Family Holidays

Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair

Alistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 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

Hi

Well overall it was an amazing trip and we really appreciated the guidance on places to go. On the ground, Victor was very helpful and we liked the mix of places.

The two stand out places and accommodations were Arenal Observatory Lodge and El Remanso - the latter being perfect in so many ways. The day trip to Cocovardo National Park was outstanding.

We enjoyed Tortuguero too - basic accommodation but excellent location and the guide there was outstanding.

Monte Verde was ok - average food, average place to stay.
With hindsight we’d skip Uvita altogether and go to Drakes Bay where snorkelling seems more accessible.

Overall an excellent holiday, which went very smoothly and a good mix of things to do.

Thank you.
Francesca

Francesca L reviewing Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday on 30 August 2022

Hi Lisa,

Sorry for the late reply - I blissfully didn’t check emails while we were away.

Well I must say - THANK YOU. That was a seamlessly organised, mind-blowing trip! It was everything we dreamed of and so much more.

The hotels, people and places were magical. We just loved every single moment of that totally epic adventure.

We will be back in touch when we are ready for our next one!

Thank you so much and well done for such a brilliantly organised trip.

Sarah x

Suzie G reviewing Family Desert Holiday in Morocco on 27 July 2022

Driver-guide: Very punctual, except for pick up for airport when he was delayed by >30 mins due to road closures. Vehicle very clean and well maintained- plenty of water and supplies of clothing for religious sites, tissues, postcards etc. Very good at understanding what level of conversation we wanted. Happy to stop for paracetamol, supermarket etc. Took us to signal box at railway since we were early (which was very interesting)

The Walawwa: Lovely place to arrive at and get a bit of rest. Great pool, lovely rooms and food etc. Peaceful oasis so close to town.

Wilpattu Camp: Wonderful food- really enjoyed trying lots of new things in excellent surroundings.Felt like the place had not been visited much recently (which I don’t think it had due to the terrorist attacks) so our safari guide had been brought up from another park and did not know the park too well- it worked out well though and we saw all the animals we hoped to see so no complaints on that front. We did feel that we should have been told about extra things we could have done- when we commented on the great food on final day we were told that they could have done a cookery demo for us, but it was too late at that point. It worked well for us but clients should probably know that they are likely to have multiple wildlife in their tents (eg frogs)- didn’t bother us at all, but others it might do. We were given a questionnaire to fill in at the end whilst all the staff were standing around, which wasn’t ideal as you felt a bit of pressure! Felt really well looked after here!

Water Gardens Sigiriya: Beautiful suites with plunge pools- quiet and peaceful with lovely big swimming pool. Food good

Jungle Beach: Beautiful location on beach. Rooms good. Food a bit limited I would have liked a bit more variety ideally.

Camellia House: Lovely location- beautiful views. Food OK but service below average- our food orders were wrong a couple of times and even pre-ordered food was delayed. Tea factory tour was only an hour and that was the main reason to be here. It was interesting but quite brief seeing it was the main attraction according to our itinerary. Also, we were taken there in a minibus which didn’t have seatbelts on all seats and was quite smelly- not up to the standard of the usual transportation. Rooms were described as having panoramic views- one did have amazing views but the other one definitely didn’t.

Galle Face: Lovely old hotel- but it did have some problems (leaking ceiling and ‘smuts’ coming out of air conditioning.) Weather very bad (spectacular storms). It was a shame the street food tour couldn’t take place but totally understandable given the weather, however we enjoyed our dinner here and free drinks/canopes!). Good choice at breakfast.

Pippa R reviewing Sri Lanka Highlights - Classic on 30 September 2019

Once again you organised a really good holiday for us.
If there was one criticism it was that there were too many flights. I don’t know whether you could do Bangkok first, Chiang Mai, then fly down South?
Your drivers and Guides - all really good. The variety of transport on the tours in Bangkok and Chiang Mai; we all loved.
Tamarind Village - Our room was a bit of a squeeze, with the 3 of us and 3 big suitcases.
Lisu Lodge- I enjoyed our time here. Going forward I would suggest only 1 night or they need to have some more activities. I liked how we ate on the floor, the food was really good. Staff very friendly. We liked the cycling, tea plantation, trekking and white water rafting.
Riva Surya- good location.
Elephant Hills- we loved looking after the elephants, the lake was also a really good experience. The guides were informative and looked after us well. The resort locations and tents were perfect.
Santiburi - amazing; we upgraded to a beach bungalow which was fantastic. The hotel is in a stunning location, the facilities and the service was impeccable. Sam has some private Thai boxing lessons, which he loved. We had cookery lessons and used the paddle boards. A perfect end to quite a busy holiday.

Natasha L reviewing Thailand Family Adventure on 24 September 2019

Hi - now back.
In short it was a great holiday with very very little to fault. Location on Lopud was perfect for family and accommodation was exactly as you said ‘simple’ clean and comfortable hosted by a wonderful friendly local family ...all 1min walk from the front. Great breakfast that was straight from the garden in part and always abundant.
Our guide Nina was excellent always putting our safety first and adapting the itinerary to suit weather. She was a great host with the two families in our group and went out her way to keep us informed and even take photos to share when we were out on the water.
Transport arrangements were spot on - always there waiting at airport or ferry! Slight confusion that it wasn’t a TourDust sign but that was quickly solved.
Kayaking was a great adventure and a challenge some days but worth it for the stops on other islands and opportunities to swim, dive and explore caves. I suspect it could be a long day if your child is too young or not such a ‘water baby’ as once your in the kayak your in it! It is also a hefty bit of exercise on a two person kayak if the child in front isn’t up for paddling! I was fine except on one or two occasions where it was a bit of a struggle and I had to persuade him to do some more paddling for me.
Finally, your service has been great since we got in touch especially as it was a last minute decision for us to go. The speed in responding to queries on a personal basis and quickly was really great (very unusual these days!)
All in all a great holiday - my 11 year old had a great adventure he will talk about for years! So will I....
M. Cameron

murdoch C reviewing Family Sea Kayaking Holiday in Dubrovnik on 08 August 2019

We had a fabulous holiday thank you! Everything went very smoothly - accommodation was good, breakfast fantastic! The kayaking was great - really well thought out schedule with plenty of rests and time to relax. Lovely meals out.

Just wanted to add that our guide Nina was excellent. She worked really hard to ensure the whole trip went smoothly and that we were all happy with the pace, including giving the boys plenty of opportunities for jumping in off the cliffs!!

All in all a great trip! And all the admin side of things has been very efficient throughout.

Thank you so much!!

