Morocco Sahara Odyssey (2012)

This Morocco trip is my first OAT trip. I will definitely travel with OAT again. Couple things to note when traveling via OAT:
1) return customers get fringebetter benefits: nicer rooms and OAT products.
2) you can request changes to your flight itinerary.

TOUR GUIDE
If you get El Bokhari Abdelouahed as your tour guide you will not be disappointed. He is the best of the best and once served as a guide for Al Gore's wife, Tipper.

TOUR ITINERARY
Overall, the itineary tour was excellent. Be prepared to be immersed into the culture. Also, your itinerary will probably include traveling over the mountains which means approximately 4 days spent on the tour bus viewing the country side. Your guide will be excellent at breaking up the driving time, getting you out for brief walks with great scenery and stopping for bathroom breaks. Note that moroccans will show up out of no where to sell you their goods as soon as you get off the bus. Almost all moroccans are really nice and gracious people and great to barter with.

MONEY BATHROOMS
Be sure to have dirhams (coins) for the bathrooms, you'll pay to use them. Bring something to clean your hands. There are requirements to tip on this trip, make sure you have small denomination paper money and coins.

PICTURES
Be careful about taking pictures. Recommend not photographing policeman or military, they may stop your bus. Some moroccans may demand payment if you take their picture, especially in the Marrakesh square. Its best to request permission to take photos of individuals depending on the circumstances.

HOTELS
Take kleenex and wash cloths, there are none in the hotels. In my opinion, I would rate all the hotels on this trip as a 3 , on a scale 1 to 5 stars, 5 being excellent. The meals and food were good and were repeated (offering the same sort of food items) at almost every hotel. Some hotels have poor lighting.

BOTTLED WATER
OAT does a good job of providing bottled water. You might consider bringing a smaller water container to carry water during the day.

DESERT CAMP
A headlamp is useful in the desert camp. I also brought a small stick up light that helped when the electricity wasn't available (they conserve energy). Bring a scarf for the desert in case the wind kicks up, you'll breath in less sand if you cover your face. For me, the camp and the camel ride was a highlight of the trip. We only got to stay one night due to a sand storm, yet, it was still awesome. You will travel in 4-wheel drives to and from the desert. It is a very bumpy ride.

DIARREHA
Our group size was 14. Only 2 of the 14 had very minor stomachdigestive problems for only a small portion of a day. I brought cipro and took one tablet once.

PHONE CARD
We bought a phone card after arriving in country. Morocco offers a very reasonable and easy to use long distance phone service. You will need to find phones located outside the hotels.

WIFI
Free WiFi was available at almost every hotel. Almost all the hotels had 1 computer available for hotel guests.

WEATHER
The weather was picture perfect everyday, sunny and 70s, except for the desert sand storm.

Traveler: Leona Vilmont from Davenport, IA traveled on April 21, 2012

The best part of the trip was the all too short visit to the desert. I would have enjoyed more time in the desert in the camp. I also wanted to see more dunes and less flat land. I wanted the camel ride to be longer.
I enjoyed Marrakech also, because finally we had time to explore on our own. More time in Casablanca would have been appreciated.

Traveler: Sunita Sitara from Oklahoma City, OK traveled on January 24, 2012

My experience with my tour “The Moroccan Odyssey” was beyond my wildest expectations. Morocco’s uniqueness made a great impact on me, as I am person who is very sensitive to peoples differences in culture, practices, beliefs and education.

Over the 21 days , my experiences were multi faceted : the different topographies of the Rif mountains, atlas mountains, Sahara desert and various gorges. The ancient cities, medinas, mellahs, and mosques we visited brought together for me the “mystical Morocco”. Although there were stark differences of the village people, Nomads and city dwellers, the unifying factor seemed to be the delectable Moroccan cuisine prepared meticulously in the tagines with the meals always ending with tea…mint tea. The home hosted meals were absolutely gratifying & fascinating at the same time.
The best aspect, was having a trip leader who was beyond excellent. Aziz Slimani was professional, intelligent, interesting and very caring. He absolutely made my trip more informative, giving me a better understanding of the different religions , politics and of course their national cuisine.
My only concern was: I felt like I was traveling with my grandparents due to the ability issues of some of the tour participants. I am actively promoting to my friends to travel to Morocco through OAT.

Traveler: Cristina Almendares from San Antonio, TX traveled on March 12, 2012

This was our 5th OAT trip and a very enjoyable one.
Our guide, Aziz Kebiri, was outstanding - knowledgeable, very caring and lots of fun. Kudos also to our drivers who got us through some awesome terrain.
Some personal highlights -
fascinating medinas, wonderful visits with local families, beautiful roman ruins. The Sahara was a major experience. The Middle Atlas Mountains had snow when we came through and we got out to enjoy the families on sleds and ponies.
After our sandy days in tents, we loved the hamaan in Tenehir. Six of us women went together and the bathhouse girls cajoled us into singing as they scrubbed us down. The acoustics were excellent!
We really enjoyed the school visit. This boarding school had teen-aged boys from poor families and they were very academically oriented, spoke English well, and were charming hosts.
On our free day in Marrakesh, Aziz used his day off to arrange carriages and took us off to see a beautiful garden, a madrasa, and a museum. (we paid the drivers and admission fees directly).
The post-trip to Essaouira was lovely except for one thing - see below.
Suggestions -
Two of us appreciated having hiking sticks. Sturdy shoes are a must.
February is cold, even indoors, and tile floors feel icy. Bring warm gear.
The Sahara bedding is clean but sandy -it makes sense to bring pillowcases.
Headlamps are great even in hotels - the lighting is often very poor.
That famous mint tea is delicious but has caffeine - bring your own bags of decaff and ask for hot water.
I gave this trip three stars instead of four because of one major flaw in the post-trip itinerary. The post -trip to Essaouira involved driving up to Casablanca first (a 5 hour drive) instead of going directly to Essaouira from Marrakesh(a 2 hour drive). After one night in Casablanca, it was back down to Essaouira (a 7 hour drive) and then, after three nights another drive back to Casablanca (7 hours again!) where we stayed one more night.
Basically we spent 3 days in a bus instead of one, and also had 2 one-night stays in Casablanca instead of one 2-night stay.
This made no sense and was a very disappointing end to an otherwise very good trip.

Traveler: Gail Gompper from Valley Cottage, NY traveled on February 14, 2012

This trip is like no other you have ever been on or will be on. Morocco blew my mind completely & has shed a new light on me about it's rich, wonderful, exotic nature. It's hard to write a review when your a faced with things left & right, amazing things. The pre trip chefchaouen is an enchanted town where you felt like you family & belonged with everyone, the mountain sides are as green or greener than California & tangier the water is blue as can be. The trip was a sight to see Rabat, Fez, Sahara, Tineghir, Marrakech, Casablanca are all just so mystifying cities the men, women, & children just interesting on what they have to say. Life is what you make of it out there. The post trip Essouraria was unbelievable the view. The markets & restaurants in the medina are awesome. This trip should not be missed, I'm only 21 so I have more to see in life but I'm definitely going back to Morocco in my lifetime.

Traveler: Antonio (Tony) Cardenas from San Antonio, TX traveled on December 22, 2011

This was an incredibly interesting trip -- camping out in the Sahara, lunch with an Imam, meeting with Berbers in their tent, and interacting with the peple of Morocco.

Noreen, our trip leader was totally dedicated to ensuring that we had a very memorable trip. He even tipped a belly dancer to dance with a member of our group. Over half of us had stomach problems, and Noreen made sure we had an ample supply of bananas.

A few words of advise -- BRING BUG SPRAY. The flies in the Sahara are awful. Also, be careful of what and where you eat. The restaurants on the trip were all great, but having honey and bread in a Berber tent could be a problem.

