Highlights
- Large Heated Pool
- Design Hotel
- Art & Culture programs
- TOUCO local food cafe
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The Fellah Hotel is a stylish new desgin-led country hotel outside of Marrakech with admirable ambitions to engage and support the local community and artists through an eclectic blend of activities.
Set within 11 hectares (27 acres) with views of the Atlas Mountain range, there are ten spacious villas. Each of these 850 square meters buildings has been divided - creating 62 rooms all uniquely styled, with a blend of traditional Berber patterns and modern colors and furnishings from Morocco's top artisans and designers. On site there is a state of the art wellness centre and gym, yoga studio, extensive library and excellent children's activities. If you like your relaxation less organised, there is a large heated swimming pool, table tennis, badminton and football within the large grounds.
The restaurant wraps around the swimming pool, and cocktails are served in the outdoor bar and indoor lounge. A nice touch is the TOUCO cafe, a rarity for this kind of resort, it aims to serve authentic local food and is run by local villagers.
Each guest’s check-in contributes a portion to Dar al-Ma'mûn, an UNESCO recognized art center and library that provides cultural education and activities for our local village and supports emerging Moroccan artists with its artists in residence program.
The Children's program is organised with the art center and library and includes art classes (with the artists in residence), storytelling, cooking classes and exploring the farm and gardens. For teens there are art exploration, DJ and film making classes. Activities tend to be centred around school holiday periods and change over time. There are no 2 bedroom suites at Fellah, so families will either need to take two standard rooms or take one of the larger suites which can take upto 2 extra beds.
The Fellah has fantastic facilities but is let down on occasion by mixed service. Standard rooms represent good value for money, and we would recommend it for families looking for an organised and eclectic kids program and varied facilities. However, for a more seamless experience, albeit at a higher price point, both Les Deux Tours and Jnane Tamsna offer superior service in this category.
Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
was lovely.We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
away!Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
personal taste!Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
"for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
for Nicola's meetings.
Monica S
reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday
on 16 February 2026
We had such a good holiday. You did a fantastic job!
The house in Marrakesh was ridiculous. We effectively had it to ourselves. The accommodation was borderline palatial.
I actually think that the time we had in Marrakesh was sufficient. We could potentially have done a day by a pool but I think we’d done enough souk-ing by the end of Day Two.
The hotel in the mountains was a shade more rustic than I was expecting, but all great fun. Stunning views. The guide / mule / cook team were excellent and our guide (Hassan) tailored the treks to our capabilities well. He was superb, and really made an effort with the kids. The second and third day of trekking were particularly good. Such an adventure for the kids.
All the logistics worked seamlessly. Every aspect went like clockwork. Top marks. The advice on tipping was also much appreciated (I hate thinking that I’m getting mugged off or am potentially not giving enough…).
From my seven-year-old son:
I thought it was GREAT. The food was amazing and the culture was very interesting. My favourite bit was scrambling up rocks in the Atlas Mountains.
In retrospect, I’d probably do the trip in reverse. Flopping on the roof terrace after the rigours of the mountains would have been even more satisfying.
Henry O
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 05 June 2025
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
Nicola and I had a brilliant time - the weather made it pretty
challenging at times, but Mustafa and Mohammed looked after us
superbly. We loved the variety of scenery and places - as you mention,
the only downside is the rubbish in the villages, such a shame. The
meals that Mohammed drummed up on the hillside tracks were amazing - I
am glad we knew that our mule would eat the leftovers because there was
no way we could finish them! The standard of the breakfasts were far in
excess of the bread and jam you mentioned, even in the basic gite which
was freezing - we were warm once in bed, but the temperature in the
living room was a bit depressing after a very windy descent, sitting
wrapped in coats, hats and blankets while we waited for our dinner! The
sleeping bags provided were excellent and we were toasty with our fleece
liners and an extra blanket. We were very grateful that Mustafa's boss
upgraded us to the eco lodge the next night (don't know whether this was
because of the gale force winds on our descent the day before...) - it
was lovely.We were incredibly lucky with precipitation - although we were walking
in a few inches of snow on day one and it absolutely poured that night,
we experienced no rain during the day until we were lining up for our
farewell photo at our pickup point, when the heavens opened!Due to the weather, I think I'd describe the terrain slightly
differently - a few good paths, but often we were on very stony ground,
slippery wet mud (oh, that clay does stick to one's boots!), slidy thin
gravel or else just making our way down a hill after rain had washed the
original route away. Occasionally we walked short distances on roads,
which Mustafa was apologetic about, but it was hardly the M6! We took
our time and never felt unsafe, but people with dodgy knees or hips
might need to be careful. Mustafa looked after us very carefully in the
high wind gusts (as a sailor, I reckon at least Force 9 - over 50 mph on
a bare hillside), promising Nicola that he wouldn't let her mother blow
away!Although we needed to be back in Marrakech on the fourth night, I think
if I were going again, I would prefer to trek for four days and spend 3
in Marrakech, which I found a bit overwhelming, but this is just
personal taste!Our room in Daar Housnia was lovely, and we appreciated the heating -
the rest of the building is definitely built for summer! There seemed
to be some confusion over our arrival - the manager said we had
originally been booked into the downstairs suite with double bed and
bath in the middle of the room, but that he thought it was more suitable
"for two ladies, not a couple" to upgrade us to exactly the room you had
shown us photos of! The breakfasts were delicious. The wifi was fine
for Nicola's meetings.
Monica S
reviewing Morocco Trek & Marrakech Holiday
on 16 February 2026
We had such a good holiday. You did a fantastic job!
The house in Marrakesh was ridiculous. We effectively had it to ourselves. The accommodation was borderline palatial.
I actually think that the time we had in Marrakesh was sufficient. We could potentially have done a day by a pool but I think we’d done enough souk-ing by the end of Day Two.
The hotel in the mountains was a shade more rustic than I was expecting, but all great fun. Stunning views. The guide / mule / cook team were excellent and our guide (Hassan) tailored the treks to our capabilities well. He was superb, and really made an effort with the kids. The second and third day of trekking were particularly good. Such an adventure for the kids.
All the logistics worked seamlessly. Every aspect went like clockwork. Top marks. The advice on tipping was also much appreciated (I hate thinking that I’m getting mugged off or am potentially not giving enough…).
From my seven-year-old son:
I thought it was GREAT. The food was amazing and the culture was very interesting. My favourite bit was scrambling up rocks in the Atlas Mountains.
In retrospect, I’d probably do the trip in reverse. Flopping on the roof terrace after the rigours of the mountains would have been even more satisfying.
Henry O
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 05 June 2025
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 a brilliant trip!
An amazing experience for parents, children and grandparents alike.
