Our wide range of cultural tours and cultural holidays covers many countries - you can see UNESCO heritage villages in Portugal or explore the culture of India. You could be camping in the Sahara Desert or on an archaeological tour in Syria. Regardless of your choice, all of our cultural tours are provided by small, independent guides and tour operators who are passionate about their region and their offering.
Our holidays are rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
We loved the personal, friendly and expert service that we received.
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We know every family is unique. Your dedicated travel consultant will develop a bespoke trip just for you.
Tailor-made doesn't have to be expensive. We work hard to be on brief and below budget.
We have years of experience creating family holidays. We take away all the stress to create the perfect family holiday.
Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!
Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.
Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!
All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.
Thanks you once again!
Hardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024
We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.
Claudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024
Dear Lisa
Well, we are back and still buzzing. We have had a marvellous time. The weather helped. We left Manchester in the snow and arrived in Marrakesh at 30 degrees. We were well looked after in the Riad. I'm glad we booked a meal for the first evening - ate it on the roof terrace. We can recommend that. It was delicious. We ate at the Foundouk, as per your recommendation and on the following night we ate at Le Jardin - got lost on the way to it!. We can really recommend Le Jardin.
The following day we went to Majorelle gardens. Fortunately we had looked it up before we travelled because you have to book in advance online only from Jan 2023. We found our own way to the Medera Ben Yousef and Latifa took us to Bahia Palace - both were stunning.
The following morning our lovely taxi driver Mohammond collected us to go to the EcoLodge. Yet another Mohammond made us very welcome. Again we ate well! You were right, the pool was freezing, but I can't sit next to water and not get in. Once you're in you forget how cold it is! I wasn't the only person to try the pool.
Rashid, our guide for our walk collected us. He was brilliant. It was hard work, but worth it. I was determined I would make it. Kevin is fitter than me! The Berber family were lovely. We stopped when we were nearly there to see how rag rugs were made. When we got back Rashid and Mohammond confessed that Mohammond had said to Rashid that he should get us to a road if we got too tired and they would send a taxi (or a mule!) to collect us - or me, but Rashid was sure that I'd be OK. He was right. I think they wondered about these 2 70+ year olds. We can't praise Rashid enough. He had walked over from Imlil in the morning and was going to walk back after he left us.
Thank you so much for putting our holiday together. We never thought it would be 3 years before we went. We are so glad we persevered. We did wonder what we had let ourselves in for as 2 oldies!
Fiona and Kevin
Fiona B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 21 April 2023
Thank you, Lisa! Our trip was wonderful even with the weather disruption. We loved seeing so many different parts of the country, meeting people and experiencing the culture. The desert was surely a highlight for our boys and the creativity and artisanship of everything from food to crafts were a highlight for me. A special shout out to our guide and driver, they became a special part of our trip and we will forever be grateful for meeting them and learning from them. I cannot believe we had to wait three years for this adventure but it was certainly worth the wait! Thanks for all your help building the itinerary, modifying it and troubleshooting during our stay. Leslie B
Leslie B reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 01 March 2023
We had a wonderful time! Our transfers (besides a bit of a wait when we arrived) were smooth. The gentleman that drove us to and from the airport also drove us to our hike and he was very nice and helpful, clean car and very accommodating.
Our tour guide on the first day, Mandy, was charming and insightful. It was a slow day in the markets but we appreciated the space and gave us a chance to hear all about the Souks. The gentlemen who was with her was a wealth of knowledge and both did a very nice job!
Our hike was awesome and our guide was great- he even took us to a cool waterfall and took great care of us; lunch in the mountains was delicious!
The hotel was so lovely and the staff was very accommodating and helpful. The food was great and the rooms very comfortable!
I did a good amount of damage in the market (often accused of being Berber;) and truly hope to be back next Spring... maybe a girls trip or perhaps I’ll bring my kiddos!
Thank you for organizing such a nice getaway for my husband and I; we will confidently recommend Tourdust to our friends!!
Jennifer H reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 12 June 2019
The whole holiday start to finish was just fabulous, the accommodation was perfect and to a certain extent stunning at the Dar Hosnia in Marrakech.
The transport, guides and staff at both locations were wonderful with a special mention to the Douar Samra team in Imlill. They were more than a bit special.
The food at both locations was excellent and the ambience and fun we enjoyed in Douar Samra was beyond all expectations.
We made many new friends whom I am sure we will keep in touch with way beyond this holiday.
You put together a perfect package it was much more than just a great holiday it was a richly rewarding experience.
Just finally to say a big thank you to you for organising one of the best trips we have had.
stuart w reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2019
Thanks for organising an excellent holiday for us. It's my first time using Tourdust and I've been really impressed and will certainly be recommending you to friends and family. You provided an excellent level of service all the way through, and the bespoke nature of the trip was fantastic whilst being really good value for money.
Key highlights:
- Le Kasbah de Toubkal blew us away - one not to miss!
- The trek was amazing and my kids loved it. The camping was really fun, the food was excellent, and I'd particularly call out our guide Rashid who was fantastic show especially with my kids.
- Riad Adore was outstanding - far exceeding my expectations - it was beautiful and we were very well looked after
- Le Doux Tour was luxurious and a nice relaxing way to end the holiday.
- Logistics were great and our main driver Mustapha was brilliantIf there was one build / thing I would change, it's a very small one but some candles / lanterns to use in the evening whilst camping would have made it easier to stay outside for a bit longer.
