Last October, I was selected to join other travel agents from across Canada to take part in a familiarization trip to Morocco with G Adventures. I was quite excited because I had never been to Africa before. I knew it was going to be an incredible experience, but frankly, Morocco exceeded my expectations.
Our tour was the 9-day/8-night National Geographic Journeys Tour called Morocco Highlights. We started in Casablanca, and then travelled to Fez (2 nights), Merzouga, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, and finally Marrakech for the final 2 nights. We travelled from place to place in a comfortable mid-sized bus that was air-conditioned and had charging ports. It was so nice to just show up, and the bus would be waiting for us, ready to take us to our next adventure.
A little bit about the tour company…..G Adventures is a Canadian company that started in Toronto in 1990. From its humble start offering just one tour to Ecuador, G Adventures now has over 1000 trips worldwide and is one of the largest tour companies in the world. And G Adventures has something for everyone. From budget-minded 18-30 somethings to families, active adventure seekers of any age, and retirees with average mobility – anyone with a decent amount of wanderlust will find a G Adventures itinerary that suits them.
Okay, now back to the trip.
When I think back on my 9 days in Morocco, there are a handful of things that will live rent-free in my mind for the rest of my life.
One – The sand dunes! I will never forget walking into the lobby of the kasbah and seeing the dunes right there, sand spilling into the doorway. The view was otherworldly. While I watched and admired the view, guides guided the camels home for the night while the sun brushed the dunes with golden hour light. It was incredible. And I’ll never forget that night. We enjoyed a dinner al fresco on the dunes’ edge. After dinner we moved to sit around a fire attendants had prepared for us. Although the fire was lovely, I did not linger for long. I was pulled to explore the cool sand of the dunes. I slipped off my shoes, and after walking just a few steps, I was surrounded by darkness and covered by a dome of stars. It was pure magic. I just stood there and took it in, thinking to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m here’. The next morning, a few of us woke early to do a sunrise yoga session on the dunes. We bent our bodies and did sun salutations as the camels watched. My favourite photo of the trip is of a camel’s silhouette, taken as the sun rose behind it.
Two – The labyrinth-like alleyways of Fez. What a cool experience that was. Fez is a Unesco World Heritage Site with the world’s largest contiguous car-free urban area. The alleyways are impossibly narrow and convoluted. In fact, there is no way I would venture into Fez without a guide. If I entered Fez without one, I believe I would never emerge. But we had a fantastic guide, so I never felt lost. He showed us the most interesting spots, such as the ancient university dormitory with tiny rooms and windows overlooking the courtyard, the tannery, the weaving sectors and the pottery co-op where we watched them spin the pottery wheel and paint the pieces by hand. My favourite moment in Fez was lunch, where we enjoyed a delicious meal in a gorgeous and impossibly quiet courtyard.
Three – The riads. I did not know what a riad was before I visited Morocco. Now I’m obsessed. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace, usually with two or more stories, designed around an inward-facing, open-air central courtyard or garden. I was most intrigued by how hidden these lovely spaces are. From the street, the doorways look like any doorway, but when you walk in, you immediately know you are in a special place. Instead of a dark hall or lobby, when you enter a riad, you immediately see the natural light and hear the soothing sounds provided by the central courtyard. Most courtyards boast a fountain or a swimming pool, and the rooms usually open to this incredible space. It is a unique experience, and I wish we had more hotels like this. And one must not forget the welcoming ceremony of tea. All of the hotels we stayed at offered mint tea (also called Moroccan whiskey), which could be taken with sugar or without. It was delicious and always refreshing, BUT the most amazing thing was how they served the tea by pouring it into the glasses from the highest point their arm could stretch. It was mesmerizing to watch the tea fall from the impossible height into the glass, rarely spilling a drop.
Four – The diverse landscape of Morocco. From the cedar-forested Atlas mountains where we saw monkeys, to the golden dunes and the impossibly steep and deep gorges, plus the many oases that seemingly sprung out of nowhere, and the coastal areas popular with surfers – Morocco is not just bustling markets and towering mosques. It is so, so much more. I was constantly fascinated by the ever-changing geography as we drove from place to place.
Finally – The people. I don’t know what I expected, really, but I did not expect to fall in love with the people of Morocco as I did. I loved how the faces of the women on the street would brighten and stretch into a smile when we said hello to them. I loved the music of Morocco and how the guides would dance when they heard a song they liked. I loved to see how the Moroccans fed and cared for the thousands of cats that roam everywhere. I loved the chaos of the markets, the cacophony of sound, smell and movement, that always had us coming back for more.
Simply put…. Morocco is a kaleidoscope of colour, smell, sound, taste, and feel that envelopes you, but in the very best way – and I cannot wait to visit again.
