Merzouga desert trek from Fes – 8 days

All meals are included during Merzouga desert trek from Breakfast on Day 2 to Lunch on Day 7.

Mineral water is provided during this Morocco desert trek, but it’s strictly for drinking purposes only. Please use it carefully. For washing, a small basin of water will be provided each  evenings in the camp. We appreciate your cooperation in using towels also, as accessing water in the desert is challenging
During the trek, all food is sourced locally and prepared by our skilled trek cooks. Our cook and crew consistently amazes Morocco hike tours groups with their culinary creations!

Breakfast, tea, coffee, milk, chocolate… jams, honey, cheese… bread, sometimes Berber pancakes.

Lunches usually starts with a cup of mint tea, assorted salads, and a hot dish, fruits,… (Vegetables are washed, peeled).

Dinner, starts off with soup and bread. The main course is usually rice, pasta, couscous, 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), however meat is not prominent in the menu. All dishes come with traditional sauces which are rarely (spicy) hot. To round off dinner, there is the usual range of hot drinks and some fruits.

While we make efforts to accommodate vegetarians, the options may be limited at times. Unfortunately, we may not always be able to accommodate special dietary needs due to the nature of our trips and the area we visit. It can be challenging, and in some cases impossible, to cater to a wide range of dietary preferences. You may need to bring supplementary food or snacks from home if your dietary needs are specific. For inquiries about specific dietary requirements, please contact our sales team. Please understand that we cannot guarantee to fulfill all requests and cannot be held liable for any issues related to dietary restrictions or intolerances.

During this Merzouga desert trek, the group will spend two nights in a riad or hotel in Fes on an en-suite basis including breakfast and one night in a hotel in Merzouga including breakfast and dinner. While there are a range of high-end hotels in Fes, we try to strike the right balance of a comfortable and conveniently located base while maintaining a really good value holiday. While trekking, we have 3 nights in a wild camping and one night in a domestic desert camp.

If you are traveling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single hotel rooms and/or single rooms and single tent are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning on extending your holiday, additional nights at the group hotel or in a range of different hotels and riads in Fes are available on request.

The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader proficient in English or another language of your preference, depending on the confirmation date. Additionally, the group will be supported by a full trek crew, which includes a cook responsible for preparing our meals, as well as baggage animals (camels), and their handlers..

Merzouga desert trek involves hiking at relatively low altitudes. During this trek, you will reach elevations exceeding 600 meters.

Plan to hold around £150 per person (or its equivalent in US dollars or Euros) for tips, soft drinks, snacks, and other incidental expenses. Keep in mind that additional costs may arise for souvenirs, and optional activities, so it’s wise to budget for these separately.

While Moroccan Dirhams are not typically available for purchase outside the country, you can conveniently withdraw local currency from ATMs upon your arrival at the airport or in Fes. ATMs offer the option to withdraw funds in pounds sterling, dollars, or euros, which you can easily exchange at the airport. Carrying a credit card is advisable for emergencies and additional peace of mind.

Tipping is the customary way to express gratitude to your local guides and porters. It’s important to note that tips do not constitute a part of their wages; rather, they are viewed as a personal gesture of appreciation from group members. We advise our local teams that tips are not obligatory or expected but are rather a reflection of the service provided.
It is customary for the group to collectively decide on the final amount of tips to be distributed among the guide, driver, and hotels team, as their responsibilities differ. We suggest that approximately from £55 per group member would be an appropriate amount to ensure fair compensation, which you can give directly to them.

For this Merzouga desert Trek from Fes, you should bring one piece of luggage (maximum weight on arrival at the group hotel is dependent on your international flight restrictions) and a day pack (of around 30 – 40 litres). no rigid suitcase, for your belongings (top opening, more practical); your bags will be handled several times and carried by camels. (Maximum 15kg/person), and no fresh produce should be left in these bags.

You can, of course, leave any type of baggage at the hotel in Fes, including any items you do not need on the trek, as well as your suitcase if you prefer to travel with it, and pick these up when you return.

Your main bag will be transferred between overnight stops, and you should have this ready for collection before breakfast each morning. The bag will normally be delivered to our next camp by 16 :30, but this may vary depending on the day.

Upon your arrival at the airport, you can purchase a SIM card for 1 euro, or sometimes it’s free. Then, all you need to do is top it up with an internet option, and you’ll have a connection when needed. We recommend Maroc Telecom as the company, but please keep in mind that in some places, other companies might offer better service. It all depends on the reception in each area.

All our trekking and tours proposals in Morocco by Morocco hike tours are guaranteed for a minimum of two people. There is a required minimum number of participants to ensure the trip proceeds. Once this minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from ‘Available’ to ‘Guaranteed to run.

If you suffer from a severe allergy, kindly notify the Morocco Hike Tours Team (support) prior to your departure. While we will make every effort to assist you, please note that we cannot ensure an allergy-free environment during Your trip to Morocco. It is imperative that you carry your own allergy treatment, as ‘adrenaline auto-injectors’ are not provided as standard equipment by Morocco Hike Tours leaders and staff. Upon arrival, please inform your leader about your allergy and indicate the location where you store your adrenaline pen.

Vaccinations:&It’s advisable to reach out to your physician or travel clinic to verify if any particular vaccinations are necessary for your trip.

