INFORMATION
ENTRY
To enter Morocco, you need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months.
CLIMATE
We organise our trips from October to April.
Temperatures may vary, but you can expect the following temperatures:
December, January Day 15 to 25° Night -5 to 10°
November, February, March Day 15 to 35° Night 5 to 15°
October, April Day 25 to 40° Night 15 to 20°
CONDITION
Throughout the trip you will have your own riding dromedary, so you can choose at any time whether you want to ride or walk. Riding the dromedaries requires no previous experience, they are well trained and guided so that everyone can sit on them.
You can carry your own rucksack for the day or attach it to the saddle of your dromedary. The daily walking time is four to six hours at a leisurely pace on partly stony paths and through sand dunes.
Some surefootedness is required when crossing the mountains and dunes.
Lahcen has already guided visitors between the ages of 7 and 80 through the desert.
DAYPACK
During the tour it is advisable to have the essentials (e.g. sun cream, camera, toiletries, etc.) ready to hand in a daypack.
LUGGAGE
If the desert trip is a stage of your entire journey, you are welcome to store some of your luggage with us.
The luggage you take with you into the desert is best stored in a bag. Suitcases are too bulky and are not suitable as the luggage is loaded onto the dromedary in carrying baskets.
Sand, sun and stowing in the carrying baskets puts a strain on the bags, so it is best not to take your favourite item with you.
The luggage is accessible in the morning, during the lunch break and in the evening. If it is stowed in the baskets on the dromedary, you won't be able to get to it, so everything you need while hiking should be packed in your daypack.
GUIDES
Depending on the size of the group, you will be led through the desert by one or more guides, cooks and chameleiers.
They are all Berbers and either relatives or long-time friends of Lahcen and, like him, grew up in the desert, which makes them your ideal companions. They will guide you through the desert with a lot of experience, respect and humour.
The guides speak French or English. Don't be afraid to ask if you want to know anything. Your guides have already guided many guests through the desert and are therefore used to a lot, just let them know your needs and they will certainly find an imaginative solution.
FOOD AND DRINK
You will be amazed at what our chef conjures up from his mobile kitchen! Let yourself be spoilt with typical local dishes, which are freshly prepared every day. You will eat lots of vegetables and fruit as well as fresh salad, pasta, rice, lentils, meat, fish and freshly baked bread. When registering, you can let us know if you would like a vegetarian diet.
For breakfast we serve tea and coffee, bread, cheese spread and confi.
Still mineral water is provided for you to drink.
CLOTHING / SHESH
If you want to dress respectfully, your shoulders, knees and neckline should be covered, just like when you enter a Catholic church or a Buddhist temple. This applies to both men and women.
Long, wide trousers and wide cotton T-shirts or blouses are best.
You should definitely wear a shesh (turban scarf) on your head. It not only covers your head but also your ears and neck, insulates well against the sun and cold and protects you from a sandstorm in a matter of seconds. If it is very hot, it can also be wrapped around the head when wet and cools wonderfully. No hat or cap offers the same level of protection against sunstroke - probably the greatest danger when travelling in the desert.
If you are already in Morocco before the desert tour, why not buy a sheesh (at least minimum 3,5 metres long) at the souk (market). Otherwise, you are welcome to borrow a freshly washed shesh from us free of charge.
This clothing is also the ideal sun protection if you don't want to constantly apply sun cream from head to toe.
For your feet, trekking sandals with a good (thick) sole are best, as there are very thorny plants in the desert. If you don't already have sandals, buy them slightly too big so that the front of your toes are better protected from the hot sand.
SLEEPING
You will sleep under the stars or in a nomad tent.
You have a foam mattress and plenty of woollen blankets at your disposal. You can take a sleeping bag or a silk sleeping bag with you, depending on your preference and the season.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The flora and fauna in the desert is very diverse.
There are scorpions and snakes. A scorpion sting is painful, but does not need to be treated unless you suffer from an insect allergy. Never walk at night without shoes or light your way.
Snakes are very rare and will leave if approached. If bitten by a single species of snake, an antiserum is necessary, but there is enough time to get the victim to the nearest hospital.
WASTE
The desert is a very clean place, please do not leave anything behind.
Your guide will have a rubbish bag with him, ask for it. From time to time, usually before leaving the camp site, the rubbish is then burnt in a ‚rubbish fire’ a little way away.
Never throw rubbish or date stones into the campfire. It is up to God where he allows a palm tree to grow - a burnt stone destroys this possibility.
Take empty batteries back home. Here they are either burnt in the open air or dumped. Unfortunately, recycling has not yet arrived in Morocco.
HYGIENE
A small ‚bucket’ is provided for you to wash your hands before eating or to do a small morning toilet. If you would like to take a shower, please speak to your guide, who will tell you when there is an opportunity to do so (near a well).
Please do not leave any toilet paper or toiletries behind, not even buried, as the next sandstorm is sure to come! Take sanitary bags with you in which you can collect this waste and then put it in the rubbish bag.
If you can bring yourself to do so, use water with your left hand instead of paper - that's how the nomads do it and you won't leave any rubbish behind.
The left hand is considered unclean, so eat with your right hand; if you want to hand something to someone, use your right hand if possible.
Tip: Take a small PET bottle with you, fill it with washing water and stow it in your daypack. Personally, I carry my toiletries in a cloth bag in my day daypack, so everything is ready to hand in seconds and I don't have to lug the whole daypack to the ‚toilet’.
TIP
If you would like to tip, as a group you should give each crew member between €5 and €10 per day.
Whether guide, chameleur or cook, your companions work as a team, so please tip everyone equally.
INSURANCE
It is the participant's responsibility to take out travel insurance.
