15 Day Morocco Encompassed

Here are a few more details to help you before you start your trip - where it starts, how to get there, visa information and a few other handy hints. If you would like to hear the views of past passengers or meet fellow travellers, then log-on to Chatabout our online forum and get all the info you need to plan your adventure.

Joining points in Morocco

Meet at the Hotel Le Grand Imilchil, Marrakech, at 6pm for a pre departure get together. Please try to come along as it is important to meet your Guide and group and be given a briefing on the itinerary for your trip.

Hotel le Grand IMILCHIL,
Av. Echouhada Hivernage,
Marrakech Gueliz Central.
Tel: 05.24.44.76.53

In order to arrange an arrival transfer from the airport to the hotel, please fill out the passenger data details at the bottom of the 'my details' section of your MyTrip if you are arriving on the departure date of the tour or if arriving before and have pre tour accommodation reserved with us for arrival dates.

Pre/Post Accommodation and Single Supplements

These can be arranged and paid for in one easy click online. Go to the 'Add-on' section on MyTrip by logging in with your client reference to book extra nights in Marrakesh before or after your tour, or upgrade to a single private room throughout the tour (with the exception of the Bedouin Camp).

General Information Morocco

Before you go here are a few important bits of information.

Visas & permits

Visas are not required for British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, US and other EU nationals for a stay of up to 3 months. Please ensure your passport is valid for six months after your return date and that you get your passport stamped upon entry into Morocco. All other nationalities should contact the Moroccan embassy for details. Visas are your responsibility. Make sure you are sorted before you travel.

Vaccinations

It is recommended that you are vaccinated for Tetanus and Polio, if you have not had a booster in the last ten years. Food and waterborne diseases are more common, so we recommend vaccinations for typhoid (valid 3 years) and Hepatitis A (validity varies). Morocco is not a high risk malaria area but if in any doubt please consult a physician or travel clinic for further information.

Travel insurance

All our passengers must be fully insured for travel in Morocco. It is essential that you get the correct level of cover and it is advised that you speak to your travel insurance provider for advice. Please ensure that the policy provides adequate cover for hospital treatment, repatriation flights home in the event of you being too ill to continue the tour, personal accident, personal baggage and associated valuables. Please note that some optional activities may require additional cover. You must bring the policy with you as it is obligatory for joining any expedition.

Luggage

Pack all your gear in a rucksack/backpack for this type of trip. Also bring a daypack, to keep personal items such as your wallet, camera and water bottle. Your rucksack/ backpack must not have an exterior frame. Only the soft, flexible variety is permitted. Leave your suitcase at home, they are simply not practical. Luggage is limited to 20kgs. Pack sensibly and take garments that are comfortable and cool. Morocco can be very hot in summer but after the sun sets and at high altitudes, the temperatures can drop, so pack accordingly.

A sleeping bag is required from November - April.

What to bring

• Towel
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Torch and batteries
• Camera
• Mosquito repellent
• Water bottle
• Personal first aid kit, antiseptic gel and wipes
• Waterproof/wind proof jacket
• Two spare passport photos and a photocopy of your passport

Currency (Jan 2011)

GBP1.00 = MAD13
USD1.00 = MAD9
EUR1.00 = MAD11

MAD = Moroccan Dirham, rates are subject to fluctuation. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes in major towns and most banks have ATMs. How much spending money is needed depends largely on the individual. We currently recommend an average of €20 - €30 per day. We cannot specify every cost however and you will need to allow for expenses such as drinks, snacks and the odd souvenir. Travellers Cheques can be difficult to change en route so we recommend you have cash for convenience and bring a card to use in ATMs. Most accept Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Cirrus and Maestro. There are ATMs in the main civic centres throughout Morocco.

Local prices

Mineral water (local brand, 500ml or 1L) MAD15
Meal for 2 (starter, main and a beer in a local restaurant) MAD50-100
Beer (local brew Efes - 330-500ml approx) MAD20
Chocolate bar (local brand) MAD5-10

Climate

Temperatures in Morocco are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, so take sunscreen.

Cultural awareness

We cannot emphasise enough that we are travellers and therefore guests. It is our duty to respect and adjust where possible to the people of the region. Your Tour Leader will also brief you on environmental matters.

Religious awareness

Morocco is predominantly Muslim and as such, we would ask all of our customers to respect and adhere to (when appropriate) the dress codes of the Islamic faith. This entails covering of shoulders and knees.

Nomadic Expeditions

All our Morocco Trips are operated by our local partners Nomadic .Nomadic Expeditions are members of Survival which campaigns for the rights of tribes people through out the world. We also donate to the Ait Ouham Association for Development, a local organisation in the Atlas Mountains that seeks to improve lives through education.

Free time Morocco

All optional excursions to be paid locally.

