Morocco Adventure
Overland travel is by its nature adventurous. These are not regular package holidays. We aim to visit destinations and leave them as we have found them, respecting the culture and customs of the people that live there. The responsibilities and demands placed on our team are great and therefore a considerable number of skills and attributes are expected by us of our crew. These include having social skills to harmonise group dynamics, being a diplomat and ambassador, to being a mechanic and a qualified first aider. Respect and enthusiasm for this fascinating continent is an absolute must. On all expeditions the Tour Leader will have full responsibility for the safety of the passengers, the crew and the truck. He/she is therefore entitled to make any changes to the itinerary that he/she feels are necessary to achieve this.
Local Guides: Wherever possible we employ the services of local guides where we can benefit from their expert cultural and geographical knowledge.
The majority of passengers are 18 to 40, travelling with a partner, by themsleves or with a group of friends.
Accommodation
It is
primarily a camping expedition. You will be sharing a tent with one other
person. We will bush camp, as well as use campsites. 9 nights camping (1 night
in a Berber camp) and 5 nights’ hotel. All hotels are 2/3 star tourist class. You will need a high quality, compact sleeping bag for camping at high altitudes. You may also want to bring along a small trek pillow for added comfort.
Participation
Participation
is essential. A successful and smooth tour depends very much on
everyone taking part in the duties that arise i.e. cooking, vehicle
cleaning and food shopping. With this in mind your crew will organize
groups on a rotating roster. The most successful tours are those where
everyone becomes involved as much as possible. These are not luxury
tours, so join in! In the end the more you put in the more you get out.
Cooking and Food
When camping, cooking is usually done on a roster basis
with 2 - 4 people cooking each day. Gas burners and wood are used for cooking
and are supplied along with pots, baking trays, frying pans, woks, lighting,
campstools ect. Eating utensils are also
provided.
Group Size
There is a maximum of 26 people
Climate
Temperatures in Morocco are generally high, particularly during the summer months from May to September, when the sun can be fierce and temperatures are at industrial levels, so take sunscreen. However in the High Atlas it is very cold and some peaks can remain snow capped from November to July. You will need to pack plenty of warm clothing for the trek.
Altitude
An altitude of over 3,000 meters is defined as high altitude and altitude sickness is the biggest health risk for trekkers. People can experience differing degrees of symptoms, which include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath. Our treks are designed to ensure there is plenty of time for adequate acclimatisation and cases of mountain
sickness are rare. If you do suffer, symptoms will usually decrease in severity during acclimatization. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat carbohydrate food to keep the body properly hydrated. Please report any symptoms of altitude sickness immediately to your guide.
Currency
Currency
GBP£1.00 = MAD12
USD$1.00 = 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 USD $20 - $30 per day. We can’t specify every sundry cost however and you’ll 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 the ATM’s—most accept Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Cirrus and Maestro. There are ATM’s at Marrakech airport, which you can use upon arrival.
We recommend that passengers stay at our pre-departure hotel.
The Tarik Hotel
Route de Malabata
Tangier
TEL: (00212) 39340949
You
will be met by the Tour Leader at The Tarik Hotel at
6 P.M. on Day 1 of the Tour.
Please don’t miss it. If you are
unable to meet at this time please leave a note or message prior, or look at
reception for your crews details on how to meet up with the tour.Our first night will be spent at the Hotel
Tarik in shared rooms (3 people per room).
All tours in
Morocco end
after breakfast on the final day.
You should agree a price with a licensed (grande) taxi to take you to your accommodation - these can be shared and should cost approx 150 dirham. This cost (max 150 MAD per taxi) will be re-imbursed to you at the Hotel. If you are arriving by ferry, you should visit the Marco Polo office opposite the exit to the port. (700m to exit gate + 150m on RHS to office) The transfer to the hotel from here is already arranged and you don't need to pay. The ferry from Algeciras takes a few hours and costs 35 Euros each way. You should wait no longer than 1 hour at the Marco Polo office for your transfer, please let us know if it is longer. You MUST NOT pay any money to Marco Polo or petit taxi arranged by Marco Polo for your transfer. It is preferable to change your dirham at the Hhotel Tarik.
PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BY FERRY YOU WILL
NEED TO GET YOUR PASSPORT STAMPED ON THE VESSEL BEFORE YOU DIS-EMBARK.
Visas are not included in the tour price or recommended daily spending money. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the visas for your tour. Visa requirements do change at times so we advise you to check the current requirements before the commencement of your tour. Most visas must be used within 3 months (or less) from the date of issue so make sure you don’t apply for them too early. If you are doing a longer tour make sure your visa will be valid for the time when you are due to enter that country.
The following Countries do not need Visas: Australian, American, New Zealand, Canadian, French, German, Irish, British, Italian, Swiss, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Japanese
For current updates on visa information you can try the website www.visaproject.com
For information on the location of your nearest embassy or consulate we
recommend the following website:
www.yahoo.com/Government/Embassies_and_Consulates
**Visa information is correct at time of printing. However, requirements can change at short notice so please check with your relevant Visa office before departure.
Cultural awareness
We cannot emphasise enough that we are travellers and therefore guests. Although we ourselves might have different views, ideas, rules and morals, it is our duty to respect and adjust where possible to the people of the region we are visiting. Never throw pens / sweets out of the truck. It is very patronising! 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.