MOROCCO HOLIDAY CODE RAC Off the beaten track walking holiday in the beautiful Rif Mountains Time to explore the romantic powder-blue town of Chefchaouen The hidden gems of Talassemtane and Al Hoceima National Parks UNESCO Tetouan, berber fishing villages and bijou town of Asilah Soak up the fascinating colour and atmosphere of friendly Tangier Morocco, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 5 nights gite / hostel, 2 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, max group size: 10, walks everyday
PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction From the lively port of Tangier, to the Rif Mountain town of Chefchaouen, this 8-day walking holiday discovers the delights of Northern Morocco. Heading East out of Tangier, we follow the Mediterranean coastline, exploring ancient Roman ports and the Hispanic-Moorish architecture of Tetouan. With daily walks we discover quiet beaches, traditional village life and the scented cedar forests of the Rif. Heading inland, we drive over the Tidihigne Rif Mountain Pass at 2445m which leads us to the Talassemente National Park. The Blue Jewel' in the crown of our Rif Ramble is the charming mountain town of Chefchaouen. Founded in the 15th century, Chefchaouen's colourful history makes for a wonderful afternoon of discovery. Continuing Eastwards we drive onwards to the Atlantic Fortress town of Asilah and explore the old-world fusion of Spanish, Portugese and Moorish cultures which has given Northern Morocco it's distinct, diverse identity. Returning to Tangier for our final night, this is an amazingly different discovery of Morocco. Is this holiday for you? The maximum altitude attained on this holiday is 2445 metres when we drive over the Tidihine Rif Mountain Pass. This means that no-one should have any difficulty with acclimatisation to the altitude. During the course of the week, we walk on average 3-4 hours a day with around 300m-400m of ascent and descent. Whilst most of the walks are mostly around coastal areas, we also walk in the Rif Mountains. Most of our routes follow coastal paths and well-established routes between valleys and through villages. The paths can be uneven with some rocky terrain. Each day we spend several hours travelling in a private vehicle, which is necessary to cover the itinerary as described. This is a great trip to discover a different side to Morocco on foot and by vehicle. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Tangier. Complimentary transfers from Marrakech Airport are provided. KE group package services begin with a short transfer from Tangier airport to the group hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have an opportunity to explore the vibrant port of Tangier and acquaint yourself with the art of sipping delicious Moroccan mint tea! The evening meal (at own expense), will be hosted at your hotel or in a restaurant close-by. Over dinner, your tour leader will provide you with a trip briefing to prepare you for the week ahead. HOTEL Day 2: Explore the pretty port of Ksar Sghir and UNESCO listed medina of Hispano-Moorish Tetouan. With an early morning departure, we head East across the bay of Tangier following the coastal road out to the sheltered port of Ksar Sghir. Originally an old salting post in Roman Times the town has an unusual circular design and was protected by three momumental gates, including The Bab al-bahr (the door of the sea) which still stands today. Heading out of Ksar Sghir on foot, we follow a valley, brimming with oak, citrus and fern trees and eventually leads us to the Mediterranean. With time to relax, take a mint tea and even possibly a swim, we are met by our private transport and head for the UNESCO listed medina of Tetouan. With it s unique Hispano-Moorish
PAGE 3 atmosphere, Tetouan s simple whitewashed buildings sit against the lush backdrop of the Rif Mountains to create a picture postcard shot! Here you will have time to explore the ancient medina before driving onto spend the night in a small family run gite. GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD TIME 3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 3: Walk through the natural park of Talassemtane to the Grand Arch. Time to relax and swim. Today we walk from our gite through the natural park of Talassemtane, where we head for the high spot of the Grand Arch. Over looking rugged canyons and lush green valleys, our high point of today provides wonderful panoramic views of the pine forests and cultivated fields below. Strolling back to meet our transfer we drive through the Oued Lau gorge, arriving at the coast. Taking a relaxing lunch on the beach and taking advantage of a possible swimming opportunity, we leave the coastline for the interior, heading towards the village of Jnanate, located within the Al-Hoceima National Park where we will spend two nights at our simple gite accommodation. GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD TIME 3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 4: A day of walking in the Al Hoceima National Park and time to explore fishing the village of Taoussarte. From the rocky canyons and pine forests to the small coastal fishing villages, Al Hoceima National Park is a real hidden gem of North Morocco. Leaving from our gite on foot, we navigate our way through a steep sided gorge which eventually leads us to the small village of Taoussarte. If we re lucky, we may have the opportunity to see the buzz of the Berber fisherman going about their daily business, or if you prefer, you may choose to cool off with a well-earned swim. Continuing our walk onto the Berber settlement of Hadi Rouadi, we will be greeted by the local women s co-operative who produce the authentic handicrafts products, unique to the region. Returning to the beach for a long lunch, we hope to spot playful dolphins out at sea or even a fish eagle on the hunt for prey before we take the short drive back to our gite at Jnante. GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD TIME 3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 5: Walk to the coastal village of Torres de Alcala. Transfer to Talassemtane National Park. Famed for its windmills and ancient towers, our walk today takes us to the historic coastal village of Torres de Alcala. Of significant importance, Alcala was an incredibly important port for many of the Moroccan dynasties and you can still see the original camel caravan trail which leads directly to Fes. From here our walk takes us through a cedar forest, as we explore this rich and wild environment. Upon finishing our walk today we take a change of direction and head west and enjoy a superb drive over the highest pass in the Rif Mountains, the breathtaking Tidighine Rif Mountain Pass (2445m). Descending through iconic cedar forests of the Rif, we nestle down for the evening at our simple accommodation on the fringes of Talassemtane National Park. GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD TIME 3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 6: Time to explore the beautiful powder blue mountain town of Chefchaouen. Transfer to Tayenza.
PAGE 4 Following a lesser known path, this morning, we enjoy a splendid walk through the Rif Mountains, pausing from time to time to enjoy Berber tea in one of the many villages we pass through. As we continue our journey through cultivate terraces and forests of cedar and pine, we arrive at the Berber community of Rasse Elma to be greeted with our views across the iconic blue mountain town of Chefchaouen. Known for its many shades of blue, Chefchaouen derives from the Berber word for horns of a goat and it is nigh on impossible to resist the charm of this laid back town. With free time explore the picturesque streets or relax in Berber café, Chefchaouen s medina, with it s narrow alleyways and makes for a pleasant afternoon of exploration and relaxation. On departure from Chefchaouen we drive down to the village of Tayenza and settle into our gite for the night. GITE / HOSTEL MEALS BLD TIME 4-5 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 7: Transfer along the coast before wandering the pretty streets of Asilah. Transfer to Tangier. Heading for the Atlantic coast we drive due West to the fortified town of Asilah. En-route we will stop for a forest exploration, searching for the cheeky Magot Monkeys in amongst cork and oak trees. The bijou town of Asilah blends sophistication and simplicity where the traditional old-world charm of Morocco meets with a fusion of modern-day Spain. The rich and turbulent history of this ancient port has given Asilah a strong arts and musical identity and with many artists free to display their artwork on many of the medina walls. Whilst in Asilah your guide will advise you on the best places to seek out during your free-time. Only a very short drive from Tangier, we head up the coast, into the cosmopolitan town of Tangier for our farewell dinner (at own expense). HOTEL MEALS BL TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 8: Departure Day. Complimentary transfers to Tangier Airport are provided. KE land only services end after breakfast. Complementary airport transfers are provided for clients departing this day. MEALS B Extend Your Holiday Extensions When booking your holiday, you will be able to 'add an extension option'. Once we have received your booking we will contact you to discuss additional services required for the extension and to take any additional deposit.
PAGE 5 Imperial Cities Of Morocco This exotic extension starts in Meknes, the beautiful 17th-century imperial headquarters of Sultan Moulay Ismael. A fortified citywithin-a-city complete with elaborate palaces, decorative mosques, mystical dungeons and charming gardens! After exploring the heart of Meknes we move onto the atmospheric UNESCO Roman masterpiece of Volubilis, the best preserved archaeological site in the country and an atmospheric place to explore. However nothing can prepare us for the magical riot of Fez, with its UNESCO old town and city walls extending for 10 miles! The fantastic medina, mediaeval Fez el Bali and the modern "ville nouvelle" is a wonderful melting pot on the senses. We finish in cosmopolitan Rabat, complete with tree-lined boulevards and beautiful colonial architecture. This fantastic extension ensures you are completely immersed in a variety of contrasting cities! (Please note this extension includes a local driver but not a KE leader. This gives you more freedom to explore at leisure pre/ post KE group trip). Imperial Cities of Morocco 5 days From US$780 per person Holiday Information What's Included Included An experienced professional local leader Tangier Airport transfers (on first and last day of itinerary) All accommodation as described in the trip dossier All meals throughout the holiday except dinners in Tangier on days 1 & 7 All land transport involved in the itinerary What's Not Included Travel insurance Visas Airport taxes Airport transfers other than group transfers Extra activities and excursions Tips for local staff Dinners on days 1 & 7 in Tangier Miscellaneous personal expenditure
PAGE 6 Meal Plan All meals except dinner on day 1 and dinner on day 7 of the itinerary are included. Food On trek, the food is a mixture of local and international, all purchased locally and cooked for us by our trek cooks. Breakfasts are continental style, with tea and coffee, orange juice, porridge and cereals including muesli, bread, jam, honey and cheese..a morning snack is also provided and this usually consists of Moroccan 'trail mix' of dried figs and dates, peanuts, sugar coated peanuts and other nuts. Lunch usually starts with the Berber speciality of mint tea, followed by a freshly prepared salad - onion, tomatoes, green peppers, grated carrot, green beans, with tinned sweetcorn or peas, rice, pasta or cous cous added. Hard and soft cheeses, tinned fish, olives, biscuits and bread are also on the lunchtime menu. Dinner starts off with soup and bread. The main course is usually rice, pasta, cous-cous, spaghetti or chips, with a vegetable stew (or tagine) consisting of some of the following - onion, potato, carrot, green pepper, zucchini, turnip, parsnip, green beans and peas. There will be some meat (usually chicken, lamb or beef). All dishes come with traditional sauces which are rarely (spicy) hot. Desserts usually consist of fruit, some fresh but more likely tinned, including pineapple, apricot, pears, peaches or mixed. To round off dinner, there is the usual range of hot drinks. Joining Arrangements & Transfers All clients travelling to Tangier Day 1 of the holiday itinerary will be met at the airport by a local KE representative who will arrange the transfer to the group hotel. Clients MUST provide the KE office with full details of their flights and should let us know if Tangier Airport transfers are not required. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Accommodation During this trip the group will spend 2 nights in a tourist class hotel Tangier. While there are many more expensive hotels in Tangier, we try to strike the right balance of a comfortable and conveniently located hotel while maintaining a really good value holiday. There are 5 nights in simple, family run gite-accommodation. All accommodation is based on twin sharing. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. For the hotel nights in Tangier, single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Additional nights in Tangier are available either at the group hotel or in a range of different hotels and riads. Please see the page on hotels at the end of this dossier for more details. For Hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the holiday on our website. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied by an experienced English-speaking professional leader throughout the holiday. Spending Money Approximately 100 (or equivalent in US dollars or Euros) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses. This amount will cover tips for the local crew, soft drinks, snacks, and also possibly a lunch in Tangier if you should happen to arrive early on Day 1, as well as a final lunch in Tangier on Day 8 if needed. It is not possible to obtain or exchange Moroccan currency (dirhams) outside the country. You can withdraw money in local currency from ATM s
PAGE 7 in Tangier or your travel money can be carried in the form of cash or travellers cheques. (Sterling, US dollars and Euros are easily exchanged, but note that it can be difficult to exchange traveller s cheques at banks in Morocco). Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and it is a good idea to carry one in case of emergency. Guidance On Tipping Tips are the accepted way of saying thank you to your local guides and porters. They do not form part of their wages and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your trek crew we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. We will provide guidelines on how much to tip the local staff along with your joining instructions but it should be remembered that this is your thank-you to the crew and the final amount should be decided by the group. We estimate that approximately 40 per group member should provide an appropriate level of tips. However, for the KE leader, we leave the tipping amount totally at your own discretion. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking. Baggage Allowance Your baggage on trek transfers by vehicle. The packed weight of your main bag whilst trekking should be no more than 15 kg, but we recommend you take too much on trek with you. It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Morocco UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays.
PAGE 8 Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, like malaria. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Currency The unit of currency in Morocco is the Dhiram. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Climate It will generally be very warm during the day. Spring and Autumn temperatures can range between 15C / 25C in the day but can drop as low as 5C in the night. Evenings are coolers and you are likely to want a fleece jacket. However temperatures even at night are unlikely to be lower than 5C / 40F. It is likely to be dry during your visit but as in all mountain regions, short lived storms do occur and you should be prepared for some rain and even the odd downpour. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/weather#ixzz2mjkkkkqt Books Lonely Planet Guide to Morocco Rough Guide to Morocco Footprint Travel Guide Morocco Morocco, From Empire to Independence; C R Pennell
PAGE 9 Maps Morocco 1:1000,000 Publisher: Reise Know How Vertag. Double sided map dividing North and South Morocco Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow) to Tangier International Airport with BA. Outbound flights will depart from the UK in the morning, arriving into Tangier the same afternoon (day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights will depart Tangier in the early afternoon of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same day. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The dates above are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining at the group hotel intangier. The most convenient airport for transfers to the group hotel is Tangier airport. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, Royal Air Maroc fly from London Heathrow. Alternatively if you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-
PAGE 10 herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly
PAGE 11 recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard. TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 12 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Walking boots or shoes Lightweight gloves (not required for Jul & Aug) Socks Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof over-trousers Underwear Baselayer shirts (short sleeve & long sleeve) Shirts or T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Lightweight waterproof jacket Sunhat Warm hat (not required for Jul & Aug) Sunglasses Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) Sleeping bag (comfort rated to 5ºC)* Antibacterial handwash Washbag and toiletries Small towel Daypack 25 litres Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents dry) Headtorch and spare batteries Basic personal first aid kit, including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Small padlock (to lock your KE kit bag)
PAGE 13?The Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles Sleeping bag liner Trainers or sandals for camp Spare laces Shorts Toilet roll Swimwear Sarong and/or lightweight Beach towel Camera Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Travel clothes Notes *Available for hire/rental through KE Adventure Travel. Remember that KE clients are entitled to a 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor Please note: This document was downloaded on 11 Jan 2018, and the trip is subject to change.