Mark D reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 07 June 2016
It was totally awesome!! Climbing the Toubkal summit by moonlight is just breathtaking!!! Yes it was absolutely freezing and so glad I took layers of thermals and hat and gloves!!
The Riads you booked were great, we both loved them, although we preferred the second Kasbah in Imlil we stayed in to the Kasbah Toubkal on our first night, our room was great especially after being in hostels for several nights!! Boy were they cold!!!!
El Fenn is fabulous, Lilly Allen had been staying with her band that week and left the day we arrived! Love that place, we are planning to go back next year! Caravanne was like walking into a little boutique hotel, loved that place as well.
There's something special about the mountains, loved it!
The desert camp was really well organised, although to be honest I think two nights are enough as there is not a lot to do and it is blisteringly hot by 9.00!! But we were looked after really well and had my first glass of wine for two weeks, went down very well!!! The sundowners were so much fun, especially trying to walk through the dunes after a couple of wines!!
Really great adventure and thank you so much for putting such a fab trip together for us!
Liz R reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer on 14 October 2015
We had a fantastic time and were very impressed with the smooth organisation throughout, so please pass my thanks on to the team and in particular to Ben who suggested and planned our stay. Waking up on the morning of my 30th in the mountains and hiking up to a waterfall in the snow was certainly the best memory which will stay with us for years!
We felt the riad in Marrakech was wonderful and were very looked after by the hosts. I think we should have perhaps tried to be a bit more organised with sightseeing as it is so hard to navigate the city and a lot of walking. In hindsight a guide would be good even though we never feel we need one being stubborn travellers.
The trek was impressive and Mohammed and Samir were good fun. It was challenging but the right level for us and we really felt it was a great achievement.
Lastly, we both really, really rated Domaine Malika which is hands down the best hotel we have stayed in (I used to stay in plenty of 5 * European and LHW hotels in a previous job? so that's a high praise for us).
We thought we'd been checked into the biggest room in the place and it was just the basic room. The staff were brilliant and the pool/food/décor all wonderful. Next time, we would head straight here, take a day taxi into Marrakech, and then a day or two trek away from the hotel as we loved it so much.
Claire B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 27 April 2015
We had the most fantastic time and loved the country and its people. The tour worked really well and including the internal flights meant that we could maximise our 2 weeks (if we had of had more time sure the drives would be lovely!) - the pace of it was busy but just right. You really put together a trip which showed us the beauty and culture of the North. I loved all the walking and timket was amazing. The advice just take yourselves and leave everything else at home for timket was perfect as we were free to just enjoy the experience - I have never experienced anything like it. The thing that surprised me about the trip was the variety and how each day was so different. The people were so warm and friendly and children were absolutely enchanting - the contrast of the privilege of children I know here and those living in poverty in Ethiopia is very humbling.
Having a driver guide worked extremely well - lema was excellent, he really added to our holiday through enabling us to have interaction with local people - he clearly had a way which gained acceptance and thus acceptance of us - for example with a family making injera and farmers threshing. He is a real ambassador for his country and was such a caring guide but also great fun. We always felt safe and he was an excellent driver - even when conditions were not easy.
As we had local guides everywhere, I think having a driver and a guide plus local guides would have been a bit too much. The local guides were all very good or excellent. They clearly had good relationships with lema and again I think this meant we in turn had a good experience.
The accommodation was generally very good/ excellent. We actually preferred the guest house we stayed in on the final night in addis to the regency hotel ( cannot remember the name but Stephen took us there - it had more character) I particularly liked fasil lodge as had great atmosphere, and gheralta was fantastic. I also liked lalibela lodge. I thought Kuriftu lodge was good but slightly impersonal.
My only criticism about whole trip really is about simien lodge - As you know the cost of food and drink at the lodge is inflated - I completely understand that the location would attract a premium but compared to everywhere else it is so over-inflated. I have seen their response on trip advisor to anyone who raises this - basically you a penny pinching tourist who expects a "cheap" trip and do not want to contribute to the country ( I do not think we fall into this category!) the main thing I objected to was only having the "choice" of a $18 buffet of food that was not of great quality as well very inflated prices for drinks
However, You did warn us and i know I wanted to stay in the park so this is not a complaint about tour dust or itinerary at all - I realise that they have a monopoly so unlikely to change but wonder if agents have any more sway in feedback than individuals. It is a shame as the lodge is in great location and the rooms, solar heating etc are all good.
I would contrast the simien lodge with the gheralta lodge which likewise has a captive audience but provides food of much higher quality and drinks at reasonable hotel prices - I know Kate would have preferred local food but I was very happy to have good Italian food in such a lovely place. It was the perfect place to spend our last couple of days.
Thanks for organising such a great holiday - I would highly recommend tour dust to anyone travelling to the countries you cover and I am promoting ethiopia as holiday destination at every opportunity!
ruth m reviewing Classic Northern Historical Circuit on 05 February 2015
As Steve has already said it was an excellent trip both northern and southern parts. We had wanted to gain some insight into the people and the cultures, appreciate the landscape and the wildlife and get out of the mainstream so that (as far as is possible for a white tourist!) have some authentic experiences. We feel that the design and planning of the trip enabled this to happen. This was due in no small measure to our wonderful guide for the Southern part of the trip Ermias Tamiru together with our lovely and extremely efficient driver John (Yohannes)…..more about them later.