Traveler: Joseph Seres from Stratford, CT traveled on November 07, 2011

Morocco has been on my To Do List for awhile and I was not disappointed. The trip is focused on culture and history which I enjoyed; nature lovers might want to look at another OAT adventure. Actually, I might do the trip again in spring time to see the countryside greened up. Our guide Aziz is as good as guides get and a sweet and compassionate man besides. The trip has certainly left me rethinking my ideas about Islam, and any trip which leaves me with a new appreciation of a people and their culture is a success. OAT's home and school visits really enhance the experience.

The high point of the trip for me was the Sahara Camp which was much more comfortable than I expected. We were there for the new moon so the stars were spectacular. Also, I was glad I had taken the pre-trip to Chefchaouen; it was lovely and made for some great photographs. We sat in the main square and drank mint tea two evenings before dinner and watched the people go by.

On the advice of others, I took a pillow case for the Sahara camp and used it. The sheets were really sandy, but how else would they dry them except on a line in the open air? I was glad I brought my night jar so I didn't have to stumble out to one of the potty tents. It was not especially cold at night in late October and the beds have several heavy blankets, way more than I needed. Headlampflashlight is a good idea, although the tents do have 1 overhead electric light. Face cloth useful too. Alcohol is in short supply and expensive, although Morocco has a thriving wine industry, in spite of the strictures of the Koran. One restaurant owner told us he only drinks wine at night, when God is asleep. The best deal is to buy wine by the bottle. Some places had 12 bottles as well. Because we took the pre-trip, we had a free afternoon in Rabat while the main trip folks arrived. Most of the streets had no names and I literally, unwittingly, walked in a complete circle and found myself back at the hotel. I would have liked to have a had a good readable map of the city.

Traveler: Joan Mcgovern-White from Temecula, CA traveled on October 14, 2011

I am giving this trip three stars because taking the trip to Morocco reinforced my feeling that I get more enjoyment out of a nature oriented trip. However, if you are a fan of history and learning about other cultures, you will enjoy this trip. We saw lots of ancient casbahs and a few palaces and Roman ruins. For the most part, the visits to the ruins and the casbahs were very enjoyable. Very picturesque.

We went from 111 to 1116 and our weather was cool and then warmer as the trip progressed. Our first few days were rainy (in some cases, torrents of rain) and cool. Perhaps October is a better time to go.

Much has been said about the trip itself and I will try not to repeat things. But if you go, do realize that many of the bathroom stops will feature bathrooms with no paper, no soap and no way to dry your hands. Take a small "toilet kit" with you with these things in it and you will be more comfortable. I wish I had taken a roll of paper towels with me.

The souks and markets are quite dirty and I would not bring good shoes to wear through them. You don't want to think about what you are walking in.

The desert portion of the trip was a highlight as well as my biggest disappointment. We didn't camp right in the dunes as I had imagined. The dunes were adjacent to our camp and we did walk up in them one afternoon. But, most of the desert we saw was a vast expanse of totally flat land bordered on the horizons by distant mountains. It was not the endless sand dunes of the Sahara I had imagined. Also the dining tent was a bit inadequate and not terribly comfortable or fun for dining.

I really did enjoy Marrakesh and driving through all the various Atlas Mountain areas. For me that was the highlight of the trip. Seeing the ever changing landscapes and the local people was wonderful. We saw many scenes of everyday life for the local people: women washing clothes in the river, women carrying branches in heavy fabric packs for cooking fires, men leading donkeys laden with goods. It was quite wonderful. I especially enjoyed seeing all the women in their traditional dress.

We also drove through some really beautiful oasis areas that were just green and lush with date palms overflowing with dates. Just wonderful!

All in all, it is a very nice trip. But for me, it was not fabulous. I have seen most of this before in Turkey and feel Turkey has more to offer.

A huge positive was Mohammed Amrabt our wonderful leader. If it is humanly possible, Mohammed will accommodate you. He is completely devoted to you enjoying your trip and we felt he constantly looked after us, offering advice about taxis, navigating the souks, shopping. You name it. He is fabulous and you will be lucky if he is your leader.

Traveler: Elena Cunningham from Palm Coast, FL traveled on November 01, 2011

One would think that if you have taken the trips to Egypt and to Turkey ( as we have), then Morocco, an islamic country from the same general part of the world , is more or less the same and should not be a priority for those wishing to explore the world. This is far from true .Each of these countries ( and trips ) are quite different experience .They are far more different than any two or three west European countires .Our tour leader AZIZ was very good All our travel experiences were memorable and many were unique .Transportation was good. Hotels were mediocre to good. The only negative was that some of us got diahreas which required antibiotics .This despite OAT efforts to have available bottled water and healthy included food in the trip.

Traveler: Fereidoon Hashemi from Moraga, CA traveled on October 27, 2011

I enjoyed Morocco October 10-25, 2011, but award three stars, not four, because so many of my ten other GCTOAT adventures have been spectacular by comparison.

I was most impressed by the talent and attentiveness of our main guide: Mr. Mohammed Amrabt. Moroccan adventure highlights for me were all time spent in and around the desert campsite, in the souks of Fes and Marrakech, at the night food bazaar in Marrakech, in the hotel, city and surroundings of Tineghir, and in the Mohammed V mausoleum in Rabat and the Mohammed V Mosque in Casablanca. Islamic architecture and art is stunning when done as well as is evident in Morocco.
Busses and 4x4 SUVs used for transportation were roomy and comfortable. Drivers were skilled and safe. Food offered was Moroccan, palatable, with emphasis on vegetables such as squash and eggplant.
Of far less interest to me was time spent in handcraft workshops and all shopping venues. Mohammed was helpful to me in avoiding these very, very touristy events.
Those interested may see my digital photos of this trip (300 captioned images) at the following website:
http:picasaweb.google.comrichmondramorocco2011
Richard

Traveler: Richard Richmond from Winchester, MA traveled on October 10, 2011

We can't say enough good things about our PD Mohammed. Starting in Chefchaouen on our pre-trip he made everyone in our group feel comfortable. Since we were the first to arrive in Casablanca, he took us for coffee and juice at a seaside cafe just to let us unwind for a moment before taking us to our hotel. Chefchaouen was blue magic. It's so photogenic and the small scale of the town is a great introduction to Morocco.

We had worried that the drive to and from Essaouira from Casablanca would be tedious. But the trips were delightful - we took a different route each direction. Mohammed arranged for two special lunches on each of the long trip - he made great choices. Essaouira did not have heavy winds as we had been warned. It was sunny and beautiful.

We packed pillowcases for the sahara, didn't need them We packed water purification and water bottles - didn't need them. You will need a washcloth and a head lamp is handy.

The hammam in Tineghir was the highlight I keep talking about now that I'm home. Another highlight was the Majorelle garden in Marrakech - it's not included, but is worth the effort on your free time. The medersas in Fes and Marrakech are beautiful. We did not enjoy the dervishes as much as we thought we would, but did enjoy the rest of the optional evening in Marrakech. We would have preferred more time in the market square that evening , but we chose the optional evening because of the dervishes.

Traveler: Rita Cavin from Corvallis, OR traveled on September 09, 2011

We recently returned from Morocco and must say this trip was one of our favorites (8th OAT trip thus far). We had an awesome trip leader named Mohammed who by the way is featured in the recent OAT video on Morocco. He saw to our every need, very flexible, made our trip enjoyableinteresting and had a great sense of humor.

Agree with previous recommendations to take Cipro and wash cloth if needed. Weather was perfect with no sand storm in the desert (yes!). The OAT tents were comfortable with visit to the Nomads a highlight. Fairly long camel ride which was great. OAT has upgraded a couple of the hotels based on trip leader and previous travelers' recommendations. All hotels were cleanfriendly and food was delicious overall.

Highly recommend this trip for anyone and hope you are fortunate to get Mohammed as your trip leader.

