daily mint tea (poured properly with bubbles ;-)), eating tagines and even street food from vendors, was awesome. We tried lots of different things, including fresh fish in Essaouiria - bought by us and then grilled in the fish market right before our eyes. We often had fresh squeezed, "any kind of fruit juice" right in the markets we visited.
Our ACCOMODATIONS were a mix of luxury to 'comfortable with other types of conveniences'. Our rooms were always clean, with private washrooms and tiled floors and walls. The riads were both historically interesting and visually appealing. We drank it all in! The luxury accomodations we had, sometimes with dinner included, were worth writing home about. The bedding was always crisp and clean. Lovely. (We did the luxury Sahara camp on our trip - it was one of the highlights of our trip for reasons that would be apparent if you go.)
OVER-ALL - I know this is a long review, but I totally recommend Sharon, Sallam and 'Morroco Immersion' even to people who have had no previous interest in going to Morocco!
It was a trip of a lifetime - and worth every penny we spent.

This was our first time traveling since the pandemic started. We reached out to KimKim and very shortly after heard from Yassine from Morocco Off The Beaten Track, who immediately began with assisting us in planning our trip. We appreciate his prompt responses and helpful advice; it was invaluable! Yassine helped plan our overall trip itinerary, daily activities, accommodation and provided other recommendations also. He was very professional, courteous and insightful. He made it easy for us to change sections of itinerary as we needed and understood what sort of trip we were looking for. Once we had booked everything he provided us with detailed itinerary of our upcoming trip, including our travel guide, accommodations, activities, and local attractions and food spots based on the cities we were in. He also ensured we understood and met with the travel requirements for entry into Morocco.

Once we landed in Morocco, everything was handled by our local guide, Amine. In my wife and I's opinion, Amine truly made our trip what it was. He was exceptionally helpful, professional, friendly throughout our entire time. He made us feel safe as we toured Morocco and continually provided insight into its peoples, places and customs. By the end of the trip he truly became our friend and we strongly recommend his services to anyone looking to tour Morocco.

Our trip involved stays in Casablanca, Fes, Merzouga (desert night camping), Ouarzazate and Marrakech. Along the way between cities Amine showed us several other small towns, historical sites and beautiful scenery. Our accommodations met our expectations and we are grateful to Yassine for arranging it all. The experience staying at Riad Fes in the city of Fes was certainly one of our most enjoyable and relaxing moments. We highly recommend future travellers to consider staying at local riads when visiting Morocco.

For Fes and Marrakech, we had a local tour guide (arranged by Yassine) who gave us an in-depth tour of the old cities of each respective place. These guides were knowledgable, friendly and very accommodating. This was an amazing experience overall!

Yassine, at our request, also arranged for a Moroccan hammam massage experience as well as a hot air balloon tour over the city of Marrakech. Both these experiences very terrific and we would highly recommend them to future travellers.

Overall, we had an amazing vacation experience in Morocco. It's unique cities, beautiful scenery, warm and hospitable people are something that should be enjoyed by everyone. We owe our thanks to Yassine for organizing and arranging everything for us as it allowed us to be very hands off during the trip and just enjoy things as they come. Once again, we also cannot thank Amine enough for all his help throughout the trip. We truly feel our visit would not have been the same if we did not have Amine as our guide. We highly highly recommend his services and consider him as our friend now. For those travellers thinking about a visit to Morocco, I would strongly recommend they reach out to Yassine and request Amine as their guide!

Hotel Review

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

Great hotel, very luxurious, amazing food and service. Rooms were clean, well-equipped and featured amenities you would expect in a hotel of this caliber. Would highly recommend this place to others visiting Casablanca!