We are already planning a trip to Vietnam next year
Kate B
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 10 January 2024
We had a fantastic time. Thank you for all your help, advice and guidance in organising our holiday. As this was not our first booking with Tourdust we were confident that all our transfers would work perfectly and they did - everything ran so smoothly! The riad in Marrakesh was stunning - a truly beautiful oasis of calm in such a busy, bustling city. As you can imagine, we were very grateful for the air conditioning in our room as outside was so hot! I was nervous about walking through the souks at night, but as they were well lit we felt perfectly safe and found our confidence grew in navigating the journey home each time we ventured out. When we arrived at our lodge in the Atlas Mountains we were blown away by the scenery. The views were amazing and the beautiful lodge gardens were the perfect place to sit and relax before taking a dip in the pool. Our day trek was truly amazing - no small thanks to our guide Rashid, who was so helpful and knowledgable. The lunch in the traditional Berber village was delicious and we were were made to feel so welcome. The home owner showed us how to make bread and then cooked it for us in her traditional clay oven. This was a memory we will never forget as we stood surrounded by her chickens and goats watching her use her bare hands to prepare the fire! Our night in the desert was breathtaking. The camel ride at sunset was so incredible and the quad biking the next morning was brilliant fun. I am so glad we added in these extras as they really made the experience! We finally made it to our hotel at the coast, where the surf lessons were a hit and the hotel was a great place to relax and read! Thank you again for all your help. We would definitely recommend Tourdust to all our friends and family. Tanya
Tanya G
reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday
on 18 August 2023
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
Hi Lisa and everyone at Tourdust,
We've had a wonderful time on our holiday and wanted to pass our appreciation to you. Everything has been expertly planned and executed, allowing us to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. Special appreciation to Muhammed, Ibrahim, and Omar, our Atlas guide, cook, and muleteer, who couldn't have done more for us and were just generally wonderful and hardworking. Riad Hanane is a perfect base in Marrakech to complement the trekking as it's ina less touristy area of the medina, which we appreciated. The staff and accomodation was superb.Thank you again for a trip to remember!
Bob, May, Grace, and Lucas
Robert B
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 20 February 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
Wow, we had a brilliant time!! Not sure where to start…
Transport was great, very reassuring to have all that taken care of and all drivers were polite and helpful. Good to know in advance to have some dirham ready for tips.
Treking: Our guide Hassan, muleteer Centim and chef were great. We’d never been guided before and were a little worried about how it would all work out but Hassan went at a pace that worked for us, always made sure we knew where we were going and happy to answer questions but also to give us some space. Food was such a treat! Beautiful locations and we were thoroughly looked after.
Accommodation. Mountain lodge were brilliant. Very cold at night in Imlil so glad to have layers. Staff helpful, food plentiful and delicious. Ouirgane Eco Lodge was a real treat after the mountains. And the riad. Oh my goodness. We loved it! Breakfast on our own terrace, a pool to cool off in. So much space and so beautifully decorated. We couldn’t believe it was ours for the period of time and a great respite from the hustle and bustle of the souks.
The balance of the trek and city was great for us, kids saw all kinds of things in both places that really opened their eyes. Weather was very kind to us so it was an extra treat to have the sunshine.
It definitely felt like a real adventure and something that we’ll always remember as a family.
We had plenty of info from Tourdust and plenty of prompt replies as my queries popped up.
Kate A
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 26 April 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
The highlights for us were the accommodation choices - we loved each place we stayed and for quite different reasons.
We found the food really delicious at all the places. We were really impressed. We ended up eating dinner every night at Dar Housnia, which was really tasty but a bit expensive but we loved the convenience of it and loved everything else about the place.
My 9yr’s favourite place was Douar Samra - he liked the rooms and all the meals. We all like the communal meals there. It was good to get to know other travellers. But my husband and I really loved the Douria Suite at Dar Housnia as it was great to the have space and down time by ourselves there. We spent some hours just lazing on the terrace after walking around Marrakech for hours.
We also thought Kasbah Ellouze was really lovely too. They were super helpful accommodating the kids. They made sure we could celebrate NYE dinner with the kids as they go to bed early. It was really kind of them.
We had a Hussain as our guide for trekking and he went with us on the road trip. We really liked him: friendly & kind, and not too loud & talkative (our family is on the quiet side!). Hussain was great with our two boys. He made them feel comfortable, kept them safe on the treks (ie speed walking ahead with them when they wanted (our 4yr old loved this!) and holding them securely on mules over the rough terrain) and he played football with them too!
We had two different drivers who were both good - helped out when our 9yr old vomited from car sickness and were happy to drive slowly as needed.Also we thought your organisation of everything and choice of accommodation & guides was excellent. We had no complaints. We had a splendid, relaxed and easy holiday - we didn’t have to think of anything & it was all great.
Helen N
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 30 January 2018
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
We had a brilliant holiday in Morocco courtesy of Tourdust this Summer (2015). Despite any anticipated difficulties of travelling to a country with a different culture and language we found everyone involved with our trip really friendly and helpful. The accommodation in all three areas was delightful, all in different ways, the food delicious and all the transfers involved worked very smoothly which really took the stress out of things. Trekking in the extreme heat of August requires a level of fitness which I personally found a struggle, but the guide made it possible to go at a speed that was comfortable. My two teenage sons really enjoyed the trip as well. Tourdust were really helpful before travelling in helping with any last minute issues. I would really recommend this trip.
Hazel B
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 02 September 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
The whole experience was truly fascinating and was really well organised from start to finish. We came away feeling that we had experienced the real Morocco. The accommodation and food was excellent throughout and we particularly liked Kasbah de Cigogne and the incredibly friendly staff, especially Ali! The mountain trek was invigorating and proved a highlight of the holiday - even the cold overnight stay in a mountain gite!. Credit to the guides and excellent cook plus of course the ever patient mules! We couldn't believe the quality(and quantity) of delicious hot food prepared half way up a mountain for us!
Oh and Marrakesh - well it needs no introduction but if you need to get away from the Souks for a while, a day at the Beldi Club comes highly recommended!
We'll be back to conquer Toubkal one day!
Christopher S
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 23 April 2015
We had a fantastic holiday in Morocco. Both Riad Dar Imlil and Riad Wo were lovely, the staff very friendly and helpful and both served delicious food. Please could you pass on our thanks in particular to Ibrahim who was our guide in the Atlas mountains. He was a brilliant guide, extremely helpful and considerate and a definite asset to your operation out there. All the transfers went smoothly and the little extra touches such as the pastries and water in the taxi from the airport to the mountains were very much appreciated.
We will most certainly be recommending Tourdust to all our friends.
Gavin K
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 15 April 2015
We thought our tour was incredibly well-organized. We felt completely looked after, well-organized and safe. You were clear on all your instructions and your people and guesthouses in Morocco were just as you described and were excellent.
If you have a grading level for accommodation that would be useful to us in the future. The first place Dar Adrar was exactly our speed. We adored the other two places too. They were incredibly lovely, but being a bouncy family, we tend to gravitate towards more lowkey places. Would love to hear back on this.
The guide for our trek, Youssef, was lovely. Our driver to Ait Benaddou, Ibrahim, was also very sweet.
We have no complaints, just wish we could have stayed longer
Yasmin K
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 25 March 2015
We had an amazing time thank you very much! The riads and hotels were outstanding and everything went as clockwork. We had really bad rainfall on the day we transferred to Marrakech but our driver didnt give up and we eventually found a passable road ( which I think was the last possible one to get us there!)
Thank you so much!
Matthew A
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 December 2014
We had a fantastic holiday, thanks, and all the practical arrangements worked. Even though we had only a week in Morocco, it felt like we had a lot of different experiences, and we came to love the country - everyone was friendly and helpful.
I would give all of our accommodation, guides and drivers 5 out of 5: we could not fault them.
Thank you for making all the arrangements, and thank your colleagues also: we will definitely be recommending Tourdust to others.
