Accommodation
The hotels used on this tour are rated at the 3 and 4 star level in Morocco. Local star ratings may vary from international standards but we ensure that we use some of the best hotels available at the level stated.
Accommodation is based on twin or double en-suite rooms with air conditioning.
Transportation
Airport Pick-Up and Transfer:
We provide a complimentary airport arrival transfer on day 1 of your tour from Marrakech Airport or if you arrive early and have booked pre tour accommodation with us. Please proceed to the arrivals hall and look for our representative holding a Timeless Tours sign. If you are arriving earlier and have booked your accommodation independently, you will need to make your own way to our start hotel.
Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the
country you’re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to
enjoy the next stage of the tour. The terrain and public transport options in Morocco mean that we use private
AC minibuses or coaches throughout this tour, subject to the final size of the group.
Tipping
Haggling is a traditional necessity, so never pay too much regard to initial prices. Instead fix an items value in your mind then negotiate towards it unhurriedly (Moroccans never rush their bargaining), and don’t be afraid to simply walk away if the price isn’t right.
However, if you do mention a price, then you should be prepared to pay it or risk causing offence. Bahsis (bahk-sheesh) or tips are common place and customary in Morocco.
Wages for service staff are very low and tips are a necessary supplement to meagre incomes.
To make it easier for you to budget and to remove much of the stress and hassle of tipping lots of people as you go along, we collect US$30 a ‘Tipping Kitty’ at the start of your time in Morocco.
Your guide will manage this as the tour goes along and ask one or more of the group members to assist and make some of the payments. The kitty provides tips for a wide range of people you’ll meet along the tour including hotel porters, train and station staff, drivers, site guards, local reps etc.
Your tour guide is not included in this kitty and you may tip them at the end of your tour subject to tip any particular amount, and should consider your personal budget.
As a guideline, approx. US$3-8 per person per day would be appropriate.
Passports and Visas
Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.
We recommend that you contact your closest Moroccan consulate or embassy for current information for your nationality. Currently, many nationalities (including USA, Canada, UK, European, Australian, New Zealand) do not need to obtain a visa to enter Morocco as long as your stay is for less than 3 months. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.
Money & Budget
The local currency in Morocco is the Dirham. We recommend you bring some cash in a hard currency (US Dollars, GB Pounds, Euros) and a good ATM card.
Most major currencies can be converted at most banks, but it’s not wise to carry too much. Euros and US Dollars are welcomed more than GB Pounds.
Travellers cheques are not easily exchanged. It can be awkward outside of Marrakech to find an ATM machine that takes your card as many Moroccan banks have ATMs that only work with Moroccan cards.
Don’t put your card in an ATM unless you see the symbol that matches your card on the machine, as you might lose your card!
We also suggest trying to avoid using Post Office ATMs. In some smaller towns there are no ATMs that take foreign cards, so be sure you get enough cash to carry you until the next major city. BCM seems to be the best bank, accepting foreign cards in most of their ATMs.
While in Morocco you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs, tips and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Moroccan Dirham. It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 25-35 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.
Entrance fees:
Please allow approximately US$30 for all entrance fees for the sights visited on Truly Marrakech / US$48 if you are doing the 9 days Timeless Morocco. Your guide will be happy to collect payment for all the entrance fees at the start of the tour, and pay them for you as you go along if you wish.
Shopping:
Morocco is a shopper’s paradise. The souks of Fes, Marrakech and Meknes are full of pottery, carpets and kilims, leather goods, spices and cloth. Keep space in your backpack for your purchases!
Our best buys are:
Carpets – from the High Atlas Mountains or a woven and embroidered Kulim; the burnoose, an elegant hooded cape; spices; or traditional pottery and leather from Fes.
IMPORTANT: Set your budget and don’t be swayed.
Remember the caveat – ‘Let the buyer beware’. Any purchases made whilst on holiday with us, irrespective of whether the store is recommended by the tour guide or other, are at your own discretion. Please make sure that you are completely happy with the product you are purchasing and the delivery arrangements (we would
recommend you take away with you any purchases rather than rely on shipping services).
Timeless tours or its suppliers cannot be held responsible or accountable for items bought in country or shipping arrangements.
Proceed with caution.
Health & Insurance
Health and Vaccinations:
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Morocco from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As guide, Tetanus and Hepatitis A are strongly recommended.
While tap water in Morocco is generally considered safe to drink in main cities, it is not advisable in smaller towns and remote areas. It’s recommended to only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
If you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight, or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.
If you are taking expensive camera gear or other electronic equipment with you then please check the coverage and the fine print of your policy to ensure that you have sufficient cover.
What To Pack
Luggage:
Small or medium sized suitcases, rucksacks or fabric holdalls are all fine to bring with you to Morocco. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will often be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips – you will not need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.
Luggage limits:
There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 25kg for your hold luggage and between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before travelling to the airport.
Clothing:
The Moroccan climate varies according to season and region. The coast has a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered on the eastern coast by southwest trade winds. Inland areas have a hotter, drier, continental climate. In the south of the country, the weather is very hot and dry throughout most of the year, though temperatures can drop dramatically at night, especially in desert and mountains and in the months of December and January. Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas, and the rest of the country is mostly dry with high temperatures in summer and a cooler climate in the mountains. Marrakech and Agadir enjoy an average temperature of 20°C (70ºF) in the winter. So, depending the time of year you are visiting you should pack for both hot and cooler conditions.
Modesty rates highly in Morocco, especially for women, so to respect the local culture & people, please ensure all clothes are loose fitting and not revealing. Shorts (not hotpants) are OK in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare flesh (we suggest that your shoulders should remain covered); in the center of towns and cities outside tourist areas, and when visiting any mosques, legs and arms should be covered.
Other items:
If your tour includes a Berber desert camp then all bedding is provided. However, as sand has a nasty habit of getting everywhere, for comfort, we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner all year round, and a light sleeping bag in the winter months (November to February) when it can get very cold in the desert. We also recommend you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, money belt, small torch, camera & charger.