Family Holidays in Atlas Mountains

We had a brilliant trip!
An amazing experience for parents, children and grandparents alike.
We are already planning a trip to Vietnam next year

Kate B reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 10 January 2024

We had a fantastic time. Thank you for all your help, advice and guidance in organising our holiday. As this was not our first booking with Tourdust we were confident that all our transfers would work perfectly and they did - everything ran so smoothly! The riad in Marrakesh was stunning - a truly beautiful oasis of calm in such a busy, bustling city. As you can imagine, we were very grateful for the air conditioning in our room as outside was so hot! I was nervous about walking through the souks at night, but as they were well lit we felt perfectly safe and found our confidence grew in navigating the journey home each time we ventured out. When we arrived at our lodge in the Atlas Mountains we were blown away by the scenery. The views were amazing and the beautiful lodge gardens were the perfect place to sit and relax before taking a dip in the pool. Our day trek was truly amazing - no small thanks to our guide Rashid, who was so helpful and knowledgable. The lunch in the traditional Berber village was delicious and we were were made to feel so welcome. The home owner showed us how to make bread and then cooked it for us in her traditional clay oven. This was a memory we will never forget as we stood surrounded by her chickens and goats watching her use her bare hands to prepare the fire! Our night in the desert was breathtaking. The camel ride at sunset was so incredible and the quad biking the next morning was brilliant fun. I am so glad we added in these extras as they really made the experience! We finally made it to our hotel at the coast, where the surf lessons were a hit and the hotel was a great place to relax and read! Thank you again for all your help. We would definitely recommend Tourdust to all our friends and family. Tanya

Tanya G reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday on 18 August 2023

Hi Lisa and everyone at Tourdust,
We've had a wonderful time on our holiday and wanted to pass our appreciation to you. Everything has been expertly planned and executed, allowing us to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. Special appreciation to Muhammed, Ibrahim, and Omar, our Atlas guide, cook, and muleteer, who couldn't have done more for us and were just generally wonderful and hardworking. Riad Hanane is a perfect base in Marrakech to complement the trekking as it's ina less touristy area of the medina, which we appreciated. The staff and accomodation was superb.Thank you again for a trip to remember!
Bob, May, Grace, and Lucas

Robert B reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 20 February 2023

Wow, we had a brilliant time!! Not sure where to start…

Transport was great, very reassuring to have all that taken care of and all drivers were polite and helpful. Good to know in advance to have some dirham ready for tips.

Treking: Our guide Hassan, muleteer Centim and chef were great. We’d never been guided before and were a little worried about how it would all work out but Hassan went at a pace that worked for us, always made sure we knew where we were going and happy to answer questions but also to give us some space. Food was such a treat! Beautiful locations and we were thoroughly looked after.

Accommodation. Mountain lodge were brilliant. Very cold at night in Imlil so glad to have layers. Staff helpful, food plentiful and delicious. Ouirgane Eco Lodge was a real treat after the mountains. And the riad. Oh my goodness. We loved it! Breakfast on our own terrace, a pool to cool off in. So much space and so beautifully decorated. We couldn’t believe it was ours for the period of time and a great respite from the hustle and bustle of the souks.

The balance of the trek and city was great for us, kids saw all kinds of things in both places that really opened their eyes. Weather was very kind to us so it was an extra treat to have the sunshine.

It definitely felt like a real adventure and something that we’ll always remember as a family.

We had plenty of info from Tourdust and plenty of prompt replies as my queries popped up.

Kate A reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 26 April 2019

The highlights for us were the accommodation choices - we loved each place we stayed and for quite different reasons.

We found the food really delicious at all the places. We were really impressed. We ended up eating dinner every night at Dar Housnia, which was really tasty but a bit expensive but we loved the convenience of it and loved everything else about the place.

My 9yr’s favourite place was Douar Samra - he liked the rooms and all the meals. We all like the communal meals there. It was good to get to know other travellers. But my husband and I really loved the Douria Suite at Dar Housnia as it was great to the have space and down time by ourselves there. We spent some hours just lazing on the terrace after walking around Marrakech for hours.

We also thought Kasbah Ellouze was really lovely too. They were super helpful accommodating the kids. They made sure we could celebrate NYE dinner with the kids as they go to bed early. It was really kind of them.

We had a Hussain as our guide for trekking and he went with us on the road trip. We really liked him: friendly & kind, and not too loud & talkative (our family is on the quiet side!). Hussain was great with our two boys. He made them feel comfortable, kept them safe on the treks (ie speed walking ahead with them when they wanted (our 4yr old loved this!) and holding them securely on mules over the rough terrain) and he played football with them too!
We had two different drivers who were both good - helped out when our 9yr old vomited from car sickness and were happy to drive slowly as needed.

Also we thought your organisation of everything and choice of accommodation & guides was excellent. We had no complaints. We had a splendid, relaxed and easy holiday - we didn’t have to think of anything & it was all great.

