Morocco is different.
Ethnic diversity, colour and contrast creates a holiday destination for everyone,
whether you are a seasoned traveller, an adventurer, a trekker, a shopper,
a big city escapist, weary of your office, seek sunshine and smiling faces,
love to photograph, paint, dance, enjoy music, or simply want to feel the
warm sand on your feet and slow down to unwind.
As your holiday unfolds you will find yourself caught in Morocco’s splendor.
Wandering through the medina, you will hear the wail of the Muezzin calling
the faithful to prayer, and “balek! balek!”, the cry of adonkey
cart driver warning you out of their way. In the market, jewel colours of
indigo, saffron and henna dazzle in beautiful carpets. In Marrakech’s
Djemaa El Fna square you can dance with the bellydancers, have your fortune
told, pay a scribe to write a letter, watch the acrobats and be mesmerised
by the flute that charms the viper. Relax in a streetside cafe and taste exotic
spice in your food, and mint in your tea. Take care! Elegant ancient mosques
and minarets, opulent palaces and the stark beauty of the sunrise among towering
kasbahs in the Sahara desert are waiting for you.
In Sahara time
slows to the pace of your camel, softly shuffling across the dunes to the
oasis. Watch the moonrise, your world will fall away and you will be caught
in the aura of mystery that pervades this land. The desert nomads, like their
camels, are in no hurry. Where is there to go? The desert has a timeless quality
— go with it and you will begin to understand. Here is a land where
something forgotten lives on.
Can we invite you to join us and fall under the enchantment that is Morocco?
Who
Are We?
For more about us and Morocco Explored.
Clothing
In the cities of Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca etc. Moroccan men and women
often dress as they would on the streets of London or New York. However, outside
of the cities and especially in the rural villages, we recommend that you
follow the local tradition where both men and women cover themselves from
the knee (shorts or skirt) to the elbow (short-sleeved T-shirts). Loose, baggy
trousers are recommended for camel treks.
A fleece jacket or warm sweater, and long pants are needed for desert nights
outside of the summer months. For winter, a warm coat, a hat, gloves and wool
socks are essential. A windproof jacket is also essential for walking
treks in the desert or in the Atlas mountains.
Currency
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham. Morocco's currency is restricted
(you cannot sell Dirhams internationally) so you will need to convert your
own currency on arrival. Cash is recommended for initial conversion at the
airport, and although ATMs are readily available at airports and throughout
Moroccan cities, they occasionally run out of Dirhams when they are busy!
We recommend that you retain all receipts for cross-checking when you arrive
back home. Euros are generally accepted as payment as well. For more about
credit cards and aquiring cash see FAQ's.
Guides, Drivers
and Vehicles
Regulations govern guides, drivers and vehicles licensed to work with
tourists in Morocco. Each driver and vehicle has to be registered and
carry the associated permits. Both drivers and vehicles are checked twice
yearly before the touristic permit is renewed. Police checkpoints regularly
stop and check for the correct paperwork. We only use registered drivers who
are personally known to us. Guides are liscensed according to district
and activity: ie: mountain guides, Marrakech city guides, etc. They must have
a badge showing they are liscenced in the district. Because of this, as a
tourist you should hire a local guide if you wish to have a guided tour. They
will have up to date knowledge and personal experience of the site you are
visiting. Our drivers cannot act as a guide in most cases. Please
see FAQ's for more about tipping
Guides.
Environment
Morocco defies a simple description. It spans the Northwest corner of Africa
from the Rif mountains and the Mediterranean below Spain, south along the
Atlantic ocean. The High Atlas mountains divide the Sahara desert from the
fertile flat cental plains. We like to think of it as a country of cedar forests,
long Atlantic beaches, colourful markets, ancient medinas, sandy deserts,
bountiful vineyards, acres of olive, argan & orange trees, hedgerows filled
with wild flowers and herbs, exotic palmeries, snow capped mountains, and
deep river gorges. The climate invites visitors all year round for skiing,
surfing, wind surfing, golfing, river kayaking, cycling, trekking and more.
Please see weather below.
Morocco Explored runs most tours in the southern part of Morocco, in the delicate
desert environment and High Atlas mountains. We foster responsible tourism
and recommend that our guides do not leave rubbish anywhere, and respect the
environment with preservation of resources, flora and fauna, etc.