It is taking us some time to readjust to being back in the UK even after only 4 weeks away. It was a very powerful experience for us experiencing the generosity of the Ethiopian people and the beauty of the very varied landscape whilst observing up close the very high levels of poverty and deprivation of the people. We were glad that we visited small towns and villages and met local people. It is very helpful and appropriate to have local guides in each place because you get and insider’s view of the lifestyle and important local issues. Also it is a more respectful approach. People in Ethiopia are intensely proud of the country and of their own ethnic culture so they are the ones who should be talking about it!We knew we would get on with Ermias and John as soon as we met them. They were both warm and welcoming and very flexible and keen to help us do and see the things we were interested in. Ermias speaks excellent English which means we had an easy flowing dialogue and could discuss everything as we travelled. He is knowledgeable about history and culture and keen to exchange ideas so it helped us to gain perhaps a more realistic insight into Ethiopian life. The balance of basic accommodation/camping and smarter lodges was fine. You were right about Aregash - what a great place to stay. The owners have a very personal approach which is very welcoming. Quite a contrast with Bishangari Lodge which we felt was one of the places in Ethiopia where Ethiopians do not feel welcome. The natural beauty there is intense and we loved it from that perspective but 2 nights was enough. We had an interesting time in Gidole. We lucky that the local Derashe dancers and singers were practising that day for Nations Day in Adama and we were taken along to see them. Great! Tikimtu was very hospitable and we were interested in the area. We camped in a place with no facilities at all which was fine for one night but probably not something which could be done regularly. We struggled to see Gidole as a tourist destination although it was fine for us as we were keen to have local experiences. By contrast Lephis seemed to have a lot more going for it. The walk through the forest up to waterfalls by mule was great. The birdlife is abundant. There is definitely potential there. We had a good time.
The organisation was superb – we had been provided with a detailed itinerary and it worked like clockwork! We were met in everywhere we should have been, the hotels, lodges/local accommodation were expecting us and meals and transport were available as indicated. Ermias made sure that everything was in place in the south and we felt very confident with John’s driving.
Stephen K reviewing Tribes of the Omo Valley on 25 November 2014
The overall service from Tour Dust (Rebecca and you) was fantastic and we couldn’t have asked for more helpful, informed advice. Everything went without a hitch. We liked everywhere we stayed apart from Dar Adrar which was really just a little too basic. The food was excellent but I would have been reluctant to sleep there had we the option. We were also all (other guest included) quite keen on a drink (beer/glass of wine) after a hard day’s walking- it might be worth adding this as an option somewhere given nowhere in Imlil serves it but they’re happy for you to bring? I wouldn’t know where to find it to buy so that wasn’t really an option. Friend also holidaying in the Atlas that week stayed in a hotel elsewhere and were happily served alcohol.
Riad Due was nice and easy to find which is a big plus in the medina but quite dull/too quiet for us for four nights’ stay- it had very little atmosphere but the service was good.
Our guide, Larsan, and mule/muleteer, Hussein, were excellent. Larsan was just the right blend of helpful and informative but not intrusive. Hussein cooked beautifully and the mule was in very good condition which was good to see.
La Pause was great but we weren’t told that they only accepted cash so were caught out when we paid for an extra bottle of wine and a soft drink or two- luckily we just had enough to cover it. Also their check-out is at 10am, rather than11am as our transfer thought so we were left twiddling our thumbs and having to call the Marrakech office.
The advice and service you gave us was significantly better than substantially higher-end travel agents we have used before (and paid through the nose for) and we were generally very impressed so thank you. Your flexibility and responsiveness was really fantastic- well done.
Charlotte M reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 20 November 2014
We would like to thank you for arranging such an enjoyable holiday. The whole trip went extremely well. The accommodation in Marrakech was very central making looking around the city easy. Also the food there was good and it was pleasant to have our meals on the roof top. They were very helpful at telling us where to go to eat etc and I would certainly stay there again if back in the city. The transport arrived when it should and it all worked well. In Imlil we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and sitting on the floor to eat our meals!. The guide to take us on a walk was very good and the lunch provided was also. We arrived at the airport in good time to catch the flight.
It was a lovely break to get away and the whole trip ran as planned. I and the girls would score the holiday 5.
Anne M reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 20 November 2014
We had a a wonderful time in Morocco. We were delighted with our guide Mustapha. He was a brilliant pairing for us as he tuned into what we liked and didn't, taught us lots about history, culture and geology and really looked after us at all times. I would recommend him to anyone in the future. Hamid our muleteer and Sayed our driver were also excellent.
We loved the itinerary that Rebecca put together for us. She was right about how much we could fit in and so we will have to return another time to try Essaouria!
Apart from the additional bed-fellows during the trekking (which was in itself a learning experience!), we were really happy with all our accommodation. We loved the fact they were small, often family run and that the staff would look after you completely. It was so reassuring to see the clear process of quality assurance by Tourdust. It was great to meet Anna at Riad Adore and to know that the company really is passionate about its customers having a great time and the lengths they go to test that for themselves.
We were really happy with the service we got from Tourdust which can be best described as friendly, efficient and expert. The team showed genuine interest in us and our trip and I felt that Rebecca was almost as excited as we were by the time all arrangements were in place. The information pack provided was invaluable too and I must admit I printed the lot because it turned out to be more useful than guidebooks. We usually travel independently and like to do so. We'd forgotten how relaxing it can be to have someone do all the hard work of planning and scheduling and even making a decision of where to stop for lunch. I'm certain that these things made the holiday the special experience that it was.
