Booking was easy. Said was very responsive, answered all questions and the tour was exactly as described. Four of us traveled together seeing much of the country over a seven/eight day trip. We are all experienced travelers, but this was our first time in Morocco. The country, people, food, and overall experience exceeded our expectations. This is a trip that is much better done with a guide and Morrocco Countryside Tours was fantastic. Moroccans proved to be very friendly, easy going and made us feel very comfortable. We did not know what to expect traveling in a Muslim country, and none of us speak the native languages. Our guide and driver (Hasan and Youssef) answered all of our questions, served as guide and translator, educated us about local customs, what to expect, and were very knowledgeable of all the locations and sites we visited. After nearly a week together, we felt that we now have friends in Morocco as they were a pleasure to be with.
Our tour essentially did a loop starting in Casablanca to Marrakech,Dades valley, Erg Chebbi (desert), Fes, Chefchaouen, and Tangier. Each place was unique and different. Food was great throughout the trip. We did a lot of driving, but the driving was broken up by small stops on the way. These stops proved to be a good way to see some non-tourist spots and the drive gave us lots of time to discuss what we were seeing and ask lots of questions. Hard to say what was most interesting. We toured the mosque in Casablance which was great, otherwise not much in Casablanca. Marrakech was the most exotic and high energy city with a very vibrant medina and markets. The camel ride in the sand dune desert was like nothing we had ever experienced before, and felt like going back in time trekking through the desert in days past. We were shocked that a desert like this actually exists and wasn’t just a place created by the movies. Chefchaouen was absolutely beautiful and looked like an Arab Santorini but less hectic, less expensive and more laid back. We really enjoyed just relaxing and walking around this great city. Another unique and interesting experience was time at a hammam at one of the hotels. We opted to do this at a luxury hotel and thought it was a unique and relaxing experience.
One tip on accommodations. We opted for luxury accommodations which were a bit more expensive but well worth the modestly higher cost. We stayed in converted riads which were gorgeous. The rooms were spacious, and the service was excellent. These were some of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. After long hot days in the car and walking/hiking, it was great to have a relaxing room and hotel with spacious rooms, a spa if you wanted, and a bar usually with a view.
Overall this was one of the most interesting and enjoyable vacations we have ever had. Using a tour company is very much worth it, and Moroccan Countryside Tours was fantastic.