Sharon Louthian
American by birth and Moroccan-Berber by marriage, I first traveled to Morocco as a tourist and fell in love with the country and its people (one in particular). Since my initial visit, I have traveled extensively throughout the country and especially enjoy discovering secret places off of the beaten path. Together with Abderrahman Idrissi, my Moroccan husband who has over 20 years experience in the tourism industry, we enlisted the help of his brothers (who serve as our in-country tour managers) to create Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures. As a family business, we enjoy developing relationships with our guests that continue beyond their trips to Morocco and our goal is for our guests to leave with a little of our love for the country and its people.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"People always ask me what there is to do in Morocco and I always reply that an easier question would be what can't you do there! And we can help you with all of it. Of course, we share the rich history and the important landmarks that any tour to Morocco includes, but we also provide unique opportunities to mix and mingle with the locals that allow our guests to gain insight into day to day life. So if you are looking for an authentic experience (budget or luxury) that takes you off the beaten path, then we are the company for you. And if you want to throw in a little hiking, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, surfing, kite-surfing, mule trekking, horseback riding, or even skiing (yes, I said skiing), we can do that, too!"
How did you get involved in travel?
"My path towards a career in travel was a crooked one, but began with a vacation to Morocco in 2012 where I met the most amazing guide, Abderrahman (Abdou for short). He was so amazing, in fact, that after a few more visits we decided to get married. After he had settled into life in the United States, an opportunity presented itself for us to create Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures. And so, after many years of discussion, we "pulled the trigger" and Morocco Immersion was born."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Obviously, my trip to Morocco in 2012 was life changing - talk about transformative travel experiences! Besides meeting my soulmate on that trip, I was mesmerized by the desert and upon my return dreamt about it for 30 nights in a row. Abdou told me that that was the magic of the desert. In subsequent trips, I got to learn more about the culture and meet more of the locals, and that's when I discovered that despite the breathtaking beauty of the landscapes, the true beauty of Morocco is the rich culture and the warmth and generosity of its people. "
Sharon's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Take a seven-day spin across the sand with this itinerary that will take you from beach to city to desert to back. Visit the arts scene in Asilah, then put your newfound...
Adventure into the desert on this 10-itinerary. After wandering the medinas of Fes, you'll embark on a camel trek into the Sahara. Traverse the Dades Valley, take in the...
On this nine-day itinerary, starting in Marrakech, go off the beaten path to explore Morocco's culture and landscapes. Cross the Atlas Mountains and enjoy an off-road adventure...
Luxury itineraries
This highlights tour checks off Morocco's top cultural and natural sites. Explore medieval architecture in Rabat, wander the blue streets of Chefchaouen, and see the famous...
Exploring the highlights of Southern Morocco on this adventure-packed trip. Spend your first night in the Sahara, then visit the famed Ait Benhaddou and explore the dunes of Erg...
Explore Marrakech and the surrounding Atlas Mountains in this week-long itinerary. Spend four days exploring ornate palaces, winding medina alleys, and the vibrant Jemaa El-Fna...
Recent trip reviews for Sharon
We had an incredible trip to Morocco. The pla...
Morocco
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May 15 - May 22, 2023
We had an incredible trip to Morocco. The planning of the trip was amazing as Sharon took all of our preferences into consideration when making our itinerary.
We were able to go to so many places because we had access to a personal driver and other local guides. We loved the people and seeing the many places Fez, the blue pearl, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakesh in only 8 days. I would definitely book another trip with KimKim in the future! read more
Sharon did a fine job helping us plan our tri...
Morocco
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May 3 - May 14, 2023
Sharon did a fine job helping us plan our trip. Our driver, Sallam, was great. The culture and cities we visited were everything we expected. However, we were not prepared for the types of roads we would be travelling on for long hours on this trip. All four of us are 70+ years old and the vehicle used was not very uncomfortable in the back two rows of seats. My wife and our friend Karen were bounced around almost continuously. Plus the back of the seat was tilted back making it... read more
A great taste of Morocco for our family of 6 ...
Morocco
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Apr 28 - May 6, 2023
A great taste of Morocco for our family of 6 adults. All aspects of the trip were good. Particularly memorable were: (1) our stay and morning walk with Salam at the riad Kasbah Roseville who took us through the roses and around town, (2) our cooking class and visit to a home in the Valley of the Roses where we cooked and enjoyed Berber pizza on a wood-fired oven in the with the family, (3) touring Fez with our extraordinary guide Said, and (4) our riad in Fez was a beautiful place and great... read more
The complete Moroccan travel experience. Challenging at times but well worth the effort.
Morocco
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May 3 - May 14, 2023
Dear Kim Kim folks ~
First, I would like to say that our driver/guide Sallam could not have been better. He displayed a great competency in his role and understood and executed very well in attending to the needs of our traveling group.
The itinerary for this trip was a bit of a challenge for us 70 something age group. It included a lot of driving on some pretty rough road surfaces, some under construction (especially in the Atlas Mountains). In retrospect, I am delighted that we covered so... read more
Morocco is an diverse and amazing country. We...