I am struggling to think of just one thing which could have been improved. The only thing I can think of is to add 'hat and gloves' to the itinerary for the Toubkal summit. Although I think this is included in the winter trekking advice, I don't think its listed otherwise. It was darn cold up there due to the wind chill, but Mustapha had a spare pair so I was ok. If I missed it on the list then apologies.
We will definitely be using Tourdust again and look forward to hearing about any new destinations that you add (we are interested in Cuba next!!)
Matthew M reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer on 10 November 2014
We have just returned from Morocco after a splendid trip. Thank you very much for organizing such an excellent trip. The planning and detail put into every aspect of the trip was very obvious and ensured we had such a great holiday.
The four days trekking were superb, culminating in our ascent to the top of Mount Toubkal with its spectacular views and breathtaking scenery. Our guide, Yusuf, was very able and professional and we were particularly impressed by our cook, Abdullah, who produced excellent food, meal after meal, without exception.
We were also impressed by the very high standard of accommodation, particularly Kasbah Ellouze and Dar Hannane whose manager, Mohamed, and assistant manager, Azziz, were incredibly friendly and helpful.
Purely for information and feedback purposes, the only slight hiccup, in an otherwise flawless holiday, was the fact that the driver we had for the two day trip to Ait Benhaddou had little or no English.
Once again, thank you so much for all the planning and detail you put into this trip. As per your e mail, on a score out of five, we would award five out of five to Tourdust and would have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending your company to any prospective traveller.
None of us are on Facebook but please feel free to use any of the above comments in any of your promotional material.
We would love to use Tourdust again in any future trips and with that in mind look forward to being in touch with you both again.
Charles F reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer on 06 October 2014
We absolutely loved the trip, and will be recommending Tourdust to everyone we know!
We were extremely happy with the accommodation at the Village du Toubkal Hotel and all the arrangements with the guide and the walks worked very well. Everyone we met there, including the guide and the manager of the hotel, were extremely helpful and friendly.
We loved the Riad Tzarra and thought that the standard of the accommodation was superb. All the staff were extremely helpful and friendly - especially the manager Mohamed - and the food was delicious (we had two meals there plus breakfasts - very good value). My only quibble is that I did feel that it was a rather awkward walk to get to it, down some very narrow alleyways. I felt a little concerned about walking there after dark (and certainly wouldn't have been happy doing it on my own), but having said that we didn't experience any problems and would happily go back.
All the arrangements worked like clockwork with drivers, guides etc and I would happily give a rating of 5 out of 5 for the holiday. Hopefully we will be back soon!
Paula J reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 18 June 2014
Just to confirm that we returned from Ethiopia today, as planned, and that all went well - extremely well indeed with our trip. In due course we will share with you fuller reflections... Meanwhile, many thanks to you and staff at TourDust for helping to arrange a very memorable trip.
James C reviewing Classic Northern Historical Circuit on 03 June 2014
We have had the most wonderful holiday with you. In concise form, both sets of accommodation get 5/5, pickups etc also 5/5, guide 5/5, and there is little to fault. We would like to visit again,and do a longer trek in the mountains, getting further into them, and staying in tents and villages.
Paul S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 10 April 2014
he trek in the atlas mountains was amazing. We think this was our favourite part of the trip as you could really appreciate the beautiful natural and different landscapes that Morocco has to offer. Our accommodation was great. Douar Samra is just so nice. We never wanted to say goodbye to such a cozy and beautiful place. Mohamed, our guide and Rashid the cook where great companion during all the trek and we really felt comfortable with them. The accommodation during the trek was good as well as we got the feeling for a little more of adventure and less luxury, we where actually looking for that so we founded it great to get outside our comfort zone. The actual trek was very good and it went from easy to hard in the following days. We really had a sense of accomplishment after the last day which was demanding because of the snow.
The stay in Marrakech was very nice. We really liked our accommodation there (Dar Hannae). The perfect description for that place is a peaceful oasis in the middle of a beautiful and hectic city. The staff(Mohamed and Aziz) there are amazing and made us feel like home.
The Desert Camel trek was very beautiful as well. Even though we had a lot of time travelling in the car, Hassan, our guide again and Driver made the trip nice. The accommodation in the Dra Valle was very nice and we happened to notice that Mohamed changed it for us in the last minute so we could had a more pleasant stay. Dinner that day was spectacular. Even thought the desert is a must do it does feel like a more worn out and popular tourist trip.
In general we loved the trip and we are very happy with Tourdust. We always felt like you guys where taking care of us and always trying to get the best out of the trip.
Victor R reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer on 19 March 2014
We've just returned from an incredible trip to Ethiopia, covering the classic northern circuit, the Simien mountains and the rock churches of Gheralta. Friends are asking which part of the trip was the most memorable but everywhere had its own special feel and we were constantly surprised and amazed by this extraordinary country. Our main reason for the trip was to visit the churches at Lalibela, but I think the churches of Gheralta made almost more of an impression as they were so unexpected - and the views from some of them are incredible!
We had an excellent guide in Ermias and also an excellent driver, Mikael. We loved the coffee and the Ethiopian food - just ask for rice if you can't face injera - and had an especially good fasting/vegan buffet one lunchtime at the Fasil Lodge in Gonder. On the whole the hotels are all clean and comfortable and we had hot showers everywhere. Go to the local markets - they are fascinating.
We talked with Ben a lot before booking the trip, planning all the different stops and changing our itinerary from some of the set trips. We had two full-day drives, rather than internal flights, which was our choice as we wanted to see the country, but they are long, dusty days and the roads are still under construction in some places! However, the countryside is fascinating and you get a real feel for the place and the people. Everything went smoothly, which isn't always the case in Africa, so I can only commend Ben and the team in Ethiopia for making sure this was the case.
Ethiopia is a wonderful, surprising country.
John L reviewing Highlights of Northern Ethiopia on 18 March 2014
We had a fabulous time! It was the first time we had done a family holiday like this, with such a variety of experiences. The outgoing flight was less than 3 hours yet it was like another world.
Lesley C reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 11 January 2014
We had a wonderful stay at Le Village. We arrived after dark and were welcomed with mint tea and savouries in the dining room with a warm fire before being shown to our rooms. Dinner was superb - delicious soup, beef & fig tagine and fresh fruit salad. Breakfasts were tasty with warm bread and featherlight crepes and our other three dinners were all delicious, with a variety of soups, couscous, tagines and desserts. Dinner was very reasonably priced at 15€ per person.
The convivial surroundings in the dining room meant we soon struck up conversation with the other guests.
Our rooms were comfortable with spectacular views from our terraces. We slept well with an extra blanket. We enjoyed daily hammams after our hikes and also a massage session during our stay.
Noella and the team were very attentive and helpful though discrete. Hussain would serve his delicious breakfasts and dinners at various times according to guest’s wishes.
The arrangements for transfers to and fro to Le Village from Imlil were impeccable. Our English speaking mountain guide Ibrahim was very competent and readily shared his insights of Moroccan culture. The trip to Tin Mal mosque was very interesting and visiting a local souk and Berber craft stalls were also very worthwhile experiences.
Bruce B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 11 January 2014
5 out of 5 rating on the information provided and overall holiday experience {:0)
All transport came as scheduled and we had a warm welcome at all our accommodation without any issues.
Our guide in the Atlas Mountains (Ibraham) was a very interesting, knowledgeable character and made our hike a most enjoyable experience tailored to our needs. Our chef (Mohammed) made us very tasty meals and hunger was never an issue. The mule was quite an impressive carrying vehicle {:0)
The Dar Hanane Riad was a very welcome respite from the sights and sounds of Marrakech with the veranda being a safe haven for full relaxation. We chose to have dinner at the Riad which had an elegant atmosphere and the best food we had in Marrakech - we would suggest you spend your money on eating their rather than at Le Foundouk
Christina D reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 26 November 2013
We had a very very lovely trip so many thanks for getting it all organized for us.
DAR ADRAR
Lovely comfy hotel with amazing views. Rooms were a good size and the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Food was great too.DAR ONE
Absolutely gorgeous hotel. Beautiful roof terrace. Rooms were lovely with amazing bath tubs! We ordered a three course meal on the terrace one night and found the prices very reasonable. Best meal of the trip. Nice welcoming staff although it was a shame we couldn't get a key to the hotel at night as I felt bad coming back late as the guard would leave as soon as we returned. Very close to all the sights and square.TREK
Really really lovely guide (Adil). Beautiful scenery- the walk was lovely although not too challenging... probably could have walked another couple of hours each day. Food was amazing and so so generous. We did feel guilty at times eating in front of them at Ramadan but they invited us to break fast with them too which was really lovely.
Sylvie F reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 01 August 2013
We really have to thank your company for putting us in such capable and welcoming hands, we had an absolutely amazing experience with the two guides that conducted us from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi and back, and recommend a tour with either as highly as is possible.
Our main guide, Ilyas, was a wonderful tour leader in every respect, displaying a comprehensive knowledge of local history and culture. His enthusiasm for these subjects was infectious -- there's really nothing to help a place come alive like somebody who really knows it, loves it, and loves sharing it, and this is certainly a description of Ilyas. Aside from his helpful asides about out-of-the-way places that we passed on our whirlwind few day trip, or lessons on Amazir language and culture, Ilyas really did everything he could to make sure that we felt at ease and comfortable. Spending a couple near uninterrupted days in a small car with new acquaintances really helps one appreciate this. No question that we had was foolish, no request to stop ignored or unheeded. When we asked to stop somewhere for some camel milk, for instance, both Ilyas and Mohammed (our driver) took this request very seriously indeed. Combined with the clinic that Mohammed put on when it came to cornering and basic highway citizenship (police would recognize him along the way, and ask him for reports on highway accidents), both Jason and I are sure that we couldn't have asked for any better pair of guides to conduct us on our journey.
Sara D reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 12 December 2012
We were extremely impressed with the organisation, logistics and execution of the trip by the local team on the ground - we didn't expect a trip to Africa to run so smoothly! Plus a lovely touch by a few hotels who acknowledged it was our honeymoon....petals on beds in Addis Regency and Gondar, with a free evening meal at the latter too!
Richard W reviewing Highlights of Northern Ethiopia on 11 December 2012
We really enjoyed both the Toubkal climb and the dessert trip! Very well organised.
We had the same guide for both, Elias, who treated us pretty well and was extremely flexible on changing routes or stopping where we wanted to. If I have to pick on something, and I may be a bit too fussy, is that he knew and explained broad historical/cultural issues but sometimes it felt that it was a bit limited. Probably give him a 4/5.
Accommodation was pretty basic, but I do realise that there is not a lot of choice when you are up there!Give you a 3/5
The meals in the toubkal trip were very good and very large amounts. We had the vegetarian option, and the only thing is that they were a bit the same throughout the trip. Another 4/5
Very good service arranging/organising the trip prior and during it- sorting out taxis, etc. Super reliable. Give you a 5/5.
