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The Namibia trip was fantastic!
Self-driving was brilliant, and the chronology of the itinerary was perfect (against the flow/direction most other travelers took).
As for specifics:
OKONJIMA
This place was the best!
Best service, best staff, best food, best experiences, best facilities.
We saw a cheetah kill, leopards, and white rhino (which we were not expecting).
If you’ve never been you should go...If I ever go back to Namibia I will revisit.
EMANYA
The only (slight) disappointment.
Maybe because it was right after Okonjima, but the service was lacking, the facilities were a bit run down, it was the only place with mosquitoes in the room with no net and no spray. Food was marginal. Not sure if there are better options in the area, though.
OKAUKEUJO
Etosha Park was amazing. There was so much wildlife with so little crowds.
The Okaukeujo Camp had the best watering hole with animals coming in at all times of the night. A great experience exclusive to the camp.
DORO NAWAS
Beautiful place. Very private. Food and service excellent.
A nice stopping point on the drive.
SPITZKOPPE
An amazing place...How they laid out and built it.
Enjoyed exploring the grounds and the local area/sights.
The staff was on par with Okonjima.
2 days were perfect.
Ivin provided us with good advice/information/recommendations along the route, along with a cell phone and cooler for the trip. The car was perfect.
They represent Tourdust well!
Again, another great trip you put together...Thank you!
Earl W
reviewing Northern Namibia Highlights - Self Drive
on 17 October 2018
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We both suffered but enjoyed it immensely. Just how it should be!!!!
Our route up the mountain, the Burguret trail is very arduous and certainly should not be used for people who are not very fit and experienced trekkers. It mainly followers animal trails through the forests and bog lands around the mountain. The Chogoria route down was great. The guide and porters were great. Wild camping means just that, really just what I wanted, but I have lived in Kenya.
Jonathan B
reviewing Mount Kenya: Burguret Chogoria Traverse
on 24 September 2018
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All the accommodation was great especially having the family rooms, I think our favourite place was the maramboi tented camp - everything about it was spot on, the location and service was excellent!
The only negative feedback I could give was the amount of time spent in the jeep, I hadn’t quite realised how much travel there was! But it’s a minor point, Haji our guide was excellent and constantly pointed out things of interest along the way.
Sam S
reviewing Tanzania Extended Northern Circuit
on 24 September 2018
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The trek was fab, really enjoyed it! Was definitely a challenge but one worth doing. Our Guide Mohammed was excellent, took care of our needs, patient and went at a suitable pace for us. Ali, the muleteer and cook made us the most remarkable dishes and such large quantities, we felt bad for leaving so much food.....was enough for six people or more.
The refuges provided us a great place to stay....the first one was very quiet only another couple staying there, whilst the next was much busier and was a fab way to meet new people.
We were really pleased we made it to the summit, it felt like a great achievement.
I don’t think I would change any part of it.
Thank you, to you and your partners in Morrcco, will recommend you to anyone who wishes to follow in my footsteps.
Louise D
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 29 August 2018
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Speke's camp was absolutely ideal - small and personal, with great hosts. We'd definitely recommend the "tented safari" experience to others. The kid's didn't miss having a pool (too interested in Safari). Speke's camp give you your own landrover and driver/guide, which gave us great flexibility (much better I suspect than what is offered by some of the larger camps). Our guide was brilliant. See below for the review we just posted on rip Advisor.
I think the only negative of the trip was getting through Nairobi airport (multiple security checks, and they ask you to "board" two hours in advance, which in fact means going into crowded transit lounge with no facilities), but there's not anything anyone can do about that
It's also worth saying that Peponi really is a unique experience. It's a proper East African institution, with all the locals dropping into the bar. It's the perfect antidote to anyone wanting to get away from the soulless all inclusive resorts which could be absolutely anywhere in the world (which seem to be a bit of a feature of Zanzibar). Lamu is still amazingly undeveloped.
We stayed at Speke's camp for 4 nights in August 2018 - a family of two adults and two children. For us it was the perfect location to experience the Mara. The camp is only a short drive outside the main Mara reserve and is in an amazingly picturesque location, set by a small river in the shade of trees. Wildlife roams near (and sometimes through!) the camp. You get to feel very close to nature when you have a buffalo rooting up grass just outside your tent in the middle of the night!
The camp itself is small and has a very personal feel to it. There are only eight or so guest tents, so you get to meet everyone passing through. One of the great pleasures was getting to chat to other guests over the evening meal or round the camp fire, swapping stories of the day's sightings. If you do want a little more privacy, then it's absolutely fine to eat in your own group.
Whilst you do sleep and eat under canvas, it is an extremely civilised experience: the beds are comfy (with hot water bottles provided to ward off the chill of the evenings); there are bucket showers which sound much more primitive than they really are; the communal area is very elegantly laid out; tea is brought to the tent before setting out on early morning game drives, and the food was fantastic.
What really makes the experience however are the wonderful hosts. Both Adrian and Veronique made a real effort to get to know us and ensure we were well looked after; and it's certainly worth picking Adrian's brains on the history of the region (it's not called Speke's camp for nothing)
The final word must go to our wonderful guide/driver Ambrose and our Masai spotter Marco. It was a real privilege to have our own land-rover and to be shown the reserve by such knowledgeable and charming individuals. Ambrose is a proper naturalist, can identify a lilac breasted roller at 200 yards, and knows where to see the best wildlife without simply following other trucks. On our final afternoon, with 30 minutes before we had to leave the Mara Triangle, we had seen every animal and bird that was on our wish list (including a live Cheetah kill), but had not seen a rhino. Marco saw a speck on the horizon, Ambrose drove like the clappers and as a parting gift we were able to see this most elusive animal up close. Notwithstanding all the awe-inspiring nature, I think my wife's personal highlight was driving the land rover back to amp along the dirt track through herds of zebra and ambling giraffe. A truly amazing experience all round.
Jonathan I
reviewing Laikipia & Masai Mara Safari
on 24 August 2018
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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
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Everything was exceptionally well arranged and the whole trip, from checking in on line and printing out the outward journey boarding cards from home, until return to Heathrow, was completely seamless.
Although arriving slightly earlier than scheduled, we didn't have to wait before being collected at Nairobi by Elijah, our guide and Samuel the driver. On being told that we had hardly slept at all on the outward journey, they took us to a small B&B place they use (sorry, I've forgotten the name of the place) and we were able to rest/sleep for some 3 hours before setting off on our adventure. This was very much appreciated by us as that first day was full on after that.
They looked after us really well and both were very knowledgeable and good company and were flexible to our needs, with nothing being too much trouble for them.
The accommodation you picked for us was spot on. We were particularly taken with Sunbird Lodge (I could have spent the whole week there if it were not for being on the move due to the nature of the trip), which was quite informal and extremely friendly. We then moved on to the Maji Moto Eco Camp, where again everything was fine. Having stayed in similar places before, at my age now, the one night suited well and I was surprised when Dan was so taken with the place that he would have liked to stay another night! I think the camp fire might have had something to do with it. The visit to the school was also well worth it from Dan's perspective.
On then to Ilkeliani and I concur with what you say about it being so well priced for what it offers, that it is a good recommendation. This was slightly more formal at mealtimes than Sunbird Lodge but nevertheless, the staff were equally friendly. As adults, both my husband and myself enjoyed the food although the feedback I provided on their customer satisfaction questionnaire was that perhaps the evening meals could possibly have slight variations for children. We didn't see any signs of the suspended footbridge and as we didn't ask about it, I don't know whether it's still there or not.
I have to say that the beds in both Sunbird and Ilkeliani were very, very, comfortable.
The Mayfair Southern Sun was again a good choice although I think the room we had was perhaps a standard twin room. There were two what I call "three quarters" sized beds, i.e. larger than a single but not quite a double bed size, which meant it was a bit of a squeeze for 2 persons in one bed.
Both the Giraffe Centre and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Sanctuary were ideal additions to the itinerary. We had a 10 year old who was reluctant to leave Kenya!
Martha Ann Eileen C
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 14 May 2018
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The walking in the mountains was a fantastic experience, helped by our perfect guide Ibrahim. He was intelligent, kind, cheerful and looked after us very well. He could answer all our questions on flora, fauna, geology, history and local culture. He walked at a steady phase that suited all and made sure everyone was happy. We could not have asked for more.
Our favourite place to stay was the Azzaden trekking lodge where we were welcomed warmly with slippers, dates, milk and a hand wash. The food was excellent and the breakfast was very impressive. The hospitality of Mohamed was second to none. The view from the balcony was amazing and when it got dark the stars came out in their millions. ( we did however not manage to find out in which bed Daniel Craig had slept).
When we reached Kasbah Toubkal the weather had turned cold and wet so we could not enjoy the roof terrace and the outdoor area.
Riad Tzara was excellent and Naima, Khadija, Abdul and Mohamed looked after our every need. We had dinner one night on the roof of Dar Hanane where the view over the city was great. We also liked the cozy roof terrace in Riad Tzara where the perfect temperature was in the afternoon after escaping from the noises and fumes of the Medina.
Inga O
reviewing Atlas Valleys & Villages Comfort Trek
on 27 February 2018
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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
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We travel to enjoy the sites and sounds, the food and the culture so we like to leave all the planning and organizing to a good tour company and from our first interaction I knew we had found a really great one. Jayne promptly answered all our questions and easily adjusted the standard offering to accommodate our specific schedule. From there on everything worked like clockwork and exactly as promised exceeding our every expectation. Payment was simple, and the thoughtful, well-documented pre-travel package of information, guidance, tips and suggestions that accompanied the booking confirmation was excellent.
On arrival in Marrakech we were met at the airport right on time where Ibrahim kindly provided water, local treats and a comfortable drive to our first night's accommodations which was comfortable and warm and the food excellent. Along the way all accommodation were exactly as described and equally comfortable and accommodating. We were met as promised on the first morning by our guide, Rashid who was the perfect host for our 4 day trek: helpful, friendly and accommodating without being in any way pushy or crowding and happy to answer any and all questions in perfect English. The stunning scenery and fascinating villages made for perfect trekking and each day was well-timed and challenging without being too strenuous, not too short and not too long.
And then there was the food along the way! Ahmed ingeniously produced delicious, nutritious, hearty meals every morning and every evening in the kitchen of the gites where we stayed and somehow, amazingly, out in the open in the beautiful spots where every day we had lunch - seriously good food, well beyond our expectations for a mountain trek.
Transport to Marrakech was smooth and simple and our stay there excellent. Riad Tzarra is exactly as promised: beautiful and comfortable and charming with the most welcoming and accommodating staff one could possibly imagine. Ibrahim, Naeema and {oh, I forget her name!} catered to our every need with a smile and I wish we'd had more time there. I highly recommend taking a breakfast or lunch at the Riad - both were excellent.
Tourdust is now #1 on our list for any future trekking vacations we have planned for any of the places served
Barry D
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 04 December 2017
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On the first week the guides and staff were really flexible on times to transfer to and from Lopud which was really helpful. We were due to leave Dubrovnik on the 6 pm ferry on the Sunday but as it was so hot we decided to take the earlier ferry as suggested by the Adria rep.
Accommodation in Dubrovnik was comfortable. We explored a little outside Dubrovnik city and wondered if it might have been nicer to stay nearer one of the little coves, five minutes from the city gates to get out the city.
The sea kayaking week was excellent. Great guides and good trips. The accommodation was really comfortable - lovely family and the air condition was rather essential! I think we had booked a family trip but the guides asked if we would like to join a larger group which we did and this worked really well. Kayak trips were superb - about the right length and a good mix of destinations including the botanical gardens and lots of time to swim and snorkel. It was surprisingly manageable despite the heat. At the end we wished we had booked the 5 day tour. The farm evening meal was great fun.
The two nights at Hotel More were a lovely bit of luxury. Really liked the hotel - quite small and slightly away from the main areas of activity in the bay. Again good advice on how to get around from staff.
The second week with Huck Finn was also excellent. A good mix of activities - the rafting day in Bosnia was particularly good as we got to see a different country - quite a contrast with Croatia. Guides were again really good - very well informed and all trips were well organised. All transfers good. We had breakfast and evening meals with a local family which were lovely - lots of traditional cooking and they catered really well for different dietary requirements. The accommodation was rather more basic. We had two rooms on an upper floor with a shared bathroom so not our own space. It seemed that the accommodation varied quite a lot with others having small apartments with kitchens and fridges, which would have been helpful. Weather had cooled a little by then which was good as we would have had no means to cool the rooms down at night. Having said that our owner was a lovely lady - made us cakes and apple strudel when we came home at the end of the day.
All in all an excellent trip!
David W
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 25 August 2017
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Everything worked perfectly! We all found our trekking experience to be the best part of our adventures in Morocco. We were particularly pleased with our guide, Hussain; he did a brilliant job. He is thoughtful, knowledgable, and sweet. He represents you well.
Jacob M
reviewing Atlas Valleys & Villages Comfort Trek
on 09 March 2017
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Thanks for organising an excellent holiday for us. It's my first time using Tourdust and I've been really impressed and will certainly be recommending you to friends and family. You provided an excellent level of service all the way through, and the bespoke nature of the trip was fantastic whilst being really good value for money.
Key highlights:
- Le Kasbah de Toubkal blew us away - one not to miss!
- The trek was amazing and my kids loved it. The camping was really fun, the food was excellent, and I'd particularly call out our guide Rashid who was fantastic show especially with my kids.
- Riad Adore was outstanding - far exceeding my expectations - it was beautiful and we were very well looked after
- Le Doux Tour was luxurious and a nice relaxing way to end the holiday.
- Logistics were great and our main driver Mustapha was brilliant
If there was one build / thing I would change, it's a very small one but some candles / lanterns to use in the evening whilst camping would have made it easier to stay outside for a bit longer.
Mark D
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 07 June 2016
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Truly another world. The sky was enormous and the summits snow covered. Blue irises, wild herbs and fruit trees flowered on the slopes. Even as I toiled up the dry river bed I gazed in admiration.
Without exception, everyone was courteous and welcoming. Food was good ( and far too plentiful); accommodation clean. Above all-everything worked! A pick-up was promised for 9.00am. At 8.55 the doorbell rang. Impeccable.
No praise is too high for the organisation and staff. I am definitely going back.
Terence H
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 16 May 2016
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Our trip was excellent. Thank you! We were particularly impressed with the way it all worked seamlessly: someone was at each arrival point to meet us (or Alex was on the end of the phone to tell us what to do) or there was a phone message at Reception for when to expect someone.
The Jerusalem Hotel in Lalibela is not the same standard as Tukul Villages but it was OK for one night & we had plenty of warning. Lalibela at Christmas is pretty manic: full to bursting!
I must say that Alex looked after us well. He came to see us in Gondar to make sure everything was in place for the Simiens Trek & that we knew what to expect. When we got back after it, there he was again! Small but highly-valued pieces of customer care, evident again when he spoke to drivers while we were travelling.
All the staff who worked with us were of high quality, especially drivers and guides. Two who stood out were Younus, our driver both times we were in Addis Ababa, who we felt went beyond the call of duty & made our time there enjoyable - our last evening when waiting for a 2 a.m. flight could have been a drag, was in fact absolutely fine because of his suggestions (the Via Via cafe for dinner & then Mama's Kitchen for some music) and company.
The Simiens Trek was outstanding. Spectacular scenery, challenging at times, full of interest. Key to making it so was Dereje Gedamu who is a wonderful guide: we felt privileged to have him. he was ably assisted by the other staff & when our first, excellent chef had to leave at short notice to visit his mother in hospital, a replacement was found immediately (at Chenek!) who fed us to the same high standard. It was all a great experience that we will be talking about for a long time.
We were all pleased to have selected the 8 day option (& were not at all jealous of the peak-baggers heading for Ras Dashen). The second half of the trek was a good contrast to the high altitude section in the National Park's heartland as we descended through more intensively cultivated and populated areas, down steeply to the river and then back up past wonderful rock formations towards Mulit and out to the road at Adi Arkaye. It was full of interest and we were pleased to be pretty much on our own, rather than with the crowds at Geech & Chenek.
By comparison, the TESFA trek was rather tame, although an interesting comparison to see a more pastoral landscape and less remote villages. We had another good guide & enjoyed the lunch & evening stops, and the "loos with a view".
Pleased as we were that we had opted to drive from Bahir Dar to Lalibela, we had mixed feelings about driving the rough Gashena-Lalibela road three times - the starting and finishing points for the TESFA trek were just beyond Gashena. In 3 years when the road is complete this point may become academic, but meanwhile - if anyone else wants to do the same thing - it would be better for them to drive from Bahir Dar to Gashena, meet the TESFA crew there, do the trek & then continue to Lalibela. I am sure that TESFA could look after any extra baggage that people did not want on the trek.
One other point about the TESFA trek: we were not aware that there are several grades offered. I think we did the easiest and might well have preferred something more challenging so perhaps you could clarify the options available.
Only one other critical comment: we were underwhelmed by the Mayleko Lodge near Gondar airport. It was indeed welcome to have somewhere peaceful to return to after the trek, the rooms are nice & a couple of us enjoyed a "refreshing" swim, but on the other hand the restaurant was pretty mediocre and slow: we might have preferred to be out in the town.
Apart from that it was all good! A glimpse of Addis and another of Gondar; trekking with some R&R in Bahir Dar with its different scenery and history, ending with the religious fervour at Lalibela. A great holiday.
Gordon P
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 09 February 2016
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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
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We had the most fabulous trip, thank you. Everything you arranged went to plan perfectly and all your Moroccan contacts were efficient and pleasant to deal with. Our guide, Rashid, was super - we got along well with him and found it so interesting talking to him about his family, life at home and his hopes and expectations - and he had a great sense of humour which is always a bonus. How Hamed, our cook/muleteer managed to produce the meals he did, I have no idea - tasty, healthy, beautifully presented and more than plentiful. The last couple of days in Marrakech were, of course, a complete contrast to the trek but great fun too. So all in all, a great break and we've had no hesitation in recommending Tourdust already to our friends.
STEPHEN P
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 29 October 2015
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Our trip was pretty much perfect. I really can't think of anything that could have been improved. The trip did require a slight change in schedule but it was great that our guide was flexible enough to arrange this. Thank you so much.
Steven M
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 29 October 2015
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The holiday was amazing! Everything we wanted it to be! The safari was so we'll organized and our guide was very good. All the accommodation was superb. At the Masaai village we stayed in a mud hut which was different to the tent described in the itinerary, but so much better.
Pinewoods resort was lovely especially the staff who couldn't have looked after us any better. The food was exceptional.
pauline h
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 21 October 2015
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I wanted to express my huge gratitude to you for our amazing holiday. From start to finish, I was particularly impressed by your organisation of everything.... the flights and all the transfers were smooth and on time. In fact the transfer drivers arrived early and were all very friendly and put me at ease immediately. South African Airways were excellent too - it was a very smooth journey all round.
Our safari at Rhino River Lodge was utterly superb. Your choice of safari for my son and myself was excellent. As you know, feeling safe was particularly important for me as I was travelling on my own with my son, and I have to say that at Rhino River Lodge, I immediately felt safe and welcomed. We arrived just in time for the afternoon drive and although we were tired from our long journey, adrenaline immediately kicked in when we pulled up alongside two cheetahs resting after their feed. The days that followed were incredible - each game drive was a different, amazing adventure - memories which will remain with my son and I for ever. The staff at Rhino River Lodge are really great - our game driver, Alex was superb and very informative. The food was great too and the accommodation was lovely, really hot showers and spacious room.
Our time at Lalaria lodge afterwards was very relaxing - again a good choice of place - the hosts, Linda and Tony, were extremely friendly and very helpful. On the evening we arrived, they laid on some homemade bread, dips and barbecued sausages out on the terrace for us and the other English family staying there - a lovely way for us all to get to know each other. To be honest, it felt like we were all friends sharing a BBQ rather than guests in a hotel. Linda and Tony were very helpful in organising taxis for us each day/evening and suggesting places to eat. The room we were given was great - a sea view room - very, very spacious.
It was a holiday of a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough for all the amazing organisation. I felt very looked after from start to finish and it was very important for me to feel that way. I will certainly be using Tourdust again and will recommend you to others.
Linda V
reviewing South Africa Bush & Beach Safari For Families
on 14 October 2015
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Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for a fantastic holiday in South Africa. We had an amazing time with tears at the airport as home came far too early!
Cape Town was amazing, so much to do and the accommodation at the V&A was a great starting option. Loved the Penguins at Boulders and the day we spent driving down to Caper of Good Hope was special. We loved the Auberge at Hermanus, and although no boats trips due to weather there were plenty of whales in the bay to see from land – and the hotel balcony! Also took a tour of the local township – Willy the guide was so helpful and his knowledge and information was a real eye-opener.
Cheetah Plains – well, what can I say? What a fantastic time we had during our 4 night stay. The way we were looked after was superb, and we could not have hoped for a better Safari experience, seeing the animals so close!! Cheetah Plains is a special place with a unique atmosphere and staff who make it really enjoyable and comfortable – felt like home!
Oliver’s had superb accommodation and food. The panorama tour was full-on and very enjoyable with a final day to relax at the poolside. Probably in hindsight I would have had 5 nights at Cheetah Plains (every game drive is different!) and just 2 at Olivers, although the rest of the family enjoyed doing nothing on the final day. Also a word about the drivers – an amazing source of information about South Africa. Amazingly courteous, helpful and friendly – hugely complementary about these guys!
Thank you for helping organise this trip – hugely memorable holiday. We miss South Africa already and we feel like we left behind the most magical time. We will never forget and really hope to return.
John W
reviewing Cape & Kruger Family Holiday
on 14 October 2015
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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
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It was totally awesome!! Climbing the Toubkal summit by moonlight is just breathtaking!!! Yes it was absolutely freezing and so glad I took layers of thermals and hat and gloves!!
The Riads you booked were great, we both loved them, although we preferred the second Kasbah in Imlil we stayed in to the Kasbah Toubkal on our first night, our room was great especially after being in hostels for several nights!! Boy were they cold!!!!
El Fenn is fabulous, Lilly Allen had been staying with her band that week and left the day we arrived! Love that place, we are planning to go back next year! Caravanne was like walking into a little boutique hotel, loved that place as well.
There's something special about the mountains, loved it!
The desert camp was really well organised, although to be honest I think two nights are enough as there is not a lot to do and it is blisteringly hot by 9.00!! But we were looked after really well and had my first glass of wine for two weeks, went down very well!!! The sundowners were so much fun, especially trying to walk through the dunes after a couple of wines!!
Really great adventure and thank you so much for putting such a fab trip together for us!
Liz R
reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer
on 14 October 2015
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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
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We would both like to say how incredibly impressed we were by all of the transport arrangements, the accommodation and all of the people who we came into contact with.
The transfers were faultless and what a delightful person Ibrahim is. All of the accommodation was absolutely superb and we were blown away by Dar Hanane, what a stunning and beautiful place.
Hammed was so attentive to every detail and took such good care of us. What a fantastic guy.
We would both really like to congratulate and thank Ibrahim our guide and the lovely chatty chap who was our cook (sadly we never got his name as we were too busy eating his delicious food!)
Please pass on our heart felt thanks to everyone and also our thanks to you and Lisa for making the whole booking process painless & easy.
Martin B
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 21 May 2015
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The Salkantay trek was the highlight of our 2-week holiday. Incredible sceneray without the thronging crowds of the standard Inca Trail. Good physical challenge too. We were so well looked after by the guide and his team of cook, assistant and horsemen. Loved it!
Haibei C
reviewing The Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu
on 12 May 2015
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We had a great time in Morocco, the trip was so well organised - everything was in place and perfect. The transfers were all easy and timely, the Dar Adrar hotel in Imlil lovely (so friendly and helpful), the trekking was amazing and the Gites v comfortable (even had showers!). Our guide, Rashid was lovely as was Hussain, the cook and muleteer. He cooked us great tagines for lunch and dinner and looked after our mule very well. In Marrakech our Riad (Tzarra) was a beautiful haven in the middle of a very bustling , hot city and the staff extremely helpful with tips to stop us getting lost! All in all, a wonderful holiday experience.
Helen K
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 12 May 2015
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We had a fantastic time and were very impressed with the smooth organisation throughout, so please pass my thanks on to the team and in particular to Ben who suggested and planned our stay. Waking up on the morning of my 30th in the mountains and hiking up to a waterfall in the snow was certainly the best memory which will stay with us for years!
We felt the riad in Marrakech was wonderful and were very looked after by the hosts. I think we should have perhaps tried to be a bit more organised with sightseeing as it is so hard to navigate the city and a lot of walking. In hindsight a guide would be good even though we never feel we need one being stubborn travellers.
The trek was impressive and Mohammed and Samir were good fun. It was challenging but the right level for us and we really felt it was a great achievement.
Lastly, we both really, really rated Domaine Malika which is hands down the best hotel we have stayed in (I used to stay in plenty of 5 * European and LHW hotels in a previous job? so that's a high praise for us).
We thought we'd been checked into the biggest room in the place and it was just the basic room. The staff were brilliant and the pool/food/décor all wonderful. Next time, we would head straight here, take a day taxi into Marrakech, and then a day or two trek away from the hotel as we loved it so much.
Claire B
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 27 April 2015
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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
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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
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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
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We had an excellent, stretching , fascinating mix of history (sites) , tough trekking , and wonderful views .. From the many treks that I have done to places including Nepal , Italy , Croatia , Crete , Myanmar , Japan I would judge that it would be very difficult to beat the 7 days that we had in the Simien Mountains .. Tigrai was spectacular for those willing to climb to all the churches. ( there’s a challenge for you to suggest the next adventure !).
Our guide Abebe was really excellent ( fit, engaging, knowledgeable and with a good sense of fun/humour ) and I would not hesitate in recommending him, the quality of the tents was excellent except that there were only 3 two man tents which were much roomier than the singles. We saw very few other people which was perhaps just as well in view of the loo situation at the camp sites. The food was reasonable .. in fact too much pasta and not enough rice. We certainly needed the heavier sleeping bags as it was very cold the first two nights out.
On the negative side .. the long drop loos at Geech were frankly a disgrace .. you could not stand in there for all the crap around and the smell ( even in the freezing evening ) .. surely they should be cleaned every morning / evening. The result is people are crapping in other places round the site .. not nice ! There was no water for washing at Geech ! At the Chennek camp the long drops were only marginally better but there were two dribbly very cold showers at least ! If the tourist board want to encourage tourism clean loos is the absolute must.
The trekking times were generally accurate which was a change as in most other treks that I have been on they are 25% overestimated. Our final 11 hour day was tough but perfectly achievable for fit walkers. I am glad we did not break it into two tranches … we had time to stop for a swim/wash in the river/pools and it was fantastic to spend two days at Geralti Lodge before our return. Addis is a bit of a disappointment but it was certainly worth spending a couple of hours walking the Mercato ( although you have to be very careful not to lose the guide !). I thought Axum was disappointing by comparison with Gonder and Lalibela and not really worth going to.
That’s about it .. I would certainly recommend Tourdust !! Thank you , James
James L
reviewing Classic Northern Circuit & Simien Mountains Trek
on 10 February 2015
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We had the most fantastic time and loved the country and its people. The tour worked really well and including the internal flights meant that we could maximise our 2 weeks (if we had of had more time sure the drives would be lovely!) - the pace of it was busy but just right. You really put together a trip which showed us the beauty and culture of the North. I loved all the walking and timket was amazing. The advice just take yourselves and leave everything else at home for timket was perfect as we were free to just enjoy the experience - I have never experienced anything like it. The thing that surprised me about the trip was the variety and how each day was so different. The people were so warm and friendly and children were absolutely enchanting - the contrast of the privilege of children I know here and those living in poverty in Ethiopia is very humbling.
Having a driver guide worked extremely well - lema was excellent, he really added to our holiday through enabling us to have interaction with local people - he clearly had a way which gained acceptance and thus acceptance of us - for example with a family making injera and farmers threshing. He is a real ambassador for his country and was such a caring guide but also great fun. We always felt safe and he was an excellent driver - even when conditions were not easy.
As we had local guides everywhere, I think having a driver and a guide plus local guides would have been a bit too much. The local guides were all very good or excellent. They clearly had good relationships with lema and again I think this meant we in turn had a good experience.
The accommodation was generally very good/ excellent. We actually preferred the guest house we stayed in on the final night in addis to the regency hotel ( cannot remember the name but Stephen took us there - it had more character) I particularly liked fasil lodge as had great atmosphere, and gheralta was fantastic. I also liked lalibela lodge. I thought Kuriftu lodge was good but slightly impersonal.
My only criticism about whole trip really is about simien lodge - As you know the cost of food and drink at the lodge is inflated - I completely understand that the location would attract a premium but compared to everywhere else it is so over-inflated. I have seen their response on trip advisor to anyone who raises this - basically you a penny pinching tourist who expects a "cheap" trip and do not want to contribute to the country ( I do not think we fall into this category!) the main thing I objected to was only having the "choice" of a $18 buffet of food that was not of great quality as well very inflated prices for drinks
However, You did warn us and i know I wanted to stay in the park so this is not a complaint about tour dust or itinerary at all - I realise that they have a monopoly so unlikely to change but wonder if agents have any more sway in feedback than individuals. It is a shame as the lodge is in great location and the rooms, solar heating etc are all good.