Morocco
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May 3 - May 14, 2023
Morocco is an diverse and amazing country. We had great experiences with Salaam as our driver and Said as our tour guide in Fez. The trip was arduous. We traveled many miles over road construction over the Atlas Mountains bounced around for hours in the vehicle. Many of our hotels had difficult access and treacherous stairs to navigate. In the future, it might be advised you consider the ages of your tourist. read more
Hi Karen,
Thanks for taking the time to write a review for us. We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with both Sallam and Said and that you found, like us, our country to be amazing! We were sorry to hear, however, that the parts of the trip outside of our control so negatively affected you overall experience. Elevators are rare commodities in Morocco and since most of the riads in the country are, in some cases, centuries old, the stairs can be difficult to navigate. For... read more
Absolutely an incredible experience! Such a b...
Morocco
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Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2023
Absolutely an incredible experience! Such a beautiful country! Our guid Anmay was amazing! You can really feel the love he has for the country, the culture, and the history! read more
Hi Andy!
Thanks for taking the time to write us such a great review. We are so happy to hear that you had an incredible experience and that you found the country to be as beautiful as we do! Also, glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with our rock star (literally and figuratively) tour manager!
Thanks again for the review and for trusting us with your trip!
Sharon, Amnay, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family
Moroccan Immersion
Morocco
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Apr 22 - May 1, 2023
I felt very safe and comfortable traveling the countryside with my assigned driver Yassine. There were countless highlights along the way. I ventured into the blue labyrinth of Chefchaouen. I gazed upon fields of wheat, poppy and roses. I walked amongst the hustle and bustle in the city medinas. I soared above mountains at sunset in a hot air balloon. I drank the culture in large gulps with the help of Rashid and Abdul, 2 very knowledgeable guides I met along the way. read more
Hi Teresa!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are so happy that Yassine made you feel safe and comfortable and that you had such a great experience in Morocco. We certainly agree that the highlights of the country are vast and varied and it is truly beautiful in the spring when the roses (and other flowers) are in bloom!
Thanks again for the review and thanks, also, for trusting us with you trip!
Sharon, Yassine, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family
The most memorable I think was the Camel trek...
Morocco
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Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2023
The most memorable I think was the Camel trek to the campsite. The local guides was extremely knowledgeable also and gave us insight about Morocco. Our guide for ten days Amnay was very accommodating to all our needs. He’s very nice and fun. He made our trip easier and answered all our questions. I would recommend him and driver Waleed to anyone visiting Morocco. We give you 10 stars!! read more
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you for taking the time to write and for giving us such a great review! I agree that Amnay deserves 10 stars (but I'm a little biased since he is my brother-in-law!) and we are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time with him in our beautiful country. I know that Amnay also enjoyed his time with your group and specifically told me what a lovely person you are!
Thanks again for the great review and for trusting us with your trip! Take care and keep in touch.
Sharon, Amnay, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family
I decided not to read up about Morocco before...
Morocco
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Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2023
I decided not to read up about Morocco beforehand as I had some preconceived ideas about the country after reading various WWII accounts. The ideas got blown away and I came away with a different perspective and understanding of the country and the great people. The landscape changed continuously and much comparable with our western USA. This immersive package is really the way to go, but some caution in that it is a rigorous trip and one should be prepared for a lot of walking and up and... read more
Hi Jack,
Thanks for taking the time to write us such an incredible review. I think it is awesome that your preconceived notions about Morocco were blown away after meeting the wonderful people of the country. I alway say that Morocco is a breathtakingly beautiful place, but that the true beauty is in the rich culture and warm hospitality of its people which not all travelers get to experience.
Thanks again for the great review and for trusting us with your trip! Take care and keep in touch!
Sharon, Amnay, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion family
Our trip was amazing. Sharon and our driver R...
Morocco
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Apr 22 - May 1, 2023
Our trip was amazing. Sharon and our driver Rafiq met our every need. My one and only complaint is the tipping situation. Every person (other than Sharon and our drivers) we encountered expected a tip. And, if they didn’t get the tip they expected they were visibly unhappy. Some even mumbling and stomping away. The tipping is out of control. We believed we had paid for everything in advance and did expected small tips for porters. But did not understand why tour guides and sales people... read more
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for taking the time to write us such a wonderful review. We are so happy to hear that you had an amazing experience and enjoyed your time with Rafik! I'm sorry for the misunderstanding regarding gratuities - we do not include those, since in Morocco tipping is a way to show your appreciation for a given service and the amount is very much up to the individual tipper. I did include some general tipping guidelines in the pre-trip information that I sent, but if I didn't make... read more
Trip to Morocco - April 2023
Morocco
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Apr 7 - Apr 13, 2023
Our trip to Morocco was pretty amazing. Morocco is a fascinating country with rich culture. We planned our trip to Morocco as a "rout trip" to visit the country and city where my mom was born. Sharon from Morocco Immersion, (through KimKim), did an amazing job in planning our trip. Sharon took into consideration every information given to her and catered the trip based our requests. We visited Casablanca, Fes, Riad, Chefchaouen and Marrakesh. Sharon and her team thought of everything and... read more
Great Family Trip
Morocco
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Apr 1 - Apr 8, 2023
Sharon was incredibly responsive and the trip was well planned and we really felt like we got to see many sights in Morocco without feeling rushed. The various accommodations we stayed in were great and Sharon was open to making the trip individualized for us as a family. Every tour guide was highly professional and knowledgeable.