Activity Review

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fes

Fes

An amazing and eye-opening experience! Our guide, Hassan through Morocco Off The Beaten Track, was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly, and we would highly recommend his services. We visited historic madrassas in the old city, a local leather tannery, ceramic shops, unique carpet and antique showrooms. We felt safe throughout the tour and local residents were very friendly and accommodating. This tour is a must for anyone visiting Fes!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would like to thank Mohamed, Abdellah, and the team at KimKim and Original Travels for their effort in organizing the entire nine day trip my parents and I took in Morocco (we are from California, USA). Faisal, our driver and guide, was especially excellent and went out of his way to take care of my parents and I and catered each leg of the journey towards our preferences and needs. All the day tour guides, including Mohamed, Hanan, and Hashim, were extremely knowledgeable and helpful as well. The itinerary was written in detail for us prior to the trip, and the team ensured that we covered whatever essentials of Morocco we could within the timeframe we had. Camping in the Sahara Desert near Merzouga and Fes were our favorite parts! The only downside we experienced was our hotel in Fes which did not have hot water and a lack of advance communication about having to walk far into the medina with quite a few suitcases for one or two of the hotels. This was conveyed to the company, and they went out of their way to make alternative accommodations for us and were prompt in integrating our feedback. They were extremely friendly to interact with, almost like family, with excellent and timely service. I would definitely recommend to all my friends and family. Morocco is a beautiful country with warm, loving people, and we will be back at some point!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Ghita

Fes

Riad Ghita, the people were friendly and breakfast was well-arranged. However, there was no hot water in the room, and we had to go upstairs to shower to receive hot water, which was not a problem for me, but my parents who are older could not climb the stairs and were forced to take cold showers. The faucet and flush were also broken, which is completely unprofessional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Ahmed and staff were absolutely amazing, the tent was extremely comfortable with fantastic amenities! The food was great too! Staying here is a must do for any Morocco trip, I can't wait to be back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

I liked it, but our camel ride was two hours (expected one hour), so would have appreciated to have known that. Otherwise great!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Odyssee Center

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Beautiful view and hotel! Staff was very nice and they went out of their way to ensure that we were comfortable and made food according to our dietary restrictions. 100% recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

We didn't know that the hotel was far from the street, but otherwise the food was excellent and amenities were sufficient!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great experience, higher up the stairs so may be harder for older travelers

Activity Reviews

Quad Biking the Erg Chebbi Dunes

Merzouga

So much fun!! Must do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Mohamed was an excellent guide, very informative tour with plenty of knowledge about Moroccan history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

The host family was so sweet, treating us as if we were part of their family. They made so much food, that I wish we had the stomach to fit everything! The Moroccan clothing with music and dance was a lot of fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Fantastic experience! The only thing was the camel ride was two hours nonstop, which was difficult for my mom who is older and we were under the impression that it was one hour. Would have appreciated communication on that but otherwise it was the experience of a lifetime and highly recommend that anybody coming to Morocco does not miss this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Hanan was amazing, she was very knowledgeable regarding the history of Marrakech and the riad, and helped us in depth as we navigated bargaining in the souks. Highly recommend her for your Marrakech tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a wonderful trip to Morocco with my mom and dad. Arranging the trip was easy and painless, and Hakim listened thoughtfully to our needs and special requests. Our driver, Mohamad, was wonderful! He was a great guide and lovely company for our drive from Rabat to Chefchaouen, Fez, Meknes, and Marrakech. Mohamad provided helpful recommendations and was very conscientious of our needs during the trip. Overall, I would definitely recommend!

Hotel Review

La Mamounia

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day Trip to Meknes & the Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you, Abdel, for organizing a trip of a lifetime! We are a well-traveled, adventurous couple seeking the perfect mix of culture and hiking. Abdel worked with us over email to arrange that perfect trip, which spanned 10 days and four locations - Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, and Casablanca. The trip planning process couldn’t have been easier. Abdel was always very responsive and able to tailor the trip to exactly what we were looking for. Our wonderful driver, Mohamed, expertly transported us from place to place and also served as an excellent DJ for the longer drives between cities. Our Marrakech tour guide, Hassan, was incredibly knowledgeable about the city and its history and went out of his way to make sure we hit all the highlights. He even stayed with us as we negotiated the purchase of some beautiful rugs for our home. During our hikes in the Atlas Mountains with our guide, Ismail, we stopped for lunch in local villages and experienced the beauty of the mountains at our own pace. Our driver and guides spoke English well, so we had no trouble communicating and felt very secure the whole time. The hotels were also absolutely lovely. We highly recommend Abdel for trips to Morocco and plan to use KimKim for future travels abroad.

