Organisation

  Travel composition

• 3 to 12 participants assisted by an English-speaking Moroccan guide

• mules to transport equipment and luggage

• Moroccan mule and camel drivers and cooks

• minibus, large taxi or four wheel drive depending on the number of participants

ACCOMPANIMENT

• The staff Guides

  • For all our hikes we have professional Moroccan guides who speak fluent English.

  • 1985 regulations require that they be trained in the High Atlas Tabant training centre for mountain professions. Once graduated, they choose their specialisation. They thoroughly know all our itineraries and essential safety rules. Natives of the regions we go through, they all have family or friends there and will always find shelter in case of rain or sandstorm, or just to meet a family and drink traditional mint tea.
    
     

• ... and cooks

  • We must mention the cooks’ talents (also trained at the school of Tabant). They will make, specially for you, excellent “tajines” and delicious “couscous”.

  • During our family tours they will carefully prepare your children’s favourite meals (pasta, pancakes, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes....)

    • Please note : at the end of a hike it is usual to give the staff a tip-in an envelope- to the staff. The amount is up to you and depends on how satisfied you are. That envelope will be given to the guide who will share the money fairly with the rest of the team.

ACCOMODATION

• Two participants will be lodged in a Ferrino type tent which sleeps 2/3 with individual foam mattresses, and individual covers.

• The logistics: a tent for the kitchen, a large Berber tent for dining and entertainment. During certain trips, participants will be lodged at local family homes. Accommodation is simple but clean.

Meals and provisions

• Copious Breakfast

• Snacks (almonds, hazelnuts and figs) during the walks

• Midday picnic (various salads and fresh fruit)

• Mint tea and snacks on arrival at each stopover.

• In the evening a hot meal (chorba, harira, tajine, couscous,kebabs) prepared by a Moroccan cook.

• Meals for children will be adapted.

  Maximum provisions are brought from the beginning of the trip and are carried by mules or camels.
  Depending on daily needs, fresh products are bought from the local population of the region (chicken, eggs, vegetables, bread, etc…)

  Luggage contents

We would recommend that you separate your luggage into 2 bags: a travel bag and a small backpack.

• Travel bag or sailor’s bag or large back pack.

  • This is the bag which will handed over on the plane. During the hike; it will be carried by the mules or the camels.

  • The weight of this bag shouldn’t exceed 20kg; we ask you to respect this weight limit.

• Equipment and clothes to be put in the travel bag (suggested list)

  • Sleeping bag

  • Fitted sheet and small pillow (if needed)

  • Cloth hat or cheche

  • Cotton t-shirts or shirts

  • Jumper or polar jumper (evenings get quite chilly)

  • Rain jacket or rain coat

  • Light hiking trousers

  • A pair of trousers or a pair of jeans

  • One or two cotton Bermuda shorts

  • Underwear and socks

  • One pair of old sport shoes for wet areas or to use during our stopovers

  • Good pair of hiking shoes + sandals for the desert
     

• Other items

  • Belt, pair of shoe laces, needle and thread

  • Sun glasses, sun cream and moisturizer, lip cream

  • Small luggage lock if there is none on the travel bag

  • Towel, hand towel, a box of wipes

  • Biodegradable soap and shampoo

  • Toilet bag and first aid travel kit

  • Pocket knife and tweezers

  • Pocket or forehead torch with batteries and extra light bulbs

  • Toilet paper and lighter (to be burnt after use)
     

• Small backpack

  • For your camera and films, your sunglasses, pocket or forehead lamp, sun cream, tissues, personal medication, water bottle, lighter, toilet paper, etc…

  • The cabin bag should not contain any sharp or pointy objects such as knives, scissors.

 PORTERAGE

• The mules or camels carry all the logistics and your travel bags.

• They could also carry any hiker who gets tired.

• As for young children, we recommend that you ask for a carrying animal.

HEALTH

• There is no need for any particular training to be able to do our hikes. Nevertheless you would have to be in good physical shape. No vaccination is necessary.

• During the hike it is preferable to be autonomous and to bring a first aid kit (see list below).
  Systematically purify water whatever the place of supply or the season. Contrary to this do not be afraid to drink the tea as the water has been boiled and therefore is safe.

• The best precaution is prevention.

• From the first symptom of a tummy ache or any digestive problem, a can of coke will certainly make you feel better as a first remedy.

• List of recommended medication

  • Wide action antibiotic (such as amoxicilline)

  • Eye drops-Nasal disinfectant-Antiseptic cream-Skin disinfectant (chlorehexidne)

  • Band aids for blisters

  • Plasters (Micropore)

  • Arnica cream

  • Bandages

  • Elastic adhesive bandage

  • Water purifying pills

  • Pain killer : Paracetamol-Diclofenac

  • For cramps :Quinine+thiamine

  • For tiredness : Dextrose tablets

  • For diarrhoea : Imodium, Nifuroxaside

ENVIRONMENT

• Burn all biodegradable rubbish and bury the residue. The rest must be put in a bag and left at specific places where it will be collected.

• Respect cultivation and flora.

• Do not pollute the water of the wells, that is all that nomads have to survive (have biodegradable soap and shampoo).

  PHOTOS

• It is very important to obtain permission from the people that you would like to photograph. Refuse to take the photograph if payment is asked for, to avoid all possible problems.

  GIFTS

• Only to be given if there is an exchange, for instance when one is invited to drink a cup of tea in a tent or a house; “good conscience” gifts are absolutely welcomed. You must not offer any alcohol.

• If you wish to leave any medication it would be preferable to give it to your guide at the end of your trip, as he knows to whom it should be given to. The same applies for any school stationery, which should be given to the local teachers.

• However, you can take clothes that you no longer wear and give them to your guide or the muleteers.

Entering the country

• To enter Morocco, your passport must be valid for six months as of the date of entry.

• No visa is needed for European Union citizens.

  • Passeport en cours validité à la date de votre retour.

  • Pas de visa pour les ressortissants de la CEE

  Customs

We must remind you that it is prohibited to bring in or take out Moroccan currency.

Visitors can take into the country temporarily and without any formalities all personal objects and things in quantities required for their tourist stay.

• There are regulations for:

  • Alcohol (2 bottles per adult) and cigarettes (200 cigarettes per adult)

  • Hunting weapons and ammunition (50 cartridges per rifle)

  • Professional photographic equipment, but no limitations for private use

Purchases

Morocco is one of the few countries that still has an authentic craft industry and has managed to orientate it towards the European taste.

• The main objects to bring back with you would be :

  • silver or gold jewellery, antique arms, wooden furniture, embroideries, pottery, rugs, leatherwork, basketwork, brassware, metalwork

  • a large range of spices.

• Bargaining : Don’t be paranoid that people want to try to cheat you all the time. Negotiate with humour and coolness. However once agreed on a price, keep your word.

MONEY

• The Moroccan currency is the dirham (Dh), which is divided into 100 centimes. It is prohibited to bring in or take out Moroccan currency.

• 10 dirhams are worth just under one euro.

Time difference

• Morocco is on GMT/UTC. So Morocco is on the same time as London.