The Women’s Travel Tribe Morocco (Nov) – Final Details

Magical Morocco

November 6th – 18th, 2023

Important Details

Tourist Visas

Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries are allowed to enter Morocco without a visa for stays of less than 90 days. As a result, no preparations are needed and you do not need to obtain a tourist visa for this trip. Upon arrival in the country, the immigration officer will simply stamp your passport and you’ll be allowed to enter.

Airport Arrival & Pickup

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at Casablanca’s International Airport:

• After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection.
• Once through immigration, follow the signs and go downstairs to the luggage area. Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection.
• After you exit the baggage/customs area, you’ll enter the Arrivals Hall. Please head for the main exit of the Arrivals Hall and walk outside. Once outside you will find a driver with a sign that says “The Women’s Travel Tribe.” (Only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the airport so all drivers must wait outside.)

If you are unable to find your driver, please contact your tour leader, Luna, at +34 722 38 09 29 or our local representative, Ismail, at +212 5224-52967

Please note: When arriving into Morocco, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Casablanca. Here are the details:

Aparthotel Adagio Casablanca, 279 Boulevard Bir Anzarane, Casablanca, 20250, Morocco

Arrival / Departure Airport

For this tour, please ensure your arrival flight is booked to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). While you can depart from either Marrakech or Casablanca, we recommend departing from Marrakech since that’s where the tour concludes. If you choose to depart from the Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), we’ll organize your transfer, with the airport just 10 minutes from the hotel. However, if you opt for a departure from Casablanca, we can offer a transfer at an additional charge, keeping in mind the journey takes about 2.5 hours.

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

Tour Leader

The tour leader for your trip is Luna Rodriguez, a well-traveled guide who has led multiple tours across various destinations. She will be with you every step of the way, sharing her extensive knowledge and passion for travel. Luna will introduce herself and share more details when we create the group WhatsApp chat approximately 2 weeks before the tour.”

**Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!

Local currency

The local currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 10 MAD.

In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $30 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in country. This is the easiest so that you don’t need to carry around large amounts of cash. However, check with your bank at home as some banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.

If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices that are located all over the country.

*US dollars are not accepted anywhere in Morocco. You must make purchases in the local currency.

*Credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants, cafes and shops in cities and larger towns. In more rural areas, cash is generally the main payment option, so it’s always better to have local currency.

Tipping

Tipping in Morocco is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:

➜ Restaurants – 7% – 10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
➜ Hotel staff – 10 MAD if someone helps you with luggage or anything else.
➜ Our drivers – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives a $50 USD tip for our driver. We will collect this on the last day and give it to our driver before we say goodbye.
➜ Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative.

*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.

Staying Connected

As Morocco is a developing country, strong internet is not quite widespread. While almost all of the accommodations have Wi-Fi (except the desert camp), the connection can be poor at times, so be prepared to be offline more than you’re probably used to back home. In general, the internet access will work and you’ll be able to do whatever you need to do online, but it might take longer than normal with the potentially spotty connection.

The easiest way to stay connected during the tour will be to purchase an E-SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.

We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.

Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.

Accommodation / Air conditioning

On this tour, air conditioning is available in all of our hotels except for the Sahara Desert camp. However there is nothing to worry about, as the desert usually cools down significantly at night.

Itinerary

November 6th: Casablanca / ARRIVAL DAY

• Private transfer to the hotel
• Welcome dinner

➜ Accommodation: Aparthotel Adagio
➜ Included meals: Breakfast (for the participants who booked the pre-trip accommodation with us), Dinner

November 7th: Casablanca ➜ Rabat ➜ Fes

• 1.5-hour drive to the capital city of Rabat
• Walking tour through the medina, where we’ll explore sights such as the remarkable Hassan Tower, wander the mysterious old town, and visit the historical Jewish neighborhood.
• Group lunch
• 3-hour drive to Fes
• Home-made dinner prepared by our hosts

➜ Accommodation: Riad Nass Zmane
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

November 8th: Fes

• Half-day walking tour of the colorful souks with a visit to leather tanneries, traditional weavers and much more
• Visit to an impressive traditional school
• Group lunch at a local restaurant
• Free time to wander through the markets
• Dinner back at our riad

➜ Accommodation: Riad Nass Zmane
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

