What makes our team of guides and companions happy is to offer you their advice, itineraries and tips. In their company you have access to the real Morocco, made of breathtaking landscapes, steeped in multi-cultural wealth, dotted with extraordinary encounters in the most original of areas… nothing but specialists with perfect knowledge in each region await you in order to give you the unique experience of discovery in absolute confidence.
OUR EXPERTS
Our experts are at your service for any questions you may have about Morocco
Pierre-Yves
A lover of nature and adventure, Pierre-Yves loves both the silence of hiking and the thrill of the off-road. He has been a travel agent for many years in his adoptive country as well as being the creator of the camping lodge “Terre des Etoiles” (Land of the Stars) in the Agafay desert, not far from Marrakesh. Over the years, he has gradually surrounded himself with experts who are as passionate as he is, adding the knowledge of the desert, the mountains, and the ocean… Soon thereafter, he added business trips, company retreats, rallies and bivouacs in the desert. With his Destination Evasion team, he offers his expertise of the country to travellers as well as his network interwoven with encounters and above all, his passion. “For twenty years now I have never stopped roaming the desert zones, the mountains and the open spaces of the Moroccan hinterland, forging over time a true loving relationship with the land and its inhabitants. I want to allow people to experience the change of scenery and the exceptional feelings that come from the nature of this beautiful country”.
Fadwa
Originally hailing from Marrakech, Fadwa discovered many areas Morocco with her family and then with
her husband, with whom she shares a taste for adventure. She has been everywhere: the north, the south,
and all of the imperial cities. "I even drove to Dakhla by car from Marrakech, an unforgettable trip which
allowed me to discover very beautiful scenery. " Her favourite region? “The North region and especially
Chefchaouen which is a jewel anchored in the mountains, a small peaceful village with white and blue
painted walls. Then there is the South, the dunes of Merzouga and Erg Chegaga… Morocco is a country rich
in culture, with a great diversity of landscapes, from mountains, desert, plains, to plateaus and oases …
and the warm welcome of the people! ” After a bachelor's degree in tourism, she was so fascinated by it,
that she made a career of it: “The tourism professions allow us to meet all kinds of challenges which
require great versatility. Each day is different and varies depending on the people you meet. Also tourism
requires creativity to spare, whether to develop a delicious menu, organize a special event or plan an
unforgettable journey. ”
Hicham
Hicham has always worked in the travel industry. A native of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, he studied marketing management and international commerce in Marrakesh. At the moment, the city is making a lot of effort in tourism and he sees an opportunity for satisfaction and evolution. “Working in tourism has opened my mind, I have come across other cultures and other mentalities”.Over twenty years of working in tourism, he has done everything, such as reservations and management but also guided trips in the land, whether that’s individually or in groups. He advises a region that is still untainted and less visited to all travelers which joins the Anti-Atlas and High-Atlas regions by 4×4 off road vehicles. According to him, there are so many trails and typical villages to discover up there. “Real Morocco; whereas travelers go to more classic zones where roads have been developed and have taken over the nature and the Berber villages, there is still plenty of real Morocco to visit and I remain nostalgic of times gone by when we used to go out and about with old classic cars and discover new trails”.
A small word from Hicham: “Lose yourself in Morocco, fumble around, test things… you should forget all preconceived ideas in order to get to know the country”.
His favourite region: The North of Morocco and its Mediterranean coast. What he loves about his job: accompanying groups. “Discover and to make others discover”. What makes Morocco so beautiful: its variety of landscapes and its luminosity at different points of the day. His most beloved souvenir: tracking through the Agoundiz valley in 2010 during the high blossom season. A souvenir to take back with you: The love of discovery
Marion
Marion settled down in Morocco with her husband and two children. They lived for a long time in eucalyptus forest in the Safi region before deciding to move to Marrakesh. « Born and raised in Brittany, I got married to a Moroccan. After giving birth to my second child, we decided to come and live in Morocco for the quality family life, to see our kids grow up and to be in beautiful natural surroundings ».
Her favourite region: « Being a true native of Brittany, I need flow and the ocean. Of course, my favourite place is Oualidia. My little piece of heaven is the Lalla Fatna creek between Safi and the Beddouza cape. The golden sands, the cliffs, the immensity… peaceful and rugged at the same time. The waves are like a washing machine for my mind ».
What she likes about her job: « Sharing and exchanging. Working for DEM allows me to discover Morocco in other ways, which is so precious. I was deeply moved by the sheer kindness of people whom we work with everyday (drivers, riad managers etc). My daughter, who is ten years old, summarises it well: I love to see my mother satisfied with her job ».
The souvenir that you should take back from your trip to Morocco: « Spices! Even the worst cook can make a delicious omelette thanks to a pinch of cumin! ».
