Includes
Private vehicle, walking, 4x4.
Hotels (2 nts), Desert Camp (2 nts), Traditional Riad (3 nts).
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
Vehicle fees during the tour: tour vehicles will be arranged according to the final group size (one seat per guest).
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Meeting - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Marrakech
Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class Workshop, Marrakech. Film Studio visit in Ouarzazate. Welcome Tea and bonfire at Erg Lihoudi desert camp. A camel ride and 4x4 jeep excursion to desert oasis camp. Cooking class in Marrakech. Food tasting in the medina. Tea on terrace overlooking Jemaa El Fnaa. Visit to Jardin Secret or Bahia Palace. Local bakery stop for some moroccan bread. Tanjia pots lunch. Visit to Ouzoud, an oasis waterfall. Dinner in Jamaa Fnaa Square food stall. Free time in Marrakech. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Excludes
What are the tipping guidelines for this trip? Tipping is a way of life in Morocco. Locals themselves will usually tip anyone who provides them with services. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement the low salary and wages of Morocco.
While on tour in Morocco, it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, taxis and van drivers. Tips are regarded as an essential means of supplementing income for those working in the tourism industry.
To make things as easy as possible and avoid embarrassing situations, G Adventures has developed a tipping kitty system where your CEO will collect a contribution from everybody at the start of your tour and use this kitty to tip anybody who has provided services to the group as a whole. On Day 1 of your tour, your CEO will be able to advise on the amount required from everybody to form the tipping kitty for your trip. (this does not include your G Adventures CEO). You can pay in USD or the equivalent local currency (preferably local currency MAD). The CEO will be able to advise you on the exchange rate and the total required in either currency.
If at any time you feel that any service provider failed in maintaining or delivering good service, please bring it immediately to the attention of your CEO so a deduction of tips can take place.
At the end of your trip if you felt that your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is also expected and appreciated. The precise amount is entirely a personal preference, however $8-11 USD per person per day can be used as a general guideline.
What should I consider when planning my personal expenses and discretionary spending for this itinerary? Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
What activities are optional on this trip? Marrakech
- Musée de Marrakech (50MAD per person)
- El Badi Palace (70MAD per person)
- Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Museum
- Djemaa El Fna Market Square Walk
- Koubba Ba’adiyn (40MAD per person)
- Hot Air Balloon Marrakech
What are the meals like on this trip? Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Breakfasts
Moroccan breakfasts tend to be different from your usual cereal and toast morning fare – most will be very simple - a croissant or sweet roll with jam and instant coffee and some hotels will have buffets where you will have more variety. While you are experiencing what a Moroccan family would eat, some travellers do find the provided breakfasts a bit “bread heavy” and enjoy buying fruit the day before to supplement their breakfast.
Lunches and Dinners
Moroccan cuisine is world famous and your CEO will be taking the chance to show you the best of it. Staples include cous cous, a type of grain topped with stew, tagine which is actually the name of the pot this tasty dish is cooked in, and brochette, bbq skewers of meat. These meals will generally cost between 10-15 USD per meal depending on the type of restaurant and which part of the country you are in. Other tastes not to be missed include pastilla, a sweet pasty with a savoury filling which is traditionally pigeon and harira, a delicious soup based on chick peas and filling enough when teamed with fresh bread to be a whole lunch. If you are heading to the coast the fresh seafood cooked at one of the local markets is a must eat!
Snacks
Morocco's fresh orange juice is highly recommended and you should not leave without trying a glass. The brave can try the tiny snails which are perhaps the local's favourite snack but you might prefer a cone of piping hot bite-size fried cake donuts.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo? We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
If I choose to purchase My Own Room, are there any exceptions during the trip? Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops