Rolling hills and river towns in Northern Kentucky may not reveal miles of sand dunes stretching into the sea. However, one local woman, Nancy Yee, has silently worked behind the scenes to create a cultural bridge connecting Northern Kentucky’s rolling hills to the sun-kissed Sahara Desert of Morocco.
Yee, founder of Open Doors Morocco, LLC, based in Edgewood, has spent over ten years guiding American and European travelers to Morocco. She focuses on authentic experiences, often arranging visits to living rooms, kitchens and mountain villages.
However, before she guided travelers across Morocco, she grew up in rural Indiana.
Raised in Roachdale, Indiana, she graduated from North Putnam Junior-Senior High School, where her graduating class numbered only 86 students. She then attended the University of Kentucky and earned a degree in elementary education. Afterward, she completed a graduate program in education and community clinical counseling in Cincinnati. Her early career included working in classrooms and in educational publishing, fields she says helped shape her understanding of culture, human development and connection.
Yee’s educational background later shaped her approach to tourism. Instead of a transactional business customer relationship, her company prioritizes creating genuine connections, giving clients an authentic experience with the people and culture.
Her turning point came in 2014 during a visit to a friend in Morocco. What began as a simple trip quickly became something more — an entry into a completely new life — a new life in a different country.
“I love this country. I love the people,” said Yee.
She maintained contact with her original Moroccan guide, who accompanied her on her first visit. After leaving Morocco, she discovered what she calls systemic issues in the tourism industry.
“Most companies are not even legal,” she said. “Drivers aren’t paid fairly. They survive on commissions from tourist shops.”
Unwilling to support that model, she and her Moroccan partner Raseed — who guided Nancy on her first trip — created a legally compliant U.S.-based company. This company contracts with a Moroccan transport firm and emphasizes fair wages, local sourcing, and authentic community experiences, with a special focus on empowering women and single mothers.
“We provide amazing experiences for foreigners while paying fair wages,” she said. “Responsible tourism is huge for us.”
Open Doors Morocco, LLC usually takes 10 to 14 days to guide travelers from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains and south to the Sahara Desert near Merzouga. Guests enjoy cooking traditional meals, hiking in villages, and occasionally sharing dinner at a local host’s home.
“People aren’t getting dragged around to tourist traps,” she said. “They’re getting authentic, real experiences.”
Her client base, mainly Americans, Canadians and Australians, has steadily expanded through referrals and social media. A notable partnership with The Giving Lens, which involved photographers teaching children in Moroccan villages, stands out. This collaboration also had a personal impact on her life: she met her future husband, Australian photographer Andy, during one of these tours.
As demand increases, she is broadening her destinations to include Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Portugal, while Morocco remains her primary focus.
“I basically go by what people say they want to do,” she said. “But the heart of it will always be Morocco.”
Although her tours take place thousands of miles away, she emphasizes that her core work is rooted in Northern Kentucky. Her experience in education and counseling influences how she equips travelers for authentic cultural exchanges.
“When people from here experience another culture deeply, it changes how they see the world,” she said. “And that always comes back home with them.”
