Morocco holiday, tailor made

Reviewed 14 Jul 2011 by Peter John Massyn

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

There were many: the hike up towards Jebel Toubkal; the old medina in Fez; the call to prayer of the muezzin; stepping into the intricate interiors hidden behind the facades...

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Consider including Fez - we did, and found the old city mesmerizing. The tour operator and their agents in Morocco were excellent - we'd definitely recommend using them. Consider the Kasbah du Toubkal in the High Atlas instead of the more glamorous alternatives - it really gets you close to the local Berber culture without sacrificing comfort. In Marrakech, consider locally owned restaurants - we found a couple in the new town that offered superb fare and value.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Generally yes. Certainly so at Kasbah du Toubkal where the lodge was fully staffed by local people. They're also participating in a campaign to clean up the mountains (which is sorely needed). Perhaps slightly less so at Riad Assakina where the expatriate presence is strong and the recommendations for restaurants etc emphasized the typical tourist haunts rather than locally owned alternatives.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent. Morocco and its people exceeded our expectations.

Reviewed 08 Jul 2009 by Emily de la Rue

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Arriving at the village of Imlil and loading our bags on to a mule was certainly a highlight and set the tone of things to come. When we reached our room and looked out over our balcony to the snow capped mountains above we knew we were in for a fabulous stay at Kasbah du Toubkal. The fresh air, cool breeze and spectacular scenery were both restful and exciting. Another highlight came when we first got out of the airconditioned car into the hot and dusty streets of Marrakesh; we were instantly delivered into the heart of the action! The guided tour of the city on our second day offered a different view of Marrakesh and we found our guide, Nora, to be particularly insightful. Riad Assakina was a delightful contrast to the whirlwind of the city outside.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take up the chance of a guided walk in the mountains early on to be able to explore more confidently during the rest of the stay. In Marrakesh, the vendors in the Souks were friendlier than we had anticipated and a firm but polite no saw off any unwanted advances. We would definitely recommend a guided tour and also a trip to Essaouira which was a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The drive was long and hot however.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The villagers of Imlil all told us that they made their livelihood from tourists so undoubtedly the presence of visitors makes contribution to the community. A 5% surcharge on your final bill goes directly to the locals.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

I would recommend this holiday to anyone with a sense of adventure. The Kasbah du Toubkal was pretty basic but considering the location served us extremely well and the scenery was just unbeatable.