Hotel Review

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Tour of Marrakech, the "Red City"

Marrakesh

Hassan is the best! Extremely knowledgeable, flawless English, and also a really delightful person.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Morocco! Megan helped us plan a custom trip based on our schedule that took us from Tangier through Chefchaouen, Fes and Casablanca. The whole team was amazing. The Hotels and Riads were beautiful. The local city guides were very knowledge and helped show us the best side of the places we visited. We also had the best driver/ guide, Aziz Karaoui, (ASK FOR HIM!) he was always on time, kind, knowledgeable and patient with two Americans who had lots of questions. I had a birthday on the trip and he went out of his way to help plan an amazing dinner with a birthday cake that I will never forget! This is the best way to see Morocco and they make it so easy for first timers like us. My wife and I are already talking about our next trip. If you are considering a trip to Morocco, look no further. This is who you want to book with. You will fall in love with this country and it's people, just like we did.

We had such a wonderful trip! Abdellah and Said were our trip planners. They took into account the ages of our children (2, 9, 10) when helping us plan and were very willing to make change after change until we found it to be the right fit.

Ilyas was our driver and he was such a great fit for our family! He was professional, but fun, serious, but laid back. He was great with our kids and we really enjoyed traveling around with him. We were so thankful for his great English and his knowledge about Morocco. He quickly became a friend!

Muhammed was our guide in Fes. He was very knowledgeable and we were grateful he agreed to work on Eid.

The trip to the Tiziri dessert camp was absolutely fantastic! The crew that we met upon arrival were so attentive to detail. It was a once in a lifetime experience!

Hamman was our guide in Marrakech. She was fantastic! We were pretty tired by this day and she was so accommodating. She was very sweet with our children and understanding when they weren't interested in doing or seeing things. She was extremely knowledgable and her English was great! The Food Tour was an incredible experience with her, as well. You could tell she really likes what she does and she is good at it!

All of the riads and hotels were wonderful! We especially loved Lina Riad in Chefchaoen. We wish we had a few more days there. It was a lovely town. The least liked hotel was the one in Boumalne Dades. The only reason being that all the meals were buffet style and they were one star meals compared to everywhere else we ate.

We have recommended this to so many friends already and we only hope that we can get back to Morocco again to enjoy your beautiful country.

Thank you!

Hotel Review

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I can't say enough good things about this place! The attention to detail was fantastic! How is it possible in the middle of the desert that we had some of the best meals of our trip!? We had a private concert by their lovely crew and they even showed us how to sandboard the nearby dunes. I wish we had had more time here, hopefully we can go back someday!

Activity Review

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Hamman is a fantastic guide! She is great for families. So happy we were with her for our incredible tour!

Honestly, I cannot imagine exploring Morocco without WanderLust Voyages which we found through KimKim. Our own private guide with a comfy van outfitted with wifi picked us up in Fez and took us everywhere on our itinerary over the next 10 days. Without a personal guide and driver, there is no way we would have seen as much. Leading up to the trip, we had to change our dates and plans over and over again due to COVID and work and Megan just rolled with it. We even ended up having an extra two days and Megan was able to extend our trip easily without changing the budget. We stayed in gorgeous Riads, which are boutique hotels with spas and authentic Moroccan decor. Each one was special and perfectly located inside the old Medina areas with excellent service, luxurious rooms, wifi, and truly phenomenal meals. I would never have known which one to pick without Megan making the selections. On our own, we probably would have used frequent flyer miles in generic hotels in tourist areas. The activities to which we were directed weren't the tourist traps many of the tours take you to. They were genuinely memorable lifetime experiences. In several cities, Megan arranged for highly knowledgeable guides to explain the history and interesting stories about the places we visited. We could ask all our questions and veer off the scheduled route when something curious arose. The whole trip was like a treasure box with each day full of unique delightful surprises.