Peter B
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 20 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
This was one of the most amazing holidays I’ve had. I had been wanting to take Erin, my 10 year old on an adventure and experience a very different culture and way of life for some time and this was a fantastic experience.
Although being slightly apprehensive about it being just the two of us – the support and organisation from Tour Dust and their team of colleagues in Morocco was fantastic, everything went according to plan. Our team in the Atlas mountains were lovely, Hassan our trek guide kept a good pace and was really helpful throughout (even trying to find replacement batteries for me in the villages when I needed them) and gave us the opportunity to be able to extend out trek to see the neighbouring valley and stunning waterfalls on the first day. Mustafa our cook created the most amazing picnics for the two of us, (my only complaint was that there was just too much food to eat!) whilst Lassan our muleteer was great with Erin.
This trip was a wonderful balance of adventure and relaxation. I really loved being in the mountains, the scenery is breath-taking and unexpectedly so varied, red and ochre hills, dotted with juniper bushes, walnut and olive groves, set against snow-capped mountains and there is something very special about seeing the villages that we were going to be staying at in the evening in the distance and experiencing a glimpse of life in the Berber villages. At the end of our trek we celebrated with a mint tea at the neighbouring Kasbah Toukal - hearing the prayer calls as dusk settled echoing throughout the valleys, will be something I’ll remember for very long time. Finishing our stay in Marrakesh at the very tasteful Riad Wo owned by the very hospitable Elsa, was fabulous, a beautiful place amongst the chaotic, intoxicating beauty of Marrakesh, a perfect end.
This holiday is a definite 5 out of 5 and more - yes we had one or two up’s and downs getting sick at different times but I think that’s to be expected, just bring a good first aid kit! It certainly hasn’t put us off - now all I want to do is go back as soon as I can.
Nicky
I particularly enjoyed being in the mountains! The views were spectacular. I’d recommend this trip for family’s or couples who are wanting a fun but not to challenging trip . Anyone reading this don’t think about it just do it! Take a chance and go on the biggest adventure of your life! Erin aged 10
Nicky B
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 13 November 2014
We had an amazing time thank you. Challenging it certainly was!
We had a great experience.....such contrast in scenery, climate, culture and accommodation.
The organisation was really good and everything ran like clockwork.The food was well prepared and the guide, Mohamed, took us up to the summit of Mount Toubkal when others weren't prepared to go due to the snow.
We absolutely loved Riad Boussa in Marrakech. However we did find the 2nd night in the mountain refuge a little difficult. It was more basic than we had expected and it did assume that everyone could climb a very upright ladder to get to the attic in which we slept. Fortunately we were the only ones staying there but it would have been much more tricky if there had been others as well.
Caroline D
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 06 November 2014
We had a wonderful holiday, thank you. Something for everyone! It will be hard to find something else so unique and interesting again.
Michelle C
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 September 2014
General Feedback:
This was the first time in years I could a) afford a holiday, b) take a break from other commitments and c) spend a full week (instead of the odd Saturday afternoon) with my kids. For that reason this holiday HAD to be right. So I was careful to shop around. I spoke to several companies that all had euphoric smiling families on their websites but when I spoke to Tourdust it was immediately apparent that they had both on-the-ground experience and a genuine enthusiasm for the destination.
Tourdust did what a travel company are supposed to do – added value; I simply gave them the challenge (two hard to please teenagers, one adventurous and active, the other not so) and they put together a perfect package (e.g. a challenging but short 2 day trek, a mule for back up for the girl who has only ever exercised her finger tips). The week seemed like a month. Holidays usually require so much effort on working out what to do next, how to get from A to B, how NOT to be ripped off etc, but on this holiday all of this stress was lifted. Each time we were transferred from one location to the next it involved no more effort than throwing our things into bags and handing them to an obliging driver. All my attention and energy was therefore spent on enjoying the holiday and most of all watching the kids not just enjoy themselves but surprise me by walking (actually running!) up a mountain and not complaining, sleeping in “basic” accommodation (3 walls and not much more) and telling me it was the most enjoyable night of all, making an effort to understand a culture and see their prejudices disappear, build their confidence in a new language and taste new foods – still can’t believe they both ordered and ate a camel burger!
Thank you Tourdust for delivering the best holiday I’ve ever had and a shared experience with my kids that will be the talking point for many years to come. I only have one outstanding request from Tourdust – where are you taking us next year!
Special Mentions:
Rebecca can you please make sure that our gratitude to Yousseff is communicated; I appreciate that his job is far from easy – balancing being informative whilst allowing us privacy, encouraging us to take on the challenge but ensuring our safety and comfort. He did a thoroughly professional job – constantly attentive to our needs and providing us with a wealth of knowledge about the locality that made the trek a much richer experience than it would have been. To my delight my kids were very interested in Morocco’s culture and religion and they quizzed Yousseff extensively. He was very generous in sharing his own perspective despite some of the questions being a little undiplomatic. His pride of Morocco and especially of the local area challenged our western materialistic perception of what is of value and this was the best souvenir we took home with us.
Also could you make sure to thank the manager (Tino?) of Windy Kaouki for going out of his way to provide an alternative WiFi network connection after the usual one failed. I cannot over state how important this was to me; if I could not have responded to the support call on that Thursday evening I may have lost a major contract I’ve held for 12 years. So please pass on my thanks to him.
Constructive Criticisms:
My kids and I came up with a few suggestions that we think would have made the trip more enjoyable:
1. If the drivers could speak English it would have added to the experience – we were lucky enough to have Yousseff with us on the trip from the Atlas Mountains to Marakech and it would have been nice to have someone speaking English on all journeys to answer all our questions about the surroundings.2. I would advise anyone staying in small places like Sidi Kauoki not to eat in any of the small local establishments but to stick with the hotel; my son got very sick from a burger in a sea front Café.
3. Quad biking would have been great if it had been included
4. €20 for a 10 minute trip from Beldi Country Club to the airport is extortionate
Finally Rebecca, thank you for taking on the responsibility of organising my holiday. Your commitment and attention to detail was no less than what I imagine you’d dedicate to your own holiday plans.
john t
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 22 August 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
We very much enjoyed our trip, which was superbly organised by Tourdust. It all went very much to plan and overall it more than met our expectations. So 5 out of 5. It's difficult to offer suggestions as to how to improve.
All accommodation choices were perfect. Comfortable and welcoming. Where food was included, it was plentiful (overly at times, but hopefully to the benefit of the mules) and of a high quality. We tired a little of Tagine, but had expected it to feature heavily and fully understand that few other countries offer the variety of cuisine that we're used to at home!
Our guide and driver (both Ibrahim) were great. The former whilst not massively chatty was engaging and informative when required.
Tim S
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 09 June 2014
We had a fantastic time in Morocco and everything worked to plan.
We were collected on time by Ibrahim and he took us to Imlil in his Toyota Land-cruiser. Good journey to the Imlil Lodge which is very well placed with wonderful views down the valley. It is a little way out if Imlil but that suited us fine. the lodge is very comfortable and the food was very good and certainly set us up for the trekking.
They struggled a little with the hot water but in this location this is not a surprise.The guide on the treks was Yousef who is a lovely lad and happy to engage in conversation as ‘required’. He has a detailed knowledge of the area and is happy to share this.
The treks were about the right length being long enough to make us feel as though the trek was worthwhile without being too onerous. They were reasonably challenging but Ok for people with a fair degree of fitness and some stamina and determination. The views are of course spectacular and we are so pleased that we went.
