Undiscovered Atlas

Customer Reviews

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  Jonathan Galloway

  · March 3rd, 2012
  This was a very interesting trek in a lessor known region of Morocco. It was great to get away from traditional tourist areas and to experience authentic Moroccan culture in the rural Berber villages.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Looking up at the African sky at night. Some of our group went for 'night walks' just to look at the stars. We had one occasion when a whole group of us just looked up in silent awe for about twenty minutes - this was the most inspirational moment of the trip for me.What did you think of your group leader?Lachen was a very good group leader - he had a good sense of humour and was enthusiastic to answer questions about Moroccan culture, no matter how many we asked! His English was excellent, as was his knowledge of the local culture.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Make sure you take thermals - it gets very cold at night. (I tried to wash and dry my socks one evening and woke the next day to find that they were frozen!)Is there anything else you would like to add?A very worth while trip. Perfect temperature in mid-Feb for trekking - not too cold and not too hot. Very good value for money.
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  Trip date: March 2012
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  Ann Jones

  · February 19th, 2012
  Great weeks walking in beautiful surroundingsWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Hard to say really its was all great- each day the walks were great with stunning views and just enough challengeWhat did you think of your group leader?Lachen was very friendly personable and knowleable - a great ambassador for his countryDo you have any advice for potential travellers?It gets very cold at night in February! My 3 season sleeping bag was not up to the job.  I had two pairs of thermal underwear and a down jacket over the sleeping bag too.  One girl left her daypack in the food tent overnight and her camel pack froze!  Take ear plugs as each camp seemed to come with howling dogs and don't forget a head torch.  You will need lots of wet wipes and toilet paper as you really are wild camping!Is there anything else you would like to add?This is a great trip.  A weeks great walking with no electricity or phones really relaxes you.  Never do you have to think "money, keys,  did I lock the door"- it really is a total break from your everyday life.  The food is fantastic-amazing what they produce from their tiny cooking tent. 
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Peter Stokes

  · February 6th, 2012
  This was an extraordinarily enjoyable experience, allowing freedom to really see and 'soak up' the atmosphere of the Anti -Atlas mountains at their unspoilt best. The booking arrangements were both high quality and seemless at the point of delivery. The first hotel used was perhaps the least impressive part of the entire trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?A spell of simplicity in an otherwise complex life!What did you think of your group leader?Abdellah was a first class guide and tour leader who accurately weighed up changing circumstances and appeared to react with professionalism accordingly.   His knowledge and ability to pass on interesting facts about the country, the peoples and their culture was always apprechiated and greatly helped bring about  a consistently rewarding experience.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This trip requires a moderate degree of fitness and stamina due to the terrain and changing temperature conditions during the course of any given day.  Boots and feet need to be in good condition due to distances covered on predominantly rocky paths throughout the entire trip. Drinking water was purchased and available, but generally water for washing etc was not in evidence, requiring a specific request.Is there anything else you would like to add?I have already recommended the company and this particular trip to friends and hope very much to explore some more with EXODUS.
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Graham Keetch

  · January 19th, 2012
  good walking in varied scenery away from civilization . friendly and competant leader. a nice break !What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?i have been on more inspirational trips  but a good break in winter sunshine  with fellow hikers !!What did you think of your group leader?freindly and competant. a good ambassador for his country and faith.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?a more comfortable airbed/ matress. some of those rocks feel huge at night !Is there anything else you would like to add?nice trip.... would recommend it
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Ann Rooney

  · January 19th, 2012
  Refreshing, invigorating, inspiring alternative to Christmas!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Maybe it was waking up snug and warm in my (borrowed from friend) 4 season sleeping bag on Christmas morning, realising that - although I love my family and friends dearly - the decision I had made to spend Christmas away walking in the anti-Atlas with a group of like-minded (and not at all wierd) people, was absolutely the right one, and that I had a day of sunshine, great scenery and walking, great company and conversation ahead of me (if only I could face getting out of my sleeping bag!).What did you think of your group leader?Abdullah was fantastically organised and efficient without ever letting on: everything happened as it should, there was never any stress.  I felt completely safe and confident with Abdullah, and he was very open and welcoming, and happy to talk about Morocco today.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take lots of toilet paper (the facilities- if there are any - are very basic)! Even in the middle of winter take a sun hat - it's bright.Take a head torch and lots of layers for sitting around in the evening.There's not a lot of time in the town at the end (Taroudant) so if you're shopping - know what you're after.  Is there anything else you would like to add?I would definitely recommend going to the hamman in Taroudant - it was perfect!  Bucket after bucket of hot water and someone to scrub you to within an inch of your life!  Just what was needed after a week of dusty camping, with only a frozen wet-wipe to try and keep you socially fragrant!
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Luisa Goddard