We didn't have time to go to Marrakech because we chose Fez, the desert, and Tangier--- I would not recommend missing either the desert or Tangier. We took an hour-long ride on a dromedary ("one hump camel") in the dunes at sunset which was silent and sacred. After the meal in our tent, the local teenagers taught us how to play Berber drums. In Tangier, we looked across the Straights of Gibralter to Spain. If you are a foodie and fan of irreverent Beatnick history, definitely watch the Anthony Bourdain special on Tangier before you go. Learning the thousands of years of history of this international zone really rocked my worldview-- crazy to compare a place that holds onto 200,000 years of history in its current context with Los Angeles which has managed to erase anything before the last 200. Actually, if you are coming from Spain, I highly recommend the ferry across the Straights as your starting point. We spent one night near Meknes in a winery/spa/boutique hotel that was phenomenal! I only wish we had booked two nights. We were thinking it was just a stopover during a long drive, but it was worth a longer stay to truly enjoy the classical herb garden, 750 hectares of vineyards, winery, spa, pools, and food--- very decadent.

Nevertheless-- everyone said, "What! You're not going to Marrakech!?" next time...

Our local guide and driver was Ibrahim-- request him!! Kamal was our expert in Fez-- request him too!

Megan is great. She planned and replanned the trip keeping everything within budget so there was no stress or surprises, and check up on us through Ibrahim all along the way.

If you want something special or different-- Megan can guide you. Stay as long as you can.

Loved it!

Hotel Review

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

This place is a total shock to the uninitiated. It is located in the old Medina and, if you arrive as we did, your van pulls into this overcrowded dirt parking lot next to a public park, packs of stray dogs, and a cluster of what seem like dingy ancient 4 story plaster buildings with no windows and with graffiti proclaiming "Never Fall in Love" scrawled on a wall. Some people were playing cards and smoking in a pharmacy of one building. Our guide took us walking with our bags among winding passageways to a fancy door that we decided must be the door to the TARDIS because the inside was definitely bigger than the outside! It opened into the gorgeous courtyard and elegant rooms with intricate mosaics covering the walls. Inside, everything was immaculate and luxurious. The staff was always present and helpful. The meals were delicious-- and always more food than we could possibly eat. The swimming pool was beautiful but freezing. One night a band came in to entertain everyone with traditional music. Our room was great-- one thing, though, if you are used to a king-sized bed with your spouse that is made up for two people to be under one cover, you will be surprised. A king-sized bed here is two twins pushed together-- easily remedied, though. The Riad served as a great jumping off point to explore Fez!

Tips for future travelers

Somewhat difficult to walk to things from the hotel. Plan to drive or order a ride.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous mosaics

Location

Close to the Medina

Staff

Very accomodating and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were there during the end (I hope) of the pandemic and felt completely safe.

Activity Review

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Kamal was a great guide! Not even bread crumbs would save you in the 9,400 streets of the old Medina and having someone along who knows the history and stories makes it so meaningful. He also steered us to a delicious and beautiful spot for lunch-- we would never have known it was there without him. The local craft places were a little bit touristy-- and priced for tourists-- but, hey, we were tourists! The textiles, ceramics, silver, rugs, and leather were fun to see because they were being made the old way right in front of you. We could peek into but not enter the mosques, but what we could see was beautiful. I am so glad that UNESCO is investing in saving this piece of history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a very positive experience booking our trip with KimKim (thanks, Megan), and our trip was great too. We had originally booked our trip for March 2020… and ended up cancelling shortly before we were due to leave because of Covid. Fast forward two years, we emailed KimKim/Megan and she still had all our details and was able to rebook our original planned trip for the same price.