The Gites were fine. Yes basic but I would not have wanted to stay in a hotel as you would miss out.
We were well looked after by Mustafa as well and he and his mule carried and prepared the food as well as our kit.
The travel from Imlil back to Marrakech was again well organised and fine and we were met at the ‘taxi rank’ by Asif. He is a credit to the Riad and did a great job in looking after us.
The Dar Hanane riad is wonderful and we had a very good suite there. Food was excellent. We ate there one evening and it was lovely to sit on the roof terrace as the sun went down.
The half day cooking course was also worthwhile.The final stop was Ryad Watier is Essaouira. Jean-Gabriel is a character and is rightly proud of what he has built there. Excellent place to relax with good food and a brilliant welcome. We ate in the riad one evening and that was lovely too.
Ibrahim took us back to the airport and dropped us off just a short walk from the terminal.
It was a truly wonderful holiday with the right mix of activity, culture and relaxation (we took 4 nights in Essaouira) and we came back feeling refreshed and invigorated. The organisation was spot on and the places we stayed were carefully and skilfully chosen. We would not have changed a thing.
I also don’t think we would have saved much by organising the trips ourselves and I doubt we would have found anything quite as good.
Michael C
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 30 April 2014
Everyone we met were so friendly and helpful to us all and made an extra effort with the children making them feel very comfortable, ensuring they enjoyed the experience. Adil and the team on the mountain trek were amazing adding another dimension that we weren’t expecting, thank-you!
Rachel J
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 25 April 2014
This was one of the most exceptional holidays we have enjoyed as a family. We would definitely score this as a 5+. All aspects of the trip from the transfers, to the accommodation, our hosts and guides in the mountains and our short stay in Marrakech were well organised and worked perfectly.
The tailor made trek was well suited to our fitness levels. The routes took us through dramatic mountain scenery, steep, terraced valleys and many Berber villages. Each day of the trek pushed us a little but was balanced with a leisurely lunch and time for tea at the end of the day. Our team of guide (Ibrahim), cook (Hassan) and muleteer (Abdullah) were marvellous. Ibrahim was a wonderful guide with a true passion and pride for his home and the mountains, whilst Hassan produced exceptional food throughout our trek. The mountain scenery is stunning but what perhaps made the trip was the real insight we felt we gained into the Berber way of life from staying in the villages and trekking through the valleys. The accommodation in the mountains was, as described, simple but always clean and cared for.
We stayed at the Dar Adrar guest house in Imlil at the start and end of our treks. This comfortable and welcoming guest house provided a great chance to rest weary legs and to chat with other families trekking in the mountains.
The Riad Dar Vedra provided a wonderful bit of luxury at the end of our holiday and a tranquil oasis in the madness that is Marrakech. Stephane and Marie Aude and their staff were wonderful and attentive hosts providing suggestions on restaurants and places to visit which really helped make our short stay in Marrakech.
We would not hesitate to recommend Tourdust to others, in particular to families looking for a slightly more adventurous holiday. We will certainly be coming back!
David W
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 24 April 2014
The choice of accommodation was great- the Riads Dar Vedra & Riad Caravan were especially beautiful with lovely staff & excellent service. Everyone we met was extremely helpful (including tracking down our walking boots which we'd stupidly left in Imlil!), the food fantastic & the country as beautiful as ever.
Claire P
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 23 April 2014
We had an amazing trip to Morocco, thank you! The places that we stayed were perfect for each leg of the journey, and the hosts/owners of each establishment were fantastic. We couldn't have been happier with the trek guide, Mustaffa, and the entire group that led us through the expedition. We all had a marvellous time and would happily recommend Tourdust to all of our travelling friends. I wish we could give even higher praise to Colette and Michel at Kasbah Ellouze, it was MAGNIFICENT! We loved staying there, the staff, the people, the environment was perfect.
Natascha Blake H
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 17 April 2014
You arranged the most magnificent holiday for us – thank you so much.
All the 3 hotels were brilliant – very different from each other. Mohammed was very helpful when we needed him.
Pleased we weren’t actually in Marrakech last week when it was so hot – the Beldi was perfect as I spent the time in their blissful pool!!!
Melanie M
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 17 April 2014
Our Tourdust holiday surpassed all our expectations for wilderness, adventure & culture, throughout the eight day days in Morocco. The three day trek was fabulous; achieving approx. 30km in three days trekking to almost 3,000m to the snow line, spectacular waterfalls, mountain passes, remote Berber Villages only accessible on foot. Enjoying cooked mountain picnics, mule rides for the children and our very friendly guide (Olaiat), chefs (Mohamed & Ibrahim) and muleteer (Mohamed & Pipin) who lead us on our trek. We have stayed in remote Berber guest houses, and enjoyed amazing food. It has been a fabulous experience in gorgeous alpine scenery, very warm sunny days and cool evenings. The second day of the trek through the valley was a real highlight with orange and apple blossom, bright blue iris and earthy thyme proving a heady mix of scents. Card games and Moroccan Uno late into the evening with our Beber friends was great fun and we were really sad to say goodbye to them all, but especially our lovely guide Olaiat, who showed great kindness, care and attention throughout the trek. Our children (13, 11 & 10) were enthralled by his stories of Morocco, Berber life, football and Uno skills!
We then moved onto Dar Housina in Marrakech - an elegant Riad in the medina where we could experience the hustle, bustle & excitement of the souks (yes, we got lost many times!!), a caleche ride, your recommended restaurants and then escape to the calmness and tranquillity of our gorgeous roof terrace and splash pool. Again, the hospitality was fabulous.
I hope it doesn't all sound too clichéd, but we had a truly wonderful holiday.
Thank you to all the Tourdust team who helped us to plan the trip, put together the itinerary for us and all the arrangements, so that it worked so perfectly. We would have no hesitation in recommending Tourdust and have already taken a sneaky look at your website since we returned yesterday to see where else you could take us..... next year perhaps!
Anna W
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 17 April 2014
We had an amazing time, it was possibly the best holiday and most amazing experience we’ve had. Our guide, Mohamed (not the Dar Adrar boss, another Mohamed), was very knowledgeable and a safe pair of hands – he really helped me with my vertigo during some hairy points - please pass on our thanks for this, as he was very patient and reassuring. He was also very caring about the children and gave advice on coping with the heat and when Nancy suffered a bit with the altitude. Samir’s cooking was absolutely delicious, eating tagine and salad with mint tea on pretty blankets on the side of a mountain is an experience we will never forget. We looked forward to the delights each mealtime would bring and were amazed at how such tasty food was seemingly whipped up with ease in such isolation. Ibrahim the muleteer was fantastic too, they were a great trio and really looked after us. The trek was just right for us at 3 days and about 36 kms, the children loved it and coped really well physically, with a few well-needed breaks on the mule. The guesthouses in the mountains were basic but beautifully located and all part of the experience, a great way to get an insight into Berber life, and all the locals were extremely welcoming. Dar Adrar was a perfect base, Omar and the rest of the staff were very hospitable, the food was great and they even found us a tube of toothpaste when we arrived at 11pm and realised we’d forgotten ours. The transport was very good too, prompt and with careful drivers. Although our Riad in Marrakech was not the one we’d expected to stay in, Riad Adore was very luxurious and again extremely well-run and friendly with a great hammam!