Traveler: Bobby & Donna Calvary from Lakeland, FL traveled on October 06, 2011

You are in for a wonderful treat! Our program director gave us the opportunity to experience the different nuances of his culture by showing in great detail, life styles, arts and crafts, temples, ruins,etc. A few tips that will enhance your trip are:
Bring a lap top. Free access to the internet in all hotels; dim lights in hotels and restaurants, so don't plan to do much reading in the rooms; very little free time, so expect to see many shops, nomad families, interact with a variety of families of different social economic status. Bring gifts for home hosted dinners, teas, etc. We stopped in different nomad tents in the desert. The camp was acceptable if you have experienced tent living; otherwise, it will be quite primitive, but the hosts were eager to accomodate.
Too much pressure on tipping, as other travelers have indicated.
If not interested in rug shops, ask PD for guidance regarding opting for other activites.

I suggest more free time be available, fewer stops in shop[s of the same type, More opportunities and free time in local markest for more access to street vendors. We had a ball, in the overall

Traveler: Odete Ferreira-Botelho from Blackwood, NJ traveled on September 22, 2011

For me this was a challenge--I met it and did it for which I am very proud. My friends cannot believe that I endured the high temperatures.
Although it was hard for me, I enjoyed it. I only wish we could have dined at the restaurants in the square the night the day time square becomes a festival of eateries.
The Brotherhood was not really that enjoyable. I understand it is a religious experience, but the dervishes in another country were much more serene.
Aziz was a great director. He really came to the rescue when Sye needed him and helped me with some purchases. He was genuinely interested in each of us.

Traveler: Marlene Brady from Oregon City, OR traveled on September 03, 2011

Many great reviews have been submitted about what to take- follow that advice, although pharmacies are readily available. Some of us took Pepto morning and evening as a precaution and did not experience the problems that 6 other travellers did. Aziz (our guide) was great in making sure we drank safe tea!

Most nights (except for 4) dinner was at the hotel which usually means subpar food. The hotels that OAT uses, cater to bus tours so you can predict the quality. The times we got to eat out were great meal but get used to tajines. While they are a Moroccan favourite cooking method, I go tired of seeing them twice a day. Tajines usually have lots of overcooked root vegetables and very little meat. Those vegetarians on the tour seemed to have more appealing plates made especially for them. Expect to pay extra for coffeetea served at dinner in hotels. Not sure why OAT cannot get this included free

The hotels themselves were ok although lacking most amenities like hairdryers and tissue. kA power bar to plug into your converter may be a good idea as some rooms did not have many outlets even if you had a converter Many rooms had mold problems and we found that we did not all get the same type of room. Some people got deluxe rooms while others got less than great rooms. Again, the four single travellers seemed to get the short end of room assignments.

The $90 charge for the night in Marakesch was not worth what we got other than the visit to the brotherhood musicians. The entertainment at the Arabian dinner consisted of a 2 piece ensemble, an overweight woman balancing a tray of candles on her head and one belly dance (she was good though).

We were offered a morning tour of Marakesch for an extra fee- this included among other sies the St Laurent Gardens, the merdesa and a quick 20 minute visit to
a museum.

If you are concerned about mandatory shopping stops- this trip included 2 carpet stores, a fossil factory, silver store, linen store, leather store, and a spicecosmetic store. In fairness to the guide once the "talk"at the carpet stores were done, we were given the option of leaving to go to lunch early. And the leather store had a fantastic view of the area with dye vats but we were given only about 5 minutes to bargain for leather purchases.

Aziz made sure that we had ample "technical stops" and most days a coffeetea break in the morning was built in to the program.

I would really prefer that OAT build tips into the cost of the trip. Having to make sure we had the right amount of dirhams or dollars was inconvenient as we needed to tip 2 different bus drivers, 2 different on bus assistants (whose main job seemed to be to take a head count and assist us on and off the bus), 1 car driver (in the desert), camp staff, the extra guide in the medina and then Aziz. And while literature indicates bag handling is included, most people ended up tipping the concierge staff who delivered luggage to rooms since they seemed to stand there expecting something,

Just a quick note about ATMs since a previous reviewer mentioned problems. As long as you uses ones associated with banks or hotels, there was not a problem, Make sure that cirrus or whatever brand on the back of your card is also on the machine. One person did have there card "eaten" but did not use a standard brand machine. Aziz did take us to a currency exchange as well and carried dirham coins for us to buy for use in WC's.

I was a little uncomfortable at the home visit dinner because only the man sat with us and his wife and daughter served us even though they spoke English. Conversation was contrived and awkward. Some people who had been on previous OAT trips skipped this home visit and I likely would on any future trips.

My first OAT trip but not my first group tour and the manageable size of the group (16)would be one factor in any decision to travel with OAT again.

Traveler: Ann Lapchinski from Canada traveled on May 14, 2011

Just back from an amazing adventure in Morocco, postponed since 2001. People were welcoming, the varied (unexpected!) landscapes beautiful, and our guide, Najib Sebti, enthusiastic. Casa Hassan, our hotel in Chaouen (pre-trip) was lovely and its food and hammam superb. Our adventure in the desert was true adventure, the A in OAT. Strong winds threatened to blow our tent away, and heavy rains flooded the rivers so we had a hard time getting back to our route the next day. But it was fun (and the drivers were careful, taking no chances in getting stuck.)! I bought a soccer ball to the camp, so we had impromptu soccer games with camp staff, including Hussein, the gracious host, in his 70s.

Another highlight was lunch at Dar-et Taleb with a boy from the High Atlas whose family traded in camels!

We'll probably go back on our own someday in order to see more of the architecture and culture. It's a glorious country, perhaps on the cusp of change as "Arab Spring": continues. But we always felt safe, even in the Djmaa el Fna...Security was high in some places, like the Mamounia, where they asked us to check some items. It's not on the itinerary but well worth the cost of a martini.

On our own, we went to many places not on the itinerary, like the Menara in Marrakech, although there was never much free time to do so.

Only quibble is with the carpet, leather shops etc. visits in which we are captives, and some of the mediocre hotels, although most were just fine and some lovely.

For me, it was a three hammam trip! Don't miss 'real' neighborhood hammams like the one in Tineghir. Casa Hassan has a lovely hammam too, which I guess was a good example of a hammam in a luxurious private home.

OAT should include the Medersa Ibn Youssef in Marrakech in the itinerary too. We went while our group waited. No one but us wanted to pay to see this beautiful medersa at the fringe of the souk. They just wanted to shop! That's the major peril of going with OAT--shopping, which can be fun but often limits time spent in more worthy activitiesplaces.

Nevertheless, it was a memorable trip with a great guide, an especially good local guide, Fouad, in Fez, and a fun group of travelers. If it weren't for the shopping, I'd give it five stars! Solve the problems of "obligatory" shopping and local tipping, OAT, and you'll get more repeat customers.

Traveler: Patricia Thompson from Chapel Hill, NC traveled on May 07, 2011

I also just came back from the most wonderful trip I have ever taken, due in no small part to our outstanding guide, Noureddine Msalli.
His enthusiasm, joy and willingness to show us his Morocco, brought us to a local Fantasia, that we happened to be driving by, animal auctions,road-side sellers,watermelons, and untold amount of souks.
The country is beautiful, alot like the American Southwest, and the people are very friendly and open.
By going into peoples houses all over the country, I felt like I got to see the real Morocco, the everyday Morocco,not just the tourist sites.
A wonderful blend of old and new all coexisting together peacefully.

Traveler: Pattie Hamilton Hunt from San Diego, CA traveled on May 04, 2011

Returned recently from Moroccan Sahara Odyssey, 23rd OATGCT trip in the past 5-12 years. In most ways this was an excellent trip, especially because of superb trip leader Noureddine Msalli, but there are several problems, particularly with hotels, which definitely need the attention of OAT regional and senior management.