Everything about our trip turned out just as planned and worked out really well. Our driver, Aziz, was great - driving us all over Morocco in his Mercedes van (with WiFi!), doing so safely while also sharing his knowledge about our surroundings. We even had the pleasure of having tea with his family in Erg Chebbi, which was very nice.

Our tour included extensive time with dedicated guides in both Fez and Marrakech - and they were great, showing us around the key sites and the inner mazes of the medinas, providing in depth knowledge of the history and architecture of these places.

The riads where we stayed we’re all nice - centrally located and architectural marvels , especially the ones in Rabat and Fez. The desert camp was a great experience, from the camel ride out across the dunes to having a campfire and Berber songs under the stars.

The above is just about the service provided/arranged by KimKim, Megan, and their local agent, Wanderlust Travel. But Morocco itself was stunning. We’ve traveled extensively, and I’d say Morocco is tops, both for it’s amazing landscapes as well as the incredible experience of going through the medinas.

When you book with Morocco Immersion Tours, you not only get the expertise of a highly professional tour company, but the warmth and genuine affection of what seems like old friends. From the moment we started contact with Sharon, she listened and tweaked the itinerary to make it exactly what me and my family (two teens) were looking for. Once the itinerary was finalized, we couldn’t wait to start our adventure!
And then we met Sallam, who was our driver and companion between destinations, and he ended up becoming like part of our family. From the moment he met us at the airport, his warm smile assured us that we were in good hands. He shared with us his background and Berber culture, and as we drove along the most scenic landscapes, he played for us the most beautiful Berber music. I loved the music so much that I actually downloaded it to my phone and listen to it at home.
We visited the beautiful blue city of Chefchaoen, walked through the bustling medinas of Fes and Marrakech, but I think the highlight of our trip was the Sahara Desert!! My family will never forget riding camels over the dunes at sunset, sleeping in a luxury desert camp, sand boarding at sunrise, and driving ATV vehicles over the orange sand dunes once more. Memories that will last a lifetime!
I truly want to thank everyone at Morocco Immersion Tours - Sharon, Sallam, Amnay, and everyone else who helped us make this the trip of a lifetime. I honestly feel that traveling helps make friendships across continents, and I will always love you guys. This is by far the best tour company that we have ever used, and I highly recommend them to all future travelers to Morocco!

Our experience with Kimkim was beyond perfect. Communication was fast and efficient. We got the exact tour we wanted and all the accommodations and service were amazing. Our driver made us feel comfortable and safe and took good care of us. The local tour guides were knowledgeable and gave us great tours of the city. We highly recomment booking a tour with Kimkim. We will definitely check with them for our next trips.

Our driver, Mohammed was amazing. He was patient, friendly, tireless and a great driver. Mohammed was always willing to help us with luggage, open doors and making sure we had access to restroom facilities. I don't think our trip would have been as good with another person. So happy he was chosen for us.
All of the guides we had during the trip were wonderful. They were very well informed about the areas we visited. They took in to account our health needs and paced the tours to accommodate our slower needs. We learned so much from each of them.
Finally, our local specialist, Hakim, did a great job organizing a diverse trip of Morocco for our family. The suggestions he made gave us a small taste of the country.
I would recommend KimKim Travel to anyone who was planning a trip to Morocco.

We do not have words to express our experience. Amazing, Memorable, Beautiful, Hospitable, Kindness, Great, Picturesque, WOW….

