Morocco. Sahara Desert Trek

Transcription

1 Morocco Sahara Desert Trek

2 MorocCO Sahara Desert Trek Nature is never far away in Morocco. Desert, mountains, valleys and sea - the country has plenty to offer fans of the outdoors! Hikers of all levels will love walking the Moroccan mountains. Among the temperate peaks of the Rif mountain range, its cliffs jutting out into the Mediterranean make this under-explored region magical. Morocco has influences of Arab, European, African and Berber that harmonise to create the rich culture of the North African country today. It has a population of 32.6 million people and covers an area of 710,850 sq. km. The official languages spoken are Arabic and Berber although French and Spanish are also widely spoken. The lakes are packed with trout waiting for amateur fishermen. The more active will want to tackle the challenges of the Middle and Upper Atlas Mountains on foot, by mountain bike or in a paraglider, or to practice mountain climbing, canyoning or pot-holing. Its summits can reach 4000m high. Ifrane, known as the little Moroccan Switzerland, may come as a pleasant surprise with its summer coolness, winter snow and traditional mule-ski trails. Nothing is as indescribable as a stay on the edge of the desert. Head to Ouarzazate the door of the desert - to discover its immensity and colours. It s perfectly carved sculptures and caramel-coloured buildings will take your breath away! At night, opt for an encampment in the desert, a chalet in the mountains and, wherever you are, bed and breakfast with the locals for an unforgettable and authentic experience. These are at the heart of the Moroccan identity, like palm trees, argan oil and the honey from its lavender. Looking out over the Atlantic, you will be enchanted by the turquoise waters of Dakhla Bay! There you will meet migratory birds and pink flamingos.

3 ITINERARY DAY I - Depart the UK and arrive in Marrakech. One of our team members will pick us up and take us to our hotel Riad in the Medina. DAY 2 - Today we will have a 7-hour drive to the Drâa Valley and its long ribbon of palm trees that stretch over 200km. Passing successively through Agdz, Zagora and Taggounit, we arrive at Ouled Driss in the palm grove of M Hamid. We will then begin a 3-hour trek between crops and palm trees before arriving at Rasse ankhal where we will camp in tents for the night. DAY 3 - With the cliffs of Drâa hamada to the south, we will trek for 6 hours to the rhythm of our camels towards the first erg (sea of sand) of Aït Oumir. Some tamarisks give us some shade before we reach the bivouac (camp) for the night. DAY 4 - Staying on the left bank of the drained wadi of the Drâa, we will progress across the high dunes of the erg Zaher. After walking for 5 and a half hours, we will sleep at the foot of the dunes. DAY 5 - We will begin the day by walking north to cross the bed of Drâa before stopping iin the shade of Sidi Taïb for lunch. We will walk for a total of 5 hours today and will camp between the ergs of Sedrar and Smar. DAY 6 - As we trek today, the black barrier of the djebel Bani will become clear. As we leave the company of the Oued El Attach (river of thirst), we will arrive at our last bivouac at the erg Bouguern. Our journey today will take us 5 and a half hours. DAY 7 - After a short walk, we will reach the rendezvous point to find the all-terrain vehicles. We ll enjoy some lunch at a restaurant near Zagora before continuing to Marrakech to arrive at our Riad in the late afternoon. DAY 8 - Spare day to explore Marrakech. DAY 9 - Fly back to the UK.

4 GENERAL INFORMATION EXPEDITION COST Included in the cost are: Flights and transfers Meals Any permits and entry fees to any regions and sites visited as part of the itinerary Group Equipment Safety Equipment Your own Expedition manager 24 hour UK Operations and emergency cover whilst you are in country Experienced the Bucket List Company leaders are also included, along with a local support crew of local guides, and cooks. The tour cost does not include personal equipment, entry visa, tips for local crew, or personal spending money. FLIGHT INFORMATION Group flights leave from London Heathrow or Gatwick and are booked through Wexas Travel Ltd under ATOL licence By travelling with The Bucket List Company your finances are protected. Our itineraries are always based on current flight schedules and are therefore subject to change by the airline. TRANSIT STOPS When booking group flights we endeavour to find the best flights that match our itinerary. There are often no direct flights to our destination, so do be prepared for transit stops; bring a good book or chat to your fellow explorers! Airlines that do offer direct flights rarely offer competitive rates for groups. Please remember that the main purpose of our trips is to be reasonably priced. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND FOREIGN TRAVEL Everyone wants to travel to have new experiences and our trips are no different. We will let you have new experiences that will push you out of your comfort zone. This is all part of the challenge you are signing up for. The main things you will need to bring with you to gain the most out of your trip are a sense of adventure and a sense of humour, with these in tow you will have a brilliant trip. ACCOMMODATION We will be staying in either hotels, hostels, tents or huts depending on the finalised itinerary. FOOD All meals are included from when we get to our camp and depart the camp to head home.

