8 Day Marrakech & Sahara

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
• Sleeping bag required for November - April departures

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: Marrakech

Welcome to Morocco! Following your transfer from the airport to our joining hotel in the heart of Marrakech, make the most of your first day and explore the souks and Djemaa El Fna (the legendary main square). Be sure to be at the hotel for the pre-departure meeting at 6pm where you will meet your fellow travellers.

Day 2: Gorge Du Dades

Leaving Marrakech, we venture through the Gorges du Dades, a stunning valley which extends from the High Atlas to the Jebel Sahro range in the south. Berbers built many Kasbahs in the vicinity of gorges for defense purposes and these, combined with its natural beauty make this area a fitting backdrop to the start of your adventure!

Day 3: Todra Gorge

This morning brings the opportunity to explore the Gorge du Dades, walking through the foothills and the local villages and getting a feel for the area. After lunch we head east and discover the charm of the Todra Gorge with its plunging depths to its 300m high cliffs. Witness its changing colour, from bright yellow under the mid day sun to orange and red as the sun slowly moves from east to west. Here you can enjoy optional rock climbing (in summer) or just chill out and enjoy the view! Later we visit the village co-operative where you can see and buy authentic, Berber, handmade rugs, kilims and carpets.

Day 4: Sahara Desert - Berber Camp

We leave Todra and make our way across the Jebel Sahro towards Erg Chebbi where magnificent sand dunes signal the start of the Sahara Desert. En route, we stop for a swim and some lunch before arriving at Merzouga where we leave our vehicle and take a camel trek into the desert to a Berber camp. Savour the quiet majesty of the desert and enjoy every moment of this highlight of your Moroccan adventure. This evening, enjoy local food and a night under the Saharan stars. To seal this as an experience of a life time, surf the Sahara Desert and try Dune Boarding!

Day 5: Ouarazazate

We leave the Sahara Desert and continue our adventure through the Draa Valley along the route of 1,000 Kasbahs. This area boasts a beautiful landscape dotted with untouched villages that preserve that sense of times past where you can witness villagers going about their daily routine. We venture on to Ouarzazate, which African traders once used as a resting place on their journeys up to Europe which makes sense as it is an intersection, triangulated by the Atlas, Draa and Dades Valleys. This areas appeal is best conveyed through its use as a film set for many great films - The Last Temptation of Christ, The Living Daylights and, more recently, Gladiator. We make it in time for a swim which leaves you refreshed and ready to explore the centre.

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou

This morning, the adventure continues as we head for Aït Benhaddou, a 'fortified city', situated along the former caravan route between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. En route, choose from optional quad biking or a visit to the film studio. We then travel over the High Atlas mountains on our way to Marrakech. On a hill along the Ouarzazate River we find Aït Benhaddou. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it boasts great examples of Kasbahs, some of which remain inhabited.

Day 7: Marrakech

Glowing red, like a welcoming campfire, against the snow capped High Atlas Mountains, the very name Marrakech conjures up images of a mysterious, distant city; magic carpets and snake charmers; frankincense and myrrh brought in by camel trains. Explore the medina with its rose-coloured walls and tangle of winding streets and bustling souks. The focal point is the central square, the Djemâa-el-Fna, an extraordinary gathering and market place, full of colour, spicy aromas and traders. It is best seen in the evening when overflowing with food stalls, dancers, acrobats, fortune tellers, musicians and henna artists – a great place to practice your bargaining skills! Towering over all this is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest building in the city, and a reminder of the importance of Islam to the lives of the city's residents. Try a traditional hammam, a steam bath followed by an exfoliating massage – it's the ideal end to the day as your adventure holiday comes to an end.

Day 8: Marrakech

The tour ends after breakfast in Marrakech