• Rock Climbing in Todra Gorge – 1 hour (MAD250) / 2 hours (MAD390)
• Marrakech Hamman – Starts from MAD150
• Marrakech Hot Air Balloon ride plus Camel Trek and Land rover excursion (MAD2000)
• Ouarzazate Movie Studio Visit - 30 mins (MAD50)
• Marrakech Ourika Valley Activities
• The following Ourika Valley activities are dependent on local river conditions and a decision will be made at the time as to what is possible
  > Canyoning – All year round – half day (MAD660)
  > Tubing – Approx. Nov-Dec & Apr-May – half day (MAD660)
  > Rafting – Approx. Jan-Mar – half day (MAD660)

Optional activities available on 8 Day Adventure only

• Quad Biking Ouarzazate – 2 hours (MAD590) / 2 pax for 2 hours (MAD690)

Optional activities available 15 Day Adventure only

• Quad biking Essaouira – 2 hours (MAD590) / 2 pax for 2 hours (MAD690)
• Fes evening dinner and entertainment – 6th evening of tour (MAD250)
• Horse riding Essaouira – 1 hour (MAD250) / 2 hours (MAD300) / 3 hours (MAD390)

Day 1: Arrive Marrakech

Welcome to Morocco! An arrival transfer from Marrakech airport is included. Be sure to arrive in time for your pre-departure meeting at 6pm. Tonight we enjoy a traditional dinner in the famous Djemma El Fna square, before spending the first night at our pre-expedition hotel.

Day 2: Rabat

This morning we travel up to Casablanca, made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the film of the same name. We will visit the stunning Hassan II mosque (optional), which has the tallest minaret and the third largest mosque in the world - it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. We then head straight to Rabat to enjoy the evening atmosphere of Morocco's capital city.

Day 3: Meknes

We will spend the morning in Morocco's capital city Rabat to visit Oudaia Kasbah, Hassan tower, the Royal palace and Chellah. After lunch we will move on to the third of our Imperial cities, Meknes, to enjoy some free time.

Day 4: Chefchaouen

En route to Chefchaouen, we take a tour of the Roman ruins at Volubilis, the largest ancient site of Morocco. UNESCO-listed, the site dates back to 40AD and once ruled the entire Roman province of Mauritania. Then on to Chefchaouen - a haven of peace and tranquility. High up in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen boasts a beautiful blue door and white-walled medina that was originally a Berber post. The main square is the heart of Chefchaouen, with the Kasbah, central mosque and cafes. The busy market is a mix of traditional Moroccan and tourist fare.

Day 5 - 6: Fes

After a morning of free time to explore the beautiful Chefchaouen, we head to the bustling, imperial and ancient city of Fes this afternoon, the oldest and largest medieval city in the world. Its medina is a heady mix of aromas, sounds and sights. To navigate, follow one of the five, themed tourist circuits. There are plenty of mosques and palaces to visit, but be aware that only Muslims can enter mosques in Morocco. After Day 6 exploring dye-pits, tanneries and restaurants, we return to our hotel to get ready for an optional night of Moroccan entertainment and food at a restaurant in town.

Day 7: Medelt

This morning we journey over the Moyen Atlas to stop at Midelt. This is a beautiful alpine area. Surrounded by huge pine trees and a tranquil mountain setting, this is a great spot to cool down and relax after the hustle and bustle of Fes. We will enjoy a small hike in the afternoon. We spend the night in this mountain location.

Day 8: Sahara Desert

Today we enjoy a stunning drive rewarded by a fantastic Moroccan lunch and an afternoon relaxing and swimming. It is now time to head towards the desert and Merzouga, where we transfer to camels for a trek into the desert for a night at our Berber Camp. We enjoy local food, music and an amazing night out under the Saharan stars.

Day 9: Todra Gorge

Leaving the desert, we move on to Todra Gorge.This 1,000ft gorge is hemmed in on all sides by vertical limestone cliffs and is also called Morocco's Grand Canyon. There's time to explore the gorge, from its plunging depths to dizzying heights. The charm of Todra lies in its changing colours as the sun slowly moves from east to west.

Day 10: Ait Benhaddou

Leaving the impressive Todra Gorge we make the short journey to Gorge du Dades in the Dades valley, a green and fertile valley by the Dades River that flows through it giving life to a huge variety of colourful fruit and nut trees and extraordinary red rock formations. We will lunch here then on to Ait Benhaddou for a tour of the famous Kasbah, where Lawrence of Arabia was once filmed.

Day 11-12: Essaouira

Today's drive is truly stunning as we traverse the high Atlas Mountains on our way to Essaouira. A colourful fishing town situated within 15th century Portuguese fortifications, where great beaches and surf beckon. Relax on the beach or alternatively explore the UNESCO-listed medina with its various souks and woodcarving workshops. Any city gate leads to the Medina, so you're unlikely to get lost. The beach is in front of the Medina and there are plenty of cafés with terraces, both ideal for relaxing for a few hours. Blue doors and window frames abound as do the artists shops – buy a carpet or Thuya wood carving or sit on the beach sipping a mint tea as the sun sets, an antidote to the bustle of the Imperial cities.

Day 13-14: Marrakech

We take the new highway back to Marrakech, the final one of Morocco's four Imperial cities we visit on this tour. Marrakech set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Its great pride and landmark is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. No visit to the city is complete without a visit to the city's UNESCO-listed medina and Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place.

Day 15: Marrakech

Your adventure tour ends after breakfast or start straight onto one of our 4 day Add-ons!