Ancient Cultures of Morocco Tour

My family, including my husband and our 16- and 11-year-old daughters, booked a 3-day driving tour with the tour company, picking us up from Fes, taking us to the desert for a camel trek to sleep in the desert, and then delivering us to Marrakesh. They put together a well-designed trip for us with stops at historic sites along the way, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben-Haddou, the Togda and Dades gorges, and through the High Atlas mountains. The camel trek - about an hour long - was easy and unique and took us to the wonderfully-appointed luxury hotel in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which included luxurious tents with real toilets and showers in our private tents. The trip included 3 days of driving - covering 700 miles / 1100 kilometers - and all meals and lodging. One of the best parts was our driver Mustapha. He was such easy company, knowledgeable about all things Morocco, a safe driver, flexible, taught us Arabic and Berber words, and helped us bargain for excellent prices on local ceramics and carpets. We had a spacious Mercedes van with plenty of space for us to stretch out. We received a bespoke itinerary, a local cell phone, and a phone call from the tour company to check on us along the way. I would definitely recommend them. Note: There is MAJOR construction on Route 9 from Ouarzazate through the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, adding an hour or so of driving time.

Our two-week trip to Morocco, arranged by Zicasso’s travel company, was simply magical! We (a party of four over-70 Americans) found it very easy to book a customized adventure with the founder that met and exceeded our desired goals.

Our journey began with a four-night stay in Marrakech, which included a day trip to the Ourika Valley in the High Atlas Mountains. We then traveled overland to the desert (Erg Chebbi), making an overnight stop on the way to and from the luxury tented camp in Merzouga. Following a night's stay in the desert, we continued on to Fes, Chefchaouen (the “Blue City”), and Tangier. We were accompanied by an experienced English-fluent Berber driver who provided the epitome of service. Once we arrived at our destination, our driver ensured we were connected with a local guide for walking tours that were informative and fun. We were free to wander on our own as well.

To Americans contemplating a similar trip, we had two main concerns prior to leaving: the earthquake damage in and south of Marrakech, and the Middle East political situation. We encountered no problems whatsoever related to either. While in Marrakech and the Ourika Valley, we saw evidence of earthquake damage, but experienced nothing we considered a threat to our safety. Meanwhile, the beautiful Ourika Valley was one of many highlights, so we were very glad it was possible to go there. We discovered the wonderful hospitality Morocco is known for during each part of our journey.

As far as personal safety, follow the advice you would in any large city or tourist area: keep valuables safe and don't carry your cellphone in such a way that it could be easily snatched. The same goes for physical health. We followed general advice to enjoy things that were offered to us in restaurants serving tourists or as part of arranged street tours, while avoiding the temptation to try “exotic”, uncooked things we might find on our own. We ate well, enjoyed lots of mint tea, occasional alcoholic drinks, and had no major problems.

In addition to the Ourika Valley, other highlights included visiting the desert region (camel riding is optional, but a fun-filled 45 minutes if you are game), having a meal of delicious couscous in a Berber home, taking a cooking lesson in Marrakech with a chef, shopping in city souks and at the Fes leather and pottery-making establishments, and learning interesting historical facts during guided walking tours of Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen, and Tangier.

If heading north, arrange to stop, if only briefly, at the seaside community of Asilah, which holds a festival each year featuring colorful street murals that remain in place until the following year. While in Tangier, tour the American Legation Museum. Among other things, you will learn about the long history of good relations between the US and Morocco, which, in 1777, was the first country to recognize the US. I could go on!

Speaking for our group, the trip was one that will remain in our memories for years to come thanks to all who were involved!

All accommodations were satisfactory. My favorite city lodgings included the riads in Marrakech and Chefchaouen, where I enjoyed a swim in the indoor pool, and the palace in Fes.

The Best of Morocco 

I have travelled all over the world and I have to say that this is one of the best trip I’ve ever had.

Ziccaso! Yes you surprise me every time I choose new place to explore by linking me to best companies that can accommodate everything I want to experience!! Thank you for choosing this travel company, which is the best of the best.

I have decided to go to Morocco last minute and Mr. Hassan has accommodated my requests in a short time with a very impressive trip in all means!

He contacted me and asked me about everything I am looking for in this trip and made it just right to what I like.

The trip was arranged in a very short time and despite that he was very helpful, honest and true with everything he suggested and arranged.

To be honest the trip was way beyond my expectations.

Morocco is a very beautiful country, the people are so kind and welcoming always with a smile. It is very colorful and the food is really delicious and cooked with love everywhere. The weather was just right in March everywhere. Hotels and transportations were exceptional in all means.

