Tour Companies for a Morocco trip

[se7enup]

Can anyone recommend a decent tour company for a Morocco trip.

A friend wants to take her new 90 to Morocco but as a lone female, wants the security of going with an organised trip/tour.

Waypoint-tours was mentioned but are there any other companies doing tours.
And does anyone have any experience of going with an organised trip?

[toppa]

I think Cannonball Bob went not too loing ago with an orginised tour... He may be of some help here...

Cheers

[Snagger]

I went with Atlas Overland around the Alps, and they were very good. They do Morocco and Tunisia.

[Ben_J85JTY]

We went out to Morocco with the LRO Adventure Club, AKA Vince Cobley at Protrax, but, we also went out to Corsica with Pete at Atlas Overland.

We are booking a trip to Tunisia for 2010 anf given that both compaines go there its not a hard choice.

Pete at Atlas will be getting my business again.

[toppa]

Steve, you should be more of a gentleman and offer to escort her, in your 90 of course :D


Cheers

[Snagger]

We went out to Morocco with the LRO Adventure Club, AKA Vince Cobley at Protrax, but, we also went out to Corsica with Pete at Atlas Overland.

We are booking a trip to Tunisia for 2010 anf given that both compaines go there its not a hard choice.

Pete at Atlas will be getting my business again.Repeat custom is the best endorsement a company can have, and of the six families that were on the Alps trip, three of them signed up for Atlas' Pyrenees trip next year, with the others hoping to do other trips with them in the future too - I'm hoping to take my family on their Corsica trip in 2010, funds permitting.

[Cannonball Bob]

We went with Neil Hopkinsons's Impala Adventures. Very personal and a real group setting.
Did lots of shopping around first and decided Neil's "Here's the route I've prepared, now YOU go and drive it" approach made for much more of an adventure than following the tail lights of a lead vehicle.
Worked like this:
Lead vehicle set off a good two hours before the rest of us, we'd all then set off in twos and threes spread over an hour or so with an advised "No later than" departure time, then about an hour after the last car left, Neil would follow on in his Range Rover.
Meant we could travel at our own pace too, so if we fancied the look of somewhere for lunch we could stop there, or if we wanted to press on and have more time at camp that night, we could.
I think Neil's slogan is something like "Independant but never alone" which summed it up really.
Personally, I'd avoid the magazine-based "Adventure Clubs" who make it too easy to just book up and go along. Part of the planning process is making the enquiries and choosing a good tour operator.

[Cannonball Bob]

Or we could plan a Forum exped.:scratchCh

[Snagger]

Or we could plan a Forum exped.:scratchChThat'd never work - too many people know me!;)

I like the idea of how Neil organised your trip. Peter and Carrick started doing more of that half way through our Alps trip after it became clear that trying to keep everyone in a large group was forcing people to go at a pace that didn't suit them. There wasn't much pressure to keep up though - Carrick kept well back acting as a sweeper for anyone with problems.

[Ben_J85JTY]

Or we could plan a Forum exped.:scratchCh

Depends where you want to go Bob, We were thinking about heading back to Corsica next year, but if, for example we could get enough interest in Tunisia I could definatly be pursuaded......

[peepo52]

Just been to Morocco with Protrax, a fantastic experience but a group size of 24 odd landrovers when you were expecting 10 was a bit of a shock. Organisation and support was not what it ought to be for teh money we paid!

I would suggest you find someone else to go with.............

[Snagger]

Just been to Morocco with Protrax, a fantastic experience but a group size of 24 odd landrovers when you were expecting 10 was a bit of a shock. Organisation and support was not what it ought to be for teh money we paid!

I would suggest you find someone else to go with.............That's far too big - it spoils the atmosphere and also means that the leaders can't give much assistance to individuals as they're spread too thin. All they're interested in is the money...

[Cannonball Bob]

Twenty four wagons?! :eek:
Jeez that's not an exped, that's a major convoy move.

[kevinrbeech]

Why does everyone go to Morocco?

Have you considered Tunisia?