Helen N reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 30 January 2018

We had a brilliant holiday in Morocco courtesy of Tourdust this Summer (2015). Despite any anticipated difficulties of travelling to a country with a different culture and language we found everyone involved with our trip really friendly and helpful. The accommodation in all three areas was delightful, all in different ways, the food delicious and all the transfers involved worked very smoothly which really took the stress out of things. Trekking in the extreme heat of August requires a level of fitness which I personally found a struggle, but the guide made it possible to go at a speed that was comfortable. My two teenage sons really enjoyed the trip as well. Tourdust were really helpful before travelling in helping with any last minute issues. I would really recommend this trip.

Hazel B reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 02 September 2015

The whole experience was truly fascinating and was really well organised from start to finish. We came away feeling that we had experienced the real Morocco. The accommodation and food was excellent throughout and we particularly liked Kasbah de Cigogne and the incredibly friendly staff, especially Ali! The mountain trek was invigorating and proved a highlight of the holiday - even the cold overnight stay in a mountain gite!. Credit to the guides and excellent cook plus of course the ever patient mules! We couldn't believe the quality(and quantity) of delicious hot food prepared half way up a mountain for us!
Oh and Marrakesh - well it needs no introduction but if you need to get away from the Souks for a while, a day at the Beldi Club comes highly recommended!
We'll be back to conquer Toubkal one day!

Christopher S reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 23 April 2015

We had a fantastic holiday in Morocco. Both Riad Dar Imlil and Riad Wo were lovely, the staff very friendly and helpful and both served delicious food. Please could you pass on our thanks in particular to Ibrahim who was our guide in the Atlas mountains. He was a brilliant guide, extremely helpful and considerate and a definite asset to your operation out there. All the transfers went smoothly and the little extra touches such as the pastries and water in the taxi from the airport to the mountains were very much appreciated.

We will most certainly be recommending Tourdust to all our friends.

Gavin K reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 15 April 2015

We thought our tour was incredibly well-organized. We felt completely looked after, well-organized and safe. You were clear on all your instructions and your people and guesthouses in Morocco were just as you described and were excellent.
If you have a grading level for accommodation that would be useful to us in the future. The first place Dar Adrar was exactly our speed. We adored the other two places too. They were incredibly lovely, but being a bouncy family, we tend to gravitate towards more lowkey places. Would love to hear back on this.
The guide for our trek, Youssef, was lovely. Our driver to Ait Benaddou, Ibrahim, was also very sweet.
We have no complaints, just wish we could have stayed longer

Yasmin K reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 25 March 2015

We had a fantastic holiday, thanks, and all the practical arrangements worked. Even though we had only a week in Morocco, it felt like we had a lot of different experiences, and we came to love the country - everyone was friendly and helpful.

I would give all of our accommodation, guides and drivers 5 out of 5: we could not fault them.

Thank you for making all the arrangements, and thank your colleagues also: we will definitely be recommending Tourdust to others.

Peter B reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 20 November 2014

This was one of the most amazing holidays I’ve had. I had been wanting to take Erin, my 10 year old on an adventure and experience a very different culture and way of life for some time and this was a fantastic experience.

Although being slightly apprehensive about it being just the two of us – the support and organisation from Tour Dust and their team of colleagues in Morocco was fantastic, everything went according to plan. Our team in the Atlas mountains were lovely, Hassan our trek guide kept a good pace and was really helpful throughout (even trying to find replacement batteries for me in the villages when I needed them) and gave us the opportunity to be able to extend out trek to see the neighbouring valley and stunning waterfalls on the first day. Mustafa our cook created the most amazing picnics for the two of us, (my only complaint was that there was just too much food to eat!) whilst Lassan our muleteer was great with Erin.

This trip was a wonderful balance of adventure and relaxation. I really loved being in the mountains, the scenery is breath-taking and unexpectedly so varied, red and ochre hills, dotted with juniper bushes, walnut and olive groves, set against snow-capped mountains and there is something very special about seeing the villages that we were going to be staying at in the evening in the distance and experiencing a glimpse of life in the Berber villages. At the end of our trek we celebrated with a mint tea at the neighbouring Kasbah Toukal - hearing the prayer calls as dusk settled echoing throughout the valleys, will be something I’ll remember for very long time. Finishing our stay in Marrakesh at the very tasteful Riad Wo owned by the very hospitable Elsa, was fabulous, a beautiful place amongst the chaotic, intoxicating beauty of Marrakesh, a perfect end.

This holiday is a definite 5 out of 5 and more - yes we had one or two up’s and downs getting sick at different times but I think that’s to be expected, just bring a good first aid kit! It certainly hasn’t put us off - now all I want to do is go back as soon as I can.

Nicky


I particularly enjoyed being in the mountains! The views were spectacular. I’d recommend this trip for family’s or couples who are wanting a fun but not to challenging trip . Anyone reading this don’t think about it just do it! Take a chance and go on the biggest adventure of your life! Erin aged 10

Nicky B reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 13 November 2014

We had an amazing time thank you. Challenging it certainly was!