  · December 9th, 2010
  the holiday itself was fantastic - great remote walking, brilliant guides but i would strongly recommend not getting the group flight with Royal Air Maroc. the timings are bad, the stop over is v long and unnecessary and they lost my baggage and have done nothing to help. there are better flightsWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?the mountains, the Berber villagesWhat did you think of your group leader?fantastic, kind, helpful and inspirational set the pace well, accomadated everyones needs & a good sense of humour!he should be particularly commended for helping me when my baggage didn't turn upDo you have any advice for potential travellers?don't get the group flight,you arrive late at night after an awful stop over in Casablanca and Royal Air Maroc is rubbish, they lost my baggage and have none nothing to retrive it or componsate meIs there anything else you would like to add?g
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  Trip date: December 2010
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  Richard Olivey

  · November 22nd, 2010
  Stunning landscape and peaceful. A good weeks wakling away from everything, even towns with electricty and running water.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Having Berber tea with the locals. So friendly and happy to see us.What did you think of your group leader?Mohammed was really good, informative, led well and always looked after everybody. Add an extra hour onto the days hours walking, thats how long you'll be walking for.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take a Thermarest chair, stools provided have no back and can get quite tring quite quickly. Warm socks for the evenings and lots of layers. Be prepared for a long first day on the group flights, did not get to the starting holtel till gone 2am! 3hour stop over in casablanca airport  not geat, bring music or a book.
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  Trip date: November 2010
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  Sheila Mach

  · March 7th, 2010
  Not at all what we were expecting i.e. sunshine. Instead we had torrential rain which threw the itinerary into disarray. What could have been a disaster became a memorable adventure; helped a lot by the excellent company, copious food and the leader's ability to keep smiling despite the many changes of plan and not being well himself.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Crossing back over the pass between Taddicht and Tagraga in the snow against gale force winds - the view, once we could stand up again, was brilliant. Remote really meant remote; fantastic. What did you think of your group leader?Very good.  He worked really hard to ensure we always had some where to stay in a village (much too wet to camp).  The cook did a good job at keeping our spirits up as well.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?If you intent to make this trek in February make sure you take your thermals and some really waterproof waterproofs! Check the weather forecast before you go.Is there anything else you would like to add?Staying in Berber houses every night was an interesting, if not always warm or dry, experience.  Better weather resistant tents are needed for this trip!
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  Trip date: March 2010
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  Jaquelin Fisher

  · January 19th, 2010
  A wonderful trip in the lesser known Anti-Atlas mountains. I went just after Christmas, and a better place to be at that time of year I cannot imagine. We never saw another Westerner, the local people were genuine and friendly and the whole cultural, visual and physical experience was excellent.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?For me it was getting to the top of Jebel Akim.  The upper plateaus of the peak were very interesting, with unique alpine vegetation and little evidence of human activity. The view from the top was awe-inspiring.What did you think of your group leader?Abdullah was top-notch.  He had the most subtle and graceful way of keeping the trip organised and moving forward. (This is a trip that really cracks on, so organisation was key to ensuring we covered the ground and saw all the sites.) Warm, welcoming, good sense of humour and energetic.  He was very sensitive to the needs of the whole group, and I felt well looked after and safely led the whole time. Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Need to be reasonably fit.  All in our group were - so maybe self-selecting - but we covered 50 mi in 5 days with lots of vertical ups and downs ( no technical climbing).  Bring as much bottled water as you can carry, as it is preferable to iodised water.  Exodus trip notes accurate and comprehensive; expect to be delighted by the local people that you meet. Be prepared for a rather tedious and slow process getting through customs in Morocco, but this was probably the only hassle I encountered.  Also, try the hammam!  Not sure what to expect, but it was very unusual!  One of those things you should always do, but expect a local, cultural experience, not a spa experience.   Is there anything else you would like to add?A wonderful introduction to Moroccan people, landscape, culture and customs.  I am so glad that this is the way I have encountered this enchanting country for the first time.  The trip was also a great way to top up my fitness, especially going as I did right after Christmas. 
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  Trip date: January 2010
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  Carol Purcell

  · May 3rd, 2009
  A really good trip, I'd recommend this if you want great walking, sunshine and headspaceWhat was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Can't single out one, there were many: the scenery, the stars, the villagers we met, wonderful.What did you think of your group leader?Fantastic, he was a great guide and a lovely guyDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Bring snacks, and those tablets for the water that are mentioned in the trip notes anyway are useful, and stuff for blisters which I've never needed before but rocky terrain and they came in useful.  Moroccan money a must, you'll need it for something - however small - most days.  Also a thermarest chair helps for nights sitting in the mess tent.Is there anything else you would like to add?One of the best holidays I've had, highly recommend it.
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  Trip date: May 2009