Highly recommend the pre-trip to Chefchaouen and post-trip to Essaouira. Chefchaouen is a charming mountainside town, great for walking, exploring and shopping (although am not a shopper). Essaouira was a pleasant and relaxing conclusion to the trip – the medina is much more manageable after the hectic medinas of the large cities – but the city is known for windsurfing, so do be prepared for some strong winds almost any time of the year. OAT does need to alter the post-trip itinerary to provide a direct transfer from Marrakech to Essaouira (about 3 hours) rather than going via Casablanca, which took 8 hours over 2 days.

Hotels were well below the standard I have experienced in my previous 22 tours (including India, Laos, Cambodia. Vietnam, China, Kenya, Tanzania), especially in the large cities. They may claim to be 4-star hotels, but in that event the hotels awarded themselves the 3rd and 4th stars because no creditable rating agency would have given them more than 2. Rooms were poorly designed and maintained, many items were missing or not working, cleanliness left a lot to be desired, service was unpleasant or non-existent and management was indifferent.

Worst of the lot was the dreary Rihab in Rabat, which needs a complete rehab of facilities and staff. Rif in Tangier was only slightly better, snotty reception desk personnel. El Andalous in Marrakech also had an unpleasant and largely unresponsive reception desk. In Casablanca Les Almohades is no longer a Ramada, as the hotel list said, and one can easily see why. Morning of the final departure (with a plane waiting) several non-OAT guests and I were stuck in an elevator for almost 15 minutes. Those things do happen from time to time, but the problem was the hotel staff did absolutely NOTHING – no response to the emergency button or intercom call.

Hotels in smaller cities – Chefchaouen, Erfoud, Tineghir, Ouarzazate and Essaouira – were not perfect, but they all had a certain amount of charm, very pleasant service andor good location which made up for any facility deficiencies. And the Ramada in Fez was quite nice – although the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza insignia were still quite evident throughout the hotel!

And then there is the matter of tipping! After my many trips certainly know OATGCT’s policy of individual tipping, School A, and have seen all the discussion between their management and customers in national travel publications. On the other side there is School B, all tips included except for Trip Leader, and on each trip I find more and more OAT travelers are dissatisfied with School A and want School B. There is the constant question of where and when we are expected to tip and the major hassle of having enough change of the right denomination (and to be blunt, the hotels OAT uses are not very accommodating in changing large ATM bills into usable tips). Also, some trip leaders are strongly recommending higher than OAT guidelines – “exchange rate changes”, “economic need”, etc., which I find offensive. There are a number of OATGCT itineraries I still want to take, but for the remainder of 2011 have booked 3 tours with other tour operators who belong to School B. Am very interested to see if lack of individual incentive leads to enough service degradation to justify the hassle of tipping all the time, which is OAT’s major rationale for its policy. Do not believe that will be the case, based on recommendations from friends who have traveled with School B operators . . .

Other reviewers have provided excellent practical advice, so will not repeat all of those suggestions here, but jut reinforce the need to bring a flashlight (for reading and dark hotel hallways where the light sensors do not work), washcloths and Kleenex (or buy some at the first stop, but look for the $2 real Kleenex, not the $1 local product).

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Arlington, VA traveled on March 05, 2011

Our trip to Morocco was our 12th with OAT (+ 1 with GCT to Russia) so we have many others with which to compare it. Morocco was much like Turkey’s Magical Hideaways trip , one of our favorites. It has great diversity from big cities to camping in the Sahara and everything in between. This review will concentrate on practical tips for the trip rather than trying to describe the exciting experience that lies ahead for you.

Our trip leader was El Bakhari, perhaps the most experienced tour director we have had. He has worked as a guide since the 70s with other jobs in between and with OAT since their beginnings in the 1990s. He speaks multiple languages including Arabic, French, English, and Spanish and may speak more but we did not ask. He is easy to understand, even tempered, up beat, and very personable. You will be fortunate to have him as your Tour Director.

ATMs - For the very first time, our Key Bank ATM card did not work in a foreign country and one of the ATMs swallowed it and did not give it back. Based on the networks shown on the ATM and the card, they should have been compatible but they were not. Other members of the group did NOT have this problem but it is always a possibility. As a backup, I always carry enough cash to complete the trip. US$ were easy to exchange for a fair rate.

Money – The Moroccan dirham is about $.125 but ATMs and money exchanges usually give you 200 dirham notes. Getting change was always a problem. 1 to 2 dirham coins were in constant demand for bathroom stops and merchants did not like 200 dirham (about $25) for a 20 dirham purchase. If you change money in a money exchange or a bank ask for smaller bills or coins at the time of exchange or you will regret it later. It is hard to get change even at hotels. Sometimes a bathroom attendant or a local guide will change a 10 into 10 ones.

Water – They gave us each a big 1.5 liter. bottle every day. We had more than enough and did not ever have to buy any.

Camel ride – We rode camels for about 45 minutes on the day we drove to the desert camp. The saddles were much more comfortable than the ones in Egypt and instead of a single saddle horn in the front, there was a steel T handle that made it a lot easier to hold on and balance. The camels were tied together and led by a camel driver. They seemed to be generally good natured and cooperative.

Walking – This trip came closer to living up to the OAT warning of 3 miles per day over uneven ground than most others.

Hair dryers – Bring a hair dryer that is a 120240V model. Every hotel we stayed in said on their website that they provided them but in fact, none of the rooms had them. You had to ask at the desk and often they only had 1 or 2.Do not try to run a hir dryer through a converter. Most converters will not carry the load.

Electric Power – You should not need a converter, just an adapter plug with 2 round prongs. I take a 6’ US extension cord and plug that into the wall so I have multiple plugs for my battery charger, computer and camera charger. Check the ratings on your appliances. Even CPAP machines are usually dual voltage. Most should run on 240V allowing you to leave the heavy converter behind.

Desert camp – If you have never camped before, this may seem like roughing it. If you have wilderness camped in a tent on the ground with no bathroom facilities, it will be unspeakably luxurious camping. Your tent has a single electric light, carpets on the floor and 2 metal beds and a table. In January, our daily highs were in the high 60s and lows at night in the mid 40s. There were lots of heavy warm blankets. Pillows and sheets were clean. Toilets were in their own individual tents with a light, 3 for men and 3 for women. You flushed with a plastic ladle from a 5 gallon bucket and they did not smell. Shower tents had one shower head and you stood on a wooden pallet. There was a chair and 2 sets of 3 pegs on which to hang your clothes. Warm water for showers was only available in the middle of the day. Many of the women declined to shower, electing to wait until the next hotel but I found the showers quite acceptable.

Headlamp – A small portable LED headlamp is very useful in the desert, for reading in poorly lit hotel rooms and in place of broken airline reading lights.

Food –The food at all meals was tasty, creative and adequate but did not beckon you to overeat as much as the sumptuous buffets on other trips. Hot, fresh bread and olives were a staple at every meal.

Alcohol – Beer and wine were available with most dinners for 30 to 50 dirham ($3-6). We stopped at a supermarket and bought wine before going out to the desert. Prices were reasonable. Much of the wine was Moroccan which wasn’t bad.

Mystical Morocco optional tour ($90 each). A bus took us to the edge of a medina (shopping street) and we walked for about 15 minutes past shops and craftsmen to a house with a very low door. We were led into a covered courtyard with foam couches while 3 musicians played and 3 men and a woman danced a frenzied dance. After a while, a man came out and performed various amazing feats with knives and a steaming teapot that appeared dangerous to most of us but he was unharmed. After that part of the show, the woman told each of our fortunes with El Bokhari translating. When this was done, we walked back the way we came to our bus. The bus took us to another drop off point and we walked to a very fancy restaurant that had been featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. We were seated in a sumptuously appointed room and treated to a very elaborate dinner with several bottles of wine included. After dinner, we were entertained by two belly dancers, both very exotic looking but relatively conservative by Las Vegas standards. The evening might be considered a bit expensive by some but it was very enjoyable and we are glad we did not miss it.

Laundry – Available in some hotels but usually expensive. In places we stayed 2 nights, we washed out a few things and they dried easily. The most reasonable laundry price was in Tingihr.

