It’s my first trip to Africa.
I’m spending seven days with seven women I’ve never met.
Let me tell you how my Moroccan adventure went.

How this came about

First off let me start by saying, I am not accustomed to traveling with people I don’t know! Heck, I’ve never even been on a girls trip with women I haven’t been friends with for at least a year (although we didn’t always leave the trip as friends, but that a story for another day lol). When this opportunity came, I grabbed it with both hands. The trip that I prayed and waited for. The trip I was NOT going to miss. I had also been really wanting to experience some form of solo traveling for a while. Girls trips are fun, but let’s be honest, it can be a tad exasperating having to consider multiple other people, along their wants, preferences, feelings, phobias, etc for several days at a time. You spend too much money going across the country, to have to pass on the experiences, food and excursions you’ve been waiting on, just because your friend won't get in the water, or is a picky eater. I mean, who doesn’t like lobster? 🙄

But the idea of solo traveling can be daunting for most women. Especially Black women. On top of the already long list of safety concerns for women lone traveling, black women are also constantly having to ask the question “Is is safe for US to be there?” Sometimes you need that baby step in between the leaps, and that’s why I could not wait to join Luxe Tribes in Marrakech, Morocco. The trip seemed to perfectly align with my interests. Not only was Morocco on my ”unattainable” travel bucket list (following in Anna Delvey’s foot steps), but the trip was set for the end of October, my birthday week, and I would technically be solo traveling, but with 7 other women. It could not be a more perfect set up. Thank you God!

Why Luxe Tribes?

Luxe Tribes is a Black woman founded travel company that specializes in bringing adventurous solo travelers together to experience bucket-list travel destinations. I came across Luxe Tribes from a fellow influencer and she spoke so highly of her experience with them, that after some extra light research, I was sold. The site, boasting over 60 experiences, in several countries across five continents, lets you choose your level of “luxe” within your budget, details the payment plans, and has the entire up front, pre-planned itinerary for each option for you to review. To be honest, the pre-planned itinerary is what got me on board. As the “type-A" friend of my group, I was always the designated trip planner for our girls trips, (even when the trip wasn’t my idea!) and I was sick and tired of being sick and tired 😭. I was DONE having the weight of trip planning on my shoulders. Seriously though, I was starting to get triggered by everyone depending on me to book excursions, pick the restaurants and keep everyone on schedule. As the oldest daughter of 10, yes I said 10, siblings, At 30, Im officially retired from putting on my big sister pants. I’m in my, how the say, “soft girl era'‘ and Luxe Tribes taking the planning off my hands seemed like a breath of fresh air!

The itinerary

The more I read the itinerary the trip planner sent over, the more and more excited I got for this trip. This would be my first time in Africa and what they had planned, I couldn’t have put together better myself. All six days had been planned perfectly and included everything from hot air balloons and dromedary rides to a spa day and some down time to visit the shops. It seemed to be the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation, a hard balancing act for a first time experience in a new country. Now all I had to do was accomplish some pre-trip shopping for culture appropriate clothing, pray for a safe trip and wait for the travel day to arrive.

After a 15 hour travel day, and a long three hour long customs line upon arrival, I found my designated driver waiting for me, as Luxe Tribes had coordinated even the airport transfers. I was the first to arrive at our hotel, Barceló Palmeraie, and was greeted by our trip guide, who had an arrival gift in hand for me and every other traveler. The hotel was a resort-style, beautiful property. I made it to my room able to unpack, shower and unwind for the first night. Luxe Tribes had labeled this trip as “mid-luxury” so the rooms left a little something to be desired, but for me, as long as it’s clean with an updated bathroom, I’m good with that. As I laid in the very comfy bed, I glanced over the itinerary again: Day trips to the best tourist sites, a cooking class, camel ride, spa day, hot air balloon, ATV, etc. I was most excited for the hot air balloon as it would be my first time, and the camel ride for the same reason. I mean, just imagine the instagram content I’d be capturing. The next six days would be schedule packed with some early mornings so I decided to turn in early before I would meet the other seven women I would be spending the next week with. Let the adventure begin!

The other women

It was finally time to meet the other solo travelers for the trip. The day started early and we all met while eating breakfast. I will say, I was a bit nervous about all of us coming together. “What would they be like?”, “What if we don’t get along”, “What if someone’s attitude ruins the trip and I’m stuck with her for a week?” All the negative scenarios that ran through my head vanished when I finally met the other women. Most were a little older than me, all professional women, all looking for a good experience as it was everyone’s first time in Morocco. Through every single outing, new experience and group decision, we were all laughs and good vibes the whole way. I was completely amazed out how friendly and “go with the flow” everyone was, but in the end it made sense. That’s the whole point of group “solo” travel. Like minded people coming together, spending their time and money for a common goal: A positive travel experience. Picture this: Eight Black women, from all over the U.S., driving ATV’s in sand, riding dromedary’s in the Agafay desert, learning to cook tangine (the national dish) together in a cooking class. A beautiful thing to see and experience.