Abdelilah
For Abdelilah, travelling is bit of a family story. His uncle ran a guesthouse in Marrakesh. When he was doing his studies in management, he would go back to the Riad during the evening and talk with the passing travelers. “That allowed me to practice languages. And as time went by, I spent more and more time there explaining our culture and traditions which was a real pleasure for me”. It’s those encounters and meetings that helped Abdelilah decide to work in tourism. “What I like about my job is being creative, personalising trips and making a made to measure stay”.His favourite region: The High-Atlas, it’s where I come from. There is a real sensation of freedom and immensity. It’s also a region that’s really authentic and generous. We walk, we happen upon beautiful encounters. What makes Morocco so beautiful: Its diversity, the landscapes, its people, handicrafts. A souvenir to take back with you: Smiles and encounters.
A word for future visitors: “Come without hesitation, we can really meet other people and discuss all sorts of things with them. It’s also an opportunity to go back in time and discover another period of history”.
OUR GUIDES
When it comes to Morocco, our guides are unbeatable! Their motto: to make you discover and fall in love with their country…
Abderrahim
Abdou, his nickname, has followed in the footsteps of his uncle who was amongst one of the first people to be trained by the Chamonix guides at the centre of high-mountain guides in Briançon, oriented by the French living in Marrakesh who advised him of this training course. Abderrahim then followed this path. “I have always loved the mountains, I used to observe my uncle working and exploring. I already started to help him and this was very enjoyable for me. Thus, I decided to become a guide as well and I graduated in 1997 in Morocco. The training centre for high-mountain guides was then established”. Abderrahim eventually created the first office of Ourika valley guides in 2000, his native region. He is also a founding member and vice-president of the Tizi N’OUCHEG association in his native village. “What makes me the proudest is to represent my country and my people. After all, it’s in our nature. We love welcoming people, we are a tolerant people and we love showing our culture and values”. His favourite region….”It depends on when you ask me the question! If you ask me in March, it would be the Anti-Atlas, in May the Ourika or the Rose valley, in winter the desert… A word from Abderrahim for future travellers: “Merhba bikoume”, welcome to Morocco in Berber.
Omar
Omar started by accompanying mountain guides which gave him the taste of the job. He decided to obtain his mountain guide diploma and he succeeded in 2003. When we ask him why he loves his job, he answers naturally “we are mountain dwellers, so we do what we know: the mountain!” For some time now, Omar has regularly organised mountain biking courses in Morocco.“The biggest advantage is that we can see a lot of the landscapes and different places by mountain bike. However, we always see things better by walking”. What makes Morocco so beautiful to visit: ”The welcoming nature of the Berber people and the diversity of the landscapes. From one valley to another, the ambiance of the landscape completely changes”. His favourite region remains the mountainous ones, the Middle-Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, and particularly the region of Toubkal and the Valley of the Roses.
A word from Omar for his travellers “Welcome, we are going to make you discover our Morocco!”
Hafida
For a total of 400 male guides, there were only 10 female ones. She often jokes that she « opened the way », referring to her long history with climbing and speleology. She is a holder of a Master’s degree in tourism and as she was preparing to embark on the classic path of hotel business, she crossed the path of some young Spaniards keen on adventure and wide open spaces. One of them started an agency and charged Hafida to relay this to Morocco. « That’s how I met the first guides of the high-mountains. Simane, one of the pioneers and Rachid Berrada, at the time the president of the guides, Serge Canu, the then director of the UCPA branch and Fabrice Cuzin, one of the great connoisseurs of Moroccan flora and fauna. These are all professionals who pushed me into becoming a high-mountain guide ». « For me, climbing and hiking, it’s a challenge. The call of the summits. It’s also a kind of declaration to my father who often put me and my sisters down for not being able to face challenges. This is my way of saying to him that we can be women and reach summits ». In 1995, she launched the first hikinh trek for families and at 40 years old she climbed the ice cascade in the high-alps. Today she remains a well respected Moroccan adventurer recognised by her peers. « From now on, I wish to change the trekking experience into a more complete adventure including a cultural aspect. For example, my last circuits alternate between days of hiking and of culture, immersion and craftmanship. I will continue to accompany groups of hikers and adventurers, but I would also like to give the yearning of mountain exploration to others. For example, in the Agafay desert, I like to suggest interesting outings of about 2/3 hours combined with the comfort of the eco-lodge. Given my fame and passion for my work, I would like to give and transmit. What makes the country beautiful: the Moroccans, their hospitality and spontaneous generosity. Also its location. The country is situated at the most westernly point of the African continent. From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, passing through the Sahara, the Toubkal – the highest peak in North Africa, the imperial cities, the beaches, these are all the extremes which give this diversity, which is so surprising ». What she likes about her job : Making people happy. « Making someone laugh is happy but making them really happy is more complicated. This is what I manage to do when I travel with them, I give a lot of myself and they can feel that. Some people come back for the 10th or 15th year! ».
