Eclectic Kim Review: A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures

During a previous trip with Kim Larkin (A Sensational Tour of Sicily with Kim Larkin and James Bene), I learned that she also led guided small-group tours of Morocco. Almost instantly, I knew I’d be traveling to Morocco with her at some point within the next five years. I didn’t know the exact timing - just that it would happen.

Then, on a seemingly ordinary day in June, I saw her post about her upcoming 2025 trip – a few months away.

And that familiar inner nudge hit me. It wasn’t for “someday.” It was for this year. Not later. Now.

Once I made the decision, everything else fell effortlessly into place.

A tour of morocco with Kim Larkin Adventures

Start: Casablanca

A 10 Day Moroccan Adventure with Kim Larkin Adventures My time in Morocco became a transformative blend of connection, self-discovery, and cultural learning, filled with unforgettable moments and practical lessons for traveling with openness and joy

A Private Tour of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco A private tour of the Hassan II Mosque offers a personalized, in-depth look at Morocco’s largest and most architecturally stunning mosque

Atlas Sky Casa – Casablanca Airport Atlas Sky Casa – Casablanca provides a comfortable, convenient stay within the boundaries of Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport

Casablanca Walking Tour: History & Landmarks by Airbnb Experiences The Casablanca Walking Tour showcased the city’s history and culture through landmarks like the Hassan II Mosque, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and the medina, all set among lively streets and ocean views.

How I Got Stalked By a Taxi in Casablanca When I Tried to Use iNDRIVE My experience using the iNDRIVE app in Casablanca - and how a taxi driver ended up stalking and harassing me because of it

Day 1: Rabat

Breakfast at Flower Town Hotel and Spa Flower Town Hotel and Spa in Rabat offers a modern dining environment - where you can enjoy both Moroccan and international dishes for breakfast

Casa Jose Tapas Dinner at Casa Jose Tapas in Rabat served up flavorful Spanish tapas, paella, and seafood, complemented by a sports bar vibe

Discovering the Beauty of Rabat – Morocco’s Capital City – with Abdul of Tour in Rabat A guided walk through Rabat, Morocco with our guide Abdul revealed the city’s vibrant mix of historic landmarks, kasbah streets, and local flavors

Flower Town Hotel and Spa Flower Town Hotel and Spa in Rabat offers modern comfort and full wellness amenities in a convenient, centrally located setting

Day 2: Chefchaouen

Casa Aladdin Restaurant Casa Aladdin in Chefchaouen offers Moroccan tagines with panoramic views of the blue city in a relaxed, traditional setting

Casa Hassan Casa Hassan sits in the heart of Chefchaouen and offers traditionally designed Moroccan rooms, making it an ideal base for exploring the area

Hiking and Savoring the Sunset at Bouzafer Mosque – the Spanish Mosque – in Chefchaouen Morocco The hike to the Spanish Mosque in Chefchaouen was a challenging, reflective climb that ended with unforgettable sunset views over the city.

Private Tour of the Blue City of Chefchaouen, Morocco with Fatima Habte During our private walking tour, Fatima Habte revealed Chefchaouen as a living tapestry of history, culture, and community

Triana Cafe and Restaurant Dinner at Triana Cafe and Restaurant in Chefchaouen combines sweeping views with Moroccan meets Mediterranean dishes in a friendly, beautiful setting.

Day 3 & 4: Fes

Culture Box Culture Box in Fes offers a welcoming, modern dining environment - with Moroccan and international dishes - near the medina

Dar Al Safadi Dar Al Safadi is a traditional Moroccan riad in Fes, offering warm hospitality and elegant design in the heart of the medina

Dar Alamia Restaurant Dar Alamia Restaurant in Fes offers authentic Moroccan cuisine and warm hospitality in the heart of the medina

Exploring Fes: The Royal Palace, Borj Sud, Chouara Tannery & More A busy day exploring Fes - from palaces to the tannery in Fes El Bali - gave me a deeper insight into the city’s culture and history.

Moroccan Breakfasts and Dinners at Dar Al Safadi Dar Al Safadi in Fes serves French meets Moroccan cuisine in a warm and elegant riad setting

Day 5 & 6: Merzouga

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Lunch and Music with a Nomadic Moroccan Family in Âit Qufella Visiting a nomadic Berber family gave me a clear look at their way of life and challenges, and it left me reflecting on what truly matters and how simplicity helps anchor us in the present moment

ATVing the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes in the Sahara with Merzouga Trails The best way to wear a Louis Vuitton scarf? Wrapped around your shoulders as you ride over sand dunes in the Sahara desert.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Riad Serai The restaurant at Riad Serai in Merzouga serves authentic Moroccan cuisine in an elegant, desert-side setting

Dinner and Breakfast at Tiziri Desert Camp Meals at Tiziri Desert Camp in Merzouga feature traditional Moroccan dishes served in a relaxed, communal desert setting