Often times In America, we are force fed the narrative that women, especially Black women cannot get along. We are too jealous, too competitive, too fierce, too hard to keep the friends we already have, let alone make new ones. While I did not forge any life long new friendships during my week in Marrakesh with these women, my experience with them was mind shifting and reassuring. Black women are not fighters. We are not difficult to get along with. We are not all the negative stereotypes we’ve heard all our lives and sometimes begin to believe. Being close with Black women my whole life, and making it my business (literally) to prioritize my relationships with them, I know how we truly are. I know how I truly am, but sometimes you don’t know what you’ll get. What I got with Luxe Tribes was an unforgettable trip, filled with irreplaceable memories and the chance to do that with other Black women, just like me, and so different from me.

I liked how all of us were early 30’s and above. I’m more than certain that our ages played a big part how well we all got along. For the average woman that actually has something going for her, her cattiness and most immaturity dissipates from her body about mid college lol. All we wanted to do was shop, eat, shop, laugh, shop and follow our itinerary. I was surprised one of the women also flew out of Atlanta, like me. A college professor on a paid hiatus. Lucky her.

Marrakech

My overall thoughts on Marrakech, the city we spent 90% of our time, was that it was a city one would have to visit more than once in order to truly feel the essence. It is so culture rich, visually appealing, with so much to do, that even the 6 excursion filled days I spent there, did not even scratch the surface of what the city has to offer. I was suprised to also discover how night-centric Marrakech is. The area truly comes alive at night, with the souks and shops not closing until the late after hours. Even with Marrakech seemingly being a night focused metropolis, I had never felt safer being a woman just out, enjoying life. Houdaifa, our trip guide told us there’s virtually zero crime in Marrakech, and I will say the energy confirmed that. The locals minded their own business, were polite when need be, and overall were pleasant. I can confirm that Morocco does seem to be Black woman friendly. I could definitely see myself return as a solo traveler. It’s not too hard to find English speakers, although the main languages are Moroccan Arabic and French and if you enjoy a more mediterranean diet of couscous and grilled meat, this could be a destination for you.

In hindsight

Though not many, there are a few notes, tips and ideas I had in hindsight.

I DID NOT KNOW…
Call me crazy, and maybe geographically challenged, but I thought I would see more people like me in Morocco. I know, I know, it’s Northern Africa, just a few hours away from snowy mountains (and Spain) but I thought I would see more darker brown people there. I did not lol. In fact, when touring the more “touristy” sites of Marrakech, whenever my group and I stopped to take group pics, we found everyone else also taking pictures of us, as if Black women in Morocco were rare to see. Idk. It didn’t really bother us, and we experienced absolutely zero racism or hostility for the entirety of the trip, but just something to note lol. You’ll be seeing French Montana's cousins.
ONE NOTE…
I love how organized and filled our week long schedule was, but there were some mornings we had to be up 4am or 5am in order to be ready and leave out for certain experiences. The early mornings, coupled with our jet lag made for slight sleep deprivation and by the last day, we were all exhausted. Our farewell dinner was more silent than Jesus’ birth. If I could give Luxe Tribes one note, it would be possibly more downtime. A sleepy traveler turns into a grumpy traveler.
THE TRIP GEM…
I will say, Luxe Tribes lucked up when they hired our travel guide, Houdaifa. Not only was he smart, nice and easy to talk to, he was extremely respectful, helpful and went above and beyond for our group. He was there every step of the way, translating, guiding and making sure we were all safe. At our farewell dinner, one of the ladies thanked him for all he did for us and her speech brought a couple women to tears. To feel safe, in another country, for Black women, is HUGE. Houdaifa advocated for us, haggled at the markets for us and even bought one of the ladies a cake for her birthday during our dinner in the dessert as a surprise. At the end, we all tipped him because he deserved it. He was a highlight of the trip. Having a good tour guide is a MUST!

Overall

Marrakech was an amazing trip. One country from the top of my living list checked off. I don’t like the idea of a “bucket” list. The idea of doing something just before you die, just to say you did it seems pointless. I don’t have a bucket list, I have a living list. A list of experiences I will get to cross off, to benefit the right now, while I’m living, while the experience has enough time to affect me. While I can still affect someone else. That’s what life is right? Living to affect someone else. Some do it by building a legacy for their children. Some do it by preaching the gospel on the other side of the world. I do it by living the life God gave me to my fullest capacity. I do it by living a life that inspires other women to not live a life of fear, but to live in God’s promises to giving life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10)

I went to Morocco with 7 strangers. Here’s how it went…