Please do not leave your own rubbish behind. Wherever possible please take
out whatever you bring in, (i.e.: empty shampoo containers, etc.). If you
go on a camel trek in the desert, there
are no disposal facilities. Please be environmentally aware and burn toilet
paper or carry it out for disposal. If you bury toilet paper in the desert
it will not decompose, and the wind eventually shifts the sand to expose it.
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Five
Pillars of Islam
Morocco is an Islamic country and its people are predominantly Muslims. As
a Muslim one is expected to;
1) take a declaration of faith;
2) pray 5 times a day facing Mecca;
3) fast from daybreak to sunset during the month of Ramadan;
4) give alms and be charitable;
5) visit Mecca once in your lifetime.
When you travel throughout Morocco you will witness the declaration of peoples
faith e.g. praying in the street or fasting during Ramadan. Many businesses
are closed during the daytime, but goes on as usual at night for a few hours
and Moroccans must keep working. Sometimes tempers and patience can be tested
during daylight hours when no smoking, food or water is consumed but overall,
people are very happy to be expressing their faith through fasting with strength
and dignity. It's an amazing time to come to Morocco and witness this most
important yearly festival of Islam. Please be respectful.
While you are
in Morocco you may be asked for alms. It is acceptable to give to those
genuinely in need i.e. the elderly. However, we strongly advise against giving
anything to children, including sweets. Please see FAQ's
for more about giving gifts and tips.
Food
and Drink
Moroccan cuisine is delicious and offers you traditional dishes such as harira
(tasty and nourishing bean soup traditionally served for breakfast), tagine
(succulent meat cooked with spices and vegetables in a conical shaped pot),
meschui (whole roasted sheep/goat), couscous, fresh salads and fruits, hot
steaming bread and other delicacies. Café au lait, or café "nous-nous'
with pastries is a popular pastime in the street side cafes and mint tea awaits
you wherever you go. Alcohol is permissible and can be purchased at supermarkets
and hotels (but may be unavailable during Ramadan).
Most food in Morocco is organically grown without pesticides and herbicides.
If you are invited to eat with a family, you will typically sit on the floor
and eat from a communal plate, placed in the middle of a small table - eat
with your right hand only. Utensils are not used although, as a visitor,
you are likely to be offered a spoon.
Vegetarian requests are understood and accommodated.
Hotel water in the cities is fine for washing and brushing teeth etc., but
we do not recommend that you drink quantities of tap or well water. Excellent
bottled mineral water is freely available.
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Health
and Safety
For liability please see Terms and Conditions.
Visit
your countries' travel advisory for Morocco.
Australia: http://www.dfat.gov.au/travel/
Canada:http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/index.asp
Great Britain: http://www.fco.gov.uk/
United States:
http://travel.state.gov/
Hotels/Accommodation
We have a list of links to Riads
booked regularly by our clients.
We offer accomodation in superbly renovated riads,
traditional kasbahs, desert auberge, and the
simplicity of a camel wool tent among the nomads.
Hotels are a matter of choice and fit every budget. Many of the unclassified
hotels are small (up to 12 rooms), clean and charming, often attached to a
lovely walled garden where breakfast
is served on a patio or terrace. The classified hotels are 1 star (simple)
to 5 star (pure indulgence), auberge, riad, and gite
d'tape.
Desert bivouacs
are traditional nomad carpeted tents with mattress, sheets and blankets. You
can shower at the auberge where you will also have breakfast.
Morocco Explored uses 3 star level hotels, but that said, there are many charming
auberge (small country inns) and boutique hotels we like to use. Stays include
breakfast and many include dinner. You will stay in traditional mud (Kasbah)
style buildings, many with wood burning fireplaces and salons or roof terraces
for taking meals. They are very charming and comfortable, or otherwise in
more modern hotels or equivalent. In Marrakech, Essaouira
and Fes we use small hotels renovated from old Merchant houses (riads) in
the old medina.
Immunisation
Professional medical advice for updating your shots should be obtained at
home before entering Morocco. Some shots take several weeks or longer to be
effective. Do not delay. See Health and Safety above
for travel advisories.
Insurance
Travel insurance should be obtained before leaving your country of origin.
Local hospitals have limited diagnostic capability. Foreign clinics are extensive
but can be expensive, so buying some travel
insurance is recommended.
Languages
In this former French colony English is spoken as the 3rd or 4th language
after Arabic, Berber and French. Alongside Arabic and French, English is now
taught in schools.
