Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Our trip to Morocco was incredible! Michael and team exceeded expectations. Michael planned a special trip for us—a graduation gift for my daughter as she completed a master of architecture degree. My daughter (25 years old), son (23), and I (54) went on the trip together and all agree that the itinerary for our seven days in Marrakech, Essaouira, and the Ourika Valley (High Atlas Mountains) was fabulous. We are glad we chose Michael and highly recommend him!

We flew to Casablanca from NYC and were greeted at the airport by our guide, Rachid, and by our driver, Mehdi. They took amazing care of us the whole trip. Both were extremely professional, prepared, thoughtful, and always prompt. We felt safe the entire time, learned a great deal, and were impressed that not a single thing went wrong the whole trip. Every detail was seamless. Our only job was to take in the sites, learn about the history of this amazing country, appreciate the culture, and enjoy the delicious food.

Marrakech was a bucket list trip for my daughter, and she had many, many buildings and design-focused experiences on her list. In three days we saw everything she wanted to see, and Michael even matched us with a fantastic guide who worked in interior design and thus had interests that aligned with those of my daughter. We stayed in an awesome riad in the medina, enjoyed learning from Rachid as we toured sites such as the Koutoubia Minaret, the Saadien Tombs, Medersa ben Youssef, Yves-Saint Laurent Museum, and Jardin Majorelle, and ate at fantastic restaurants. We took a half day to do an excursion in the Agafay Desert, as we couldn’t miss the quintessential experience riding camels!

We were then driven to Essaouira (note that the van our driver drove us around in was extremely comfortable and clean, and also had wifi) where we enjoyed Rachid teaching us about the history of this little city on the Atlantic coast and showing us the major sites; we also spent time walking around the medina on our own (and found it an easier place to shop than some of the souks in Marrakech). Again, the hotel and restaurants Michael chose for us were right on the mark. And finally, we were transported out to the Ourika Valley in the High Atlas Mountains to a beautiful hotel. We enjoyed a slower pace for our final two days, doing short day-hikes, going to the spa, laying by the pool, and taking in the beautiful gardens and views.

It’s always hard to make decisions on who to trust to plan a special trip, but if Morocco is where you are headed, think no further than Michael!

We spent eight days touring several beautiful locations in Morocco including Marrakech, the Agafay Desert, Rabat, Fez and Tangier. The journey was the perfect blend of culture, adventure, history, and luxury, all expertly designed by Michael. Our local guide, Badr, was exceptional and brought each destination to life with his deep knowledge of Morocco’s history, culture, and hidden gems.

In Marrakech we loved the Jardin Majorelle, Yves-Saint Laurent Museum, the many Moorish architectural marvels, and exploring the medina by motorcycle side car before settling for the evenings at the beautiful Villa des Orangers.

Each day and each location was totally different than the next. Hiking in the Atlas Mountains, having lunch in a Berber tent, making tea with a local family, and exploring Fez’s labyrinth of alleys made the trip a fun and memorable adventure.

We highly recommend Morocco for couples or friends looking for variety, adventure, and new cultural experiences.

Michael planned the most wonderful 5-day Morocco adventure for me (age 54) and my son (age 21). Michael had the challenge of creating an itinerary that suited both of us. And he nailed it. Michael responded to my initial email within minutes, and then scheduled a preliminary call that same day. We discussed at length what we were seeking (history, culture, activity, food, some specific personal goals) and what was less important. We discussed geography (what we could and couldn’t possibly accomplish in our limited window) and “musts.” We discussed in detail food, lodging, and the rhythm of each day. Michael then circulated a detailed day by day plan. We went back and forth on some changes and over several days landed on a detailed itinerary.

What resulted was awesome. The “Riads” (hotels) were like nothing we’d ever experienced. Tucked into the windy small alleys of the medina and old city, they were hidden gems. Small but luxurious. Historic. Beautiful. With incredible staff. I will miss a Riad every time I now stay in a big city hotel for sure. The food choices were excellent. Importantly, mid-trip we made some on-the-spot changes for restaurants and Michael and his on-the-ground team helped us take care of that. Indeed, one evening, we were having trouble getting into a “hot” spot (per my 21-year-old) and they helped us secure a reservation at a perfect time.