We had a great experience.....such contrast in scenery, climate, culture and accommodation.
The organisation was really good and everything ran like clockwork.

The food was well prepared and the guide, Mohamed, took us up to the summit of Mount Toubkal when others weren't prepared to go due to the snow.

We absolutely loved Riad Boussa in Marrakech. However we did find the 2nd night in the mountain refuge a little difficult. It was more basic than we had expected and it did assume that everyone could climb a very upright ladder to get to the attic in which we slept. Fortunately we were the only ones staying there but it would have been much more tricky if there had been others as well.

Caroline D reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 06 November 2014

General Feedback:
This was the first time in years I could a) afford a holiday, b) take a break from other commitments and c) spend a full week (instead of the odd Saturday afternoon) with my kids. For that reason this holiday HAD to be right. So I was careful to shop around. I spoke to several companies that all had euphoric smiling families on their websites but when I spoke to Tourdust it was immediately apparent that they had both on-the-ground experience and a genuine enthusiasm for the destination.

Tourdust did what a travel company are supposed to do – added value; I simply gave them the challenge (two hard to please teenagers, one adventurous and active, the other not so) and they put together a perfect package (e.g. a challenging but short 2 day trek, a mule for back up for the girl who has only ever exercised her finger tips). The week seemed like a month. Holidays usually require so much effort on working out what to do next, how to get from A to B, how NOT to be ripped off etc, but on this holiday all of this stress was lifted. Each time we were transferred from one location to the next it involved no more effort than throwing our things into bags and handing them to an obliging driver. All my attention and energy was therefore spent on enjoying the holiday and most of all watching the kids not just enjoy themselves but surprise me by walking (actually running!) up a mountain and not complaining, sleeping in “basic” accommodation (3 walls and not much more) and telling me it was the most enjoyable night of all, making an effort to understand a culture and see their prejudices disappear, build their confidence in a new language and taste new foods – still can’t believe they both ordered and ate a camel burger!

Thank you Tourdust for delivering the best holiday I’ve ever had and a shared experience with my kids that will be the talking point for many years to come. I only have one outstanding request from Tourdust – where are you taking us next year!


Special Mentions:
Rebecca can you please make sure that our gratitude to Yousseff is communicated; I appreciate that his job is far from easy – balancing being informative whilst allowing us privacy, encouraging us to take on the challenge but ensuring our safety and comfort. He did a thoroughly professional job – constantly attentive to our needs and providing us with a wealth of knowledge about the locality that made the trek a much richer experience than it would have been. To my delight my kids were very interested in Morocco’s culture and religion and they quizzed Yousseff extensively. He was very generous in sharing his own perspective despite some of the questions being a little undiplomatic. His pride of Morocco and especially of the local area challenged our western materialistic perception of what is of value and this was the best souvenir we took home with us.

Also could you make sure to thank the manager (Tino?) of Windy Kaouki for going out of his way to provide an alternative WiFi network connection after the usual one failed. I cannot over state how important this was to me; if I could not have responded to the support call on that Thursday evening I may have lost a major contract I’ve held for 12 years. So please pass on my thanks to him.

Constructive Criticisms:
My kids and I came up with a few suggestions that we think would have made the trip more enjoyable:

1. If the drivers could speak English it would have added to the experience – we were lucky enough to have Yousseff with us on the trip from the Atlas Mountains to Marakech and it would have been nice to have someone speaking English on all journeys to answer all our questions about the surroundings.

2. I would advise anyone staying in small places like Sidi Kauoki not to eat in any of the small local establishments but to stick with the hotel; my son got very sick from a burger in a sea front Café.

3. Quad biking would have been great if it had been included

4. €20 for a 10 minute trip from Beldi Country Club to the airport is extortionate

Finally Rebecca, thank you for taking on the responsibility of organising my holiday. Your commitment and attention to detail was no less than what I imagine you’d dedicate to your own holiday plans.

john t reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 22 August 2014

We very much enjoyed our trip, which was superbly organised by Tourdust. It all went very much to plan and overall it more than met our expectations. So 5 out of 5. It's difficult to offer suggestions as to how to improve.

All accommodation choices were perfect. Comfortable and welcoming. Where food was included, it was plentiful (overly at times, but hopefully to the benefit of the mules) and of a high quality. We tired a little of Tagine, but had expected it to feature heavily and fully understand that few other countries offer the variety of cuisine that we're used to at home!

Our guide and driver (both Ibrahim) were great. The former whilst not massively chatty was engaging and informative when required.

Tim S reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 09 June 2014

Everyone we met were so friendly and helpful to us all and made an extra effort with the children making them feel very comfortable, ensuring they enjoyed the experience. Adil and the team on the mountain trek were amazing adding another dimension that we weren’t expecting, thank-you!

Rachel J reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 25 April 2014

This was one of the most exceptional holidays we have enjoyed as a family. We would definitely score this as a 5+. All aspects of the trip from the transfers, to the accommodation, our hosts and guides in the mountains and our short stay in Marrakech were well organised and worked perfectly.