I would contrast the simien lodge with the gheralta lodge which likewise has a captive audience but provides food of much higher quality and drinks at reasonable hotel prices - I know Kate would have preferred local food but I was very happy to have good Italian food in such a lovely place. It was the perfect place to spend our last couple of days.
Thanks for organising such a great holiday - I would highly recommend tour dust to anyone travelling to the countries you cover and I am promoting ethiopia as holiday destination at every opportunity!
ruth m
reviewing Classic Northern Historical Circuit
on 05 February 2015
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We had an amazing time thank you very much! The riads and hotels were outstanding and everything went as clockwork. We had really bad rainfall on the day we transferred to Marrakech but our driver didnt give up and we eventually found a passable road ( which I think was the last possible one to get us there!)
Thank you so much!
Matthew A
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 December 2014
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We had a wonderful 2 week trip to Ethiopia - we found the country very different from other places that we've been, and also found Ethiopia very different from what we'd imagined it would be. The wildlife and birds we saw were incredible, the mountains and views nothing short of spectacular. We found different parts of the country varied hugely - both in landscape, climate and wildlife - which made the trip hugely varied. The travel arrangements (internal flights included) all worked perfectly - and our guides, drivers and cooks were all professional, friendly and keen to help make our trip as enjoyable as possible. As a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the variety of food (the local beers and wines were great too!), and we found all the hotels we stayed in very comfortable. In particular, the Kuriftu spa was a lovely treat after having spent 5 days in the Simiens trekking. We probably tried to fit too much into our 2 week trip, and were feeling a bit tired by the time we came home, but we would certainly have no hesitations in recommending both Ethiopia and Tourdust to anyone!
Natalie N
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 27 November 2014
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As Steve has already said it was an excellent trip both northern and southern parts. We had wanted to gain some insight into the people and the cultures, appreciate the landscape and the wildlife and get out of the mainstream so that (as far as is possible for a white tourist!) have some authentic experiences. We feel that the design and planning of the trip enabled this to happen. This was due in no small measure to our wonderful guide for the Southern part of the trip Ermias Tamiru together with our lovely and extremely efficient driver John (Yohannes)…..more about them later.
It is taking us some time to readjust to being back in the UK even after only 4 weeks away. It was a very powerful experience for us experiencing the generosity of the Ethiopian people and the beauty of the very varied landscape whilst observing up close the very high levels of poverty and deprivation of the people. We were glad that we visited small towns and villages and met local people. It is very helpful and appropriate to have local guides in each place because you get and insider’s view of the lifestyle and important local issues. Also it is a more respectful approach. People in Ethiopia are intensely proud of the country and of their own ethnic culture so they are the ones who should be talking about it!
We knew we would get on with Ermias and John as soon as we met them. They were both warm and welcoming and very flexible and keen to help us do and see the things we were interested in. Ermias speaks excellent English which means we had an easy flowing dialogue and could discuss everything as we travelled. He is knowledgeable about history and culture and keen to exchange ideas so it helped us to gain perhaps a more realistic insight into Ethiopian life. The balance of basic accommodation/camping and smarter lodges was fine. You were right about Aregash - what a great place to stay. The owners have a very personal approach which is very welcoming. Quite a contrast with Bishangari Lodge which we felt was one of the places in Ethiopia where Ethiopians do not feel welcome. The natural beauty there is intense and we loved it from that perspective but 2 nights was enough. We had an interesting time in Gidole. We lucky that the local Derashe dancers and singers were practising that day for Nations Day in Adama and we were taken along to see them. Great! Tikimtu was very hospitable and we were interested in the area. We camped in a place with no facilities at all which was fine for one night but probably not something which could be done regularly. We struggled to see Gidole as a tourist destination although it was fine for us as we were keen to have local experiences. By contrast Lephis seemed to have a lot more going for it. The walk through the forest up to waterfalls by mule was great. The birdlife is abundant. There is definitely potential there. We had a good time.
The organisation was superb – we had been provided with a detailed itinerary and it worked like clockwork! We were met in everywhere we should have been, the hotels, lodges/local accommodation were expecting us and meals and transport were available as indicated. Ermias made sure that everything was in place in the south and we felt very confident with John’s driving.
Stephen K
reviewing Tribes of the Omo Valley
on 25 November 2014
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Myself and a group of friends have now traveled to Morocco to do treks in the Atlas mountains two years in a row and I cannot recommend Tourdust enough. I was a complete trekking novice last year and was organising a group climb of Mount Toubkal which we did for charity. We wanted to organise our trip independently rather than with an organised charity and couldn't have been happier with the help Tourdust gave us. Their team are so knowledgable and had been on so many of the Treks themselves that they were able to recommend specific treks which would match what we wanted to achieve with the varying levels of fitness within our group. We were given so much information before we left that we felt completely prepared. The treks on both years have been meticulously organised, from the transfers to the guides, cooks and muleteers on the trek itself, everyone cannot do enough for you. Tourdust then arranged our stay in Marrakech at the end of our trek which was a wonderful experience. Our transfer from the mountains was in beautiful air conditioned people carriers and we were met in the city by such a friendly gentleman with a cart to carry our bags. A short walk through this amazing vibrant city and we arrived at our Riad. It was like a calm, beautiful oasis in amongst the sights and exotic smells of Marrakech. Tourdust had already given us recommendations on where would be great to visit and eat whilst we were there and the gentleman who ran the Riad made sure we had maps and we were happy. The food on both treks and back at the Riad was amazing, I am a vegetarian and was always catered for. I cannot recommend Tourdust enough. It is so refreshing to be able to have a company who are not only passionate but knowledgeable and personally experienced in what they do. I am now planning a trip with them to take my husband and three children out to Morocco next year.
Both our treks in the Atlas Mountains with Tourdust have been simply amazing. I was a trekking novice last year and with Tourdust's help arranged a 6 day trek doing the Mount Toubkal Circuit with a groups of friends which we did for charity. The trek was amazing and took in such stunning scenery. We camped for the entire trek and were so looked after my the guides, cooks and muleteers. The team spirit between them all was humbling to witness and they couldn't do enough for us. On summit night they treated us to an evening of music and singing using camping and cooking equipment as instruments! A wonderful experience which I will always cherish. The pace on the treks is always great and lead by the guides who have an amazing ability to judge how we were all feeling. Such was the enjoyment and the exhilaration we all felt after reaching the summit of Toubkal last year that as soon as we returned home we booked to come back again his year. We did a shorter 3 day trek this time and again experienced beautiful scenery and amazing hospitality that Morocco has to offer. The food on both treks was amazing and unbelievable considering the remoteness of our location! Trekking though the rural villages in the Atlas Mountains and spending so much time talking to the experienced guides gives you a real feeling and understanding of this amazing county. I would highly recommend Tourdust to organise your trip, whatever your experience in trekking (our group had very experienced Trekkers and complete novices) and whatever your want to do or experience they will be able to arrange this for you. Two wonderful trips to the Atlas and I cannot wait to take my husband and children next year.
Sarah S
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 24 November 2014
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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
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The overall service from Tour Dust (Rebecca and you) was fantastic and we couldn’t have asked for more helpful, informed advice. Everything went without a hitch. We liked everywhere we stayed apart from Dar Adrar which was really just a little too basic. The food was excellent but I would have been reluctant to sleep there had we the option. We were also all (other guest included) quite keen on a drink (beer/glass of wine) after a hard day’s walking- it might be worth adding this as an option somewhere given nowhere in Imlil serves it but they’re happy for you to bring? I wouldn’t know where to find it to buy so that wasn’t really an option. Friend also holidaying in the Atlas that week stayed in a hotel elsewhere and were happily served alcohol.
Riad Due was nice and easy to find which is a big plus in the medina but quite dull/too quiet for us for four nights’ stay- it had very little atmosphere but the service was good.
Our guide, Larsan, and mule/muleteer, Hussein, were excellent. Larsan was just the right blend of helpful and informative but not intrusive. Hussein cooked beautifully and the mule was in very good condition which was good to see.
La Pause was great but we weren’t told that they only accepted cash so were caught out when we paid for an extra bottle of wine and a soft drink or two- luckily we just had enough to cover it. Also their check-out is at 10am, rather than11am as our transfer thought so we were left twiddling our thumbs and having to call the Marrakech office.
The advice and service you gave us was significantly better than substantially higher-end travel agents we have used before (and paid through the nose for) and we were generally very impressed so thank you. Your flexibility and responsiveness was really fantastic- well done.
Charlotte M
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 20 November 2014
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After booking, we were always kept fully informed of the itinerary and details, so we left the UK very excited about a few days in the mountains.
We weren’t disappointed. Ever. From landing late at Marrakech on the Monday night, finding our Taxi driver easily, we headed out to Imlil for 90 minutes in a taxi. The trip was hilarious in so far as Moroccan men truly believe that the roads, well, exclusively belong to them. After many exclamations and gesticulations, we arrived safely at Imlil where we were met immediately in the pitch black by another guy and a mule to carry our bags to the guest house.
It was past 10pm now, and I pre-warned my brother that the chance of a good meal was probably long gone.
How wrong I was. We were greeted by a delicious chicken tagine, bread, water, fruit.... and we were immediately impressed. Now, the guest house was no five star hotel – but more of that later.
We met our guide that evening, a young, polite 24 year old, who told us that there had been early snow (big grins) – so he asked us if we had brought crampons (nope). No matter, he explained, we could hire them (phew).
We set off the next morning after a lovely breakfast. I won’t bore you with the details of the next three days walks because it will spoil it for you. But it was simply magnificent. If you like walking, and you’re happy with some effort to climb this peak, please take my word for it – you will not be disappointed. I walk regularly all over the UK, have done plenty of the highest hills, peaks and mountains – but there’s nothing quite like this in blighty. You’ll love it!
You do not need to be super-fit. At all. A good level of general fitness will be adequate, I promise. We (being twins) are both 42, have left our peak fitness a few years behind us, but our guide was perfectly good at judging our level of fitness and we never, ever, felt pressured into going faster than we had to. Now this young guy has done Toubkal up and down in one day. We took 3 – could have possibly managed it in 2, but would have been a much more demanding trek. I think 3 days was perfect for us.
There was time to spare at the end of day 1 at the refuge – perfect for a spot of relaxing on the balcony, reading, and being surprised with popcorn, biscuits and mint tea.
There was also time to spare at the end of day 2 at the next refuge – where we opted for staying in a tent. So there’s plenty of time for recharging your batteries.
Day 3 of walking is pretty much full on. Crampons make life so much easier on the route to the summit, though plenty of people didn’t use them. Oh, and don’t forget your gloves (I did!). After reaching for the summit, it’s a long walk back to Imlil, but there’s plenty of opportunities to stop. Again, it’s always at your pace.
Biggest surprise was the return to Imlil, where we were actually taken to Dar Adrar – turned out that on our arrival, it was full and we were taken to an alternative for our first night. Dar Adrar was a lovely guest house indeed, and was the perfect place to chill out that night, have a wonderful meal, and spend the last morning walking through the village, before a final taxi ride back to the airport.
I can’t rate this experience highly enough. The ascent was well paced and great fun. Tourdust have obviously got some great connections with people in Morocco and it shows. We were treated with politeness and courtesy constantly, we never felt hungry or thirsty (and we are both big guys), and we both absolutely loved the experience. As long as you go with your eyes wide open, you cannot fail to love this trek. Dar Adrar is a lovely guest house. The refuges are what they are – but as long as you don’t expect luxury ensuite rooms, you’ll be fine! And if sleeping with a dorm full of strangers isn’t your style, then camp out in the grounds in a tent. We did, and I think I’ve just caught the camping bug....
Well done Tourdust – an amazing experience we will never forget.
There is no ‘catch’!
Ian C
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 20 November 2014
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The highs:
- Oulaid, our guide, was an enthusiastic, helpful and pleasant young man. Big tick! He understood our (perverse) sense of humour and we had lots of laughs around chairs (lack of!), alcohol (lack of!) fitness (lack of!). All good
- the walk through Happy Valley. With Mohamed's agreement in Marrakech we went beyond Agouti to spend Night 1 at another village, and had a 2 hour walk through the irrigated valley before starting our ascent
- lunches on Day 1 and Day 4 of the walk under shady walnut trees
- the quality of the salads and the care of preparation. Big tick to Hamed for this
- the flowers on the ascent to the ridge on Day 2
- the whole of Day 4 - by far the most scenic
- Oulaid organising mule rides up to Magdaz and tea in the Kasbah there. We could easily have walked but the mules were fun
- Ait Ben Haddo which was interesting followed by the wonderful Kasbah for our last night - first beers (!), great pool, exotic setting
- the interesting drive back with many Kasbah's, spectacular roads and scenery - is stark contrast to the fairly dull drive ahead of the first day walking
The lows:
- visiting the falls was something I didn't feel the need to do - a tourist spot that didn't enrich my trip!
- my sore hip! Pre-existing condition but the drugs didn't quite work as well this time!
- lack of chairs in the mess tent - we weren't great at sitting on the floor - basic folding chairs etc would be good - useful for card games too
- the afternoon on Day 2 hanging around in the tent in the hail - not a great location for two nights (although understand the proximity to the M'goun ascent and water). Similarly on Day 3
- the death squeals of the goat kid which we then ate for 3 days! Tasted good though
- the ascent (which I didn't complete - hip problems!) but which Guy said was no more spectacular than the previous days pass. Day 4 was far more spectacular
Jeremy S
reviewing Ait Bougmez Traverse Trek
on 20 November 2014
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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
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We would like to thank you for arranging such an enjoyable holiday. The whole trip went extremely well. The accommodation in Marrakech was very central making looking around the city easy. Also the food there was good and it was pleasant to have our meals on the roof top. They were very helpful at telling us where to go to eat etc and I would certainly stay there again if back in the city. The transport arrived when it should and it all worked well. In Imlil we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and sitting on the floor to eat our meals!. The guide to take us on a walk was very good and the lunch provided was also. We arrived at the airport in good time to catch the flight.
It was a lovely break to get away and the whole trip ran as planned. I and the girls would score the holiday 5.
Anne M
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 20 November 2014
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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
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We had a wonderful holiday - in spite of us being ill!
Everywhere we stayed and all of your employees were great!
A beautiful place, full of beautiful people!
Sandra T
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 12 November 2014
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Accommodation and food at Karen Rock House were good. It was very quiet there as we were the only guests. Our transport, guide (Elijah) and driver (Oliver) were excellent. Elijah was very informative and patiently answered our questions about everything we saw. Our first day was very full, a long drive to Hell’s Gate, bike ride and gorge walk. Elijah suggested that we postpone the boat trip on Lake Navaisha to the morning we left Nakuru rather doing it on the way and this worked well. On the bike ride, our youngest struggled with an adult sized bike with bald tyres. Fine for us and our eldest though. The gorge walk was great as was the boat trip on Lake Navaisha.
Lake Nakuru Lodge accommodation, food and setting was excellent - as were the game drives with Oliver and Elijah. We saw a lot more here and close up than we did in Ol Kinyei and the Masai Mara.
Maji Moto Camp was an interesting experience. Again, we were the only visitors and the facilities & food were good. We visited the school before travelling to the Mara Adventure Camp but could have spent longer as there was a lot to see and our children enjoyed playing football etc with the school children.
The Adventure Camp was brilliant. We had a packed schedule of game drives (up at 5.30 every morning) and George and Wilson (guide and driver) were a lot of fun. They played football with us and were very entertaining on bush walks and game drives. We felt all the staff at the Adventure Camp worked really hard to make the experience an enjoyable one - from preparing the food, supplying endless hot water and tea and making sure we got to see what we wanted. The Ol Kinyei conservancy is beautiful (although we saw more at Lake Nakuru).
Our itinerary was good - it was busy and varied which suited us very well. We felt a bit rushed on Day 1 - in hindsight, it really was too much for one day. The day we travelled to the Masai Adventure Camp was also time pressured and we had a to cut short our visit to the school.
Overall, 5/5 - an unforgettable experience.
Tim S
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 11 November 2014
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We had a a wonderful time in Morocco. We were delighted with our guide Mustapha. He was a brilliant pairing for us as he tuned into what we liked and didn't, taught us lots about history, culture and geology and really looked after us at all times. I would recommend him to anyone in the future. Hamid our muleteer and Sayed our driver were also excellent.
We loved the itinerary that Rebecca put together for us. She was right about how much we could fit in and so we will have to return another time to try Essaouria!
Apart from the additional bed-fellows during the trekking (which was in itself a learning experience!), we were really happy with all our accommodation. We loved the fact they were small, often family run and that the staff would look after you completely. It was so reassuring to see the clear process of quality assurance by Tourdust. It was great to meet Anna at Riad Adore and to know that the company really is passionate about its customers having a great time and the lengths they go to test that for themselves.
We were really happy with the service we got from Tourdust which can be best described as friendly, efficient and expert. The team showed genuine interest in us and our trip and I felt that Rebecca was almost as excited as we were by the time all arrangements were in place. The information pack provided was invaluable too and I must admit I printed the lot because it turned out to be more useful than guidebooks. We usually travel independently and like to do so. We'd forgotten how relaxing it can be to have someone do all the hard work of planning and scheduling and even making a decision of where to stop for lunch. I'm certain that these things made the holiday the special experience that it was.
I am struggling to think of just one thing which could have been improved. The only thing I can think of is to add 'hat and gloves' to the itinerary for the Toubkal summit. Although I think this is included in the winter trekking advice, I don't think its listed otherwise. It was darn cold up there due to the wind chill, but Mustapha had a spare pair so I was ok. If I missed it on the list then apologies.
We will definitely be using Tourdust again and look forward to hearing about any new destinations that you add (we are interested in Cuba next!!)
Matthew M
reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer
on 10 November 2014
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All in all our trip to Ethiopia was truly amazing. A dizzyingly precipitous bombardment of beauty in the form of flora, fauna, people & scenery!
I have collated the feedback from the 7 in our group:
- Despite the information we were given about the sleeping mats provided before we left I would recommend that everyone brings their own sleeping mat. The mats provided are tired - thin, cotton covered, very squashed foam - in conjunction with rocky camps does not make for a comfortable night along the way. I know it depends on the season but most of the camps hit well below zero at night, a survival blanket on the ground sheet of the tent was invaluable (very cheap, light easy addition to a kit list bringing increased comfort).
- Toilets were a bit of an issue - no one had an issue with smelly long drops but a lot of the time they were soiled so we couldn't use them without stepping in someone else's mess. At the camps (which are only used for tourists on the hiking trail) it may be helpful for a member of the group to check the toilets & splash a bucket of water around to make them useable. Unfortunately it seems common place for people to avoid the long-drop & conduct their business in the vicinity of, leaving mess & toilet paper everywhere which is detrimental to the ecology & beauty of the sites (maybe people should be asked to keep their loo roll in disposable sacks to be added to daily waste - in our camp rubbish was taken away in the mornings or just burnt/buried as has been the case on other walks I have been on)
- Food overall was excellent. We had an excellent cook with a very good reputation, he was used to catering for Western palette's & offered daily variety. The local wine was a really nice touch after a tough day.
- Transport links worked fine (though the road from Adi Aderkay to Debark was absolutely terrifying as described in the Bradt guide book!!)
- Our guide, Hope, was very knowledgeable & we felt safe on the routes he took us, on occasion some of the group felt that he rushed ahead (there was quite a gap of fitness levels so we were quite spread out when we were walking) It would have been nice for him to offer a bit more support to the ones who were struggling & aimed to keep the group a bit more together but on the whole he was great.
- The main point to raise is that we all felt that this trek is not one for novice's or 'anyone with a reasonable fitness level' - on occasions it was gruelling. All of us, fit to less fit, had to dig deep into reserves to keep going. The Ras day was hard but again we felt unprepared for the final part to the summit - it is more than a scramble, it is a climb - the scouts went above & beyond the call of duty at this point & helped those who were struggling.
I would rate the trip 4/5 which I think would be the average of the group.
I would like to recommend a newly built lodge on the outskirts of Gondar near the airport named Mayleko lodge. It was a wonderful place for R&R after our trip & the owner, Ethiopia, really pulled out all the stops to make our stay as comfortable & relaxing as possible.
I think that is about everything, like i said we had a fantastic time overall & we all have lots of happy memories.
Claire C
reviewing Simien Mountain & Ras Dashen Trek
on 10 November 2014
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Cool trip, really enjoyed it. Lovely helpful people, especially at Riad Tzarra, and lots of great walking for the Atlas bit of the trip. Appreciated being met and escorted to the Riad by Aziz. Full marks to Tourdust for organisation and reliability!
Margot T
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 07 November 2014
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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
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We’re back a week from our epic trek around Toubkal.
Everything went like clockwork!!!!
Hassan, our guide, was brilliant. We felt like we were on a true adventure. The trek was challenging but different everyday. We summited Toubkal at sunrise last Tuesday. The view over the Sahara was astonishing. The food was amazing and really filling. Hussain, our cook, prepared all wonders of dishes for us. Assad, the muleteer, made all the small things matter. A great team.
We are already planning our next trip and ,after all our experiences, will definitely go with Tourdust again.
Michael B
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 31 October 2014
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We have had an amazing time in Ethiopia, time went too fast even though we were 7 years behind and 6 hours adrift some where.
I believe in true feed back to assist in further development .
Airport pick up didn't matter as was soon resolved, however obtaining a visa was painful. We waited in the queue for one hour forty five minutes, it seemed disorganised and open to those knowing how to to queue jump. Perhaps on a day flight this may not have been too bad, but we just needed to get our heads down.
Hotel in Addis Ababa was well located and more than comfortable , nice to have a kettle in our room (the only hotel to have one ) with a early morning transfer to Gondar they obliged with boiled eggs for breakfast to take away.
Our guide for Addis was great Yonas, so much so we invited him out for tea with us, bonus, Alex the man also came, we had a great night in Habesha 2000 , their shoulder dancing knocks spots off my aerobic
Classes. Food a little expensive compared to elsewhere.
Flight and transfer to Gondar good, accommodation well situated, afternoon round castle etc was interesting but guide needed to understand ' less is often more ' scripting is never interesting. 70 % is what we see , let us look rather than force their history upon us.
The trekking - WOW David was fantastic, he knew when to offer information and when to just let us look, so knowledgeable, the views were breath taking the cliffs were pulse raising, the baboons were mind blowing, even the three hours of constant hail and rain couldn't dampen our love for our experience. Our scout was a diamond in his jelly shoes, at a grand age of 70 he guarded our possessions as if they were his own. Alam our cook prepared some amazing food throughout, and although he looked worried at me not being able to digest bread , I was fed more than adequately and never went hungry.
Flying up to lalibela was smooth, my mind constantly drifting back to the mountains wishing I could still be there , I loved the isolation of our trip , so pleased we didn't have to share it with others. The churches were extraordinary, at times I felt rushed by our guide, I love to photograph, but he seemed bent on filling me full of history.
Philip I
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 30 October 2014
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We had an absolutely fantastic time - everything was great to be honest. Dar Adrar was lovely - really comfortable accommodation, great staff (very friendly, welcoming and helpful) and food was fantastic. Both the guesthouse and our cook for the 3 days were great at ensuring all the food was gluten and dairy free - we were really pleasantly surprised at the high-quality, tasty food that they produced day after day at the top of a mountain.
The trekking was great - Rashid, our guide, was great company and couldn't have been more helpful. We told both Rashid and our cook at the end of the trek how much we'd enjoyed the experience, but please do pass on our thanks and good feedback to Mohammed as well.
Riad dar Hanane was also wonderful - very welcoming staff, very helpful, great food.
I'd certainly recommend Tourdust and the places we stayed to friends.
James W
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 28 October 2014
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The trip was very good. The trekking was superb and our guide Yusuf, and cook/muleteer Ibrahim, were excellent. We couldn't believe the delicious food that Ibrahim served each day. We didn't need any of the extra snacks we had brought along! Unfortunately we had to alter our itinerary due to my travelling companion's knee problems which flared up on the long steep descents each day, so we didnt make Mt Toubkal. However Yusuf was very helpful and he rearranged our route accordingly, though this meant that we had to spend a couple of nights in alternative accommodation and we opted to go to Marrakesh a day early (luckily our room at the Riad was available). On the last trekking day Ibrahim was commandeered by another group and a new cook was sent to us for the day. He was also very good and he prepared a special dish for me as i was suffering with a stomach upset!
In Marrakesh Riad Tzarra was excellent and Mohammad and his staff were all very helpful and friendly. The transport arrangements were efficient and on time in all cases.
Rosemary C
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 28 October 2014
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I had a wonderful trip to Morocco. As a first time trekker I was nervous and apprehensive about what to expect (as well as what to pack!) but I was given plenty of pre-trip advice. The trip itself was exceptionally well planned and organised. The guides, muleteers and drivers were extremely professional and knowledgeable, yet also friendly and approachable, so I didn't feel silly asking questions. And how they managed to conjure up such amazing food in the middle of the mountains is a mystery!
I stayed in various types of accommodation which ranged from basic (yet still clean and comfortable) to boutique chic where I felt well and truly pampered. The rooftop terrace at Riad Tzarra is a wonderful sanctuary from the hectic streets of Marrakech and the perfect place to chill out.
I would definitely book again through Tourdust - Inch'Allah!
Sarah O
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 08 October 2014
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It was a wonderful trip, thanks. The organisation was all but flawless throughout, including our late request to change our booking to get a very well worth while extra day in Marrakech. The only thing that went at all wrong all week was that Ibrahim, our driver from Imlil to Marrakech, couldn’t get hold of Dar Hanane to tell them we were arriving in Marrakech: so he got us as close as possible and then organised a hand cart himself. We never felt unloved! We also appreciated that Rebecca came to see us in Tizi Oussem, despite everything (see below) and were sorry to miss Anna at Dar Hanane too. We know that our guide Mustapha was pleased that you take such trouble to know your tours, too.
Just one observation: a loo roll is a necessity on this tour!
Other necessities: a very hearty appetite and plenty of Compeed. And do all you can to get hold of change for tipping if you’re going straight up to Imlil.
So in chronological order: we were greeted with a bottle of water each and a box of biscuits for the trip to Imlil. Dar Adrar was very nice and we were royally looked after by Hamid and the staff, even while the boss was away on Haj.
Mustapha was superb: an excellent pace setter and very very knowledgeable about his mountains and so willing to impart his knowledge and skills (my map reading has improved significantly). He also introduced us to hamamms, arranging one at Tizi Oussem when it was very welcome indeed after the extension to the Cascades. We really enjoyed going through the valleys and villages, especially since Mustapha is clearly well known in the Imlil and Azzadene valleys. Hussein too was friendly, although of course we saw a lot less of him, and a great cook too.
Rebecca came to see how we were at Tizi Oussem. We then saw her the next morning, getting ready for the climb to Tizi n’Mzik. It’s nice to see your people giving such a good example of being suitably shod for serious mountain walking! We were glad to hear she got back to Imlil OK.
We really enjoyed staying in the village gites, watching the animals come home and so on: it gave us a flavour of village life. It’s sobering that there are whole villages with running water, electricity, and sewage systems but no road access!
We met a couple of other Tourdust groups who also spoke highly of their guides.
Then a total change to Dar Hanane in the heart of the Medina. The Medina was something of a sensory overload but again we were very well looked after by everybody at Dar Hanane, a beautiful cool and tranquil refuge, though we don’t want Muhamed to know how much we paid for a taxi to Jardin Majorelle: he’d be very sad.
We ate in the square the first night, Dar Hanane the second on Hanane’s lovely cooking and at the Fondouk the third: Muhamed may like to know that he did get us on to the roof terrace and it was lovely.
As you can see, we can’t find anything to complain about: it was a really good trip that packed a huge amount in. Definitely a five!
Christine B
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 08 October 2014
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If you’re looking for a more personal experience of Kenya, something a little different from the standard safari and beach package holidays, then you should definitely speak to Tourdust!
We decided to have a family holiday with our two teenage boys in Kenya in 2014, a decision that turned out to be far from straight-forward as the FCO extended their no-essential travel guidance area by area in the months leading up to our holiday. After researching the travel companies specialising in Kenya , we chose Tourdust to organise our holiday, partly based on their highly informative website but mainly based on a conversation with Ben, who within a matter of minutes clearly understood what we were looking for.
Ben’s recommendation of the Laikipia Wilderness Camp, followed by the Sosian Ranch and then the Msambweni Beach House was absolutely perfect for us. Everywhere we went the experience was personalised, the service was outstanding and the quality of facilities was second to none. Yes, we did safari drives to see the fantastic range of wildlife in the area, but we also swam in the rivers, rode camels, went on game walks and ate delicious meals cooked on an open camp fire before sleeping out under the endless African skies listening to the lions roaring! Then a flight down to the coast and we relaxed in the luxury of the a villa overlooking the Indian Ocean, with massages on the beach, personal staff on hand and nothing too much trouble.
We knew that we didn’t want a standard package safari and beach holiday but what we got was beyond all our expectations – a truly personal, family experience of Kenya that we will remember forever!
Joanna H
reviewing Best of Kenya Family Safari
on 07 October 2014
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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
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We have just returned from Morocco after a splendid trip. Thank you very much for organizing such an excellent trip. The planning and detail put into every aspect of the trip was very obvious and ensured we had such a great holiday.
The four days trekking were superb, culminating in our ascent to the top of Mount Toubkal with its spectacular views and breathtaking scenery. Our guide, Yusuf, was very able and professional and we were particularly impressed by our cook, Abdullah, who produced excellent food, meal after meal, without exception.
