We’ll be back in Marrakech around lunchtime. There will be a drop-off point in the city if you are staying longer in Marrakech and an airport drop-off for those who are flying home. We recommend booking flights after 4 PM today.

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

If you are extending your stay in Marrakech, we recommend staying at Riad La Cle D’or.

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Every non-Moroccan visitor to Morocco requires a current passport, valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry and with a minimum of two blank pages. All visitors are given a 90-day entry upon arrival.

Important: A copy of your passport must be emailed to the Wild Women Expeditions office by 130-days pre-trip.

Visa:

Most visitors to Morocco don’t need a visa, including citizens from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, including Ireland.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

While tipping isn't mandatory in Morocco, tips are very welcomed and has become a regular practice showing your appreciation for good service. Rounding up the bill and leaving spare change at restaurants and cafes is generally standard practice.

Your tour leader may help organize a ‘tipping kitty’ where she can help manage the tips and then one person in the group may volunteer to present a tip on behalf of the group. This total amount will differ depending on how many people are on the tour but it’s usually about 500 MAD pp. The kitty will include gratuities for local guides, tea with local families, some restaurants, etc.

We recommend tipping your driver $5USD per day, per guest, and your guide $10USD per day per guest (or the equivalent in local currency MAD).

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum of two people per room), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel partner.

Private Upgrade

A private upgrade can be requested, pending availability. To request for this upgrade, please contact support@wildwomenexpeditions.com.

Potable Water

Water in Morocco is not considered potable for visitors. When on the road, tour leaders suggest the purchase of larger (5L) water bottles to refill your personal re-useable water bottle. Potable water is provided at all accommodations.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

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Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Coté Ocean Mogador, Essaouira

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE ESSOUIRA

About

Wild Women Expedition’s 3-day Essaouira express allows you to have a quick but satisfying taste of this beloved oceanside city. You’ll have the rare opportunity for a full day of exploration that you can design as you wish! Upon arrival, an expert local guide will introduce the group to the city with an orientation walk and a unique pick-your-own lunch experience at the market.

Options for your free day in the port city will be provided by the guide. Rest assured as your hotel for the two night stay is reserved and breakfast and dinners with the group are pre-planned.

On this quick coastal getaway you’ll learn of the spiritual and magnetic charm of Essaouira and why it attracted the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon. In the early fifties, film director and actor Orson Welles stayed in Essaouira while filming the classic version of Othello.

While walking the labyrinthine streets and serpentine alleys of the medina (old city) look for the memorable movie scenes–or, make your own!

This extension is the ideal way to chill out on the coast and reflect on your Ultimate Morocco or Morocco Explorer experience.

Animals & Bugs

The most common animals that will be seen in Morocco are domestic: donkeys, mules, camels, dogs, cats and goats (sheep and cattle in some areas).

If you are trekking or hiking in Morocco, you should be aware that there are potentially hazardous creatures living in the area including snakes, scorpions and palm rats that can all deliver nasty and dangerous bites. Luckily, being bitten is a rare occurrence and most travelers will never even see these animals and your guides will explain ways to ensure encounters are avoided.

Morocco is considered to be a non-malaria region and inoculations are generally not required. Please check with your local travel clinic for up to date information.

Bugs are more annoying than dangerous, but look out for sandflies on the beaches and in the dunes, and mosquitoes. All bites are at risk of infection, so it’s better to avoid them in the first place, with a DEET-based repellent.

Climate & Weather:

Morocco is a desert country and you may experience highly fluctuating weather.

November to March is the period of winter and Morocco can be chilly, especially in the mountains and near the desert, and almost always at night. Sometimes even in the hotter months out in the desert it can get cold at night.

Temperatures begin warming up in February and March marks the beginning of springtime in Morocco. Spring temperatures in Morocco grow warmer during the day, with average daytime temperatures of 68 - 75°F (20 - 24°C), depending on the area of the country you visit. Nights are still chilly, though, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 51 - 57°F (11 - 14°C) degrees. By April, average temperatures are rising a bit more during the day, but again, expect the fluctuations between day and night.

May to September is the summer period and the heat reaches most locations. People that are not used to heat may find it uncomfortable.

In October, you’ll find the weather still warm, but average temperatures will begin to lower during the day and night during the fall season. Again, best to be prepared for the possibility of rain, as well as fluctuating temperatures.

The weather can vary a lot from one region to another. While conditions along the coast are usually warm and pleasant, with plenty of sun and little rain, if traveling around the country it is good to be prepared for rain.

If traveling in the Atlas or Rif Mountains in late winter and spring, it is still possible to run into snow. A visit to the Sahara desert may surprise you with the extreme difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures. If visiting the desert overnight, be sure to bring extra layers, even though days can be quite hot.

Wearing layers is the best way to work with and adapt to the Moroccan climate.

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

The Moroccan currency is not convertible outside Morocco, so it is best to withdraw only what is needed once in Morocco. Exchange your cash (CAD, USD) or use your credit card, when you arrive at the airport bank exchange or use local bank ATM’s and currency exchanges in the cities and medinas as you travel.

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

Banks and ATMs are available almost everywhere on the tour except in some rural locations. The tour leaders will advise when this is the case so our guests can withdraw or exchange in advance.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are accepted by most large shops, hotels and restaurants, although smaller vendors and market stalls often only accept cash.

Cash

Once you arrive in Morocco, you can exchange or withdraw the Moroccan Dirham (DH or MAD) which is the local currency. It is recommended to do this immediately upon arrival at the airport using your credit card or cash (USD, CAD, Euro).

Taxes

There are no taxes paid on the top of any service on the tour. Very few restaurants charge tax or service on the top and based on the itinerary, this will not happen very often, if at all.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Get Stoked! Trip Preview Video
Blog: Edible Morocco: Did Someone Say Berber Pizza?

Useful Websites:

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Hill Training.

The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].