Hammam (public bath) - The one in Tingihr was very local, not a tourist attraction and everyone who attended thought it was worth it and a good experience.

Buying fossils and geodes – Just before you get to the desert, in Erfoud, you will encounter people selling polished fossils by the side of the road at rest and lunch stops. This is where we got the best deals, as low as 10 dirham for a polished nautilus on a string. They will ask a lot more but you may be able to get 5 for 50 dirham. Between Ouarzazate and Marrakesh after we crossed over the Tichka Pass in the high Atlas Mountains, we stopped at some roadside overlooks and the people there had good selections of geodes for good prices. They look like brown rocks that split in half revealing brightly colored crystal linings of red, green, white and black.. They were available in Marrakesh but at a higher price.

Carpet merchant in Fez – Very nice assortment of carpets. We did not buy any but many in our group did. While most were satisfied with their purchases, everyone said the sales people were very high pressure. One woman regretted her purchase and said she was talked into buying something she did not need. Beware of being taken into a room alone for a high pressure sales pitch. Take someone with you!!

Weather and clothing – We had good weather except for the drive between Marrakesh and Casablanca, when it rained. Highs were in the high 60s or low 70s and lows at night in the mid 40s to mid 50s. We wore long sleeve shirts every day and long pants. Nylon safari shirts and cargo pants were easy to wash and comfortable. It was too cold to take advantage of any of the lovely pools at most of our hotels.

Internet – Available at every hotel. If you have a laptop with Wi-Fi, it is free in the lobby of most of the hotels. Our hotel in Marrakesh had good reception in our room. Some hotels had a business center offering free internet on their computers. The Wi-Fi was fast enough to make Skype calls.

Traveler: Frank S Duke from Cincinnati, OH traveled on January 13, 2011

Rather than repeat a lot of the great things about this trip which have been said by other reviewers, I havee just three comments:

Mohamed M'saouri, our program manager for the pre-extension to Essaouira and the main trip but not the post-extension in Marrakech, did his utmost to make our trip outstanding and had to reschedule some activities and rearrange our itinerary because of the 11-17-11-18 holiday.

The tenting experience in the Sahara is now done with solar energy providing lighting in the dining tent, the individuals' tents, the toilet tents, and the shower tents. (In contrast to another reviewer, I found the pillows and bedding in the tents to be quite clean.)

Mystic Morocco, not Mysterious Morocco, is now being offered as an optional tour in Morocco. It is well worth its cost with a good dinner and a belly-dancing show in a restaurant, a nighttime experience in the square, and the music by the brotherhood and a fortuneteller in a Marrakesh home.

Traveler: Diane Tanner from Peoria, IL traveled on November 04, 2010

This was our first OAT trip and it was probably the best vacation we've ever had.

The itinerary was very thoughtfully wrought and offered stunning visual impressions and a superb immersion in Moroccan culture. Our group of 16 was eager to learn and mostly free of whiners with "ugly North American" attitudes. We made some wonderful new friends. The Tour Leader, Noureddine Msalli, was the linchpin, a wonderful ambassador for his culture, with a delightful blend of knowledge, passion, curiosity, and humor.

Moroccans are kind and generous people and their form of Islam is the religion at its best. Late October is a great time to do this trip, and the Sahara -- particularly by moonlight -- is an experience never to be forgotten.

Those who think they have seen the world but who have not yet seen Morocco have missed something vital.

Traveler: John Coleman from Moorestown, NJ traveled on October 18, 2010

this was a very good trip. It covered Morocco in depth. Morocco has such a variety of landscapes from beaches, deserts, mountains, farm lands, sand dunes. You are always moving on this trip, their isn't a lot of downtime, except on the pre trip to Essaouira (the old port of Timbucktoo). Essaouira is a beach port town with a old fort. It is very windy, a sailboarders paradise. It was cool in May when I went and we needed a jacket when the wind was blowing, which is pretty much always. Seafood was great, especially the oysters. Skip the Argon oil tour-not worth the money. In Morocco most everyone speaks French even in the hotels. Very few people speak English. It would be helpful to bring along a French lanquage pocket guide to help communicate. In Casablanca, the Hassan II mosque was gorgous, don't miss it. It is as nice as the Taj Mahal. Rabat is were the Barbery pirate lived, the coast line is beautiful. The oldest medina is in Fez. It is very crowded. No cars are allowed so lots of donkeys, horses and push cars go up and down the narrow pathways caring goods. Great experience. Then on to the Sahara desert. We rode in comfortable totoya 4 x 4 s with ac. We had lots of stops and interactions with nomands and seminomands. We visited their tents to see how they lived, fetch water and cooked ect. We also had our camel ride there. We rode in a line with the camels attached to each other. Desert camp is roughing it. Tents are tents-not like the luxury tents in India and other parts of Africa. No windows in the tents, it is very hot inside (in May 102 F). We slept outside at night under the stars, it was great. The 2nd night a storm came thur and it was very windy with thunder and lightning and rain. We thought our tents were going to blow away. The next morning we packed up and left after breakfest before another storm came thur. Bring a flashlight for the tents there is only a candle it the tents, The morning hike on the sand dunes were great. We watch the sunrise while sitting on top of a sand dune. Bathrooms at the camp are not very nice. The showers are only a small stream of water. Next we stopped at Quarzazate, Morocco version of Hollywood. Lots of films were shot there. Last stop was Marrakesh, where we visited the famous medina. Most of the hotels on the trip were nice. Bring pens and envelopes for tips (hard to find in the hotels). Also bring shampoo and cream rinse. Not all hotel supply them. All in all it was a great experience and I don't think you could find a better trip to see all of Morocco. Aziz our guide was great also.

Traveler: Denise Hudson from Anchorage, AK traveled on May 13, 2010

We chose this trip because we have traveled to many places and were interested in finding some unique experiences; this trip promised and provided them. Actually, it delivered a lot more than it promised.

Travel in some countries overloads one with castles or mosques or ruins. However, this trip was a wonderful collection of experiences of all types. Staying overnight in the Sahara was a special treat, but visiting nomads, seeing agricultural areas, climbing ancient casbahs, and talking with locals all contributed to a wide-ranging experience.

Helping us to make sense of what we were seeing and making sure the everyday details of travel didn't interfere with our enjoyment was our tour leader, Mohamed Amrabt. We've never seen anyone so meticulous in handling all the details, making sure all rooms, meals, and travel arrangements were perfect.

Mohamed has a fine sense of humor and a terrific understanding of the US, which allows him to relate the sights and events in Morocco to the American experience. He was superior in all ways, a very intelligent and insightful man.

As we reviewed our 3500+ photos after the trip, we marveled at how many different places we went and the amazing range of experiences we had. Mohamed was happy to have the bus stop whenever an unexpected opportunity popped up. And pop up, they did! This trip had many wonderful adventures not promised or even hinted at in the itinerary. The number of contacts with Moroccan citizens was extraordinary. The work with the GCT foundation was heartwarming.

We found the traveler's suggestions in other reviews to be very helpful in planning for this trip, especially to bring a small container for water, baby wipes as a shower alternative for the Sahara, and a zippered plastic bag for your camera in the desert.

We were very comfortable with the temperatures and weather during our travel dates. We needed warm clothing about 30 minutes during the trip.

Based on some negative reviews of the optional Mysterious Morocco dinnershow trip in Marrakesh, we hesitantly booked it nevertheless, expecting and fearing an overpriced $90 meal. However, our faith in Mohamed and OAT were rewarded; the drive before the show and seeing the square transformed for the evening made this a memorable and valuable experience. The belly dancer could have been better, but the meal was elaborate and delicious.

Traveler: Larry Francis from Sun City Center, FL traveled on April 13, 2010

Magical in every way!