Kate T

Kate T reviewing Family Sea Kayaking Holiday in Dubrovnik on 05 August 2019

Both hotels were excellent. Sari Konak is in a superb location for visiting all the iconic sights. Our family suite was spacious, newly decorated and very clean. There was a separate room for our son and a kitchenette with ‘fridge and kettle. Good choice at breakfast and served on lovely roof terrace. Great views of Bosphorus. One evening, we caught the commuter ferry to Kadikoy for an evening meal. A great option if there isn’t time to fit in a Bosphorus cruise. Also recommend The Old House restaurant which is very close to the hotel. We were in Istanbul during Ramadan so there was a family atmosphere in the city late into the night.

Esbelli Evi was delightful; a huge cave suite, great character, two bathrooms, sitting room and kitchenette with a fridge well stocked with beers and soft drinks. Private, quiet courtyard with gate to communal areas. Breakfast choice was really good and plenty of outdoor seating. Easy walk into village. Favourite options for dinner were Ziggys (stylish outdoor roof terrace) and Urgup Pide (popular with locals).

Really must mention owner Suha Ersoz and his staff - all of whom are extremely kind and helpful.

All our transfers went smoothly. Our driver and guide (Gaia) in Cappadocia were excellent and our itinerary was fast paced and interesting. Lunch options were great, especially on the river at Ilhara. A highlight for me was spitting a wild tortoise!

Balloon flight with Kapadokya Balloons was well worth the money and well organised.

Tim S reviewing Istanbul & Cappadocia Family Holiday on 07 June 2019

Lawhill Luxury Apartments (Cape Town): We loved the apartments (especially having a ground floor room that we could access the waterside directly from). Only comment would be that it was a bit of a dark path towards them if heading back from the apartments from the v&a after dark.

Wine Tour (Cape Wineland): The wine tour was great - the guide was really knowledgeable and we went to the bird park at Spier and played with Cape foxes and held owls, which was great! The ‘winetasting’ for the kids was great too. At the last vineyard we actually chose to do craft beer tasting rather than wine (to please the husband!!) which was a good option.

Township Tour by Bike (Cape Town): Again, this was great. The guide was very knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable. We also loved finishing at Mzoli’s barbecue.

Mosaic Sanctuary (nr Hermanus): This was fabulous. We got the room with the best view (no. 2) and it was just lovely. The staff were all fantastic and thoroughly looked after us - we had a welcome drink back from every activity! The kids loved the quad biking and the guide even let them ride their own bike (with him sitting close behind them!). The nature walk and beach trip were both great too. The kids went sand surfing! Food and drink were all lovely.

De Denne Guesthouse (Oudtshoorn): The guesthouse here was probably a bit dated given we had just left Mosaic but the staff here were also lovely, as was the evening meal and the lovely setting (the stars were amazing!). We visited an Ostrich farm and had a guided tour to ourselves, which was great. The kids got to hold a baby ostrich so much excitement!

Fynbos Ridge (Plettenberg Bay): The house at Fynbos Ridge was great and there was so much to do in the area. The owners were lovely and breakfast was great too. We weren’t offered any of the extras noted in the itinerary (evening meal, spa treatment etc) but we weren’t bothered - perhaps it would have been available if we’d asked. The setting was therefore quieter than we had expected but that wasn’t an issue at all - again perhaps just something to note in the itinerary? We do say private nature reserve but we may try to make this clearer as it is quite isolated and long road to get there... I suppose.

Kariega Main Lodge (Eastern Cape Safari) - this was amazing. Apart from the first drive, we had our ranger to ourselves and he was great, really knowledgeable and keen to share. We asked lots of questions too! He made the kids feel very welcome and included. He even included a night drive after dinner to see the nocturnal animals. We weren’t sure if it would be too late for the kids but they fell asleep so we enjoyed it and saw lots! Delighted to hear this about Kariega

Thanks again for organising it for us. We had an amazing trip and are still talking about it to everyone we see!

Lorna T reviewing Classic Garden Route For Families on 29 April 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 speed of response, efficiency of the booking process, flexibility/concern and information provided were all excellent. The meet and assist at the airport, punctuality, safety, general knowledge, liaison with customer and the vehicle used was excellent and the knowledge of routes and property locations was very good. Our guide was excellent with interesting knowledge and very good English, we could not have expected any more.

Jetwing Beach - The room was poor and the food Satisfactory. In general the accommodation was good, the service and location were very good and accuracy of profile excellent.
We needed to change rooms due to cockroaches in the bathroom. The staff and management were very helpful but the second room offered also had cockroaches!

Kandy House - The room, food and location were good. In general the accommodation was very good, the service and accuracy of profile was excellent.

Camilla Hills - The room was poor, the food was good. In general the accommodation was excellent with excellent service, location and accuracy of profile.
We were allocated the worst room and had no view. It was very disappointing and ruined our stay. The management we excellent but could not move us to a room with a view.

Cinnamon Wild - The food and service was good. In general the accommodation was very good with very good room and excellent location and accuracy of profile.
The Safari Drives were excellent.

Fort Bazaar - In general the accommodation was very good with very good food and excellent room, service, location and accuracy of profile.
Due to the lack of alcohol served meant we needed to eat outside of the hotel. The lack of a pool needs addressing, otherwise a lovely atmosphere and service.

Interesting and informative visit to Milennium Elephant Foundation.
Visit to Royal Botanical Gardens was a highlight of the tour with an excellent guide.
We were lucky to watch the service at the Temple of the Tooth and advise others to make sure they can do the the same 09:15 or 17:15.
Train journey - we were on the wrong side of the train so the view was limited. Fun journey though. Best part of scenery is after Hatton Station.
Drives on safari were excellent and well organised.
We did not have the tour of the fort as the guide could not accommodate our required timing.
Visit to the Tea Plantations was fascinating but brief.

Samantha S reviewing Cultural Sri Lanka for Families on 25 April 2019

We had a wonderful trip to Morocco. What a fascinating country. Thank you so much for all of your help making things smooth and less stressful!

Here are a few things we wanted to pass on:

Dar Housnia was absolutely delightful. It was like an entire wing of a house to ourselves with perfect Moroccan decor. The private area where we ate was so cute, the riad staff so accommodating. I loved waking in the cozy space with our family and hearing both call to prayer as well as roosters. Just perfect.

I was a little unclear how to ask what time we were being picked up etc, but your office promptly replied to my emails - even on weekends- when we had these questions about transport times. Once, we met our guide in Imlil these details we not problematic as our guide “Abraham” totally took care of us. Abraham was awesome. You should definitely request him again in the future. He was young (29)and energetic. He had a ton of hiking experience in Imlil as he was from there. He also seemed to know everything else about morocco, the desert, the culture, etc, etc. He was approachable, kind, patient, great with our kids and answered SO MANY of our questions.

The hike was lovely - after rain the day prior in Marrakech - there was snow in the mountains. It was gorgeous. We may have been up for a longer hike up Mt Taboukel if I had known this was a realistic option for families ( I thought from reading that it was too technical for us). Yet not sure we had enough days for all these things always since getting in the desert was a priority.