Myths about
Morocco
Films, fiction and images often depict Morocco as a Middle Eastern (Asian)
country covered by sand and inhabited by dark, blue-robed men who lure you
to their tent to offer an exchange of gold or women for camels. Although anything
seems possible in Morocco, a more accurate description should include an hospitable
North African tribal people who delight in sharing their culture of fine cuisine,
exotic music, exquisite crafts, and fascinating history.
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People of Morocco
The original occupants of Morocco are collectively known as the (4) Berber
tribes, but over time parts of modern-day Morocco have been occupied by Arabs,
Phoenicians, Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Portuguese, and Nomadic peoples
of Sahara.
Moroccans are a naturally curious and hospitable people who are intrigued
by the outside world. They delight in welcoming you into their home, which
could be a black wool tent (Atlas and desert regions), a traditional flat-roofed
building made of mud and straw (pise), or a medina villa (riad).
For more in-depth information please visit http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/morocco/
Policies
When
you choose Morocco Explored, you will be supporting many Moroccan partners
and guides, as our work is diversified among many regions and families unlike
some other tour operators who work exclusively within their own family. We
take advantage of local knowledge and wisdom. We choose to respect, on every
level, the unparalleled diversity within Morocco. See also Who
Are We? and FAQs.
We foster Carbon
Neutral travel and responsible tourism; respecting nature, the environment
and culture. We also contribute to
Just
Giving/Morocco, a Moroccan NGO starting to build and run boarding houses
near secondary education colleges to allow young women from disadvantaged
rural families to continue their education beyond the Primary level.
Politics
Morocco is a moderate democratic Islamic kingdom that is open-minded, peace
loving, and tolerant. Since 9-11 English-speaking visitors have continued
to visit Morocco and have always been welcomed with warmth and typical Moroccan
hospitality. The September 2003 and May 2007 attacks in Casablanca are rare
events and retribution was swift for the offending terrorists. Foreign Embassies
advise that caution should be taken in public places when political situations
arise, such as with protest marches, etc. as is prudent anywhere.
Sahara Desert
We are often asked if it is safe to travel into the Sahara and the answer
is 'Yes'! (See
also FAQs.)
For many the desert is the highlight of their trip. We will
transport you to the Erg Chebbi sand sea. You will not need a Land Rover or
a camel to access the dunes and enjoy the ever-changing colours of this remarkable
landscape, especially at sunset.
The Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga
are the highest in Morocco and climbing them is an exhilarating experience
- just remember to always carry a bottle of water with you.
For those whose dream is to wander the desert like a nomad and sleep under
the stars at an oasis deep in the dunes, you might want to experience a camel
trek. For those wanting to enjoy the tranquillity of the desert without
travelling by camel, we can arrange for a nomad tent camp. Alternately, you
can enjoy the comfort of an en-suite room just minutes walk to the dunes.
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Shopping
Shopping in Morocco can be an challenge rather than a casual pass-time. A
visit to the souk* (a market consisting of hundreds of tiny
shops), will mean sharing a glass of mint tea with the merchants, while you
examine the variety and quality of the craftsmanship and haggle for a bargain,
all this takes time. Enjoy, it can be a lot of fun.
Please note that it is considered inappropriate to offer money (or anything else to anyone) with your left hand.
*A souk is a market in which you can find almost anything, including
locally grown/made products.
The larger cities have hip and sophisticated shops that sell clothing, electronics
and jewellery etc., much of it imported from Europe. There are also shopping
centres that sell brand-name food, pharmaceuticals and household goods. But
more often you will buy from the local merchants for daily essentials such
as mineral water (eau mineral), toilet paper, shampoo, chocolate and liquor
stors, etc.
Our guides watch over our clients to avoid any illegal occurrences as outlined in the Geneva Convention for acquiring cultural property or endangered species. Also, we strongly discourage our clients from purchasing anything that compromises wild populations of plants or animals. See also FAQ's.
Support
Staff
We employ local people whenever possible (muleteers, camel handlers, drivers,
guides, guest house owners in the mountains). See also FAQ's.
Tailor-made
Tours
Tours can be tailor-made, costs vary according to length, choice
of hotels, the distances covered etc. For tour options click on Book
a Tour below. For more information, please contact
us.
Trains and
Buses - ONCF, Supratours, CTM bus
See schedules and information website links.
