Best of Marrakech, Essaouira & Ouarzazate Tour

Our experience in Morocco was nothing short of amazing, thanks to the very talented team at Zicasso’s travel company. Our family was absolutely delighted with the level of care and attention to detail for each activity and lodging we enjoyed during our nine days in Marrakech, Essaouira, Agafay Desert, and, finally, our hotel in the Atlas Mountains.

Let's start with our driver, who impressed us daily with the way he navigated our very comfortable van through very challenging streets and roadways. We always felt extremely safe with him behind the wheel and he was so nice with our kids! When our youngest started to feel carsick going through the Atlas Mountains, our driver did everything he could to make the journey smooth—drove extra slow, pulled over whenever we asked for a little break, and made sure the car was always stocked with plastic bags and plenty of water. We highly recommend our driver, along with each tour guide arranged through the travel company.

Our travel specialist, and the owner, has assembled a fantastic group of people who clearly love their work. You will leave the country with an authentic cultural experience, not just a stamp in the passport. If you get an opportunity, do the backstreet food tour with our guide in Marrakech. She was so hospitable and introduced us to some truly tasty food. My children (ages seven and 12) even ate snails in the market with us! So yes, try the snails, along with whatever else she recommends.

Another tip: if you want a desert ATV experience, but do not want to trek to the Sahara, please consider visiting Essaouira and book an ATV tour there. There are some impressive sand dunes near the beach and we had an absolute blast trekking over those. The ATV route is gorgeous; you get the beach and the desert landscape in one go.

If you want an overnight desert experience, without going to the Sahara, then absolutely go to the Agafay Desert. A camel ride at sunset was a magical first for our children.

Finally, I want to say that the travel company goes above and beyond if there are travel hiccups. On our final night in Morocco, we received a text from our airline saying our flight had been cancelled (part of the massive Airbus recall). There were zero flights out of Marrakech and we needed to be back in the States in two days. My husband found a flight from Casablanca the next day and the travel specialist graciously provided transportation for us for the three-and-a-half-hour drive. We felt like booking with the our travel specialist was like having extra travel insurance! Sincere thanks to him and the entire team.

This was our fourth trip with Zicasso and, like the others, it was amazing and memorable. Even being back home for a while now, I’m still constantly thinking about how fun and unique this experience was. Morocco isn’t easy to navigate, but Zicasso, our travel specialist, and our team expertly guided and educated us on the special history, culture, food, traditions, and sites of this beautiful country.

We started in Marrakech and had night and day food tours in the medina. It was immersive and interesting, and almost an assault on the senses–super-cool experiences. We learned about the cultural influences through the centuries and our guides were experts in their historical and local knowledge. The street food night tour was an evening to remember, sampling all sorts of local foods at places that would be impossible to find on the web.

After our days in Marrakech, we traveled in a loop around Morocco for several days, passing through the High Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate, Skoura Oasis, Merzouga, and the Sahara, followed by two and a half days in Fes, another cultural gem. It was an unforgettable journey, filled with highlights:

The boutique hotel in a literal oasis was beautiful and so well appointed–such friendly staff and owners, and perfect food.

Ait Ben Haddou (a kasbah) was like nothing we’d ever seen–no wonder it has been used in so many films. Our private guide there had been in nine movies!

The Sahara trek was unbelievable and my personal highlight. I almost still can’t believe it. A one-hour guided walk on a camel (they were friendly!), stopping to watch a beautiful sunset. It reminded me of the "Dune" movies. The moon literally rose on the opposite horizon as the sun was setting. Then, another 30 minutes on the camels under moonlight to a luxury camp. I say “camp,” but the small restaurant was deluxe and our tent was warm, luxurious, and, of course, had a full, regular bathroom. So not exactly camping!

Fes was super-interesting and our driver and guide ensured we saw so much of what makes Fes the cultural capital.

This was, overall, such a fun experience that will stay with me forever. We’ve recommended Morocco to many since returning!

We recently returned from a 12-day trip to Morocco. It was an incredible trip! We started in a kasbah in the High Atlas Mountains and then traveled to Essaouira, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, and ended in Marrakech. We had excellent accommodations, transportation, and local guides.

The trip was planned and booked through the tour operator. Zicasso’s travel specialist was easy to communicate with and addressed all of our concerns. It was a pleasure to meet him in Marrakech for tea and an escort around the square. The people of Morocco were warm and kind. We look forward to returning and spending time in the desert, and we would definitely book with the tour operator again.

We enjoyed a spectacular journey encompassing Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. Our guide and driver were very professional, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Each of the special events enabled us to interact extensively with everyday Moroccans. Our accommodations were superb and gave us a real feel for the country. We loved every moment of the adventure!

Overall, we had a fabulous trip and enjoyed it immensely. Our driver was wonderful – he was knowledgeable, attentive, and very patient. He always had a smile on his face and was happy to interact with us. All the tour guides were excellent (extremely knowledgeable and accommodating). 

Hotels:

Marrakech: excellent rooms, staff, and service – the best breakfast (highly recommend).

Skoura: Understanding this is an old building – adequate rooms which were clean, but could do with an update. The service and staff were excellent (recommend).

Sahara tents: excellent tents, staff, and service – delicious dinner (highly recommend).

Fes: Our room was nice. However, the kids’ room had no internet (we told the staff several times; it was never fixed), electric sockets didn’t work properly so they couldn’t charge phones/laptops, the room door would not lock and we had to call staff several times to help lock the door. The kids had to sleep every night with the door unlocked. This was the only hotel where our room and our kids’ room were at the opposite end of the building (needed to walk across the lobby and take an elevator to get to the kids’ room). This was an inconvenience. All other hotels made sure our rooms were next door. Staff were very nice, but the service at breakfast was so slow as they were totally understaffed (would not recommend this hotel).

Rabat: excellent rooms, staff, and service (highly recommend). If possible, you may consider changing the photos of the hotel in the trip planner as the rooms and space were so much nicer than in the photos. 

We would totally recommend your company to friends planning to visit Morocco. We loved our time there and plan to come back and visit other places!

This was a trip of a lifetime, thanks to Zicasso’s travel company!

Our family recently returned from an unforgettable journey through Morocco and we owe the magic of this experience to the incredible team at our travel company. From the moment we reached out, we were met with warmth, attentiveness, and an exceptional level of care.

The company crafted a beautifully balanced itinerary that allowed us to truly immerse ourselves in Moroccan culture. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, from transportation and accommodations to amazing local guides and our incredibly hospitable and attentive driver, who made the experience feel personal and deeply welcoming. The team was flexible throughout, adjusting plans effortlessly to suit our pace and preferences.

Highlights included a hands-on pottery workshop, a delicious cooking class filled with traditional Moroccan flavors, and a dreamy night of glamping in the Agafay Desert.

We also loved the coastal charm of Essaouira and the vibrant energy of Marrakech, with its colorful souks, stunning architecture, and lively atmosphere.

What stood out most was the kindness, authenticity, and thoughtfulness of everyone we encountered through our travel company. The experience gave us a meaningful connection to the country – its culture, landscapes, and people – that we’ll remember for a long time.

Thank you for such a memorable and enriching trip!