We were also impressed by the very high standard of accommodation, particularly Kasbah Ellouze and Dar Hannane whose manager, Mohamed, and assistant manager, Azziz, were incredibly friendly and helpful.
Purely for information and feedback purposes, the only slight hiccup, in an otherwise flawless holiday, was the fact that the driver we had for the two day trip to Ait Benhaddou had little or no English.
Once again, thank you so much for all the planning and detail you put into this trip. As per your e mail, on a score out of five, we would award five out of five to Tourdust and would have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending your company to any prospective traveller.
None of us are on Facebook but please feel free to use any of the above comments in any of your promotional material.
We would love to use Tourdust again in any future trips and with that in mind look forward to being in touch with you both again.
Charles F
reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer
on 06 October 2014
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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
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My kayak tour with Tour dust is an experience I will treasure forever. I believe Johnny is exactly the type of guide everyone hopes for on a trip like this. Upbeat, funny, enthusiastic, and an incredible level of skill in this sport. I have been kayaking for many years, but, being over 60 years old now, I certainly appreciated knowing we were in such very, very capable hands.
And the other people who took part in the trip? What a great bunch! It's hard to believe we were mostly complete strangers just one week ago. I will treasure those friendships forever as well.
Stephen M
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 06 October 2014
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I had an absolutely fabulous time on the tour. My guide, Rashid and chef , Samir (apologies if my spelling is wrong) was just brilliant, very attentive to my needs, never rushing me and just brilliant food, which seemed never ending. I thnk the trek may have just balanced off the amount of food I ate, but I may also be kidding myself.
The drivers between destinations were great, my only regret was I didn't have any small change to tip, which I was embarrassed about, this however was solely my fault. I'd definitely use your company again.
Louisa A
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 06 October 2014
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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
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We had a fantastic trip thanks. It was incredibly memorable weekend. Very challenging but we all succeeded in climbing Toubkal. The arrangements and transfers all worked and it was seamless. It felt very organised out there and there was handover at each point allowing me to just enjoy it.
Key feedback:
The riad Tzarra was beautiful and exceeded my expectations. The host there went out of their way to look after us, made us feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. Perfect place for first night. It was empty when we were there which I couldn't understand given how lovely it was.
Mountain Guide and team were all good, mountain food was basic but they made a real effort. It was tasty and exactly what we needed. We camped which personally I found much more pleasant than the refuge.
The temperature range when we were there was from 35 deg down to 5 deg but with wind chill it was freezing. Your kit list should recognise that if you climb Toubkal you will need a warm hat, wind proof outer fleece or more layers, and potentially gloves. Clearly depends on individual and weather but worth flagging this.
Douar Samra was great for final night. Didn't arrive till late afternoon but again they made a real effort to make us feel at home immediately. More basic than the riad but lots of charm. Food provided was really fantastic and just what needed after 13 hours walking. Really tasty good quality food. Only comment is that it is not in Imlil - a km or so outside up a hill!
Overall I was really impressed with Tourdust and Rebecca was very helpful throughout. It was exactly what I had hoped it would be and in each aspect it met or exceeded my expectations. Definitely would recommend you for this trip to anyone and score 5.
Alexander C
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 16 September 2014
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First and foremost, the trip was fantastic. Well planned, well led and no problems whatsoever.
We arrived quite late in to Marrakech due to Ryanair flight delays but were met by our escorts to Dar Adrar in Imlil. The driver was nice and had a small box of biscuits for us which I thought was a very nice touch and very welcome since Ryanair don't provide food. We drove to Imlil in the dark which was good because we didn't have any idea of the sheer scale of our surroundings until morning!
The guesthouse was brilliant as were the staff who'd laid out a spread for us late at night on our arrival.
We were straight into the 6 day trek the next morning and our guide Yousef was perfect. He is a mountain marathon runner and says we were the fittest group he'd ever taken. To that end, he modified a lot of the trip based on our ability which was tough but very welcome by us.
And having such a good rapport with the guide meant that we learned more about local custom and culture.
The muleteer and cook were both nice and professional. Though we didn't actually interact with them all that much.
The only other thing I could mention is that there seemed to be a lot of other things offered in Marrakech; like dirt bike/atv/horse riding and excursions to oases etc. We learned a lot of what was on offer in Marrakech whilst we were there and didn't pre-budget a lot of stuff offered.
Elliot T
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 10 September 2014
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We had a wonderful holiday, thank you. Something for everyone! It will be hard to find something else so unique and interesting again.
Michelle C
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 September 2014
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My trip was fantastic thank you, and everything worked perfectly. At first I was apprehensive that everything would run without any problems occurring somewhere along the line but to my relief everything was great and everyone I encountered along the way was friendly and helpful.
The accommodation was good, I liked how along my trip I encountered so many types of accommodation, from the basic beds in the gites in beautiful locations in the mountains to the busy and exciting Toubkal base camp, full with a wide variety of interesting characters and like-minded travellers, to the riad which was perfect for relaxing after my trek. The staff in the riad were particularly helpful and welcoming and made my stay in Marrakech more comfortable - at times (and for people travelling alone I think this is more of an issue) Marrakech could get quite tiresome, with the relentless attempts to take my money and the fact that I got lost for hours at a time, and quite often I would return completely worn out - so it was nice to return to such a calming place with friendly people about.
My guide and cook were also brilliant, I got on very well with the guide, who spoke English, and enjoyed the food the cook gave me, who didn't! One thing I would say, which I think I saw mentioned in another review is that there was often too much food for me to eat and it would be quite embarrassing leaving so much when the cook had put in so much effort. I realise this problem lies in cultural differences, but it's still probably worth mentioning.
As I said, the transport was thankfully very efficient; I was met at the airport by a welcoming driver and all subsequent transfers were conducted by similarly friendly drivers.
Overall I would definitely give a score of 5, and want to stress my appreciation of Tourdust for their efforts in organising my trip, with special thanks to Rebecca who was very helpful in organising the trip pretty much last minute, and managed to alter the itinerary to fit around Eid.
Jackson K
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 01 September 2014
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Our trip was truly excellent in every way. Our guide, Ibrahim, was exceptional & he gave us several options everyday. He took us up more demanding & more peaceful (i.e. less busy) routes. We achieved the two highest peaks & several smaller ones & a few ridges too. The food was spectacular, more than we could ever have eaten & the accommodation was good for the mountains (we expected much less comfortable!). Nothing was left wanting at all. We were delighted by our trip & will definitely recommend Tourdust to friends & family & use you again.
Ibrahim & Samir (the cook & muleteer) went out of their way to please us. Everything was well organised - the transfers were on time & quicker than expected too.
I was also impressed by the service I received from Rebecca during the booking process. She was incredibly helpful & responded very quickly to every email. Excellent service.
Robert P
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 27 August 2014
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We were sooooo appreciative of the staff and everyone you had working with the group. Our staff and the girls couldn’t say enough great things about Abraham (the guide). They just thought he was the greatest!
And despite all the altitude sickness, those girls loved it and had an amazing time! I can’t tell you enough how nice it was to know you and your staff were handling everything and were great about keeping us informed back in the states as well. We will definitely like to use your company again next year.
Sarah S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 22 August 2014
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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
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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
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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
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Our trip was amazing and exhausting!!
We all had a great time and felt that Morocco, Marrakesh and the Mountains were a great adventure. The Trek was amazing and we loved the fact that we camped out on the second night. The guide was really ( I had a bad knee and had to go on a go slow!)and a great help as were the other three cooks/helpers who made some incredible food and the presentation of the food was superb too.
We all felt that the last day was too long and it may have been better to have come back to base camp after the summit and camped again and had a bit of a celebration and then walked out fresh the next morning.
We will always remember this trip and will have good memories of it.
RUTH G
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 22 August 2014
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We have just arrived back after our 10 days in Kenya and Zanzibar.
Pongwe Beach is an absolute little gem. Far exceeded our expectations after the standard of accommodation we experienced in Kenya and from the pictures on the hotel's website.
However, perhaps I should talk about Kenya first. We felt absolutely secure, safe and relaxed. There was no hint of anything untoward. There were security guards at Nairobi Airport and searches when going into shopping malls etc., but that was very low key. We were the only guests at Rock House and at Plantation Lodge. At Lake Naivasha Resort there was one other European guest, a German tourist. At the Mara Springs Camp it was busy because of the Migration, but there were no other English guests. Plenty of Australians, Americans and other Europeans, French, Belgian, German etc. All the hoteliers commented on the affect the British media reports have had on UK tourists visiting any part of Kenya. It is a great shame. Other nationalities seem not to have taken fright!
I was afraid we would not see much wildlife in the Mara with so many vehicles swarming the park. However, we were amazed, not just by the number of Wildebeest, Zebra , Thomson's Gazelle etc, but by the variety of other animals we came across. Our team were wonderful. Samuel, our driver had a great sense of humour, knowledge of wildlife and the country, as well as being a very safe and careful driver. Elijah, our guide, had an incredible knowledge of all the flora and fauna and our cook, also Samuel, managed to conjure up very wholesome and plentiful meals with the limited facilities and provisions available to him at the Wilderness camp and at Mara Springs Camp.
After early morning starts, it was great to get to Pongwe Beach and completely relax for a few days. If you are going to promote the property in place of Lamu, we would have no hesitation in recommending it. It is English owned and well managed. The rooms are spotless, the gardens and pool well maintained and the beach swept every day. Despite being full there were plenty of loungers and hammocks hidden away, so it always felt intimate, never busy. The cuisine is excellent too and great attention is given to presentation and variety.
Thank you, Ben, for all your help and patience when we were jittery about whether to continue with Kenya. I am very glad we did as we had a great time and have many happy memories. I do hope the media coverage is not causing you too much loss of business and that the message can be spread that the Nakuru Park, Lake Naivasha and the Mara are quite safe areas.
Jennifer C
reviewing Maasai Explorer
on 05 August 2014
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The trip was amazing, thank you so much for organising it all!
The tour guide and cook on the trek were both very friendly and made us feel very comfortable from the start. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it, we were rarely able to finish it at all.
The trek was hard work but that's what we signed up for so it was a nice challenge.
The accommodation in both Imlil and Marrakech were lovely. The warm welcome in Marrakech and the helpful hints and tips really helped us out while we were there.
Overall, the holiday was fantastic and we have no complaints whatsoever. It was a great experience!
Phoebe N
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 23 July 2014
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We are relaxing in Marrakesh and wanted to give you feedback regarding our 5 day Berber village/ Toubkal trek.
Our transportation to and from the trek was very adequate. The driver spoke Spanish so we were able to communicate some. The pick up time was met on both ends and the vehicle very nice.
The group was well surprised by the Gites. We had our own room which suited us quite well. We had no idea showers and electricity were going to be available so we were quite pleased. The 3rd night refuge was above and beyond..what a beautiful place and on the side of a mountain with views beyond imagination. The 4th night at base camp we were very grateful that we were tenting outside and not with the crowd inside!
The food..oh my....as one of the four who was a vegan and well prepared with meals ready to eat, this was the area where I found the greatest of pleasure. Our chef Hassiem was beyond a good cook, he was truly a chef. His presentation and choices of food were outstanding. We took pictures of each meal before we allowed ourselves to eat! He was truly gifted. Breakfast was adequate each day but lunch and dinner were outstanding! The choices of lunch spots only added to the beauty of the presentation.
Omar was our muleteer and an integral part of our adventure. He attempted to interact with us and all of our broken languages and checked on us regularly. The mules were always treated well in our presence and were given food and water adequately. One of the mules had a few spots from rubbing of the carrier and a tad on the thin side but they seemed in overall good health.
Now to Mohammad our guide. He was the perfect guide for us and would be for any adventure trekkers. He has an amazing grasp of the English language as well as French and Spanish even though his own is Berber. What a gift! He was respectful and kind and cared for our safety all 68 miles. He made sure he set a pace that fit our needs but still managed to get us to the summit on time and all of this through Ramadan which did not allow the three of them to intake water or food during the long hot days! He shared his knowledge of the villages and the people with a passion and was always willing to answer questions four American women had about anything.
We would rate this trek a 5/5 but was want to make sure that everyone is aware of the challenge of it. There are many long hard days that require stamina and good fitness. There is not a lot of wandering and meandering but rather serious challenging rocky steep climbs that are best met with hiking poles and a great guide. The hikes get progressively harder each day and the final day hike is about 20 miles including the summit to Toubkal. Not for the average day hiker!
Frannetta (Skye) M
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 11 July 2014
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A few comments on our recent trip
Organization Excellent including pick up and drop off
Our guide Amir was friendly, spoke good English, and competent as our instructor / guide, he went out of his way to give us a good holiday.
Accommodation , First island was fantastic with a friendly family, Breakfast was outstanding
second island was good although the breakfast wasn't up to the standard if the first.
Equipment was all of good quality and in good condition
overall the holiday was relaxing , enjoyable with sufficient paddling for two experienced paddlers,
the restaurants and bars produced food which was fresh, tasty and reasonably priced
we would highly recommend the holiday to friends and family
we will hopefully return again to do more in Croatia in the future
Andrew A
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 08 July 2014
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I had a great time on my kayaking trip. The transfers/transportation were right on time and well-organized, the accommodation was comfortable and the meals were just fine. Our guides, Amir and Ivan were amazing and should be recognized for their warmth, skill, flexibility and all around greatness. Our group had a nice mix of solo/couple/group travellers and we got on really well.
One thing to note is that the trip description says that no skill beyond reasonable fitness is required. I'm more than reasonably fit, but I found it quite difficult to cover the distances scheduled for each day in the conditions we encountered. So, you might consider making a note that beginners or people without significant upper body strength might find solo paddling to be quite challenging. That said, Ivan was so patient and supportive as I struggled my way through. I'd probably still be out there paddling if it wasn't for him!
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone interested in seeing a quieter side of the Croatian coast.
Andrea S
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 07 July 2014
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We just wanted to drop you a note to say how much we enjoyed our trip to Morocco (3 Day Toubkal Trek via Azzaden Valley PLUS BOUTIQUE MARRAKECH PACKAGE) last week.
In particular, our guide and cook on the trek (Rashid and Hassan) were fantastic and went out of their way to make our trip so enjoyable. We’ve done lots of great trekking in South America and elsewhere, but really felt that the experience they gave us was outstanding.
Jessica K
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 01 July 2014
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The trip was so well organised, and all the staff were great. The kayak equipment provided was fine for both beginners and the more experienced in the group, and both our guides were brilliant. Accommodation was good, and it was lovely to stay with a local family. We all loved the pancakes for breakfast served with lemons from the garden! All the group felt that we had experienced a very real side of Croatia and there was an excellent balance of guided and independent time.
Julie B
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 30 June 2014
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The trip has been wonderful. Muhammad has been a wonderful guide and Hassan is a wonderful cook. Frankly, everything has surpassed our expectations. They have made us as comfortable as possible and even the basic gites has been great (hot showers! who would have expect them?). Thank you very much!
Wen Jye N
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 29 June 2014
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My first time to Croatia, very impressed with the organisation from Tourdust, from booking, suggestions and assistance, to airport pickup and transfer.
Each day was planned by the guides and very well arranged. We'd meet for breakfast and discuss the itinerary. Nothing was set it stone, as such, and our feedback was welcomed.
The guides knowledge on history was amazing. Very thorough, and faultless English. Felt very comfortable asking questions of all kinds. We visited where "Game of Thrones" was filmed (tv programme) and also a botanic garden.
The kayaking was fun, we stopped for swims every now and again, and to visit caves. The ocean was pretty flat / calm most the time, which was nice.
The food was lovely and we ate in a variety of restaurants, which had been carefully chosen by the guides. All types of fish were served. And... If you ask to see the fish... Don't be surprised when it turns on with their heads on!!! (which I found out the hard way).
The Accommodation was very comfortable, especially on nights 1-4 in Lopud, with air-con, bathroom and balcony.
Very enjoyable trip, thank you Tourdust
Name W
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 18 June 2014
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On the whole, I had a lovely time - the group dynamics weren't the best, but then I realise this isn't something you have any control over. The group size was good, and the kayaking and location were great.
My accommodation on Lopud was fine (clean but basic), though much nicer on Sipan (larger room with kitchenette and lovely location). I thought the single supplement was a little bit steep though.
Kit list - it might be worth reminding people to take a plug adaptor if they're from the UK.
Food - the breakfasts provided lacked a bit of imagination but were fine. I felt it worked well to have some lunches/dinners provided and not others.
The team in Croatia took good care of us from arrival to departure, in terms of picking us up from the airport, being flexible re what time we wanted to transfer to the islands, looking after our luggage whilst we looked round Dubrovnik etc.
Our guide, Amir, got the right balance of being friendly without being intrusive. I would have liked to have been challenged slightly more in terms of learning new skills in the kayak (or tackling more difficult conditions) but he was v.willing to share his knowledge when asked. I felt very safe knowing I had a member of the Croatian white water kayaking team looking after us!
I was very impressed with Tourdust's service prior to departure - in terms of your prompt & helpful responses to my questions and friendly but professional manner. The trip details on your website were also very helpful. I would definitely use you again.
Anne K
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 18 June 2014
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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
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We enjoyed our trip enormously . The transport arrangements were very efficient , accommodation in the refuge and tents was comfy , our guide was helpful and the catering was excellent ... and of course the scenery was superlative! Thank you for such a well run trip.
PETER C
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 June 2014
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We absolutely loved the trip, and will be recommending Tourdust to everyone we know!
We were extremely happy with the accommodation at the Village du Toubkal Hotel and all the arrangements with the guide and the walks worked very well. Everyone we met there, including the guide and the manager of the hotel, were extremely helpful and friendly.
We loved the Riad Tzarra and thought that the standard of the accommodation was superb. All the staff were extremely helpful and friendly - especially the manager Mohamed - and the food was delicious (we had two meals there plus breakfasts - very good value). My only quibble is that I did feel that it was a rather awkward walk to get to it, down some very narrow alleyways. I felt a little concerned about walking there after dark (and certainly wouldn't have been happy doing it on my own), but having said that we didn't experience any problems and would happily go back.
All the arrangements worked like clockwork with drivers, guides etc and I would happily give a rating of 5 out of 5 for the holiday. Hopefully we will be back soon!
Paula J
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 18 June 2014
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Absolutely amazing. Incredibly well organised from pick up to drop off.
Guide and cook fantastic on trek and riad stunning.
I am going to come with my children in April.
Cristina D
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 17 June 2014
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We had a really lovely holiday! It felt as if we were away for at least two weeks in that we completely left behind work and "real" life. Wonderful.
The mountains were stunning. The collection at the airport (with the pastries!) and the journey to Imlil was easy. To be really picky, I would have liked a little information about the places we were driving through but to be fair I did not actually ask for any. Dar Adrar was perfectly nice with reasonable food (I was not expecting a 5* banquet. We were perhaps a little preoccupied not knowing what the next day was going to be like.
Our guide and muleteer were great: courteous, interesting, interested and aware of us. The only thing that was at all negative was quite how easy they made it all look while we at times felt like we toiled up some of the steeper bits! The food was great. Mountains of food in the mountains! The accommodation in the gites was fine if basic as expected.
James H
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 17 June 2014
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We had an absolutely amazing time - thank you! We did the four day Atlas villages and Toubkal trek. I'm so glad we took the four days - the villages are beautiful and it helped us acclimatise and get into the trek. The final day's climb up Toubkal was very tough as I struggled with my breathing and we were very very cold as we approached the summit. We looked up the temperature afterwards - it was minus 5 and minus 11 with the wind chill! We were unprepared for it to be so cold in May and our gloves in particular were woefully inadequate. We had worked from your summer kit list when actually we needed some winter kit as well - might be worth pointing that out to others going in May. You also must have a headtorch for the climb as you start so early in the morning - something else it would be worth adding to the kit list as a must. I also regret not bringing energy bars with me for the climb. The guides had bottled water for us throughout so we didn't need the water bottle and purification tablets we had brought.
The final day was very long -especially as I found the climb so tough. Having to walk the whole way back to Dar Ardrar was exhausting and I think on reflection I would have liked to have broken the journey and spent another night at Toubkal base.
Although the climb was tough, the whole experience was fabulous and it was our guide Ibrahim and cook Mohammed who really made it - as well as the other guides and cooks we met along the way. They were such great company and so kind to us. We can't rate them highly enough. And Mohammed's cooking was something else. The food he produced in such basic conditions was amazing. He even cooked us a big plate of chips the night before the Toubkal climb!
The accommodation on the trek was all fine and better than we expected. Dar Ardrar was particularly lovely. However, I didn't sleep well which I was told was probably due to the altitude. I hadn't realised that was one of the possible effects of altitude and it was quite tough walking on so little sleep!
We added the extra two nights in Marrakesh to our trip but were a little disappointed and would have preferred to stay in the mountains! Although we booked, and you confirmed, a twin room, they only had a double bed and no one was able to do anything about it the first night. They then offered to put another bed in the room for the second night but that would have been a tight squeeze and would have meant packing all our stuff up again so we didn't bother. The Riad was beautiful and the staff were pleasant but its location wasn't great for two women travelling on their own. Just too far down a dark alley and we kept getting followed. Some nice sights in the city but overall not a relaxing place to be.
All the taxis you arranged were there on time (although the guy who met us at the airport had been there several hours as he was given the wrong time). And we were delighted to have been met by our driver with water and homemade biscuits - such a lovely welcome!
Thank you again for organising such a great trip. I have already recommended Tourdust to lots of people! And I hope to travel with you again sometime - although maybe not at altitude!
Carole C
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 13 June 2014
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My son & I had a superb time, there isn't one word to describe the trip but many adjectives come to mind; stunning, humbling, breath taking, beautiful, hilarious (that was due to my sons face when we watched lions mating!), fascinating....Each day was exhilarating and amazingly each day got better.
Our main guide Duncan was very knowledgeable and easy going, David our cook was excellent and also a good source of information. All the guides we encountered we were pleased with.
There were so many highlights it's difficult to pick one but our time at the Maji Moto camp with Masai is probably my main highlight, walking in the bush with a knowledgeable tribe member, the widows camp and the school very humbling and setting extraordinary.
The whole trip was well organised, flexible not fixed, I'd give it a 6/5!
Travelling alone with my son can sometimes feel daunting but I never had any concerns during our trip and the balance of activities and travelling was perfect for a family holiday.
joanne c
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 11 June 2014
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Again, thank you for your help planning our wonderful holiday in Kenya. Both the Masai Mara and Lamu were a good fit for our family. Thank you for all the time you spent on the phone discussing possibilities and exploring options with me. This was a favourite family holiday. Having planned the logistics of other trips, it was wonderful to have you do this much more competently than I could have done myself.
Our transfers went smoothly. We were met in Nairobi both times by Denis from Gamewatchers. He and the drivers were personable and competent, sharing information about Nairobi and discussing our trip with interest. When our daughter got sick upon return to the airport, Denis took good care of us, interceding with security to help us get her inside as quickly as possible.
We most enjoyed our time at Masai Mara and The Intrepids. We were well looked after by the staff, our steward and waiter were personable and attentive, and the accommodations were a wonderful place to relax. The game drives were fun for all of us, and we especially enjoyed our guide, Katembo. Seeing such a concentration and variety of animals within the park was such thrill for everyone. Our teen daughter enjoyed the drives and appreciated wifi access, so she could post pictures from each day's sightings. Our 11 yr. old loved spending time with Judy in the Adventurers Club, and opted out of a couple of drives to stay back and do activities with her. Judy was excellent with her. On the last night, at our waiter's request, the chef cooked a traditional Swahili meal for us, which was the favourite meal of our stay. Intrepids was a good choice to accommodate all members of the family.
We were very pleased with the choice of Lamu for our beach stay. We stayed at Kiwandani House in Shela. We truly enjoyed the beauty of the traditional Swahili style house and the relaxed and quiet atmosphere of the town. We were well cared for by a very adept staff. Asya the manager was accommodating and helpful. Chef culinary skills were excellent on both taste and presentation. He provided us a personal 4 star restaurant and over fed us with the most delicious food. He did very well at accommodating our preferences. Sylvester, our steward, was gracious and tireless and humble. We were very impressed at the attention to detail he gave, from setting the table to preparing our rooms. He was helpful, kind, and accommodating in all things. We spent much of our time relaxing by the pool or enjoying the ocean breezes from the upper floor, but found plenty to do to occupy our three days there. The highlight was participating in the release of a nest of baby sea turtles on Manda Island. Again, Lamu was an excellent choice.
Our family enjoys nature so this was a highlight holiday. Never once did we worry about security or feel unsafe. We enjoyed the natural beauty of the country and the hospitality of the people. We loved Kenya and hope to return again. Thank you for following up with us once we were home to see hoe our trip went.
Michaela M
reviewing Masai Mara Safari & Beach
on 11 June 2014
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We had a very good holiday.In brief summary:
Amir, the guide was great.
The accommodation on Lopud was fine, very clean and when we asked for hot water and cups, a Thermos was supplied. Breakfast was also fine, apart from the coffee which was not good.
The evening meal which was included was not so great. Hannah and I both chose a vegetarian risotto but were then served vegetables with pasta which neither of us would have chosen and we did not enjoy. There was no choice for pudding and we were served some pancakes which again, we would not have chosen. I think that giving people more of a choice would be an improvement.
Transport was also fine, in fact the driver who collected us from the ferry, dropped us near a beach in Dubrovnik and recommended some places to go so we had a very enjoyable 3 hours while waiting for our flight.
Turned out that we were the only people in the group on the short trip and everyone else was there for the week. It would have been good to have been aware of this as it was all a bit odd when the information emerged.
Otherwise, a very good holiday.
Sarah Y
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 09 June 2014
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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
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We had a great time walking throughout the Berber villages. Our guide, and cook were both fantastic. I couldn't recommend our guide highly enough, Very caring, informative, and a good companion to have.
His knowledge of the mountains, villages and its people was great. He made us feel very safe and relaxed.
All in all the trip was very well organised and successful.
Jan D
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 04 June 2014
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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
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Just to confirm that we returned from Ethiopia today, as planned, and that all went well - extremely well indeed with our trip. In due course we will share with you fuller reflections... Meanwhile, many thanks to you and staff at TourDust for helping to arrange a very memorable trip.
James C
reviewing Classic Northern Historical Circuit
on 03 June 2014
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Our trip to Ethiopia was incredible. I’m so glad I made the last minute decision to go with John, it was unforgettable. Alex in Addis looked after us brilliantly as did Getinet and his crew in the Simien mountains. They were both so passionate about their country and eager to share it’s treasures with us. And what a country! The bustle of the city and then the serene atmosphere of the mountains, great contrast. The landscape in the Simien Mountains was awe inspiring, colossal mountains and drops and great wildlife. Beautiful people.
john t
reviewing Simien Mountain & Lowlands Trek
on 06 May 2014
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We had a fantastic time in Morocco and everything worked to plan.
We were collected on time by Ibrahim and he took us to Imlil in his Toyota Land-cruiser. Good journey to the Imlil Lodge which is very well placed with wonderful views down the valley. It is a little way out if Imlil but that suited us fine. the lodge is very comfortable and the food was very good and certainly set us up for the trekking.
They struggled a little with the hot water but in this location this is not a surprise.
The guide on the treks was Yousef who is a lovely lad and happy to engage in conversation as ‘required’. He has a detailed knowledge of the area and is happy to share this.
The treks were about the right length being long enough to make us feel as though the trek was worthwhile without being too onerous. They were reasonably challenging but Ok for people with a fair degree of fitness and some stamina and determination. The views are of course spectacular and we are so pleased that we went.
The Gites were fine. Yes basic but I would not have wanted to stay in a hotel as you would miss out.
We were well looked after by Mustafa as well and he and his mule carried and prepared the food as well as our kit.
The travel from Imlil back to Marrakech was again well organised and fine and we were met at the ‘taxi rank’ by Asif. He is a credit to the Riad and did a great job in looking after us.
The Dar Hanane riad is wonderful and we had a very good suite there. Food was excellent. We ate there one evening and it was lovely to sit on the roof terrace as the sun went down.
The half day cooking course was also worthwhile.
The final stop was Ryad Watier is Essaouira. Jean-Gabriel is a character and is rightly proud of what he has built there. Excellent place to relax with good food and a brilliant welcome. We ate in the riad one evening and that was lovely too.
Ibrahim took us back to the airport and dropped us off just a short walk from the terminal.
It was a truly wonderful holiday with the right mix of activity, culture and relaxation (we took 4 nights in Essaouira) and we came back feeling refreshed and invigorated. The organisation was spot on and the places we stayed were carefully and skilfully chosen. We would not have changed a thing.
I also don’t think we would have saved much by organising the trips ourselves and I doubt we would have found anything quite as good.
Michael C
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 30 April 2014
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We had a great time, we cannot fault the arrangements made by Tourdust. Our transfer from the airport to Imlil was smooth, the friendly driver providing bottles of water and cookies for us all. The accommodation in Imlil at Dar Adrar was good. The trek was tougher than we expected, there was a lot more climbing and descending than we had realised, although really we had no idea what to expect as this was our first trek! The guide, Olaiat, was excellent, he never hurried us and was very patient when we found the terrain a challenge, especially on the first day when my husband did not feel very well.