Our trip leader Ab was so knowledgeable, helpful and full of humor he added to every sight sound and
serendipitious moment and there were many. We saw baby goats just after being born in a bedouin camp, nomads moving from camp to camp and many many camels at a watering hole with their babies and many more.

Morocco is a living museum. We saw palaces of georgeous tile work and inlaid wood, medinas where there is only room for donkeys to carry goods in and out,mountains with snow capping their peeks and women who wash thir clothes in the river.

The food is all fresh from local farms oranges sweeter than honey, crisp fava beans and olives of every type. My favorite olives were the pink ones, yummy. They present their meals so beautifully you have to take pictures. The spices are subtle and flavorful and make all ethnic dishes delicious
.
The desert was beautiful with sand dunes hundreds of feet high the color of burnished gold, it takes your breath away.
Sleeping in the desert was peaceful and at night all the stars made it very spiritual.

The people are warm and welcoming and visiting the GrandCircleFoundation schools were a joy. The children were eager to learn and share their lives with us through a shared meal. They also have day centers for people with mental and physical disabilities to teach them a trade.

The craft areas are awesome with all that they make, leatherwork , rugs, silver, and weavings at very reasonable and fair prices.Bargaining is great fun and better still makes for a better price every time.

I could go on and on!. Needless to say I loved the whole Moroccan adventure and when you decide to go you will too.

Traveler: Geraldine Kasten from Wethersfield, CT traveled on April 03, 2010

This is a superb trip with as astonishing variety of experiences from sweating in the Hammam; dining with an Imam; visiting a poor family in Rissani; being greeted by all eight thousand sellers in the Marrakesh souk; doing the 'hokey pokey' with school children in the desert; meditating as the sun sets in the Sahara; strolling the Majorelle Gardens; riding camelback; eating bastilla; eating tangine; eating couscous; eating local dates; having a cooking demonstration by our (French trained) chef in the Sahara; watching the the light spread over the undulating dunes of the desert as the sun rises; enjoying the excellent cafe creme everywhere. The visual feast is almost overwhelming: the colors of the villages, the night sky in the Sahara, the intensity of the indigo blue, the tilework, the rugs, the pottery, and the mosques. But best of all-the warmth and good natured welcome of the Moroccan people. Shout out to Chakib, out TL, who proved an excellent cultural interperter, ever patient, well educated, kind, good natured and personable and who, through offering several lectures, made the experiences rich and comprehensible. Kudos to our fabulous bus driver, the excellent chef in the Sahara, and the rest of the OAT staff. If you are traveling in the winter, I suggest silk long johns, mittens and layers of polypro. I ate everything and never had a belly ache. When in Marrakech, make time for a drink at La Mamounia Hotel, and a stroll through the gardens.

Traveler: Susan from Brookline, MA traveled on December 29, 2009

i just returned from Morocco 31 Jan the trip was perfect, great travelers, leader Shikeeb, and experences. From my groups experiences no Cipro needed, one hour on a camel MORE then enough, the footing can be a challenge but our 92 year young traveller and I agreed no more a challenge then other spots like India, China or Vietnam . Like all OAT trips lots of activities with not a lot of hammock time unless you choose to skip some well planned experiences . my 3 tips are The hamom ( steam bath)is very slippery use caution or skip if concerned , The duty free shop at airport does not take the local currency so dont save Durhams for a bottle . Look at the temp for your trip i like it cool 60's in mid January which was great for walking but not for using the nice pools.

Traveler: John from Bellevue, WA traveled on January 16, 2010

I hadn't been in a tour group for about 30 years and expected to feel like cattle. I didn't. Our group was small enough (16) and we were further re-grouped into smaller groups upon occasion where it mattered. Our contact with locals was superb! couldn't believe we actually were invited in for tea to several nomads huts and for dinner at a typical middle class home in Fez. Our guide was fantastic at seizing the moment for an opportunity to interact: we visited briefly with a young woman washing clothes in the river, stopped for date and olive oil tasting along the roadside, learned about Islam from an Imam as we ate lunch at his Casbah, and had the opportunity to reap alfalfa alongside the women of a small village. Two of my favorite experiences were having a beautiful and professional henna design painted on my hand and attending the Hammam for a thorough and relaxing cleansing and womens' bonding experience. It really was one thing after another, mostly unexpected treats interspersed with the planned experiences of learning and discovery. Days that I dreaded ahead of time (long road travel) were broken up with casual, impromptu stops for personal contact. It seemed like any whim we thought of, someone requested "goat tagine", was accommodated. I got to try artichoke leaf ribs (not the flower, the leaf of the plant which I had thought inedible). My only disappointment in the trip were the opportunities for shopping in the souks where many of the same crafts, rugs, leather, jewelry, were to be found for half or less, than the prices we paid in the stores. Avoid the big stores if you are looking for good prices on typical Moroccan goods. Even the leather items at the store overlooking the vats were about double the price of the same items sold in the souks. But you must make the time at the end of your trip to browse the fascinating marketplaces of the tiny souk shops.

Traveler: Lynn from El Dorado Hills, CA traveled on October 26, 2009

I took the Morocco Sahara Odyssey with the pre-trip extension and returned home a week ago. It's a fast paced trip and by the end of the trip most of us were getting pretty tired. But what you see and experience on this trip is unbelievable - I've never been exposed to so many aspects of the culture of another people in any of the other OATGCT trips I've taken or trips with any other travel company. I thought a few suggestions might come in handy for anyone planning to take the trip. So, here they are:
1. Take Cipro
2. Take a wash cloth if you use them as I
saw none in the whole country.
3. Definitely take a pillow case - you'll want
it in the desert camp.
4. The Sahara camp leans toward the
primitive side - your tent will be about
10' x 10', single bed cot (comfortable
though), the toilet tents are 10 to 15
feet behind the tents, small with
western toilet and clean, the shower
tent is at the edge of the tent area and
they heat water in the kitchen so you
can shower but those in our group who
did were unhappy with the experience.
There is no heat or electricity. Here are
couple of thoughts - take a plastic bottle
as an alternative to getting up and
heading to the toilets in the dark in the
middle of the night. Take baby wipes as
an alternative to the showers.
5. Take a pair of light weight slippers.
6. Take a small water bottle - they give
you 1.5 liter bottles of water which are
heavier and bulkier than you'll want to
carry around when sight seeing.
7. Take Cipro.
8. For planning purposes, things you
wash will dry overnight in inland cities
but will take days to dry in coastal cities
as it's pretty humid on the coast.
9. Restaurant sanitation isn't quite what
we're used to and in a couple of the
restaurants we ate at some of our group
members used handiwipes to clean the
silverware. If you are concerned about
such stuff you might want to bring
something with you just in case.
10. Take Cipro
11. You do a lot of walking on this trip and
there are a lot of steps at some of the
places visited. If you have knee, hip
problems it could get a little touchy
for you though everyone in our group
managed well.
12. There are a lot of tripping hazards in
Morocco so stay alert always. There
can be small (1", 2") differences in
floors from one room to the next, steps
are not a uniformed height. So, just
watch your step.
13. Take a good supply of Kleenex -
only one or two of our hotels had
Kleenex in the room.
14. Take Cipro
15. The overhead bins for carry ons on
the bus are very small and won't
house even a backpack so plan
accordingly.
16. For whatever this is worth, the ONLY
place my bags were weighed was
by Royal Air Maroc when leaving JFK.
They were not weighed anywhere in
Morocco. No guarantees but the
weight limit issue may not be so large
afterall.
17. And did I mention take Cipro? You'll be
glad you did.

If you go, enjoy the journey. It's great. The people are gracious, the weather great, the sights spell binding, the food is great, the landscape is ever changing and to see the night sky in the Sahara with no light or air pollution is incredible.