From my experience, one of the guides already mentioned, charges an amount for the guiding and the ferry trip across the Med, everything else you pay yourself, ie fuel, hotels, food, camping etc. This, in my view, gives a false impression of the full cost, but of course once you're committed you get no choice but to keep paying. On my first trip to Tunisia, with Sahara Travel, the trip was AI as we seem to say now, everything was included except for alcohol, ie a few bears and the odd bottle of wine. The 5/6 days in the desert were FB as was the ferry crossing, including the cabin.
When we went independantly the second year, I priced Morocco and given the extra driving across Spain, or the alternative of the UK - Spain ferry there was no difference in the cost overall, hence we returned to Tunisia. Take a look at the website, below.

www.4x4-travel.co.uk/07reportp1.html (http://www.4x4-travel.co.uk/07reportp1.html)

Kevin

[Cannonball Bob]

Morocco is a little easier/cheaper to get to, I think that's why, although Tunisia and even Libya are becoming more popular.
Re costs, with Impala once we were at the advertised meeting point in Southern Spain, every thing but fuel, food and pocket money was included from then on be it hotels or campsites. Getting across Spain isn't included in Neil's costs as different people want to get there by different means. On our trip, we went by ferry to Bilbao then drove from there, others did the Tunnel and went across France.
We knew right from the start what was and wasn't included, and that we'd have to fund or own way across Spain. There were no hidden costs.

[kevinrbeech]

Morocco is a little easier/cheaper to get to,

But that's the bit that I dispute, surely driving across France, 670 miles to Marseille, then on the boat to Tunis, is easier than driving all of France and then Spain, with at least one more overnight stop, or catching a ferry from UK to Spain and then driving to the south of the country.

So which is the easier/cheaper bit?

K

[Cannonball Bob]

It was a couple of years ago that we went, but I certainly recall the ferry from Europe to Africa was much cheaper going the Morocco route and more frequent which made it easier to fit in with other plans.
Might've all changed.

[kevinrbeech]

Bob, you are right, the ferry across to Africa is far cheaper (£100 ish, compared to £700 ish) however, when travelling from the UK with a family of four, the costs of; hotels, fuel, ferry to Europe, tolls, etc etc, make either trip about the same if you are going for 3-4weeks.

I could be wrong, but in my Discovery I estimated 3 days for Calais to Algeciras (1387 miles), and that is with two big 500 mile days, plus I drive from Dorset, which is 190 miles from Dover (cost of fuel alone is £200).
The alternative, ferry from Portmouth to Northern Spain around £500, including the dreaded Bay of Biscay. Santander to Algeciras is 658 miles, almost the same as Calais to Marseille at 660.

Yes the Med crossing is 24 hours, but then so is the Portmouth-Spain, or indeed the drive down.

I'm not trying to make an argument, the reason that I'm questioning this is that I can't seem to make the trip to Morocco any cheaper than Tunisia, if it is then I'll be going very soon.
I really want to do Morocco but I love Tunisia and I can't afford to do both in one year. Can I ??????
Maybe someone can give me some more accurate figures for Morocco.

Me and the wife are off to Tunisia in April and I'm planning on about £2000 for the whole 4 weeks door to door, would Morocco be cheaper?
Kevin

[Cannonball Bob]

We left UK on a Wednesday evening, although it was so late it hardly counts as Wednesday, and were in Tangiers by first thing the following Monday although we did do a leisurely crossing of Spain, stopping for a couple of days along the coast a bit before meeting up with the rest of the party. The ferry was about £600 return including a cabin for two.
I reckon it would be possible to get the Bilbao ferry, which departs Wednesday evening, arrives early Friday morning, and with good progress, get a late ferry to Tangiers by Saturday evening.
The Spain bit was easy, almost boring it was that straight forward and rapid.
I'd budget around £1000 per person so your £2k figure would be about right.
Doing Calais to Algeciras is largely pointless, especially from Dorset. The cost per mile is almost identical to taking the Bilbao ferry, as is the time scale, but you spend less time doing the driving yourself.
The Bilbao option puts a lot of people off though as it's one big chunk of budget instead of several tanks of fuel bought over several days.
Overall I think the mileage and costs of Tunisier against Morocco are pretty much break-even nowadays, I think the biggest single thing that'd sway it for me is the frequency of the Tangiers ferry. Miss the Tunisia boat and that's it for a whole day (or two) which can have serious knock-on effects. Miss the boat to Tangiers and there's another one in an hour.

[Ben_J85JTY]

[quote=Cannonball Bob;1140042]
I reckon it would be possible to get the Bilbao ferry, which departs Wednesday evening, arrives early Friday morning, and with good progress, get a late ferry to Tangiers by Saturday evening.
quote]

We headed straight down to the Algerceris/Ceuta ferry crossing from Bilbao. Apart form a 10 min stop to change the fan belt and occasional loo/fuel stops it took us the best part of 16hrs to get down through spain. We arrived at around midnight so I doubt the ferries were running. It did mean we could get the first boat of the next morning tho.

