Nobody likes saying goodbye to a great trip. There’s something almost cruel about packing up after days of magic—whether you’ve been wandering through ancient markets, hiking mountain trails, or simply living in a different rhythm than the one waiting for you back home. The better the adventure, the harder it is to let it go.

NextTribe is going back to Morocco in February 2026, following the same itinerary. Get all the details here.

That’s exactly why we never just let our trips fizzle out. Instead, we make the last night count with a dinner that honors everything we’ve experienced together. It’s not just any meal—it’s carefully chosen to reflect the journey we’ve shared, somewhere special enough to match the breadth of what we’ve just lived through.

I’ll be honest: these farewell dinners are emotional rollercoasters for me. The sadness is real—tomorrow everyone scatters back to their real lives. But there’s also something deeply satisfying about gathering around a table with people who’ve shared the same sunsets, the same surprises, the same moments of wonder. We’ve all been changed a little, and this is our chance to acknowledge that together.

What Did This Trip Give You?

I always ask the same question as we’re sharing our final meal: “What’s been the highlight for you?” Then we go around the table, and everyone gets to reflect on what mattered most.

The connections—both with each other and with parts of themselves they’d forgotten—that’s what seems to stick.

You might expect people to talk about the famous landmarks or Instagram-worthy moments. And sure, those come up. But more often than not, I hear things like “the women I met” or “feeling brave enough to try something completely new.” The connections—both with each other and with parts of themselves they’d forgotten—that’s what seems to stick.

Just recently, after two weeks in Morocco that felt almost too magical to be real, I recorded our final conversation. There had been so many incredible moments, and I wanted to capture how everyone was processing it all while it was still fresh. Those in-the-moment reflections? They’re gold for understanding what really makes a trip transformative.

The truth is, these farewell dinners capture something essential about travel. Yes, we’re sad the adventure is ending. But we’re also celebrating the fact that it happened at all—and that we got to experience it together

The Set Up

Our two-week Moroccan adventure started in Marrackech, and from there we headed to the High Atlas Mountains to spend three nights in an eco-lodge in a Berber village, far from any other tourists. We hiked through farmland and orchards, visited locals in their homes, where we drank a lot of mint tea.

On the drive to the Sahara, we stopped for a night in an oasis, where we couldn’t help but sing that song when we watched the stars come out overhead. The Sahara was everything we dreamed of and more. We rode camels to a super-luxurious camp, went 4-wheeling in the dunes, surfed down sand dunes, and visited a Nomad family, who had nothing but served us homemade bread.

Yes, we’re sad the adventure is ending. But we’re also celebrating the fact that it happened at all—and that we got to experience it together.

On our last night of the trip, after returning to Marrakech, we dined at a luxurious restaurant in the Hivernage district. There was a line of people outside, which made it feel as if we were entering a chic nightclub. Indeed, the atmosphere inside did have a heady buzz. The golden light poured out of perforated tin chandeliers, candle flames wagged on each table. The room was full, which explained the line outside. Guests seemed to be mostly locals–dressed in their best.

We were seated at a long oval table, which had an arc of velvet banquettes hugging one side. Waiters loaded plates of hummus, salad, risotta, and lamb on the table. As well various types of tagines. Because there are always tagines in Morocco. And for good reason–they are scrumptious and well-spiced.

The night’s entertainment was a group of women in beaded dresses spinning between the tables wearing chandeliers on their head. It reminded me of the Tropicana Club in Havana, though the clothes on the Moroccan women covered more. They were enchanting and we could hardly look away.

Read More: Exploring Morocco: Camels, Medinas, and a Newfound Sense of Camaraderie

The Conversation

When the music and the twirling died down, we started talking about our experience and I loved hearing how the two weeks had impacted everyone. Here are their thoughts in their words and in the order they spoke them.

Delcy

When we were in that beautiful camp in the Sahara, I stuck my head out at one point and saw you all sliding down the sand dune.
I just, it was just one of those moments that I went, wow, we’re in the Sahara, you know, skiing in sand and playing and having fun. Fabulous.

Suzanne

Well, I wanted to say that I think this group is really well made. This whole idea of your next tribe, is great. That idea of finding like-minded, adventurous people from all over the country in different walks of life–has been a breath of fresh air for me. I see some people retreating as they’re getting older. And this group is the antithesis of that. Absolutely.