Jo C
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 16 April 2014
Mohammed met us at the airport as advised and transfers went smoothly with water and Moroccan biscuits provided In the car. The Dar Imlil was absolutely great. Nice touches e.g. if we needed bottled water we just had to ask and it was produced free of charge, the small non-alcoholic selection of drinks in the mini-bar were also included. Simple, relatively cheap things to do but all add to a lovely feeling. Staff were all pleasant and meals were excellent- really can’t recommend going out given our one experience of doing so. Prices for meals in hotel very good and always service with a smile.
The guide organised for the walking was Ibrahim, who as your guide indicated was not overly talkative, suited us perfectly. We were able to decide where to go on the 1st day and then plan ahead for the 2nd day. An excellent induction into the foothills of the Atlas mountains. My husband is thinking of returning in the next year to perhaps climb Mt Toubkal. The picnic lunch was excellent with lovely mint tea provided. We did not need 1/3 of the food provided.
Transfers to Marrakech went smoothly and Les Deux Tours is a beautiful quiet place. One bottle of water provided per day and meals more expensive- more like western prices- but as expected. Breakfast excellent. Staff universally pleasant and helpful. The shuttle bus into town worked well for us and if you wish to eat later and return to the hotel later the shuttle drivers are amenable to negotiating a late pick up at specified places for a fixed fee- 150Dirhams (10pm).
As to the overall score. For tour dust organisation and information- 5/5. For the Dar Imlil- 5/5. For transfers- 5/5. For guiding- 5/5. For Les Deux Tours- 4/5- the only negative being the lack of simple things like extra water, and higher than justifiable prices in the bar and restaurants.
David T
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 16 April 2014
We had a great family holiday and many thanks to Tourdust for being instrumental in us achieving this.
The Atlas Mountains were spectacular, Marrakesh such a buzzing place and the camp in the desert amazing. The guides were all very professional and looked after us very well, the staff at Riad Tzarra and the Scarabeo camp very attentive and nice and we loved the different tagines we kept being presented throughout the week.
Cristina W
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday
on 15 April 2014
We were very impressed with your organisation from the UK and on the ground. You understood what we wanted, made it all very easy, were really kind to sort out the amendments to the trip and the people you dealt with in Morrocco were are efficient and charming. I would definitely recommend you to people travelling in Morocco.
Anon
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 15 April 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
Our 16 year old son is very into movie making and he made a super short movie of the trip with his go pro... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZMEd8ez3I&list=UUrCAPRGvhNMf9BWJLJX-TFg
Claire P
reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks
on 19 March 2014
Overall it was an Excellent holiday great time had by all, organisation like transfers always very smooth and professional.
Trekking with personal guide excellent, muleteers and chef great, trek just right level for us.
Riad Bel Haj excellent high class accommodation, luxurious, staff very friendly, ideal situation for exploring, peaceful in heart of the old city. Strongly recommend it.
Riad Ribali excellent spacious luxurious, staff very helpful. Meal in was excellent. Also strongly recommend.
Surfing lessons fantastic. Instructors great strongly recommend.
Selwyn R
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 19 March 2014
We very much enjoyed the bespoke holiday to Morocco everything ran very smoothly and very much to time. The trek was just what we wanted and Youssef, the guide, Hammid the cook and Mohamed were all excellent and made the trip very enjoyable. We loved Dar Adrar guest house and Riad Watier in Essaouira, good service and excellent local knowledge and lovely meal at the Riad. The drivers were all good and we felt safe.
Karen B
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 12 March 2014
Thank you for arranging such a memorable trip for us. We were taken care of from the first greeting at the airport, thanks to Mohamed and his efficient team, but still felt like the independent travellers we wanted to be.
The accommodation you chose for us was always a delight to discover, and the cookery course at Maison Arabe one of our highlights.
Gill B
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 February 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
Trip was great in all respects - smooth arrangements, great accommodation, good mix of activities - only regret is we didn't have longer!
Helen B
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 22 November 2013
We had a great time. The boys enjoyed trekking - although I think it was more of a mule ride than a real trek! The guide was fantastic and realised quickly that Tristan walked faster and whined less if he held his hand rather than Adeline! Food was amazing throughout this part of the trip. Dylan was not overly impressed with squat toilets - but learnt to get on with it fairly quickly!
Surfing was a big hit - Dylan's favorite part of the trip. The surf instructor (Mohamed) was brilliant with them all. Adeline's only comment on this was that the driver did not know where he was taking her on the way there (I think she called the office at this point).
Accommodation and food for the first week was great according to Adeline and the boys.
Nicola W
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 18 November 2013
Our holiday in Morocco was fabulous with a great mix of locations and activities. Our guide, Ibrahim, who was with us in both the mountains and the desert, was absolutely brilliant and was very sensitive to the balance between guiding us, but allowing freedom for us to experience the adventure as a family. He was hugely supportive with the children, who, aged 8 and 6, thoroughly enjoyed themselves and walked so much further than we ever imagined they could! In fact our 8 year old chose to walk almost all of it and our 6 year old declared that she 'would go anywhere if Ibrahim was there as he made it all so safe and fun'!
The food on the trek was high quality and in enormous quantities and the experience of staying in the Berber villages felt very special - we even saw a Berber wedding. The desert camp made us smile with the1920s luxury French explorer set-up and was a lovely relaxing end to the holiday. All in all a great experience, which we would thoroughly recommend!
Clare H
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 30 October 2013
We would like to thank you for all your advice and pre trip departure information that you gave us. It proved to be most informative and helpful.
Where to start?
The transport and drivers were all very helpful and punctual and ensured that throughout the transfers they were able to enlighten our journey with facts and stories.
The surf team were patient, great with the children and even managed to coax me to stand on the board. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and surfing somewhere different each day, giving us a real insight into coastal life. Mohammed really made the experience fun and diverse.
The accommodation was clean, quiet and the staff very attentive at the coast.
Riad Wo, really was WOW! A peaceful haven amongst the busy hassle and bustle of the city. Again the staff were attentive and always there in the background if we needed guidance, help or a mint tea. The children especially loved the pancakes each morning for breakfast!All in all a truly memorial trip. If you can pass on my thanks to all involved in making our holiday a superb experience.
Joanna J
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 29 October 2013
We have just arrived home from Morocco following 10 wonderful days, Our trip from beginning to end was excellent with absolutely no hiccups! We loved every moment of our 3 part holiday.
The mountain trekking came first and we were absolutely bowled over by the whole thing, we loved Dar Adrar and they couldn't have made us more welcome, Our guide Mohammed was great and it was fab to see Rashid our Muleteer every time we caught up with him, we think the best food we had was in the mountains! It was really good to get to the grass roots of trekking and even though the gites were basic it all added to it for us. We really felt we had achieved when we got back and would recommend it to others.
The transfers were also perfect with not one problem, and the timings were spot on.
Dar Vedra in Marrakesh was a perfect haven just like the reviews said, it was a beautiful place to stay and we were very well looked after, It was very quiet when we were there and I can't understand why it is not full to overflowing.
Villa D'Lo was also fantastic and we loved it there, the only thing was we had a nice room but it didn't have a window to the outside and was one of the cheapest rooms, it would have been nice to have one of the better rooms with a window but were unaware of this when we booked, saying that it didn't detract ,from our holiday at all.
