Susan Evans review 27 Nov 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our trek through the Berber villages was interesting and scenic. Our guide was pleasant and knowledgable about the mountains and Berber people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect to start the day early but finish walking by mid afternoon. Respect the locals, not too many photos!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We felt the holiday did benefit local people as our guide and muleteer were local. We think a sizeable amount of our money went to them and not a tour company.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Jeff Kleinman review 22 Apr 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The camel ride to the dinner at the Bedouin tent; dinner at the tent; and the night in the "desert".
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go with the flow. A couple people in the group were difficult to please - they brought large suitcases that didn't strap easily to a camel; they wanted better bathrooms and sleeping accommodations; etc. There was no running water and the bathrooms were very primitive; the mattresses were thin pieces of foam dropped on the sand. It was totally fun, but people complained about the thinness of the mattresses or the primitiveness of the tents, and so forth. I felt like they never really got into things as much as they could - and that made me sad. I do have to say that the holiday was a little "canned" in that it was rather artificial - the "desert" really was on the outskirts of suburbia, and we trekked for quite a while behind people's houses (with the local children following us, trying to sell us little animals or designs made from folded grass), but quite honestly, that was part of the charm. Some of my fellow travelers were a little offended by this, though. My wife and I brought along our 11-year-old daughter, and I can honestly say that this holiday was the highlight of our trip to Morocco.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It definitely benefited the local people. Definitely impacted on the environment, though - fellow travelers threw trash away into the desert, and the car we drove in poured black smoke the entire time. But wow it was so much fun.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We thought it was utterly fabulous and without question two of the most fun days we've ever had.
Gillian Anderson review 14 Nov 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We booked the Imlil accommodation below through Responsible Travel and wanted to highly recommend Houssine and his guest house to your readers. The room was extremely clean and comfortable, the food, including breakfast on the roof and vegetarian dinner, was excellent and the family very pleasant and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. The new riad was in a lovely quiet setting in an orchard looking down the valley toward Imlil. At short notice Houssine also organised 4 day trek in the surrounding Atlas mountains to visit Berber villages and summit Mt Toubkal. Our guide (Ahmed) and cook/mule driver (Houssine) were absolutely fantastic, always ensuring we were comfortable and well fed even though they themselves were practising ramadan. The tangine and couscous our cook prepared for us on the trek were far superior to anything we ate in Marrakesh restaurants!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It should be stressed to readers to book their transfers from Marrakesh through Houssine. Choice of trekking routes needs to take into account new roads now accessing some of the villages visited on the first and second day.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - employment of local trekking guides, cooks and donkey drivers plus flow on benefits of visitors staying and eating in locally run and owned businesses. Demand & support for smaller family run restaurants and guest houses reduces market /interest of larger accommodation chains which have both social & environmental impact of small mountain villages. Catering to smaller groups and independent travellers also allows for greater flexibility in arrangements, promoting understanding and building more meaningful relationships with the Berber people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Highly recommended. We would like to thank Houssine and wish him all the best with his riad and trekking business.
Moya Neale review 29 Nov 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Staying at the riad was a pleasure: the bedroom was small and nicely fitted out, nice and cosy (it did get cold at night - we had a heater, the blankets kept us warm in bed and there was a djellaba and slippers each to use!). We were greeted with mint tea and wonderful biscuits on the rooftop terrace, which was a great place to sit in the sun and watch the world. We ate there the three nights, delicious Moroccan food, by the wood fire, and Houssine an excellent host, advised us on local walks, organised taxi from/to Marrakech.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's easy!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It felt good using a small, local place to stay rather than a chain hotel. We're not shoppers, so didn't buy any of the craftwork offered. As for impact on the environment - hard to say. We flew, we used vehicles... once a year that seems ok.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Lovely to have a contrast from the noise and chaos of Marrakech. I wouldn't fancy the long treks, but we met people who enjoyed them. We had one hard walk up to a col, hard because of the stony ground and steepness, but worth it; and a couple of walks around Imlil and up the Mazrine (?) valley which were lovely.