To enter Morocco, you need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months.
CLIMATE
We organise our trips from October to April.
Temperatures may vary, but you can expect the following temperatures:
December, January Day 15 to 25° Night -5 to 10°
November, February, March Day 15 to 35° Night 5 to 15°
October, April Day 25 to 40° Night 15 to 20°
CONDITION
Throughout the trip you will have your own riding dromedary, so you can choose at any time whether you want to ride or walk. Riding the dromedaries requires no previous experience, they are well trained and guided so that everyone can sit on them.
You can carry your own rucksack for the day or attach it to the saddle of your dromedary. The daily walking time is four to six hours at a leisurely pace on partly stony paths and through sand dunes.
Some surefootedness is required when crossing the mountains and dunes.
Lahcen has already guided visitors between the ages of 7 and 80 through the desert.
DAYPACK
During the tour it is advisable to have the essentials (e.g. sun cream, camera, toiletries, etc.) ready to hand in a daypack.
LUGGAGE
If the desert trip is a stage of your entire journey, you are welcome to store some of your luggage with us.
The luggage you take with you into the desert is best stored in a bag. Suitcases are too bulky and are not suitable as the luggage is loaded onto the dromedary in carrying baskets.
Sand, sun and stowing in the carrying baskets puts a strain on the bags, so it is best not to take your favourite item with you.
The luggage is accessible in the morning, during the lunch break and in the evening. If it is stowed in the baskets on the dromedary, you won't be able to get to it, so everything you need while hiking should be packed in your daypack.
GUIDES
Depending on the size of the group, you will be led through the desert by one or more guides, cooks and chameleiers.
They are all Berbers and either relatives or long-time friends of Lahcen and, like him, grew up in the desert, which makes them your ideal companions. They will guide you through the desert with a lot of experience, respect and humour.
The guides speak French or English. Don't be afraid to ask if you want to know anything. Your guides have already guided many guests through the desert and are therefore used to a lot, just let them know your needs and they will certainly find an imaginative solution.
FOOD AND DRINK
You will be amazed at what our chef conjures up from his mobile kitchen! Let yourself be spoilt with typical local dishes, which are freshly prepared every day. You will eat lots of vegetables and fruit as well as fresh salad, pasta, rice, lentils, meat, fish and freshly baked bread. When registering, you can let us know if you would like a vegetarian diet.
For breakfast we serve tea and coffee, bread, cheese spread and confi.
Still mineral water is provided for you to drink.
CLOTHING / SHESH
If you want to dress respectfully, your shoulders, knees and neckline should be covered, just like when you enter a Catholic church or a Buddhist temple. This applies to both men and women.
Long, wide trousers and wide cotton T-shirts or blouses are best.
You should definitely wear a shesh (turban scarf) on your head. It not only covers your head but also your ears and neck, insulates well against the sun and cold and protects you from a sandstorm in a matter of seconds. If it is very hot, it can also be wrapped around the head when wet and cools wonderfully. No hat or cap offers the same level of protection against sunstroke - probably the greatest danger when travelling in the desert.
If you are already in Morocco before the desert tour, why not buy a sheesh (at least minimum 3,5 metres long) at the souk (market). Otherwise, you are welcome to borrow a freshly washed shesh from us free of charge.
This clothing is also the ideal sun protection if you don't want to constantly apply sun cream from head to toe.
For your feet, trekking sandals with a good (thick) sole are best, as there are very thorny plants in the desert. If you don't already have sandals, buy them slightly too big so that the front of your toes are better protected from the hot sand.
SLEEPING
You will sleep under the stars or in a nomad tent.
You have a foam mattress and plenty of woollen blankets at your disposal. You can take a sleeping bag or a silk sleeping bag with you, depending on your preference and the season.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The flora and fauna in the desert is very diverse.
There are scorpions and snakes. A scorpion sting is painful, but does not need to be treated unless you suffer from an insect allergy. Never walk at night without shoes or light your way.
Snakes are very rare and will leave if approached. If bitten by a single species of snake, an antiserum is necessary, but there is enough time to get the victim to the nearest hospital.
WASTE
The desert is a very clean place, please do not leave anything behind.
Your guide will have a rubbish bag with him, ask for it. From time to time, usually before leaving the camp site, the rubbish is then burnt in a ‚rubbish fire’ a little way away.
Never throw rubbish or date stones into the campfire. It is up to God where he allows a palm tree to grow - a burnt stone destroys this possibility.
Take empty batteries back home. Here they are either burnt in the open air or dumped. Unfortunately, recycling has not yet arrived in Morocco.
HYGIENE
A small ‚bucket’ is provided for you to wash your hands before eating or to do a small morning toilet. If you would like to take a shower, please speak to your guide, who will tell you when there is an opportunity to do so (near a well).
Please do not leave any toilet paper or toiletries behind, not even buried, as the next sandstorm is sure to come! Take sanitary bags with you in which you can collect this waste and then put it in the rubbish bag.
If you can bring yourself to do so, use water with your left hand instead of paper - that's how the nomads do it and you won't leave any rubbish behind.
The left hand is considered unclean, so eat with your right hand; if you want to hand something to someone, use your right hand if possible.
Tip: Take a small PET bottle with you, fill it with washing water and stow it in your daypack. Personally, I carry my toiletries in a cloth bag in my day daypack, so everything is ready to hand in seconds and I don't have to lug the whole daypack to the ‚toilet’.
TIP
If you would like to tip, as a group you should give each crew member between €5 and €10 per day.
Whether guide, chameleur or cook, your companions work as a team, so please tip everyone equally.
INSURANCE
It is the participant's responsibility to take out travel insurance.