Name: Cycling in Sicily
Brand: Exodus Travels
SKU: N/A
Price: 2610 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.6 (29 reviews)

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What an exciting adventure my trip to Morocco was with nearly everyday a new 
city/town to visit in just over two week period. I thoroughly enjoyed the 
culture past and present, the historical buildings, the vast landscape and 
the many people along the way.
The fact that I got on and managed to stay and hold on for a camel ride of 1 
1/2 hours to our Sahara camp. Seriously, the late afternoon, early evening 
thunderstorm in the Sahara desert was a wonderful sight to behold and one I 
won't forget. The next morning the shades of the orange sand with the 
different levels of moisture from the rain overnight were truly beautiful.


Mohammed was a good leader for our trip. He was well organized and phoned 
ahead for our meals and reservations in advance. He was very knowledgeable 
about the places we went to and he also subcontracted to local guides so we 
got a more personable experience. On several occasions, he purchased extra 
water to supplement our supply, which was of great benefit. I particularly 
enjoyed the personal touches he made by our group having dinner  with a local 
family and tea with other families in other towns, so we got an up close 
personal feel to our trip, which made it very memorable.


I would like to recommend to potential travelers that they purchase and drink 
plenty of water to keep hydrated while on the trip as the temperature in 
Morocco was anywhere from 35-42 degrees in August. Wear a floppy hat and 
definitely apply  sun cream regularly too.


I would like to suggest that potential travelers make sure they have enough 
money as the medina with the souks (shops) with all the things you could buy 
are really tempting and you need to make sure you have enough money for food 
and tips later on.

Highlights of Morocco

If you want to see a country fast, and get a good taste, not just in the 
obvious touristy places.  If you are ready for a lot of travelling and a bit 
of mild discomfort.  Then Highlights of Morocco will be for you.  There is a 
real variety.

Some reviewers (elsewhere) talk about the hassle they have had from Moroccan 
sellers.  Read what the guide books say about pictures.  But I had little 
*serious* grief from sellers.  if your idea of bargaining is an English car 
boot sale, then yes - it is much tougher, more manipulative.  But compared to 
say Gambia or India... its mild stuff really.

And for me the real surprise is the Moroccans themselves.  Nice, welcoming 
people.  People who (many) do Sunni Islam fairly seriously, but not of the 
negative varieties found elsewhere...  They are willing to discuss beliefs 
and welcome respectful discussion.  Long Live Morocco.
There was no single "high", nor low for that matter.  There was a rapid 
succession of interesting sights and experiences, but before you could really 
absorb a place or sight, woosh! You were away elsewhere.  This is 
*inevitable* in a 14 day helta-skelta.  What is worth noting for new readers 
is the variety: grand historic sights; mysterious dilapidations in remote 
places, barren mountain grandeur, broad desert, seaside resorts, French style 
boulevards, busy developing country market experiences.

Even the "commercial" stop overs (handloom factory, stoneware factory, 
furniture factory) did not have the hard sell flavour that you will get 
elsewhere.  They were places to see trades in action (and smell in one 
notable case (aaah, Bisto?).


Group leader Syed and driver Abdul were both excellent.  Experienced and 
health and safety conscious.  Your hearing aid broken?  Your trainer falling 
apart up a mountain?  Wading across a hill stream? Going to get lost in the 
souq?  Syed will help/advise/caution.  On the long car journeys, he breaks up 
them up well with interesting little stops.  He gave helpful warnings about 
taking pictures, and his tipping (from our pot) helped us take interesting 
people shots.

I will support Vicky's comment that Syed could have given us a bit more 
background to places.  he would certainly answer questions if asked, but 
general background was not offered.  But note: general background is actually 
quite hard to give.  it too easily slips into GCSE history lists.  The 
Vandal, Almohad, Almoravid, Abbassids and Whatchamacallit dynasties all 
slither into a sticky broth.