In our travels to others countries before we never used a travel agency but knowing the language barrier and travel restrictions we decided to use a travel agency. After reading reviews about Abdullah and Mohammed from Original Travels on Kim Kim we decided to initiate the conversation and from Day 1 we only received guidance and support without a slight hint or push that we need to reserve our booking through them.
Mohammed provided us a detailed Itenary based on our likes, budget and dates. He was very through and quick to make changes as we reviewed and requested.. Most important point was he understood our family ( age group and planned to perfection). He made the planning part look so easy for us that we had no stress and concerns before travel.
Said our supervisor for the trip took over and oh boy!!! he was on call 24/7 from couple of days prior to our travel giving us all the needed information
What we need to pack?
What to expect?
Weather?
Driver?
Important phone numbers.
Any last minute requests we may have or any changes we may need to make to the Itenary or plans.
Every day morning and night we got a call asking if we are doing good and if anything needed that we would like for him to take care of. We felt like ROYALS - It is good knowing we had someone ensuring we are safe and are having fun. We made a request everyday ( Room, Wheel Chair, Reservation at a particular restaurant, and or shopping for particular) and Said ensures it was taken care of according to our needs. Went above and beyond !!!!
Ilyas : Our companion for the trip who stayed with us 24/7 and drove us to all the places. People may prefer to call him a driver but for us he was our companion and friend.Ilyas was in constant touch with Mohammed and Said and made sure they were aware of our needs. Very sweet, Patient, Knowledgeable, Kind, Hardworking and above all someone who cared and wanted us to have the time of our life. He took us to some beautiful places, kept us entertained in the car giving us the history lessons about the places we visited and made sure we enjoyed Morocco and see Morroco for the place it is - Beautiful and Hospitable.
Yousuf -( Tour Guide Chefchaouen ) was professional, full of energy and went above and beyond . A local from Chefchaouen , he gave us great insight on this little piece of heaven on earth.
Mohammed our tour guide in Fes was very experienced, extremely professional and paid attention to what we wanted to see . He navigated through the alleys of Fes’ Medina and took us to some most amazing shops for shopping.
Hanan our tour guide in Marrakech was so much fun to be with! She gave us thorough background on everything we saw , picked out best places to eat and shop . Anything we wanted she made sure we got the best deal!
We miss all these amazing people .
We cannot thank Original Travels enough for making our trip so memorable !

Hotel Review

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

One cannot call it camping ! It was glamping in the desert at this beautiful camp. Filled with most amazing hospitable people , breathtaking views of snow covered Atlas Mountains, this desert camp was absolutely perfect for our family. Our kids loved the quad rides, camel rides and the local musicians at dinner . At night we gazed at million stars that covered the sky and woke up at dawn to catch sunrise .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided Tour of Chefchaoeun

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is a piece of heaven on earth. Beautifully, charming little town filled with most humble and hospitable folks. Our tour guide Yousuf , a local from Chefchaouen was absolutely amazing. He took us through picturesque spots in the beautiful blue colored town. Showed us amazing architectural features , gave us history of the place . We tasted fresh bread, freshly made cheese and so many deserts ! We would highly recommend him !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the first inquiry and a phone conversation with Sharon everything fell into place. She put together our itinerary perfectly. Everything was smooth transition from place to place. Upon arrival we met our driver, Sallam, who instantly became family. Not only is he a safe driver but he is also concerned with any need you might have. He opened his home and family to us where we shared a meal as a family. That experience was priceless. All the tour guides at the different cities were full of knowledge and great. Our Morocco vacation was exceptional because we used them. Highly recommend them!

