Not enough can be said about Lahcen Boujouija's Around Morocco Travels. Lahcen customizes your trip and makes suggestions when he thinks it might add to your knowledge and/or enjoyment. With his suggestion we added the town of Chefchaouen, which nestles in the hollow of two mountains nicknamed The Horns. It has steep narrow streets with white and indigo lime-washed buildings, small squares, ornate fountains and houses with elaborately decorated blue and ancient wooden doors and red tile roofs. A not to be missed town.

As Mbarek led us to our first riad, we were impressed with his care and gracious upbeat manner. He suggested a schedule without appearing pushy or authoritarian, always giving us room to make a serendipitous change. Since the ancient streets of Morocco could have many pitfalls, both literally and figuratively, he was always there to lend a hand in every possible way. Parking spots opened up; people magically appeared to assist in baggage transportation. You were always happy to dispense the usual few dirhams (8 dirhams equal 1 dollar) in return for their challenging trek with our luggage through the throngs flowing through the narrow ways of the medinas. When Mbarek found I was addicted to diet coke, it became a specialty of his to see that I had it even if it meant going out of his way to bring it to any restaurant that had failed to stock up in anticipation of my addiction.

The indigenous houses of the country are called riads (literal translation of Arabic for "garden") that have evolved into fascinating, beautiful and luxurious travelers' lodgings. They are a part of the make-up of the medina (town). The medina is a loose configuration of communal spaces comprising several small streets and alleyways and serving as the focus of the inhabitants' material and spiritual life.

When we walked to our first riad in Rabat, we were led adroitly down narrow, twisty, mysterious, labyrinthine alleys. But wow! When, after our knock and short wait the door to the riad was opened, we felt we had arrived at Scheherazade's palace. A courtyard as magnificent as any imagined in our dreams greeted us, with its bubbling fountain, glorious arches, limitless floral and calligraphic architectural detail, and transcendent colors that made us dizzy with their beauty. Through arches we espied the different rooms and knew we had reached paradise.
Each night Mbarek would discuss plans and options for the next day. If dining for the evening had not been previously planned, he would describe the best dining experiences available in the vicinity. That next night he would guide us to the spot, leave us to our adventure, and magically appear at the end to guide us back to our riad. Each dining experience was unique but with an underlying theme of tagines - Morocco's characteristic, special conical clay pots baked and filled with delicious offerings of lamb, chicken or vegetable cuisine.

Our most exquisite and thoroughly memorable meal was in Essaouira, which is referred to as the jewel of the Moroccan Atlantic. The city magically appeared as we approached, surrounded by water, sand and flora, white and shining. Its name means small fortress surrounded by walls, and it was - surrounded by high walls divided by means of interior walls into three clearly differentiated urban areas: the Medina, the Mellah (Jewish section) and the Kasbah. Mbarek led us through the docks where the fishermen had just returned with their catches of the day; we could watch the bartering that included retailers, restaurateurs, locals, and tourists. He bought five varieties offish, led us back to a local restaurant, gave our cache to the chef, and treated us to a feast that started with bowls brimming with just-broiled fish and ended with piles of bones in the center of our table. Of course, now we're ruined for life - you won't catch us opening another tin of sardines; and no restaurant here could possibly live up to what had to be the best seafood meal we've ever experienced.

Another unforgettable experience was our trip through the three ranges of the Atlas Mountains. We traveled oases and desert stretches with huge sand dunes, pure visual splendor. Both sandy and stony desert were broken by green oases with shade-giving date palms growing in profusion.

Mbarek, a Berber native, still lives in one of the native mud houses that occupy this area of Morocco. He invited us to visit his family, and we enthusiastically accepted. We were warmly welcomed and treated by Mbarek's lovely bride of three months with one of their oldest dishes, a Berber pizza, the most delicious pizza we have ever tasted. We could feel the love and pride within his entire family who shared a warm and enlightening time with us.

We then visited the dunes at sunset where we were treated to an outstanding desert meal that included Mbarek's surprising me with his remembering my fondness for eggplant,entertainment by the native garbed staff, billions of stars, and so much quiet you could hear the sand moving. One of our many surprises was the furnishings in our tent. We won't spoil the surprise except our saying that it was carpeted with some of Morocco's beautiful Berber rugs.
We also met many other American visitors who enjoyed their experience with guides from Around Morocco Tours as well as many trip reports on Trip Advisor and other forums which made us decided to pick them for our Moroccan trip.

Mbarek transcended his roles as guide, educator, shopping facilitator, geographer, and driver, becoming a true friend whom we will remember as much as his fascinating country. We'll keep in touch 'til the end of time.

Insha'Allah,
Barbara and Bob Karski

We agree completely with Barbara and Bob. We had Lahcen, himself, the owner of Around Morocco Travels, as our guide. We went in March of 2012, which is considered a "low season," some years, still winter weather, as far as tourism. If anyone wonders how a trip would be that early in the year, please feel free to request specifics.

The same person must write all the reviews over at TA as this one. Gets rather tiresome when you're looking for good info.

The company might be quite good, but these professionally written endorsements make me wonder. The same report was posted on TA, see http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293730-i9195-k5925216-Best_trip_ever_in_Morocco-Morocco.html

Never trust reviews written by single-post contributors.

I often will sign in just to review one thing - I really enjoyed this post. Barbara and Bob, I'd love to hear more about your experience, if you'd be willing. Is there a way to contact you directly?