The tailor made trek was well suited to our fitness levels. The routes took us through dramatic mountain scenery, steep, terraced valleys and many Berber villages. Each day of the trek pushed us a little but was balanced with a leisurely lunch and time for tea at the end of the day. Our team of guide (Ibrahim), cook (Hassan) and muleteer (Abdullah) were marvellous. Ibrahim was a wonderful guide with a true passion and pride for his home and the mountains, whilst Hassan produced exceptional food throughout our trek. The mountain scenery is stunning but what perhaps made the trip was the real insight we felt we gained into the Berber way of life from staying in the villages and trekking through the valleys. The accommodation in the mountains was, as described, simple but always clean and cared for.

We stayed at the Dar Adrar guest house in Imlil at the start and end of our treks. This comfortable and welcoming guest house provided a great chance to rest weary legs and to chat with other families trekking in the mountains.

The Riad Dar Vedra provided a wonderful bit of luxury at the end of our holiday and a tranquil oasis in the madness that is Marrakech. Stephane and Marie Aude and their staff were wonderful and attentive hosts providing suggestions on restaurants and places to visit which really helped make our short stay in Marrakech.

We would not hesitate to recommend Tourdust to others, in particular to families looking for a slightly more adventurous holiday. We will certainly be coming back!

David W reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 24 April 2014

The choice of accommodation was great- the Riads Dar Vedra & Riad Caravan were especially beautiful with lovely staff & excellent service. Everyone we met was extremely helpful (including tracking down our walking boots which we'd stupidly left in Imlil!), the food fantastic & the country as beautiful as ever.

Claire P reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 23 April 2014

We had an amazing trip to Morocco, thank you! The places that we stayed were perfect for each leg of the journey, and the hosts/owners of each establishment were fantastic. We couldn't have been happier with the trek guide, Mustaffa, and the entire group that led us through the expedition. We all had a marvellous time and would happily recommend Tourdust to all of our travelling friends. I wish we could give even higher praise to Colette and Michel at Kasbah Ellouze, it was MAGNIFICENT! We loved staying there, the staff, the people, the environment was perfect.

Natascha Blake H reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 17 April 2014

Our Tourdust holiday surpassed all our expectations for wilderness, adventure & culture, throughout the eight day days in Morocco. The three day trek was fabulous; achieving approx. 30km in three days trekking to almost 3,000m to the snow line, spectacular waterfalls, mountain passes, remote Berber Villages only accessible on foot. Enjoying cooked mountain picnics, mule rides for the children and our very friendly guide (Olaiat), chefs (Mohamed & Ibrahim) and muleteer (Mohamed & Pipin) who lead us on our trek. We have stayed in remote Berber guest houses, and enjoyed amazing food. It has been a fabulous experience in gorgeous alpine scenery, very warm sunny days and cool evenings. The second day of the trek through the valley was a real highlight with orange and apple blossom, bright blue iris and earthy thyme proving a heady mix of scents. Card games and Moroccan Uno late into the evening with our Beber friends was great fun and we were really sad to say goodbye to them all, but especially our lovely guide Olaiat, who showed great kindness, care and attention throughout the trek. Our children (13, 11 & 10) were enthralled by his stories of Morocco, Berber life, football and Uno skills!
We then moved onto Dar Housina in Marrakech - an elegant Riad in the medina where we could experience the hustle, bustle & excitement of the souks (yes, we got lost many times!!), a caleche ride, your recommended restaurants and then escape to the calmness and tranquillity of our gorgeous roof terrace and splash pool. Again, the hospitality was fabulous.
I hope it doesn't all sound too clichéd, but we had a truly wonderful holiday.
Thank you to all the Tourdust team who helped us to plan the trip, put together the itinerary for us and all the arrangements, so that it worked so perfectly. We would have no hesitation in recommending Tourdust and have already taken a sneaky look at your website since we returned yesterday to see where else you could take us..... next year perhaps!

Anna W reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 17 April 2014

We had an amazing time, it was possibly the best holiday and most amazing experience we’ve had. Our guide, Mohamed (not the Dar Adrar boss, another Mohamed), was very knowledgeable and a safe pair of hands – he really helped me with my vertigo during some hairy points - please pass on our thanks for this, as he was very patient and reassuring. He was also very caring about the children and gave advice on coping with the heat and when Nancy suffered a bit with the altitude. Samir’s cooking was absolutely delicious, eating tagine and salad with mint tea on pretty blankets on the side of a mountain is an experience we will never forget. We looked forward to the delights each mealtime would bring and were amazed at how such tasty food was seemingly whipped up with ease in such isolation. Ibrahim the muleteer was fantastic too, they were a great trio and really looked after us. The trek was just right for us at 3 days and about 36 kms, the children loved it and coped really well physically, with a few well-needed breaks on the mule. The guesthouses in the mountains were basic but beautifully located and all part of the experience, a great way to get an insight into Berber life, and all the locals were extremely welcoming. Dar Adrar was a perfect base, Omar and the rest of the staff were very hospitable, the food was great and they even found us a tube of toothpaste when we arrived at 11pm and realised we’d forgotten ours. The transport was very good too, prompt and with careful drivers. Although our Riad in Marrakech was not the one we’d expected to stay in, Riad Adore was very luxurious and again extremely well-run and friendly with a great hammam!