The food on the trek was excellent, much better than we ate during our stay in Marrakech afterwards. The accommodation in the Berber villages was basic but clean, the children however found the squat style toilets a challenge! We walked through some stunning scenery, ate some wonderful food and the sun shone every day. Having the mule for our children to take turns to ride was also invaluable.
The only problem was we got sunburnt on the first day, we were wearing sun cream but were ill prepared for the strength of the sun in the mountains.
Louise A
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 30 April 2014
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I had a terrific trip .... The riad was brilliant and the staff were very welcoming and friendly. The guides drivers and cooks were all excellent. I had a great experience and I will be back again.
david n
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 30 April 2014
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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
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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
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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
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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
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You arranged the most magnificent holiday for us – thank you so much.
All the 3 hotels were brilliant – very different from each other. Mohammed was very helpful when we needed him.
Pleased we weren’t actually in Marrakech last week when it was so hot – the Beldi was perfect as I spent the time in their blissful pool!!!
Melanie M
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 17 April 2014
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Holiday
on 10 April 2014
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We have had the most wonderful holiday with you. In concise form, both sets of accommodation get 5/5, pickups etc also 5/5, guide 5/5, and there is little to fault. We would like to visit again,and do a longer trek in the mountains, getting further into them, and staying in tents and villages.
Paul S
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 10 April 2014
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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
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he trek in the atlas mountains was amazing. We think this was our favourite part of the trip as you could really appreciate the beautiful natural and different landscapes that Morocco has to offer. Our accommodation was great. Douar Samra is just so nice. We never wanted to say goodbye to such a cozy and beautiful place. Mohamed, our guide and Rashid the cook where great companion during all the trek and we really felt comfortable with them. The accommodation during the trek was good as well as we got the feeling for a little more of adventure and less luxury, we where actually looking for that so we founded it great to get outside our comfort zone. The actual trek was very good and it went from easy to hard in the following days. We really had a sense of accomplishment after the last day which was demanding because of the snow.
The stay in Marrakech was very nice. We really liked our accommodation there (Dar Hannae). The perfect description for that place is a peaceful oasis in the middle of a beautiful and hectic city. The staff(Mohamed and Aziz) there are amazing and made us feel like home.
The Desert Camel trek was very beautiful as well. Even though we had a lot of time travelling in the car, Hassan, our guide again and Driver made the trip nice. The accommodation in the Dra Valle was very nice and we happened to notice that Mohamed changed it for us in the last minute so we could had a more pleasant stay. Dinner that day was spectacular. Even thought the desert is a must do it does feel like a more worn out and popular tourist trip.
In general we loved the trip and we are very happy with Tourdust. We always felt like you guys where taking care of us and always trying to get the best out of the trip.
Victor R
reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer
on 19 March 2014
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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
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This itinerary gave a fantastic overview of the Simien Mountains – both the scenery and the people. The initial 4 days allowed a real exploration of the high plateau and the latter 4 days gave a great, close up experience of village life as the trek wound its way back to the lowlands.
The whole experience was excellent.
Our guide, Melaku Berihun, was well organised and very informative. His English was excellent and he was an interesting companion for our 8 days. His understanding and compassion for many of the people we encountered, and his gentle advice on how to deal with situations where people ask for things, was much appreciated.
Our cook produced the best food we had eaten in the month we had been in Ethiopia. His evening meals were to be looked forward to and were varied and nutritious as well as tasting great. He had a good-humoured team of young cook assistants whose humour we enjoyed. Our scout was also a delight.
The standard of the tents and sleeping mats was perfectly adequate although the tents are beginning to get rather ‘tired’. As experienced campers, with our own sleeping bags and additional mats we were perfectly happy.
The pick up from the airport and transportation to the start of the trek was faultless, as was the return trip.
All in all, the service we received was first class.
Your Tourdust Initial Trip Dossier was very comprehensive and we feel it covered all the pre-trip issues well.
Graham C
reviewing Simien Mountain & Lowlands Trek
on 19 March 2014
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We've just returned from an incredible trip to Ethiopia, covering the classic northern circuit, the Simien mountains and the rock churches of Gheralta. Friends are asking which part of the trip was the most memorable but everywhere had its own special feel and we were constantly surprised and amazed by this extraordinary country. Our main reason for the trip was to visit the churches at Lalibela, but I think the churches of Gheralta made almost more of an impression as they were so unexpected - and the views from some of them are incredible!
We had an excellent guide in Ermias and also an excellent driver, Mikael. We loved the coffee and the Ethiopian food - just ask for rice if you can't face injera - and had an especially good fasting/vegan buffet one lunchtime at the Fasil Lodge in Gonder. On the whole the hotels are all clean and comfortable and we had hot showers everywhere. Go to the local markets - they are fascinating.
We talked with Ben a lot before booking the trip, planning all the different stops and changing our itinerary from some of the set trips. We had two full-day drives, rather than internal flights, which was our choice as we wanted to see the country, but they are long, dusty days and the roads are still under construction in some places! However, the countryside is fascinating and you get a real feel for the place and the people. Everything went smoothly, which isn't always the case in Africa, so I can only commend Ben and the team in Ethiopia for making sure this was the case.
Ethiopia is a wonderful, surprising country.
John L
reviewing Highlights of Northern Ethiopia
on 18 March 2014
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We had a wonderful holiday. There is nothing to fault in the organisation or the content of the holiday – many thanks to you & Rebecca.
The trekking was great: Hassan the guide, Mohammed the cook/muleteer and Annabel were all fantastic. (Annabel was the mule – we thought it wasn’t fair that such a hard worker should be nameless!) Everything including the gites was a great experience and we met some nice people to chat to along the way. The walking and the views that came with it were first rate – and we were only slightly demoralised by the achievements of other (younger!) parties who had tackled Toubkal, or were about to.
Marrakech was a great contrast and we really liked the riad (Dar Vedra), its owners and staff. The mosque next door was attached to a very large PA system so we had some early wake up calls, but these were all part of the experience as far as we’re concerned. The Marrakchi restaurant, which to be fair, you didn’t over-praise, is well worth a miss, but the Grand Café de la Poste - in the new city and recommended by the riad’s owners - is certainly worthy of a visit for a top class dinner at the end of a stay.
Roger G
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 17 March 2014
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We had a great time and can't really fault anything. We will certainly be using Tourdust again.
Natasha A
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 12 March 2014
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We very much enjoyed the bespoke holiday to Morocco everything ran very smoothly and very much to time. The trek was just what we wanted and Youssef, the guide, Hammid the cook and Mohamed were all excellent and made the trip very enjoyable. We loved Dar Adrar guest house and Riad Watier in Essaouira, good service and excellent local knowledge and lovely meal at the Riad. The drivers were all good and we felt safe.
Karen B
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 12 March 2014
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We had a wonderful time thank you. My first thank you must go to Rebecca as she was just fantastic when I fell and twisted my knee 10 days before we were due to trek. I was so grateful that she offered to make alternative arrangements for us if my knee didn't improve in time. As it happens we went ahead with our original booking and I had no problems with it.
Our transfers were by a very comfortable 4 x 4 and there was only myself and my husband so that was just great. Adil was our guide and he really looked after us as did the muleteer Mohammed. The food he made for us was excellent and plentiful! The gites were basic but then we expected that. Adil was happy to go at a suitable pace for us and never made us feel pressurised. Mohammed from Dar Adrar was just lovely too, arranging to pick up our luggage from Douar Samra and then us separately down in Imlil. To be honest we felt very looked after throughout the whole experience I have no complaints at all.
I would also like to add that from being picked up in Marrakech it was so refreshing to not be taken to any shops, restaurants etc where the guide clearly receives a commission for taking us. This is very important to me . I have travelled twice before in Morocco with 2 other companies and on both occasions have been encouraged to part with my hard earned cash. The people who constantly pester you in Morocco spoil the whole experience. Please continue to employ guides and drivers etc who don't try these tactics.
Linda M
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 21 February 2014
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Everything was extremely well-organised - we were collected in good time from our Riad, the driver drove safely, the hotel was gorgeous, our guide was perfect, and most importantly - the scenery was beautiful. We only really had to worry about the most important things (walking and eating!) - all for a very reasonable price.
Christian P
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 18 February 2014
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Transport was perfect- a really nice people carried that was on time and driver was friendly, the guide on the actual trek was great, language barrier was not a problem at all and managed to have lots of laughs.
Hannah Y
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 05 February 2014
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Thank you for arranging such a memorable trip for us. We were taken care of from the first greeting at the airport, thanks to Mohamed and his efficient team, but still felt like the independent travellers we wanted to be.
The accommodation you chose for us was always a delight to discover, and the cookery course at Maison Arabe one of our highlights.
Gill B
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 05 February 2014
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I had an exceptional trip to Ethiopia with Tourdust at the end of last year which has inspired me to explore Africa further..
frances p
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 23 January 2014
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I want to let you know that we had an absolutely fantastic trip. In our two weeks traveling, we were fortunate enough to see and do many things, but the Winter Toubkal trek was by far the highlight. Not only we were surrounded by the beauty of the high atlas, but everyone we met was particularly kind and helpful. Mohammed was an outstanding guide. He educated us about the villages and berber life in the valley, while remaining aware of our needs. We always felt safe but were still able to challenge ourselves. Rashi, our cook, made fantastic meals and was incredibly accommodating. This was the trip of a lifetime for us. I am so pleased with Tourdust. If we are lucky enough to find ourselves traveling abroad again, I look forward to booking another trip.
Many thanks to you and your team for helping coordinate, and for making this an experience we will never forget.
Sarah D
reviewing Winter Toubkal and Ouanakrim Climb (Experienced)
on 20 January 2014
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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 Holiday
on 11 January 2014
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ll the arrangements worked flawlessly. Transfers all drama free and Hassan (driver) made every effort to make us comfortable.
Dar Adrar was exactly as described. Simple but extremely comfortable and both the breakfasts and evening meals on all three nights were great. The view from the terrace is special. Hammid did a first class job for which we thank him.
The walking was a high point of the holiday. Ibrahim as guide and Samir (not forgetting Samir's mule) were great company and frankly, with the quality of local maps I don't think you could do this without them. The lunches were amongst the best food we had on the entire stay and Sarah's vegetarian requirement was met in full with no problems. The standard of the gites was better than expected. They are cold (as you advised) and your recommendation on kit was spot on. I will remember the village of Tizi Oussem for a long time. I think we both felt privileged to see something that is not going to stay the same forever.
Something of a shock to find ourselves in rammed noisy streets as we arrived at M'kesh. Dar Hanane was as sophisticated as Dar Adrar is simple. How nice to find that our room had been upgraded! The manager (Mohammed) gave us a brief orientation before we headed into the chaos which was great fun. Marjorelle gardens were well worth the time and we loved the Ben Youssef museum and Madrasa.
Sarah C
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 11 January 2014
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We had a fabulous time! It was the first time we had done a family holiday like this, with such a variety of experiences. The outgoing flight was less than 3 hours yet it was like another world.
Lesley C
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 11 January 2014
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We had a wonderful stay at Le Village. We arrived after dark and were welcomed with mint tea and savouries in the dining room with a warm fire before being shown to our rooms. Dinner was superb - delicious soup, beef & fig tagine and fresh fruit salad. Breakfasts were tasty with warm bread and featherlight crepes and our other three dinners were all delicious, with a variety of soups, couscous, tagines and desserts. Dinner was very reasonably priced at 15€ per person.
The convivial surroundings in the dining room meant we soon struck up conversation with the other guests.
Our rooms were comfortable with spectacular views from our terraces. We slept well with an extra blanket. We enjoyed daily hammams after our hikes and also a massage session during our stay.
Noella and the team were very attentive and helpful though discrete. Hussain would serve his delicious breakfasts and dinners at various times according to guest’s wishes.
The arrangements for transfers to and fro to Le Village from Imlil were impeccable. Our English speaking mountain guide Ibrahim was very competent and readily shared his insights of Moroccan culture. The trip to Tin Mal mosque was very interesting and visiting a local souk and Berber craft stalls were also very worthwhile experiences.
Bruce B
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 11 January 2014
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I would also like to say thank you again for a fantastic experience and well organised professional service you guys provided leading up to and during our trip. Also please pass on my many thanks to Mohammed and especially Adil who not only gave us the trip and experience of a lifetime but to who also I consider a friend for life and a pleasure to have met and spent such a wonderful time with. The man was an inspiration and a real ambassador of what you guys do. Once again many thanks and we will certainly be making contact with yourselves to plan our next adventure in the new year.
Matthew S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 17 December 2013
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My friend and I had such a great time, and have been talking about it to anyone who will listen since! Our guide Adil was wonderful and kept us entertained, safe and informed throughout the trek. Mohammed's meals were always tasty - and enormous! - and the accommodation and transport were just what was needed. We thought the itinerary was just right, with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the views, but also working us hard (ish). 5/5!
Rebecca P
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 17 December 2013
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5 out of 5 rating on the information provided and overall holiday experience {:0)
All transport came as scheduled and we had a warm welcome at all our accommodation without any issues.
Our guide in the Atlas Mountains (Ibraham) was a very interesting, knowledgeable character and made our hike a most enjoyable experience tailored to our needs. Our chef (Mohammed) made us very tasty meals and hunger was never an issue. The mule was quite an impressive carrying vehicle {:0)
The Dar Hanane Riad was a very welcome respite from the sights and sounds of Marrakech with the veranda being a safe haven for full relaxation. We chose to have dinner at the Riad which had an elegant atmosphere and the best food we had in Marrakech - we would suggest you spend your money on eating their rather than at Le Foundouk
Christina D
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 26 November 2013
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We had an absolutely wonderful holiday (5 out of 5). As clients of Tourdust, we were given extra special treatment everywhere we went. I would very much like to thank the staff at Dar Adrar and Dar Hanane for their hospitality as well as our guide and cook (the two Ibrahims) for looking after us so well on our Toubkal trek. The rustic Dar Adrar was a very comfortable place to begin and end the trek, whilst the luxurious Dar Hanane was the perfect place to relax and recover before returning home.
Darren M
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 25 November 2013
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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
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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
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We've just had a brilliant time. Organisation by tourdust was excellent. My leg was fine on the walk. All the accommodation was good, even the "5 star" village gites. Everyone we met was really friendly- couldn't have been better. Tourdust by far the best holiday company have ever used.
Nicholas Y
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 18 November 2013
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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
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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
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Our guide (Ouleid) was outstanding - he was patient, informative, friendly and enthusiastic, and made the trip a special experience. Our cook (Omar) was fantastic as well, we really loved the cuisine he prepared for us.
The accommodation was fine - we stayed in the refuges, so we weren't expecting 5 stars, and it was suitable and comfortable.
We would give the trip 5 out of 5.
Andrew M
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 November 2013
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The trek was impressive and enjoyable, our guide Youssef was excellent and made for good company throughout the trip. The muleteers and Cook were also very good and the food was excellent. Transport and pick up from\to my Riad at the start and finish were spot on, all in all I would not change anything and would recommend\use Tourdust for this kind of adventure in the future.
Kevin R
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 18 November 2013
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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
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Just a quick note to say what a fantastic holiday Mark and I had in Morocco. It started perfectly, being picked up by Mohammed at the airport with water and Moroccan pastries.
Our trekking guide, Ouleid, was great. He set a good pace and got us to the top of Toubkal successfully.
After our trekking, the peace and tranquillity of the raid was wonderful. It was luxurious, perfectly located and just what we need to rest.
We had a fantastic time and I think it is really great value for money. We were looked after so well, and all the transfers went smoothly. The only thing was that the portion sizes when trekking were huge, no way we could ever have eaten it all! But better too much than too little!
Bonnie P
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 30 October 2013
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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
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Just wanted to let you know that we had a great time in Ethiopia. Everything went to plan (except the weather in the mountains) and all the guides were excellent.
Alan K
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 25 October 2013
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Everything went very smoothly and the scenery at this time of year was stunning; very green with lots of flowers in bloom.
The team who were with us on the trek made it a very memorable trip; the guide Mulat was extremely knowledgeable and always eager to help. Warki the Scout, Alum and Fetalo the cooks and the muleteers were always great company and full of Ethiopian hospitality and all added to the experience and helped us to master some basic Amharic phrases.
The food throughout the trek was very good and Alum prepared a really varied menu that probably would have been hard to achieve in a modern kitchen never mind in the mountains.
The trek was definitely the highlight with stunning scenery and amazing wildlife, we were lucky enough to have 2 Ethiopian wolves come into the camp at Chennek and got some really good photos.
I think the thing that struck us about this trek was that it really felt like an adventure and away from the main tourist routes.
All 3 hotels we stayed in (Regency, Addis; Fasil Lodge, Gondar; and Mountain View, Lalibela) were very good and all the staff were incredibly helpful. The rooms were spacious, clean and there was plenty of hot water.
We would definitely score the whole trip as 5 out of 5 and have already been promoting Ethiopia to our friends. We can honestly say that there is nothing that we would have changed.
If you get the opportunity please pass on our many thanks to the team in Ethiopia.
Robert B
reviewing Simien Mountain & Lowlands Trek
on 25 October 2013
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Many thanks we had a fantastic trip!
The whole experience was one never to forget. We have to say the organisation was excellent, everything happened like clockwork. We were met at the airport with a selection of local cakes by the taxi driver. The accommodation in Imlil and Marrakech were excellent particularly Marrakech that was fantastic at Dar Vedra (lovely) and the staff superb.
As for the guide Ibrahim he was such a nice guy and experienced for somebody so young and his team of muleteers and the cook very good. The food they prepared was good and presentation an artwork. They looked after us extremely well. Please pass on our thanks to all of them.
We did find that some of our older members found the summit day and the long walk back to Imlil extremely challenging. Our day lasted some 15 hours... therefore we felt you should maybe upgrade the final day duration to at least 12 hours and maybe re-iterate that it is not just challenging. We think the trek up was a technical challenge in some parts and the walk back a feat of endurance after a long day.
We were rewarded with spectacular views at the summit that made all the sweat and effort worthwhile.
We would all like to thank you for a magnificent trip that will never be forgotten. Wherever possible we shall recommend Tourdust to all our contacts and hopefully use you for our next challenge.
Andrew L
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 24 October 2013
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We have just arrived home from Morocco following 10 wonderful days, Our trip from beginning to end was excellent with absolutely no hiccups! We loved every moment of our 3 part holiday.
The mountain trekking came first and we were absolutely bowled over by the whole thing, we loved Dar Adrar and they couldn't have made us more welcome, Our guide Mohammed was great and it was fab to see Rashid our Muleteer every time we caught up with him, we think the best food we had was in the mountains! It was really good to get to the grass roots of trekking and even though the gites were basic it all added to it for us. We really felt we had achieved when we got back and would recommend it to others.
The transfers were also perfect with not one problem, and the timings were spot on.
Dar Vedra in Marrakesh was a perfect haven just like the reviews said, it was a beautiful place to stay and we were very well looked after, It was very quiet when we were there and I can't understand why it is not full to overflowing.
Villa D'Lo was also fantastic and we loved it there, the only thing was we had a nice room but it didn't have a window to the outside and was one of the cheapest rooms, it would have been nice to have one of the better rooms with a window but were unaware of this when we booked, saying that it didn't detract ,from our holiday at all.
Overall I would mark Tourdust 10/10 an excellent holiday which ran perfectly. We would use Tourdust again and recommend to others.
Andrew T
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 16 October 2013
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All was so well and thoughtfully organised. Our guides were wonderful, friendly, adaptable, generous, everything you would want in such a foreign country. The muleteers were the same and a lot of fun! And Mohammed who stayed in Imlil is wonderful too.
CECILE B
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 16 October 2013
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We had a wonderful week staying in Dar Adrar. We were looked after exceptionally well by Mohamad and his staff, Homad and Omar. The accommodation was very comfortable and we felt we were given first class service. The meals were always presented beautifully, were nutritious and very tasty. The staff were always friendly, helpful and caring. We were able to go for a short walk each morning and returned to a cooked lunch each day. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Imlil at Dar Adrar and were quite sorry when our week ended.
William (Ian) S
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 16 October 2013
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We had a well organised trip and enjoyed it very much. Thank you for your help.
Two people helped to make the experience particularly good and that was our guide ,Gawad, who was university educated and spoke excellent English and informed us of so much about the area and the Morroccan culture- very good indeed- we were lucky. Also, Aman, the young lady at the Dar Vedra, who made us so welcome and was a really happy and helpful host- it makes such a difference.
bryan r
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 16 October 2013
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We had such a fabulous time - everything exceeded our expectations - will definitely recommend you to our friends.
Margaret R
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 16 October 2013
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I would thoroughly recommend this trip from start to finish with Tourdust. Rebecca was excellent in answering my pre-booking queries, including which trek to go for and for how long. She was a really valuable source of information. I found booking very easy and the pre-departure information excellent.
The trip itself was fantastic. The local contact, Alex, was a massive help, especially when my bags with all of my trekking gear got mislaid on the flight between Addis and Gonder! Luckily, all of the luggage arrived in time. Our local guide was friendly, informative, support and overall just excellent. He was able to provide a very rich experience in terms of explaining the local culture as he had grown up in one of the villages in the mountains. His wider knowledge on everything from geology to fauna, flora and politics was also very helpful. The trek itself in beautiful and the landscape plus the wildlife make this a really unique experience. The camps were also comfortable and our food (plentiful) excellent.
I was sadly unwell during the middle of the trip and so returned to Gonder for a day. Both the local team and Ben were brilliant in arranging this and were quick to take action. I can't thank them enough. Alex also arranged for my friend and I to return to the mountains for a day to see the things we had missed on my sick day.
Overall, an amazing trek, experience and a thoroughly supportive tour company. I'll certainly be booking with Tourdust again ....
Helen C
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 14 October 2013
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Me and my friend Rebecca had an absolutely wonderful time climbing Toubkal! We still reminisce on our adventure and laugh about our memories of our guide, Abraham. He was not only very skilled and knowledgable, he was very personable and made the trip memorable. Whether it was telling silly jokes and stories that made us laugh, having deep thought-provoking conversations, or encouraging us to plunge on when we were exhausted with his frequent "YA-LA!" we enjoyed every minute.
Sarah P
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 14 October 2013
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The two Mohameds were excellent, the food Mohamed II cooked was exquisite and Mohamed I proved to be a helpful and charming guide. Please thank them both.
The only point I'd like to raise is that I think the 8-9 hours your brochure predicts for the final day of the trek is somewhat optimistic. No complaints from us, but you might get some from others.
All in all, however, a fabulous hike and no bones broken.
Imre K
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 02 October 2013
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Thanks for organising a fantastic trip at such short notice. We definitely plan to return some time and have not stopped talking about the experience.
On the positive side our guide Ibrahim and muleteer Rashid worked extremely hard to facilitate everything.
Ibrahim assessed our trekking ability early on and challenged us safely out of our comfort zone. We felt safe and supported at all times.
Rashid was a gentleman and a fantastic cook. He offered to carry my bag if he thought I was tired and brought us for tea and baignets into his own home - an honour that I won't forget.
With regard to the accommodation the Tamsoult refuge was comfortable and unbelievably scenic. We were unable to stop watching the goats being sheperded down from the mountains and the women working late in the fields and then returning their livestock home over the mountain paths. I will never feel justified to complain about work again!
The sanitary conditions at the gites d'etape at Tiziane were not great but on balance the experience was worth the difficulty and conditions understandable. Otherwise accommodation more than comfortable.
Transport to and from airport went without a hitch.
John R
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 01 October 2013
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We had a great deal of fun with our guides and muleteers, who not only made sure we were well looked after but also had a terrific sense of humour and fun which made some challenging trekking much easier. The accommodation in Imlil was very comfortable and enjoyable, great food and pleasant staff. The tents on the trek were roomy and good quality which made our time in the mountains very comfortable. Food on the trek was plentiful, tasty and nutritious which also helped us manage some challenging walking. We had a terrific time - the landscape was amazing, the walking challenging and satisfying but most of all the cultural experience was unforgettable and priceless. A great insight into the Berber culture and life style, from the guides and muleteers and the local people we met along the way, plus the villages we passed through.
I am very pleased that we did the 6 day circuit as it provided a much richer experience than just doing an ascent and decent of Mt Toubkal.
Julie J
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 30 September 2013
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Thank you for arranging an amazing trip for my sister and I. All transfers went smoothly and the organisation of the trek and desert trip was very good. Overall 5/5 for Tourdust.
Toubkal Trek
Mohamed and the staff at Dar Adrar were very helpful, friendly and accommodating and could not have done more when our plans went awry.
Ibrahim our guide on the trek was very good, very open and wanted to ensure that the customer got what they wanted out of their holiday. He helped arrange transport when one of the party was ill and asked to return to Imlil.
Hamid our mulesteer and cook served up very good food on the trek with a lot of variety (a range of tagines) and no tummy upsets.
The Gite at Tiziane is very basic (mattresses on the floor and "rustic" shower but we did get hot water). By contrast the refuge at Tamsoult exceeded expectations, comfortable bunks, hot shower and did not have to share a room. Glad to be given the option of a tent at Toubkal Refuge which was very busy - the toilet facilities were in the process of being decorated so some toilets and showers had no doors!
One tip - warn people about the walk up to Dar Adrar and advise suitable footwear (trainers).
Marrakech
Mohamed arranged for us to stay at a different riad because building work at Riad Dar Thania had over run. Riad Boussa owned and run by Brigitte was stylish, comfortable and friendly. Brigitte was very helpful, she armed us with a map and advised where to go for food and the location of the main tourist attractions. She also arranged for us to go for a Hammam and massage on our last day in Marrakech - recommended.
Gorges and Desert Trip (with transfer to Fes)
This three day road trip took us through some fabulous scenery through the High Atlas, the Dades Valley and Gorge, and Todra Gorge to the Desert; then on over the High and Moyen Atlas to Fes.
Racheed our guide was good and was quick to pick up on what interested us and what did not. Mohamed our driver was very careful and was happy to stop when requested for us to take photographs.
Tip - When selecting camels for the desert trek - chose a big one it is a much more comfortable ride. We had one big camel with baskets which was comfortable to ride and the baskets helped you to anchor your legs. We also had a young camel which was not at all comfortable to ride and the blankets did not stay in place exposing the wooden frame resulting in some nasty bruises. That said the camel driver did stop when requested and adjusted the blankets.
Fes
Riad Mabrouka was lovely, French colonial splendour. We had a guide (arranged by Brigitte) for the two days we were in Fes which was certainly a bonus because he took us to places we would not have seen. The down side was the inevitable visit to shops.
Before he left, Racheed had arranged a taxi to take us to the airport which arrived on time despite the early hour and the taxi driver helped us with our luggage and pointed us in the right direction at the airport - very helpful.
General
Money exchange at Marrakech airport - it would be better to bring sterling cash and use the Bureau de Change near the baggage pickup. We followed the Tourdust advice and used the ATM in the arrivals hall (which charge) and only issue 200 DH notes and we then had difficulty getting smaller money from the Bureau de Change desk.
Anna F
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 26 September 2013
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We really enjoyed the trip and it all went according to plan.
Our thanks to Ibrahim, Hasan, and Hamid who looked after us on the trekking trip.
Thanks for the upgrade to Riad Adore. It a extremely nice, well run place.
Colin B
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 26 September 2013
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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
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Our Guide, Nicolas was fantastic. We bombarded him with questions which he was always able to answer and as a result we came away feeling that we had much more understanding of Kenya, not just the wildlife, but the people, politics and economy etc. The driver, Duncan was great too and seemed to know the Mara really well which meant we were often the only vehicles in an area and that we saw loads. Demetrius, the cook too were really helpful and made being vegetarian completely comfortable - the kids loved his food. And the kids say I have to feedback that the truck was awesome (it really was!).
Magi Moto was an interesting experience and one that we have thought about a great deal since returning home. It was not so rich in terms of wildlife - it's a fairly desolate place isn't it - but we were impressed by the projects there and the kids loved the warrior training. At times I felt uncomfortable that people's lives were being so openly presented to us, but I am not sure there is a way around this and also understand that our presence brought them a source of income. We met people there with an incredibly intimate knowledge of their environment that was quite inspiring. We did not do the complete walk to the Papesua Masai cultural village as it felt too long for Luca (7) and as it turned out there was no one there anyway. This was a good thing because it meant we had a quite period when we got to Mara Springs before going out for an afternoon drive. The children really appreciated the down-time and when a monkey stole Jasper's melon from the porch of our tent their day was made!
Cally H
reviewing Maasai Family Adventure
on 24 September 2013
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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
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My partner and I had an amazing trip up Mount Toubkal and it was all down to the excellent tourguides, food and amazing views . We had Abdul as our tour guide who honestly couldn't do enough for us - I suffered with altitude sickness mainly affected by my breathing and loss of appetite and it was obvious he has been well trained in the ways to deal with it. He was very patient and always went at a pace that was right for both of us. I would rate this trip 5/5 as I feel not much could have been improved apart from the fact the tagines were cooked at virtually every meal and by the end I got a bit sick of tagines, even though they were delicious! The refuge we stayed at on the second night wasn't brilliant, but that was to be expected and Tourdust even set us up our own tent to avoid us spending a probably sleepless night in the refuge. It was cold in the tent when sleeping at 3200m so I recommend at least a 3 season sleeping bag. The organisation of the trip was excellent, both from the help team before the trip who were quick in replying to queries and the tour guides. I had a bit of trouble coming down the mountain due to not having experience on scree before and I was quite worried I would slip over; Abdul held me all the way down to make sure I didn't fall, which was very much appreciated as I would have taken ages to do it without him! Be wary there is a lot of scree underfoot so good walking boots and walking poles are advised. There is a lot of walking to be done and it does feel like you will never get to the top but oh my the views are worth every bit of the climb. After looking at my photos they really don't do it justice - you really do have to see it to believe it.