Very good overall impressions. Very well selected routes and very enjoyable experience overall. Give you a 5/5 again and will definitely be looking for tourdust trips in the future!
Ignacio V reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 11 December 2012
The Imlil accommodation ( Dar Adrar) & food were just right (5/5) although it came as quite a surprise (albeit a pleasant one for us) that the last 10mins of the transfer from airport to accommodation was by foot & luggage by mule.
The guide Lasan and the cook Rashid were both excellent and literally went out of their way, an extra 3 hour walk for them, to help us on our return trip, it having snowed quite alot during the night, and so making the original planned return route difficult. Both 5/5 and Rashid's meals (5/5) produced on a mountainside were better presented, better tasting, and better quantities (too much sometimes) than some of the restaurant meals we subsequently had in Marrakech.
The Riad Dar Hanane was also good with very attentive service (perhaps occasionally over attentive for our tastes) and the overall feel of the Riad was perhaps a little sterile, but again that is a matter of taste; and breakfast quantities were a little spartan (4/5 - a loaf each instead of one to share is all that is needed and to be fair we did not request this at the time - I suspect it would have been granted). Aziz was very genial and, as it turned out, the hand drawn maps by Mohammed were valuable for navigating Marrakech.
The behind the scenes organisation in Morocco appeared faultless (5/5)
The UK bookings advice & service also good.(4.5/5)
Overall we had a very enjoyable break (5/5). Thank you
Richard F reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 11 December 2012
We had a great trek and thought the Atlas mountains were really beautiful. The tour guide and the muleteer were both excellent and would score 5/5 without a doubt. The standard of the food we were served was excellent and probably the best we had on our whole holiday. I couldn't believe the trouble that Samir had gone to on the first day when we arrived for our lunch of freshly prepared food and mint tea.
Christine W reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 05 December 2012
Our trekking guide was great, walked at our pace, and taught us a lot about the mountains, we met his family while sheltering from the rain and had tea and cakes.
The accomodation at both Riad Tzarra and the Kasbar near Ilmil were great, staff could not be more helpful, or kind.The only thing we might have asked is that as we were the only guests in Riad Tzarra that after the initial welcoming from the Manager of Riad Da Hanne - was that she had come back during our dinner in the evening just to answer a couple of questions we had (but i think that was due to our actual manager being on holiday).
Food was delicious in both accomodations particulalry at the Berber Guest House. We even asked for a recipe for some of the food to take home with us.Would definately go away with tourdust again and will reccomend to friends (as it was recommended to us via a friend).
It provided us with a really interesting authentic experience, with the ease of a tour without feeling like you were on a tour. All taxis and guides and arrangements were perfectly on time and perfectly suited to what we wanted. It allowed us to fit so much into a short stay.
Charlotte S reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 27 November 2012
We had a wonderful time on our trip through Morocco. We would rate the experience a 4/5 overall and Tourdust a 5/5. We had a wonderful time seeing the Moroccan country side. The only negatives were the extensive driving time (couldn’t be avoided) and that we wish we’d had a little bit more time on our own. We loved both our guide and our driver, but four days straight together was a little much.
Tourdust did a completely perfect job coordinating the trip. I was sure SOMETHING was going to go wrong. But the only things that did were our own errors (such as arriving at the airport too late).
Thank you so much for your help! We hope to use you again on a future trip.
Betsy T reviewing Boutique Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 06 June 2012
It was obvious from the start of the trail that the guides know their job well I've been trekking and mountaineering for 30 years and I was confident that the group was in safe and experienced hands.
We had a great trip and will be back again in the future for more of the same.
Eugene M reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer on 24 May 2012
Tourdust has just delivered us a superb 5 day holiday in Morocco. Everything worked smoothly from the planning to the support on the ground. We stayed in 3 different places - each one true to the description on the website. Food that was included in the trip price and the food that we purchased at the Riad was of exceptional quality - fresh produce and huge portions. We were welcomed by the local hosts with generosity. We would not hesitate to recommend this trip to others.
Paul B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 24 April 2012
I'd be lying if I said our holiday started of in the smoothest of ways (with a phone call telling us that high winds and stormy seas looked set to spoil our week at the surf camp) but it was with this news that the proffesionalism and customer service skills of Tourdust really shone through! Within the hour the guys at TD had arranged to put us up in the most beautiful of Riads (Rhiad Dar Thania) in the busy city of Marrakesh. This Riad proved to be the perfect oasis to escape from the excitment of the city at the end of the day. I'm pleased to say that we did make it to coast eventually where we spent 3 incredible days learning to surf with 'Blue Morroco' a surf school expertly ran by Azhar and Alice in the tiny town of Sidi Kaouki. Azhar's passion for the sport and the ocean is evident in his teaching style and I can honestly say that he and his wife Alice made us feel more like friends rather than guests in their beatiful Berber beach front home. I for one will certainly return to Morroco and Sidi Kaouki in particular in the future and will have no hesitation in using Tourdust to do so. If anyone would like to see photos of our trip please find these in the album named Morroco 2012 on my facebook page at the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150606289819288.413565.818599287&type=1
As a final note I would suggest to anyone who plans to go to Morroco that mastering a few basic phrases in french or Arabic would improve their experience. These are by no means essential as nearly everyone in the tourist industry speaks English but I found my basic knowledge of Arabic and my girlfriends ability to speak french certainly came in handy on the odd occasion!