Jo C reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 16 April 2014

Mohammed met us at the airport as advised and transfers went smoothly with water and Moroccan biscuits provided In the car. The Dar Imlil was absolutely great. Nice touches e.g. if we needed bottled water we just had to ask and it was produced free of charge, the small non-alcoholic selection of drinks in the mini-bar were also included. Simple, relatively cheap things to do but all add to a lovely feeling. Staff were all pleasant and meals were excellent- really can’t recommend going out given our one experience of doing so. Prices for meals in hotel very good and always service with a smile.
The guide organised for the walking was Ibrahim, who as your guide indicated was not overly talkative, suited us perfectly. We were able to decide where to go on the 1st day and then plan ahead for the 2nd day. An excellent induction into the foothills of the Atlas mountains. My husband is thinking of returning in the next year to perhaps climb Mt Toubkal. The picnic lunch was excellent with lovely mint tea provided. We did not need 1/3 of the food provided.
Transfers to Marrakech went smoothly and Les Deux Tours is a beautiful quiet place. One bottle of water provided per day and meals more expensive- more like western prices- but as expected. Breakfast excellent. Staff universally pleasant and helpful. The shuttle bus into town worked well for us and if you wish to eat later and return to the hotel later the shuttle drivers are amenable to negotiating a late pick up at specified places for a fixed fee- 150Dirhams (10pm).
As to the overall score. For tour dust organisation and information- 5/5. For the Dar Imlil- 5/5. For transfers- 5/5. For guiding- 5/5. For Les Deux Tours- 4/5- the only negative being the lack of simple things like extra water, and higher than justifiable prices in the bar and restaurants.

David T reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 16 April 2014

We had a great family holiday and many thanks to Tourdust for being instrumental in us achieving this.
The Atlas Mountains were spectacular, Marrakesh such a buzzing place and the camp in the desert amazing. The guides were all very professional and looked after us very well, the staff at Riad Tzarra and the Scarabeo camp very attentive and nice and we loved the different tagines we kept being presented throughout the week.

Cristina W reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 15 April 2014

We were very impressed with your organisation from the UK and on the ground. You understood what we wanted, made it all very easy, were really kind to sort out the amendments to the trip and the people you dealt with in Morrocco were are efficient and charming. I would definitely recommend you to people travelling in Morocco.

Anon reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 15 April 2014

Our 16 year old son is very into movie making and he made a super short movie of the trip with his go pro... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEZMEd8ez3I&list=UUrCAPRGvhNMf9BWJLJX-TFg

Claire P reviewing Morocco Family Holiday: Desert Camp, Mountains & Souks on 19 March 2014

Overall it was an Excellent holiday great time had by all, organisation like transfers always very smooth and professional.
Trekking with personal guide excellent, muleteers and chef great, trek just right level for us.
Riad Bel Haj excellent high class accommodation, luxurious, staff very friendly, ideal situation for exploring, peaceful in heart of the old city. Strongly recommend it.
Riad Ribali excellent spacious luxurious, staff very helpful. Meal in was excellent. Also strongly recommend.
Surfing lessons fantastic. Instructors great strongly recommend.

Selwyn R reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 19 March 2014

Trip was great in all respects - smooth arrangements, great accommodation, good mix of activities - only regret is we didn't have longer!

Helen B reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 22 November 2013

We had a great time. The boys enjoyed trekking - although I think it was more of a mule ride than a real trek! The guide was fantastic and realised quickly that Tristan walked faster and whined less if he held his hand rather than Adeline! Food was amazing throughout this part of the trip. Dylan was not overly impressed with squat toilets - but learnt to get on with it fairly quickly!

Surfing was a big hit - Dylan's favorite part of the trip. The surf instructor (Mohamed) was brilliant with them all. Adeline's only comment on this was that the driver did not know where he was taking her on the way there (I think she called the office at this point).

Accommodation and food for the first week was great according to Adeline and the boys.

Nicola W reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 18 November 2013

Our holiday in Morocco was fabulous with a great mix of locations and activities. Our guide, Ibrahim, who was with us in both the mountains and the desert, was absolutely brilliant and was very sensitive to the balance between guiding us, but allowing freedom for us to experience the adventure as a family. He was hugely supportive with the children, who, aged 8 and 6, thoroughly enjoyed themselves and walked so much further than we ever imagined they could! In fact our 8 year old chose to walk almost all of it and our 6 year old declared that she 'would go anywhere if Ibrahim was there as he made it all so safe and fun'!
The food on the trek was high quality and in enormous quantities and the experience of staying in the Berber villages felt very special - we even saw a Berber wedding. The desert camp made us smile with the1920s luxury French explorer set-up and was a lovely relaxing end to the holiday. All in all a great experience, which we would thoroughly recommend!