Overall I would mark Tourdust 10/10 an excellent holiday which ran perfectly. We would use Tourdust again and recommend to others.
Andrew T
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 16 October 2013
We had an absolutely fabulous trip, teens, adults and child. The trekking was the highlight for all of us, and we could have done another day. Not to worry - it was a first for us, so we weren't to know. The guide Yussuf was great with all of us - kept the pace just right, helped Lydia when necessary, played cards with us all, talked about the villages, the life, the local history. Omar, who was in charge of the mule with Lydia was also very kind to her. Even shared his MP3 player with her, though I don't know what she made of the Berber pop! The food on the trek was something we all really looked forward to: not just the picnics but the breakfasts and dinners (to be honest, these were our favourite meals in Morocco). We also enjoyed hearing Ibrahim singing while he walked.
Any negatives? Well the gite in Tiziane was a bit grubby, but we got on with it ok, having our own sleeping bags, and the other gites and refuges were comfortable and clean.
The rest of the trip: well, Chez Momo was lovely and good food, but we didn't really want to just hang around by the pool after the previous days' trekking. Hence we called Mohamad and arranged the trip up to Tin Mal. It was nice that we were able to do that and pay later. I think Chez Momo's not on your usual itineraries. If it is, a few suggestions about things to do in the area might have helped - even just how to walk down to the village and anywhere to visit in it. They weren't able to do that in the reception there (I guess most guests are just there for the relax).
Dar Vedra in Marrakech was so stylish, a great location, and we had the place to ourselves. Again, lovely breakfasts, helpful staff. One of the most comfortable beds I've ever stayed in.
Essaouira: I know it wasn't your usual accommodation, but it was ideal for us, being so close to the old town and beach. Good clean accommodation, nice breakfasts, clean pool, helpful staff. But the charms of Essaouira were outside the hotel. We got in the sea, once we'd walked a bit South down the beach, and enjoyed exploring the town, eating at the seafood stalls, riding camels etc.
This was outside Tourdust's control, but the weather was with us the whole time. We left the mountains just as it was starting to get cooler, and arrived in Marrakech after the summer heat had dispersed.Altogether the organisation was fantastic, all the pickups went smoothly and it was reassuring to know that we could call you or Mohamad up if we needed any help or advice. I know that one of my friends has already been in touch, looking to do similar.
Joanna Rowan P
reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday
on 26 September 2013
The trekking was fabulous. We were looked after so well and the children loved the guys. Our accommodation was extremely basic on the first night of the trek, we decided not to shower!! but it was all good fun. The second night was quite luxurious and a cool shower. The food was wonderful and the children nor us went hungry. I was very surprised at the terrain and will admit it was hard going some of the time but at the end of the day, it was quite an achievement. The boys never moaned at all and loved riding the mules. They loved playing a card game with the guys which they taught them. I cannot express enough how attentive the four guys we had, and if you are able to, please pass on our thanks.
Our next part of the holiday went well. Dar Vedra was amazing and except for the first night (they had another guest) we were the only people there and were looked after very well. The room we had was fabulous, comfy beds and soft towels and really nice breakfasts. We decided not to have a guide and made our way into the square and the souk quite easily. We even ventured out in the evening and ate in the square. On our return that first night we found we were locked out of the Riad. They had forgotten to give us a key and we were waiting outside for some 30mins. Tim managed to call Mohammed and then just after they came to open the door.
Unfortunately William caught a bug on our second day there and we spent the afternoon in the room. They were really good and at short notice they cooked dinner for us as we had to stay in.
It was certainly an adventure driving out of Marrakech. We had the directions which you had sent but there were no road numbers on the few signs along the roads. Not once did we see a road sign with a number on it. I think it would be better to have some landmarks on your directions.
The Atlas Kasbah was really nice. Our room was ok, beds and towels not as soft as previous, and as the water is solar heated, a hot shower was not always guaranteed. The pool was lovely and our first full day there was spent around the pool. We ventured out into Agadir the following day and went on the beach for a picnic but found it far too touristy so we headed back to the hotel and in the pool. The food again was superb.
Timothy S
reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday
on 12 September 2013
The service we received from everything organised by yourselves was second to none. The three hotels/riads were excellent and absolutely top notch. The food where included was fantastic. The people in the hotels were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The guide in the mountains (Youssef) was brilliant, the kids really liked him and we could not have asked for a better guide. Mohammed kept popping up in different places to see how we were getting on. We had the same driver for all out transfers who was prompt (even with the 5.30am pick up in Essaouira), courteous and friendly.
Stuart H
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 23 August 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
First, overall impression: terrific holiday, excellently organised at UK and Morocco ends.
Now some detail:· Pre holiday contact with Tourdust: Rebecca, as the only person I ever spoke to, you represent Tourdust for me: you were consistently extremely responsive to all my questions by phone and email with both speed and helpful replies - customer service at its best. Your offers of extra service were also much appreciated e.g. purchase of bus tickets from Marrakech to Essaouira for us in advance.
· Punctuality of pick ups and driving in Morocco: pick ups always on time, and drivers were courteous and interesting to talk to. Comfortable cars/mini buses.
· Imlil: Dar Adrar is a wonderful place, with extremely kind and helpful staff. We were the only guests on that first night, and sitting on the terrace in the fading light as we ate our dinner was a magical way to start our holiday.
· Trek: Lahsen was great: we particularly liked the fact that he quite often left us to walk on our own when the trail was very obvious. Ibrahim, our muleteer and cook was also great, though his English was more limited than Lahsen's. However, as Alison and I speak reasonable French we were able to talk to him too. We learnt a lot from Lahsen about the villages and vegetation that we were walking through. He seemed to know the whole world, and often stopped to talk to shepherds, shop keepers, and village elders as we walked. Those exchanges were always in his native Berber language, and we therefore felt just a bit left out of these sometimes long conversations. We didn't feel able to interrupt him, or to ask questions, but would have liked to. Perhaps he could be encouraged to somehow involve his client walkers in some of these conversations, or at least tell them afterwards about some of the content of the conversation? On one occasion, when we accompanied a couple of village women with their five cows for about 40 mins along a path, we did ask what they were talking about, and learnt that they were exchanging family histories. One of the women had worked in Marrakech as a maid, and had known members of Ibrahim's family. This interested us, as it led to a discussion about how women from villages sometimes have to work in the cities as servants to earn money - rather like in pre WW1 England.
· Food on trek: superb: we were astonished at the quality and quantity of food every lunch time on the trek, and the evening meals were great too. There was always good veggie food for Alison, with often a fishy or meat option for me. At lunch times there was always a super view and shady spot and a two hour siesta on a foam mattress before setting off again - brilliant!
· Accommodation: you had told me that we would be sleeping in tents when not in Imlil. However, Lahsen told us that only happened in the high season when gites sometimes fill up. So we were pleasantly surprised to be on foam mats in gites every night, with showers of varying sophistication - but showers nevertheless! - wonderful after 5-6 hours walking in temps of over 30 !