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• Less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• Valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

Travelers hailing from the UK, US, and EU typically enjoy visa-free access to Morocco. However, it’s essential to bear in mind that visa regulations can undergo alterations. Ensuring compliance with visa prerequisites falls under your purview for this journey. Hence, we advise consulting the closest embassy or consulate pertaining to your designated destination(s), as well as any countries involved in transit or transfer.

Certain local authorities furnish information regarding the requisite visas for their nationals. To assist you further, we’ve compiled a set of helpful links below:

• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Morocco.html
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/morocco
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/morocco

If you wish to have your clothes washed during your stay in Morocco, it will be possible for an additional fee of 10 Dirhams per item (underwear not accepted) and 4/5 Dirhams per item for ironing.

Preparing with some extra physical activity prior to embarking on an active vacation is highly advisable. Enhancing your fitness level beforehand will undoubtedly enhance the overall enjoyment of your trip.
Being in good physical condition and accustomed to walking for 3 to 5 hours on consecutive days is recommended. Engaging in hill walking, incorporating both ascent and descent, serves as optimal preparation. Additionally, activities such as running, cycling, and swimming are beneficial for improving cardiovascular endurance and stamina.

Morocco’s monetary unit is known as the Moroccan Dirham. Below are some currency exchange rates, which can fluctuate daily:
– 1 Pound Sterling = 12.5 Dirham
– 1 Australian Dollar = 6.5 Dirham
– 1 Canadian Dollar = 7.4 Dirham
– 1 US Dollar = 10.00 Dirham
– 1 Euro = 10.6 Dirham.

The weather typically offers pleasant conditions with daytime temperatures ranging between 20 and 25°C, and nighttime temperatures dropping to 7 – 10°C. However, there are instances when nighttime temperatures may plummet to as low as 3°C, so remember to pack a fleece jacket from December to the beginning of March .

Morocco Hike Tours does not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We ensure that all our staff across Morocco work together to reduce this issue and educate those around them. During our desert and mountain treks, we are committed to collecting our rubbish and bringing it back to the big cities. Our footprints are the only thing we should leave behind.

To participate in a holiday organized by Morocco Hike Tours, it is imperative that you possess a valid travel insurance policy. This insurance should adequately cover the expenses related to medical treatment and safeguard the value of your holiday in case of cancellation. Prior to obtaining insurance, please verify that the chosen policy provides coverage for the activities and altitudes specified in your itinerary.

In the event that one participant leaves the group for any reason, the customer must assume responsibility for all the charges, and no reimbursement will be provided.

This trek operates from October to April, and is flexible to depart on any date of your preference within these months.

Please select the trek that piques your interest, then reach out to us via email to initiate a discussion regarding your preferred trek and to verify its availability. Once we have agreed upon the specifics of your trek, including its duration, route, and the number of participants, we will proceed to make a tentative reservation, providing you with the dates and associated costs.
To secure your booking, we kindly request a 20% deposit, which can be paid online through a bank transfer in Euros, pounds sterling, or US dollars. The remaining balance is settled upon arrival in Morocco, payable in cash using the same currencies—Euros, sterling, or dollars—at the outset of the trek.
Please note: Should you find it inconvenient to carry cash, you have the option to settle the balance online via bank transfer a few days prior to the departure date.

Our Cancellation Policy:

• If the trip is canceled at the discretion of our agency, you will be eligible for a full refund of the amount paid.
• If the trip is canceled by you more than 30 days before the trip date, the amount paid will be retained as credit for a future trip, valid for two years (24 months).
• If the trip is canceled by you less than one month (29 days or fewer) before the trip date, the amount paid will be retained as credit for a future trip, valid for one year (12 months).

In areas with low tourist numbers (Berber villages in the desert such as in the Atlas), men are advised to avoid very short shorts, tank tops or loose shirts. The same goes for women, avoiding transparent fabrics and tight-fitting outfits. A scarf on your hair is not essential. You can try to dress in local fashion, which seems better suited to the climate.

This packing guide aims to assist you in organizing your belongings efficiently. It’s advisable to aim for minimal weight when packing your equipment.

Please ensure you have the following items with you:

• Hiking boots
• Trainers or sandals to wear after returning to the lodge.
• Socks & underwear
• Trekking trousers / shorts (please respect local culture and don’t wear in villages)
• Lightweight waterproof over-trousers
• Thermal baselayers
• T-shirts / tops / shirts
• Fleece jacket or warm jumper
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Sunhat / Warm hat
• Sunglasses
• Lightweight thermal or fleece gloves
• Daypack 30 litres
• Headtorch and spare batteries
• Sun protection (including lip sun screen)
• Water bottles 1 Litre (x2), a camelbak or platypus is useful (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
• Small padlock (to lock your kit bag)
• A selection of dry bags (to keep kit bag contents dry)
• Antibacterial handwash
• Washbag and toiletries
• Small trek towel
• Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).

You have the choice to opt for the following items:

• Sleeping bag liner
• Down jacket
• Trekking poles (recommended)
• Camera
• Travel clothes (can be left in Fes in a foldaway bag)
• Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
• Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
• Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Item to rent:
– Sleeping bag: €25 per person
– Single tent: €30 per person
– Private Camel Ride: €150/p
– Car rental: from €40, lease this via Morocco Hike Tours.