The most magical Morocco!
Morocco
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Nov 12 - Nov 19, 2022
Our trip with Morocco Immersion Tours was amazing. We went in November 2022 and had a blast. We were only able to make a short week but Sharon and our guide Sallam made sure we saw as much as possible. Sallam made the trip easy and so incredibly enjoyable. He made sure that we always had what we needed and went out of his way to make sure we were always having a great time. We managed a full loop including Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara, and Marrakech! read more
Had the most amazing 10 day trip throughout M...
Morocco
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Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2023
Had the most amazing 10 day trip throughout Morocco! Starting with the superb itinerary by Sharon to our wonderful guide Amnay and driver Waleed. From the sites, food, experiences and awesome hotels, I definitely recommend Using KimKim read more
Late to review. Life got crazy upon my return...
Morocco
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Mar 11 - Mar 20, 2023
Late to review. Life got crazy upon my return but trip met all expectations. Excellent drivers, guides and truly memorable people in a lively country. Very personalized, great accommodations and sights. All in all pretty much perfect! read more
Hi Ann,
Thanks for taking the time to write a review! We are so happy to hear that you were pleased with your trip and had a great time in Morocco. I know that your daughter and I worked together fairly extensively as she really wanted the trip to be as close to perfect as possible for you. We are happy that we were able to be a part of it!
Thanks and keep in touch,
Sharon and the rest of the Morocco Immersion team
Our trip to Morocco was enlightening and so m...
Morocco
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Apr 6 - Apr 15, 2023
Our trip to Morocco was enlightening and so much fun! The guides Rashid, Hussein,and Mohammed were great and so attentive to engaging my grandson. Rafiq was not only a terrific driver but a lovely companion on our drives. Visiting during Ramadan was a wonderful experience and insight to the country. We had a great trip! read more
SPECTACULAR!
Morocco
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Apr 7 - Apr 16, 2023
Our experience working with the KimKim team was spectacular. Our travel agent, Sharon, helped us organize an itinerary that included adventure (camel-riding in the Sahara), cultural immersion (preparing an Iftar meal during Ramadan with a local Berber family), luxury (many opportunities for Hammam) and shopping (lots of souks!). She was incredibly responsive during our trip as well and worked to ensure that we had the best time!
Yassine, our tour manager, was fantastic. He was friendly,... read more
Our trip to Morocco was pretty amazing, partl...
Morocco
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Apr 5 - Apr 11, 2023
Our trip to Morocco was pretty amazing, partly because the country itself is so amazing, and partly because Sharon, KimKim, and the team at Morocco Immersion Tours pretty much thought of everything to make it really special.
When we first spoke to Sharon, we told her that we'd booked a flight to Marrakech and intended to spend the first four days there -- and that we'd like her help with the rest of our 11-day trip. I think we said something like, "Here's our budget. How about a little... read more
Don’t look any further for a travel advisor. ...
Morocco
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Mar 24 - Apr 1, 2023
Don’t look any further for a travel advisor. Kim Kim and their Moroccan partner, Moroccan Immersion Tours with Shannon was fantastic. We saw so much and had an amazing driver Sallam who took such good care of us. Hassan in Marrakech provided us with a 1/2 day. He was fantastic and so great with our high functioning spectrum child. Sied in Fes has an encyclopedic sized knowledge. Our accommodate were wonderful.Shannon and Kim Kim listened to what we wanted and they delivered. We felt... read more
Hi Catherine,
I'm a little bit behind in replying to our reviews, but I just wanted to send a short message to say that we are so happy that you had a fantastic trip to Morocco and enjoyed your time with Sallam. Thanks also for the feedback regarding your local guides in Marrakech and Fes. I was especially pleased to read that Hassan in Marrakech was great with your son. That can be a pretty overwhelming place for anyone!
Again, thank you so much for the review and for trusting us with your trip! Keep in touch!
Sharon, Sallam, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion Family
5.5 Days Marrakech to the Big Dunes and back
Morocco
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Mar 29 - Apr 3, 2023
TBH I was wary of Kimkim until I actually spoke to Sharon and wish I had made that move earlier. I am used to more convo than tech in planning a trip but all was fine.
More driver than guide I would say, Yassine was charming, great driver, calm and efficient. He was always on time and smiley and we enjoyed his company - a really good person. Tough gig as we did a lot of miles every day in order to get out to the Big Dunes and he was fasting so must have been hard and he was understandably... read more
Hi Olivia,
We are glad to hear that you had an overall great trip and that you loved Morocco! It is always our goal to share a little of our love for the country with our guests. Normally, your driver also serves as your tour manager and is available to provide insight in the spots where guides are needed. As you can see from other reviews, Yassine normally does this quite well - but perhaps he was lacking little of his normal energy due to fasting (I know it does a number on me). Thank you... read more