The mountain house, Dar adar, was just as described… very basic. The wifi was broken (which was a nice break when you have pre-teens addicted to phones, plus my husband called no wifi an amenity to not be available by email for his work!)). There was no heat and the fireplace helped a tad - but was so very cold in the rooms. My husband loved the rustic space, I may have gone up one step in niceness of mountain accommodation if I had to do it over again. Yet, meeting the other families in this Dar Adar (including another Tourdust family from England) made this house very memorable.

We were then joined by our driver for the next several days, Jamal. What a fun guy and a perfect driver. He could joke with my kids, he had a fun smile, and he had worked with Abraham before so they were a great team. The drive to desert was long as I knew it would be. It was nice to have the stop on way there near Ait Ben Haddu. The drive back from desert was long. It was more near 10 hours of driving (plus 1 hour at lunch = 11 hours) but I wouldn’t have made any different choices.

The luxury desert camp was far and away the highlight of our trip. The tents were adorable, I was sufficiently warm even at night inside the tent. We loved the camel riding, the ATV vehicles at a nearby camp, sunsets on the dunes, music around the camp fire, meals with others at the camp and more.

The last night was at Riad Jona. This was so very very lovely. The food was amazing - such a good idea to eat here after our long drive back to Marrakech. They had a small dining pool plus a hot tub which was delightful. It was almost more of a boutique hotel as it had several rooms.

Gwyneth R reviewing Luxury Family Desert Adventure on 11 December 2018

Fantastic holiday - I think we all really enjoyed ourselves. California is really relaxing, the people we met were lovely, and the scenery is amazing - so huge.
flight - using San Jose airport was a joy. Out of the airport within 30 mins of landing.
car hire - very straight forward.
Copilot - useful. We did download Google maps too, but sometimes the GPS worked better with co-pilot than Google maps (although may have been the phone)
Argonaut hotel - Great location, pleasant staff. Included in resort fee is discounted bike hire (if you get up fast enough to get them) - that was a bonus.
Drive to Auburn - long! we didn't manage to avoid San Francisco rush our - our fault. But a very good idea to get there the night before the rafting, meant the rafting day was much more relaxed.
Holiday Inn - as expected. Nice pool and breakfast was good (and cheap). We quickly learnt that it is really difficult to get food in US after about 8:30 at night, esp in less touristy spots. In n Out Burger an experience.
White water rafting - Our fellow rafters and helmsman (Conner) were good company for the day and we had a great time negotiating rapids, jumping in the water and taking in the scenery. It was all safe without over doing the briefings. Would have been good to have some photos which were only available straight after the trip, rather than on a web site. Nearby Marshall Ward state park was good for non-rafters.
Resort at Squaw Valley - The hotel was amazing. Beautfiul setting. Buffet breakfast in Cascades was a fabulous extravagance - a real treat.
Mountain biking in Tahoe - tremendous. Great bikes, fantastic guide who managed to accommodate both 50+ year old parents and v fit teenage boys. And local knowledge of guide set us up for the rest of the day - recommending places to eat in Truckee and places to visit on Lake Tahoe.
Drive from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite beautiful - well worth going the eastern route so enter Yosemite from East. The drive through the pass was amazing, definitely worth emphasizing that people should make the most of it.
Tenaya Lodge - hotel was a little tired. But we appreciate that Yosemite was getting full by the time we booked. And in fact, it was prob a good thing we were there - as we were out of the smoke in the valley. (The Ferguson Fire began the day we arrived). Sadly after the drive through on arrival, we saw little Yosemite scenery. On the plus side, Tenaya Lodge was cooler than the valley and had less bitey insects.
Walking in Yosemite - guide was excellent. Offered lots of options, and was very informative. Also very personable.
Santa Cruz - great hotel. Lovely city. Organic supermarket, farmers market, Olita's on wharf - all great. The Mystery Spot was hilarious. The surf school were generous and allowed us to keep the boards for several hours after the lesson, as the waves were not that great the two days we were there.

Andrew C reviewing The Ultimate California Adventure on 26 July 2018

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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks on 30 January 2018

We had an absolutely fantastic time on our Garden Route trip and I would be more than happy to provide feedback for you and Tourdust. I also thought you might like to know directly some of our experiences.

All the logistics worked smoothly from our meet and greet through to car pick up. Glad we picked the larger van as it meant we and our suitcases had lots of space. The vehicle was perfect for the longer drives.

Pumba was a perfect introduction to safari for our kids. The dedicated ranger was ideal as it allowed us to modify our plans to suit the children and we managed to see elephants, giraffe and lots of other game up close. They even tailored one afternoon so the kids could try archery and fishing whilst we relaxed. The food and accommodation was lovely and well suited for a family of our size. Food was delicious and ample to keep us full of energy.

We have been privileged to stay in many great hotels but we agreed Hunters country house is probably our favourite. The service was outstanding, food was great and they even proactively booked us into their restaurant Zinzi and. Leaned the car! Accommodation was again perfect for us with to adjoining rooms and the grouds are beautiful. We have already highly recommended to other friends. Being between knysna and plattenberg is a great location and we had lots of exciting adventures.

Zeekoe at Oudtshoorn as you know was our next stop. It gave us a great chance to visit the caves and that was pretty much all there was so two nights was the ideal length. We ate both nights at the hotel as nothing was open as it was a Sunday in the town. The food was ok but the fact there was lots of space for the kids to run around and we met several other families made it another good location. We actually enjoyed driving over the mountains and heading in land for a while. The kids loved a small adventure park near the caves that had some water slides.

The whale coast hotel at Hermanus was a different location being in the town. The accommodation was ideal again as we enjoyed being close to all the restaurants and shops whilst also having two floors and three bedrooms. The breakfast provided by the hotel was basic but with so many other nearby great restaurants it wasn't an issue. It was also close to shops and as it had a kitchen we got some extra items for those early mornings.

Finally we made it the vineyard for Christmas. I can't thank you enough for the effort you undertook to find us suitable rooms as again this little appartment with three rooms, a living space and kitchen suited us really well. Especially as it gave Santa a place to put stockings. I was a little skeptical about the hotel in advance having stayed in many other great Cape Town locations but it was a lovely hotel. Great food, kids menus, and we managed to have Christmas lunch at Myoga which was outstanding. The kids loved searching out the giant tortoises that lived there and it provided a nice location for some running. The staff were very friendly, always willing to help and I would highly recommend it as it gives you a break from the hustle and bustle of the V&A whilst also being easy to drive to.

I can't really explain well just how much fun we had and we all agreed that it was probably our best holiday yet and far exceeded our expectations.