Our tour guide and driver were both fantastic. Our guide had, candidly, more information than we could absorb, but that was perfect. The sights in Marrakech were fantastic—from the Secret Garden to the souk, from the Yves St. Lauren and Berber museums to the Palaces, from the developing “New” city to the giant central square to Jewish history, the sights selected were spot-on. And, knowing we’d have some time without guides at the end of the trip, our guide’s suggestions on what to do while we were solo were awesome.

The food recs on how to approach dinner at the central market were amazing. Outside of Marrakech, our glamping evening in the local desert (not the Sahara, but still fun with ATV and camel rides) was very cool. The particular tent site was fantastic, with great food and music. Then our day trip to the Atlas Mountains was gorgeous and like a different nation. Our local guide for our hike was perfect and his knowledge of history, flora and fauna rocked! Too bad we only had a day there.

We toured Essouira ourselves, but highly recommend a day in this gorgeous seaside port city. We were really happy that Michael encouraged it. Negatives? Negatives? I’m not sure we can identify even one. The information provided ahead of time about culture, weather, history, travel, safety all was super helpful. Michael and his local team were available 24/7 and fantastically responsive. The driver (Hatim) was incredible—a guide in and of himself. Sadly, 5 days was not enough and next time it will be much longer. Thank you!

We had an amazing trip to Morocco planned by Michael that far exceeded our expectations. In planning the trip, Michael listened to our interests and tailored the trip to cover a wide geographical swath of the country and a variety of cultural and historical sites over the ten days we were there. When Michael told us that he only hired the best drivers and tour guides, this was no exaggeration. Our wonderful driver, Hakim, and amazing Berber guide, Momo, were consummate professionals and very personable to boot! We were to learn that Momo had been a tour guide for former President Reagan and his wife Nancy. More recently, he was the guide for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Hillary Clinton. We jokingly said that he should mention the Connors from Massachusetts to future clients!

Our journey included an overnight in Casablanca where we saw the massive Mosque Hassan II; two nights in the charming Medina of Fes with its souks, art, architecture and antiquities; a night glamping in the Sahara Desert; and the many historical and cultural wonders of Marrakech. Among the sites in Fes we toured were the ruins of Volubilis, the late Roman capital of the province of Mauritania, a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site; the Art de Poterie ACH pottery co-op; and the Chouara Tanneries.

In Marrakech, the exotic Yves St. Laurent Botanical Garden with its breathtaking array of flora had a peacefulness and tranquility that would be difficult to replicate. The adjacent Yves St. Laurent and Berber Museums were fascinating in terms of St. Laurent’s long and deep connection to the region which was an inspiration for his work; and the Berber Museum’s artifacts from the nomadic tribe that originally settled the land of Morocco. In contrast to the tranquil gardens, the lively Djemaa el-Fnaa Square and marketplace was a highlight of our vacation. Throughout, our guide Momo’s interpretation of the sites and surroundings was invaluable.

Our driver Hakim ferried us safely over the precarious roads of the Atlas Mountains twice. On the long journey from the desert to Marrekech, we spent a night at the beautiful Ksar El Kabbaba Hotel in the Skoura Valley. To say we were pampered by the wonderful hotel staff during our short stay would be an understatement. In fact, we wish we had spent two nights there. On our last full day, we went on a hike in the Ouirgane Valley in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains on a path that took us through several small, old villages which gave us a sense that we had been transported to the ancient times. Our guide, Omar, provided us with walking sticks and interpreted many points of interest along the way, treating us with walnuts that had just fallen off a tree! Later that day, we had lunch at the retreat of Sir Richard Branson and toured the beautiful grounds with amazing views of the Atlas Mountains and the valley.

All in all, we met incredible people who were so kind and helpful in making us feel welcome. The guides on our individual tours and hikes were superb. Our appointments with various vendors to review and sample their wares, which Momo had arranged, were always low-key with no pressure to make purchases. Hotel staff provided impeccable service throughout our stay and the cuisine was varied and excellent. The way that the old traditions continue to thrive along with modern life, and the daily devotion of Moroccans to their Islamic religion, are two overarching impressions of Morocco that we as two Americans will long remember.

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