Overall, this was a holiday of a lifetime for us which was made even better by Tourdust. So thanks again!
Sarah T
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 September 2013
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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
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The trek was absolutely fantastic .....can't fault anything at all .the whole team were fun and entertaining. Guides were absolutely the best !! Food was superb .... Beautifully presented in our fabulous eating tent with the beautiful carpets and comfy mats to sit on .the cooks were absolutely amazing at what they produced with the so many surprising extras they kept turning out. Nothing was too hard.
My special food needs were well and truly catered for... They always went out of their way to ensure our comfort throughout the whole trip. Our accommodation in the Gites and hotel in Imlil were both excellent.
A truly wonderful experience and one I shall not forget!!! The stay in Marakech at Dar Hanane, at the end of the trip, was certainly a wonderful end and lovely experience!
Thanks again!
Berenice T
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 12 September 2013
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Just came back from Morocco
We loved our track and I really have to make your company (and Mohammed) a compliment: organization was PERFECT, the driver picked us up 5 minutes before 9 and everything went just right. Food was surprisingly good (taking into account that those guys cooked on a little gas-stove for us and had to carry everything up the mountain), trek was very hard, but beautiful, overnight-spots were adorable (my favourite: on a small plateau on 3.500m altitude with approx. 100km view...), our guide Ibrahim (goooood guy!) was very considerate and (as we had a group of 2, which was wonderful) let us define the pace.
Really, there is no nameable criticism that I could think of. Maybe the last day’s schedule of 10 hours walking-time: due to the strenuous descend that is very long and hard – fortunately our guide Ibrahim gave us an option the day before and we split the last 2 days of the trek a bit differently.
Thanks for a memorable and very well organised trek (including all the info in advance)!
joe d
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 12 September 2013
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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
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My son, around whom the holiday was designed, gave it 9/10. Not sure where the point was lost!
Robert C
reviewing Family Activity Holiday in Turkey
on 21 August 2013
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The holiday was amazing. We loved every minute of it.
Kathleen P
reviewing Family Activity Holiday in Turkey
on 21 August 2013
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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
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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
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We had a very very lovely trip so many thanks for getting it all organized for us.
DAR ADRAR
Lovely comfy hotel with amazing views. Rooms were a good size and the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Food was great too.
DAR ONE
Absolutely gorgeous hotel. Beautiful roof terrace. Rooms were lovely with amazing bath tubs! We ordered a three course meal on the terrace one night and found the prices very reasonable. Best meal of the trip. Nice welcoming staff although it was a shame we couldn't get a key to the hotel at night as I felt bad coming back late as the guard would leave as soon as we returned. Very close to all the sights and square.
TREK
Really really lovely guide (Adil). Beautiful scenery- the walk was lovely although not too challenging... probably could have walked another couple of hours each day. Food was amazing and so so generous. We did feel guilty at times eating in front of them at Ramadan but they invited us to break fast with them too which was really lovely.
Sylvie F
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 01 August 2013
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Everything about the 6 day trek was - well, perfect is not the word as some of the ascents into the thin atmosphere, zig-zagging up (& then down!) steep scree were painful - but it was a tremendous adventure. All the staff who looked after us not only did a superb job but were very enjoyable to spend time with.
The trek was challenging but full of interest, with marvellous landscapes & plenty regarding the physical & human environment: fascinating contrasts between the bare scree slopes & the green of barley & walnut trees in the valleys.
Terraced fields & irrigation systems; toiling up & down steep stony paths under the hot sun with endless views fading into technicolour horizons.
The camp sites - all of them but especially the meadow by the river at the end of Day 2, Day 3 when we stayed in a village gite at Amsouzerte & the windy corner of the steep ravine above Ifni Lake on Day 4.
But what made all of that physically (& psychologically) manageable was the care & attention of Rashid, Mohammed, Mustafa & Ibrahim. They did their job - giving us a good time! - with endless good humour, charm & a quiet, unobtrusive skill. Rashid our guide was attentive to our pace, encouraging & helpful, patient. He checked regularly that we had water, timed breaks well & carried snacks to keep us going. His English is not as good as his French I think, but he shared his knowledge of the environment with us & was always ready to listen to our thoughts & ideas.
Mohammed produced satisfying & interesting meals - what more to ask for from your cook?! especially as we were fish-eating veggies... although I can't say I am in a hurry to eat another veg tagine (or boiled carrots, potatoes etc in any form!). I guess we had less to do directly with the muleteers but enjoyed their efficiency & good humour as a bonus - & they seemed as delighted as we were in our accomplishment. It is of course easy to be cynical with the prospect of a tip in view, but to us it all seemed genuine.
Impressive customer care from 2 guys aged 25 & 2 younger.
Domaine Malika
Excellent place for a break in contrasting countryside (Tuscan we thought) so we enjoyed not only the pool & (2 of us) the spa, but also a wander down the road in the evening.
We wished they had served some vegetables or salads. it wasn't brilliant for vegetarians although the cuisine for meat eaters looked high class.
Chez Pierre
We arrived quite late - about 7.30 - & were told dinner was at 8.30. Outside, cool, good atmosphere, we sat & watched for 30 mins or so while the tables were laid - by one very hard-working man, which I think is the problem: they were understaffed.
When the food did begin to arrive it was a series of small dishes: a tiny pizza tart, pumpkin soup, a compact tablet of compressed salad with small pieces of chicken dominating the other tastes, a plain quiche or chicken, "brown sugar tart" for dessert. All quite interesting - perhaps a bit heavy on pastries - but we never knew what to expect & it was after 1030 by the time we finished!
This long drawn out process was repeated the next evening. At the end of the meal 3 of us went to bed & one waited for tea - but gave up after 20 mins!
On the 3rd evening we ate in the dining room - cool & windy outside - & it was all much quicker.
At breakfast we would be offered eggs after we had consumed two kinds of pikelets, pain au chocolat etc.
So the problem was not the food but as I said above, that the one guy serving (& cleaning the toilets, carrying bags to the rooms, etc. etc. with unfailing good humour) was just one man.
The guides didn't get food until the other guests had all finished so they ate even later.
Kasbah Dar Illam
Yes we certainly did use & enjoy the pool - & it was marvellous that we did not have to check out of our room until our car to the airport (the same driver as Marrakech-Imlil & out to Dades - great continuity) was at the door.
It seemed a rather sleepy hotel although the service was attentive & pleasant enough; the food (dinner & breakfast) was OK. We wouldn't have wanted to stay longer as it is pretty much remote from everywhere else but for a final day of relaxation it was good.
Thanks for sorting it for us & please pass our feedback to Mohammed, Rashid, Mohammed, Mustafa, Ibrahim, Larsin & the hotels.
Gordon P
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 31 July 2013
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I'd just like to say thank you for arranging the Croatia trip, I had an amazing time and would do it again in a heartbeat :)
Ashvinder K
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 31 July 2013
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We had a wonderful time, the hiking was so wonderful and the riad in Marrakech was just amazing and they had great service!
I really don’t have much to say, it all worked out very well and Tourdust has given us great service!
Anna K
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 31 July 2013
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Terri and I just got back from Mt. Kenya, the tour you arranged for us was fantastic.
Shawn M
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 31 July 2013
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Daisy and I really enjoyed the trek, it was the highlight of our holiday. I'm full of admiration for the our Guide Francis, cook Wilson and his team of porters. Not only did they feed us like kings but Francis never put a foot wrong on the whole mountain and, as you know, they don't have all the high tech equipment we have such as good boots and 4 season sleeping bags. That really brought home the income gap and I was glad we had brought a decent tip with us. We both enjoyed chatting to Francis as we walked and at meal times and he gave us a very interesting perspective on Kenya life.
At the Rock House Patrick and his wife were very helpful especially sorting out our forward coach trip. It would be great if you could feed back our thanks to the guys.
Transport to and from the mountain was fine, better than I was expecting. The huts were a bit of a shock to the system but you quickly get used to them and its definitely better than tents! The acclimatization day was interesting, I think it may well have helped us summit fairly easily but we were the only group who did it. Overall I would recommend it if you have time.
I will recommend Tourdust to others and I'd give you 5/5.
chris k
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 31 July 2013
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The trek was great.
The organisation was superb. We were picked and returned to Marrakech with ease. The guide Lacsen and muleteers, Hamid and Mustaffa, were fantastic. They were super friendly and good fun and gave us great insights into the mountains, their language and culture. They really made the trek special for us actually; hanging out with them gave an extra dimension. They cooked excellent food and worked hard to keep us on schedule. Hats of especially to Lacsen who did all the waking without a single drop of water due to Ramadan.
The trek itself was well put together. Good itinerary to ease us in to the longer days at the end of the trek and acclimatize us to the altitude. The views from Toubkal were spectacular. The evening stays in Berber villages and by the lake were also really cool.
Christian B
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 29 July 2013
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First, overall impression: terrific holiday, excellently organised at UK and Morocco ends.
Now some detail:
· Pre holiday contact with Tourdust: Rebecca, as the only person I ever spoke to, you represent Tourdust for me: you were consistently extremely responsive to all my questions by phone and email with both speed and helpful replies - customer service at its best. Your offers of extra service were also much appreciated e.g. purchase of bus tickets from Marrakech to Essaouira for us in advance.
· Punctuality of pick ups and driving in Morocco: pick ups always on time, and drivers were courteous and interesting to talk to. Comfortable cars/mini buses.
· Imlil: Dar Adrar is a wonderful place, with extremely kind and helpful staff. We were the only guests on that first night, and sitting on the terrace in the fading light as we ate our dinner was a magical way to start our holiday.
· Trek: Lahsen was great: we particularly liked the fact that he quite often left us to walk on our own when the trail was very obvious. Ibrahim, our muleteer and cook was also great, though his English was more limited than Lahsen's. However, as Alison and I speak reasonable French we were able to talk to him too. We learnt a lot from Lahsen about the villages and vegetation that we were walking through. He seemed to know the whole world, and often stopped to talk to shepherds, shop keepers, and village elders as we walked. Those exchanges were always in his native Berber language, and we therefore felt just a bit left out of these sometimes long conversations. We didn't feel able to interrupt him, or to ask questions, but would have liked to. Perhaps he could be encouraged to somehow involve his client walkers in some of these conversations, or at least tell them afterwards about some of the content of the conversation? On one occasion, when we accompanied a couple of village women with their five cows for about 40 mins along a path, we did ask what they were talking about, and learnt that they were exchanging family histories. One of the women had worked in Marrakech as a maid, and had known members of Ibrahim's family. This interested us, as it led to a discussion about how women from villages sometimes have to work in the cities as servants to earn money - rather like in pre WW1 England.
· Food on trek: superb: we were astonished at the quality and quantity of food every lunch time on the trek, and the evening meals were great too. There was always good veggie food for Alison, with often a fishy or meat option for me. At lunch times there was always a super view and shady spot and a two hour siesta on a foam mattress before setting off again - brilliant!
· Accommodation: you had told me that we would be sleeping in tents when not in Imlil. However, Lahsen told us that only happened in the high season when gites sometimes fill up. So we were pleasantly surprised to be on foam mats in gites every night, with showers of varying sophistication - but showers nevertheless! - wonderful after 5-6 hours walking in temps of over 30 !
· Trek day three description: your text is a bit confusing here we think. We walked 4-5 hours to lower village, and then another 1.5-2 hours to Tamsoult, with additional altitude gain. We chose to stay at the refuge of Tamsoult (not a village), rather than in the village of Tizi Oussem, Lahsen gave us a choice, being careful to warn us, (on Mohammed's instructions!) that we might have to share a dormitory in the refuge). It was a long day but worth it . We were extremely glad that we chose this option, as the new (just two years old) refuge is fantastic, with stunning views from the terrace, wonderful showers, European style toilets, and comfortable bunk beds - the best night of the trek. There were only four other walkers staying in the refuge, so we had an eight bed dorm to ourselves. We gently teased Lahsen for not telling us in advance just what a great place this refuge is! The next morning - Trek day 4 - starting in Tamsoult meant that the waterfall was only 25 mins away, going up, away from the refuge. We then returned to the refuge, picked up our packs, and set off for Imlil which we reached at lunch time (so your description of trek day 4 needs amending a little).
· Ascent and descent numbers: Our impression was that these were not terribly accurate, as they missed all the ups and downs within the walk every day. We were fit enough every day, but we reckon that on some days we walked a total of quite a lot more than the amounts of ascent and descent given on the descriptions for each day of the trek.
· Marrakech accom: Riad Tzarra was wonderful - just four rooms - we were the only guests. Staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. Air conditioning was great (it was over 40 outside!). At this time of year the roof terrace of Riad Hanan is too hot to be really useable, and we reckon that the courtyard and rooms of Tzarra are nicer!
· Sites in Marrakech: we would recommend that you add the Museum of Photography to your list - just round the corner from Riad Tzarra and Place Moukef. Wonderful photos of Morocco in bygone times, and films of people in the Atlas mountains taken by a Frenchman in 1957 - fascinating - in many ways not much has changed. One ticket allows for unlimited entries over many days.
· Bus to Essaouira: very comfortable. We did not know where Villa de l'O was, but found it after asking – worth mentioning, perhaps, on your notes, that it is only five mins walk from Supra Tours depot - a wonderful little oldy worldy place, with colonial era furnishings, and a roof terrace overlooking the beach. Great place, and great little town.
· Return bus to Marrakech: when we received the bus tickets on arrival on first day in Morocco we were told that there was no 5pm bus from Ess to Marra (as we had requested), so we were given tickets for a 6pm bus. (which did not worry us) . However, at SupraTours office in Essouira we discovered that the 5pm bus did in fact exist - a relatively newly introduced Super Confort bus with wider seats (three across the bus – rather than usual four) and more leg room than the normal bus, and costing just 20 DH (2 euros!) more - so we swapped our tickets for that bus and had a very comfortable ride back to Marra, arriving in plenty of time for dinner.
· Picking up a taxi in Place Moukef: not always easy: we had to wait 15 minutes a couple of times, so travellers need to be warned.
· Dress code: many western women (and some men) tourists in Marrakech were very scantily clad, and we did not notice them getting leared at, or insulted, so it seems that in the big cities it is accepted nowadays that western women like to bare a lot of flesh short shorts, bare shoulders etc) . Still something that we, like you, would not encourage, but it seems to be no longer frowned upon as much as it was only a few years ago (according to friends who were in Morocco a few years ago). However, in the mountains life is still more conservative, so we think that shorts, and bare shoulders, should still be avoided (for both sexes).
· Restaurant recommendations in your notes: we ate at your recommendations Cafe Epices, Fondouk, Earth Cafe and Djemaa foodstalls - all excellent. We would recommend Cafe du Livre in French quarter as excellent too (ten mins walk from Supra Tours depot.), and free wifi!
In summary: a fantastic holiday - many thanks. We might well be asking you about Ethiopia next year....
stephen L
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 25 July 2013
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Our trekking trip was very good! Everything was well arranged and organised. Our guide was Abdul and our cook was Rachid. Both were the nicest and friendliest people. They were extremely helpful, supportive and caring all the time. We felt very safe and in good hands. The first two nights we stayed in gites in villages. We were the only tourists there and had the whole room to ourselves which was great. Abdul showed us around the villages in the evening. Third night's accommodation was a very clean and friendly Refuge run by Hussain. And finally the last night, we chose to sleep in a tent just outside the Toubkal Refuge which was very nice too.
Food was very tasty and fresh (and plenty!). Rachid took a lot of care and attention to make our meals diversified and nicely presented. Every day we were served a nice warm lunch with lovely mint tea. Then in the afternoons, after the walk, warm tea and biscuits and dinner in the evening (usually a soup and a tagine followed by some fruit dessert).
The route was very well planned and thought through. We walked for 5 days, several hours a day, gradually climbing up through diverse and scenic landscapes to eventually reach Toubkal on the last day. It felt like a great accomplishment and was very emotional...
All in all, the definite highlight from your side were Abdul&Rachid and we would greatly recommend these guys to everyone wanting to trek with you. Many thanks for a great trip!!
Agnieszka L
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 16 July 2013
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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
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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
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The trip was fabulous, definitely Larchen was the best guide by miles. Met up with some other trekkers and their guides stormed off ahead of them. He was really good and setting the right pace and also when we were ascending on the last day, he was really listening to my breathing closely to make sure I was fine ( I was and did make it to the top!) which felt really good , professional, safe and aware.
The first refuge though unfinished was a very pleasant surprise, the second was as expected though the loos more grim than necessary!!
Despite camping next to the mules… managed to sleep remarkably well and not being in the dorms absolutely the right decision.
Our cook – Braham was very good and our mule in tip top condition!
Douar Samur cannot get high enough ratings
ANNETTE M
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 05 July 2013
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We have just returned from an excellently organised, well provisioned and beautiful 5 day trek from Agouti to the summit of Mt M'Goun via Tarkadett Plateau and on to Ait Ali N'Ito. Rashid, our guide, was delightful, well informed and enthusiastic. Hamid, our energetic cook, prepared most delicious meals. We highly and unreservedly recommend Tourdust.
Magdaz was the most beautiful Berber village of all.
We also enjoyed spending a night at the exquisite and relaxing Kazbah Ellouse (near Ait Benhaddou) on our drive, with sight seeing stops, back to Marrakech.
Thanks to all of you and to the proficient drivers, friendly muleteers, Rashid and Hamid for a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
Ralph P
reviewing Mgoun Summit Trek
on 03 July 2013
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I wanted to write to say how unbelievably impressed I was on our 5 day break away in Morocco with Tourdust. I'm well travelled and have been to Morocco five times over the last decade but had never done an 'activity' trip or mountain climb before.
This past week had changed all this - I'm now hooked and can see clearly how a well run and tailor made trip like this can make the difference between just a 'holiday' and a cherished life experience.
I found the Tourdust itinerary, connections, staff and attention to detail first class - 5/5 if I'm honest. Our guide, cook and muleteer were genuine and humble caring with real interest about our pace and well being on the trek.
The food was absolutely spot on delicious and fresh the hygiene of the cooking equipment and tents impeccable. I certainly felt we had VIP treatment from beginning to end.
I personally found the actual climb up Toubkal itself both emotionally and physically challenging yet hugely rewarding and was pleased we began it at 4am in the dark. Reaching summit just after sunrise a huge bonus - I'd recommend this to others. I confess I found the walk back to imlil post climb a tad too much but on reflection can't see how this would be avoided without incurring another night therefore impinging on our Marrakech time. Something I'm glad we didn't do.
Dar Hamman was a gem of a find and I'd highly recommend it to others looking for a boutique experience in the crazy town of Marrakech.
I found your pre trip advice pack spot on in terms of packing tips. My only emphasis would be on walking poles, head torches (for summit climbing in the dark) and thick gloves - again for summit which was freezing at dawn.
Liz, Lisa and I spent many a moment admiring the set up and 'support team' you provided and hope very much to use you again for future trips.
Grace S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 27 June 2013
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The hike was superb and unforgettable with spectacular views on the impressive and colourful mountains, treks through fertile valleys, visits to Berber villages with people still living in the Middle-ages (no water or electricity), but many using a cell phone! The visit to Magdaz was one of the highlights of the trek, also because our guide managed to get permission for a visit of one of the oldest Kasbah’s in the village.
Albert V
reviewing Ait Bougmez Traverse Trek
on 27 June 2013
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We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and I score it 5 out of 5. Adil our guide
and Ali the muleteer were excellent. Adil would tell us about the wild
life, people of the region and knew every bit of the trek. He helped me up
and down Toubcal. The accommodation was basic but comfortable and the food was very good. We were amazed at what he served up.
Robin M
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 27 June 2013
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Me and my four friends did a holiday in Morocco organised by Tourdust with five days on the mountains and two days in Marrakech. We were picked up from the airport and from then on to the end of the trip very well taken care of. We were very impressed by both Rebecca's patient and knowledgeable responses from the Tourdust office and our guide's, Abdul's, experience and friendliness hauling us up and down the mountains.
Our group was a mix of people with varying hiking and high altitude background, but Abdul managed to adjust the trek to all of our needs. The Toubkal circuit is at times physically demanding, so the more you train in advance, the better off you are. But the hike is mostly relatively easy and none of us suffered too much from the altitude. Two things to bear in mind are that, though a relatively easy hike, you do it at every high temperatures even in the spring (we had about +30-35 on most days, even at altitude) and the summit day is a very long one and does not end at the sense of achievement of having happily returned to the base camp but continues for several hours back to Imlil.
In addition to the wonderful time at the mountains, we had a lovely two days at Marrakech. We stayed at Dar Vedra, a much recommendable guest house that was just what we needed after the trekking, with its beautiful rooftop terrace and extremely friendly and helpful staff. Marrakech is a lot of fun and should be part of any Atlas Mountains trip.
All in all, I thoroughly recommend Tourdust and hope to use their services in the future as well
Maiju K
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 24 June 2013
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In short, the trip was great. Alex was a delight to meet and work with. He is very customer oriented and follows through on everything. Everything that was promised in the trip itinerary was delivered. Alex's staff was also exemplary. The trek guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and very accommodating. The cook (or more correctly the chef) was the best I've had on any trek (and I've been on many treks). The driver that took me from Gondar to the mountains was very competent and safe. His actions actually kept us from having an accident when a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction almost hit us.
The accommodations throughout where great. The Addis Regency had a great staff (very friendly) and the rooms were clean and the restaurant very good. The accommodations in Lalibela were also good. Alex changed me from the Jerusalem Hotel to the Lalibela Lodge. It's a newer lodge with large, clean rooms. The restaurant and service was good. As I told Alex, the rooms don't have televisions, but that was fine for me. Others may prefer a television. The rooms are wired for television and my guess is that they will be added at some point. I viewed the change as positive. The Fasil Lodge in Gondar was also very good.
Overall it was a great trip. There were no glitches (other than an Ethiopian Airlines problem with a broken engine part that caused a 5 hour delay when leaving Gondar) I would definitely recommend Tourdust to others. You were easy to work with and delivered a great trip.
Kenneth P
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 07 June 2013
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Overall, Christine and I rate our experience with TourDust a 5/5... SUPERB!!
Booking - Our experience with booking was excellent,.. Rebecca, you did an awesome job making suggestions and answering all of our questions in detail and also very quickly. We felt like you captured what experience we were looking for in our trip and did a great job recommending Douar Samra as our home base.
Accommodations - Douar Samra was AMAZING!!Our room was spectacular, clean and offered stunning views of the mountains. Our hosts were wonderful and offered amazing, nutritious meals, as well as friendly service. Meeting other travelers while enjoying our meals was a plus.
Transportation from and back to Marrakech - Remembering and pronouncing Moroccan names was a bit difficult for us, so we agreed to call our driver "The Mountain Man"... sorry, I have no idea of this man's real name, but he was fantastic. He was timely with our pick up time at our hotel in Marrakech and answered many of our questions during the drive to Imlil. He stopped along the road any time we liked, so that we could snap some incredible photos of the scenery.He was polite, courteous and was a great driver in the windy roads in the mountains!
Guide - Abraham (we asked Abraham how we would let you know who our guide was, as there are many Abraham's in the mountains... he told us to mention.. Abraham.. from the army... so I hope this description finds him back!)We LOVED Abraham !!! He knew just how to push us to our limits, but not over exert us while hiking the challenging terrain. We loved learning about the mountain way of day to day living, and were totally taken back and humbled when he shared some of his own personal family stories with us. Our heart melted for him and we thank him for so many great conversations during our 3 day hiking adventure. Out of our 12 days in Morocco, we think back to our time spent with Abraham the most, and will always consider these 3 days in the High Atlas the top highlight of our trip.
Cook -Hassan was our cook, and his mule, (whom we called Sam) were also superb.We were amazed at Hassan's cooking technique while in the vast mountain ranges. The meals he prepared for us, we consider to have been the best meals during our entire trip. The presentation of the food he prepared was top notch.. it was so creative and colorful!I would also like to add that Sam, the mule, came to my rescue on Day 2 of hiking.. I just couldn't get to the summit of our hike that day.. I was so tired! So Hassan sent Sam down a little ways down the mountain to retrieve me and take me the rest of the way up the mountain!!How special is that!!! Another 5/5 experience!!
Value -I consider the cost associated with this adventure was ideal. I felt like the price paid, was in line with the experience received.
Overall Impression - I would definitely book with Tourdust again in the future.There was absolutely nothing to complain about from booking to the end of our trip.
Diane L
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 06 June 2013
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We had a wonderful trip. The accommodation was all great. Dar Hanane was probably our least favorite but having said that I could not really find fault with it in any way. The taxis all arrived on time and the drivers were all extremely pleasant. The trek was great too. the food was excellent and our guide and cook were both extremely nice. We were lucky with the weather on the way up- cold but dry. we woke to snow on the following day which turned to torrential rain as we got further down the mountain! However we kept walking till lunch when the guides found us shelter and Mohammed sent transport to pick us up. I would certainly recommend your company to others, and indeed have already done so.
Elizabeth S
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 09 May 2013
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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 Holiday
on 01 May 2013
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We had an absolutely fabulous time and were delighted with your arrangements. Les Jardins de Maroc was outstanding as was our stay at Kasbah Touboukal. Our guide on the hike was very professional - all in all we could not fault anything and had a truly memorable holiday.
Many thanks to you and the team at Tourdust.
Christopher W
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 29 April 2013
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The trip to Morocco was great. Your information prior to travel was very helpful and being able to carry the "dossier" on a Kindle was so much better than printing the document. Dar Adrar was a great place to stay - they were so helpful, particularly when we arrived so late on our first day. The distances we trekked each day worked well given the conditions we were walking in - we had rain and snow on the second day so we needed time to dry out on the third so some time sat in the sun was more than welcome.The snow also meant walking was more difficult so the distance covered each day was about right. However, had the conditions been good, we did feel that some of the distances were a bit short. The guide and cook/muteteer were a great team. Abdul had lots of local knowledge but didn't force it on us. He was also very good at setting an appropriate pace. The food Mohammed cooked was brilliant for walking. He even managed to cook porridge for breakfast when he found out one of us couldn't eat bread. Ginger the mule was also an excellent companion - a bit on the quiet side but she definitely had an understated sense of humour!
The gites varied considerably. They were very cold at night but most had extra blankets. The only really difficult night was after the rain. Despite our waterproofs we were soaked to the skin and had no way to dry coats and trousers. Had the bad weather continued we would have had a miserable time being so wet and cold. Fortunately day 3 was bright and sunny so we steamed as we walked!
Eileen T
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 24 April 2013
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From the very beginning, Tourdust was a delight. Our itinerary was ideal - and perfectly ordered given the the range of things we had wanted to squeeze into our 10-day break to Morocco. We could not fault the accommodation choices - they were idyllic and we were very well looked after in all four of our locations. Our guide, Ibrahim, in the Atlas Mountains was wonderful - especially when we struggled (mentally!) through some unseasonal rain, hail, wind, snow and blizzards on our first day. The photos the following morning made it so worthwhile. I am sure we will find something decent to enter the photography competition with! Thank you
Katherine W
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 24 April 2013
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Jodie and I were very impressed with EVERYTHING about our holiday experience with you.
The pre-trip information and transportation to greet us at the airport and transport us to the Atlas Mountains worked like a dream (always very nervous of this when you arrive in a new country) so top marks to our driver there! Accommodation on the trek was far better than we had prepared ourselves for, visiting some lovely houses with clean sanitary conveniences (again we had packed the 'wet wipes' but were so pleased for hot showers!) Both our guide Lasan and Rashid were very accommodating and enjoyed having a laugh with us which made us feel very relaxed. I think only the 'mule' played up as she escaped one evening which caused a slight panic amongst them all!!!
Making our reservation at the Riad in Marrakesh (Dar Hanane) was a wonderful way to relax in Marrakesh.
All in all we will be contacting you again for our next trip (!) but also recommending your Services to our other friends as it was a completely stressed free, enjoyable trip.
Sarah a
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 24 April 2013
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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 Holiday
on 24 April 2013
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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
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We wanted to say what a fantastic time we had with the Tourdust trek. We couldn't fault it from start to finish. At the outset from my first call you were really helpful and engaging. I had been looking at a number of different operators but decided to go with you based on the consideration you showed on what I was looking for, the detailed information you sent through in a timely manner, the value for money of the trip and quality of your service. Tourdust immediately came across as flexible in terms of trek start dates, duration and pick-up/drop off transport.
In terms of the actual trek, our guide Adil and cook Mohamad should be singled out. They always ran to schedule (from pick up and drop off to the actual schedule on each day); they were considerate and attentive; professional; kind; they were always ready to answer our questions and interested in us and what we had to say and good conversationalists. We felt very well looked after the whole time. We were met at the trek starting point by the local rep which was a nice touch and he showed us a map of our trek and had a mint tea with us making sure we got away on the trek okay.