Michael F reviewing Classic Garden Route For Families on 09 February 2016

I can not recommend Tourdust and the wonderful Lisa highly enough. I had been searching for a family holiday to South Africa and could never quite seem to find the right combination. I eventually found one that seemed to fit the bill on the Tourdust website and sent off an e-mail to make a general enquiry. Within a few days, following a Sunday 'phone conversation with Lisa, I ended up with a different itinerary that was even better, including things that I wanted to do that I thought the kids would hate (Gourmet Foodie day tour to South Africa's winelands anyone?) but that Lisa assured me wouldn't bore the kids (she was right). The service I received was knowledgeable, smooth, efficient and friendly. Looking forward to booking again with them. Thank you Lisa and Tourdust!

Neil B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 14 October 2015

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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks on 02 September 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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks on 25 March 2015

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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks on 20 November 2014

We would very much like to give our feedback regarding our trip to Morocco because it was absolutely fantastic. From start to finish there was nothing to fault, Mustafa our guide in the mountains was great - discrete when necessary but delightfully eloquent and informed about a wide variety of subjects. The food in the mountains was superb ( though the toilet facilities in the gites d'etape left a lot to be desired!!) The guest house Dar Adrar was beautiful with amazing views. The riad in Marrakesh was lovely and such a welcome respite after the hectic souks.....and as for the surfing.....it was fab!!!! Mohammed our instructor was patient and so super cool....a real gem and great with our children.
All in all it was wonderful and we were all sad to leave. We will definitely consider using Tourdust again and wont hesitate to recommend you to our friends.

trevor l reviewing Two Week Family Trek & Surf Holiday 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

Here are 4 write ups on the White Water rafting trip we had in July 2013
From my 14 year old boy:
To put it simply I have never had so much fun in my life. For the first two days I enjoyed a break from the otherwise high tempo country of America. We saw animals that none of us had seen before, swam in waters in which all of us had a ball and lay in the perfect heat of the Utah sun. This incredible experience of food and rest was then followed by the grand finale of white water rafting! The anxiety and nervousness soon turned into a thrill so extraordinary that I have sworn to myself that I will feel that incredible thrill again. Looking back, it was probably the most perfect three days that I can remember. So I mean this genuinely when I say, you must go on this holiday!
From my 12 year old girl:
It was so much fun. We saw coyotes, bears, river otter and more. The people were so nice and the food was amazing . The first two days were calm, but then on the last day we hit the rapids! That was the most fun. We bounced up and down, up and down and got completely soaked. It was a moment I will never forget.
From my 11 year old son:
The scenery was absolutely fantastic, and the water was calm and slightly warm. This was to begin with but after that we got into fantastic rapids. I was scared to begin with but the sparkling feeling in my head and the butterflies in my tummy gave me a great sense of achievement when I had done it!
From me:
There were five of us and we had two boats and two brilliant instructors for three of the most incredible days. Calm waters as we either sat in the boats which carried all our food and equipment or we gently floated with our feet out in front of us as we past the million year old rocks of changing earthy colours. The tempo changes: the water becomes white, we all put helmets on and then the rapids begin and our stomachs reach the sky, it really was seriously scary, I looked around at my family and they were all having a ball. Time disappeared fast and we all felt so pleased with ourselves as we had completed the last rapid. I felt rather proud! We were fed like Kings and we all played our parts in making the three days incredible ones we will never forget. Tracking the stars, searching for scorpions and spotting bears all added to the whole experience.

Camilla D reviewing Grand American Family Adventure in Utah on 06 October 2014

Following on from our conversation yesterday - I just wanted to reiterate how delighted we were - and what a huge success the holiday was. It was a bit of a monumental trip for us - and it is not easy travelling with the various ages of the children - but it went very well. The advice and recommendations were great - the hotels were all as you described, and in the right place etc (although as I said I would not have stayed in Yosemite Lodge)
The journey was well paced, the satnav guide was invaluable (although I used the free version - even so I would not have known about it without you mentioning it and it was a godsend)
It was great. And you were incredibly patient with my endless badgering and questions - for which many thanks.

The rafting in particular was fantastic. The guides actually forgot our tents - which was quite funny - Kit clearly felt a thin nylon tent was protection against mountain lions, but once we established that the tent made no difference - he was fine. The food rafting was delicious - although I have to say spectacularly wasteful. 35 pancakes for 6 people for breakfast??? With bacon, fruit, eggs etc etc as well? The children were appalled at how much was thrown away - but I guess that is a the company's thing..

The only thing it would have been good to have been tipped off in the notes about was how much nicer the food is in Yosemite village - rather than the dreary depressing hotel canteen. Maybe other guests would try the dining room - but there was such a long wait for a table - we didn't bother. The buses are very good - and the food options are much better in the village - which we didn't realise until the second night - the guide told us actually. I would definitely put that in the notes for other guests - we didn't try the formal dining room - so maybe that is good - but bypass the canteen.

We loved the arches park - having never heard of it - it was mind blowing. And the wonderful platinum hotel in Las Vegas was fabulous. Great location, gorgeous rooms, esp after the motel style dark rooms in Moab and Gouldings.
I had been toying with the idea of sitting in a launderette in Monument Valley - but figured the Navajo prices would be astronomical. Imagine my delight to find I had not one but TWO washing machines and dryers - complete with washing powder - in the hotel/apartments in Las Vegas. Perfect. We left LV with completely clean clothes, ready for the rest of the holiday. A small but very delightful point!

It was all great. Thank you so much for your efforts, and patience, you definitely gave us a holiday perfectly tailored to US - fitting the older children in really well, and pacing everything so perfectly. I will be in touch again!!

Kathryn M reviewing Highlights of America's South West on 06 October 2014

Some highlights: I really enjoyed the rodeo - I had expected it to be touristy & tacky, but I actually thought it was great. Boulder - although we didn't do too much there, the drive up was amazing & we really liked the lodge & the peacefulness (apart from a huge storm!). The Burr Trail Grill next door was excellent - really lovely & friendly staff & the best apple pie ever. We went to Willis Creek, 12 miles south of Escalante - this was a slot canyon that you can walk through easily & choose to do as much or as little as you like (the slots are 100metres long, so it's easy to walk out or turn back when you've had enough). Particular highlight for everyone was the Fiery Furnace Walk - Mike was absolutely fantastic with Rory & Lucy. It was perfect for Rory as he loves rock scrambling, so Mike encouraged that. Lucy was very nervous, but he helped her overcome her fears. & he was a very interesting person to spend some time with - I think we finished near to midday! We really liked Red Cliffs in Moab & I liked Moab itself - nice to get some fresh fruit & veg after too many burgers!

Some things we'd probably change: I know I said I didn't want to go to Vegas, but I didn't ask the children & I think they might have liked it! It would probably have saved the longer flight & connections from Seattle & it looks as if the drive from Vegas is similar in distance as from SLC.

I think Beverley would have liked longer in some places - we're used to holidays where we stay in one place, so living out of a suitcase was a little different for us.