Visas
Visa requirements are country-dependent. Contact your home government office
or embassy for details. Usually an entry visa for 3 months is granted by Morocco
upon arrival.
Weather
Forecasts
for
Morocco cities.
What's it going to be like? In a nutshell, hot in summer, warm
in spring and fall, cool to cold in winter. The truth is it can vary immensely
depending on where you are. Northern Morocco including Tangier, Fez
and the Atlantic coast down to Casablanca has a pleasant Mediterranean climate,
and does get more rain than the rest of Morocco.
The Sahara is dry and can be cold at night and very! cold in the winter,
with pleasant sunny to hot daytimes. Flash thunder storms can be spectacular.
Sand storms and mud rains occasionally happen. The further south you go it
will get hotter. The Atlantic coast has a steady year round temperatures
resembling pleasant summer weather, but can be windy.
The High Atlas mountains offer relief from Marrakechs hot summer, with
pleasant daytime summer temperatures and cooler nights. The mountains experience
4 seasons, with a full winter with deep snow falling some years, making it
a unique destination for skiing. Snow packs can stay on the mountains until
mid-June. So be prepared for anything in the mountains.
January and February can be quite cold in the mountains and in the desert, especially at night this time of year. But there are few tourists, and sunny warm days in Marrakech contrasting with snowy High Atlas in the distance is otherworldly.
What to Bring
See recommended clothing.
Matches or a lighter.
Medical Supplies (e.g. prescription drugs, painkillers, plasters)
Moisturiser/lip balm with sun block 15 or higher.
Rubbish bags for trekking
Sarong — useful as a towel too
Sleeping bag or warm liner for mountain/camel treks in the winter months (Nov-Feb)
Sunscreen SPF 15 or higher
Toilet Paper (buy in Morocco)
Torch/Flashlight
Towel (Moroccan hotels don't always provide towels)
Walking Shoes (lightweight) and sandals.
Wet-wipes
Zip Lock style baggies (lots) for just about everything.
Also click the link Shopping
For more information click on the icons across the top of this page. FAQ's also has important information about visiting Morocco.
Contact
Telephone
Morocco:
GSM: +212 6246 1598 / +212 6770 5212
Telephone
inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 6246 1598 / 0 6770 5212
Telephone
Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715
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12
Good Things About Morocco
How
Moroccans are different from you and me.
Good News!
Morocco is cleaning up cities and towns by contracting a Spanish refuse collection service. New green and white trucks are collecting trash daily from covered receptacles everywhere. Street cleaners are now paid well, and have new green and white uniforms, new brooms and carts. This is especially good news for the cities air quality and CO2 emissions. Prior to this the only other alernative was to burn excess trash on the streets!
Wind Power
Anyone who visited Essaouira is familiar with the popularity of sail boarding on the Atlantic, and now Morocco has built a huge wind farm south of the city in Sidi Kaouki. The power lines go directly to power up the sizzling night life in Marrakech.
Rights for Women
Moroccan parliament has passed new laws governing family rights and matters of personal identity. Morocco's women are now among the most emancipated in the Arabian world. King Mohammed VI is widely seen as Morocco's biggest champion of women's rights. More...
Marhaba!
Morocco welcomed 2.26 million tourists between January and May 2007, up 7% over the same period last year. Marrakech remains the country's most popular destination, and the number of visitors there increased by 12%. French citizens topped the list of tourists with 873,000, followed by Spaniards (479,000), Brits (175,000), Belgians (96,000), Italians (95,000) and Germans (91,000).
Real Premonition
A critically acclaimed Moroccan-American film produced in the Hollywood style has come to Morocco. Real Premonition tells the story of a young Moroccan who finds trouble when he moves to the United States. Moroccan cinemas recently began screening the first feature-length film by young director and producer Ziad Ahmed. The film earned Ahmed the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association.
Echo of the Atlas
Rayssa Fatima Tabaamrant is a traditional female singer from southern Morocco, who performs in town squares, bars or weddings, and whose lyrics deal with anything from local to international affairs or social issues of the day. The Guardian calls her new recording Echo of the Atlas "exhilarating, an astonishingly rousing performer, with a declamatory style and the ability to improvise her sounds like a traditional answer to great blues or rock." Wow! Backed by a stomping band using hand drums, cymbals made from car-wheel rims, lutes and fiddles, she tears into this live set with a 15-minute track that constantly changes direction and ends up as a furious workout against a driving, insistent riff from her musicians.
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