My advice is from a "tour" newbie to others who are going on a tour for the 
first time.
1. This is a low to moderate level intensity tour.  Indeed, but it still 
demands quite a lot.  There are a couple of walks that are not steep, but are 
not trivial either.  9 different beds in 14 days brings its own strain.  
There are two long days driving.  Syed breaks up these journeys well, but.. 
but they still wear you out.  At the end of the tour, you are *tired*.
2. Read the Exodus travel notes carefully.  They are well written and give 
you useful details for your trip.
2b Hotels.  Trip notes do say that some hotels are better than others.  So be 
prepared for a variety.  Be sure that as soon as you arrive you check, do I 
have towels.  Is this bed meant for a single so how I and my wife going to 
fit?  Does the A/C work?  Are there light bulbs that work?  The hoteliers try 
in their own ways: "ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be 
opened...."
3. Money.  I took GBP cash and changed as I went along.  Others can comment 
on ATMs, but it did not appear to be a difficulty, just a matter of timing.  
Change and small notes were a problem.  So be parsimonious with the coins at 
the beginning.  by the end you should be fine.  My mistake was to forget [1] 
to put aside enough money for the final meal and [2] have ready money for the 
final tip.  I was not well at this stage and thought I was out of cash on the 
last evening.  Silly me, I had another cache of cash and all was well.  Just 
watch for the end.  I also took single USD bills.  Turned out handy in the 
end.  The Casablanca Airport transition lounge took EUR, USD, Dirahams, but 
not GBP. Grrh.  USD was ket here.
4. Enjoying the company.  Readers who have done tours before will appreciate 
very well what I under estimated.  Your tour group is a little community of 
complete strangers that has to interact closely, evenly intensely, for 14 
days.  It requires concerted and continual effort, certainly for tour first 
timers.  We inevitably make our own judgments, but keep ones mind open and 
talk to everyone where ever possible.
5. Health.  In September, this tour was not blighted by mosquitoes or flies.  
it was (for me anyhow) an almost bug free visit.  However there was a dose of 
runny tummy that scythed through the group.  Bring your own Immodium.  
Toilets, but were thrones, but be ready for squats.  Aaah, enjoy that cross 
cultural experience.  The salads are nice, I'll leave them till the end, next 
time.  A cold swept through our number, and alas, I'm still suffering from 
it.  Just be ready to pick something up,  we are all together in one vehicle 
for a long stretches.


Was the pacing right?  Would I have liked more days in x and less in y?  No - 
personally I was happy with the pacing.  The cancellation of the hammam 
experience was unfortunate, but... stuff happens....

Unless you know the coffee is good in any one location, make Moroccan mint 
tea your drink of default.  it is really interesting.  The wine?  Not so 
great.  Give your liver a 2 week holiday.

It is surprising how people have a little smattering of English.  But if you 
have any French or Arabic, it is nice to dust it down, showing sellers or 
hoteliers that you want to make a small positive gesture.

Overall this was a good and varied trip.  The people in the group were 
lovely, some were a little eccentric (but in a good endearing way). I hope to 
keep in touch with some people from the trip.
The trip to the Sahara at sunrise (so beautiful and tranquil) and also 
sleeping under the stars (I saw 12 shooting stars).  I also enjoyed the walk 
to the Top of Todra Gorge (seeing some three week old kids - baby goats) - 
the views were amazing and it was a great sense of achievement.


He was friendly, concerned for our safety and knowledgeable.  I would say 
that he wasn't very forthcoming with volunteering information about the 
different places we visited (if you asked him a question he wouldn't mind 
answering it but as a guide I wouldn't expect him to be more proactive).  On 
previous exodus trips the guide has spoken on the coach at length about:
- what I will be happening during the day and also
- has given some background to the history and religion of the country and 
then
- when at the destination, provided us with his comprehensive knowledge of 
the place we were visiting.
I appreciate an official guide was needed in some places.
I would have appreciated some guidance on haggling/good places to buy - as 
when asked he never give his opinion.


