Roxanne66

Hi all,

I am a woman traveling solo and would like to take a tour (for safety reasons) to Morocco. I would prefer a small, local company instead of a large (Intrepid or Gap) type company.

Can anyone recommend a tour company.

Also, how is the weather in November for traveling?

Thanks!

Robyn.

ShayTay

OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) is a larger company, but their group sizes are fairly small, maybe 16. They are also good about accommodating singles. www.oattravel.com

qwovadis

OAT offers adventure travel and tours for mature Americans and seasoned travelers including ... Morocco Sahara Odyssey 2012 www.oattravel.com EXCELLENT recent report here.
Careful with all the local touts/trolls/thread hijackers that troll here.I always check profiles carefully never wire money and get trip cover. www.visitmorocco.com reputable local site.

Good luck!

planetraveller

Hi, welcome to Fodor's forums, i've read your topic on Tripadvisor as you've received to contact a Tout, Mouhou tours is not a real tour as you can see their duplication listed tours in Fes and in Merzouga their reviews are not honest, anyway; in My opinion you can wait until you arrive Marrakech then there is a plenty of Tour companies which offer group tours, so you can book your trip there and enjoy it, as you know Intrepid and Gap, Globous ..etc are big tours which could offer some tours, other hand you can customis an itinerary and ask other travellers to join you for it, posting your request either here or another busy Forum where you can attract many travellers to share you the expenses of the tour.
This links includes some tours to contact, as you know most of them offering Private tours, so you can just make a request for a tour joining on The forum: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Marrakech.html
http://www.backpackmojo.com/search/g...occo&d=17+days
Good luck in your plans.

c_travels

I just returned from an OAT trip to Morocco in November and have just posted my trip report here. We were 14 on this trip (unusual that we were all women). OAT sets aside a portion of rooms for single travelers and does not charge a single supplement. It was one of the better trips that I've taken. Let me know if you want more info. --Charlotte

Roxanne66

Thanks all! I did know about OAT but had forgotten about them! Charlotte, what was the average age range? I read a review that said the tour was lacking in nature. Was there any nature at all? Was there free time to do things on your own or could you opt out of anything? Were there really long travel days? I am looking at November also.

Have you or anyone done a trip to Turkey with them?

Thanks again!

thursdaysd

I did a tour to Thailand with OAT and swore "never again". I did Morocco on a Comfort-level Intrepid tour - click on my name for my TR.

planetraveller

I think that Robyn asked for a small Local Tour company, as i've already read her request on the forums of TA, so please she has already said that she did not want to join Big Tour companies, like the ones you've suggested, moreover; she asked for a local.
For example the big travel agencies who offer tours in Morocco from overseas they hire a local tour or hiring a bus and sending some unknown guide you've never heard about,for Eg: Intrepid Hire Sahara Expedition in Morocco old Vans with uncertified guides, as you can read many negatives review about them on Tripadvisor, Lonelyplanet and Fodors as well.
in My opinion you'd better if you just go through Morocco and join it there as you can meet up many individual travellers to share some private tour with, or some reliable Driver to have the real experience in Morocco.
Good Luck.

thursdaysd

The OP is Roxanne, not Robyn, at least here, and has just expressed an interest in OAT, which is about as far as you can get from a small, local, company. If you keep repeating yourself, I'll conclude you have an ax to grind.

Roxanne66

Thank you all for your input!

planetraveller is right, on TripAdvisor, I'm Robyn. Roxanne and Robyn are both correct. and yes, I did ask this question on other travel forums because unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding a small, local company to travel with.

I was following up about OAT because the reviews I read of them were at least more positive than the ones about Intrepid, Gap, etc...

I always prefer to travel with small, local companies but have a really hard time finding them here in the states which is why I threw out a wide net and posted the same question on several travel forums!

My search continues... but thanks again everyone, I do appreciate all your input!

Roxanne/Robyn

planetraveller

Hi Robyn,
In the beginning it's hard to find the right tour, esp if you were solo traveller so to join turs, as you know in Morocco there is heaps of Tour companies but mostly offering private tours, in my opinion you could only use someone with a good price which suit your budget, you can also read some recent helpful trip report at the following link on the LP: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...eport&x=18&y=8
Good Luck.
Elaine

Lynneb

You could try

Exodus
The adventure company
Explore

I've used all three and they are reliable

Roxanne66

Thanks all. I have used Explore and found them to be just OK. When I indicated Intrepid, Gap, etc, the etc, was basically all those other same type of companies, such as Explore, Exodus, Geckos, Peregrine, Imaginative Traveler and so on. They are all very similar and not quite what I am looking for.

Thanks again though, to everyone!

planetraveller

Very Good!!!
It's really helpful advice from Seriouswander..., anyway i totaly agree with all what you've said, tell me when you've been to morocco? i need some tips from your experience too.
Actually; what you said about excellent reviews, drivers ... is right because what we read in other websites sometimes make magic on our eyes till you got a horrible experience with in the contrary for what were in the website, so to book a tour is not easy issue, because it's something you'll live either to live a dream and a lifetime experience or a nightmare which will be a lifetime hell experience, not every tour has all reviews excellent could be trusted, but that is the one i should avoide because no body is perfect, and it's impossible to satisfied everybody with what a tour has, and sometimes keep writing about themselves, and removing negatives reviews which keep it not Honest, and heating you and everyone using them wrong.
so watch out, this is my part advice too, as i take everything with a very slow steps, to make sure i will be safe and everything will be okay.
Good luck.

planetraveller

Another thing: Alerts!!!! from Newbe reviewers, members.

Interpid

Good point thursdaysd seems Elaine, planetraveller or .........hhhhhh
to have much knowledge about all the travel forums..etc

planetraveller

what do you mean Intrepid, i did not realise your reply till today what's up, i think your name is Suspicious because your screen name is a tour and this seemed to be an indirect way of promoting your business here, everyone here should be aware about your sreen name.

thursdaysd

Oh please. First, the name is "Interpid" not "Intrepid", and second, Intrepid is far too big and successful to need to spam here. Most fodorites aren't even their target market.

I have more doubts about you, always pushing tripadvisor and small local companies.

Interpid

.

Ian

thursdaysd: I think we are both seeing this as it is.

And Youssef, I believe?

You could be a real service to this forum if you actually added value with real on-the-ground knowledge. Numerous other business owners post here & in Fodor’s Europe successfully. Answer questions honestly & provide real information rather than just opinions about tours, guides etc. As long as you steer clear of tours & any self-promoting, you can be a real asset.

Ian (with a capital i not an L)