From Fes to the Sahara: Ifrane, Cedar Forest Monkeys, Berber Culture and the Desert Our journey from Fes to the Sahara weaved through Ifrane, viewing Barbary macaques, seeing Berber villages, and staying alongside the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Into the Sahara: A Sunset Camel Caravan Trek over the Erg Chebbi Dunes with Takojt Camel Treks Our camel caravan trek with Takojt Camel Treks in Merzouga gave me an incredible scenic journey through the Sahara’s sweeping dunes to Tiziri Desert Camp

Riad Serai Riad Serai in Merzouga combines traditional Moroccan elegance with modern luxury, perfectly situated beside the sweeping dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert

Tiziri Desert Camp Tiziri Desert Camp in Takojt, Merzouga features Amazigh-style tents set among the Sahara dunes, creating a peaceful and welcoming Moroccan atmosphere

Day 7: Dadès Gorges

Breakfast and Dinner at Dar Rihana Dades Dinner at Dar Rihana Dades offers an elegant multi course Moroccan French meal, with comforting breakfast - served with attentive hospitality

Dar Rihana Dades Dar Rihana Dades in Aït Ouffi offers warm hospitality, comfortable rooms and a peaceful base for exploring the Dades Valley

Ksar El Khorbat Restaurant Lunch at Ksar El Khorbat Restaurant in Tinejdad serves traditional Moroccan fare in a historic ksar setting with a peaceful palm grove view

Road to the Oasis: Rissani Market and Fossils of Morocco at Macro Fossiles Kasbah Visiting Rissani Market and Maco Fossiles Kasbah revealed how daily life, trade traditions, and ancient geological history intersect in this region of Morocco

Day 8: Skoura Valley

Dinner and Breakfast at L’Ma Lodge Skoura L’Ma Lodge Skoura Restaurant serves fresh, garden-driven Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine in a tranquil palm-filled setting

Heritage House Skoura Restaurant Lunch at Heritage House Skoura offered comforting Moroccan dishes enjoyed in a peaceful oasis setting

Into the Skoura Valley: The Dadès Gorges, Bara Essence Rose Water and Kasbah Amridil Visiting the Dadès Gorges, a rose water shop, and Kasbah Amridil gave me three distinct perspectives on the landscape, culture, and history of southern Morocco

L’Ma Lodge Skoura L’Ma Lodge in Skoura is a tranquil oasis with charming rooms, lush gardens, and warm Moroccan hospitality

Day 9: The Road to Marrakech

Tawesna by Laila Tawesna by Laila in Aït Benhaddou is a women-run restaurant serving authentic Moroccan food made with local ingredients in a peaceful riverside setting

The Road to Marrakech: Atlas Film Studios, the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Akhnif Glaoui Carpet Co-Operative and Argan Tichka The day’s stops - from a film studio to traditional cooperatives - revealed the range of Moroccan culture and history

Day 10: Marrakesh

Atay Cafe Atay Cafe in Marrakesh features sweeping rooftop views and Moroccan dishes like tagines and salads in a relaxed and comfortable setting

Breakfasts and Dinners at Riad Siwan Marrakesh Riad Siwan serves beautifully prepared Moroccan dishes, highlighting traditional flavors in an intimate, elegant riad setting

One Night in Marrakesh: An Evening Walking Food Tour with Soufiane Adnane Our evening food tour through Marrakesh with Soufiane Adnane showcased the city’s vibrant flavors and the true essence of Moroccan cuisine

Riad Siwan Marrakesh Riad Siwan combines elegant design, serene courtyards, and warm hospitality to create a peaceful escape in the Marrakesh medina

Walking the Streets of Marrakesh: the Medina, Dar El Basha, Madrasa Ben Youssef and more with Soufiane Adnane With Soufiane guiding us through the medina, historic sites, and local shops with his knowledgeable and attentive style, Marrakesh quickly became one of my favorite cities in Morocco

Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Gardens – Marrakech Visiting the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, the Berber Museum, and the Majorelle Garden gave me a clear and memorable look at how Saint Laurent’s legacy, Moroccan culture, and stunning design all come together in Marrakesh

Travel Tips

Convert about $300 – $400 USD into Moroccan Dirham before you arrive. If you are in Los Angeles, this means calling and ordering money from LACurrency. Remember, check each locations delivery times. I ordered my dirham the week of my trip and received it the next day. They were very good with calling me when it came in, so I could schedule the pickup in my day. With this, make sure you have enough 100 dirham bills ($10 USD, basically) to tip. You will be tipping. You’ll be in a group. So, consider it your social norming experience and get on with it.
Make sure you have a Visa / Mastercard that doesn’t charge you a currency conversion fee. I thought I would be able to use my American Express card in Morocco. No dice. All places that took card only took Visa / Mastercard.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. During this trip, I had goat, lamb, cow and chicken. I also decided that I was going to stop hating group photos because I’d trained myself that I don’t look good in most photos. Someone would take a photo of me and I’d zoom in to my little belly shelf. But, in the end – we’re all going to die. So, try it. Be in the photos. Eat the unique foods. Experience joy in your body.
Kim will communicate your dietary restrictions as best she can to the host properties. But, be flexible. On my tour, we had someone who was gluten free and another woman who was vegetarian. At one stop for lunch, I didn’t eat the prepared egg dish. Or, the boiled eggs at another location. However, everyone eventually got what they needed – within reason. Go with the flow and – and don’t be obnoxious about it.
Yes, there are liquor stores in Morocco. At a few stops, the group got wine and various liquors for dinner nights. I opted to buy some Moroccan and French beers.