Clare H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 30 October 2013

We would like to thank you for all your advice and pre trip departure information that you gave us. It proved to be most informative and helpful.
Where to start?
The transport and drivers were all very helpful and punctual and ensured that throughout the transfers they were able to enlighten our journey with facts and stories.
The surf team were patient, great with the children and even managed to coax me to stand on the board. We thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and surfing somewhere different each day, giving us a real insight into coastal life. Mohammed really made the experience fun and diverse.
The accommodation was clean, quiet and the staff very attentive at the coast.
Riad Wo, really was WOW! A peaceful haven amongst the busy hassle and bustle of the city. Again the staff were attentive and always there in the background if we needed guidance, help or a mint tea. The children especially loved the pancakes each morning for breakfast!

All in all a truly memorial trip. If you can pass on my thanks to all involved in making our holiday a superb experience.

Joanna J reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 29 October 2013

We had an absolutely fabulous trip, teens, adults and child. The trekking was the highlight for all of us, and we could have done another day. Not to worry - it was a first for us, so we weren't to know. The guide Yussuf was great with all of us - kept the pace just right, helped Lydia when necessary, played cards with us all, talked about the villages, the life, the local history. Omar, who was in charge of the mule with Lydia was also very kind to her. Even shared his MP3 player with her, though I don't know what she made of the Berber pop! The food on the trek was something we all really looked forward to: not just the picnics but the breakfasts and dinners (to be honest, these were our favourite meals in Morocco). We also enjoyed hearing Ibrahim singing while he walked.

Any negatives? Well the gite in Tiziane was a bit grubby, but we got on with it ok, having our own sleeping bags, and the other gites and refuges were comfortable and clean.

The rest of the trip: well, Chez Momo was lovely and good food, but we didn't really want to just hang around by the pool after the previous days' trekking. Hence we called Mohamad and arranged the trip up to Tin Mal. It was nice that we were able to do that and pay later. I think Chez Momo's not on your usual itineraries. If it is, a few suggestions about things to do in the area might have helped - even just how to walk down to the village and anywhere to visit in it. They weren't able to do that in the reception there (I guess most guests are just there for the relax).

Dar Vedra in Marrakech was so stylish, a great location, and we had the place to ourselves. Again, lovely breakfasts, helpful staff. One of the most comfortable beds I've ever stayed in.

Essaouira: I know it wasn't your usual accommodation, but it was ideal for us, being so close to the old town and beach. Good clean accommodation, nice breakfasts, clean pool, helpful staff. But the charms of Essaouira were outside the hotel. We got in the sea, once we'd walked a bit South down the beach, and enjoyed exploring the town, eating at the seafood stalls, riding camels etc.
This was outside Tourdust's control, but the weather was with us the whole time. We left the mountains just as it was starting to get cooler, and arrived in Marrakech after the summer heat had dispersed.

Altogether the organisation was fantastic, all the pickups went smoothly and it was reassuring to know that we could call you or Mohamad up if we needed any help or advice. I know that one of my friends has already been in touch, looking to do similar.

Joanna Rowan P reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday on 26 September 2013

The trekking was fabulous. We were looked after so well and the children loved the guys. Our accommodation was extremely basic on the first night of the trek, we decided not to shower!! but it was all good fun. The second night was quite luxurious and a cool shower. The food was wonderful and the children nor us went hungry. I was very surprised at the terrain and will admit it was hard going some of the time but at the end of the day, it was quite an achievement. The boys never moaned at all and loved riding the mules. They loved playing a card game with the guys which they taught them. I cannot express enough how attentive the four guys we had, and if you are able to, please pass on our thanks.

Our next part of the holiday went well. Dar Vedra was amazing and except for the first night (they had another guest) we were the only people there and were looked after very well. The room we had was fabulous, comfy beds and soft towels and really nice breakfasts. We decided not to have a guide and made our way into the square and the souk quite easily. We even ventured out in the evening and ate in the square. On our return that first night we found we were locked out of the Riad. They had forgotten to give us a key and we were waiting outside for some 30mins. Tim managed to call Mohammed and then just after they came to open the door.

Unfortunately William caught a bug on our second day there and we spent the afternoon in the room. They were really good and at short notice they cooked dinner for us as we had to stay in.

It was certainly an adventure driving out of Marrakech. We had the directions which you had sent but there were no road numbers on the few signs along the roads. Not once did we see a road sign with a number on it. I think it would be better to have some landmarks on your directions.

The Atlas Kasbah was really nice. Our room was ok, beds and towels not as soft as previous, and as the water is solar heated, a hot shower was not always guaranteed. The pool was lovely and our first full day there was spent around the pool. We ventured out into Agadir the following day and went on the beach for a picnic but found it far too touristy so we headed back to the hotel and in the pool. The food again was superb.