We just returned from a 9 day trip to Morocco. We traveled as a family of four including myself, my wife and our 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter. Planning the trip was easy and straightforward with Abdel. He answered our questions promptly and with lots of detail. He adjusted the trip to meet our specific needs multiple times. Once locked in, he made all the booking for us and kept us in the loop if there were any changes.
Upon arrival, our guide Karim picked us up from the airport and welcomed us like family. He was punctual, professional, courteous and kind to us throughout. He offered himself and his country to us from his heart and by the end, we felt that he became a part of our family.
We have traveled across the world on our own and in retrospect, we could have easily done the tour of Morocco on our own but it would not have been even close to the same as the trip we experienced with Original travel and especially with Karim. His local knowledge and personal touch made all the difference. We traveled during Ramadan when most restaurants esp in the remote areas are closed for lunch but Karim made sure we were taken care of every single day including lunch with a berber friends family (who welcomed us with open arms) in a small town and a unique Moroccan barbeque by the river. He showed us details we would never have found and through a perspective only a trained local tour guide can offer.
I hope to book another trip to Morocco using Original travel and especially with (my brother) Karim in the future. For those considering this journey, Book with confidence and then prepare yourself for a trip of a lifetime where all you will need to do is to keep an open mind.

This past March, my husband and I toured Morocco with Original Travels. Prior to the trip, I corresponded with Abdellah, who managed every detail of our trip through Morocco. Original Travels a Moroccan-owned tour company. Our tour guide was Samir. He was kind, knowledgeable, and easygoing. Samir picked us up at the Casablanca airport and we began our drive through Rabat and arrived at the Lina Riyad in Chefchaouen. The Lina Riyad was the perfect place to land after nearly 24 hours of travel. It was spacious, quiet, and cozy. The food was utterly delicious. I booked a spa experience that included a hammam, massage, and facial, which erased all of the aches and pains from travel. Samir picked us up in the morning and gave us a walking tour of Chefchaouen, taking photos of us and explaining the local culture. He drove us to Fes and we made some stops along the way. In Fes, we stayed at Riad Salam Fes for 2 nights, which featured great food and gorgeous accommodations. The city of Fes is enchanting. We went on a walking tour of Fes, stopping at the tannery, a ceramics studio, the Qarawiyyin mosque, and several craft shops. The next leg of our tour brought us to the desert. We drove through snowy mountains in the morning and then arrived at the golden desert by late afternoon. We spent 2 nights at Tirizi Camp, which was the absolute highlight of the trip. Samir drove us through the Dades Valley, where we bought some goods from the rose collective. We stayed at Hotel Xaluca Dades. The accommodations were nice, but the food wasn’t very good. Samir picked us up in the morning and we found a guesthouse in the Dades Valley where we had a lovely breakfast and a breathtaking view of the landscape. Samir led us on a trek through the kasbahs of Ait Benhaddou. Along the way to Marrakech, we stopped at an argan collective, where we learned how cosmetics and culinary products are made from argan oil. We arrived at Marrakech and spent 2 nights at Riad Pachavana. It was a beautiful Riad with an extraordinarily hospitable staff. The only strange thing was the the bathroom didn’t have a door. There was an 8-foot long hallway separating the bathroom from the bedroom, which offered very little privacy. For that reason, I’d seek a different Riad for my next trip to Marrakech. Abedellah joined us in our walking tour of Marrakech and we lunched at a local restaurant. He arranged for us to get COVID tests at the hotel, in preparation for the flight back to the US. Samir drove us back to Casablanca, and we stayed at the Odyssee Center Hotel.
All in all, we had a lovely trip. Our driver, Samir became a friend to our family, and we are still in touch with him. If an individual person could embody all of the good that Morocco has to offer, that person is Samir.

Hotel Review

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

This was my favorite riad in Morocco. In fact, when I return to Chefchaouen, I would stay here again. It was quite, spacious, very comfortable. The food was exquisite. Throughout my 10-day trip in Morocco, I compared every other hotel, riad, and dining experience to the Lina Ryad.

Tips for future travelers

Definitely eat at the hotel and do have a hammam and massage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

From Coast to Mountains: Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot say enough great things about this family run company! Sharon responded quickly to all of our messages and questions. She provided us some great tips to help us be successful on our trip.
Abdou was a wonderful driver who shared so much rich information about the culture. I highly recommend this company to tour Morocco! Abdou customized our trip to fit our needs by adding in a stop to the day market specifically because I wanted a picture with a donkey. He also made sure I was dressed for the camel trekking! He was so much fun and made us laugh throughout the five days. I enjoyed all the Riads we stayed at and can’t wait to come back.

