Sun Trails Morocco Review

Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by PowersToTravel

For Morocco I chose Sun Trails.    An agency that is willing to publish prices for standard trips always gets my attention.  I know that there is a great deal of competition, and agencies don’t want to give prices unless they are somewhat certain you are a bona fide customer.    Sun Trails’ publishing of prices made me feel they have confidence in the quality of their product.  Of course, they need to combine that with good reviews.

The website for Sun Trails included many sample itineraries, with sample pricing for three levels of luxury.  We iterated to a version of the “Land of the Setting Sun: Casablanca – Fez – Erg Chebbi – Marrakech – Essaouira: 10- 12 days” tour, at the Dreamers level (essentially the 3-star level).  Their itineraries include driving times, lists of accommodations at the various levels, detailed activities, in essence everything the detailed analyst in me needed in order to decide that the trip was within budget.

In Morocco, we had a driver only versus a driver/guide.  Oualid Naciri was our driver.  His English was excellent and he was able to talk extensively about the culture and life in Morocco.  He is a Bedouin, raised in the arid countryside in a traditional way.  Through the generosity of his aunt, he was able to attend school, and then went on to college.  His dual outlook on the traditional and modern life was fascinating.  He also had a fantastic music library and throughout the trip we were treated to Moroccan folk and all eras of modern music.  We became Facebook friends, and continue to follow his business success.

When we visited an historical location, we would be paired with an official guide.  It was a practical and affordable approach.  On most occasions the guides were professional, educated and excellent.   Only on one occasion, in Fes, were we paired with the stereotypical “show you around and take you to the right shops to get the right kickback.”

When to go?  Perhaps not May, as it was too hot in the desert.  Sun Trails generally consider the end of May to be the cutoff for spending a night in the Sahara desert.  We were traveling in mid-May and all was good as far as our itinerary and discussions with Sun Trails.  However, we we arrived on the 10th of May, it was scorchingly hot in Casablanca.  We had arrived in the middle of a heat-wave that would last for for several more days.  The heat-wave broke before our desert visit, but still, it was too hot for sleeping in the desert, and yet we had to, well, that is to say, we still wanted to and would have been terribly disappointed if we had been unable to.  However, the tent had small windows which would not allow for air-flow, and we got zero sleep that night.  If we had a chance to do it again, I would be sure to travel slightly earlier.

Upon our arrival in Marrakech, which was about three quarters through our trip, we met with an  owner of the company.  Apparently the owners like to visit with each client, to make sure all was well,  and to fix anything not going well.  It was a pleasant visit, and we were able to communicate to her that we had had enough tagine.  Tagine is a traditional Moroccan dish, and very good, however on the nights we would arrive in a new city, the riad host would present us a tagine dinner.  It was practical, understood in advance, and meant that after a long day’s drive we wouldn’t need to wander an unknown location.  However, by the time we had reached Marrakech we were filled to the brim with chicken tagine, and desperate for other food.

After hearing our issue, the owner arranged for our final riad in Essaouira, the Riad Perle D’Eau, to serve us fish.  Greg gulped.  He likes scallops and shrimp, but really doesn’t like fish.  I like fish, but don’t want to see the eyes.  The meal at this final riad was exquisite, the filet poached with herbs, personally cooked and then served to us in the private candle-lit dining area.

It was a scene out of the Arabian Nights.

Links

Sun Trails

Riad Perle D’Eau

For more on Sun Trails, see my Morocco category.

Just after our trip, Oualid launched his own agency, Morocco Shiny Days.  He appears to be doing well, from the looks of his Tripadvisor reviews.

Check out this article of mine too:

Morocco Travel Blog – Itinerary, Reviews and Diabetic Travel Tips