I'm also in two minds about the rafting. We were not helped by the weather where we had storms & rain all night until around 9am. Lucy got very cold so didn't enjoy it after the first 2 rapids. Rory however, really enjoyed himself. Overall though, it just seemed that it was a 2 day trip that could have been condensed into 1 day. Again, I think if the weather was different, we would have enjoyed chilling out a little more, but as it was & for the price, it was a little disappointing. We met another family while rafting who had booked through you - they were from Hampshire.

Overall, great adventure, good places to stay, amazing scenery, we met some interesting people, saw some amazing storms (hail the size of golf balls! We were told August is their 'monsoon season') & had a great time, so thank you for putting it together for us. Hopefully we'll be back some time for another adventure…I'm still sizing up Toubkal with Rory in a year or two.

Beverley C reviewing Grand American Family Adventure in Utah on 06 October 2014

An amazing holiday - thank you.

Trekking was excellent, Mustapha, our guide, was lovely, and food was delicious. Hotel in Imlil was also great. But litter on the mountains was upsetting.

Marrakesh is incredible. Riad (Dar Vedra) was lovely, although we were a bit unsure whether we could ask for drinks etc. The owner was away and I'm not sure the staff were as attentive as usual - or maybe we'd just been spoilt in the mountains.

Surfing was fun. We just did two mornings, but this was fine. We visited Essaouira one afternoon and went on a camel ride the other. Really liked the accommodation at Windy Kaouki. But would have been good to know that there was no cashpoint in Sidi Kaouki.

Brilliant holiday - thanks again.

Rachel C reviewing Two Week Family Trek & Surf Holiday on 22 August 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

On our final night now in Dubrovnik sadly.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first half Tourdust arranged with all the kayaking etc. our son was very sad to leave and preferred the earlier part of our trip to the second half chilling by the pool!

Accommodation was 'ok', activities were just enough, some people couldn't keep up with the amount of kayaking but for us it was just the right amount. Johnny and Mattie were superb, they went out of their way to ensure everyone was happy all the time (I hope Tourdust look after them as they are a great asset to the company!!).

They took us to some great restaurants, arranged all the transport and ensured everyone was safe during the activities.

5 out of 5 to you guys, we hope to be back!!

Richard J reviewing Family Sea Kayaking Holiday in Dubrovnik on 22 August 2014

Flights with Royal Air Maroc both good, even 30 min early arrival in Marrakech. Transfers to/from hotels smooth (in spite of late hour arriving on the way there).

Treks in the Atlas Mts were superb in the spring. The Tassoult Valley was a treat for the senses, with wild flowers, tree blossom, birds (including nightingales every few hundred metres up the valley),rock formations and the frequent river-crossings. Not to mention the friendly local Berbers riding their mules to work, the children walking to school, women and children in colourful clothing. Magdaz was fascinating, with mint tea served on the roof of the agdz(?) or storage towerhouse, by the kind owner's daughter, complete with views of the mountains. There were few signs of other tourists, but this may change soon as the new access road nears completion. There were some interesting driving experiences through the river in the mean time!

The desert trek and camp near Oulad Driss made for another fascinating experience. Because it was pre-desert, with a mix of dunes and vegetation, there was more of interest than a true desert. Desert plants, insects and birds, sunset and sunrise made for some very photogenic moments. Add three camels and our two sons (aged 12 and 18) to the journey for further entertainment. The boys voted this the best part of the holiday. Shame it was only 2 days. The highlight was, for some, a camel spider in the tent, bottled and then examined and released the next morning. Some found it hard to get to sleep that evening!

Ait Benhaddou and Telouet provided a more historical slant on Morocco, ably escorted and informed by our guide Rasheed. The link between Ait Benhaddou and the film industry is a well- known attraction, but I will remember it equally for finding my first wild scorpion! Telouet is more remote, and just as interesting, and is accompanied by strikingly-coloured rock formations en route to Marrakech.

Marrakech is very much an acquired taste. It took us 24 hours to get used to the Medina and the souks, although we never actually got lost. Finding our way around (fairly) successfully, learning to ignore hassling vendors and haggling with others were all satisfying achievements. Recommended places/activities would include Palais La Bahia, Maison Tiskiwine, the Artisan zone on the western edge of the Medina, just wandering around the souks and market areas (especially the northern bits), and of course the Café de France terrace overlooking the main square (Place Jemaa-el-Fna) in the evening. Although some of the vendors were a slight nuisance, we did not feel threatened at any time. Some vendors will need to work on their patter, however. Being told by a waiter that we were a skinny family so we needed a meal at his restaurant was amusing rather than persuasive!

Travelling by 4x4 in Morocco was generally a good experience. Road surfaces were variable, according to how remote the area was, but we were too busy being distracted by the scenery to be bothered by any potential discomfort. The only slight trepidation felt was when one driver we had seemed to be playing 'chicken' with oncoming vehicles, on the single lane desert road heading towards M'hamid. Otherwise the driving was smooth and very considerate, especially on the rougher roads.
Accommodation was very good. We were made to feel welcome everywhere. The hostel at Ait ali n Itto was basic, and could have done with the hot water actually being hot, but we accepted that this goes with the territory in a remote area. All the riads we stayed in were very hospitable and generally provided good facilities. Riad Caravane at Ait Benhaddou and Dar Hanane in Marrakech were especially good quality, and welcome after roughing it for the previous 4 or 5 days. Eating breakfasts on the terraces in the mornings while watching the Atlas birdlife, or listening to the Imams in Marrakech successfully calling the faithful to prayer, was memorable.

Our guide, cooks and drivers were all excellent. Rasheed our guide was exceptional. He entered into the family spirit really easily, was a goldmine of information wherever we were, smoothed the way for us on many occasions. This included helping my lack of balance (due to a bout of labyrinthitis) by making a walking stick from a sapling so I could get across the Tassoult river without falling in. He acted as nurse for cuts and blisters on a number of occasions. His thoughtfulness and anticipation could not be faulted. He also seemed to have a very good rapport with the locals he needed to deal with. He was flexible enough to accept my idea of eating a takeaway picnic at an oasis near Zagora when returning from the desert. Abraham our first cook was much appreciated for his huge breakfasts, picnic lunches on trek, snacks on return and evening tajines. We were sad to see him leave us after 3 days. All tips given were easily merited. Thanks to Tourdust for giving us some ballpark advice on this.
So overall a marvellous Moroccan family adventure, scoring a big 5 out of 5. I wish we could do it all over again, and then some more.

Marcus C reviewing Family Desert Holiday in Morocco 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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks on 09 June 2014

As a family we have never been to Africa before and in Tourdust we have found an excellent tour operator whose attention to detail is second to none. The thought, care and attention that went into planning our trip, significantly contributed to the overall success of our time in South Africa.