Rob D reviewing Trek, Cook & Surf in Morocco on 29 February 2012
Overall tour was fantastic, our tour guide was really really friendly and made a big effort to ensure we got to see the key attractions on the road to the Sahara, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The guides in the Sahara were equally good, overall a great experience and one of the best activities we did in Morocco.
warren g reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 14 December 2011
Our Guide was first class on our trek, very knowledgeable and always open to questions and was especially open in terms of background to the villages, the people of Morocco as well as the history of where we were trekking. The food, and Chef who prepared our meals, were delightful as well. The food was always more than enough and in the circumstances (on the side of a mountain pass) was first class and fresh. It really made a difference to have the meals prepared fresh and they were always plentiful. We were worried about the Taxi due to Marrakesh being notoriously difficult to find any location due to the mazey streets but the Taxi picked us up from our hotel dropped us at our Trek, and vise versa, no problem at all, which was a relief and very welcome after 2 days trekking. As far as the the whole experience all we can say is that we both loved it and are planning to use Tourdust again in the near future. The service from the booking process, Taxi Driver, Guide, Cook and anyone else we encountered on our experience was second to none. I cannot recommend Tourdust highly enough.
I would just like to add though it might be nice if you add some info on the website about the villages. What I mean in that is we visited a family in a village that had very little but were kind enough to invite us into our home. We also encountered children in the village. Rather than handing out money like confetti we would of liked to have brought some simple items from home which may have been well received by the children, colouring books, pens or something as simple as balloons, playing cards or something of that nature. Something that is practical rather than tipping being the only currency. I realise that this might not be for all your consumers but as a side note I think it would of made a world of difference to us, we did feel slightly uneasy when visiting the village and the warm reception we recieved that we couldn't offer something back that would of been better than trying to tip someone.
Leighton H reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 12 December 2011
Tour dust facilitated our tour of Ethiopia, which is an amazing country! It is a beautiful country with rich cultural varieties. The mountain trekking on Bale Mt was a great physical challenge, but with a great reward. We saw many different animals and birds that I had never seen (or heard of) before. The trip through Omo valley was like a trip back in time, a view of life before it was cluttered with the conveniences of technology. The tribes are advanced in their own rite, by surviving without modern conveniences, off of the land. Our tour guide, Minalu was very knowledgeable and gave us great insight and information about the tribes. There were people from many of the tribes who not only knew him as a tour guide, but as a friend of the family. This made the experience a more personal one for us. One definitely needs to be a bit adventurous to travel in Ethiopia, but the inconveniences are well worth it. Thanks so much! These are memories that will not soon be forgotten.
Mindy U reviewing Tribes of the Omo Valley on 21 November 2011
We had a great time thanks, the guide was excellent as was the lunch in the mountains, really good.
The only downside was that unfortunately my wife, who'd been so keen and excited to go, got a stomach bug the Sunday night so wasn't able to come on the trip on Monday. A real shame but otherwise a big success.
mark n reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 28 October 2011
I would definitely recommend this to other travellers.
This trek was the highlight of our trip to Marrakech and couldn't have run smoother.
The pick up from our hotel was on time and the driver was fantastic, making up feel very confident and safe in his driving, along with giving great information about what we were seeing along the way into the Mountains.
Once we arrived our guide was waiting for us and after a chat about how long we wanted to trek for we set off. Again very informative explaining things along the way.
On descent we stopped at the Berber village Imlil and had lunch at the family-run guesthouse Dar Adrar, which was the most delicious food we had eaten during our stay in Marrakech and the greeting and hospitality fantastic.
Afterwards feeling well fed and tired we were driven back to our hotel again by our very competent driver.
I couldn't recommend this trek enough as a little taster and will definitely be going back to take on the longer trek through the Atlas Mountains and Sahara.
Thanks Tourdust!
Emma R reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 12 October 2011
We really enjoyed our trip. The driver arrived at the hotel on time. The
car was very clean and in good condition and most importantly he turned
out to be a very safe driver which is a must in the Atlas Mountains!The guide once we arrived at the Atlas Mountain was also good and the
food that was prepared for our lunch was really tasty and fresh, a real
treat.
esme a reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 23 June 2011
Very impressed with Tourdust right from enquiring about experiences to our departure. Always very helpful and efficient. We went on the cookery course in Marrakesh and recommend it to anyone of any skill level. The hotel was amazing with fantastic kitchen facilities and when we went to the spice market we were taken through all the herbs and spices and all there uses! A great experience all in all!
Anon reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 13 May 2011
An exhilarating two day trek soaking up beautiful scenery in the High Atlas. The guide was excellent, spoke good English and very knowledgable. We had many laughs with him. The picnic up the mountain was a very happy moment... a freshly cooked tagine tastes so good in the mountain air. Highly recommended
Anon reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 11 May 2011
I'd give it a 5. Can't think of improvements. The experience itself was great and the guide/muleteer were both fantastic - friendly and generous guys who obviously knew what they were doing. It was the best experience of my holiday there - both the agency and the guides themselves were helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. So much of the trip exceeded my expectations and I wouldn't hesitate to book again.
Marcus P reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 04 May 2011
As you predicted, we didn't have one drop of rain and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and already recommended it to our friends.
So to rate your customer service, it must be 5, and our experience of this trip's rating is also 5.
Thanks again and keep up the good work.
