Travelling Tips

Our recommendations for travelling in Morocco:

• That you are fit and healthy to take the trip on foot or mountain bike to make the most of the stunning scenery
• Ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover any health problems

Language

Brush up on basic French before you visit Morocco as not many people speak English outside of main tourist centres

• You will find the Lonely Planet Little Book of Moroccan Arabic very useful

Currency and Credit Cards

It is not possible to get Moroccan dirhams outside Morocco (though you can purchase a small amount at Gatwick at a premium!).  Dirhams can only be obtained inside Morocco and there is a limit of 1000 Dirhams per person which can be exported. 

• It is advisable to bring your spending money in UK Sterling, Euros or US Dollars and change them as necessary.  Dirhams lose about 1/3 of their value when changed back into another currency. 
• Credit cards can be used in cities and larger towns and at some hotels and accommodation but outside towns , cities and carpet shops they are often not accepted.  Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted.  American Express is not widely accepted neither is visa debit card. 
• Garages tend to prefer cash to cards even where the display the credit card sign.
•  Travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Morocco.
• ATMs are only available in cites and often have a limit of 2000dh a day for withdrawals plus your bank could charge you a lot for the privilege unless you are with one of the few banks who do not charge for transactions abroad.

Driving

When driving in Morocco pay attention to speed limits they are stringently enforced:

• You must stop for police and gendarmes where Halte signs appear unless they wave you on
• Do not try running red lights.  Note traffic lights change quickly.  Fines are in cash.
• An international driving permit is advisable which can be bought from post offices in the UK before you leave for Morocco

Water

Only drink bottled or boiled water unless you bring water treatment tablets or powder with you (water treatment is preferable in Sahara so you can drink cool well water)

• The water is safe to brush your teeth with in Tighza
• Water is very hard as it is from source and goes through water storage towers so a strong moisturiser is worth packing
• If there is low rainfall and the resource is being heavily used we cannot guarantee that there will be tap water every day.  In summer the water towers can be empty for several days causing water shortages.  Riad Kasbah Oliver has a water storage tank to try to overcome this.  In 2010 Exodus, Baraka Community Partnerships and the village association built an extra water tower.  If there is a water shortage containers of water will be provided for washing and flushing toilets etc.

Vaccinations

There are no obligatory vaccinations however when travelling in remote areas some may be advisable

• Have your vaccinations in plenty of time. Check with your GP or travel clinic

Luggage

Ruck sacks are preferable to suitcases for walking holidays and easier for mules to carry

Weather

The weather seems to become less predictable year by year however in general it is warm in the mountains during the day even in the winter months and it is rarely very hot (just hot) in the summer and almost never humid. Evenings however can be cool during October through until the end of April.  Clothes that can be worn in layers are therefore advisable so they can be added and removed as necessary.   In Sahara it can be cold at night even in summer. A light rain jacket and a fleece are also advisable.  The sun is very strong as Tighza is 1900m above sea level so sunscreen of at least Factor 30 is advisable as are sunglasses and sun hats.

Customs and Clothing

Bring Flip-flops or slip on shoes as it is customary to remove shoes when walking on mats or carpets in Berber homes.

Bring clothes for hot, wet and also cold weather as changes can be unexpected. Good worn in walking boots or shoes are preferable to trainers as this is medium terrain. 

Please also be respectful of the locals and wear ¾ length or long trousers (as opposed to shorts) and sleeved T-shirts or tops (rather than strappy or vest type T-shirts). Kaftan tops are also a good choice for girls and women.   Women are not expected to wear headscarves or skirts over trousers, but you can if you wish.

Insects and Scorpions

There are no mosquitoes in this region but flies are common during the hotter summer months.  Some of the small ants bite.  There are a lot of people who keep bees but they are mostly docile honeybees and will not sting unless provoked. There can be large numbers of wasps around the agricultural fields in July and August.   Black scorpions (most are small) are around but in general only come out at night looking for water. Scorpion stings from this type of scorpion are rarely serious, the sting does however pose a risk to the very young, the infirm or the elderly (Mohamed has been stung 5 times in his lifetime and he is fighting fit).  Shake your shoes in the morning but mostly they are found outside rather than in the houses.

Email and Mobile Communications

Email access is available at Riad Kasbah Oliver is you bring your own computer with a CD disk drive to load the software onto your computer (which would need to be removed before you leave).  Email is via a fixed phone and there is no computer currently available for public use.

Mobile communications are available though more complex modern phones can take a long time to log onto the network.  Maroc Telecom provide the mobile network in this region and we advise guests staying in Morocco for several weeks to purchase a Moroccan SIM card, it is usually cheaper to do pay as you go than use Roaming on your own phone from home.

Homestays do not have fixed phones and there is no public phone in the village (the nearest is opposite the school about 1km downhill) For guests of Riad Kasbah Oliver you can leave the fixed phone number with relatives if they need to contact you urgently.

Special Diets

Both Homestays and Riad Kasbah Oliver are able to cater for dietary restrictions and allergies so please advise of these at time of booking. 

Meals

Cooked fresh by the family or in the case of Riad Kasbah Oliver by local Berber cooks and are typical Berber cuisine ie. tagine, cous cous, pancakes and bread of various types.