There is much to mention, but three highlights would include having a personal tour guide in Lionel Davies on Robben Island. Lionel was a political prisoner and happened to serve his sentence at the same time Nelson Mandela was serving part of his. Tourdust connections with Cape Town local tour operators meant that we had access to this.

Secondly my husband and I were keen to do a wine tour; however I had some doubts as to how this would go down with the children - I needn't have worried. The local tour guide provided a completely appropriate day, which included chocolate tasting, wine tasting and visiting a cheetah sanctuary.

Thirdly our daughter turned 14 whilst on Safari; the camp we were staying at had access to two private game reserves and made sure we all had a variety of sightings and experiences and our daughter's birthday was acknowledged with a gorgeous chocolate cake - again in the background Tourdust had made sure this happened.

Choosing just three highlights has been difficult, but I just want to thank Ben and his team wholeheartedly for making our first experience of the African continent such a positive one. I can't recommend this company more highly.

Anne W reviewing Classic Garden Route For Families on 03 June 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: Kasbahs, 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: Kasbahs, 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: Kasbahs, Mountains & Souks 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

The trip was fantastic and we felt like we had been away for a month rather than a week!

Dar Vedra was outstanding and perfect for the souks and the main square. The service was very attentive and the apartment was wonderful with big, fluffy towels and great breakfasts, with brilliant coffee. The only issue there was the call to prayer which seems to be right above you at 5 in the morning, being so close to the mosque. You get used to it but it is very loud.

The driver (Said) was very good but the journeys took significantly longer than expected. It took us 12 hours to get to the desert rather than 10 and he did seem to take his time often when it was safe to pick up the pace. On the way to Kasbah Azul from the desert it took 7 hours rather than 5. This was partly due to there being a sand storm but it seemed to be a theme. We ended up mentally adding a few hours to the proposed times.

He also seemed to stop for lunch at the regular tourist haunts where all the other drivers congregated and there was an expensive set menu for substandard fare. It's tricky to avoid when you don't know the area but maybe it would be useful to offer info on the best places to stop for food en route.

The desert camp was brilliant and I can't praise it enough. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was wonderful and we felt very much at home. It is the perfect size. Nick was there when we visited and he says hello.

Kasbah Azul was so-so. I was not impressed with the service or the atmosphere to be honest, although it has a nice pool. I was glad it was only an overnight stop.

Riad Caravane was beautiful and the decor, service, views and location were all wonderful. There was a mosque next door but thankfully they were quiet at night!

Overall it was fantastic. Thanks for all your help in making this happen.

alex c reviewing Luxury Family Desert Adventure 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: Kasbahs, 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

Just wanted to send a note saying we had a wonderful time...the staff and hospitality were fantastic! Our kids had an amazing time. We enjoyed every riad, kasbah, tent and meal you reserved for us! I will recommend this tour to friends!

Christopher P reviewing Luxury Family Desert Adventure on 11 January 2014

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

The whole holiday was fabulous: we really enjoyed it all, but three things really stand out as exceptional.

1. Adil, our guide in the Atlas, was a lovely guy - helpful, kind and considerate, really good company, informative, nothing was too much trouble, and he gauged our speed really well, also when to leave us to our own devices. I'm sure you get lots of enthusiastic feedback for him. Plus it was really nice to be met at the airport with bottles of water and sweets.

2. Roro / Le Kaouki. We so enjoyed it here. The hotel is lovely, atmospheric, beautiful, and also cosy with a fire on chilly / windy evenings. Roro is a really fantastic host who again was brilliant company, and very considerate to us, for instance making us some bland food when one of us was unwell. She went out of her way to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

3. The Morocco Blue surf company. All the instructors were great (esp Mohammed), adapting the lessons really well to our individual progress and ability (or lack of in my case). There was a really good, fun cameraderie in the classes and we enjoyed having lessons in both Sidi Kaouki and Essaouira. On one afternoon we did not feel up to having a class, so they gave us an extra one on the final morning, which we did not expect. They also arranged and paid for a taxi for my husband and daughter when they finished early in Essaouira one day. I would recommend them to anyone and the manager (Azhul?) was great.

Of course we also loved the Dar Vedra in Marrakech. All the arrangements for transport etc. worked out very smoothly. I really felt like I didn't have to worry about anything.

Joanna L reviewing Two Week Family Trek & Surf Holiday on 22 November 2013

Dar Thania was great - good location and Momo (the manager) was brilliant. Only comment here (and it was not a problem for us!) was that the itinerary said the whole riad but there were other people staying there throughout our time there. As I say, it did not impact on us but the boys are not the quietest. breakfast was great and they were very flexible with timing. Rooms were lovely.

The desert camp was amazing. The drive there was tough but once there, it was definitely worth it! Not sure they really got vegetarian food (but food was generally great) but that is not uncommon. Sundowners overlooking the dunes will be tough to beat! We went on a camel trek and the boys spent a lot of time running down sand dunes and trying to sand board. Our driver was good (Toufic) - on the way out there, he took us to Ait Ben Haddou and on to Ouarzazate for the day and we had a couple of extra 'cultural' stops on the way out.

Overall, everyone arrived when they should and only comments are as above. Overall five out of five for the trip.

Thank you so much for your help with organising this. I don't think 2 weeks on a beach will cut it next year!

Nicola W reviewing Family Desert Holiday in Morocco on 18 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 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 Family Holiday on 26 September 2013

We had a great time in Morocco and would love to give you our feedback.

We felt that the descriptions given online and from talking to you were a very honest and fair reflection of all aspects of the holiday. All of the transfers and arrangements that you had made for us worked well and were problem free.

Atlas Mountains: Our guide Ibrahim was lovely, full of information, happy to talk about his life and we were looked after and catered for really well by all of his team. The donkey was a great success! We are really glad that we didn't decide to do the Toukbal option, which we could have done with 12 and
14 year olds. Our kids are all really sporty and fit and actually we couldn’t have coped with any more walking than we did. 7 hours was our limit. Some of us didn't want to camp but we're glad now that we did because of the flexibility it gave us. It's spectacular and a complete culture shock coming from London and we all loved the mountains.

Marakech: The riad was absolutely beautiful and a welcome spot of luxury after camping. Again, all of the staff were very helpful and pleasant. We were grateful for their local recommendations - places of interest and eateries!
At night the best food we ate was from the stalls in the main square, particularly number 14, the fish stall. We visited the palaces, Marjorelle Gardens, got lost in the souks, all of the usual things, but balance is absolutely key and three days was enough before we were ready to go to the coast. Tip - start early in the morning, back to the riad after lunch and then out again in the evening. It avoids the crowds and the heat of the midday.