Timothy S reviewing Marrakech, Mountains & Coast Summer Holiday on 12 September 2013

The service we received from everything organised by yourselves was second to none. The three hotels/riads were excellent and absolutely top notch. The food where included was fantastic. The people in the hotels were attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The guide in the mountains (Youssef) was brilliant, the kids really liked him and we could not have asked for a better guide. Mohammed kept popping up in different places to see how we were getting on. We had the same driver for all out transfers who was prompt (even with the 5.30am pick up in Essaouira), courteous and friendly.

Stuart H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 23 August 2013

We had a 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 Mount Toubkal Family Trek on 15 August 2013

Huge thanks to you all for a most fantastic trip to Morocco last week. It is very difficult to single individuals out without missing those who should be mentioned, but everyone we met on the trek and in the hotel, the gites in the mountains and on the transfers was kind, helpful and supportive.

Mohamed is a star as was our guide Lashen, and as for Ali and Ibrahim, a career in comedy awaits! (and apologies to any of the others we have forgotten to mention too)

Matthew L reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Holiday on 09 July 2013

The walking was just right for us. We were a little anxious about whether the boys would happily participate - they haven't been great walkers. But they were fantastic: bounding ahead of us slow oldies, often over quite challenging terrain. They took to our guide, who struck a good balance between helpfulness and letting us get on with things. Accommodation was fine - and the guest house was lovely. And the food was just right.

Marrakech was a bit of a shock to the system after the tranquility of the mountains, and boys were a little uncertain about it at first - the chaos and the noise. But the accommodation was a great base to retreat to, and by the end boys were happily guiding us through the souks. I loved the vibrancy of it all - quite a contast to Stockholm.

Nicholas H reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 10 April 2013

We absolutely loved our trip, thank you.

The organisation from your side was perfect - everything went very smoothly, just as planned, and we felt very well looked after from start to finish. We really appreciated you changing plans for us at the last minute, and we were pleased with the arrangements we had. Even the day treks from Dar Adrar were very spectacular, and our guide Rashid was able to vary the to and from journeys to make it even more interesting. Mohammed and his team looked after us very well, and drinking mint tea on the terrace each afternoon was a joy. The boys were able to do all the walking, but found it really fun to ride on the mule anyway. We were all blown away by the delicious lunches and dinners. All so healthy, tasty and beautifully presented. It was a holiday we will never forget, and I hope we will go back many times!

Marrakech was also fabulous, although it took a little getting used to after the peace and quiet of the mountains!

So basically, we had a great time and would not hesitate to recommend Tourdust to other holiday makers, especially families who might not have considered that such a fun and adventurous holiday could be open to them with children.

Sarah S reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 22 February 2013

Having returned home after my trip to Morocco from 8th-15th August with your company I wish to compliment you in what was a fabulous first vacation to Morocco and first taste of trekking with my two children.
Mohammed and Abdu my guide, Muleteer and cook were outstanding in providing such a quality experience for us all up in the mountains. My children were particularly well cared for and the genuine hospitality shown by the owners and families at the various accommodations along the way made their first trekking experience a memorable one from start to finish.
My accommodation at Chez Momo and the wonderful Dar Vedra Riad in Marrakech were excellent and made us feel immersed in the architecture of Morocco. In particular Sebastian at Dar Vedra was a wonderful host during our time in the city and all the staff at Chez Momo were friendly and very accommodating to our needs.
Eight days passed very quickly. It was our first taste of trekking amidst this type of terrain and we only saw just a small part of Morocco but certainly this country has more to see and it will not be our last visit. I will thoroughly recommend to my friends Tourdust as a company and reiterate how much we all enjoyed trekking amongst the Atlas mountains and watching the buzz of activity in the city of Marrakech. It was the perfect itinerary for myself and my two 9 year olds.

Carole S reviewing Marrakech & Mountains Family Trek on 11 December 2012

I have nothing but praise for both your company and the people that you deal with. My initial contact with Ben and Anna was wonderful, they are both friendly, helpful and were always ready with a comforting or helpful reply when called upon. From the get go I knew that I had struck it lucky in my dealings with Tourdust.

Imlil:

Mustafa collected us from Marrakech train station, he was quiet but efficient and went out of his way to find a bank machine for us so that we would not be stuck for dirhams. As we drove further into the mountains his pride in his home village became apparent as he opened up a little and began to point out little things of interest. In Imlil we were met immediately by Hamid (of Dar Adrar) who escorted us to the gite. Upon arrival he showed us to our rooms and prepared the first of many mint teas that we were to sample in our time in Morocco. Realising that we may struggle to find somewhere to eat for lunch, seeing as it was Eid al Adha, he did not hesitate to offer us lunch, a tasty omelette and salad was promptly delivered to us in a cosy sitting room. Hamid was so hospitable and a pleasure to deal with. The rooms are exactly what we expected them to be - better in fact. They were comfortable and clean and typically rustic. The views from the terrace were breath-taking. Early on that first afternoon, a roaring fire was lit and we snuggled up and relaxed, reading our books in the tranquil atmosphere of the gite. Dinner was served and was a delight. We met with Mohamed as we were retiring to bed and he suggested we be ready to leave around 9.30 the next morning - perfect. After a good nights sleep, we hate a wonderful breakfast and set out. The guide (Lassan) was wonderful - a very experienced guide with years of training. He was talkative and absolutely marvellous with Katy (my nine year old daughter). The chef, Ibrahim was a bit of a wonder, we really couldn't figure out how he could consistently provide such wonderful meals on a portable stove. Mention must also be made of Hassan the other local that escorted the mule - he was constantly helpful and looked after Katy so well. The overnight in the village was wonderful, the Gite d'Etape, whilst expectedly basic, was a great night. The owner was present much of the time but stayed in the background making sure everything was running smoothly. There was only one slight glitch which was unavoidable I suppose, we had not realised that we would not be returning to Dar Adrar after the hike and had left many of our belongings there. We were met in the village by Mustafa for the return journey to Marrakech with all of our belongings but they had missed Katys two pairs of shoes that had been left in the communal shoe area, it was not a big deal and we were not put out at all.

