Useful tips
Entry Requirements:
A valid passport is needed. No visa is necessary for British & EU passports holders. For other nationalities, it is advisable to contact the Moroccan embassy in London.
Useful Contact :
- Moroccan Embassy: 49 Queen’s Gate Gardens, London SW7 5NE. Tel: 020 7581 5001
- Moroccan National Tourist Office : 205 Regent Street , London W1B 4HB Tel: 020 7437 0073 - Fax: 020 7734 8172. Email: mnto@morocco-tourism.org.uk -www.visitmorocco.com
- Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) - 1 rue des Fossés-St-Bernard, 75005 Paris - Tel : 01.45.20.22.58 - Site : www.imarabe.org
- Royal Air Maroc : 205 Regent Street , London W1B Tel: 020 7439 4361 www.royalairmaroc.com
- Airport & flight information from BAA : http://www.baa.co.uk/
- Traveling by train: www.oncf.ma
- Traveling in and around Morocco by coach: www.ctm.co.ma
Recommended reading before and during your trip
Guide Books:
- Time Out Marrakech Lonely Planet ,
- Morocco Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook by Dan Bacon
Fiction :
- Tahar Ben Jelloun “The Sand Child”,
- Mahi Binebine “Welcome to Paradise ”
- Paul Bowles “The Sheltering Sky”
- Peter Mayne “A year in Marrakesh ”
Moroccan Press Review :
Climate and Time Differences:
- Marrakech from 18 to 24°C in autumn and winter and between 22 and 35°C in spring and summer.
- In the mountains and desert, the daytime and nighttime variations can be much greater according to the time of year (more details upon booking http://www.metoffice.com/ or http:www.meteoconsult.fr)
- Winter: - GMT (same time as the UK ), Summer: - GMT (1 hour behind UK time)
Health
No vaccinations are required for Marrakech, although inoculation against Hepatitis is advisable. Make sure you bring anti-diarrhoea capsules such as Imodium and play safe by avoiding tap water. Chemists are plentiful and well stocked with major medication brands. They are marked with a green cross and/or a green crescent.
Morocco does not have reciprocal health care agreements with other countries so taking out your own personal medical insurance is advisable.
For more information, visit the website For more information, visit the website:
Pharmacy
The guide will have basic First Aid medication available during the trek.
It is advisable to take a small first-aid kit with you including a remedy for stomach upsets, vitamin C/energy boosters, eye lotion, especially if you wear contact lenses, water purifying tablets (micropur or Hydroclonazone) If you are diabetic, or suffer from vertigo, heart problems , asthma, epilepsy or some other condition which you think we or your leader should know about, then please advise us in writing. Your insurance company must also be made aware.
What to Bring :
- A good sleeping bag: (for normal use 0 to -5°C in half season and 0 to +5°C in the summer). A sheet sleeping bag
- A small rucksack to carry your day pack (water, camera & films, sun lotion, etc)
- A flashlight (a head torch is practical) with spare batteries.
- Warm clothes for the evening in the mountains and desert
- A pair of sunglasses and a good strong sun lotion for skin & lips.
- A pair of walking boots.
- An old pair of trainers or sandals for walking through water.
- Several pairs of socks, in mixed wool preferably.
- Energy bars (if you want some as they are not available in Morocco )
- A knife, useful in many occasions
- Your personal First Aid kit (see Health & Pharmacy heading)
- Earplugs
- A lighter to burn refuse
- Toilet bag (if possible use product bio degradable)
- Facial wipes (very practical where water is scarce)
- Toilet rolls
Dimensioned clothing :
Comply with local Dress code (cover shoulders and knees. Wear long shorts rather than short ones).
Here is a quick reminder list: Sun hat, scarf, T shirts, one piece swimming costume, long sleeved shirts/ sweatshirts, fleece jacket or jumper, hiking trousers, comfortable sportswear, warm & waterproof jacket, walking boots for hiking and sandals to relax in the evening.
Chapeau - Foulard - T-shirts - Maillot de bain - Chemises manches longues ou sweat-shirts - Pull-over chaud ou veste en fibre polaire - Coupe vent/ parka/doudoune - cape de pluie/ KWay - Pantalon de trekking - Survêtement - Chaussures de randonnée pour sentiers caillouteux, souples et déjà portées - Sandales pour se détendre le soir au bivouac.
Luggage
We recommend you take 2 bags. A large rucksack as your compartment luggage which will be carried for you during your hike and a small one to keep with you and carry your camera, mineral water etc.
Pendant le trekking, ce petit sac à dos que vous porterez contiendra les affaires de la journée. Sur place, le guide vous indiquera ce que vous devrez prendre avec vous pour chaque étape. En ce qui concerne le sac de voyage placé dans la soute de l'avion, il contiendra les affaires que vous n'utilisez pas pendant la journée.
Il sera transporté par les mules/ dromadaires ou les véhicules, vous le retrouverez le soir. Il est possible de laisser un bagage à l'hôtel, contenant des affaires propres pour votre retour de randonnée.