Sid Kaouki: Windy Kaouki apartments were great for our needs and it was brilliant to have an apartment just for the children so thank you for that. Of the limited cafes in the resort, Izeke's was our favourite, but luckily we discovered that the Italian owner of the apartments is a great cook and he's trained all of his kitchen staff to be the same. Please highlight that this is an option to others. So we ate at the apartments most evenings and at lunchtime grabbed a sandwich there as the food was really delicious and very good value. We would highly recommend doing the same to other families
as it was so good.

The surfing came as a bit of a shock to some of us (the mums really). The first two days the waves were 1.3m high and because of the tides we did a five hour session in one go with a small break in the middle. Ashar, Redwan and Mohammed were really patient and lovely but we didn't all make it through the week... The children all completed the week and so did one of the dads but actually it was just a bit too much even though they enjoyed it they were exhausted. I'm not sure if there's an option for three days surfing and three days complete chilling but maybe that's another thing that you could offer. I think that one of our favourite parts wasn't actually the surfing but talking to the instructors about Morocco and finding out what life's like and how they hope the country is going to develop. Lovely people; we really enjoyed meeting them.

All in all a fab holiday. Would we visit Morocco again? Yes to the Atlas Mountains .......... Would we travel with Tourdust again - a definite YES. It took the worry and angst out of what would have been quite a difficult trip to organise independently. Will it be memorable .....YES and for all the right reasons..........

Helen L reviewing Two Week Family Trek & Surf Holiday on 18 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 Family 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

Our trip was fabulous- everything and more than we expected. Your team could not be praised too highly, nothing seemed a bother to them.

Feedback as requested
Accommodation - basic Croatian house - lovely, just what we wanted !
Food - possibly one of the only disappointments - breakfasts very basic, tea and coffee not good but it was ok and we managed (this is after all how the Croatians eat !).
Transport - all great.
Guides - Mattias and Geevo (ignore spelling) - so pleasant and just brilliant , went out of their ways to accommodate us.

It must be noted that when in Croatia you are on "Croatian time" and therefore 8am could mean anything up to 10.30 but when you have the sun, beach and scenery to sit and watch whilst waiting of your guides - this was not really an issue after you got used to it.

One small note, you could well do in investing in some smaller kayaks and paddles for kids between say 8 - 14, they only catered for adults with these and you know yourself that the right paddle is important.

Mark out of 5 = 6 /5 So, all in all, a great holiday and now I have the job of trying to "top" this next year.

MARIE D reviewing Family Sea Kayaking Holiday in Dubrovnik on 21 August 2013

We had a great holiday. Our guide on the trek , Yousef, was brilliant. All our accommodation was good, especially the riad in Marrakech. All the arrangements went like clockwork. I am happy to give Tourdust 5/5.

Dawn H reviewing Challenging Atlas Mountain Family Trek on 15 August 2013

Overall the trip went really well, we are certainly happy about your choices and organization -- and if you knew us well, you'd know that is really an achievement (it's our first time on a trip arranged by "others").

- Riad Wo : great place and wonderful host: Elsa is always present but never invasive, and is extremely helpful and available; impeccable

- Ksar Ighnda is a striking hotel, and the apt was very comfortable and appreciated after that trip leg; as a minor thing, of all places, however, the attempts to appease "westerners" is the only negative (piano bar with US/European music during dinner was really out of place - on the other side, anyway, the lamb and eggplants the last night there were fabulous! The rest, courteous and professional throughout)

- Dar Sidi Bounou: Nancy, Said, Raika, Ibrahim,the other people and the place will stay with us as the highlight of the tour. The experience was like being guests at the house of someone from Morocco, and truly left warm and deep memories - conversation with Nancy has been very interesting and instructive, and Said in particular is exceptionally good and caring. Curiously, the main deviations from the trip plan happened there, with the first night being planned for a "room" but actually spent in a berber tent(not sure Nancy thought that was the better thing to do, but we had not prepared our luggage/stuff for that setup, nor our minds... Our fault was however not telling Nancy about it, not sure why -- I'm sure she'd have obliged and moved us to a room. Also, that night, a pack of stray dogs 'camped' around the area, and barked all night, keeping me awake -- we only think that Nancy, who's obviously fond of dogs, shouldn't perhaps try to rescue or adopt what comes around (one of the dogs she had taken care of was the 'lead barker' against the pack I guess). Finally, the desert ride was not were the plan said (wild camping) but it was decided to go to a bivouac (the reason was the day before had been windy)-- it did go well overall, but as the other episodes, these options should be probably anticipated in the plan, just to be clear and set expectations. To reiterate however, this was the best part of our trip anyway, given the overall experience of the two days and the people.

- Dar Qamar: all smooth and very lovely there; we had the right place at the right time, taking a chance to relax and recover a bit before the trip back. The setting is quite striking, in the town' medina, mixing up with local people as you walk out (kids in particular), and the palm groves are one of the most surprising beauties we discovered

- a mention of Mohammed, who was essentially impeccable and responsive

- and finally, the places (to visit, I mean: Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, M'Hamid and Agdz) you selected on the trip were thoroughly interesting and fascinating, just the types I would have selected myself.

Good job!

Stefano O reviewing Family Desert Holiday in Morocco on 09 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 have had a brilliant time away, and our Morocco experience was fantastic.

The specifics:

Trek Guide: Rachid. Fantastic 5/5. Very nice young fellow who was very attentive to Sally who was fighting off a bug during the trek, and managed the pace to ensure that she and Lucy finished it. His English was also very reasonable and we were able to communicate fairly well during the two days. (Our command of the Berber language on the other hand is still surprisingly rusty but we managed to get a few expressions under our belt alhumdulillah!). We enjoyed the walk very much but really had no idea what to expect. Given the gradients and altitude, it would have been rated medium at least but probably hard in the Australian bushwalking guides - but I had a chuckle when Rachid said that it was easy! and we do some hard walks here at home. Whilst it's reasonably high at 2500m for people accustomed to living at sea level, the impact was only marginal, though our son Ben did have a headache for most of it. A little more information in your guide about expectations would assist (and I'm thinking here of people like us who weren't travelling to Morocco just to walk). The accommodation was very basic but fine given where we were and what we were up to. It was extremely cold of course but Rachid arranged for some blankets to augment the sleeping bags and we were fine. The sleeping bags were also perfectly fine by the way and looked hardly used - they were just extremely thin, without the blankets they would have been hopeless! The village was an awe inspring glimpse into the past - biblical housing with satellite dishes!

Driver: Yusef. Fine 3/5. Completely different character to Rachid though. It's a challenge for sure to keep the conversation up for six days when your Darija is as rough as ours and the English is not so good - but this is getting picky given where we were.