We particularly wanted to praise the cook/Muleteer Mohamad. He catered to our dietary needs as vegetarians making fantastic food every day. He was always happy and positive and made us feel very special, making sure we were happy with our food. The catering was excellent.
We noticed other muleteers not treating their mule so well whereas Mohamad had a great relationship with our mule and it responded to his verbal prompts which was impressive.
The actual trek was breathtaking. It was a good combination of physically challenging with stunning scenery; we loved the fact that is was an alternative trek so we hardly saw any tourists and really felt we had the mountains to ourselves. The lunch picnic spots were beautiful and again we felt like a king and queen being given cushions and blankets to sit on, hot mint tea to start things off and then lots of fresh, hearty and healthy food. The length of walking each day was just right.
The accommodation (and loos), as you advised, was basic but a great experience. It did get cold at night but we were given extra blankets and the dinners and breakfasts kept us going. I liked the fact we were staying with a local family/their place in a small village rather than a touristy place. After the trek on the first day when we had quite a few hours free, Adil our guide offered us an additional walk around the village which was really nice.
The whole standard of service from start to finish was 10 out of 10. We would definitely recommend Tourdust to friends and colleagues and are already talking about coming back again.
Thank you again for all your help in making this a fantastic experience and please pass on our thanks and feedback to the local team.
Rashmi B
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 10 April 2013
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A big thank you to the team at Tourdust for our fantastic trek to Mount Kenya.
We made it. It was a tough climb and not for those who are afraid of heights. I learnt loads about the flora and fauna of Africa from our expert guide Francis and we enjoyed great food prepared by Ngari.
Full write-up and pictures of my trip are here
Kathryn B
reviewing Mount Kenya: Sirimon - Chogoria Trek
on 04 April 2013
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We are very pleased with the trip we booked!
People were in time, polite, correct and keen on giving us a perfect holiday!
Jonathan V
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 22 February 2013
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On the 20th Jan 2013 we started our 3 day valley trek from imlil in the atlas mountains.
Ibrahim was our guide and Samir was our cook/mule handler. It was a great trek up to 2300m in the snow. Over the whole of our trek Ibrahim and samir were brilliant and really looked after both of us, helping us along the way as we were not quite as fit as we should have been. They made sure we went at the right pace, stopping when required. With this help we enjoyed the trek and all the food was really great. I would really recomend this trek and would give 10/10 for ibrahim and samir. The gites are a little cold so bring plenty of warm clothing for the overnight stays.
We also stayed in dar hanane in marrakech and in casa lila in essaouira, both were brill and we were transported by mustafa from the airport to all of our locations over the 10 days. Mustafa was always there on time and did a really good job. We really had a good time with plenty of laughs with ibrahim and samir and would like to thank them again.
richard g
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 22 February 2013
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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
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We had an excellent trip, thanks!
The guide was very knowledgeable and flexible with breaks, timings, etc. He kept phone contact with the main office to ensure all connections/vehicles were in the proper place at the right time. The lodging was acceptable for a trek. Nothing great, mostly hard huts or tented camps, but nice to have a warm shower on days between our tenting nights. The one night we were supposed to be in The Pelican Lodge, we were changed to Lake Nakuru Lodge, which was fantastic!
During the trek, the cook made wonderful breakfasts and dinners. There was a decent variety of soups, vegtable and meat dishes. Lunch was a basic 'box lunch' with a sandwich, chicken, boiled egg and fruit. Lunch was acceptable and fueled us for the journey, it just got a little redundant by the end of the trek.
All pre-trip literature was informative and sufficient.
I have already and will continue to recommend this trip to others. For the trek: the days are long and tiring, but it was very worth the effort, and the sense of accomplishment is immeasurable. The safari itself was also great. The amount of time spent driving between the trek end to Nakuru and Nakuru to Masai Mari got old... however, this is unavoidable when trying to do it all.
Thanks again for aranging a very enjoyable trip!
Alan B
reviewing Mount Kenya: Burguret Chogoria Traverse
on 11 January 2013
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Heather & I had a great time - with the guide and hotel in Addis and Lodge in Gondar all rated at highly.
Richard S
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 08 January 2013
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This was a great trip! Great value for money and a great way to learn about the Atlas and see Morocco! I felt a million miles away from home, with the breath taking views and of course both the cook and tour guide helped to make it a great experience. We never went hungry and the food was great!
Helen D
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 04 January 2013
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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
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Our Morocco trip was a great success.We made it to the top of Toubkal,and then enjoyed kicking back at Dar Hanane.
Our guide on the trek, tall Mohammed, was excellent. Conditions on the final climb were tough. It rained, hailed and snowed the afternoon before, and we were slipping around a fair bit on the last day. The hut we stayed in at Lipeney was great. The Toubkal refuge was a shocker! Really crowded.
Stuart W
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 December 2012
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My guide, Duncan Kingori, was fantastic. In the three days we were with him I don't think I ever asked him a question, on any topic, which he couldn't answer in detail. He was a fountain of information about the mating habits, gestation periods, family practices, hunting strategies etc. of every animal we encountered, but never in an intrusive way. He also appears to be an excellent driver and mechanic, and in a dozen hours or so we seem to have seen pretty much everything Maasai Mara can offer - not least all of the Big Five.
I was also very impressed by the two Mountain Rock camps, and think the new temporary camp inside the park is particularly fine. It was exactly what I wanted: comfortable, but not featherbedded or faux-colonial. I can't say I am a big fan of the Rock House in Karen - the staff were friendly enough and the food was OK, but all the tortured wood and fake (fibreglass) rock gives the place a heavy, gloomy air!
Meals, service & advice and overall impression was great. It would have been good to know that the last two hours of the drive to Maasai Mara are over an extremely uncomfortable unpaved (and washboarded) road; people might want to consider flying from the local airstrip to their next destination if the costs of doing so aren't prohibitive.
Andrew J
reviewing Maasai Explorer
on 18 December 2012
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We had a great trip with Tourdust. The guides (especially the cook) were fantastic and very supportive. All accommodation on the mountain was great. The first refuge we stayed at was fab and we welcomed the teams advice to camp at the second refuge. We would (and have already) recommended Tourdust to friends.
Richard T
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 December 2012
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First of all I wanted to thank you for this wonderful trip that you organised for us. we had a great time! The choice of the hotels was great, all of them were clean and had a nice atmosphere. The food was great in general and so were all cooks.
CHRISTOS G
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 18 December 2012
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Our guide really was wonderful, calm helpful and very good company - he also took care of us incredibly well along with our two other companions and their mules.
Everything was as we had expected - and the mountains were wonderful.
Elena I
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 17 December 2012
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Three 50+ year olds had a fab time on the Croatian Island Hopping Holiday in June 2012. The trip was extremely well organised, but we didn't feel as if we were being over regimented. The kayaks were well maintained and we had the option of singles or doubles. The kayaking was challenging, due to unusually high winds, but was manageable if not a little tiring. We paddled between 12 and 19km/day. On a very windy day, the water activities had to be cancelled, but they were replaced with an equally challenging and enjoyable hike. We had the services of the guide for an extra day at the end of the week, which should have been a free day, this was an unexpected bonus to compensate for the missed day at sea. The accommodation was basic but adequate, our room on Lopud didn't have air-conditioning, which was fine in June, but may be uncomfortable in August. Other rooms in Lopud did have aircon. The food was plentiful, very fresh and lovely.
Joy M
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 14 December 2012
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Brilliant in every respect.
Robert W
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 14 December 2012
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Eileen T
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 14 December 2012
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We really have to thank your company for putting us in such capable and welcoming hands, we had an absolutely amazing experience with the two guides that conducted us from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi and back, and recommend a tour with either as highly as is possible.
Our main guide, Ilyas, was a wonderful tour leader in every respect, displaying a comprehensive knowledge of local history and culture. His enthusiasm for these subjects was infectious -- there's really nothing to help a place come alive like somebody who really knows it, loves it, and loves sharing it, and this is certainly a description of Ilyas. Aside from his helpful asides about out-of-the-way places that we passed on our whirlwind few day trip, or lessons on Amazir language and culture, Ilyas really did everything he could to make sure that we felt at ease and comfortable. Spending a couple near uninterrupted days in a small car with new acquaintances really helps one appreciate this. No question that we had was foolish, no request to stop ignored or unheeded. When we asked to stop somewhere for some camel milk, for instance, both Ilyas and Mohammed (our driver) took this request very seriously indeed. Combined with the clinic that Mohammed put on when it came to cornering and basic highway citizenship (police would recognize him along the way, and ask him for reports on highway accidents), both Jason and I are sure that we couldn't have asked for any better pair of guides to conduct us on our journey.
Sara D
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 12 December 2012
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We were extremely impressed with the organisation, logistics and execution of the trip by the local team on the ground - we didn't expect a trip to Africa to run so smoothly! Plus a lovely touch by a few hotels who acknowledged it was our honeymoon....petals on beds in Addis Regency and Gondar, with a free evening meal at the latter too!
Richard W
reviewing Highlights of Northern Ethiopia
on 11 December 2012
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Thanks Tourdust, for showing us close up how people live in Ethiopia and its amazing wildlife.
Luke P
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 11 December 2012
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We really enjoyed both the Toubkal climb and the dessert trip! Very well organised.
We had the same guide for both, Elias, who treated us pretty well and was extremely flexible on changing routes or stopping where we wanted to. If I have to pick on something, and I may be a bit too fussy, is that he knew and explained broad historical/cultural issues but sometimes it felt that it was a bit limited. Probably give him a 4/5.
Accommodation was pretty basic, but I do realise that there is not a lot of choice when you are up there!Give you a 3/5
The meals in the toubkal trip were very good and very large amounts. We had the vegetarian option, and the only thing is that they were a bit the same throughout the trip. Another 4/5
Very good service arranging/organising the trip prior and during it- sorting out taxis, etc. Super reliable. Give you a 5/5.
Very good overall impressions. Very well selected routes and very enjoyable experience overall. Give you a 5/5 again and will definitely be looking for tourdust trips in the future!
Ignacio V
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 11 December 2012
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Both our guides were fine, did a good job, walked at a good pace for our group. Kept a close eye on us on the last night and helped me keep going even when not feeling well. Only thing i would say is that they weren't overly friendly. Felt a bit like they spoke to us enough to sort of do their job and make conversation but sort of expected that they might be a bit more friendly and enthusiastic. Might have been due to the fact we were two girls though? Didn't really stop us enjoying it, just would have been nice! 4/5
Considering your on a mountain the food was good and there was a lot of it. Though this became a bit of a problem as we felt so much pressure to eat it, not once did we finish all the food that was provided, and felt bad about the waste. Perhaps the cook needs to be more open to changing the portions of food he cooks depending on how much people eat! 4/5
All the information from tourdust through booking was excellent. We had plenty of information to help decide the route and to prepare for the climb. Though we were advised to take water purifying tablets, but actually they already purified the water. And walking poles were an optional extra however we were advised they were essential on arrival and had to rent some. 5/5
Emily D
reviewing Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
on 11 December 2012
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This was an excellent trip which exposed us to the life of Amazier (Berber) villagers in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco enhanced by the detail provided by the guides and complimented by the local food and service provided by the head muleteer, who was highly respected by the guides and others alike. The first three days provided an opportunity to acclimatise to the temperature more than the altitude but better that way than both at the same time. The next three days provided exactly what we wanted in terms of a challenging trek with the flexibility to change the itinerary to cater for our individual and group needs and the day at the end provided experience of the markets and conflicting lifestyle in Marrakech to that in the mountains.
The guides, cook and muleteers we had were excellent and couldn’t do enough to keep us happy even to the point of arranging surprise cakes and fritters on the third day of the trek when I mentioned it was one of the group members birthday. The food was excellent throughout, with fresh vegetables, fruit and some fish and meat was provided with the majority of meals, the only improvement would have been the provision of fresher bread as it became a little monotonous eating stale bread because you had it with everything; perhaps we were just spoilt on the days 1 and 2 at Dar Ardar. Our guides Mohammed and Ilyas were tentative and informative throughout and although Mohammed was clearly the more experienced of the two, Ilyas provided the group with a daily insight into the life of Berber and the history of the Amazier people which enhanced the experience had by all.
Marshall K
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 11 December 2012
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The Imlil accommodation ( Dar Adrar) & food were just right (5/5) although it came as quite a surprise (albeit a pleasant one for us) that the last 10mins of the transfer from airport to accommodation was by foot & luggage by mule.
The guide Lasan and the cook Rashid were both excellent and literally went out of their way, an extra 3 hour walk for them, to help us on our return trip, it having snowed quite alot during the night, and so making the original planned return route difficult. Both 5/5 and Rashid's meals (5/5) produced on a mountainside were better presented, better tasting, and better quantities (too much sometimes) than some of the restaurant meals we subsequently had in Marrakech.
The Riad Dar Hanane was also good with very attentive service (perhaps occasionally over attentive for our tastes) and the overall feel of the Riad was perhaps a little sterile, but again that is a matter of taste; and breakfast quantities were a little spartan (4/5 - a loaf each instead of one to share is all that is needed and to be fair we did not request this at the time - I suspect it would have been granted). Aziz was very genial and, as it turned out, the hand drawn maps by Mohammed were valuable for navigating Marrakech.
The behind the scenes organisation in Morocco appeared faultless (5/5)
The UK bookings advice & service also good.(4.5/5)
Overall we had a very enjoyable break (5/5). Thank you
Richard F
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 11 December 2012
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Firstly Hassan our guide. What a lovely man, relaxed but attentive and primarily concerned with our wellbeing. On our final day we had to cope with some rather challenging conditions. Very high winds gusting on exposed paths with loose scree on either side of narrow tracks. For some of the way he hand held my partner as our ears filled up with small stones and dust,a professional job very well done top marks from us 5 out of 5.
Accommodation was good although fairly basic. A small issue would be the problem of lack of running water at our 1st accommodation especially as it was the “traditional” drop toilet. 3 out of 5.
Mustapha our muleteer and cook was also fabulous cheerful respectful and what a spread he would put on. Who else can put weight on while trekking in the Atlas? Top marks 5 out of 5.
Booking and service was good 4/5 out of 5.
Our overall impression was great. The trek itself was stunning and we enjoyed it no end and thank goodness within our capabilities another top score 5 out of 5. Thanks!
Sue N
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 11 December 2012
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We really enjoyed the tour. We found it to be well organised (both in booking /prior to departure and during), good value for money and very accommodating - for example the fact that we were asked if we would like to postpone our taxi ride back to Marrakech (we were staying at Kasbah du Toubkal for 2 nights after the tour ended, before travelling on to Marrakech), being given the option to store our excess baggage in the Tour Dust office in Imlil and then having this delivered direct to the Kasbah on our arrival, and our guide escorting us straight to the Kasbah at the end of the tour.
I think it would be important to state that the mules aren't with you at all times, so store everything you might need for that morning/afternoon in your daypack (we were caught in a heavy rain storm without our macs because of this).
Daphne F
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 11 December 2012
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We had the most amazing time, I really can't say how wonderful the whole holiday was as from the start to the finish we were looked after by whoever was the person at the time so beautifully! Lasen the guide is truly such a lovely man who was a shadow when he was needed by my father but was sensitive when not! So 5 out of 5 for the guide, it was the most memorable brilliant holiday!! The only slight change that did occur was that we didn't go the Riad Dar Hanane, we turned up there and they said that we were staying at the sister riad, which was called Riad Tzarra which was seriously amazing.
Camilla D
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 11 December 2012
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We returned yesterday from our Morocco trip and I just wanted to write to say thank you to Tourdust as we had a fantastic time and everything went very smoothly, which is extremely impressive given the last minute nature of our trip. Thank you, and I will not hesitate to recommend Tourdust to friends.
Also I just wanted to add how fantastic we found our guide Abdul and our cook Mohammed to be. For three days they were great company and great guides/cooks and I have no doubt we would not have made it up Toubkal without them.
Nicholas S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 11 December 2012
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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
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We would not hesitate to give our guide and chef 5 stars as there was nothing really we could fault them on. The guide was very friendly and chatty, speaking great English and was very attentive throughout.
Although the chef didn't speak English to the same standard, he was always extremely polite and cooked the authentic Moroccan dishes to a high standard in rather difficult circumstances (in a large tent).
The accommodation was a tent, which we of course expected, but the guide did put the tent up and even provided sleeping mats, which were much needed.
The contact we received from both yourself and the guide prior to departure was great, especially the Itinerary, and the guide was very flexible in allowing us to return from the trip a little early for our onward journey.
Overall the trip was excellent and certainly a highlight of our 3 week stay in Morocco and we would recommend to anyone thinking of booking a similar excursion.
5 stars all round!
Adam W
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 11 December 2012
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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
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I really loved this trip. Croatia is simply stunning and I will certainly go back there. Kayaking is a brilliant way to explore the beautiful coast. The highlights for me were the simple pleasures - exploring caves; playing around with my waterproof camera; the satisfaction of paddling over to the mainland in the heat of the day and once there, diving off the harbor walls.
I was already confident in a kayak so found the pace easy. Our guides were friendly, relaxed and helpful. The only downside for me for a spot of seasickness on the first day, but luckily the waters were much calmer for the remainder of the trip.
The food was typical Mediterranean fare - tasty and simple. My accommodation was just as I expected, a basic, comfortable guest-house with a friendly hug from my landlady at the end of my stay!
Can you please pass on my thanks to the excellent mainland-based tour guide who put himself out to drop me in Dubrovnik old town on Thursday and looked after my bags so I could explore, before driving me the airport that evening. That's the sort of helpful, friendly touch that you wouldn't get with a bigger company.
5 out of 5 for everything!
Anne-Marie C
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 11 December 2012
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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
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We had a great trek and thought the Atlas mountains were really beautiful. The tour guide and the muleteer were both excellent and would score 5/5 without a doubt. The standard of the food we were served was excellent and probably the best we had on our whole holiday. I couldn't believe the trouble that Samir had gone to on the first day when we arrived for our lunch of freshly prepared food and mint tea.
Christine W
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 05 December 2012
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Our trekking guide was great, walked at our pace, and taught us a lot about the mountains, we met his family while sheltering from the rain and had tea and cakes.
The accomodation at both Riad Tzarra and the Kasbar near Ilmil were great, staff could not be more helpful, or kind.The only thing we might have asked is that as we were the only guests in Riad Tzarra that after the initial welcoming from the Manager of Riad Da Hanne - was that she had come back during our dinner in the evening just to answer a couple of questions we had (but i think that was due to our actual manager being on holiday).
Food was delicious in both accomodations particulalry at the Berber Guest House. We even asked for a recipe for some of the food to take home with us.
Would definately go away with tourdust again and will reccomend to friends (as it was recommended to us via a friend).
It provided us with a really interesting authentic experience, with the ease of a tour without feeling like you were on a tour. All taxis and guides and arrangements were perfectly on time and perfectly suited to what we wanted. It allowed us to fit so much into a short stay.
Charlotte S
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 27 November 2012
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I really enjoyed the trip despite the rotten weather. The guide, Mohammed, could not have been better - he was competent, friendly, informative and had a great sense of humour. He rose to every challenge that the weather posed and looked after us extremely well; definitely a 5. The accommodation at Imlil was exactly as I expected, the staff and the food were great. The Bel Haj in Marrakech was better than expected, the room was luxurious and the staff were all friendly and efficient, the manageress coming in to see me, suggesting places to visit etc. Once again a 5 for accommodation. All services prior to departure were also worth a 5 as was my overall impression. Thank you for an extremely well arranged and managed holiday
Warwick H
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 16 October 2012
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Amazing time, 6 of us joined the group, the two guides were so lovely friendly and very helpful. The guest houses on both islands were very traditional and very nice and the owners so welcoming. Ben and Anna at Tourdust made organising this group holiday very easy by constantly keeping in touch and answering questions etc. The kayaks and equipment was very good and each day was an adventure. I would highly recommend Tourdust to others. Thankyou for a very good holiday. Anne's group Norwich
Anne H
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 09 October 2012
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Ibrahim was my guide. I found him to be attentive, good humoured and relaxed. I did not appreciate until I got to the refuge that the final 1000 metres of Toubkal would be attempted in the dark commencing 5 am on the second day. That was a 3 hour hike, mostly in the dark, up the scree and it was tough going. Ibrahim was careful as we got closer to the top to make sure I paced myself and he slowed his own pace down quite markedly even though he felt the cold.
On refection it would have been preferable to have spent a second night at the refuge and walked back to Imlil the following day. The final hike up and down Toubkal was enough of a hike in itself and knowledge that one had to hike down from the refuge to Imlil added a time pressure to the day. This was of course subjective but I would recommend to anyone that they enjoy the moment of having climbed Toubkal and then spend the rest of that day at the refuge. I should add that the company and character of hikers at the refuge was outstanding. It was a pleasure to have met such a great group of open and sociable people at one time in such a place. I probably should add that that may have been a one off as the following day a small group arrived marked by a determination to keep to themselves and remain closed to others.
The walk back to Imlil was pleasant. It was a fair walk on top of an already full day. Ibrahim set a cracking pace.
The cook was also terrific. The food was superb. It really was excellent. I do not want to sound ungracious but the lunch cooked on the first day was a feast with the result that the rest of the hike was made more difficult as my blood supply moved to my stomach to digest food when it was needed elsewhere.
It was a great 2 day trip and I remain grateful for your expertise and your assistance.
Kevin H
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 05 October 2012
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I had a fantastic experience and we were well looked after by our guide Abdul and cook Hamid. The staff at Tourdust provided an excellent organising and facitilating service. Abdul was 5/5 he was able, thorough and very thoughtful and had a good sense of humour. Hamid the cook was excellent too. The mountain huts were fine. Some other travellers had concerns over the squat toilet facilities but we were happy with everything. The beds were comfortable and the food was excellent. The question of tipping or not tipping hut custodians is a bit of a quandary and there seems to have been an increase in the size of tips expected in general. It would be useful to have advice from the company on this. Food was Really healthy and delicious food served with great enthusiasm. I particularly benefited from the porrage at breakfast times. The colourful salad supplied at the col at 3000 metres was particularly note worthy. The panacakes made for us at the Netlner refuge were of exceptionally good quality.
Sid G
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 28 September 2012
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Definitely 5/5 across the board. An amazing and memorable trip enjoyed by everyone in the party – even those who had reservations about attempting the challenge. Elias was a great guide. His pace was just right for a mixed ability group of our size, he was helpful and very good at preparing us mentally for what lay ahead when answering the ‘how much further?’ ‘how much higher?’ questions. He was very knowledgeable about the local landscape scenery and was obviously very keen to educate us on Berber culture, which was fascinating.
The accommodation in Imlil and Marrakesh was absolutely stunning. A fantastic way to start and end the trip. Fantastic introduction to Morocco in Imlil in traditional riad. The place in Marrakesh was fabulous too – the setting, facilities, food, staff, and the amazing Mandy were faultless. Camping was less luxurious! Quality of the tents and the facilities in the refuge were better than expected although quite basic. The decision to sleep in tents rather than in the crowded noisy dorms was the right one. However the final night under canvas wasn’t much fun given the (unexpected and unseasonal) incessant rain and wind.
Food on trek was amazing. Fresh, tasty, filling and plentiful. Far superior to anything any of the group expected. Unbelievable that the cooks could whip up such amazing food in the middle of nowhere.
I’d have no hesitation at all in recommending Tourdust to anyone who wants first class service, accurate information, eager, informed guides and amazing chefs.
Marie G
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 27 September 2012
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Got back from Morocco last night and the 3 day trek we organised with you was awesome! Such an amazing experience and well worth it to get to the top!
The tour guide Mohammed was excellent. He spoke perfect English and was very informative 5/5
Staying in tents in the refuges was really enjoyable for me but was basic. I was not expecting luxury and thought it was everything that we needed 4/5
Meals were amazing, true moroccan cuisine and plenty of it! 5/5
We were given all the advice and information needed for the trip 5/5
Overall experience was great! Thanks very much 5/5
Alice S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 13 September 2012
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All three guides, one on each trip were excellent, coped with the variety of people on the trips well - especially so on the Canyoning - were knowledgable, competent and friedndly. Only slight disappointment was the snorkleing trip which was enjoyable but there wasn't a lot pointed out to look at; so kayaking and canyoning 5, snorkelling 4. The Riverside hotel - great, couldn't fault it for the price range. Staff really friendly and helpful, rooms basic but good, pool excellent. A really enjoyable trip, I would recommend it to others.
Dave B
reviewing Family Activity Holiday in Turkey
on 15 August 2012
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Our main guide, Ibrahim, was amazing. Our porters/cooks Mohamed and Samir were brilliant too. Ibrahim knew everything and, despite it being during Ramadan and trying to conserve energy, he would talk with us frequently and give us loads of information wherever we wanted it. As he knew so many people he was able to arrange everything quickly, and all three of them were a masterful team at preparing where we were sleeping and what we were eating and so on. I presume it was the Morrocan way, but there wasn't too much communication of what was happening next and so on. Things just happened - as we'd anticipate them to - but without too much fuss and chat about it. We'd always have a meeting at the end of the day to discuss the next day.
Accommodation was fine and certainly on level with expectations. We had 'guesthouses' in the Berber villages for the first three nights, and on the fourth night we were in the Toubkal Refuge. The accommodation was very basic - a mat on a floor in someone's house - but we weren't expecting anything else so it was good.
Drew T
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 15 August 2012
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Everything, from start to finish, was perfect. Minalu, our guide, and Yohannes (Johnny) our driver, were absolutely wonderful. I had never taken a private custom tour before and was not sure what to expect. Minalu and Johnny were fabulous. I think what I appreciated the most was their flexibility and absolute sincere interest in showing us their country. I loved that over dinner Minalu would give us briefings on the history of the country. He was extremely knowledgeable and I truly appreciated learning so much from him. We would often stop in villages that neither of them knew so we could visit typical homes, or visit the markets. We also crashed a wedding near Hawzien as they thought it was something we should see. We were of course received with open arms by the people at the wedding and offered copious amounts of local honey beer. We made several spontaneous stops in villages when we saw a market or special event. There is no way we could have experienced this in a large organized group tour.
When we were planning this trip you asked us right at the start what our interests were. So, we said we were looking for a trip that included lots of culture and history and a lot of photography. And this trip delivered on all counts. Minalu knew that I was very interested in photography and ensured that this was a big part of the trip. Johnny was great, stopping whenever we wanted to let us take photos. Minalu often intervened for us with the local people to ask them to have their photo taken. I could not have asked for more in terms of photographic opportunities. Well, maybe less haze and bluer skies, which Minalu tried to get for us.
Our trip started with 2 days in Awash. The area does not have the abundant wildlife you would see in Kenya or South Africa but the huge plains of thorn trees and large herds of Oryx were quite impressive. We did see a few zebras, some austrich, antelope, warthogs, baboons, dikdik and the black backed jackal. My absolute favorite part of this area was our visit with the Afar people. We visited a local village with a local guide and got a quick glimpse into the lives of these nomadic people. My only regret is that this visit was very short. Accommodations in Awash were very good. The Anamalia lodge was a bit expensive for food, but we did get to eat antelope.
After Awash we went North towards to more historic highlands area of Ethiopia. We stopped at Bati market which we toured with a local guide. We did miss the camel market as we got there too late. Our local guide should have taken us there immediately on arrival in Bati however we only went to that area of the market after lunch and it was over by then. The market itself is spectacular as there are people from all over the area. This was an incredible glimpse into the lives of the Ethiopian people. They come from all over to sell their wares, just amazing, like stepping back in time.
Our next big stop was Lalibela. Of course the rock-hewn churches are amazing. We had a wonderful day visiting all the churches with our local guide. But for me the next stop, Ghelralta was an absolutely spectacular highlight. I never expected this at all. We climbed to the top of mountains to see incredible rock hewn churches and monasteries from the 6th century. To me, these were the absolute highlights of the trip. Going up Abuna Yamata Goh is something I will never forget, and I really appreciated Minalu taking us up there. When we saw where we were going we thought he was crazy, but he and the guides encouraged us and helped us all the way up. It does sort of require nerves of steel to go up the sheer rock face and then the small ledge along the cliff to the actually church. The Gheralta lodge is probably the best place we stayed. It is quite isolated but so calm and relaxing and the food was delicious. I could have stayed there for a week just to relax and visit the sites.
A short drive from Hawzien brought us to Axum, the ancient home of the legendary Queen Sheba. We toured all the ancient sites with an excellent local guide, and saw the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. It was a very full day of touring which was great.
The Simien Mountains was the next stop, three nights of camping. We were not sure what to expect but this whole trek was amazing. We joked about how many people it takes to take two Canadians camping. We had Minalu with us, and a local guide, a scout, a cook, the cook’s assistant, 4 mules and 4 muleteers. The service on the trek was top notch. Our cook was excellent. It is incredible to arrive at the camp after a full day of trekking in the mountains and have hot water waiting for us to clean up, a nice cup of coffee and popcorn. We had a bit of time to relax before dinner, then time for a short trek to see the sunset and wildlife after dinner. Our local guide set the perfect pace for us during the trek. The trek up to Inatye was difficult, but our local guide took his time getting us there. We got lucky and did not get any rain during the entire three days despite some menacing looking clouds.