[PaataGabelia]

if Cosrsica is in someone's mind for April midst will be happy to join. Kevin is already around there for Tunisia, but wanna take more out of my Med trip at this time. Like to put together wheeling and job. In movie trade biz, opted to drive to markets across the continent vs flights for past three years

[sdiphil]

Myself and wife have been to Tunisia and have booked to go to Morocco in Sept. I can thoroughly recommend 'Onelifeadventure'. It is run by a guy called Paul Blackburn and is totally professional. He not only looks after all the travelers but sorts out any problems you may get including any breakdowns.

[sirtiffy]

Can anyone recommend a decent tour company for a Morocco trip.

A friend wants to take her new 90 to Morocco but as a lone female, wants the security of going with an organised trip/tour.

Waypoint-tours was mentioned but are there any other companies doing tours.
And does anyone have any experience of going with an organised trip?
I went on a organised land rover tour to Morocco , could have done it
in a coach for all the promised off roading that materialised. Yes we saw a old tree in woods . monkeys , a Roman town ; We were taken to a his tame Bedouin Camp-site where over priced carpets were sold. and was the only place where we had a short play in near by sand dunes . The wild camp was cancelled with a rush in the dark to reach the comforts of his Hotel. This put our lives at risk trying to keep up with him ;as we were forced to overtake slow lorries with other coming in the opposite direction with no lightsThe promised end of tour Dinner was him and his mates drinking at the other end of the room. When we got back to the Border we were left to find our own way back to the Ferry as he and his mates caught a earlier one.I expect there must be well organised tours ;but you do not find out until you go.

[sv130]

I went on a organised land rover tour to Morocco , could have done it
in a coach for all the promised off roading that materialised. Yes we saw a old tree in woods . monkeys , a Roman town ; We were taken to a his tame Bedouin Camp-site where over priced carpets were sold. and was the only place where we had a short play in near by sand dunes . The wild camp was cancelled with a rush in the dark to reach the comforts of his Hotel. This put our lives at risk trying to keep up with him ;as we were forced to overtake slow lorries with other coming in the opposite direction with no lightsThe promised end of tour Dinner was him and his mates drinking at the other end of the room. When we got back to the Border we were left to find our own way back to the Ferry as he and his mates caught a earlier one.I expect there must be well organised tours ;but you do not find out until you go.




Name and shame them, or at least give us a clue who they are so we don,t fall foul of them please.
You could send me a PM if you don,t want to name them on an open forum.

Gaz

[hext]

Name and shame them, or at least give us a clue who they are so we don,t fall foul of them please.
You could send me a PM if you don,t want to name them on an open forum.

Gaz

I'm also interested in this as I wouldn't want to waste by ca$h.are they conected to any of the LR magazines?Thanks

[Yorkshire90]

Myself and wife have been to Tunisia and have booked to go to Morocco in Sept. I can thoroughly recommend 'Onelifeadventure'. It is run by a guy called Paul Blackburn and is totally professional. He not only looks after all the travelers but sorts out any problems you may get including any breakdowns.

They look good, however most of the routes look very 'off roadish' and not suitable for someone with an Expedition trailer like I do. Even though it is on a NATO tow hitch which can pivot etc etc it's still not suitable for treks like that.

What kind of journey do think I need to look for where an Expo trailer would suit? Thanks

[kevinrbeech]

Atlas Overland?
I think that they do Morocco.

On the subject of organised tours;
Many people require many different tours. Yes, there are those that charge around, 70mph+ on the tarmac, and as fast as possible on the tracks, but there are many that want to show off the country for what it is. But let's be honest, once they've been there a few times all they want to do is arrive at the next "hospitally stop" to enjoy the comfort of the bar, etc. Go with someone that loves the country and not someone that is in it for the money. It is a little like being a long haul coach driver, you deliver the guests then retire to the bar.
I've never been to Morocco, however I've done Tunisia several times, the first with a group, the rest of the trips have been independent, just me and the family.
If your friend wants to travel alone, and is confident enough to do so, suggest she try Tunisia, I know several women that travel there alone having no problems at all.
Kevin
www.4x4-travel.co.uk (http://www.4x4-travel.co.uk)

[sirtiffy]

Name and shame them, or at least give us a clue who they are so we don,t fall foul of them please.
You could send me a PM if you don,t want to name them on an open forum.

