15-Day Vacation to Portugal and Morocco: Endless Relaxation and Uncrowded Tours

We just returned from a 13-day trip covering Porto, Lisbon, Rabat, the Agafay Desert, and Marrakech, and the trip exceeded what we had hoped for. We are a family of five, ranging from our early 60s to mid-20s, and Zicasso's travel specialist built an itinerary that worked well for all of us, with some unique experiences that suited our interests and travel style.

He was consistently responsive throughout the planning process and followed through on every detail. More importantly, the on-the-ground logistics in both countries worked well: private drivers arrived on time, guides were knowledgeable and personable, and the accommodations were well chosen. Our camp in the Agafay Desert was a particular highlight.

What made the trip genuinely worthwhile was the texture of it. The Portuguese side offered the kind of immersion you don't get from a highlights tour: a sidecar ride through Porto's historic quarters, a kayaking day in the Douro Valley, and a cooking class the morning we flew to Morocco. The Moroccan half was equally substantive, from the Rabat medina to the Berber family lunch in the Ourika Valley. We came back feeling like we had experienced both cultures, something that we try to really accomplish when we travel.

If you are considering this type of itinerary, this travel specialist is the right person to plan it. I'd book with him again without hesitation.

We had a truly memorable tour of Morocco and were delighted with the experience from start to finish.

Zicasso’s travel specialist was a pleasure to work with throughout the planning process. He was knowledgeable, responsive, flexible, and consistently helpful. The pre-trip materials were comprehensive and made preparation easy and stress-free.

The travel specialist designed an excellent 11-day itinerary showcasing Morocco's remarkable diversity, including the historic cities of Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen, along with Rabat and Casablanca, as well as the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, and cedar forests. Each day offered unique experiences, including vibrant souks, artisan workshops, scenic hikes, camel rides, a traditional hammam, Roman ruins, film studio, and wine tasting.

Every destination featured a dedicated local guide, all of whom were excellent. We traveled in a comfortable SUV and spent the entire trip with our driver. Friendly, professional, and fluent in English, he consistently went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment, while sharing valuable local insights along the way.

Several thoughtful touches further enhanced the experience: unique accommodations, memorable welcome and farewell dinners, a dedicated messaging group for seamless communication, prompt responses to questions and requests, and assistance with restaurant reservations, even at short notice.

We are deeply appreciative of the travel specialist and the entire team at this travel company for creating such a memorable journey, and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking a well-planned, authentic, and high-quality Morocco experience.

We had the most amazing time in Morocco, thanks to our wonderful Zicasso trip planners. From the very beginning of the planning stages, our agents were not only super-accommodating, but provided great ideas to make our trip as special as could be!

Once we landed, our guide and driver made sure we were comfortable throughout our trip. We visited Marrakech, Merzouga, Fes, and Chefchaouen. Each of these destinations were special in their own way and we had amazing tours in the medinas, visited gardens and museums, had a cooking class and, of course, a wonderful night in the desert.

None of this could have been possible without the expertise of the entire team at the travel agency. The logistics were impeccable, the hotels so beautiful, and suggestions for shopping and meals were perfect as well!

We cannot thank the team enough for such a special experience and we hope to work with them in the future! Thank you so much!

Our Morocco trip for our party of four in March 2026, planned by Zicasso’s travel specialist, was nothing short of excellent all around. It was completely safe being in Morocco during a tense time in the Middle East, given the Iran conflict. As the travel specialist explained, Morocco is not involved in the conflict and safety was not an issue in this peaceful, friendly country.

The trip was deftly organized in exquisite detail, with every aspect considered, from destinations, experiences, pace, lodgings, restaurant recommendations, guide, driver, vehicle comfort, travel documents, tipping best practices, and more. It was completely turnkey from the moment we were met at the airport through our departure and we couldn't have been taken care of any better.

We thoroughly enjoyed all of the destinations and our guide was very knowledgeable about history, culture, etc. He became a member of our family for the time we were with him and was flexible regarding any requests. Our driver was terrific and expertly maneuvered our vehicle through narrow and sometimes crowded streets, and mountain roads, and we felt completely safe in his hands.

Our experience in the Merzouga Sahara Desert camp was incredible, luxurious, and unforgettable. Our accommodations were four- and five-star riads (grand homes that now function as hotels), and one was more beautiful than the next.

The travel specialist spent substantial time with us on the phone for our initial conversation (at least an hour) and we spoke to him again for an hour and a half about a week before our departure. He was very accessible and communicative. All of our travel documents, including the detailed itinerary, were available via an app so we knew what we were doing every minute of the day, as well as the times and travel distances involved.

This was our second trip planned through Zicasso and we will continue to use them for all of our travel plans. It was simply outstanding and I would highly recommend this travel company to anyone considering Morocco and its other destinations.

Our trip to Morocco was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Our driver was excellent and an excellent companion throughout the journey—reliable, friendly, and always helpful.

The guided tour through the medina in Marrakech with our guide was a standout experience, especially with the bonus of dining at a fantastic restaurant he recommended. Two major highlights of the trip were the unforgettable hot-air balloon ride and our magical night in the desert.

Although our time in Casablanca was brief, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide in Rabat was knowledgeable and made the experience engaging and informative. We ended our trip in the stunning town of Chefchaouen, where another guide provided an exceptional tour—he was informative and passionate about his city.

The accommodations were perfect at every stop, and we truly appreciated the welcome gifts and meals provided by Zicasso's travel specialist and his team. Their attention to detail made all the difference.

I would highly recommend him and his company to anyone planning a trip to Morocco. It was an unforgettable experience that I will be sharing with friends and family for years to come.

I'd make this 4.5 stars if I could. We had a five-star experience with a few glitches, but they were addressed quickly and kindly.

Zicasso’s travel specialist is a gem. She goes out of her way to clearly communicate what to expect, who you'll be with, and the times for meets and activities. She made us feel special, as though we were her personal guests rather than just clients. We had a luggage issue that she went out of her way to help resolve.

We asked to stay in nice places with AC and king-size beds, and she delivered. All places were great and a bit different from what we're used to and from each other. Most of the drivers were also a lot of fun to be with and spoke at least reasonably good English.

I offer two suggestions for those who use this service. One, always verify meet times and contact info that you receive. Two, don't pre-book two meals in a day if you're staying at a place that offers breakfast. It's just too much food too close together.

We had an 11-day vacation. We chose variety rather than immersion, so went from Porto to Douro Valley to Alentejo to Lisbon to Lagos in the Algarve area, with some stops in between and drivers who brought us everywhere. Next time, we'd likely choose two or three places for a more immersive experience.

I highly recommend this travel company and the travel specialist in particular.