There were not many opportunities to have laundry done.
Take a bank card that is ease to use and ATMs and doesn't charge you as there 
were not many opportunities to actually go into banks/hotels and exchange 
money.
Although you pay a single person supplement there are 4 nights out of 14 
where you will need to share (whilst I didn't mind this I think it could have 
been made clearer).
It is a level 2 fitness ensure that you can walk up a hill reasonably well - 
it was a gentle pace but a couple of people struggled with a gentle incline 
and had to go back to the hotel.


We discovered that our Hamam in the mountains was cancelled I think Exodus 
should think of an activity that could be done (Moroccan games etc/learning 
how to make a tagine) as time here in the gite felt like wasted time.  
Personally I would have preferred more time in Essouria  - a lovely coastal 
town with lots going on.

Thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the trip.  Thought it was well organised.
Riding through the dunes on a camel!
Staying in Kasbah Oliver and exploring the village and community in the Atlas


Mohammed is a brilliant guide.  He is very well informed, imparts his 
knowledge effectively and with enthusiasm and is always happy to explain 
anything whether to do with the culture or the practical arrangements of the 
trip.  His commitment to us travellers was evident, all details were 
carefully planned and executed and it is plain that for Mohammed being a 
guide is more than a job. Overall he gave us a wide perspective and 
understanding of the people and culture of his country and we travellers have 
all come back enriched as a result.


If travelling in the Spring, make sure to bring warm clothes for the desert 
and, just in case, elsewhere!

A relaxing and very enjoyable adventure. First day of camel trecking was 
enhanced by a terrific sandstorm, followed by torrential rain that fell 
whilst we were sleeping outside in the Sahara desert. The guide said we 
needed scarfs to protect us if there was sand storms and we needed them 
(although at first I thought they were making fun of the travellers).
Having what some would call bad weather, which made the experience more of an 
adventure. Spending time gelling with the group. Spiritual drinks. The Haman.


Abdul the 1st was very knowledgeable and took time to speak to all members of 
the group. Was also helpful when mine and another member of the groups bags 
broke.


Take a scarf at least 2 meters in length.


No.

This really is an incredible trip across Morocco.  We got to see not just the 
cities, the history and the landscapes but a huge slice of Moroccan life as 
well.  We covered an awful lot of ground but everywhere we went there had 
clearly been an enormous amount of background organisation to make everything 
run smoothly.  We had numerous guides at all the sites we visited, who were 
all very knowledgeable and good at communicating their enthusiasm.  We also 
stopped at numerous other smaller places such as an Argan oil factory, a 
pottery and even a huge solar power plant!  The architecture, and the 
atmosphere, of the towns and cities is amazing and the variation in the 
scenery across the trip is extraordinary.  We also got to meet, and chat to, 
enormous numbers of Moroccans who were all delightful and had a great sense 
of humour.  This really was a panoramic journey through an extraordinary 
country.
Coming down the west side of the Atlas mountains we came through a massive 
area of blossom and spring flowers which was quite sensational - particularly 
after coming from the dry and sandy Saharan side of the mountains.


We had a fantastic group of people, the sheer scale and breadth of what we 
covered was extraordinary, but the third element that made this holiday so 
good was our group leader, Mohamed.  He remained both laid-back and very 
organised. He was incredibly enthusiastic about Morocco but not reluctant to 
mention the country's issues .  He has fantastic English, was very witty and 
was extremely solicitous about everyone's well-being.  He really was a great 
guide and the trip wouldn't have been half as good without his enormous hard 
work in making it a success.  Also worth mentioning we had a fantastic 
driver.


The weather varies enormously on this trip so you need to bring clothes for 
every season.  I did have my umbrella up against the rain in the Sahara at 
one point!  Also, bear in mind Morocco is effectively a dry country even 
though they do produce their own wines and beer.


Firstly, pretty much everywhere the beds were firm to the point of hardness.  
  Secondly, as our 16 seater coach was completely full, travelling could be a 
little claustrophobic, but more seriously the back 4 seats were extremely 
uncomfortable for any length of time.