Ryad Mogador Menzah

Avenue Mohammed VI,

Marrakesh,

Morocco

Tel: +212 05 24 42 49 00

Fax: +212 05 24 42 49 08

http://www.ryadmogador.com/

Marrakesh.  You will be met at the airport and transported to the hotel. The hotel is a short walk to the old city medina. There is a swimming pool at the hotel.

Please ensure that you have provided Kumuka with your flight details to enable us to organise the included arrival transfer. 

The pre-departure meeting will be held in the hotel at 6pm, giving you a chance to meet your Tour Leader and fellow passengers, and go through the itinerary.

Marrakesh to Ouarzazate.  An early start after breakfast for our journey to Ouarzazate with our guide. The route goes over the high passes of the Atlas mountains and near the highest mountain in North Africa, Jbel Toubkal. After a lunch stop at the highest point we descend to a completely different landscape of pre desert rocks and kasbahs. We stop to visit the fortified settlement of Ait Ben Haddou (the setting for the film Gladiator), a wonderfully preserved fortified town built out of the local stone and mud into ornate structures. Carrying on a further 20km we reach Ouarzazate where we overnight. It will be about 5 to 6 hours travel today.  (B)

Camel Safari.  We continue to Mhamid, where we will meet the camel team for our  2 days adventure in the Sahara Desert, trekking with camels over the sand, and camping in the wildness of the sand dunes. The  camels are available to ride at any time, and they will carry all of your luggage. Picnics and evening meals will be cooked by part of the guide team.

The camel safari is full board camping in 2 person tents in the desert. We provide a large mess tent and 2 person tents, and all camping material apart from sleeping bags. Please ensure you bring your own sleeping bags. Camelteers will accompany us.

After the trek we return to Zagora, for a shower and a night in the hotel.  (Full board whilst on camel trek)

Ouarzazate to Marrakesh.  We return over the High Atlas to Marrakesh, and the remainder of the day is free – maybe for some last minute souvenir shopping in the souks. (B)

Ryad Mogador Menzah

Avenue Mohammed VI,

Marrakesh,

Morocco

Tel: +212 05 24 42 49 00

Fax: +212 05 24 42 49 08

http://www.ryadmogador.com/

All optional excursions and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, visas, pre- and post-tour accommodation.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. An arrival transfer is included, so please ensure that you have provided us with your flight arrival details so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Morocco however we do advise that you are up-to-date with your tetanus and polio vaccines. If you are travelling further you may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.

 We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.

- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.

- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

Maybe you’ve heard of ‘Morocco belly’ but don’t panic, most upset stomachs are caused by the simple change in climate and cuisine and, more often, by the hot weather i.e. dehydration. Your tour leader will be able to advise you on a course of action should you feel poorly plus Morocco’s pharmaceutical/chemist industry is first class.

We strongly advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Insect repellent/bite cream. Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

Look for anything written by Paul Bowles as there would be a good chance that Morocco, or at least North Africa, will be featured. He has also translated a number of books, written by Arabic authors, into English. Esther Freud’s Hideous Kinky is an easy read of an English mother and daughter in Marrakech. A plethora of guide books have been published for Morocco, including Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and Insight.

Euro’s are the easiest cash currency to change into the local Moroccan currency, the dirham (MDH). Pounds Sterling and US Dollars are also fairly easy to change. New Zealand and Australian Dollars are not accepted in Morocco. The dirham is a closed currency and can therefore be extremely difficult to exchange outside the country.Although travellers cheques are the safest option for travelling, specifically in Morocco they can become quite a hassle to exchange. Most banks in Morocco only accept foreign cash for exchange.

Credit Cards are not acceptable in most shops and should only be relied upon in capital cities; they are obviously also useful in case of emergency. However, most bank ATM’s will accept cash withdrawals from cards displaying the visa, mastercard, plus and maestro logos. Please don’t wholly rely on this, though!

We suggest passengers budget for between Euro75 and Euro110 per week for personal expenses, souvenirs, evenings out, alcoholic drinks etc.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Morocco has some of the most spectacular photographic opportunities in the world, so come prepared! Colour photographic print film (100-200 ASA) and the subsequent processing/developing (sometimes good, sometimes dodgy) are widely available. Slide, black & white or faster print film is best purchased before you come. Downloading of digital images onto disc is becoming more and more available, although digital supplies (memory card etc) are still hard to find. Other general photographic supplies (filters etc) and camera repairs are also hard to find. Tripods tend to be bulky and cumbersome and a versatile beanbag is a good substitute.

Important – Protect your camera from the elements, particularly dust, as getting your camera repaired will be impossible in most places.

Please remember, we are guests in Morocco and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs. It is best to ask permission first and then perhaps offer some small change afterwards should the subject request (an absolute given in the souqs of Marrakech and Fes). It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations, or at members of the police and armed forces. The Royal Guards at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, are the one exception to this general rule. They don’t even ask for payment but may ask for your email address!

Morocco, the culinary star of North Africa, is the doorway between Europe and Africa. Moroccan cooking is characterised by rich spices. Cumin, coriander, saffron, chiles, dried ginger, cinnamon, and paprika are widely used. Harissa, a paste of garlic, chiles, olive oil, and salt, makes for fiery dishes that stand out among the milder foods that are more the Mediterranean norm. Ras el hanout (which means head of the shop) names a dried spice mixture that combines anywhere from 10 to 100 spices. Each vendor has his own secret recipe (hence the name), and no two are exactly alike. Couscous, granular semolina, is central to Morrocan cuisine and is often cooked with spices, vegetables, nuts, and raisins. It makes a meal in itself or is topped with rich stews and roasted meats. Lamb is a principal meat - Moroccan roasted lamb is cooked until tender enough to be pulled apart and eaten with the fingers. It is often topped with raisin and onion sauces, or even an apricot puree. Meat and fish can be grilled, stewed, or cooked in an earthenware tagine (the name for both the pot and the dish). Savory foods are enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh - apricots, dates, figs and raisins, to name a few. Lemons preserved in a salt-lemon juice mixture bring a unique face to many Moroccan chicken dishes. Nuts are prominent; pine nuts, almonds, and pistachios show up in all sorts of unexpected places. Moroccan sweets are rich and dense confections of cinnamon, almond, and fruit perfumes that are rolled in filo dough, soaked in honey, and stirred into puddings.  

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs or allergies can be catered for, however in some restaurants the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs. We will attempt to provide for these special requests, however they cannot be guaranteed. Ensure your tour leader is aware of any special requests and he/she should be able to make a plan for you each meal.

For many tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all markets prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but do not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Although Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by a third party.

Details and prices of optional activities will be advised by your tour leader.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com