Accommodation
5 nights in riad/traditional-style hotels, 1 night in a simple village house and 8 nights camping in the Jebel Saghro region.
Transport
A chartered vehicle is provided for transfers between Marrakech and El Kelaa – capacity, make and model depending on final group size. During the 10 day trek mules carry camp equipment, tents and luggage.
Meals
14 breakfasts ■ 9 lunches ■ 9 dinners
Staff
A local Moroccan leader/mountain guide accompanies this trip throughout ■ Berber cook and muleteers support the trek once in the Jebel Saghro region.
Age Restriction
Minimum age 14. This trek is unsuitable for younger children unable to cope with the demands of a trekking tour of this type.
Optional Activities
Optional activities available in Marrakech include a scrub up at a local hammam ■ A guided walking tour of Marrakech medina ■ An optional balloon flight.
What To Bring
A suggested full packing list is available on request but essential items include:
Well broken-in walking boots ■ Warm clothing including fleece jacket ■ Long trousers ■ Raincoat ■ Hat, sunglasses and long sleeved shirt for protection against the sun ■ Take a kit bag for ease of transportation of your luggage by mules ■ A daypack for every day items needed on trek ■ A water bottle and trek/walking poles ■ A 4-season sleeping bag ■ Foam mat
Group Size
This trek can be run with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 16 people and is well-suited to smaller private groups.
Other Information
This trek provides a great insight into typical Berber village life and is escorted by mule handlers from the local area. There is thus plenty of opportunity for interaction with the Berber people who live in this region.
As a responsible Moroccan company, a fair and reasonable price is paid for mules, mule handlers and local guides. By visiting the region that this trek operates in you make a direct contribution to the local economy.
Please attempt to minimize the amount of packaging and disposable items you take with you – much of this trek travels through rugged wilderness areas where waste disposal facilities are very limited.
A Typical Day on a ‘Rendez-vous Marocain’ Trek
Wake-up shortly after sunrise ■ Light breakfast ■ Pack luggage (not accessible for rest of day) and take down tents ■ Luggage loaded on to mules ■ Commence walking until lunch break ■ Regular photo stops en route ■ Dried fruit and nuts distributed by guide at regular intervals ■ Picnic or cooked lunch in the shade usually around noon ■ Continue walking until reaching our village or wilderness accommodation for the night – either camp, village house or perhaps a gite ■ Erect own tents, help local crew set-up camp or prepare food (speeds things up) ■ Dinner served around 19h00 – usually traditional Berber cuisine of couscous, tasty tagines, fresh fruit and mint tea ■ Perhaps a spot of star-gazing before turning in for the night.
Operator Remarks
Hiking trails used by Berbers over countless years, this walking holiday is graded as 'Active' with between 4 to 8 hours a day of walking at altitudes of around 2000 metres. Camping along the trek route is simple, with camping areas often within walking distance of villages or in true wilderness areas.