Accommodation:
Dar Hanane - fantastic - probably best of the lot - 5/5. Felt like home. Stuart and Mandy very welcoming and key staff were excellent.
Kasbah bab Ourika - 3/5. Why? Being rated at 5 star and given the tariff, our expectations were of course high. It was very nice, but for the money you might expect a bit more polish or something. It certainly had a feeling of subservience in relation to the staff - having come from Dar Hanane where the staff were all happy and relaxed, Bab Ourika had a comepletely different feel. The food was also very average. Sally says she could cook at the same standard at home!!
Dar Adrar - 4/5 Great. Very neat and tidy - great service - nice homely feel.
Kasbah Ellouze - 4/5. Again very nice. Sally did notice holes and stains on the sheets(!) but overall very nice and great service. It wasn't ask clean as other places.
Dar Sidi Buono (M'Hamid) - 3/5 - a bit tired but again OK for what it is. Nancy was lovely - very engaging and enchanting and service from the staff was OK.
Luxury Desert Camp (erg Chigaga)- 4.5/5. Brilliant concept, very novel accommodation, terrific service. BoBo was brilliant - very interesting and engaging individual who could just about write the text book on marketing and customer service. The food we ate here was about the best we had in Morocco. To produce that kind of fare in a tent kitchen was a miracle although both Ben and Sally ended up with food poisoning following the desert but not sure where it came from. Interesting for you to note this just in case anyone else reports it.
Dar Qamar (Agdz) - 4/5 - just a bit out of the way - so tricky to get back into town without a car. We would have walked if Sally and Ben were feeling better.

Service and Advice from Tourdust:
This was always going to be a challenge given that we couldn't walk into your office to discuss things, but overall I think everything was just fine. We didn't have a hitch and you or Anna were available for a chat when we needed it - we just needed to be organised with the specific questions needing answering.
Mohammed was also very professional and helpful on the ground and was available by phone when needed. He also went out of his way to organise for Ben's fleece top to be collected from Agdz when he had left it at Dar Qamar - very much appreciated.

That's it! We have had an amazing time. We enjoyed the contrasts that Morocco had to offer - it certainly is a collision of the ancient and modern. Apart from mudhouses with satellite dishes, the one thing that struck me was the nomadic Berber, who still pack up and travel with all of their worldly possessions on camels. We saw them when returning from Erg Chigaga - half a dozen camels being led by a gentleman in a jillaba talking on a mobile phone whilst his wife and daughters brought up the rear with the goats. Brilliant.

So, thanks for getting us around Morocco! We enjoyed it immensely and would recommend you to people in Australia trying to organise their trips to Morocco.

Timothy H reviewing Luxury Family Desert Adventure on 01 May 2013

It has been absolutely beautiful and very very special. Thank you much for your help.

Bobo was such a brilliant guide to the desert, the children loved him too, it made the whole trip in the desert extra special and brilliant. I would recommend that part to everyone, maybe even as a yearly retreat, it was so tranquil and so serene as well as extremely well organised and luxurious.

Ait Ben Haddou was also beautiful, we had a good walk round on our own and explored the whole village. We also visited someones house who had been part of many films in the making there and was clearly so proud to show us his pictures.

The hotel we stayed in there was ok, but not as great as others, it was a bit too posh and lacked something special, food wasn't so great, service not much either, nothing specific to complain about, just it didn't quite had what we preferred.

The kasbah near Agadir was perfect, really lovely services, a fantastic castle on the hill and a little drive from some fabulous beachy places. a real recommendation with lovely pool and food and rooms and all, the kids were happy too!

All in all, something to remember forever for us and the kids, thank you for your help and recommendations, its been more special, beautiful and interesting then we could have hoped for.

Marjolein H reviewing Luxury Family Desert Adventure on 24 April 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

We had a really good time and would thoroughly recommend anyone to go to Morrocco with Tourdust. The trekking was really good, although basic gite is exactly what they were!! We had a bit of an issue with a loo which caused a little concern but apart from that the guide was great as were the cooks. The food was generally good though i must admit i don't need to have a tagine again in a hurry!! Chez Momo was lovely, a real relaxation. I'm lead to believe that it is not quite as good as it was, the menu was a litte uninspiring, but for us it was perfectly timed as we needed a little R and R then onto Marrakech. The riad (Bel Haj) was amazing as were the staff there it was a little haven of tranquility in the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Blue Morocco was so good the kids loved the surfing and the whole ethos of the place. They made us feel so welcome and I would send the kids back there no porblem!!

All in all a real success

Sophie H reviewing Two Week Family Trek & Surf Holiday on 18 December 2012

We thought this was a very well planned out trip. It had a good balance of kayaking and fun time. All staff we came across from booking, to transfer to guides were always very helpful and friendly. The staff in Croatia were always welcoming and forthcoming with help and information. We loved the island, the car free environment was fantastic. The island and its neighbors were beautiful, the water is stunning, I cant remember seeing sea that clear before. The children were never bored, if they weren't kayaking they were snorkeling and loved it. We all loved the banana boat ride and the speed boat trip.

On the last day three families chartered the local glass bottom boat, 1300 Kuna for the day (approx £10 per person) and we had a fantastic trip around other islands, snorkeling and swimming in new areas and a lovely lunch on anther islands. I would recommend this to other travelers. I think this was arranged through Irvana.

We would recommend this holiday and Tourdust services to friends in the future.

Claire H reviewing Family Sea Kayaking Holiday in Dubrovnik 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

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 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 just got back from our trip and it was wonderful...It's really hard
to adjust back to real life!

We had a great trip and the trek was wonderful. Jatoo, our guide, was an
extraordinary guy, his English was very good, he knew the area very
well, he told us a lot about Thailand and he was a riot over all! I
think he made a big difference to our experience.

I'd rate the overall experience at 4. I think it'd be helpful to be a
little more detailed in the requirement up front, as we thought the trek
was walking around the forest but it was a bit more than that. We
thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, so the last day, the bike ride fell a
little short of expectations, we woke up really early and wished that we
did a bit more at the end. I'd certainly recommend it to my friends and
we'll look at other tours that you arrange in the future.

Anon reviewing Hill Tribe Trekking in Thailand on 11 May 2011

.The trekking experience was great (i.e. day 1 and 2) would rate that a 5, Day 3 was a 4, Day 4 was a 3. Some elements of the trip such as the dancers at Lisu lodge was not really necessary as we prefer to see the Lisu tribe in their village rather than a forced dance in the lodge. Also, the bike trip on day 4 was too short. I think you should look at extending this trip and rearranging some of the other activities.

Having said these, I must point out that we had an excellent tour guide (Jatoo). I would recommend him to all my friends. He was very knowledgeable, and never got tired of our detailed questions.

Overall my main disappointment was that apart from the Lahu Outpost, the "rules" did not allow Jatoo to have dinner with us. I find this very strange at this day and age. This decision should be left to the guide and the visitors, not the owners of the lodges.

Hope these comments help. We had a wonderful time and saw the best part of Thailand.
Thanks for your help.

Anon reviewing Hill Tribe Trekking in Thailand on 11 May 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