There are a lot of cats. If you want to be Captain Save a Cat, go ahead. But, just know that there are a lot of cats and stray dogs – everywhere. They are cute – but they are WILD. The street life chose them. And you can’t save them all.
So, be mindful of fleas and rabies if you feel compelled to pick them up and snuggle them.
Group dynamics guarantee that you reap what you sow. Thom once told me, “A person shows you who they really are after three months.” However – in a group trip, that window shrinks to just a few days. Group travel creates its own energy – especially when dynamics are layered with shared logistics like drivers and guides – so the first three days matter. Set the tone early, show up grounded and respectful, and the rest of the trip is far more likely to unfold smoothly.
This trip includes you, but it’s not about you. This trip includes you, but it doesn’t revolve around you. Avoid attention-seeking behavior – group dynamics have a way of correcting imbalance, and once that shift happens, it’s difficult to undo. Showing up with humility and awareness keeps the experience enjoyable for everyone.
If you arrive with a friend, let them form their own connections. If you arrive with a friend, give them space to form their own connections. Don’t compete for attention or undermine their experience – stay grounded, kind, and aware that the trip isn’t centered on any one person. Trust that real friendships grow stronger through shared travel when they’re rooted in generosity, not insecurity. In short: jealousy and attention-seeking energy are felt immediately in group settings, and they isolate rather than connect. Self-awareness, confidence, and goodwill go a long way – and they’ll shape not just how others experience you, but how much you enjoy the journey yourself.
Wait! What are you saying? In short, if you arrive radiating jealous, pick-me energy – desperately angling for male attention and loudly needing the room to orbit you – don’t be surprised when meals for you become a solo activity. You’ll likely feel mysteriously excluded, left out of conversations and absolutely certain everyone is whispering about you, while remaining completely baffled as to why. You may come into a room and see everyone in there leave. Or, you sit down at a table and will wonder why there are empty seats around you. Self-awareness is not optional. It is demanded.

Make sure your phone plan is the right one for your travels. Make sure your phone plan is set up properly for international travel. I had Verizon and experienced spotty coverage in northern Morocco but more reliable service in the south.Relying solely on shared WIFI because you’re too cheap to use your own data can quickly become a burden. If that’s the plan, it’s worth reconsidering whether you’re prepared for a multi-week international trip.
Respect culture and keep dinner conversation appropriate. Hold off on topics like politics, religion, or sex during dinner until you have a clear sense of the group’s dynamics. Stay curious and open, but resist the urge to impose Western viewpoints.Remember that is your role isn’t to persuade or correct. It’s to learn. Travel is about witnessing beauty, listening deeply, and connecting with people as they are.
Have fun!!!

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Reflections

As I write this, I’m sitting in Marrakesh with Denise on the terrance of Riad Siwan Marrakesh, as she smokes a cigarette. The birds are fluttering around the palm trees in the courtyard garden. The day is slowly beginning around us.

At one point in Marrakesh, during our night food tour (Walking the Streets of Marrakesh: the Medina, Dar El Basha, Madrasa Ben Youssef and more with Soufiane Adnane), I turned to Kim and said "I’m so happy that I met you!" Truly, my world is better because I met Kim Larkin. And I’m a better person because I visited Africa, touched the soil and understood what feeling home outside of the United States feels like.

I’ll never forget trying to capture the stars in the Sahara, tasting my first chicken and plum tagine at a roadside stop between Casablanca and Rabat, or finding myself in more group photos than I ever expected. Just as memorable were the nicknames that emerged along the way – Melaine became “Rabbit” for her habit of hopping off to take photos and popping back, I became “Kimber” to distinguish the two Kims, and Denise earned “Berber Barbie” for her ever-present pink. Those small moments captured the ease and warmth of our group, and the special rhythm that formed as we traveled together.

I met artists, poets, and people who genuinely love life. I fumbled through conversations in broken Arabic with the help of Google Translate and treasured every moment of connection. In Marrakesh, I passed a group of Black women, recognized their American accents, and instinctively told each of them how beautiful they were, feeling deeply connected to the land and the quiet sense of being home.

More than anything, I felt the presence of my ancestors walking beside me, a reminder of what it looks like when long-held dreams finally come to life.

I am the realization of my parents’ greatest hopes, and it is an honor to carry their legacy forward through exploring the world and writing about my travels.