Morocco in September

We began our trip with a few days in Marrakesh, followed by some trekking through the Atlas Mountains. We were driven to the Sahara desert, stopping to see Ait Ben Haddou, Dades and Todra Gourges...and many more delightful stops along the way. After two nights in the desert, we retraced our steps to Marrakesh before returning home. Morocco was a land that had been calling me to it - without explanation - for years. Despite the amazing natural landscapes and tremendous food experiences, my lasting impression of Morocco was how warm and kind the people were. Perhaps the best examples of which we found in our local travel agent, Nawfal and our local driver, Mohammed. Nawfal had deep knowledge of Morocco, but more importantly, a mastery of human connection and relationships. We had only a rough idea of what we hoped for on this trip, but no idea if our hopes were achievable. Nawfal treated us with utmost respect as we went back and forth together over weeks identifying options. Along the way, Nawfal discovered the way that we liked to travel, what was most important to us...even the style of accommodations that fit us personally. We went through an embarrassing number of iterations to design our dream trip. Throughout the planning process, Nawfal met every change with grace and understanding - there seemed to be no end to his patience! Our trip to Morocco validated how well Nawfal had listened to us throughout every conversation. Taking careful note of our every concern and preference. The accommodations and experiences seemed hand-tailored to fit us perfectly. My only regret is that Nawfal isn't available to plan and arrange our trips to other countries as well. I can't imagine a better ambassador than him to welcome us on our first trip to Morocco and our first trip with Evaneos. Mohammed - our driver - was brilliant at tending to our every need along the way. He always found the balance between giving us space when we needed it and engagement when we needed that. He offered us choices along the way that were too small to make a guide book, but surprised and delighted us every time! He quickly got to know us and our preferences for how we liked to travel...stopping for any reason: coffee, food, carpet shopping, taking pictures of goats along the side of the road. He had our playlists streaming from the van speakers and made sure that we ate at the best places we would have never found by ourselves. He kept a close eye on our safety and comfort, stepping in delicately before language or currency could become a problem. He provided us tips and cultural explanations that helped us navigate and understand every day. At the end of our trip, he felt like a distant friend or relative that we hope to see again one day.

As mentioned, we enjoyed all of the places we visited, Chefchaouen, Fes, Meknes, Vollubilis, Merzouga, Ait Ben Haddou, Imlil and Marrakech. They were all unique in one way or another. Talking to the locals was especially enjoyable. It was easier to do in the high Atlas than the big cities.

The trip was fantastic and we loved the journey. Our favorite day was a hike up in the Atlas mountains, eating lunch in a Berber house and a fantastic guide that day.