Traveler: Philip from Vallejo, CA traveled on October 31, 2009

Forget about a bad experience with transatlantic flights, long airport connections, flies at the Sahara Camp and GI disorder illness.
This trip is worth it for a real adventurer, Marvelous Fes Medina, Mtn. scenic drive,hiking at the Todra george,
4*4 ride in the Sahara with no pavement and no street signs and best of all when you slept in the sahara( it was so quiet and peaceful)
Visiting local people, and Nomad failies gave you a real feel for the Moroccan way of life
Hair dryers are not readily available so bring your own.

Please bring some warm clothes for Nomad children and families.

Thanks to Chakib, our TD

Traveler: NipJean from Winter Springs, FL traveled on October 20, 2009

My husband and I really enjoyed Morocco. The pre-trip to Essaouira was made ennjoyable by our Program Director, Mohammed, and by our proximity to the medina and the beach. The hotel did nothave too much to recommend it other than the location. Casablanca held onky two hightlights for us: The Hassan II Mosque and drinks at Rick's cafe which our PD arranged.

The main trip was better once we got away from the hotels in humid cities which had moldy bathrooms. From Fes on, the hotels were fine, even great. We loved the fast pace of the trip as we like adventure. Our guide, Ab, was most amazing. He carried cash, stamps, pills, everything we needed for the moment we needed them.

Both PD did many discoveries along the way and there were plenty of photo stops.

The home hosted dinner was among the best ever.

We loved Ifrane and the Atlas Mountains. It was such fun to see Nomads en route to a new home while we were at the Toudra Gorge.

Be sure to take Cipro and other aids as many of us had the 'Berber' revenge.

We would recommend this trip as a great way to learn about all the diversity in Morocco and in its topography and productivity.

Now we continue our adventures starting tomorrow with our tour of Tunisia.

Traveler: Judy and Tom from Rockland, MA traveled on October 22, 2009

We had perfect weather when we travelled and nights were not cold in the desert.
Our overall experience was good, but quite hectic and a bit too fast-paced. We learned a lot about Morocco, it's people and the religion.

The experience of meeting the nomad people, the children and visiting the families in their homes was wonderful and being so vastly different from our daily lives made it all the more rewarding.

A lot of the restaurant stops were very interesting with good food, but the hotel food where we stayed was all served buffet style and not as interesting.

The city of Fes was very exotic and the medina wildly interesting with all the people, smells, colors and the donkeys. Would have been nice to have a longer stay here.

Try the Hammam sweat baths. It was an experience being bathed by someone and scrubbed to the point of some tiny skin peeling.

The walking in the gorges was great, with the clean air, watching the goat herders and getting some exercise!

The Atlas mountains were a lovely experience with stopping for photos and meeting some nomads and driving on the narrow winding roads!

There were so many different things to see and experience that it was almost overwhelming at times. We certainly slept well each night.

Bring enough local money to give to the snake charmers and other inhabitants in the Jamaa El F'na square in Marrakesh or you won't be able to photograph them.

You shouldn't miss the carpet souk in Tineghir because they really put on quite a show with the tea ceremony and rolling out so many colorful rugs. But beware of the high pressure salesmen or you'll be buying a rug like we did.

The desert was quite an experience and we enjoyed the sometimes wild rides in the 4x4 vehicles travelling thru the desert.

Our guide Mohammed, was very friendly, helpful and hard-working and always had water for us to take back to our rooms.

Downsides: tent toilets in the desert could have been kept cleaner to avoid being smelly. They also ran out of water for the showers one evening. Definitely bring pillow slips to cover the pillows they provide.

The optional tour "Mysterious Morocco" was not as expected. We never saw the Moroccan fakir but instead drove around in the bus for an hour to kill time. (Our guide never explained why). The folk music was extremely loud and the show was held in a casino building and not in an "Arabian tent" as described. I wished we would have spent our money on a good restaurant elsewhere, as the dinner with the show was very mediocre. Not worth the $90.

Carpet salesmen: Very high pressure sales talk. Be cautious admiring any carpets!!

Trip a bit too fast paced. Needed a couple more breaks for a cold drink or coffee.

Traveler: Denis & Roberta from Mountain View, CA traveled on October 06, 2009

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity
to see, to experience, to become educated, and to enjoy the exotic world
country of Morocco.

We visited schools, nomadic families,
shared several home hosted meals,
observed and joined in with the spontaneuity of Moroccans in the dancing,
singing, and exchanges of ideas. The
people were very gracious and friendly.

We learned about their culture, of life 'in the desert as nomads, burial traditions,
the art and beauty of henna painting on
the women's extremities, and the
different local cuisines.

Riding a camel to the camp area, climbing and exploring the sand dunes,
seeing sun rise, and mingling with the various inhabitants of the Sahara certainly added to the adventure of the trip. Where there were water, there were
gathering of camels waiting, and some
budding farms in the Sahara.

I highly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Phyllis from Cupertino, CA traveled on May 12, 2009

Unbelievable - never to be forgotten. Our guide Ab was the best and shared his love of his country with us. My highlight was the desert camp and camel ride. Also we met nomads, rich, poor people. schoolchildren, saw the country and its farms and visited so many beautiful cities, exotic medinas and many, many nterest points. The fossil factory, pottery factory and tanning factory are amazing. If you like trips off the beaten path, you must take this one!! Step out of your comfort zone and experience the world.

Traveler: Mary from Las Vegas, NV traveled on May 12, 2009

This was my first OAT trip and I have to say that it far exceeded my expectations. Our tour leader, Chakib, was outstanding going out of his way to provide us with thorough cultural and historical information that made the trip so much more meaningful. We visited so many fascinating and beautiful sites. The Moroccan people embraced us with their warmth and hospitality. I thoroughly relished every day of the trip and was sad to see it come to an end. Thankfully I took lots of pictures during this adventure. I highly recommend this trip to all.

Traveler: Laura from Randolph, VT traveled on May 09, 2009

This was my first trip with OAT and I can only ditto what all the other reviewers have said about it. It was way beyond my expectations because we saw and experienced so much more than what one would experience with other tour groups. Not only did we see the famous landmarks such as the exotic medinas, mosques, and palaces, but we actually visited families who live in the kasbahs and ksars we so often passed by as well as visiting some nomadic families in the desert and the mountains. The desert was awesome and the climb to the top of the dune before sunrise exhilarating. And how can I fail to mention the snow-capped and spectacular Atlas Mountains!. It was definitely an unforgettable trip and I am already eagerly planning my next OAT trip.

Traveler: June from Thornwood, NY traveled on April 11, 2009

This was our fifth trip with OAT, and we have to rank it as one of the best (right up there with Turkey). (On second thought, they’ve all been great, in different ways.)
Our superlatives start with our trip leader, Hicham, who is not only well-informed and adept at imparting his knowledge of his beautiful country to us, the outsiders, but who consistently displayed a great sense of humor and was good at working little extra touches into the scheduled itinerary. Of course, the fact that he is 6’4” tall was also helpful for keeping track of him in the medinas!

Briefly going over the high points of the trip:

We loved the two nights in the Sahara, although because of weather issues (high wind and blowing sand) we had to cancel the scheduled walk in the dunes on the morning we were leaving. Nonetheless, the hike in the dunes on the first full day was spectacular and really gave the sense of being, as Hicham described the location, “in the middle of nowhere.” Our disappointment was in not seeing a fennec fox (or a scorpion). Equally fascinating, though, was the visit to a Bedouin semi-permanent encampment, complete with camel-wool tent. We, who are so spoiled and used to our perhaps world-destroying life-style with its gadgets and conveniences, are always brought up short by seeing people still living in such an alien way, and this is why OAT trips are so valuable.

The High Atlas Mountains were also beyond what we had expected. While at times the scenery reminded us of Arizona or Colorado (particularly the latter when in sight of the snow-covered 13,000 foot peaks), the appearance at a bend of the road of a kasbah style mud-brick village, women (unfortunately) bent over beneath bundles of feed for their livestock, equally heavy-laden donkeys, all reminded us that we were in quite another place.