November 9th: Fes ➜ Volubilis ➜ Wine Tasting ➜ Fes

• 1.5-hour drive to the archeological site of Volubilis
• Guided tour through the well-preserved Roman ruins, tracing back the centuries-old history
• Visit to a local winery, where we’ll get a taste of the little-known Moroccan wine industry, complemented by an on-site lunch
• Return to Fes
• Free time in the evening to relax or explore more of Fes at your own pace

➜ Accommodation: Riad Nass Zmane
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

November 10th: Fes ➜ Middle Atlas ➜ Ifrane ➜ Merzouga

• 9-hour scenic drive to Merzouga with stops at Ifrane, Ziz Valley and many other interesting locations, all while admiring the beautiful Middle Atlas Mountains
• Arrival in Merzouga in time to catch the sunset over the desert
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Riad Madu
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 11th: Sahara Desert

• Morning visit to a local Gnoua village with time to interact with the amazing and friendly locals
• Optional Berber Pizza lunch
• Walk through the desert town of Merzouga
• 1.5-hour camel trek or 30-minute jeep safari across the sand dunes
• Arrival at our Sahara Desert camp
• Settle into our tents and watch the sunset over the dunes
• Dinner at the desert camp

➜ Accommodation: Madu Camp
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 12th: Merzouga ➜ Dades Valley

• Head back to Merzouga
• Stop at a fossil workshop and learn from the times the desert was an ocean
• Arrival at Dades Valley
• Dinner at our beautiful riad

➜ Accommodation: Chez Pierre
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 13th: Dades Valley

• Full-day 4WD off-road excursion of the Dades Valley, where you will get to see remote towns and dramatic landscapes
• Visit to a nomadic Berber community that lives in the mountain caves
• Group lunch
• Return to our riad in the evening
• Mouth-watering dinner at our hotel

➜ Accommodation: Chez Pierre
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

November 14th: Dades Valley

• Optional light walk along the otherworldly Monkey Fingers
• Visit to a local village that sits at the foot of these impressive natural formations
• Visit to a local friend’s home, where you will be able to interact with locals, learn about their culture and enjoy a home-cooked lunch in their home
• Free time to wander the village and interact with the friendly locals

➜ Accommodation: Chez Pierre
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

November 15th: Dades Valley ➜ Marrakech

• 8-hour drive to Marrakech through the grand High Atlas Mountains with several stops along the way
• Stop at Ouarzazate, the center of the film industry in Morocco
• Group lunch in the off-the-beaten-path town of Tisseldei
• Check-in to our hotel
• Free time to relax or start exploring Marrakech
• Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Stars Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 16th: Marrakech

• Half-day walking tour of the amazing city of Marrakech, including the Bahia Palace, Jemaa el-Fnaa, the tin workers lane and more
• Free time to explore Marrakech
• Dinner at the local pop-up food market

➜ Accommodation: Stars Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 17th: Marrakech

• Free day to explore the markets, get pampered at a traditional hammam, relax at the hotel and many other options. Our tour leader will be on hand to assist
• Farewell dinner

➜ Accommodation: Stars Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

November 18th: Marrakech / Departure Day

• Transfer to the Marrakech Airport or Casablanca (2.5-hour drive)

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

What’s Included?

➜ Wandering Earl Tours expert leader throughout the tour
➜ Small group (maximum 12 participants)
➜ Accommodation (12 nights – 4* riads, hotels and a desert camp)
➜ Transportation within Morocco (deluxe vans)
➜ Local guides in each destination
➜ All mentioned activities, entrance fees and workshops
➜ Breakfast every day, 5 lunches and 11 dinners
➜ Water throughout the trip
➜ Gratuities at hotels/included meals
➜ All airport transfers (Casablanca arrival / Marrakech departure)

What’s Not Included?

➜ Flights to/from Morocco
➜ Meals and activities not mentioned
➜ Travel insurance
➜ Gratuities

Covid-19 Disclaimer

Please note that in the event of any interruption to your tour experience as a result of your testing positive for Covid-19, our staff will be on hand to assist with making any arrangements that need to be made. This could include accommodation booking, transportation, scheduling additional Covid-19 tests, etc. However, it is important to understand that you would be fully responsible for all expenses incurred related to interruptions to the trip and/or medical treatment needed as a result of a positive Covid-19 test before, during or after the trip. We highly recommend having a travel/health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 related situations. By participating in the tour, you are confirming your understanding of the above.

That’s all for now! If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at team@wanderingearl.com.