Khalifa
I was born in the south or Morocco, right in the Drâa valley and in the golden sand dunes of the M’hamid region. The desert is my mother land, I have been passionate about discovery and desert exploration since I was a little child. I will make you discover the beauty of the South of Morocco, the palm groves, its stone and sand desert, its inhabitants and their life style. For your stay in Morocco, I recommend the desert in September and May. The desert experience is to be lived and told, come and share it with me.
Rachid
An absolute native of Marrakesh through and through, Rachid has worked in the tourism field for twenty years. The hospitality industry and then very quickly tourist transport led him to perfect his knowledge of the kingdom. He opened his own minibus business and accompanied travellers throughout all regions of Morocco. « One year ago, the government organised a competition to give the opportunity to the most experienced and most deserving to become national guides. I was lucky enough to be amongst the winners, this allowed me to grow and evolve in my profession ». His favourite region: « Marrakesh, obviously seeing as it’s my city but also the other imperial cities – Fes, Rabat and Chefchaouen ‘The Blue City’. Every city has its own character and personality and with Mohamed VI’s 2020 vision (to reach 20 million visitors to Morocco) other towns are emerging. In days gone by, we knew of the classic places such as Agadir, Marrakesh and the ‘postcard’ cities. Now, tourism is evolving and expanding, travellers know of Morocco, they often come back and they want to go even further. I accompany them to more remote corners, more in the South and to the Atlantic coast or to the more rural regions which were not on the radar for tourists before. We are heading for a kind of tourism which is more authentic and cultural, towards exploration of Morocco, it’s no longer just a simple visit ». A souvenir to bring back? : « Lots of things! But I would say Argan oil or even the extremely rare and expensive prickly pear oil, for those who can afford it of course ».
Chakib
I am a native of Fes (Fassi). But this has a particular meaning here : I was not only born in Fes but my family originates from Fes. I carry a name whose roots come from Andalusia from the 13th century! I grew up in the Medina of Fes and I have been a national guide for 33 years. This long career has allowed me to meet extraordinary people whilst travelling around the kingdom. My line of work means I get to meet very important people. I have also taken part in a programme with Gerard Depardieu about Fassi cuisine. And so it’s in Fes where I work today. I have a real passion for my city and my family and I take advantage of this ». How do you make us discover your city? : I regale visitors with true stories and family tales and of course I show them all facets of Fes which is an excellent example of a cultural city. Our tannery is one of the largest and and oldest in the world, it dates back to the Middle Ages! But the ceramics and mosaics are also held in high regard, notably for the blue cobalt colour. Leather, carpets and antiques… all craftmanship is proudly on display in the Medina of Fes. Our cuisine is not to be missed, our sweet and savoury tagine recipes or the famous pidgeon pastilla… I would advise you to take a close look at the calendar of our festivals in order to discover the Holy Music or even the culinary art festival. And I will be with you all the way, meandering through the the real Medina ».
Ahmed
Ahmed graduated from Training Centre of Mountain Guides situated in the Ait Bougmez valley. It has been more than 20 years that he has been practising his profession with passion. The Atlas is his playing field : High Atlas, Anti Atlas, Western Atlas or Eastern… by skiing, mountain bike or on foot… he has reached the summit of Toubkal more than 400 times! His favourite region : I know Morocco well, the south of the desert, the Atlantic coast, the Atlas of course as I roam around there all year round. I don’t really have a favourite region as each one has its charm, its personality. Even at different times of the year, ascending the peak of Toubkal throws us into different ambiances such as snowy winter landscapes for the active amongst us and the moonscape summer for those new to hiking ». A souvenir to bring back from Morocco : The best souvenir cannot be bought. The value of money doesn’t count. We are incredibly happy to welcome people who want to come to our country. The best souvenir is that which lingers in your memory, that’s what makes our job so beautiful. If I take the example of Toubkal, I endeavour to reach the peak with a majority of people by taking the time to accompany those who have physical difficulties and by adapting to everyone’s level. Their most cherished souvenir will be having reached the peak of Toubkal ».
Hakima
Hakima, who originates from the Berber mountains, studied ethnology which has given her a specific glance at her country and has painted her profession in a unique colour. « I have been a guide for twenty years in Essaouira but I travel all over Morocco. What I really like about my job is talking with and sharing stories with travellers. I want to impart as much knowledge as possible about my country and it is for this reason that I never stop learning and informing myself and this demands a lot of my personal time ». Her favourite region : After Essaouira, I would say the region of Meknes/Khemisset and its archeological treasures. Everybody knows the ancient Roman site of Volubilis, however not far from there is a cave which contains the oldest traces of humanity in Morocco, it’s unknown. It’s such a magnificent region and I love showing it to those who have the time to explore the wealth of our beautiful country ». What souvenir should you bring back from Moroccco? : It’s not a material souvenir. It’s wanting to come back. I gave myself a challenge : every visitor that I accompany must leave with wanting to come back! I impart all of my knowledge of art, history, geography and ethnicity. I have to convince them that there is so much to learn and see that one visit simply isn’t enough ».