Morocco: The Trip That Rewrote Me

A personal review of the G Adventures “Highlights of Morocco” tour — and why it became the trip that changed everything.

Disclaimer:
No one paid me to write this, and nothing on this trip was gifted or sponsored. I paid for everything myself because I wanted to go, and I’m sharing it simply because I loved the experience. That said, you’ll find a few affiliate links in here. If you decide to book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work that lets me keep creating stories and guides I actually believe in.

Some trips are vacations. This one wasn’t. Morocco felt more like stepping into a story I’d been circling my whole life — one I didn’t realize was waiting for me until I finally stood inside it.

The G Adventures Highlights of Morocco tour wasn’t just well-run or beautifully structured. It felt like a long exhale, a recalibration, an invitation into a country that lives and breathes its stories through food, textiles, desert wind, and the kind of hospitality that makes you rethink the way you move through the world.

Below is my honest review. Not sponsored, not curated. Just the truth of what 15 days in Morocco did to me.

Why I Chose This Tour

I’d wanted to visit Morocco since I was a kid. I grew up hearing stories from my childhood best friend’s family — the colours, the food, the pride, the music, the desert, the smells of mint and spices and sun-warmed stone. It became a quiet dream I tucked away for decades.

This tour felt like the safest, smartest way to experience the country deeply:
• small-group
• culturally immersive
• photography-friendly
• led by local guides who actually live the stories they tell

And from day one, it lived up to that promise.

Casablanca — A Rough Start That Made Everything Else Sweeter

Casablanca hit me like humidity and adrenaline and the realisation that I was truly far from home. G Adventures set the tone immediately: hotel check-in was seamless, group introductions were warm, and our CEO gave us a grounding overview of what the next days would hold.

We visited the Hassan II Mosque, wandered the Medina, tasted Rick’s Café, and saw the sharp contrast of wealth and poverty that shapes the city. It wasn’t romantic — it was real. And that honesty made me trust the tour instantly.

Tangier — A Breeze in Human Form

Tangier felt like stepping into a Mediterranean dream — blue doors, sun-washed white walls, twisting alleys filled with flowers, and an art history that runs deeper than most cities admit. Our walking tour guide was an absolute star. Knowledgeable, funny, and endlessly patient as we stopped for photos every five steps.

It was here I realized this trip wasn’t going to be passive sightseeing.
G Adventures knows how to choose local guides who care.

Chefchaouen — The City That Feels Painted by Memory

Chefchaouen was magic.
Blue stairways. Blue alleys. Blue homes. Blue everything.

Our guide led us through safe spots to eat, hidden alleys, and stories behind the different shades of paint. The morning hike to the Spanish Mosque almost killed me — humidity is not my spiritual gift — but the view was worth every step.

Itzer to the Sahara — The Journey That Changed My DNA

The long drive through Middle Atlas, meeting Amazigh families, visiting nomadic homes, learning about women’s roles…
I don’t have delicate words for this part.
It shook something loose in me.

But nothing — nothing — prepared me for the Sahara.

The dunes appeared like a hallucination. Our hotel felt carved from sand and sunlight. The 4×4 ride across the desert was chaotic and thrilling. Meeting another nomadic family, watching a toddler do toddler things in the middle of the dunes, eating Amazigh pizza, learning about Checoua and lben — it all felt ancient and tender and disarming.

Then came the camel ride at sunset.

I cried.
Not quietly.

This was the moment the tour became personal — the moment I realized I had kept a childhood promise to see this country with my own eyes.

Toudgha Gorge — The Pause I Didn’t Know I Needed

G Adventures bakes rest days into this itinerary and thank God for that.

Our hotel between red rock cliffs felt like a dream. I swam, read, drank mint tea, and stopped for the first time in years. The next morning’s walk through the gorge was cool, quiet, and unforgettable.

Aït Benhaddou — Where History Breathes Through Stone

The women’s carpet cooperative was one of the highlights of my entire trip — a gentle, powerful reminder that Moroccan textiles are not décor. They are lineage.

Then we explored Aït Benhaddou — the famous kasbah town — with another guide who truly loved his work. I left with art made of desert mud and the memory of climbing through history one uneven stair at a time.

Imlil & the High Atlas — Fog, Donkeys, and Humility

Imlil was a reminder that mountains don’t care about your ego.
The climb to our gîte was steep, fog-soaked, and worth it. No hot water. Lots of laughter. Donkeys carrying luggage like mountain royalty. The morning descent was wrapped in golden sunrise light.

This day confirmed something I now say often:
Morocco humbles you in the kindest way.

Essaouira — The City That Let Me Breathe Again

Essaouira was my soul exhale.
The seafood lunch overlooking the medina.
The fishermen and the cats.
The argan oil cooperative visit.
The hammam experience that was unexpectedly… uhm… educational and delightful.

Essaouira is where I felt the most myself.

Marrakech — Chaos, Beauty, and the Balloon That Broke Me Open

Marrakech’s medina was wild and intoxicating.
Bahia Palace. El Badi. The square. The gardens. The tuk-tuks.

And then — the sunrise hot air balloon.Floating above the desert at 4,000 feet, watching the world soften under morning light…
It felt like stepping into another life.

The G Adventures Impact: What Makes This Tour Worth It

Now that I’ve lived it, here’s the truth:

What They Do Exceptionally Well

• Local guides who care deeply about accuracy and culture
• Perfect pacing — rest days when you need them
• Phenomenal food recommendations
• Safe transportation and reliable logistics
• Real cultural immersion (not staged, not exploitative)
• Freedom to explore as a photographer
• Group atmosphere that feels like chosen family

What to Know Before You Go

• It’s hot. Everywhere. All the time.
• Bring meds, especially for stomach and motion sickness.
• Don’t expect luxury — expect authenticity.
• Respect the culture — especially photography etiquette.
• This is an emotional trip. Let it be one.

Who This Tour Is For

Travellers who want:
• culture over comfort
• storytelling over sightseeing
• moments over Instagram
• honesty over aesthetic perfection
• a trip that stays with you

Final Thoughts: The Trip That Rewrote Me

After 15 days, I left Morocco sunburned, overwhelmed, softened, wiser, and more grateful than I have words for.
G Adventures didn’t just show me a country — they handed me a mirror and a memory at the same time.

If you’re thinking about booking Highlights of Morocco… do it.
This isn’t a trip you regret.
It’s one you return to in your mind for years.