Morocco: Best of Both Worlds Traveller Reviews

We booked a celebratory family get-together holiday for 7 adults with Discover Ltd this June. We spent 3 nights at their riad in Marrakesh, Les Yeux Bleus, and 3 nights at Kasbah du Toubkal. We were looking for a stress-free, varied holiday to suit the whole family with plenty to see and do, and with a touch of adventure. They did not disappoint. All the planning, bookings and information received went very well, and communication with the operator was personal and accurate. They included all transfers, which were well worth it – very professional and informative staff and comfortable cars with plenty of water bottles and air con. Our stay in Marrakesh at the Riad Yeux Blues was wonderful. It is really 'atmospheric', well-decorated in typical local style and materials, with comfortable rooms, plenty of areas in which to relax and excellent staff who were incredibly helpful and efficient. The roof terrace is in need of a little sprucing up – furniture in need of repair and more regular cleaning required (the dove mess, mainly) – but it was spacious and quiet, and the cold plunge pool was a godsend on hot afternoons. On one night we ordered dinner up there, which turned out to be one of the best meals of the whole trip. Absolutely delicious and huge fun! The other good thing about this riad is its location; it's just off a wide street in an open space and is a great starting point for all sorties to sites within the medina, which are quite nearby and easy to find. After 3 happy days, we travelled to the Kasbah, 1.5 hours by transfer from Marrakesh. Wow! What a thoroughly uplifting, immersive experience. The location has to be the most stunning for miles around, the views spectacular, the breezy air so fresh, and the peace so relaxing, with just the sounds of waterfalls, birds and the occasional call to prayer echoing across the leafy valley. It felt like a real privilege to be up there, surrounded by the majestic mountains and the gentle Berber hospitality that is mentioned a lot in the Kasbah literature. It really does feel authentic, and personal, and is very memorable as a result. The Kasbah buildings also have that authenticity, built by locals in the local 'style' rather than something ostentatious and at odds with the surrounding villages. Even the new tower and swimming pool, whilst impressive, blend in harmoniously. We stayed in the whole of the Garden House. Like some reviews already posted, we agree that this accommodation needs a refresh and attention to detail, the Garden Apartment especially. The cupboards in the kitchen were full of mismatched items, not all clean, and the facilities were basic: no hot water in the sink tap, the kettle didn't work, switches/sockets were in odd places with no logic or indication as to what appliances they were for, and we ended up accidentally switching off the fridge at one point! The sofas, throws, tables and chairs are quite outdated and clash with most of the other furniture, which has much more of a Moroccan/local feel and adds to the overall genuine feel of the Kasbah. But the beds were very comfortable, and our bathrooms had plenty of towels and hot water (and gorgeous carved wooden windows), and all areas were spotlessly clean. Notwithstanding, none these things detracted from our enjoyment of the privacy, comfort and situation of the accommodation. From the Kasbah we were able to organise day treks to suit all members of our party, including a mule for occasional support. The guides were very knowledgeable, and the views from high up were astonishing. When not trekking, we walked down into Imlil village to explore, and around the Kasbah grounds. We loved the little areas of cultivation - roses, flowers, shady trees and tranquil sitting areas. All very peaceful. The food, whilst a bit repetitive, was delicious, plentiful, fresh and mostly local. We would have liked the option of lighter lunches on the terrace, mainly because breakfast and dinner are such feasts, and it would have also been helpful to have had more veggie/vegan options on offer. Mint tea and little nuts or fruits are offered frequently if you sit on the terraces or salons, which is a nice touch. And the plentiful water from the natural spring is amazing. It tastes so pure! Our fellow guests were mostly walkers of all levels and nationalities but others were just there, like us, to enjoy the wonder of the High Atlas Mountains in good company. I would recommend reading the FAQs for the Kasbah before booking. It explains the unique 'vibe' of the place and helps to manage expectations. The ethos of the whole enterprise is what attracted us most, and we enjoyed our stay more knowing that the benefits were not just to us but to the local community that hosted us too. Thank you Discover Ltd for such a great trip and we look forward to booking another in the near future.

Discover Ltd. are professional, knowledgeable, approachable, helpful and efficient.

My daughter and I stayed at Kasbah du Toubkal in Imlil and a riad in Marrakech. Amazing places!

Very good communication when booking and fine tuning our holiday. The transfers were all in place and I had nothing to worry about. Loved it!

We spent 3 nights at Kasbah du Toubkal in the High Atlas Mountains, followed by 3 nights in Marrakech at Riad Les Yeux Bleus.

The arrangements were flawless. Everything ran to schedule without any hiccups.

Everything was perfect! People did what they promised, efficiently, effectively, and with pleasure. Riad Les Yeuxs Bleu was lovely and well-situated, Kasbah du Toubkal was spectacular, Imlil valley lovely, and the trek was brutal. Guide, chef and driver friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. When we return to Morocco (this was my fourth visit), we'll spend more time in the Imlil valley villages and at the kasbah. IF we were to do Toubkal again, I think I'd do it in 3 days -- first day as is to refugio, 2nd day summit & return to the refugio, and 3rd for the descent.

Effective, efficient, knowledgeable.

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In less than two weeks we experienced a trip of delightful contrasts and exceptional hospitality. Discovery group arranged all our transport and accommodations and we were able to truly relax and explore!

Discovery planned everything and were very responsive!

We spent 3 nights in the Riad Azzar in Marrakech and 3 nights at the Kasbah du Toubkal which we had already visited in 2005, this time with friends who had never visited Morocco before. The trip was very well organised, our hosts were excellent and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

We have used Discovery in the past for a similar trip for our daughter’s 21st birthday. They have maintained and improved where possible their very high standards of organisation, transport and accommodation

Everything went smoothly and as expected. We were picked up on-time for each of the transfers included in our package. We enjoyed 3 days of hiking at the Kasbah du Toubkal. The guides were knowledgeable and responsive to our requests. We appreciated that the package included support for education of Berber girls in the area. Then 2 nights in Marrakesh at the Riad Les Yeux Bleus. The Riad was quiet and comfortable - an oasis in the wild hubbub of Marrakesh. The staff was helpful and accommodating.

Discover LTD did an excellent job preparing us for our Morocco adventure. Communication via email was easy and efficient. Our requests were responded to promptly. Everything about the trip came off as planned and intended. There were no surprise charges or unexpected glitches.

We stayed 2 nights in Marrakech in the Riad Les Yeux Bleues and had a great time going round the bazar and eating at amazing restaurants. I particularly recommend Nomad and La Famille. We were driven up to Imlil by a local driver with perfect English who told us all about the local culture and traditions which we found fascinating! Our trip was rounded up by 2 days hiking in the atlas mountains and enjoying the peace and quiet of the Kasbah. I would definitely recommend this as a 5 day getaway!

Kerrie has been incredibly helpful organiseing everything and has been very responsive throughout the whole process - even with last minute changes. I would definitely want her helping me out with my next holiday.

Awesome day trekking from the Kasbah de Toubkal to a remote trekking lodge. Great god and service even during Ramadan. We enjoyed learning more about Morocco and the Berber culture.

Flexible and well prepared

Kasbah du Toubkal in the High Atlas and Riad Les Yeux Bleu in Marrakech are both beautiful, fantastic places to stay - can't recommend them enough. All went smoothly with the flights and transfers (with only one small glitch with one transfer).

Booking all done very efficiently and helpfully. Appreciated the link to the weather website to ensure we brought the right clothes with us!