We had a terrific experience on our 12-day excursion to Morocco with Experience IT Tours. Here are some highlights (we will send some photos separately after we go through them):
- We must begin with Achraf Nouri. From the moment he met us at the Casablanca airport until he dropped us off 12 days later, he was everything we had hoped for and then some. Achraf is an excellent and safe driver, but he is so much more than that. He selected our local guides, all of whom were superb; he chose all of the restaurants that were not pre-arranged at the riads and the Casablanca hotel, including some lunches, and we dined at some of the best restaurants in each city; he was extremely knowledgeable about his country, its customs and its people; and he was solicitous, supportive, and generous. We cannot imagine you employ a better driver and guide, and we encourage anyone booking a Morocco trip to request Achraf.
- We limited our time in Casablanca, which was a smart decision. It is a big city, and while we’re so glad we began the trip with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, and the Hotel Val d’Anfa was comfortable and lovely, we didn’t feel as if we should have stayed longer.
- On our way to our first three-night stay – in Fes – we stopped at Rabat, which is superb. It’s a beautiful and clean city, and Achraf took us to lovely gardens and then a restaurant on the river for lunch which he had booked. It was one of the best meals we had.
- Our first riad, in Fes, was unexpected. Access is through a small alley and we were a bit concerned when we arrived at the door. It opened, we were greeted, and our eyes opened wide. The riad is beautiful, we were immediately served tea, our room was the largest we had on the trip, and the staff was so accommodating. Great choice.
- Our local guide was superb and led us through the souk, which we would have struggled to do on our own. One suggestion for the future: while we were delighted to be taken to a ceramic factory, a carpet/rug shop, a lamp and jewelry shop, and a leather tannery and store, we wish we had had in advance a better sense of what we would encounter. We made purchases, wonderful ones, but it was real guesswork as to whether some of our purchases were the right size and color for our home.
- Next was Marrakech. This riad was our least favorite: access to it requires traversing the entire main square of Jemaa el-Fnaa (which is in a constant state of organized chaos) then down a street and a small alley. The room was sufficient but lacked the charm of the Fes riad. The local guide was, again, superb, and took the time to include a visit to one of the few surviving synagogues as well as the Jewish quarter. One phenomenal highlight: Jardin Majorelle, the gardens of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. The other: we booked spa treatments at the riad’s hammam. Sublime.
- We learned from Jill that the company had recently shifted to the Marrakech riad where we stayed, dissatisfied with an earlier one. We encourage you to continue to find one more at the level of the other riads.
- As retired classicists we wanted to see Volubilis, a Roman site, and so we did, with another local guide. He was well-informed and affable, but we sometimes did not have a good sense of the layout of some of the houses. Perhaps provide the clients with a map of the site so they can appreciate better what they will encounter.
- A long car ride took us to our last destination: Essaouira, in the medina by the ocean. Our room looked out, and the window opened up, on the ocean, which was really wonderful. This guide may have been the best we had – smart, solicitous, well-informed and with a sense of humor. Highlights included the walls of the city and the fortifications; the fishing harbor; the synagogue and Jewish quarter; and two shops, one for woodworking and one for silver jewelry. Excellent choices.
- We had a free day and left it to Achraf how to spend it. He drove us outside of the city to Anima (André Heller) Garden, a magical place of flora and sculpture. What a terrific, unplanned choice. Well done, Achraf.
- Finally, back to Casablanca, with a second stop at Afous Argan, where local divorced and widowed women work as part of a cooperative to create argan oil products. The woman we worked with was terrific, and we’re so glad Achraf included this on the way to and from Essaouira.
- Our final dinner was at Rick’s Cafe. We were a bit skeptical, thinking it would be kitschy, but not only was the setting lovely, the meal was excellent and Achraf secured for us the best table in the restaurant (a former riad).
- Admittedly, it was difficult to say goodbye to him. We felt we forged more than a client-provider relationship; instead, we have acquired a Moroccan friend.
The individuals we worked with at the company – Brian first, then Amy, and we met Jill briefly in Fes – were all professional, informative, and terrific.
A few suggestions:
- Dinners the first evenings – in Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, and Essaouira – are pre-arranged at the hotel and riads. That’s fine, but we would have preferred to have had some choices from the menus at Marrakech and Essaouira. We would have paid more if that would have been necessary. It was frustrating to be served something when we could see other diners were enjoying other options.
- We asked in advance if the Marrakech riad provides a laundry service and were told it does. It turns out it does not. The Fes and Essaouira riads do, but we had planned to have our laundry done at the midway point, when we arrived in Marrakech. That was problematic.
We wholeheartedly recommend Experience IT Tours to anyone interested in visiting Morocco. Ask for Achraf, and if he’s not available, book your trip for when he is.
-Michael A. (April, 2026)