· Trek day three description: your text is a bit confusing here we think. We walked 4-5 hours to lower village, and then another 1.5-2 hours to Tamsoult, with additional altitude gain. We chose to stay at the refuge of Tamsoult (not a village), rather than in the village of Tizi Oussem, Lahsen gave us a choice, being careful to warn us, (on Mohammed's instructions!) that we might have to share a dormitory in the refuge). It was a long day but worth it . We were extremely glad that we chose this option, as the new (just two years old) refuge is fantastic, with stunning views from the terrace, wonderful showers, European style toilets, and comfortable bunk beds - the best night of the trek. There were only four other walkers staying in the refuge, so we had an eight bed dorm to ourselves. We gently teased Lahsen for not telling us in advance just what a great place this refuge is! The next morning - Trek day 4 - starting in Tamsoult meant that the waterfall was only 25 mins away, going up, away from the refuge. We then returned to the refuge, picked up our packs, and set off for Imlil which we reached at lunch time (so your description of trek day 4 needs amending a little).
· Ascent and descent numbers: Our impression was that these were not terribly accurate, as they missed all the ups and downs within the walk every day. We were fit enough every day, but we reckon that on some days we walked a total of quite a lot more than the amounts of ascent and descent given on the descriptions for each day of the trek.
· Marrakech accom: Riad Tzarra was wonderful - just four rooms - we were the only guests. Staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Air conditioning was great (it was over 40 outside!). At this time of year the roof terrace of Riad Hanan is too hot to be really useable, and we reckon that the courtyard and rooms of Tzarra are nicer!
· Sites in Marrakech: we would recommend that you add the Museum of Photography to your list - just round the corner from Riad Tzarra and Place Moukef. Wonderful photos of Morocco in bygone times, and films of people in the Atlas mountains taken by a Frenchman in 1957 - fascinating - in many ways not much has changed. One ticket allows for unlimited entries over many days.
· Bus to Essaouira: very comfortable. We did not know where Villa de l'O was, but found it after asking – worth mentioning, perhaps, on your notes, that it is only five mins walk from Supra Tours depot - a wonderful little oldy worldy place, with colonial era furnishings, and a roof terrace overlooking the beach. Great place, and great little town.
· Return bus to Marrakech: when we received the bus tickets on arrival on first day in Morocco we were told that there was no 5pm bus from Ess to Marra (as we had requested), so we were given tickets for a 6pm bus. (which did not worry us) . However, at SupraTours office in Essouira we discovered that the 5pm bus did in fact exist - a relatively newly introduced Super Confort bus with wider seats (three across the bus – rather than usual four) and more leg room than the normal bus, and costing just 20 DH (2 euros!) more - so we swapped our tickets for that bus and had a very comfortable ride back to Marra, arriving in plenty of time for dinner.
· Picking up a taxi in Place Moukef: not always easy: we had to wait 15 minutes a couple of times, so travellers need to be warned.
· Dress code: many western women (and some men) tourists in Marrakech were very scantily clad, and we did not notice them getting leared at, or insulted, so it seems that in the big cities it is accepted nowadays that western women like to bare a lot of flesh short shorts, bare shoulders etc) . Still something that we, like you, would not encourage, but it seems to be no longer frowned upon as much as it was only a few years ago (according to friends who were in Morocco a few years ago). However, in the mountains life is still more conservative, so we think that shorts, and bare shoulders, should still be avoided (for both sexes).
· Restaurant recommendations in your notes: we ate at your recommendations Cafe Epices, Fondouk, Earth Cafe and Djemaa foodstalls - all excellent. We would recommend Cafe du Livre in French quarter as excellent too (ten mins walk from Supra Tours depot.), and free wifi!
In summary: a fantastic holiday - many thanks. We might well be asking you about Ethiopia next year....
stephen L
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 25 July 2013
Huge thanks to you all for a most fantastic trip to Morocco last week. It is very difficult to single individuals out without missing those who should be mentioned, but everyone we met on the trek and in the hotel, the gites in the mountains and on the transfers was kind, helpful and supportive.
Mohamed is a star as was our guide Lashen, and as for Ali and Ibrahim, a career in comedy awaits! (and apologies to any of the others we have forgotten to mention too)
Matthew L
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday
on 09 July 2013
We had a wonderful trip. The accommodation was all great. Dar Hanane was probably our least favorite but having said that I could not really find fault with it in any way. The taxis all arrived on time and the drivers were all extremely pleasant. The trek was great too. the food was excellent and our guide and cook were both extremely nice. We were lucky with the weather on the way up- cold but dry. we woke to snow on the following day which turned to torrential rain as we got further down the mountain! However we kept walking till lunch when the guides found us shelter and Mohammed sent transport to pick us up. I would certainly recommend your company to others, and indeed have already done so.
Elizabeth S
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 09 May 2013
The walking was just right for us. We were a little anxious about whether the boys would happily participate - they haven't been great walkers. But they were fantastic: bounding ahead of us slow oldies, often over quite challenging terrain. They took to our guide, who struck a good balance between helpfulness and letting us get on with things. Accommodation was fine - and the guest house was lovely. And the food was just right.
Marrakech was a bit of a shock to the system after the tranquility of the mountains, and boys were a little uncertain about it at first - the chaos and the noise. But the accommodation was a great base to retreat to, and by the end boys were happily guiding us through the souks. I loved the vibrancy of it all - quite a contast to Stockholm.
Nicholas H
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 10 April 2013
We absolutely loved our trip, thank you.
The organisation from your side was perfect - everything went very smoothly, just as planned, and we felt very well looked after from start to finish. We really appreciated you changing plans for us at the last minute, and we were pleased with the arrangements we had. Even the day treks from Dar Adrar were very spectacular, and our guide Rashid was able to vary the to and from journeys to make it even more interesting. Mohammed and his team looked after us very well, and drinking mint tea on the terrace each afternoon was a joy. The boys were able to do all the walking, but found it really fun to ride on the mule anyway. We were all blown away by the delicious lunches and dinners. All so healthy, tasty and beautifully presented. It was a holiday we will never forget, and I hope we will go back many times!
Marrakech was also fabulous, although it took a little getting used to after the peace and quiet of the mountains!
So basically, we had a great time and would not hesitate to recommend Tourdust to other holiday makers, especially families who might not have considered that such a fun and adventurous holiday could be open to them with children.
Sarah S
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 22 February 2013
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
Having returned home after my trip to Morocco from 8th-15th August with your company I wish to compliment you in what was a fabulous first vacation to Morocco and first taste of trekking with my two children.
Mohammed and Abdu my guide, Muleteer and cook were outstanding in providing such a quality experience for us all up in the mountains. My children were particularly well cared for and the genuine hospitality shown by the owners and families at the various accommodations along the way made their first trekking experience a memorable one from start to finish.
My accommodation at Chez Momo and the wonderful Dar Vedra Riad in Marrakech were excellent and made us feel immersed in the architecture of Morocco. In particular Sebastian at Dar Vedra was a wonderful host during our time in the city and all the staff at Chez Momo were friendly and very accommodating to our needs.
Eight days passed very quickly. It was our first taste of trekking amidst this type of terrain and we only saw just a small part of Morocco but certainly this country has more to see and it will not be our last visit. I will thoroughly recommend to my friends Tourdust as a company and reiterate how much we all enjoyed trekking amongst the Atlas mountains and watching the buzz of activity in the city of Marrakech. It was the perfect itinerary for myself and my two 9 year olds.
Carole S
reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek
on 11 December 2012
I have nothing but praise for both your company and the people that you deal with. My initial contact with Ben and Anna was wonderful, they are both friendly, helpful and were always ready with a comforting or helpful reply when called upon. From the get go I knew that I had struck it lucky in my dealings with Tourdust.