The wildlife in the Simiens is fascinating, especially the Gelada baboons. I loved these animals. They allowed us to get quite close to photograph them. They are fascinating animals, plucking the dried grass to eat the fresher roots. While trekking we came to valley in the midst of a Gelada baboon fight. The sound of the screaming baboons echoing through the valley was unbelievable. And of course in the Simiens we encountered the Walia Ibex. There were a few near out camp at Chennek, and then we saw a whole herd of them on a short trek we took on out last morning in the mountains. We must have spent more than an hour watching the whole herd descend from the top of a cliff to the valley. It was nearing rutting season so there was a lot of sniffing and posturing by the males. It was just a wonderful experience to see this. We also saw the Bush Buck, the Klipspringer and many birds like the Lammergeier vulture.
One thing that surprised us was how populated the trekking area is. There were quite a few villages and lots of kids shepherding their flocks. It was kind of nice to see all the local people throughout the park. We stopped at a local house for a coffee ceremony during the second day of the trek.
(Just a side note about the trekking - I think it would be important to warn trekkers of the potential dangers in the campgrounds. There are lots of people milling around the campsites with all the muleteers and villagers around. We met a woman who was trekking at the same time as us but spend an extra night in Geech so was in Chennek the day after us. We met up with her again in Gondar and she told us she was robbed in the middle of the night in her tent at Chennek. Someone slashed her tent and made off with her bag. Armed guards and guides cannot prevent this kind of thing at night. So trekkers should be warned to keep all valuables on their person even at night. This woman lost almost everything and as you can imagine she was quite traumatized by the whole thing. We had discussions with our leader about this and from his point of view it would be too scary to the travelers to be told there were certain dangers. Our leader did however leave most of his money and his valuable with the driver, seemingly aware of the potential for thieves. It was never suggested to us that we do the same.)
After our wonderful trek we headed to Gondar, with a quick stop at a Falasha village. This stop was not very interesting, more of a tourist trap than anything else. Our stay in Gondar was very nice. The hotel Fasil Lodge was very nice, and the restaurant was very good. The history around Gondar is fascinating, a visit to the old castles and churches was our morning activity, and in the afternoon we went to visit a monastery on Lake Tana. The whole area of Lake Tana is so different. It has a more tropical feel to it. The monasteries on Lake Tana near Bahir Dar were interesting. Perhaps after having visited so many churches and monasteries we were starting to feel a bit churched out, but the paintings and history of the area are very fascinating. Some of the monasteries around the lake are very touristy, perhaps this led to our feeling of this being less authentic. Lots and lots of stalls selling jewellery and other local crafts.
We also saw the Blue Nile falls, the source of the Blue Nile and the Blue Nile Gorge. The falls are not what they were before the installation of a dam but just seeing the falls and the actual source of the Nile was amazing.
And so to end my little trip resumé, I have reiterate that the whole trip was outstanding. The hotels we stayed at were all excellent, and the restaurants suggested to us by Minalu were as well. While it is difficult to choose my favorite parts of this trip, I would have to say the highlights for me were the visit to the Afar village, the monasteries and churches of the Gheralta plateau and the Simien Mountains Trek. And seeing the churches at Lalibela was a dream come through after having read about them so long ago.
Anne-Marie B
reviewing Classic Northern Circuit & Simien Mountains Trek
on 10 August 2012
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Our guide, Frederick was excellent and very knowledgeable, definitely a 5. The meals were great and the quantity of food slightly overwhelming on occasion! The service and effort put into presentation far exceeded out expectations
James I
reviewing Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
on 04 August 2012
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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
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Thank you for sorting out a wonderful comprehensive schedule with spot-on organization. I had a great time. Mohamed and his staff were excellent and helpful. My guide Hassan was excellent and knowledgeable. Accommodation at Dar Adrar was good (4/5) and excellent at Dar Vedra (5/5). I was impressed with La Maison Arabe where I had an exquisite lunch. Meals provided at the guesthouses were also good.
The advice I received prior to departure was excellent. I achieved what I set out to do and it is all thanks to the smooth organization laid out by you. I am truly impressed. Once again, thank you.
ALBERT L
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 30 July 2012
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We had a great time!!
Guides - 5
Accom - 4
Meals - 4
Prior - 4
Overall - 5
Paul R
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 28 July 2012
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Overall, we had a wonderful time.
The only downside was the toilets in the Gites(but we kind of expected that).
Special mention to Ibrahim, our guide, who was very good. Rashid and Hassan cooked excellent meals.
All three now know how to do the "hokey kokey"...... we weren't so good at the Berber signing and dancing!
Piers T
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 26 July 2012
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On the first day of the trek our guide was there to collect us, early, even though our Riad was possibly one of the hardest to find. He had a smile on his face and was willing to help in any way. From there on, things only got better. We had an extremely comfortable ride up to the start, with our guide explaining exactly what was going on and giving us well received Moroccan history lessons to boot!
Throughout the four days, our guide and cook would do anything for us! They were extremely professional! The guide was very knowledgable, spoke English as if it was his mother tongue and led us with confidence. The cook was able to knock up a pot of mint tea on demand and kept it coming, he was very well mannered and built an excellent rapport. We joked with him from day 1, truly lovely man!
The various places that we stayed were well thought out, giving us good variation. Allowing us to see how the local population lived as well as experiencing the mountain huts. The routes were excellent and we had a choice of making them more challenging if we so liked; but the treks are literally for anyone, hitch a ride on a mule if you struggle.
I have already recommended this service to a close friend and i urge anyone to give it a go! Top draw!
Dafydd D
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 20 July 2012
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As a group of 8, fifty something women, our trek crew: a guide; 2 armed scouts; a cook with 2 assistants; 8 mule men with 10 mules; treated us with great care and kindness from the outset. Our goal was a moderate 10 day, 9 night, camping circuit including all the main camps in the National Park, the peak of Ras Dashen and then a walk out though the northern lowlands along the river Incya to the town of Adi Arkaye
The scenery was stunning from the outset. Our tents were generous to huge and offered a great vantage point to rest and watch the world go by at the end of a long day. April is late in the dry season with very hot, parched and windy conditions which we found challenging. Daily we coped with deep dust underfoot, dehydrating and abrasive sun and wind, temperatures soaring from the upper 80s down to sub-zero at night on the higher stretches. Our party were experienced trekkers and/ or runners so not fazed by the effort required.
Shetu, Our guide, had a proud demeanour, a wonderfully understated sense of humour, coupled with a deep knowledge of the place, people and wildlife. All this belied his youth. Nagar, our cook, took pleasure in serving up nourishing, simple meals and readily adapted to our broad range of tastes and needs. Ginger and Thyme teas soon became a regular feature alongside the end of day snacks coffee and black tea.
The first stretch through the park was busy with other trek parties and it offered us excellent acclimatisation with stunning escarpment views. Chennek camp gave close up encounters with Gelada baboons and Ibex. Walking out of the park, going East, we dropped down to Ambiko for the overnight camp en-route to Ras Dashen. From that point we left all visitors behind seeing only our support crew and local people for the rest of the trip. The climb to the summit was a long day, starting before dawn, walking ever upwards with local farmers, hawkers and construction workers for company. The summit was a scramble and rewarded us with magnificent views. Returning to camp exhausted our muleteers feted us with posies.
As we journeyed out north we stayed at a variety of village and wild camps, sometimes finishing our evenings with a group sing song. On one occasion our cook and scout joined in. The wild camp at Sonar was in a dramatic, cliff top location with huge views and a special atmosphere. The following day we dropped down a spiralling path to the valley over 1,000m below. As we followed the river we saw a huge array of birds and other wildlife.
Ben at Tourdust was quick to respond to all our queries. He helped to sort out a couple of pre-trip setbacks and we would recommend this service for those working on tight timescales. This was a really memorable trip and a great introduction to Africa for those new to trekking on this amazing continent
Anon
reviewing Simien Mountain & Ras Dashen Trek
on 17 July 2012
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We had a great itme and Ibrahim (guide) and Shahera (cook) were both
Ellen B
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 10 July 2012
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Altogether a great trip. We were extremely well looked after by Tourdust, and Francis and his team from the moment we were picked up at our hotel in Nairobi to the moment we were dropped off at Lewa safari Park. Francis was an excellent ‘Leader’, bright and knowledgeable, and with very good judgement. We would very happily recommend both Francis and his team, and Tourdust. The final ascent to the non-technical peak of Mt Kenya, Lenana, was perfectly judged despite the foot of snow that had fallen overnight. A great trip.
Julian W
reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek
on 06 July 2012
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I would rate the trip a 5. Mohammed the guide was great as well…was patient and telling us to go slow as to not over exert ourselves.
Food was to die for…and so much of it; couldn't even finish it all. Not to mention actually climbing toubkal itself, what an unbelievable feeling. Some parts of the climb were hard like the switchbacks and the final 200m to the top but it wouldn't be a climb without some hard parts, which were few and far between. The view from the top was amazing…the feeling of accomplishment.
I would totally recommend this trip to other travelers. Any traveller would not regret it, the mountain, the people; just unbelievable!!
Michael M
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 04 July 2012
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We really had a wonderful time (despite us being unwell for a few days of the trip) and we found Anna at Tourdust and Mohammed in Morocco both really supportive, flexible & accommodating when we had to change our itinerary at the last minute due to being unwell. All of the staff at our riads and hotel were equally as fantastic & I think overall we would give the customer service and the trip itself five out of five!
Miranda W
reviewing Coast, Souks & Mountains
on 27 June 2012
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The best part of the trek was certainly my guide, Mohammed, and cook, Ali. They were both just so incredibly professional, friendly, and helpful - and are just genuinely good people. Mohammed also definitely knew the trail like the back of his hand, and I was also really happy to have someone as fit as Mohammed. I wanted to push myself on this trek and get some good exercise, but also see and experience the beautiful scenery of the Atlas Mountains. Mohammed somehow read my mind and was always a step ahead of me. I also learned that there is a Toubkal marathon each year - 42km plus a 3,000m climb in elevation and that Mohammed did it in less than 6-hours. Incredible. It's also very impressive the English he has been able to pick up just from guiding tourists - in addition to French, Spanish, Arabic, and Berber. I also really appreciated him sharing some of the history of Morocco with me, from the Berbers to the Romans and Hannibal of Carthage, to the introduction of Islam and them French colonialism, and eventually independence. Fascinating.
Just a quick story: I didn't eat enough at breakfast one morning and was just starving by around 10am. Mohammed very thoughtfully offered me almost his entire bag of nuts from Imlil. I thought that was incredibly generous.
The trip was equally impressive. I had no idea the food that Ali prepared would be so good and plentiful. I meant to use this trip to get into peak physical shape, instead I may have actually put on weight from eating so well! Totally unexpected, but welcome. I also really appreciated the quality of the gear that I rented - a sleeping bag, raincoat, and tent. Finally, the Atlas Mountains are just beautiful, one of a kind, and perfect weather throughout the entire trip. Imlil was very nice too and an oasis away from the madness of Marrakech. I really did NOT like Marrakech.
The only bad experience was I got bed bugs from the mattress at the last refuge we stayed at. I'm pretty upset about this and don't know how to get rid of these things. Also, I didn't get any sleep that night from these loud Spaniards who snored all night. It was awful. Mohammed warned me not to sleep in the refuge because of the snoring, but I didn't listen. I really wish I had listened to him in retrospect. The shower and the toilets at the refuge were a pleasant surprise though.
I might also recommend that Imlil sell: (1) Toilet paper, (2) Sunscreen, and (3) Baby wipes or that TourDust strongly encourage customers to bring these items with them from their country and make it very clear that they will likely not be able to buy them in Imlil - and that they'll have to bargain for them in Marrakech - totally not worth the energy and time in my opinion.
Altogether, thank you for one of the best trips I have ever made.
Frederik E
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 23 June 2012
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Would rate the trip as 6 out of 5. Don't think I can say anymore than that. Had a fantastic time with great paddling. My only problem was we didn't stay for the week. I will recommend it to as many people as I can and I will return. Great value for money.
Theresa T
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 22 June 2012
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A great trip. There was a choice of single and double kayaks which were of good quality. The trips included a mix of coastal exploration and short crossings which was a good combination.. A star feature was a trip to a family small holding where we were fed copious quanties of home grown vegetables, goat and chicken reared on the farm and washed down with home made red wine and an interesting selection of liquers. At the end of the meal the guide got out is guitar and played and sang some classic English folky type songs. Accomodation but modest but fine and there was a good selection of restuarants. Obala on Lopad and the hotel on Sipad were very good value for a upmarket meal whilst the other restuarants we visited all had good fish.
Angela M
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 19 June 2012
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We had a wonderful time on our trip through Morocco. We would rate the experience a 4/5 overall and Tourdust a 5/5. We had a wonderful time seeing the Moroccan country side. The only negatives were the extensive driving time (couldn’t be avoided) and that we wish we’d had a little bit more time on our own. We loved both our guide and our driver, but four days straight together was a little much.
Tourdust did a completely perfect job coordinating the trip. I was sure SOMETHING was going to go wrong. But the only things that did were our own errors (such as arriving at the airport too late).
Thank you so much for your help! We hope to use you again on a future trip.
Betsy T
reviewing Boutique Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 06 June 2012
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Tourdust did an excellent job of organizing our trip. It was completely seamless. We had an amazing experience at both the trekking excursion in the Atlas Mountains and staying in Marrakesh. An adventure that we will never forget.
Janele T
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 24 May 2012
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It was obvious from the start of the trail that the guides know their job well I've been trekking and mountaineering for 30 years and I was confident that the group was in safe and experienced hands.
We had a great trip and will be back again in the future for more of the same.
Eugene M
reviewing Sahara, Souks and Mountains Explorer
on 24 May 2012
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It was bloody brilliant. We missed our out bound plane but both Tourdust in the UK and Mohammed in Morocco made sure we were still met and transported without problem or complaint. Every connection was on time, every driver was helpful- so customer service gets a 5.
The experience overall was fantastic. Our guide (Ibrahim) and cook (Mohammed) were friendly, funny and very much in control at all times. I hope you get them lots of work, even in their fourth language (English) they were brilliant.
The food was better than I eat at home (certainly healthier) and we learnt about the big stories (Berber history, Moroccan politics, Islam) and the small (wildlife, irrigation, local trade). Other travellers may wish to know that we learnt when we asked, they were not forcing information on us. Again a 5 from 5.
I can't think of any major improvements, but as a suggestion, perhaps a warning as to how tough the last day is. Climbing the peak and trekking back to Imlil was as physically demanding as I found the three peaks and 24 peaks challenges in the UK. But not a complaint, just an observation.
I would also like to mention the staff at the Assia Riad. Despite us being very tired and disorientated, they were very helpful changing money for us, helping us with information and luggage storage. Polite, friendly and helpful.
We would recommend it to other travellers. We met a lot of independent and pick ups at the Toubkal bunkhouse and those without guides were notably disorientated with a degree of stress to add to the physical challenge. Sadly we are not young anymore but our guides read our capabilities perfectly and knew when to rest and when to push.
peter w
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 May 2012
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Ben and Anna really know their stuff when it comes to Morocco and they answered all of our queries to do with our forthcoming trip out there - nothing was too much trouble. We loved the personal, friendly and expert service that we received, especially in a world of call centres and 'computer says no' type people and businesses! They are really good value too, especially considering the level of service received.
Our 3 day Atlas valleys trek was an amazing experience and one that we will remember forever - the scenery is just breathtaking with red, green and grey rock hills and mountains, cherry blossom and iris flora in the valleys, snow capped mountains against azure blue cloudless skies, stunning waterfalls and wonderful little villages dotted along the way with the most friendly and accommodating of locals to greet you. Our guide, Ilyas, was a brilliant guide too and really added to the fun and enjoyment of the trek.
The whole trip was organised brilliantly with plenty of useful and timely advice and communication from Tourdust prior to the trip and then a seamless transition from the airport to the mountains and then on to Essaouira for the next part of our holiday.
Overall, if you are looking for someone to organise all - or part - of your trip to Morocco, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tourdust!
Kay L
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 29 April 2012
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Having Tourdust as our partner and being able to communicate with the British office gave us confidence (no offense to our African brothers and sisters, it is just an European thing - we think we can better understand each other having the same mindset and mentality, so easier to communicate). The communication as expected, went very well and smooth - both by e-mail and phone. We were told what can we expect for the price we agreed on, and there were only positive suprises during the trip: the 4WD Land Rover that came to pick us up was at the meeting point at the right time (which should not be a surprise, but we were far from Nairobi on Rusinga Island and the meeting was at 6 AM) and the driver even made the extra 2 km-s to pick us up from our mountain cabin. The car was very comfortable for 6 people (I would not recommend though to use it for 7 people plus bags - could be a little tight, but for 6 was great). We had an excellent driver - kind and knowledgable, ready to 'satisfy' the 'strange' requests of the tourist: 'check that bush on the right', 'lets look what is under that tree', etc. This was my first safari (out of 3 so far) where we saw the 'BIG 5': and much of the credit goes to our driver, who kept beleiving that we will find the animals, and kept looking for them. On the last day of our safari - which was a morning drive we still missed the rhino, having not seen any in the previous two days. We only had about one hour before we had to leave the park. the group was ready to give up, but our driver and guide - Samuel - kept saying, do not give up, we will find one. He was driving on roads where we were the only group/car, and suddenly we saw in the middle of the grass a beautiful black rhino, just waiting us to shoot - some pictures of course... We were the first ones, we found it! those who have been to safari know what I mean when I say, we found it! It feels special when you find an animal and not going there because you got through the radio the location of the animal found by somebody else. We of course announced it, and in 10 minutes there were like 12 cars and vans to see 'our' rhino. You can ask anybody: this was on February 22, 8.30 in the morning in Masai Mara, when Samuel with a group of 6 from Romania found THE RHINO…
Attila D
reviewing Maasai Explorer
on 27 April 2012
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The Simien mountain trek was a great experience. The views were truly awesome, I never tired of looking at the mountains as we trekked through them. Our guide and scout were fantastic and took great care of us, especially when altitude made walking more difficult. Our cook & his assistant also did a great job- food was plentiful and varied.
All the arrangements made at local level were efficient and friendly. The support and advice provided by Tourdust pre departure was very good.
Ethiopia is an incredibly interesting country and the people are very welcoming.
Hannah S
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 27 April 2012
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Tourdust has just delivered us a superb 5 day holiday in Morocco. Everything worked smoothly from the planning to the support on the ground. We stayed in 3 different places - each one true to the description on the website. Food that was included in the trip price and the food that we purchased at the Riad was of exceptional quality - fresh produce and huge portions. We were welcomed by the local hosts with generosity. We would not hesitate to recommend this trip to others.
Paul B
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 24 April 2012
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We have to tell you that this was one of the best holidays we've ever had! It exceeded all our expectations, and we are still reliving the many rich experiences of the week: so well planned, such spectacular scenery, wonderful people looking after us, a great introduction to a really beautiful country.
Brenda S
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 23 April 2012
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Professional, dependable, and efficient! We had a great time on the trek and would recommend the company to others trying to plan a trek in the Simien Mountains
Meryl G
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 09 March 2012
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Just to let you know we had a most successful trip. All went like clockwork. Your itinerary was excellent. All the personnel– guides, cooks, drivers etc could not have been more helpful.
Many thanks for all your help and for opening up such a fascinating and complex country to us.
Mark S
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 29 February 2012
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I'd be lying if I said our holiday started of in the smoothest of ways (with a phone call telling us that high winds and stormy seas looked set to spoil our week at the surf camp) but it was with this news that the proffesionalism and customer service skills of Tourdust really shone through! Within the hour the guys at TD had arranged to put us up in the most beautiful of Riads (Rhiad Dar Thania) in the busy city of Marrakesh. This Riad proved to be the perfect oasis to escape from the excitment of the city at the end of the day. I'm pleased to say that we did make it to coast eventually where we spent 3 incredible days learning to surf with 'Blue Morroco' a surf school expertly ran by Azhar and Alice in the tiny town of Sidi Kaouki. Azhar's passion for the sport and the ocean is evident in his teaching style and I can honestly say that he and his wife Alice made us feel more like friends rather than guests in their beatiful Berber beach front home. I for one will certainly return to Morroco and Sidi Kaouki in particular in the future and will have no hesitation in using Tourdust to do so. If anyone would like to see photos of our trip please find these in the album named Morroco 2012 on my facebook page at the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150606289819288.413565.818599287&type=1
As a final note I would suggest to anyone who plans to go to Morroco that mastering a few basic phrases in french or Arabic would improve their experience. These are by no means essential as nearly everyone in the tourist industry speaks English but I found my basic knowledge of Arabic and my girlfriends ability to speak french certainly came in handy on the odd occasion!
Rob D
reviewing Trek, Cook & Surf in Morocco
on 29 February 2012
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Just to let you know we had a most successful trip. All went like clockwork. Your itinerary was excellent. All the personnel– guides, cooks, drivers etc could not have been more helpful.
Many thanks for all your help and for opening up such a fascinating and complex country to us.
GEOFFREY W
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 27 February 2012
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Trip was excellent - 5/5 on all accounts. Mohammed arranged an excellent guide. We will definitely use Tourdust again and recommend you.
Luke M
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 02 February 2012
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It was a great trip - 5/5 overall and one that I would recommend to everyone. One improvement you could make, would be not to use the Ankober hotel in Addis - it was very average! (Gondor hotel was very good and Mountain View was excellent - 20 mins walk from the churches which we didn't mind but truly the best view I have ever seen in a hotel)
We had a great time and would strongly recommend the trip.
sarah g
reviewing Simien Mountains Trek & Northern Highlights
on 02 January 2012
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My sister, her boyfriend and I had a fantastic time.
Both guides were excellent, spoke good English and were very knowledgable.
The food was also excellent - some of the best I had during my 4 months in South America!
The taxi arrangements were good and on time to get us started on the first day and overall we had a really great time and would definitely recommend the trip to anyone!
Anon
reviewing Trek the Inca Trail in Peru
on 02 January 2012
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The Atlas Valley Trek was an amazing experience. The scenery in the valleys is absolutely beautiful, and staying in the villages is a great cultural experience that gives you a feeling of the authentic and local way of living. The guide was very competent, and spoke very good english. And the cook prepared the best food. I have no hasitation to strongly recommend this trip to other travellers who like trekking and also want a local cultural experience.
Christine T
reviewing Classic Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek
on 24 December 2011
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We did this trek during September 2011 and had a fantastic time. The transport to Imlil from Marrakesh was excellent and as described in the pre-trek info. We met with our guide Mohammed who was really helpful and knowledgeable. The camping out at night was a treat and the food was great... our muleteers really took care of us and nothing was too much trouble. The food was like eating in a good restaurant which is amazing considering that it is all cooked over one gas burner. We could really recommend this to anyone ~ the walking was hard at times but the scenery was fanstastic ~ well worth the stiff legs! Everything went to plan and the coordination of the trip was perfect. The whole tour was beyond our expectations. Will definitely be booking with Tourdust again.
Robert B
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 17 December 2011
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Overall tour was fantastic, our tour guide was really really friendly and made a big effort to ensure we got to see the key attractions on the road to the Sahara, very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The guides in the Sahara were equally good, overall a great experience and one of the best activities we did in Morocco.
warren g
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 14 December 2011
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The guides on our trip to Croatia were really fun, knowledgable and helpful. They seemed to know absolutely everyone on the islands which was really nice and they always tried to include everybody in everything, even if their first languages weren't english. The guides were awesome.
The accomodation was very nice and authentic, everything you could ask for was provided and the views from the balcony were quite something
The pace and amount of paddling were good, shame one of the days we couldnt get out because of the bad weather which made the next day a bit harder but still very enjoyable.
The whole holiday as a package was very good. Everything was organised well even when the tourdust van broke down at the start, a replacement form of transport from dubrovnik was straight there. I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone interested in kayaking at all, because as a beginner i was slightly nervous at the start but thought i become quite good at the end, which is a testement to the guides and the trip really. I just wish i can get enough money to go again next year!!
David L
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 13 December 2011
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Our Guide was first class on our trek, very knowledgeable and always open to questions and was especially open in terms of background to the villages, the people of Morocco as well as the history of where we were trekking. The food, and Chef who prepared our meals, were delightful as well. The food was always more than enough and in the circumstances (on the side of a mountain pass) was first class and fresh. It really made a difference to have the meals prepared fresh and they were always plentiful. We were worried about the Taxi due to Marrakesh being notoriously difficult to find any location due to the mazey streets but the Taxi picked us up from our hotel dropped us at our Trek, and vise versa, no problem at all, which was a relief and very welcome after 2 days trekking. As far as the the whole experience all we can say is that we both loved it and are planning to use Tourdust again in the near future. The service from the booking process, Taxi Driver, Guide, Cook and anyone else we encountered on our experience was second to none. I cannot recommend Tourdust highly enough.
I would just like to add though it might be nice if you add some info on the website about the villages. What I mean in that is we visited a family in a village that had very little but were kind enough to invite us into our home. We also encountered children in the village. Rather than handing out money like confetti we would of liked to have brought some simple items from home which may have been well received by the children, colouring books, pens or something as simple as balloons, playing cards or something of that nature. Something that is practical rather than tipping being the only currency. I realise that this might not be for all your consumers but as a side note I think it would of made a world of difference to us, we did feel slightly uneasy when visiting the village and the warm reception we recieved that we couldn't offer something back that would of been better than trying to tip someone.
Leighton H
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 12 December 2011
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A fantastic experience in a beautiful landscape; I loved staying in the
villages and mountain retreats. It was my first multi day trek.
However I'll defiantly be back for more. My only wish was that my trek
was longer!
Mustapha was my guide. I was delighted
with the service provided throughout the trek by Mustapha and the two
muleteers. Mustapha was great company, friendly and professional and
really enhanced my experience. The food was excellent and all transfers went like clockwork.
Andrew H
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 12 December 2011
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Guide (Mohammad) was great, set a good pace, knew how much time to spend engaging with us and how much to leave us alone, friendly. Great guy - a mountain marathon runner with a slightly surprising array of card tricks.
Food was amazing and the chef really friendly. The trek overall was brilliant - I've recommended it to friends and family. Thanks for an amazing trip, and pass on our thanks to Mohamed and crew. He was there to welcome us at the end and was very friendly.
Jake L
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 09 December 2011
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My partner Luke and I enjoyed the trek immensely. Both Mohammed the guide and Mohammed the muleteer/cook were warm, hospitable, knowledgable and helpful.
Both were very well equipped to guide us through the 3 days. The food was nourishing and delicious! I looked forward ti every meal!
During the summit climb, there was still ice on the mountain and unfortunately I had forgotten my gloves….Mohammed was so kind as to lend me his gloves for as long as I required them.
The taxi transfers were fluid and we experienced no problems at all with the timings.
I would highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for a bit of challenge at a good pace.
Angela S
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 09 December 2011
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Guide: Mustafa was an excellent guide
He was attentive and perceptive of the groups needs and abilities. He was interesting and knowledgeable in relation to the information he gave on the local area. His company was enjoyable without being intrusive.
Food: This was one of the highlights of the trip.
I was constantly amazed and delighted by what was served up in the most difficult locations. The cook was imaginative and his food was varied and plentiful.
Grand taxi: Efficient and punctual
Overall impression: Very satisfied with the trip and the way it was organised.
My weather could have been better as a 4 hour trek in relentless rain was not fun.
anne s
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 09 December 2011
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Tour dust facilitated our tour of Ethiopia, which is an amazing country! It is a beautiful country with rich cultural varieties. The mountain trekking on Bale Mt was a great physical challenge, but with a great reward. We saw many different animals and birds that I had never seen (or heard of) before. The trip through Omo valley was like a trip back in time, a view of life before it was cluttered with the conveniences of technology. The tribes are advanced in their own rite, by surviving without modern conveniences, off of the land. Our tour guide, Minalu was very knowledgeable and gave us great insight and information about the tribes. There were people from many of the tribes who not only knew him as a tour guide, but as a friend of the family. This made the experience a more personal one for us. One definitely needs to be a bit adventurous to travel in Ethiopia, but the inconveniences are well worth it. Thanks so much! These are memories that will not soon be forgotten.
Mindy U
reviewing Tribes of the Omo Valley
on 21 November 2011
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A trip that really challenged preconceptions. There was dust and rural poverty, of course, but breathtaking scenery, and people with a strong sense of a long, proud history. The altitude affects you, but you quickly learn to take things gently. I was amazed what fantastic food was produced in quite challenging conditions - although our guide clearly preferred his injera. I was prepared to endure the coffee ceremony with locals, but it was a real highlight. Local organisation was informal, but effective and friendly. Gondar has interesting history and is worth a day of anyone's time. (Disclaimer: Peter is an investor in Tourdust, travelled with Tourdust to the Simien Mountains in spring 2011)
Peter S
reviewing Classic Simien Mountain Trek
on 14 November 2011
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We booked a hike in the simian mountains with tourdust because Danielle and I were on a very tight schedule with work and had no time for anything to fall through when we got there and also the big companies were very inflexible with their leaving dates.
Danielle actually didn’t read any of the emails I was forwarding her that Ben had sent us until a few weeks before we left to go to Kenya and then had a last minute freak out that I may have booked something dodgy over the internet. But she was very impressed by how thorough the tourdust emails were, especially their detailed advice on what to expect and what to bring, It was obvious that the people who run tourdust have done the walk themselves before and they give very sound advice.
The guide in Ethiopia was also very approachable by email and gave us advice, as we wondered whether the famine had affected the area and he was able to reassure us.