I started my tour with my tour guide who was carefully chosen by Mr Hassan to take care of me. I have to say that he made the trip perfect with his honesty, caring, calming attitude, patience, and kindness. Since he picked me up from the airport to the last day he dropped off without any trouble or complaint. I felt like a princess and didn’t worry about anything during my trip. He took care of everything including checking in, baggage handling, transportation, taking everywhere and some walking and guiding tours, literally everything! I was really lucky.

Mr. Hassan was checking on me with directly during the trip and making sure the his brilliant arrangements were going well with me. I can’t thank him enough for arranging this incredible unforgettable tour.

My tour was fast lane tour, you can choose that if you like to sleep in a new place every night. I don’t mind that so that I can see and experience more things in a short time and got to visit many places too. The lovely thing about this tour it was by driving which I got to pass through many cities and villages and explore the rich culture and meet new people.

Morocco is old, vintage and charming. It has a lovely vibe. Casablanca is beautiful and coastal in which I started my journey, then I visited Rabat which is the capital ( very net and nice ). After that we went to Meknes and Fes ( my favorite old city). Then we went to Sahara OMG it was so charming. After that I have to say I saw all types of mountains in this country and the journey was very comfortable and relaxing. I went then to Marrakech which is very alive city and to Essaouira for a day tour and was lovely.

At the last day I was really sad to leave .. I felt that I left a part of my heart in this country. I can’t wait to visit Morocco again and see the few remaining places that I haven’t been to.

I would like to share some pictures and I actually created albums in my instagrams to show people the hidden gems of this wonderful country.

Thank you again Mr Hassan and to my guide for making my dream trip unforgettable.

We had an amazing tour of Morocco and felt completely safe. The war in the Middle East did not affect our trip.

Volubilus was very interesting and we were so happy to have had that stop on the way to Fes.

We loved going to the pottery studio and learning how the mosaics are made. It definitely helped us appreciate the beauty of the walls everywhere we went.

Our guide in Fes was knowledgeable, warm, welcoming, and generous. She taught us so much about the city and its history, as well as sharing current-day customs and how they evolved from traditional customs. She didn’t take a single wrong turn in that maze of a medina and made sure we felt no pressure from the salespeople she introduced us to.

Our guide for our first hike to the Berber home for lunch was able to lead us through the woods despite rain and fog, and without a clear trail. He was respectful and personable. He told us his first degree was culinary and shared a recipe for pastilla, which we told him had become our favorite dish. The family we ate with was equally warm, even though we couldn’t communicate, and the food was wonderful. The lamb was the best I’ve ever eaten and hubby is still talking about the potatoes!

Our guide in Marrakech was very funny and personable, and also knowledgeable about the city and its history.

He was incredibly friendly, saying hello to everyone we passed and sharing with us the strong community ties he has to two villages. He helped us understand the extent of the earthquake damage in that area and his humanity came through beautifully. Lunch in the High Atlas was also great. He gave us options for easier routes or a “Berber taxi”. (We didn’t take either, but it was nice to have options!)

We loved the YSL museum and Majorelle gardens.

The staff and lovely family running the perfectly located riad took great care of us. The riad was beautiful and a five-star experience.

Scarabeo was amazing! A really truly great experience. Glamping is an understatement.

Ourika was a five-star setting, but the hotel was probably 3.5 stars. The furniture in the room was a bit shabby and at breakfast, there was a huge, dead cockroach on the floor next to our table. It hadn’t been swept. The food and wine options were good, and there were lots of beautiful spaces inside and out in which to sit. The staff were very responsive to problems we raised (the bathrobe in the room had dirty tissue in the pocket) and that was great.

I’ve saved the best for last: our last guide was amazing! Better than that! Incredible! He made the whole week go smoothly and ensured we were comfortable and felt safe and cared for every step of the way. The never-ending supply of water and snacks was appreciated. He checked in on our comfort constantly and made sure we knew we could call him at any point if we needed help, even at night. He gave us advice and tips, and was so lovely to spend time with. He let us leave our purchases in the car (which I’m sure meant he was lugging them into his hotel room so we didn’t have to) and made us feel good even when we got the car covered in mud after the rainy mid-Atlas hike. (Of course, it was spotless again the next morning!). Mostly, it was his personality – warm, caring, passionate, and ever-smiling – that made the trip so wonderful. When (not if!) we come back, we certainly would want to be with our guide again!

The following are things we would have liked to know that you may want to share with future travelers:

Lots of places did not take credit cards. Our first riad served us dinner, which was pricy in comparison to other places (1100 MAD without alcohol), but required payment in cash. (They were willing to wait until check out.)

ATMs won’t give more than 2000 MAD at once, so we needed to go often.

I didn’t bring a bathing suit because I was so concerned about modesty, but the places we stayed at were obviously comfortable with Westerners in bathing suits! I also didn’t know if I needed a bathing suit for the hammam.

Again, overall we were so very happy and cannot wait to return!