The school visits were touching as well as informative, particularly in the way they showed us how eager most of these kids were to learn (starting with three languages in elementary school) despite the unavailability of computers or even calculators.

The home visits, including dinner with a local family in Fes, the visit to the Bedouins, and several visits to other families and the home of an imam, were the types of OAT extras that make these trips so worthwhile.

While the madcap traffic of Marrakech was worse than we (who go into Manhattan regularly) are used to (several near misses with taxis and motorbikes), the old cities were always an eye (and sometimes nose-, as with the tanneries in Fez) ) opener. We always wondered how the vendors could possibly sell all the stuff they had. We would have liked one more day in the desert and one less in Marrakech, but we don’t plan the trips.

The hospitality of the people (as in Turkey) was always warm and seemingly genuine, and that also is something we are not really used to here, which says something about both cultures, I suppose.

The one disappointment was the camel ride. While we were probably about the youngest members of the group, so that our sentiments might not be met by everyone else, we would have liked a longer camel ride and one that was in a more off the beaten path location.

The food was always good to excellent, the green mint tea superb, and the evocative calls of the muezzins always served, to us, to help counter the negative view of Islamic culture that we get here, particularly as the Andalusian architecture serves as a reminder of the great flowering of culture and tolerance that existed in Spain and the Maghreb in the 15th Century.

While one of us (Peter) was learning Arabic for the trip, French was very helpful (and at times Spanish), and Berber would have been good to work on as well. Nonetheless, it was always gratifying to see how pleased local people would be to any attempt to use Arabic. Here, again, Hicham showed his quality. In addition to his Arabic language introduction (and practice), he gave us information about the Berber alphabet after seeing Peter's interest.

We really recommend this trip to anyone who wants a touch of the exotic and exposure to a truly different culture. Of course, the OAT perspective, including the cultural close-ups that are always part of their trips, gave additional insight that we would probably not otherwise have had.

Traveler: Carol and Peter from Oakland, NJ traveled on March 19, 2009

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip on so many levels. The guide, Chakib was knowledgeable and approachable. He paved the way for us to experience this rich country as travelers, not tourists. From the beautiful Sahara to the medinas of Fez and Marrakesh, it was a delight. We had adventures on donkeys and camels, and met many people from tribespeople to middle class. He was very extremely helpful to any of the group's needs. In Rabat, my friend thought she was having a heart attack and all I had to do was say the word to Chakib and within minutes we had a doctor there. We all felt secure in the obvious evidence that he would take care of us, come what may. It was a fabulous trip, and if I could I would do it again. Morocco surely has a great ambassador to the world in Chakib.

Traveler: Gail from Berkeley, CA traveled on February 10, 2009

If you want contact with local people on a trip, this is the one for you. I don't think a day went by that we didn't have some sort of opportunity for talking with local people, sometimes directly and sometimes interpreted by Mohamed, our excellent trip leaderguide (one of the best we've ever had). Even in the desert we visited a family living in a tent and sat around the tent while Mohamed interpreted; we also had the chance to ask questions. We visited farms, families doing special things (like making bread), workshops, a school, and went to a home-hosted dinner, and each time had explanations and the opportunity to interact one-on-one. Our hotel in Rabat was opposite a grocery store, so we went to that on our own. If people didn't speak English, I found that French worked, especially in the cities.

The scenery was interesting and beautiful, but I found that learning so much about the culture (with special thanks to Mohamed) was what made this trip special.

Traveler: Nancy from Lincoln, NE traveled on January 10, 2009

This trip exceeded my expectations! I would recommend it to anyone that likes adventure in an exotic setting. Our guide Aziz showed us what the country is really like. He used to be a teacher and he taught us so much. It was also good to have him leading us in the Medina in Fez. as one could easily get lost in all the narrow streets that are like a maze. We could not visit one of the schools on our schedule so he took us to an animal auction. This was not a tourist attaction. We were the only ones there beside the Moroccan people. It was one of the most interesting places we visited and should probably be included on every trip. He was such a good problem solver. This is one reason I like Oat trips. I can concentrate on having a good time while someone else solves any problems. As other people have said, if you travel in January take warm clothes as it was 36 degrees at night while in the dessert. Take good long johns, warm hat and warm gloves. You will enoy yourselve more is you stay warm. They give you plenty of warm blankets. The stars were bigger and brighter than I had ever seen them and you may see a shooting star. If you don't like cold you should probably go in the spring, but there are not near as many other tourist in January. Take some plugs for the sinks if you are planning to wash any clothes out by hand as not all sinks had them. The Hot Air Ballon ride was outstanding.
There was such deversity in the landscape.

Traveler: Gail from Pittsburgh, PA traveled on January 15, 2009

One of the BEST trips OAT has to offer. We loved Morocco. Here is what you need to know. 1. US $$'s are not currently popular so change into local currency at the airport to last you several days. Be sure to get local currency before the desert portion too. 2. If you go in January, it can get quite cold. Take hand warmers for the desert nights. Take lots of layers in cluding hats, gloves and warm long underwear. 3. After Arabic, the people speak French. If you are interested in languages, you might find this helpful!

You will love the people. They are not against Americans and would rather align with the EU and America than extremists. You will learn so much, see so much and experience such richness and diversity that you may not be able to keep up with a daily diary. But your life will definitely be enriched!

Traveler: Linda from El Cajon, CA traveled on January 01, 2009

This was my 5th OAT trip and was the first part of a back-to-back trip arranged by OAT, with Tunisia being the second part. This trip now ranks right at the top of my trip list and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in visiting and learning about north Africa.

The scenery of the country is spectacular, starting with
- the coastal cities of Casablanca and Rabat
- to the snow-covered, Swiss village looking resort of Ifrane in the Middle-Atlas mountains a bit south of Fez
- to the sand dunes of the Sahara with the brilliant star-lit sky and Milky Way
- to the Todras and Dades Gorges on the way to Ouarzazate
- to crossing the High-Atlas mountains on the way to Marrakech.

Africa's second highest peak (after Kilimanjaro), snow-covered Mt. Jbel Toubkal, with an elevation of 13,671 ft., is easily visible from Marrakech.

OAT certainly doesn't skimp on the cultural aspects of the trip, with many local stops and discoveries that give a good picture of the people and their traditions. Be prepared for a much more modern country than might have been expected. Very cosmopolitan cities, cars that actually obey traffic rules, and very clean from the major cities to the more rural areas. Morocco and Tunisia are the two most liberal of the Islamic Arabic countries, and it shows in the dress and demeanor of its inhabitants. Our trip leader, Hajjouji Mohammed, was outstanding in his knowledge of his country, and his enthusiasm in showing it to us.

Helpful hints if considering this trip.
- Best times to go appear to be October and March, right before and after the colder winter months. My recommendation would be March, when the Middle- and High-Atlas mountains would at their best snow-covered beauty.
- If you do go during the winter months (which is when I went), be prepared for a cold trip, both indoors and out. Restaurants very seldom have heat, and hotel heaters can be spotty. You can leave your short-sleeve attire home and bring extra warmer long-sleeve attire.
- Again, in the winter months, have your flashlights handy when you get to the Sahara camp as you will be arriving very close to dusk, and you don't want to be stumbling around in the dark.
- Our first morning in camp it was 35 degrees. Make sure you tuck your blankets under your cot mattress or you'll find them sliding off onto the floor in the middle of the night. This happened to everyone in our group making for fun stories in the morning.
- REI and Amazon sell a little chemical warming packet called the Mega Warmer by Grabber that can help keep toes and other bodily parts warm.
- Try to take a sunrise hike into the dunes behind the camp for beautiful vistas and pictures as the dune shadows change with the rising sun. Also the afternoon hike for the sunset.
- Ask your trip leader to stop at the Marjane supermarket in Rabat for any last-minute needs, and you can pick up wine to take with you for the desert camp.

A great trip. Don't miss it.

Traveler: Stewart from Huntington Beach, CA traveled on January 08, 2009