Gaz
The Organiser did hear my verbal opionion and threatened to sue , But
I am too Old to goes through the hassel , even with a winning hand.

[rustyrhinos]

If your friend wants to travel alone, and is confident enough to do so, suggest she try Tunisia, I know several women that travel there alone having no problems at all.



I would couch for that, Tunisia certainly seems safe for lone travelllers. So are most parts of Algeria really.

Surely though she could find a willing person/people to travel with her though! I might do a quick nip into Morocco soon actually.

[110paul]

Repeat custom is the best endorsement a company can have, and of the six families that were on the Alps trip, three of them signed up for Atlas' Pyrenees trip next year, with the others hoping to do other trips with them in the future too - I'm hoping to take my family on their Corsica trip in 2010, funds permitting.i am one of these familils

[leeds]

Just been to Morocco with Protrax, a fantastic experience but a group size of 24 odd landrovers when you were expecting 10 was a bit of a shock. Organisation and support was not what it ought to be for teh money we paid!

I would suggest you find someone else to go with.............


Only 24 vehicles???

Come across a tag along tour in Queensland which consisted of 48 vehicles plus their so called support vehicles.

PITA for other people on the tracks, PITA for the camp sites and a PITA for the people who had paid and then dropped out as they did not like massive convoy mentality.

Nice earner for the 'organisers' though


Brendan

[rustyrhinos]

Going with 24 vehicles would seriously get on my nerves! It only needs 2 people in seperate cars to have a weak bladder and your are ruined! I take it you can't wild camp with 24 or even 48 hours in many places - not exactly going to be discreet is it!

I really don't see the point in guides in a place like Morocco particularly - it is a very well travelled place... there is so much out there in regards to route info, places to go and so on.

[sirtiffy]

We went with Neil Hopkinsons's Impala Adventures. Very personal and a real group setting.
Did lots of shopping around first and decided Neil's "Here's the route I've prepared, now YOU go and drive it" approach made for much more of an adventure than following the tail lights of a lead vehicle.
Worked like this:
Lead vehicle set off a good two hours before the rest of us, we'd all then set off in twos and threes spread over an hour or so with an advised "No later than" departure time, then about an hour after the last car left, Neil would follow on in his Range Rover.
Meant we could travel at our own pace too, so if we fancied the look of somewhere for lunch we could stop there, or if we wanted to press on and have more time at camp that night, we could.
I think Neil's slogan is something like "Independant but never alone" which summed it up really. I agree Neil is the only Company I would use
after my last experience. For all the off roading could have done it
in a coach. The Gorge is now hard road for coaches , who wants
to see a old tree in a wood ? Wild camp was cancelled and highly
dangerous drive to reach hotel as It was now dark. Trying to pass
slow trucks to keep leader in sight ,with oncoming trucks with no
lights. Only reason for posh Hotel was booze. Taken to a tame Berber
Camp selling high price rugs ( on commission ? ) Not told it had a concealed Bar. Promised Formal end of tour dinner. Leader and his cronies sat alone .No Atmosphere . We were then left to find our own way back across the Border to ship . As he went alone to catch earlier Ferry
Personally, I'd avoid the magazine-based "Adventure Clubs" who make it too easy to just book up and go along. Part of the planning process is making the enquiries and choosing a good tour operator. Understand
Neil is planning Tours of the Wild West in the USA/ Having shjpped
our Landrover on a cheap Rollo Ferry to Port Huename USA 11 Times
with my Venturers Search and Rescue Cadets.This is one I would
like to go on.You may have seen my articles in various Landrover Magazine

[alex_p]

Understand
Neil is planning Tours of the Wild West in the USA/ Having shjpped
our Landrover on a cheap Rollo Ferry to Port Huename USA 11 Times
with my Venturers Search and Rescue Cadets.This is one I would
like to go on.You may have seen my articles in various Landrover Magazine

I'm looking to take my Landrover to the states next year, could you recommend where to start looking for a ferry? I've searched a bit and it's all pretty confusing.

Cheers,
Alex

[foss]

I would thoroughly recommend Trailmasters for a Morocco trip if you want to do a group-& avoid Protrax like the plague...