Marrakech:

Mohamed had organised everything to perfection, we were met in Marrakech by Direse the man with a cart who steered us through the Marrakech back alleys like a pro. At breakneck speeds we careened through the frenetic streets until we finally arrived at Riad Boussa. Anyone who has never been to Marrakech before may have worried that they were being sucked into some little side alley for dodgy dealings but I knew the score. The door to Riad Boussa opened and we were led into this oasis. The first words my daughter gasped were 'it’s a sanctuary' and she was so right. The wonderful scent of essential oils drifted in the soft candle lit air. We were made comfortable by Madame Grillion and brought yet another round of the ubiquitous mint tea. Madame Grillion sat with us and went through a map of Marrakech with super suggestions for both sights to see and restaurants. We took all of her tips and were delighted with each one. Special mention needs to be made of Dejeuner de Marrakech for lunch. We had a wonderful time exploring Marrakech and enjoyed the many sights and sounds of this truly colorful city.

Sidi Kaouki:

The next morning, after another tasty breakfast in Riad Boussa, Madame Grillion confirmed our driver was on the way and Direse was called upon to guide us to Djem el Fnaa once more. Mohammed, our driver delivered us safely to Sidi Kaouki and all was fine. There had been quite a lot of inclement weather which had caused some problems for the taxi service and the surf school Blue Morocco but nothing that we were aware of in any negative way. The first afternoon the weather meant we were unable to have a surf lesson but I think we all welcomed the time for relaxation. There was a little confusion about meals with the Auberge owner (Auberge de la Plage), I believe her name was Francoise but I may be wrong, I am afraid it has slipped my mind. The surf instructors and owner of the school were all so friendly and really went out of their way to make the lessons an experience as opposed to just a lesson. The owner of Blue Morocco was friendly and a pleasure to deal with.

Sonja O reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 05 December 2012

In the past I have always been a believer in independently organising my own holidays, as that has always been part of my holiday experience. However, I was wary about taking my wife and children (aged 15,14 and 10) on an adventure without some help to organise the trip. After some careful searching on-line I found 'Tourdust' who organise adventure travel 'everywhere'. All the reviews raved about their services, so I sent them an email...

Ben and Anna helped us plan a eleven day holiday to include trekking in the Atlas Mountains, exploring Marrakesh and surfing on the Atlantic coast. Using their wide knowledge they made some excellent suggestions and encouraged us to make choices that would not have occurred to me had I booked independently. This included an excellent last minute suggestion, based on up to date weather information, to stay in the mountains on our first night rather than in the heat of Marrakesh. They were also immediately on the case, by phone, when our taxi failed to turn up on the last day to take us back to the airport.

I could rave for a long time about the holiday; the amazing cooking on the trek, the beautiful Riad in Marrakesh and the friendly surf instructors... but you need to experience it yourself. I am complete convert to their style of adventure travel and knowledgeable advice and would think twice before attempting to organise my own holiday again, especially if travelling as a family.

PATRICK R reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 02 August 2012

we had a great time, all of the people we worked with were great, everything went pretty smooth.

A couple of bits which may help you when booking this for others:-

- Day one of the trekking we arrived with not enough water, believing that they would already have it for us to buy, luckily one of the guys had his car and drove off and got us some.
- Food was traditional and excellent!
- At the surf place due to Ramadan we couldn't stay at the centre but was placed in a hotel 200 yards away which had no electricity!! however living including showering by candle light was fab, we played cards, chess and read a lot of books which was great for the kids and i would sell this!!
- There was some confusion over the use of the surf boards outside of the lessons, they were very good about it but insisted that one of them was present at all times. This felt like we added a lot of pressure on them and as such rarely did it, partly because it was Ramadan and in the afternoons when we wanted to go out they were sleeping. To be honest we went to go out on 3 occasions and weren't able to. The team were great so i don't want you to go back and criticise but recognise that during Ramadan its far more complicated and if the equipment is to be used outside of the lessons that it has to fit in with them as well.

Ian H reviewing Morocco Family Adventure: Marrakech, Trek & Surf on 12 September 2011

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