When we got to Ethiopia we met the man who runs the walks from Gondar and he gave us some last minute advice for the next morning and also we got to talk about diet as I am mostly vegetarian, which they could accommodate.
The next day we were picked up from the hotel and drove to the mountains. We met our guide there, and also the cook, cooks assistance, scout, and muleteers. You walk in the daytime with just a guide and a scout and the others beat you to the camp and set up! We did see some people walking with the minimum “support crew” which is just a scout (which you need to legally camp in the mountains- they have a machine gun to protect you, although it is not at all that dangerous, it’s mainly to give the local people some work.) those people did look a bit uncomfortable at night time because it does get cold and it is hard to organise your own camp food and fire! You would have to be more organised than us to do it independently. The staff were very friendly. The cook and the guide spoke excellent English and were very entertaining. They really looked after us and made sure that we were comfortable. The guide was careful with the pace to challenge but not exhaust us. I had never hiked at altitude before and was surprised at how puffy I was. The guide knew a lot about the birds and animals and geology of the mountains which was interesting. He also taught us some Amharic which was entertaining (especially our pronunciation!).
The food was good (it was faranji food)- cooked hot every night. It does have a lot of MSG in it- but maybe if you asked for that to be kept out earlier they wouldn’t put it in, I’m not sure. They certainly feed you enough (or too much!!). They set up a fire for you at night time, which is very welcome as it is cold!
All in all, the walk went very well. It is a beautiful area, especially at that time of year. You walk over fields of wild thyme and wildflowers, it smells and looks heavenly. And you have the sweeping panoramic vistas of the mountains of course. Photos don’t do it justice. You can see massive birds of prey circling the thermals underneath you. You are so high up that it feels a lot like what being a bird must feel like at times, except that you still have your feet on the ground! You walk through some of the smaller villages as you get to the end of the trek which is also very pleasant. You see some wildlife and a lot of domestic animals!
You camp at the same camp sites as the other faranji doing the hike. It’s very cold at night so bring warm sleeping things and coats!
I did get sick on this trek, though through no fault of the guides or staff! All the staff were absolutely lovely and very caring, making me special foods and drinks and setting up a place for me to lie in the shade. We had to stay a day extra at a camp site and they reorganised the whole trek around it- they provided us with some alternatives and we got to choose what we wanted to do.
All in all, I would recommend this trek booked with tourdust highly. Their local operator was a good one and we had a great trek! Tourdust was very supportive by email and I have trust in their advice. It’s very hard to book something over the internet as there is a big fear that you are throwing your money into the wind and will be left at the airport so to speak, or that you are booking something that will be frustrating and dodgy. In this trek they have chosen their local operator well. I would book another trek with them if I was similarly strapped for time. I would also recommend them to friends who were looking to trek.
The simian mountains are an absolutely beautiful relaxing experience and a great walk!
erin b
reviewing Simien Mountain & Lowlands Trek
on 14 November 2011
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We completed the 4 day version of the Classic Berber Villages and Toubkal Ascent at the end of October/start of November 2011. We booked as a couple and were joined by another solo male traveller who luckily we got on really well with, we all appreciated having someone else on the trip but also that it was a very small group.
Our driver picked us up at 9am from the door of our riad as promised, and we drove to meet our guide, muleteers and mules at the start of the route. They had already sorted some equipment we needed to borrow like sleeping bags (to avoid extra luggage on the plane) and drove the other guy to their shop in Imlil so he could borrow some other things.
It's an easyish hike on the first day, we had an amazing lunch on a grassy plateau with the first of many stunning views. The muleteers do an amazing job preparing a range of fresh foods for lunch and dinner and manage to present it beautifully. And let's not forget the constant supply of lovely tea!
We then hiked to the first village where we stayed in a local run gite which was comfortable enough.
We found the 2nd day's hiking hard. The first few hours hiking through villages was really interesting and colourful, followed by a harder uphill hike with the sun beating down on us to where we stopped for lunch. The hiking after lunch was thankfully much shorter to our refuge for the night. The refuge was a great little building with a waterfall right behind. The size and personalities of our group made for a really good atmosphere in places like this, it didn't matter that we were freezing cold and didn't speak the same language, some tea, food, music and card games made for fun evenings together! You tend to reach the place you're sleeping quite early in the day. I'd suggest cleaning up, sorting yourself out for the evening and wrapping up warm as soon as you arrive, and pack some stuff to do! Books, music and card games supplemented chatting to keep us entertained.
Day 3 has a fairly difficult uphill nicknamed '90 zigzags' but when you pause for breath and water the views behind are increasingly amazing. The walk to the 'base camp' refuge after is an easier gradient and we got there by lunch (like I said, lots of down time). This is a large refuge with many groups going to or returning from the summit and their guides. It may be different if there are groups you can get to know but with a language barrier we didn't really chat to the others and preferred the smaller refuge from the day before. Still, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and a nice lounge area.
On our summit day we set off after an early breakfast before 6 (in the dark) and got to see the sun rise over the mountains ahead as we climbed. People talked about 'the first bit being the hardest' before we left but there's not much change in gradient until the last 10 minutes! It took us 3 hours to reach the summit and we had to use crampons for about half because of quite deep snow that was frozen quite solid. The views from the top are stunning and totally worth it. We were up there for about half an hour and were lucky enough to meet only one other climber at the top. As soon as we started descending it seemed less real that we'd been there. Glad we've got pictures and videos to remind me!
After lunch at the refuge we walked all the way down to Imlil (on a different route to the way up) which was straightforward but looong, and we were weary by the time we reached the Imlil shop to settle up for the things we'd borrowed.
A car met us outside the shop and drove us to Marrakech without a problem, however when we got there it was clear that the driver did not know how to get us back to our riads, and actually became quite confrontational about it when we said we didn't want to be dropped on the wrong side of the medina. He was not a taxi like the car on our way out, we got the impression that he had been asked to take us because he was heading that way. Luckily we could use internet mobile to look up the number of our riad and one of the boys from there came out to meet us and direct him. It was a shame to sour the end of our experience with a bit of a shortcut gone wrong.
Overall, a brilliant experience. Our guide, Mohammed spoke excellent English, was very informative and was a great pacemaker. The muleteers Ibrahim and Mohammed did a great job, spoke little English but their personalities shone through. We took everything on Tourdust's suggested list but did not need water tablets as bottled water was readily available to but at least once per day. We would recommend plenty of light and warm layers and both had sports 'skin' long sleeved tops which proved invaluable. We struck very lucky with the weather (no rain) but had both hot and cold climates to dress for.
Overall, a 5 star unforgettable experience and good value for money.
Alex N
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 12 November 2011
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Trekking to Machu Pichu has long been a dream of mine and this was a wonderful way to do it. The guides and porters on our trek took great care of us… reassuring us about the effects of altitude and encouraging us all to walk at our own pace. We were in a group of 12, a good size…large enough to have some interesting chat at dinner but it we never felt crowded when we were walking. The food was fantastic and could easily stand alone as a selling point for the trek. The weather in June was clear although chilly at night…gloves should be high on the kit list.
The trip up the Tambopata river into the jungle is in complete contrast to the heights of the Andes and quite magical. Before we had even got to the lodge the guides had pointed out caiman, capybaras and vultures along the riverbank. The accommodation itself was very comfortable, with a large bar, dining area and very clean comfortable bedrooms. I had been a little nervous about the prospect of sleeping in a room open to the jungle but am now a complete convert, the noises and views into the vegetation were fascinating and best enjoyed from the comfort of a hammock!
Jenny H
reviewing Sacred Valley, Inca Trail & Amazon Rainforest
on 03 November 2011
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We had a great time thanks, the guide was excellent as was the lunch in the mountains, really good.
The only downside was that unfortunately my wife, who'd been so keen and excited to go, got a stomach bug the Sunday night so wasn't able to come on the trip on Monday. A real shame but otherwise a big success.
mark n
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 28 October 2011
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I would definitely recommend this to other travellers.
This trek was the highlight of our trip to Marrakech and couldn't have run smoother.
The pick up from our hotel was on time and the driver was fantastic, making up feel very confident and safe in his driving, along with giving great information about what we were seeing along the way into the Mountains.
Once we arrived our guide was waiting for us and after a chat about how long we wanted to trek for we set off. Again very informative explaining things along the way.
On descent we stopped at the Berber village Imlil and had lunch at the family-run guesthouse Dar Adrar, which was the most delicious food we had eaten during our stay in Marrakech and the greeting and hospitality fantastic.
Afterwards feeling well fed and tired we were driven back to our hotel again by our very competent driver.
I couldn't recommend this trek enough as a little taster and will definitely be going back to take on the longer trek through the Atlas Mountains and Sahara.
Thanks Tourdust!
Emma R
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 12 October 2011
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I had a fantastic group, the local knowledge of the guides was invaluable in ensuring the group had the best possible experience. Great paddling, great guides, great good, great time had by all.
Tony L
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 19 September 2011
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The 5day Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent was the highlight of our 2wk trip in Morocco. The guide and cook were both very friendly, respectful, and informative. The food was amazing - we wanted to take Rashid home with us! It was very pleasant walking through the villages, with the days getting progressively harder - a perfect build-up to the final 2days of great ascents. Climbing Toubkal was extremely rewarding, meeting various lovely people on that final day. We highly recommend this trek to others, and for those who have already booked it, additional advice would be to take a pack of cards and interesting books because there's so much relaxing time at the end of each day of trekking! Thank-you Tourdust & Thank-You Abdulla & Rashid!!!
Anon
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 19 September 2011
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The trip was better than we could have hoped for. Dan & I are UK Mountain Leaders, so we weren't sure how necessary a guide was. The answer was very. Abdul was knowledgable about geology, plants and animals, but the discussions we had about middle eastern politics and religion were the most revealing. We could have done this trip on our own and spent a little less money, but the company and the food (amazing - not a ration pack or supernoodle in sight) made us glad that we had chosen to book through Tourdust.
Chris B
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 12 September 2011
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We had a wonderful trip - highlight of 2011! Everything ran like clockwork, the care and attention from the team was first class. The trekking was fantastic - challenging but just enough so. I don't think we would have changed a thing. Thank you
Rachael E
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 12 September 2011
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Sea kayaking is the ideal way to explore these beautiful islands. Warm clear seas, fantastic local cuisine and a very helpful company with local knowledge of all the best places to visit and eat.
Maureen B
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 12 September 2011
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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
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a great trip. Organisation was very simple and smooth, and the walk itself - through villages, along valleys and up to the summit of Toubkal was wonderful - altogether a great experience.
tom h
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 05 September 2011
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This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We enjoyed the kayaking whch was quite manageable even for a couple in their late fifties. The weather was brillinant and we met some really nice people. What more could you want - a bit of white water?
Neil B
reviewing Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
on 29 August 2011
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We had a great time! We really appreciated that the trip was booked with a local tour operator, which we learned was one of the biggest and best in Kenya. Patrick was exceptionally helpful, and came to meet us 3 times to check in and make sure things were going well.
There was an unfortunate change to our flight to Lamu which happened 2 weeks before leaving, but were only told the morning of, and it meant waking early, somewhat unnecessarily, except that our flight was changed to the intl. airport instead, and it also meant stopping in another city on the way, which added time to our flight, and detracted from our time in Lamu.
Nevertheless, we had an amazing time, and are very pleased with the trip!
I would rate both customer service and our experience a 5. I would definitely recommend you to others, and am looking forward to saving up again so I can book my next trip.
Jaclyn R
reviewing 11 Day Mount Kenya Trek and Masai Mara Safari Combined
on 17 August 2011
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A tough but rewarding challenge with spectacular views of the Atlas Mountains with its many waterfalls and lush green valleys. Make sure you wear good walking boots for this hike, and carry poles for the descent from the peak.
Laura P
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 21 July 2011
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Overall, I was really impressed with the trek and it was definitely the highlight of our trip to Morocco. We stayed in relatively isolated villages, saw few other travelers, interacted with Berbers, saw amazing challenging hiking around the valleys and up Mount Toubkhal. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wanted to do something that was definitely off the beaten track in Morocco.
Jenna J
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 08 July 2011
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We really thought our trip was great. I would rate your service and the whole experience as a 5. The only piece that would make your service more convenient would be if the prices were conveyed in dollars instead of pounds. We would definitely recommend the trip and company to other travelers. We had our own trip for 3 people and were given lots of special attention. The transportation was very easy and all of our needs were met. Thanks so much for arranging everything for us!
Rochelle L
reviewing Lares Valley Trek & Machu Picchu
on 07 July 2011
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We really enjoyed our trip. The driver arrived at the hotel on time. The
car was very clean and in good condition and most importantly he turned
out to be a very safe driver which is a must in the Atlas Mountains!
The guide once we arrived at the Atlas Mountain was also good and the
food that was prepared for our lunch was really tasty and fresh, a real
treat.
esme a
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 23 June 2011
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This is a great experience to see the real Croatia. I had never been on a group holiday before and was a little hesitant, however Filip and Radovan the guides were incredibly patient and I was blessed with a fantastic fun group.
Merihan T
reviewing Dubrovnik Kayaking Short Break
on 17 June 2011
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Last week we returned from our trip to Morocco. Here's my story....
Originally we had booked the 6 day circuit of Mt Toubkal. On arrival, we met our guide and were informed that we were unable to do the circuit as the snow was too deep in places over the high passes and posed a problem for the mules. Luckily this didn’t come as a surprise as Tourdust had already informed us, during the booking process, that this could be a possibility (good services guys). So with an alternative route selected we set off..... Now I have to mention that my wife and I have done many trekking holidays, including Nepal a few times, Peru and Argentina. We have never booked through a tour agent, nor had a guide...However when we decided to go to the Atlas Mountains it was apparent that trying to trek alone would be "challenging" to say the least. Searching the internet for a possible tour company to book through we both agreed that large trekking groups were out of the question. Naturally, all the big names came up...prices were ridiculous and numbers were 12-16 per group...until we came across Tourdust. It seemed too good to be true..our own private guide and muleteer for a fraction of the cost ?
...back to the trip......
Our guide mentioned that another group of 4 would also be doing the same route as us, all with their own guide and muleteer. - we would meet them later on that day.
After a few hours walking we stopped for lunch and we had our first taste of the infamous Berber tea AKA Berber whiskey!..Tetleys eat your heart out!! The tea was amazing...but what was equally amazing was the food that was prepared by our muleteer, Mohammed. The guy is incredible. After a short nap under a walnut grove we set off for the afternoon leg of our first day. Our lodging in a Gite that night was basic but more than adequate, hot showers and comfortable mattresses made for a good night’s rest. I have to mention at this point, we met the group of 4 later that afternoon. *Sigh* Now I’m not sure if they had read anything regarding Morocco and suitable dress code, but the 2 woman had mini trekking skirts and crop tops on…along with a good portion of oversized muffin tops to go!...even I felt awkward and found myself staring at my feet alot!
As the trip progressed the group of 4 were a constant source of entertainment for the two of us and 3 basic rules should be adhered to at all times:
1) Always listen to the guide
2) Always keep up with the mule carrying the food
3) Never try outsmart your guide
Every village we stayed in, Lashon took us on a tour and it became clear that he was well known throughout the valleys. As a result we were lucky enough to be invited in to a locals house for tea with freshly made bread and local olive oil…mmmm….(not something you are likely to experience in a group of 16) Unfortunately my wife and I were unable to converse with the home owner other than some rudimentary hand gestures, so instead he turned on the TV and switched to an English Muslim channel and beamed from ear to ear. Very bizarre
On day 3 our lodging was at the base of a pass which crossed over to the Mt Toubkal refuge. We got word earlier that day that the lodge was experiencing a few roofing problems i.e. If it rained during the night we were in trouble. Luckily it did’nt rain and we had a wonderful evening with an open fire, scarlet sunset and a golden glow from the surrounding peaks..best of all we were the only ones there. (our group of 4 complained to the lodge owner about the plumbing at this point!!!) It has to said that the accommodation is basic throughout the trip, some better than others, but unlike other trekking holidays we’ve been on, you do get a hot shower at the end of each day.
Day 4 we said good-bye to Mohammed and his mule as the pass was too dangerous for the mule. We would meet up with them later that day as they took much longer alternative route around. The pass proved to be an interesting day…icy bare foot river crossings, hail, snow, rain and sunshine all in 6 hours. (our guide found it highly amusing that we paid money to do this)
The climb of Mt Toubkal on day 5 was perfect. Lashon insisted that we wear crampons for the ascent as practically the entire mountain was still covered in snow and ice. We saw many people trying to do the ascent without suitable footwear and all I can say is THANK YOU Lashon! We summited without incident and were greeted with the most incredible panoramic views of the High Atlas…a superb ending to an awesome trekking holiday.
If you are reading this review and are doing the same Google searches we did trying to find a Tour company. Look no further!..Even though Tourdust’s prices are well below the likes of Exodus for example…the personal experience we got from the local company (Mohammed Aztat Trekking Company) they use is first class. Our guide was safety conscious, never made a rash decision…our muleteer made sure that we were always fed and did an outstanding job catering in some fairly challenging places and best of all they were both very friendly and informative.
Right from the outset Tourdust has been fantastic, recommendations by Anna and Ben were spot-on and any complications that arose were swiftly dealt with and sorted out. It was a memorable holiday…So a big thank you Tourdust.
One recommendation that we have, is that a bag weight limit should be recommended/ imposed. (15kg max)
Andrew M
Andrew M
reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit
on 04 June 2011
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i had a great experience and would rate it 5/5. The whole trip went very smoothly and i really enjoyed the trek and my guide and muleteer Hassan and Rasheed. The conditions were still quite bad on the mountain because of the late winter but i always felt safe. It was also great to meet lots of people from different backgrounds and nationalities at the refuge.
Anon
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 15 May 2011
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Very impressed with Tourdust right from enquiring about experiences to our departure. Always very helpful and efficient. We went on the cookery course in Marrakesh and recommend it to anyone of any skill level. The hotel was amazing with fantastic kitchen facilities and when we went to the spice market we were taken through all the herbs and spices and all there uses! A great experience all in all!
Anon
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 13 May 2011
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We really can't speak highly enough of our holiday. You and Ben were a pleasure to deal with, knowledgeable, helpful with no pressure or hassle.
Our guide Mohamed and our muleateer Mohamed were a delight - solicitious but never intrusive. You seriously under sell the gourmet element of the trek - every meal was a feast, fabulously presented in wonderful settings. Mohamed Aktaz's house was great and chips a novel but welcome sight!
Some specific suggestions:
- add a water bottle to the kit list. We had tablets as a precaution but anticipated water being provided en-route.
- weather link from your site was helpful, we probably should have taken less "winter" kit on the back of this.
- the 1:50,000 map (Toubkal) from Stamford's was well worth having
Adrian really enjoyed the Toubkal summit - up and down in three hours despite a broken crampon!
Anon
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 11 May 2011
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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
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.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
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An exhilarating two day trek soaking up beautiful scenery in the High Atlas. The guide was excellent, spoke good English and very knowledgable. We had many laughs with him. The picnic up the mountain was a very happy moment... a freshly cooked tagine tastes so good in the mountain air. Highly recommended
Anon
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 11 May 2011
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I'd give it a 5. Can't think of improvements. The experience itself was great and the guide/muleteer were both fantastic - friendly and generous guys who obviously knew what they were doing. It was the best experience of my holiday there - both the agency and the guides themselves were helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. So much of the trip exceeded my expectations and I wouldn't hesitate to book again.
Marcus P
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 04 May 2011
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As you predicted, we didn't have one drop of rain and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and already recommended it to our friends.
So to rate your customer service, it must be 5, and our experience of this trip's rating is also 5.
Thanks again and keep up the good work.
William H
reviewing Day treks, Camels & Boutique Marrakech
on 03 May 2011
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Overall we had a fantastic time doing the Mt Toubkal trek. The climb is casual (no climbing gear/ropes required) however it is not for the light hearted. It was fairly heavy going, very long uphill walks for 4-5 hours on loose rocks and snow. If you aren't used to trekking then you may find this difficult. Altitude sickness is a definite possibility and sore legs are almost guaranteed. The accommodation is very basic and not very pleasant (cold water, dirty, too many people in each room so no sleep at all). The ascent to the summit is tough, very steep, and difficult in the snow. The reward is amazing views, the summit of Jebel Toubkal was excellent and we had an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and achievement. Our guide was very experienced, helpful and we would recommend him to anyone.
Darren I
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 03 May 2011
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We had a wonderful and rewarding time in the Atlas Mountains. We loved the flexibility of the route and pace, which was possible because we had the guide to ourselves. This is definitely something Tour Dust has above the rest. Ali the cook and his trusty mule were also a bonus!
CLARE M
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 18 April 2011
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Clare and I had a fantastic break in morocco. The trek was a real highlight.
Andrew L
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 05 April 2011
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I would definitely recommend this trip to other travellers.
Everything ran like clockwork. Mohammed met us at the airport and took us to our riad in Marrakech which was a lovely place right in the centre but quiet as a retreat. We loved sitting on the upstairs terrace chilling out and having cups of mint tea prepared by their lovely staff.
On the trek Mohammed picked us up at 9am and we were taken to the start were we met our guide Mohammed ,our cook Hammed and our Mule who we named Janet.
We spent a lovely 5 days trekking and were really looked after by Mohammed and Hammed. The food was amazing and nothing was too much trouble for them.
The climb up Toubkal was amazing. Lots of snow and beautiful views.
We met some lovely people in the villagers.
We will definitely like to return to climb some more peaks.
Kevin D
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 28 March 2011
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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
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we have just returned tonight from Morocco and would like you to know how much we enjoyed our Atlas Valley Trek. The guides were fantastic and we were very impressed with Atlas - they responded extremely well to a situation which unexpectedly presented itself : Nanette's leg was causing her some pain so our schedule was slightly altered to give a shorter trip on the 2nd day (the anticipated 6 hours of walking was actually more like 8 hours which in the circumstances would have been too much so the 6 hour day which was then provided was preferable).
Just to give you some feedback - the change of plan was in fact a benefit in other ways as we did spend a very cold night in an unheated shelter on our first night and the change meant that we had a delightful night in a guest house in Imlil instead of a second freezing night in unheated lodgings. It might be useful in future in terms of info you give out to your guests at this time of year - winter sleeping bags are required even for an indoor mountain stay as the mountain gites aren't heated although the guest house in Imlil was. We both had adequate sleeping bags but hadn't expected to be quite as cold as we were when we got into them!
Overall this was a great tip and we would definitely use your company again for booking similar holidays in other areas.
Anon
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 10 March 2011
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Tourdust made the booking of our 2-day trek in Morocco extremely easy. I called them up first to ask a bit more about the trek that I wanted to do and what kind of equipment we should take with us. These were all answered very quickly and I even got some advice for other parts of our trip in Morocco. The trek itself went exactly as it should have done, we were picked up promptly from our Riad, the guide was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly and the walk itself was off the beaten track and we saw only 2 other travellers during the full two days which was excellent and made for the true walking experience we were looking for, nothing touristy at all - Thank you!
Rebecca H
reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains
on 08 March 2011
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The experience was very enjoyable. The climb was tough, but worth it.
The guide was very competent, albeit a little quiet. Fantastic experience, great views, well worth the trek to the top.
Anon
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 18 February 2011
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From beginning to end the service from both Tourdust and the local operator was fantastic. Despite being the rainy season we had a fair bit of good weather, and even when we didn't it couldn't take away from the great experience and amazing sites. Our guide Odon really made it for us. There was a smallish group of 8 of us. He understood everyones needs and tailored our days to make sure everyone got the most out of it. Whenever he could he made sure that we were ahead of other groups and got time at the most interesting sites on our own. He also hads fantastic knowledge and always had really interesting things to tell us which made the trip even better. Our team of porters were also fantastic. The food was amazing and you wouldn't believe they were cooking it in a camp tent. Thank you to the whole team for making this such a great trip. I would highly recommend Pachamama if you are thinking of doing the trail. Becks and Will - Jan 2011
Anon
reviewing Trek the Inca Trail in Peru
on 30 January 2011
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My thoughts on the trip was that it was over all an amazing experience. The Erg Chebbi trip was the most enjoyable part of our stay in Morocco, Im glad we booked it through yourself as everything ran smoothly and we feel we got an excellent service. We heard some bad experiences of similar trips but were a lot cheaper so I think you get what you pay for.
Anon
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 08 December 2010
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We would highly recommend booking a trek with Tourdust. We had a tailor made 4 day trek with friendly, professional guides. It was fun and well organised with good accommodation and great food. Lots of great memories and stunning photos.
We had an amazing time, mohammed and loshum were both really helpful. took us into the village in the evenings to see the village celebrating eid, played football with the kids in the village. We felt safe. Food was excellent, had our own impromptu cookery course with mohammed. On the last day lucy went with loshum for a harder walk and I stayed with mohammed so catered to both levels of fitness
Anon
reviewing Classic Berber Villages & Toubkal Ascent
on 08 December 2010
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Trip to Erg Chebbi
What a really wonderful trip – many thanks to everyone involved in making it happen. Riding over dunes in the desert at sunset has to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, watching the sun going down behind the orange glowing sand and crescent shaped shadows. I found, to my great relief, that camels are actually quite cooperative animals – or maybe that was down to our guide, Zaieed, who led them patiently for an hour, until we reached our tent. Then a delicious tagine, cooked on the spot, followed by sleeping under the brightest moon and stars imaginable. To top it all, we set off (again guided by Zaieed) in the morning while it was still dark so that we could park our camels on the side of a dune so we could clamber up and watch the sun rise. Pure magic.
It was a long drive down to the desert from Marrakech, but we stopped off at some fascinating places along the way, and enjoyed getting a feel for Moroccan villages after the bright lights of Marrakech. And the drive was worth every minute for such a wonderful experience.
Anon
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 30 November 2010
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Firstly, you guys at Tourdust- what can I say really?! perfect service, informative, timely, reasonably priced etc etc Can't fault you, thanks so much, i'm really glad we didn't leave it to our Riad to book or just risk someone selling tours on the side of the road when we got there! The few extra quid was very well spent.
We had 2 guides (just for Andy and I!) the whole time. Met us at our front door and dropped us off practically at the next front door. EXTREMELY sensitive to our wimpy British needs (always checking we were cool enough, had enough water, wanted to take pics, stop for lunch, loos etc) They couldn't have been more thoughtful, even moreso considering they were both without food and water all day because of Ramadan.
The tour was very comprehensive- mountains, gorges, the desert and other stops like fossil factories, film studios and various places of interest along the way. The dessert was an INCREDIBLE experience, the most bizarre silence I've ever experienced and I now know camels regurgitate their food and eat it as mine did this for the entire trip back (rather nice at 5am!)
Things that may be useful in terms of other clients doing the same tour and asking questions: we had no idea we would be travelling quite so far, so although the first and second day were fine and split up with visits and obviously a night in a hotel, the full journey back on the 3rd day was a marathon. I think we stopped twice for the loo and once for lunch in almost 12 hours because there was so far to go.
We also had no idea we'd be leaving our guides once we got on the camels, and trekking 4km to the camp. Our Berber 'host' there was amazing, the tagine the best we had the whole holiday and the 4 other guests a real nice bunch. But we then trekked back at 5am to see the sunrise. Again, a fab experience but we were in shock when we were told at camp we'd be getting up before 5am and going back on camels as 1- Camels are the most uncomfy beasts ever, and 2- We were absolutely knackered!
Also, the sleeping in the desert- we had packed a fleece and our toothbrushes along with wipes medication other items on the list etc. The torch was the most valuable item listed, we would have been lost without it! But anything other than maybe medication and wipes is pointless as there are NO facilities whatsoever, just a loo in a tent. We slept in our clothes and went back in them the next day, there's no point doing anything else really. It is a complete myth that it gets cold in the desert- it was a good 30 degrees all through the night with no wind whatsoever and the camp has thin mattresses and sheets to use if needed so no need for sleeping bag hire either, it was all just extra stuff to lug around. Our guide told us it very rarely gets cold in the desert and this is at the time of year when they move their camp out anyway so no-one would be staying there, doing tours etc
Anon
reviewing 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour to Erg Chebbi
on 18 October 2010
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I cannot imagine a better guide than Odon. From the very first time we met, he has been funny, kind, supportive, very knowledgeable and a real pleasure to be with. The fact is I was not fit enough to do this like some of the other young fit people, but he made me feel welcome and cared for - a wonderful man and a wonderful experience. Apart from my shame at taking the horse, I have loved almost every minute of this trek and Odon has been the second best part of it - countryside came first :)
Anon
reviewing The Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu
on 18 October 2010
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Yes I would highly recommend for those with a hardy sense of adventure - Toubkal climb itself is a little more challenging than maybe is made clear, and I am an experienced walker. Hostel was very basic, which is fine as long as travellers are aware from the outset. Need to remind travellers to take passport numbers for hostel registration - add to kit list. Also, tips are appreciated by guides/taxi drivers at end - it is part of African culture.
I have to say that our mountain guide was fantastic. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. The food prepared for us was excellent and substantial. We were really well looked after all of the time. The taxi service to/from Marrakech was very efficient. The arrangements went exactly as planned from start to finish, so we had nothing to worry about, other than ensuring we kept going on the climb. Watching the sun rise across the Atlas mountains was breathtaking, an experience that will last with us for some time.
Anon
reviewing Climb Mount Toubkal
on 19 August 2010
