Morocco: Women's Expedition

This trip involves walking from 4 to 7 hours on Days 3-6. The walk will lead you through picturesque valleys, but the terrain may be unstable in places, rocky and hilly. Consider appropriate footwear and necessary clothing, including a warm jacket and raincoat.

You will need to bring a 3/4 season sleeping bag on this trip. Even though you will be staying in guesthouses and gites, they may not be heated so a warm sleeping bag is essential.

The village accommodation on this trip is simple. You will be sharing rooms with other female travellers. On Day 5 there are two big rooms for the group so you may share your room with up to five other travellers. Bathroom facilities are shared, but you can expect a hot shower each evening.

You will have a chance to participate in different activities, from rug-weaving to baking and make-up workshops. While none are compulsory, we’d suggest you come prepared to share some fun times with other women while learning some new skills.

2023 ITINERARY CHANGES
There are no itinerary changes to this trip as a result of the recent earthquake.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2 and 6 (Gite) and Days 3, 4 and 5 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travellers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

Many travellers carry their luggage in a compact smaller suitcase or backpack with wheels. We recommend your bag has carry straps or handles so it is easy to lift and carry for the times you are unable to wheel it (ie. on rough surfaces or up steps).

If you are taking overnight trains, or primarily using public transport then the smaller your luggage the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful especially when travelling on public transportation as well.

You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, waterproof pouch/bag for phone, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, LUGGAGE
What you need to bring will vary according to your travel plans pre or post this trip. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. We recommend keeping the weight under 10kg / 22lb as your luggage will be carried by mules while you trek from one village to the next. For your own comfort and safety, luggage should be kept to an absolute minimum. The use of a backpack, soft sports bag or duffel bag is required - hard suitcases aren’t fit to be carried by mules. If you are planning to travel for longer period of time, and hard suitcase is more suitable luggage for you overall, you will be able to leave it at the hotel in Marrakech and take a smaller, soft bag for the time of trekking. Also, a day pack for carrying your essentials is a key. Your main luggage will be taken by mules and you will not have access to it during your trek. Essential everyday items must be carried by you.

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

PACKING LIST:
- 3/4 seasons sleeping bag
- Day pack
- Torch/head torch
- Ear plugs and eye cover if you are a light sleeper
- Personal medications (plus extra)
- Sun Cream and sunglasses
- Anti-bacterial hand wash
- Insect Repellent
- Extra Batteries
- Wet wipes
- Warm trousers
- Long-sleeved thermal top and long johns
- Hiking boots with good ankle support
- Closed toes sandals or trainers to cross streams and rivers
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Toilet paper
- Towel
- Water purification tablets, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination and if it is you can simply refill with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you., DRONES IN MOROCCO
Please note that drones are not permitted to enter or be used in Morocco, neither for personal nor professional/commercial use.

A good level of fitness is recommended and will certainly help increase the enjoyment of the trip and allow you to make the most of included walks. This trip involves walking from 4 to 7 hours on Days 3-6. Trekking will be on a mixture of rocky paths, over a pebbled dry riverbed and with inclines and declines.

Hotel Meriem, 154, Med El Beqal, Marrakech, 40000, MOROCCO

This hotel has large spacious rooms with air-conditioning and television. The hotel has a swimming pool and wifi is available in the rooms.

Alternate Joining Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this joining point.
11 May 2024 (XMRW240511)
03 Sep 2024 (XMRW240903)
26 Oct 2024 (XMRW241026)
09 Nov 2024 (XMRW241109)
23 Nov 2024 (XMRW241123)
Hotel Almas
79 Boulevard Moulay Rachid Gueliz Marrakech
Gueliz
Marrakech
MOROCCO

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.

For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met outside Marrakech Airport (RAK) by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. The driver will wait a maximum of one hour from the time the plane lands. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +44 20 4576 9838.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The price should be agreed before entering the vehicle and should be approximately MAD250 during daylight hours and MAD300 at night.

Hotel Meriem, 154, Med El Beqal, Marrakech, 40000, MOROCCO

This hotel has large spacious rooms with air-conditioning and television. The hotel has a swimming pool and wifi is available in the rooms.

Alternate Finish Point

For trips departing on the following dates
use this finish point.
11 May 2024 (XMRW240511)
03 Sep 2024 (XMRW240903)
26 Oct 2024 (XMRW241026)
09 Nov 2024 (XMRW241109)
23 Nov 2024 (XMRW241123)
Hotel Almas
79 Boulevard Moulay Rachid Gueliz Marrakech
Gueliz
Marrakech
MOROCCO

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking a departure transfer to the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to the start of your trip.

If you have a confirmed departure transfer your leader will advise your pick up time the day before your trip ends. If your driver has not arrived within 30 minutes of the scheduled pick up time, or your departing flight is cancelled or changed, please contact the transfer operator directly: +44 20 4576 9838.

Taxi fare from your hotel to the airport will cost approximately MAD100 - MAD200 to prebook. If hailing a taxi on the street, the price should be agreed before entering the vehicle. Please ask your leader or hotel staff for assistance in arranging a taxi.

Breakfasts included: 7

Lunches included: 4

Dinners included: 6

Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian cous cous and tajine or omelettes. This is particularly the case during the walking sections of the trip in remote villages in Morocco. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform the Intrepid office prior to the trip. If you have a specific medical/dietary need (i.e. coeliac or vegan) you may find it helpful to bring some items of food with you from home.

Please note that as a desert country, Morocco can have extreme weather. In October, in remote mountain villages evenings and nights temperature can drop to 5 or even less degrees Celcius. During the day it should be pleasant if the sun is out, but it is important to be prepared for wind and possibly rain. Warm jacket is a must.

EID AL-ADHA
Eid Al-Adha (Sacrifice Feast) will take place in Morocco 16 – 17 June 2024 and 6 – 1 June 2025. This festival honours the sacrifice Abraham made of his own son. In commemoration of this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: one-third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family. Please expect delays or complete suspension of public services during that time which may be disruptive to the trip schedule. For some, it may also be disturbing to see animals being sacrificed, as this can take place in public.

RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress 10 March to 08 April 2024 and 1 March to 30 March 2025 and  and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +212 661922693

Due to the villages and locations we will be visiting, the accommodation on this trip, apart from Marrakech, is rather basic. You will stay in family run guesthouses and local gites. That means you will be sharing rooms with a few other travellers. Bathroom facilities will also be shared. While the accommodation is basic, it is clean, atmospheric and very authentic. Staying in gites and family houses will allow you to experience the way local people live in this part of Morocco.
For more details about accommodation, please check the day-to-day itinerary.

We will travel in a private minibus from Marrakech to Boutghra. The road may be windy at times so make sure you are sufficiently prepared if you tend to have difficulty with mountainous drives. From Day 2 onwards you will be hiking through rural Morocco. Please expect uneven, rocky paths, river crossings and some steady inclines. Nothing is too strenuous, but you should come prepared to walk for up to 7 hours a day.