This was my first trip to Morocco and have fallen in love with the culture and the genuineness of the people. Abdel was our trip coordinator and answered all of questions and catered our trip to us. Our driver Karim picked us up at the airport and was with us for our entire trip. He was so knowledgeable and proudly shared information about his Berber culture. He was friendly and kind never hesitated to make us feel welcome!
The riads we stayed in were stunning and the staff were all accommodating. We had no issues checking in or out of them.
Our tour of the handcrafters in Fes was remarkable. We were told we were under no obligation to buy however we did feel some pressure to make purchases. We got good value at the Tannery but just know the prices were considerably less at the market in Marrakech.
We had a great time with Said and his family for dinner. The food was delicious and it was fun to meet the family and do a little dancing in traditional Moroccan costumes.
Our tour guide Hannan in Marrakech was top notch. She was knowledgeable, patient, kind and a fabulous photographer for all of your Instagram pictures!
The Inara Camp in Agafay was more than we could hope for! The accommodations were comfortable and the staff went above and beyond to meet our needs.

I'd like to add some notes to my travel partner's review of our trip to Morocco. I echo her sentiments about how perfectly Hakim, as a representative of kimkim, handled our trip. Which wasn't easy, given the number of delays and changes due to Covid. Also, I agree whole-heartedly that our driver Mohamed (last name to be supplied by Hakim!) really made the trip what it was: he was well-informed, articulate, funny, attentive, and always willing to share his thoughts on culture, politics, and history. Mohamed made sure we could purchase rugs from a cooperative rather than a tourist trap. When I had a problem with the pottery coop he resolved it for me quickly making that another good experience. While the local guides were, for the most part, engaging and full of info, Mohamed was able to fill in the blanks between guides.

Speaking of guides: all but two were top notch. In one case there was a clear tempo and maybe personality misalignment. We were struggling until Mohamed gave him a secret signal and he began to ask what we wanted and what he could do better, resulting in a good overall experience. (Because Mohamed knew most of the guides he could navigate the rough places for us.) The second guide that was a bad fit was a local young man, new to the business; he may improve with time.

A word about the accomodations: we had such a wonderful variety of places, most unique and charming. And just when we were ready we got a Western style 5 star hotel. But I wouldn't have traded a single place, no matter the quirks. A few stood out, not to be missed: Riad Yacout in Fes was beautiful, although quirky in the electrical and plumbing department. But the people were so warm and accommodating and the food so delicious that everything else fell away. (Note - be prepared for a lot of steep stairs and music into the night!) The Kasbah in Imlil was a personal favorite. Walking up on narrow paths while a donkey carried our baggage was the start. The Kasbah was under the highest mountain in N. Africa and while it was cloudy and snowy for most of our stay, the views were amazing. We had scheduled a full-day hike but the snow put a damper on that. Still, the staff found a jacket and boots for me so I could still go hiking. The group of people working there could not have done more for us, all with smiles. Again, the food was just fab. In Essouria we stayed in Riad Chbanate - a real jewel. Once again the people were so very wonderful, and the room and the view and the part of town just perfect.

Finally, I'd like to commend kimkim and their partner on the itinerary. We went from cities to towns to the desert, then to the mountains. Down to Marrakech and out to the coast. We skipped the touristy things and concentrated on getting to know the real Morocco. We had so much variety, every day a real adventure. I feel like we met and supported a lot of off the main street people. And that leads me to my final comment...

The Moroccan people are warm and generous. Yes, some try to get you to buy their whatevers, but a simple "No thank you" works. They have suffered tremendously during that last two years and we were happy to buy from them, to tip them generously, and to talk and laugh with them. I've traveled in many places around the world - I won't forget this trip.