06 Apr 2024
Morocco trip 03-2024 - Part 1: Gboo Morocco Tours Travel Agency
What a FANTASTIC experience! We just returned from 10 days in Morocco. Abdelhadi, the General Manager, customized our itinerary which included all our requests. This was a cultural immersion experience, not just a tour. It was our first time in Morocco. We were a group of 5 people with an age difference of 70 years. Each of us had a marvelous time! All of our accommodations were unique and extremely comfortable with welcoming, helpful staff. I highly recommend Gboo Morocco Tours if you’re considering a trip to Morocco. They go “above and beyond”.
Pre-travel: Abdelhadi answered my many email questions promptly and clearly. As the senior member or our group (age 70+) arriving a few days before the others, before traveling, I had concerns about safety, cultural tradition/respect (we traveled during Ramadan), money exchange and many other topics. His responses were always thorough and alleviated my concerns. We requested an itinerary addition just a few days before our trip. Abdelhadi was flexible and added it in. We were extremely grateful for that experience.
Highlights of our adventure:
-Marrakech:
Riads (magnificent, comfy accommodations), Souks (markets), Tannery.
Cooking class: Outstanding experience and introduction to Moroccan spices. We ate the yummy chicken tagine and seffa meal which we prepared.
Food – delicious tagine, pastries, bread, fresh squeezed orange juice, olives and of course, mint tea every day.
Our Guide, Hamid, had excellent English and an in-depth knowledge and passion for their history, architecture and culture. He added spontaneous short stops at specific shops as we requested.
Majorelle Botanical gardens: Beautiful
Bahia Palace and Ali Ben Youssef Koranic School tour: I imagined what it would be like to live in those eras and the skill of those who constructed these spectacular buildings.
All of the above achieved in 1 rich & busy day
Ouzoud Falls – picturesque hike and a chance to row a boat right under the falls. (Note: It was helpful to use my hiking sticks for the steep parts.)
-Sahara Desert and camel ride:
Our journey by van was long but included many scenic stops and a walk through the Todra Gorge. Accommodations in the tent village were spacious and comfortable.
Sunrise in the desert and a morning camel ride started an unforgettable day.
-Fez: Our drive in the northern areas was much greener than any of us expected. Farms, forests, mountains, monkeys and even snow!
Excellent guide: “The Candy Man”, who shared his passion for their culture, history and life of his brothers and sisters. Again, our guide was flexible and added stops as requested by my daughter-in-law.
Ceramics & mosaic co-op tour: Observed production from start to finish. Magnificent craftsmen & women
Our riad staff invited us to break the Ramadan fast with them in the evening. An opportunity to experience friendship and fellowship together.
-Chefchaouen – the blue village:
WOW! A “must-see” experience. I feel fortunate to have spent an opportunity to spend an afternoon here.
-Atlas Studios: Desert filming location for many movies. Very cool!
Morocco trip 03-2024 - Part 2: Aissam (our driver) Gboo Morocco Tours:
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe our experience with Aissam! He was not just our driver. He became an intricate member of our Moroccan adventure and is now like a member or our extended family. He went above and beyond at every step of the way. His English is excellent. He has a contagious smile and enthusiasm. Aissam shared his knowledge of history, geography and cultural differences of the regions we visited. He always made great recommendations for restaurants. His flexibility was appreciated when we had specific activities or products to purchase. His hospitality was enormous. When I had the opportunity to sit in the front seat, I enjoyed our conversations. We exchanged ideas about many aspects of our lives and activities – lots of laughs, too. We were all greatly appreciative of a last-minute visit to the home of a henna tattoo artist. This delighted my 5 year-old granddaughter. That’s hospitality! Finally, we experienced unusually severe weather (sandstorm and downpour rain). I greatly appreciated Aissam’s skill at delivering us to our destinations safely. If you travel to Morocco via Gboo Travel Tours, you will be fortunate to have Aissam as your driver and travel companion/advisor.
In summary, if you’re considering a trip to Morocco, I highly recommend Gboo Morocco tours. – And if you’re lucky enough to have Aissam as your driver, you’ll have a molto-fantastica, fun and memorable experience.