Top Desert — Local services in Marrakesh Prefecture

Top Desert ruined our vacation to Morocco. My fiancée and I have traveled to over 30 countries across 6 continents, and we have never encountered such a dishonest and irresponsible tour company. Here are our 3 main issues with our 3-day Luxury Tour to Erg Chigaga.

1. We both felt increasingly sicker each day the tour, and after vomiting on the side of the road on the 3rd day, I realized that our driver had been giving us bottles of dirty water (refilled bottles with unbroken caps pushed on).

2. Our driver didn't really speak English. Because we knew that the vast majority of the trip would be with the driver, we specifically asked before booking if we could have a driver who was well-versed in English and able to explain the history and culture. Moha from reservations wrote to us: "I also confirm you will have one of our best drivers. You will be able to enjoy the cultural and historical sides of the tour." To provide some perspective on how bad his English really was: When I had to stop the car to throw up, I had to ask in French because he didn't understand "stop the car" in English.

3. The management refused to take responsibility for the issues with the driver and for lying to us during the booking process. After vomiting up the Berber omelet and later discovering the water from the driver was contaminated, I stopped talking to the driver except to call out when I needed a bathroom. As soon as we got to our hotel, I called Moha to explain what had happened. Moha looked up our reservation and listened. Then he asked who our driver was – I was shocked. After promising us one of his best drivers, he didn't even know who it was. Moha asked us to write an email to Top Desert and then he would call us back within 30 minutes.

Before we had a chance to write the email that would explain his role in this, Moha called back and offered to refund a portion of the trip. He said that it was the driver's fault, not Top Desert's. This, again, shocked me. I explained that a full refund of the trip still wouldn't compensate us for ruining the remaining few days of our vacation. Moha proposed a full refund in exchange for not posting a review. This is something I have never encountered before. I'm not proud of it, but I agreed because in the end, it's a lot of money. Moha agreed to meet at our hotel the next day in order to provide the refund.

However, two hours before the agreed meeting time, the owner of the business called us in order to argue with us. First, he blamed the driver and said that it wasn't Top Desert's fault. (Remind me, who hired the driver again?) Then he argued that we could've gotten sick from anything. (If it wasn't the Driver's dirty water, then it was his Berber omelet.) After a bit of a yelling match, I hung up.

The management of the company didn't apologize for anything. They didn't care that we got sick. They didn't acknowledge that they promised us one of their best drivers and then weren't even able to tell us who was assigned. They didn't take responsibility for us being given dirty water by their driver. They yelled at us for not telling them about the issue sooner, but we called as soon as we got to Marrakech and had wifi again on the day I vomited and discovered our driver had been giving us dirty water throughout the trip.

While we had a great time at the camp itself, the entire experience was overshadowed by the drive each way. I'm sure that if we had one of the other drivers, the experience would have been amazing. We actually spoke to one of them at the campfire and he was great. He was friendly and explained more to us in 5 minutes than our driver ever did. However, we tried to ensure a good driver and couldn't. And if things go wrong, this company's management is not going to make things right. Don't trust this company, or anything they...

Top Desert Erg Chigaga trip

When I decided to book a trip to Morocco, I knew I wanted to spend some time in the desert, but I had some trepidation as a solo female traveler. After lots of research, reviews from other female solo travelers and much communication with Moha, I decided to book the luxury camp at Erg Chigaga with Top Desert. Moha was very patient with all my questions and addressed all my concerns. (Thank you, Moha!) We were able to craft a trip leaving from Essaouira and returning to Marrakech, with 2 nights in the desert and one night en route. As it turned out, I needed transport between Chefchaouen and Ouzoud Falls and between Ouzoud Falls and Essaouira, so Moha arranged a driver for me - he ended up being my driver all the way through the desert trip and he was fantastic! Jjamal is the perfect driver - we traveled some steep, curvy roads and I always felt safe. He spoke excellent English and was able to give me a lot of history along the way. He never talked on his mobile while we were driving, he stopped whenever I wanted for rest breaks, food or pictures (and of course he knew all the best photo opportunities). He was very helpful, respectful, and had a great sense of humor - by the end of my journey I felt I had made a new friend. I met Abdul, another member of the Berber family, when we stopped at MHamid to get lunch. I had the best couscous there! When we arrived at the desert, we were greeted by Mohammed and Naj (?) and they showed me to my tent. It was glamping at its best - there was even a flush toilet and shower in my tent. Erg Chigaga is more remote and much quieter than Erg Chebbi, from what I understand, and I loved it! You have to go off-road (4x4) for a couple of hours to reach the camp, but it is definitely worth it if you want to experience the solitude of the Sahara. The desert is beautiful, the night sky and sunrise/sunset is magical and the Berber & Nomadic people were warm and friendly. The food was good - and plentiful! - the campfire and Berber music interesting and fun. I took a camel ride the next day and had lunch under a shady tree where we had homemade sand-baked bread (delicious!!) This review could go on and on and I could still not offer enough praise. I encourage anyone who is looking for this kind of trip to check out Top Desert - they exceeded my expectations! And if you are a female solo traveler, I give them two thumbs up! Go! Thanks again to the whole crew, but especially to Jjamel for being such a great guide and to Moha for patiently taking the time to alleviate my concerns and plan this wonderful trip. I am in South Africa now but my heart is still in...

There was no internet back then. Television was a black and white screen. I was six years old when my parents subscribed to National Geographic magazine. I flipped through each issue looking at the glossy, colored pictures and thinking: “I will never go to Morocco. It’s on the other side of the world.” Five decades later I went to Morocco and experienced a thrilling adventure.

We didn’t know what we were doing. Friends recommended Top Desert Tours. We booked a 5 day, Luxury Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour. Jamal picked us up at the airport. We enjoyed a restful first night at a Riad in Marrakech, then off to the desert in Jamal’s comfortable, air-conditioned Toyota Prado SUV. The desert camp was magical – a scene from a Hollywood movie. Our accommodation was like a 5 star hotel room in the desert. Nothing was overlooked. The meals were delicious and the sunset camel ride from Merzouga to the camp was memorable. Jamal was the best. He was knowledgeable and anticipated our every need. He speaks 6 languages. My non-stop questions did not annoy him – he answered every one with details from his Berber culture and ancestry. We enjoyed tea, bread and honey with a Berber nomad family. Who knew people lived like this today? No electricity, no plumbing, no air-conditioning, no refrigeration – yet they’re happy, healthy and doing life as their ancestors have done for generations. Father, mother and 3 kids.

If you want to experience a unique place on Earth – go to the Sahara Desert near Merzouga, Morocco. Ask Jamal to drive you to meet a Berber nomad family. Enjoy their simple lifestyle and hospitality of tea and bread, while sitting on a carpet in a clay house. Jamal will translate for you - English to Berber and back.

The end of another amazing vacation. We started in Milan and ended in Marrakech: haute couture and handmade shoes - pasta and tagine - Lake Como breezes and 46C desert sunshine. The opportunity to meet former fashion models, have tea with Berber families, ride a camel and connect with travelers at airport lounges during flight delays – resulting in conversations spanning politics, religion, colonialism, and potential future travel destinations.

From seeing it in National Geographic Magazine in 1967, I finally made it to Morocco in 2024. A Big thanks to Jamal and Top Desert Tours – I will never forget you, the Berber people, Merzouga, Marrakech and Morocco. ...