I see some people retreating as they’re getting older. And this group is the antithesis of that. Absolutely.

In terms of the best moments? I have to say the Sahara was for sure–the night sky, the sand, walking out around the dunes in the middle of the night. I’ll never, ever forget it.

And I have to say the trip was so well planned. Doing the mountains and the Berber village, then seeing the desert. For a lot of us that went to the Berber Museum back here in Marrakech, understanding the Berber culture beforehand pulled all the pieces together. If we had just seen the costumes and the jewelry [at the museum], we wouldn’t really have understood their significance.

Dawn

What was special to me is that you guys just accepted me for my quirky self. Nobody judged or anything. And that means a lot to me. I don’t always get along with women really well because I’m very logical and analytical, but you guys all totally just accepted me and it was wonderful. And y’all made this trip amazing.

Alina

This trip absolutely surpassed my expectations. Beyond, beyond. What I will take with me more than anything is each one of you, I have learned something and many somethings from each one of you on this trip, whether you realize it or not. And that’s what I take with me and into my life. Thank you.

Joy

Well this is not my first NextTribe trip, but I’ll have to say it’s been my favorite. For many reasons. One is truly the people. I had a feeling of coming home by being in this Arabic culture [after years living in Dubai] which was really good for me.

But my favorite activity was the camels. I just loved riding the camels. I’ve ridden them before but that was a 10-minute ride around the pyramids or five minutes here. But the amount of time we got on the camels–through the sand dunes–that was special.

Katie

I have to say at this age, you never know what you’re gonna get with 14 women. But what an incredible group.

it’s been an experience getting to meet all these different people. I’ve loved each thing that we did; each activity seemed like a different culture because there were so many different things we did–the Berbers, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, the camel ride. Everything was really cool and unique. The camel ride in the Sahara was a bucket list item for me. And then seeing the film of you guys sand surfing was pretty special.

I have to say at this age, you never know what you’re gonna get with 14 women. But what an incredible group.

Barbie

I agree with what these kind women said, and I’m sure with what each of the next women will say. But the important thing is: I rode a camel on my birthday!

Babs

[Waving her face.] I’m going to cry. I haven’t been able to get back to the mountains at home, but here I did. It’s been best. I mean, the people, the animals, the views, everything. It’s just been phenomenal. And all of you.

Vanessa

I think my favorite was the Berber people and the little villages we visited in the mountains. I wasn’t expecting that. I love the simple life. They were so welcoming. The bread and the tea and the oil welcoming us into their homes. That’s what sticks with me. The villages. I don’t like the city. I wanna go back to Village

Mary Lou

This is my third trip, so this was what I expected as far as camaraderie. Full rock. Yeah. But the Berber village was the first level of that humbling experience of people who don’t have the riches and the blessing that we have in our life opening their hearts and their homes to us. But the ultimate was the nomad family’s home. They had nothing, but they graciously served us hot baked bread–the best bread– and tea.

Peggy

I am living a dream. My parents could never imagine what I’m doing–seeing Africa. I came from very humble, blue collar family. The Berber Village, the nomadic family, the sense of community are what I’ll remember most. We have melded together and we all looked out for each other. Everyone helped each other. But still, when the nomad woman went into that tiny tent to make that fire, I had no idea she was making it to bake us the bread until she brought us the bread. It was overwhelming and loving.

Melanie

The lodge in the Berber village and that family that we visited, that was life changing.

I’m a wimp. [Pausing to wipe tears.] I thought I wanted to come to Morocco to see tile. That’s what I thought. I thought that was on my bucket list–to see landscaping and tile. But what did I know. I didn’t even know what kind of bucket list experience I was going to have. The lodge in the Berber village and that family that we visited, that was life changing. The camel was icing on the cake.

Lucie

It’s just been from the first moment to the last moment, the generosity of the Moroccan people. I mean the warmth and love and how everyone opened up their homes and their hearts and was welcoming and patient with us when we were walking in the wrong place or whatever. And just the kindness of the people was just so beautiful It’s just been a beautiful trip.

Jeannie

All of you. Truly, all of you. Thank you.