Practice

Discover the Moroccan mountains and desert on treks accompanied by qualified and experienced Moroccan guides. We've designed our packages to offer the best value for money, with airport transfers included, accommodation in medium-category hotels on a half-board basis, a qualified mountain guide, the services of muleteers and cooks, and full-board meals during the treks.

However, please note that our packages do not include air tickets, travel insurance, meals outside the hikes, drinks and any services not mentioned above. Please allow a minimum budget of 100 euros for personal expenses and tips.

Accompaniment for an unforgettable travel experience A qualified guide, approved by the Ministry of Tourism and trained at the Tabant training centre, will accompany you throughout your stay. Fluent in French, English, Berber and Arabic, our guide will facilitate exchanges with the local population, allowing you to experience authentic encounters. Our logistics team of muleteers or camel-drivers, cooks and drivers will ensure your comfort throughout the trip.

Insurance for peace of mind To make the most of your carefree holiday, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. The insurance provided with bank cards is not always sufficient. It is essential to obtain specific insurance for high-risk adventure trips. We advise you to check with an insurance agency in your country to ensure you have adequate cover.

Accommodation for unforgettable nights Depending on the tour you choose, you'll stay 2 to 3 nights in a mid-range hotel in Marrakech. During the hikes, you will stay with local people, in refuges or in bivouacs. Two-seater Igloo tents and mattresses will be provided to ensure your comfort at night. Our bivouac equipment also includes a kitchen tent and a mass tent of the caïdale or nomadic type.

Food for an authentic culinary experience For your meals, we offer:

• Breakfast: bread, butter, jam, cheese, instant coffee, tea, chocolate and powdered milk.
• Lunch: mainly a variety of salads, seasonal fruit and mint tea. A snack of tea and cakes is provided in the afternoon.
• Dinner: a varied soup starter, followed by a meat tagine, couscous or pasta. Dessert and herbal tea will also be served.

Pharmacy for your well-being On all our hikes, we are equipped with a full first-aid pharmacy. However, we recommend that you bring your own personal pharmacy containing your usual medicines, as well as painkillers, eye drops, lip and skin cream, sun cream, aches and pains gel, and foot care products (such as Tricosteril or Mercurochrome), diarrhoea medication and intestinal antiseptics.

Clothing to adapt to climatic conditionss Depending on the time of year, we recommend that you bring:

• Jumper, jacket and trousers: from November to March, you need a well-fitted jacket. This can be replaced by a thick jumper lined with a waterproof jacket or a windproof fleece. In April and October, a good jumper with a windproof jacket is all you need.
• Trousers: choose loose-fitting, lightweight and versatile canvas or cotton trousers. Avoid shorts, which may be considered offensive by villagers.
• Shirts/T-shirts: preferably bring 2 or 3 long-sleeved shirts to protect yourself from the sun. T-shirts offer less sun protection. A tracksuit can be useful in winter, especially at night when it's very cold. You can also opt for a chèche, a piece of cotton cloth around 5 metres long worn by men in southern Morocco, to protect you from the sun and dust.
• Footwear: when hiking, make sure you wear shoes that are already adapted to your feet. Choose bush shoes or mid-mountain hiking boots, with thick but flexible soles and high uppers, in canvas or Gore Tex. You should also pack a comfortable pair of shoes for relaxing at the bivouac, such as jogging shoes or espadrilles. For off-road vehicle (4×4) explorations and walks, a comfortable pair of tennis shoes with a thick sole is sufficient.

We care about the environment and encourage respect for nature on our walks. We recommend that you bring a storm lighter or matches to burn your toilet paper and any other paper, as well as plastic bags to keep non-degradable items such as drinks cans and dispose of them in a bin bag at the bivouac.

As far as formalities are concerned, there are no compulsory vaccinations for coming to Morocco, but hepatitis A and typhoid are strongly recommended, especially if you are going to the desert. A valid passport is required, and French nationals do not need a visa.

The currency is the dirham, which you can exchange for euros on arrival at the airport or hotel. The time difference with Paris is minus one hour in winter and minus two hours in summer. As far as the climate is concerned, Morocco's geographical diversity means that the weather is pleasant all year round. Temperatures in the desert in winter (November to March) are generally 20-30°C during the day, but nights can be cool or even cold (5°C). Between seasons (October, April and May), temperatures rise by 5-10°C, but the dry climate makes the heat bearable. Nights remain cool, between 10 and 15°C.

In summer, temperatures in the Atlas mountains are perfect for hiking, with pleasant days (from 15 to 25°C). In winter in the mountains, it can be very cold at night (-5°C), but the days are pleasant.

Don't forget to bring a towel, a 2-litre water bottle, a headlamp or torch with batteries and a spare bulb, a survival blanket, plastic bags to protect your clothes from the sand, a knife, toilet paper, a lighter and paper or plastic bags to throw your rubbish in and burn it in the morning. For washing up, wipes can be very useful, as well as a container for easy washing.

In short, our attentive guidance, well-organised logistics, tasty cuisine and experienced team guarantee you an unforgettable travel experience in the Moroccan desert. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information or to book your next adventure with Assafar Trekking.