Wandering Earl Morocco (Oct) – Final Details

Wander Across Morocco

October 1st – 13th, 2024

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

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 “Wandering Earl Tours.” (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, Liz, at +52 984-156-3855 or our local representative, Ismail, at +212 5224-52967

Please note: When arriving in 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 the 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 Liz Aceves, who has led multiple tours across various destinations. She will be with you every step of the way, taking care of you while sharing her passion for travel.

*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 give 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

October 1st: Casablanca / Arrival Day

Airport transfers
Welcome dinner featuring traditional Moroccan dishes

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

October 2nd: 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 journey to Fes, a city renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage
Home-made dinner prepared by our hosts

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

October 3rd: Fes

Half-day walking tour of the colorful souks with a visit to leather tanneries, traditional weavers, and much more
Optional group lunch at a local restaurant
Free time to wander this magnificent city – the largest medina in the world – on your own
Dinner back at our riad

Accommodation: Riad Nass Zmane
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

October 4th: Fes ➜ Middle Atlas ➜ Ifrane ➜ Merzouga

9-hour scenic drive to Merzouga with stops at Ifrane (known as “Morocco’s Switzerland), the Ziz Valley (breathtaking gorge that carves through the mountains), 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

October 5th: Sahara Desert

Morning visit to a local Gnoua village with time to interact with the amazing and friendly locals
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, Lunch, Dinner

October 6th: 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: Eden Boutique Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

October 7th: 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: Eden Boutique Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

October 8th: Dades Valley

Optional hike 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: Eden Boutique Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

October 9th: 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
Optional lunch in the off-the-beaten-path town of Tisseldei
Check-in to our hotel
Free evening to relax or start exploring Marrakech

Accommodation: IBN Batouta
Included meals: Breakfast

October 10th: 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, roam the markets or treat yourself to a traditional hammam experience
Dinner at the local pop-up food market, where the flavors of Morocco come alive under the stars

Accommodation: IBN Batouta
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

October 11th: Marrakech ➜ Essaouria

Morning 3-hour drive to the laid-back coastal town of Essaouira
Fresh fish lunch at the local markets
Walking tour of this unique destination, including the old Portuguese fortress, visit traditional and famous woodworkers and friendly markets
Free time to enjoy town, with options such as relaxing at a local hammam, taking a surf lesson at the beach or enjoying one of the many cafés
Optional group dinner

Accommodation: Riad Al Madina
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

October 12th: Essaouira ➜ Marrakech

Free morning at leisure to enjoy the relaxed old town on your own
3-hour drive back to Marrakech, including a stop at an authentic argan oil collective to learn about this unique product
Farewell dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city