5 GENERAL INFORMATION DIETARY REQUIREMENTS Having dietary requirements is not a problem provided you let us know well in advance. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat you may wish to bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply. PASSPORT, VISA and VACCINATIONS British nationals do not require a visa to visit Morocco. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay in Morocco. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. CLOTHING EQUIPMENT We know what you need! Therefore, our equipment list will mean that you will be perfectly attired and outfitted for your whole trip and well under baggage allowance. A full list of what we recommend will be sent to you upon booking confirmation. We find most people already have in their possession what is necessary for a trekking trip and very little else in the way of specialised equipment is required. LUGGAGE Luggage is best carried in a large Kit bag (100 litres+). This makes it easier to find the things you are looking! If you need help and support on what to buy please contact us. We can also sell you the kit you require through our extensive network of suppliers. WEATHER Morocco is at its best in spring (mid-march to May), when the country is lush and green, followed by autumn (September to November), when the heat of summer has eased. At other times, don t underestimate the extremes of summer heat and winter, particularly in the High Atlas, where snow-capped peaks persist from November to July. If you are travelling in winter, head for the south, although be prepared for bitterly cold nights. The north coast and the Rif Mountains are frequently wet and cloudy in winter and early spring.

6 GENERAL INFORMATION FITNESS AND SAFETY Safety is our major concern with any trip we run. All our guides are chosen for their extensive international experience. They each have at least 10 years running expeditions around the world. All have first aid qualifications of the highest standard including at least one medic on each trip. We carry an extensive First Aid kit and Satellite phones with us at all times. There are no special requirements for this trip, except a huge sense of adventure. There are no restrictions providing you are in reasonable physical shape. Medical forms will be handed out in the booking packs for you to let us know of any medical conditions or allergies you have. TRAINiNG WEEKEND You will have a training weekend with a difference, you will find out more details once you have booked!! experience of a lifetime. You will be in safe hands with one of our leaders. Our leaders are UK based and love what they do. The leader will also be supported by an in-country team of guides and crew, the in-country team are also English speaking. All of our staff are also supported by our UK 24 Hour support Hub. The office is manned with a team that are on hand 24 hours a day to liaise with leaders, Insurance companies and our on-call doctors. This is our essential contact point for every trip. TIPS FOR LOCAL CREW If you feel you have been looked after well, then it is always a nice gesture to tip those who have worked with you Whether it be the people who have cooked for you, guided you, and got you to the top of the mountain. The expectations may vary depending on itinerary. TRIP SUPPORT Your trip will be led by an experienced member of the Bucket List Company. Our leaders are selected and trained by us to make sure they have the correct skills and personality to give you the I I letsgo@thebucketlistcompany.co.uk

7 GENERAL INFORMATION DOSSIERS Once we have received your booking form you will be issued with your expedition dossier, this will give you the following information; Detailed Itinerary Kit List Training Guide Medical information Expedition Training Weekend information CARi3ON OfFSETTiNG We encourage all our customers to offset emissions connected with their trip. You can offset at any time in the lead-up to departure by visiting Climate Care. FREEBIES All team members will get a T-shirt and DVD. With all of our trips we film on the go. When we are back in the UK the footage and photos are edited together to create a short film of your memories of your trip included within the package, and hopefully we can all get together again for the premier of the film!!

8 MoroCCO Sahara Desert Trek Rock And Rapid Adventures Hacche Mill, South Molton Devon EX36 3NA Phone: Website.