William H reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech on 03 May 2011
We had a wonderful and rewarding time in the Atlas Mountains. We loved the flexibility of the route and pace, which was possible because we had the guide to ourselves. This is definitely something Tour Dust has above the rest. Ali the cook and his trusty mule were also a bonus!
CLARE M reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 18 April 2011
we have just returned tonight from Morocco and would like you to know how much we enjoyed our Atlas Valley Trek. The guides were fantastic and we were very impressed with Atlas - they responded extremely well to a situation which unexpectedly presented itself : Nanette's leg was causing her some pain so our schedule was slightly altered to give a shorter trip on the 2nd day (the anticipated 6 hours of walking was actually more like 8 hours which in the circumstances would have been too much so the 6 hour day which was then provided was preferable).
Just to give you some feedback - the change of plan was in fact a benefit in other ways as we did spend a very cold night in an unheated shelter on our first night and the change meant that we had a delightful night in a guest house in Imlil instead of a second freezing night in unheated lodgings. It might be useful in future in terms of info you give out to your guests at this time of year - winter sleeping bags are required even for an indoor mountain stay as the mountain gites aren't heated although the guest house in Imlil was. We both had adequate sleeping bags but hadn't expected to be quite as cold as we were when we got into them!
Overall this was a great tip and we would definitely use your company again for booking similar holidays in other areas.
Anon reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 10 March 2011
Tourdust made the booking of our 2-day trek in Morocco extremely easy. I called them up first to ask a bit more about the trek that I wanted to do and what kind of equipment we should take with us. These were all answered very quickly and I even got some advice for other parts of our trip in Morocco. The trek itself went exactly as it should have done, we were picked up promptly from our Riad, the guide was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly and the walk itself was off the beaten track and we saw only 2 other travellers during the full two days which was excellent and made for the true walking experience we were looking for, nothing touristy at all - Thank you!
Rebecca H reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 08 March 2011
My thoughts on the trip was that it was over all an amazing experience. The Erg Chebbi trip was the most enjoyable part of our stay in Morocco, Im glad we booked it through yourself as everything ran smoothly and we feel we got an excellent service. We heard some bad experiences of similar trips but were a lot cheaper so I think you get what you pay for.
Anon reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 08 December 2010
Trip to Erg Chebbi
What a really wonderful trip – many thanks to everyone involved in making it happen. Riding over dunes in the desert at sunset has to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, watching the sun going down behind the orange glowing sand and crescent shaped shadows. I found, to my great relief, that camels are actually quite cooperative animals – or maybe that was down to our guide, Zaieed, who led them patiently for an hour, until we reached our tent. Then a delicious tagine, cooked on the spot, followed by sleeping under the brightest moon and stars imaginable. To top it all, we set off (again guided by Zaieed) in the morning while it was still dark so that we could park our camels on the side of a dune so we could clamber up and watch the sun rise. Pure magic.
It was a long drive down to the desert from Marrakech, but we stopped off at some fascinating places along the way, and enjoyed getting a feel for Moroccan villages after the bright lights of Marrakech. And the drive was worth every minute for such a wonderful experience.
Anon reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 30 November 2010
Firstly, you guys at Tourdust- what can I say really?! perfect service, informative, timely, reasonably priced etc etc Can't fault you, thanks so much, i'm really glad we didn't leave it to our Riad to book or just risk someone selling tours on the side of the road when we got there! The few extra quid was very well spent.
We had 2 guides (just for Andy and I!) the whole time. Met us at our front door and dropped us off practically at the next front door. EXTREMELY sensitive to our wimpy British needs (always checking we were cool enough, had enough water, wanted to take pics, stop for lunch, loos etc) They couldn't have been more thoughtful, even moreso considering they were both without food and water all day because of Ramadan.
The tour was very comprehensive- mountains, gorges, the desert and other stops like fossil factories, film studios and various places of interest along the way. The dessert was an INCREDIBLE experience, the most bizarre silence I've ever experienced and I now know camels regurgitate their food and eat it as mine did this for the entire trip back (rather nice at 5am!)
Things that may be useful in terms of other clients doing the same tour and asking questions: we had no idea we would be travelling quite so far, so although the first and second day were fine and split up with visits and obviously a night in a hotel, the full journey back on the 3rd day was a marathon. I think we stopped twice for the loo and once for lunch in almost 12 hours because there was so far to go.
We also had no idea we'd be leaving our guides once we got on the camels, and trekking 4km to the camp. Our Berber 'host' there was amazing, the tagine the best we had the whole holiday and the 4 other guests a real nice bunch. But we then trekked back at 5am to see the sunrise. Again, a fab experience but we were in shock when we were told at camp we'd be getting up before 5am and going back on camels as 1- Camels are the most uncomfy beasts ever, and 2- We were absolutely knackered!
Also, the sleeping in the desert- we had packed a fleece and our toothbrushes along with wipes medication other items on the list etc. The torch was the most valuable item listed, we would have been lost without it! But anything other than maybe medication and wipes is pointless as there are NO facilities whatsoever, just a loo in a tent. We slept in our clothes and went back in them the next day, there's no point doing anything else really. It is a complete myth that it gets cold in the desert- it was a good 30 degrees all through the night with no wind whatsoever and the camp has thin mattresses and sheets to use if needed so no need for sleeping bag hire either, it was all just extra stuff to lug around. Our guide told us it very rarely gets cold in the desert and this is at the time of year when they move their camp out anyway so no-one would be staying there, doing tours etc
Anon reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi on 18 October 2010