Imlil:
Mustafa collected us from Marrakech train station, he was quiet but efficient and went out of his way to find a bank machine for us so that we would not be stuck for dirhams. As we drove further into the mountains his pride in his home village became apparent as he opened up a little and began to point out little things of interest. In Imlil we were met immediately by Hamid (of Dar Adrar) who escorted us to the gite. Upon arrival he showed us to our rooms and prepared the first of many mint teas that we were to sample in our time in Morocco. Realising that we may struggle to find somewhere to eat for lunch, seeing as it was Eid al Adha, he did not hesitate to offer us lunch, a tasty omelette and salad was promptly delivered to us in a cosy sitting room. Hamid was so hospitable and a pleasure to deal with. The rooms are exactly what we expected them to be - better in fact. They were comfortable and clean and typically rustic. The views from the terrace were breath-taking. Early on that first afternoon, a roaring fire was lit and we snuggled up and relaxed, reading our books in the tranquil atmosphere of the gite. Dinner was served and was a delight. We met with Mohamed as we were retiring to bed and he suggested we be ready to leave around 9.30 the next morning - perfect. After a good nights sleep, we hate a wonderful breakfast and set out. The guide (Lassan) was wonderful - a very experienced guide with years of training. He was talkative and absolutely marvellous with Katy (my nine year old daughter). The chef, Ibrahim was a bit of a wonder, we really couldn't figure out how he could consistently provide such wonderful meals on a portable stove. Mention must also be made of Hassan the other local that escorted the mule - he was constantly helpful and looked after Katy so well. The overnight in the village was wonderful, the Gite d'Etape, whilst expectedly basic, was a great night. The owner was present much of the time but stayed in the background making sure everything was running smoothly. There was only one slight glitch which was unavoidable I suppose, we had not realised that we would not be returning to Dar Adrar after the hike and had left many of our belongings there. We were met in the village by Mustafa for the return journey to Marrakech with all of our belongings but they had missed Katys two pairs of shoes that had been left in the communal shoe area, it was not a big deal and we were not put out at all.
Marrakech:
Mohamed had organised everything to perfection, we were met in Marrakech by Direse the man with a cart who steered us through the Marrakech back alleys like a pro. At breakneck speeds we careened through the frenetic streets until we finally arrived at Riad Boussa. Anyone who has never been to Marrakech before may have worried that they were being sucked into some little side alley for dodgy dealings but I knew the score. The door to Riad Boussa opened and we were led into this oasis. The first words my daughter gasped were 'it’s a sanctuary' and she was so right. The wonderful scent of essential oils drifted in the soft candle lit air. We were made comfortable by Madame Grillion and brought yet another round of the ubiquitous mint tea. Madame Grillion sat with us and went through a map of Marrakech with super suggestions for both sights to see and restaurants. We took all of her tips and were delighted with each one. Special mention needs to be made of Dejeuner de Marrakech for lunch. We had a wonderful time exploring Marrakech and enjoyed the many sights and sounds of this truly colorful city.
Sidi Kaouki:
The next morning, after another tasty breakfast in Riad Boussa, Madame Grillion confirmed our driver was on the way and Direse was called upon to guide us to Djem el Fnaa once more. Mohammed, our driver delivered us safely to Sidi Kaouki and all was fine. There had been quite a lot of inclement weather which had caused some problems for the taxi service and the surf school Blue Morocco but nothing that we were aware of in any negative way. The first afternoon the weather meant we were unable to have a surf lesson but I think we all welcomed the time for relaxation. There was a little confusion about meals with the Auberge owner (Auberge de la Plage), I believe her name was Francoise but I may be wrong, I am afraid it has slipped my mind. The surf instructors and owner of the school were all so friendly and really went out of their way to make the lessons an experience as opposed to just a lesson. The owner of Blue Morocco was friendly and a pleasure to deal with.
Sonja O
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 05 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
In the past I have always been a believer in independently organising my own holidays, as that has always been part of my holiday experience. However, I was wary about taking my wife and children (aged 15,14 and 10) on an adventure without some help to organise the trip. After some careful searching on-line I found 'Tourdust' who organise adventure travel 'everywhere'. All the reviews raved about their services, so I sent them an email...
Ben and Anna helped us plan a eleven day holiday to include trekking in the Atlas Mountains, exploring Marrakesh and surfing on the Atlantic coast. Using their wide knowledge they made some excellent suggestions and encouraged us to make choices that would not have occurred to me had I booked independently. This included an excellent last minute suggestion, based on up to date weather information, to stay in the mountains on our first night rather than in the heat of Marrakesh. They were also immediately on the case, by phone, when our taxi failed to turn up on the last day to take us back to the airport.
I could rave for a long time about the holiday; the amazing cooking on the trek, the beautiful Riad in Marrakesh and the friendly surf instructors... but you need to experience it yourself. I am complete convert to their style of adventure travel and knowledgeable advice and would think twice before attempting to organise my own holiday again, especially if travelling as a family.
PATRICK R
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 02 August 2012
We really had a wonderful time (despite us being unwell for a few days of the trip) and we found Anna at Tourdust and Mohammed in Morocco both really supportive, flexible & accommodating when we had to change our itinerary at the last minute due to being unwell. All of the staff at our riads and hotel were equally as fantastic & I think overall we would give the customer service and the trip itself five out of five!
Miranda W
reviewing Morocco Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 27 June 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
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
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 had a great time, all of the people we worked with were great, everything went pretty smooth.
A couple of bits which may help you when booking this for others:-
- Day one of the trekking we arrived with not enough water, believing that they would already have it for us to buy, luckily one of the guys had his car and drove off and got us some.
- Food was traditional and excellent!
- At the surf place due to Ramadan we couldn't stay at the centre but was placed in a hotel 200 yards away which had no electricity!! however living including showering by candle light was fab, we played cards, chess and read a lot of books which was great for the kids and i would sell this!!
- There was some confusion over the use of the surf boards outside of the lessons, they were very good about it but insisted that one of them was present at all times. This felt like we added a lot of pressure on them and as such rarely did it, partly because it was Ramadan and in the afternoons when we wanted to go out they were sleeping. To be honest we went to go out on 3 occasions and weren't able to. The team were great so i don't want you to go back and criticise but recognise that during Ramadan its far more complicated and if the equipment is to be used outside of the lessons that it has to fit in with them as well.
Ian H
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 12 September 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
The trip was a huge hit... A massive success
The trekking was good... We were a bit out of shape but our guide was amazing. He just got it and was super knowledgeable. I really think he was the gem. We were cold at night even though we had terrific sleeping bags but that is part of the fun.
The people from the surf school were awesome. The accomodation was a wee bit to funky for us and the man moved us into a super duper cute little studio bedroom with terrace near the village. He was terrific even had everyone to his house for dinner one night and that was one of the best meals I ever had. The surf instructor was perfect.
I found tourdust online and I am sure after our amazing trip that they are a gift from heaven. In two days they created a personal trip for me and my 10 year old son. We wanted adventure,surfing and hiking and it was feb half term we had 5 days to travel...ben and anna could not have been cooler or more organised. We knew every detail of our trip and had an itinerary that met our individual needs and interests. We even had a hand drawn map where no map had existed before. Both harry and I were sorry that the rest of our family couldn’t be with us but feel that we lucked out with our wonderful adventure.
Anon
reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf
on 16 March 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
