Hi,
I am a solo traveler, and I plan to trek the Cordillera Huayhuash, should be arriving in Huaraz around September 20, and will spend a few days there to do acclimatize treks.
Can I expect to be able to join a trekking group there? I can wait a few days, no problem. My last resort is having a tour just for me, but that will clearly be expensive, and I'd much rather trek with other people.
Thanks in advance for your advice
Steve
I will be taking the train from Marrakesh to Fez and from Fez to Casablanca. Do I need to purchase tickets in advance, or can I expect to buy them at the time of travel?
Also, I would appreciate information about getting to the Casablanca airport from the train from Fez. I assume I get off at Casa Voyageurs and get the airport train there. Do the airport trains run frequently? How long do they take? Is there a good reason to take a taxi instead?
Thank you.
Howell
Hi all,
I'll be travelling to Marrakech with a team in March, but I'm arriving a few days early. I arrive around 1230pm on a Sunday afternoon and have until late Wednesday afternoon before I have to regroup with the team. We will be in Marrakech until the following Sunday with plenty of time to see Marrakech, so I'm looking for a 2-3 day get away. I'm very interested in hiking, but won't have cold weather gear for Mt. Toubkal. Is it reasonable to still spend 2 days in the area, or somewhere else in the Atlas Mountains? Or more worthwhile to head the opposite direction to Essouira? I'm an experienced traveller and don't often like the prearranged tours where you spend most of the time driving. I'd much rather find a local guide if it's required. I would just like to get a glimpse of the beautiful country (in 2-3 days). Any recommendations on what's my best shot?
My wife and I will be traveling to Morocco in early March with 12 days & 11 nights to enjoy the country. We are flying into Marrakesh. I'm just starting with creating an itinerary, and I don't want it to be overly ambitious. When we travel overseas, we like checking out foodie destinations, art & architecture, enjoying nature, and if time permits, hiking. I should also say in advance that we've already ruled out a desert excursion due to time constraints and preferences. Here's what I've come up with so far:
Days 1-4: Marrakesh (including possible day trips to Ourika Valley and/or Imlil if time permits)
Days 5-8: Fez (traveling there from Marrakesh by train)
Days 9-10: Chefchaouen
Days 11-12: back to Marrakesh
Is this itinerary too ambitious, and if so, what should I eliminate? Also, are there any suggestions for day trips to rural destinations that could involve hiking other than the ones I've mentioned for Marrakesh?
Thanks so much in advance for any guidance!
..... Nina, its a pity you didn't get a copy of the 'Lonelyplanet Morocco Travel Guide' or similar, itineraries are laid-out at length in detail, far better than anything you can get on these pages, who can comprehensibly write a guide for you here.
Under-taking long trips/journeys with multi-stops over several days in Morocco.... best to hire a car and drive yourself, such trips/journeys are best done with frequent overnight stops to avoid fatigue. Hiring a driver means sharing your holiday with a stranger, the issue of comparability is then in question, not every Moroccan is 'nice'.!
Or from Marrakech you can take a large comfortable public bus/coach to a town or village near the Sand Dunes (there are two Dunes in the south-east) From Marrakech, the town of Ouarzazate is the key transport hub in the region. from here Erg Chigaga can be reached via Agdz, Zaogra on the N9 to M'hamid, hotel accommodation is available in these towns/villages where you can find details of local desert tour operator at your hotel. If you think you won't find a tour operator, don't worry they'll find you.!
Over-nights or day-trips in the Sand can also be arranged with these guys, beyond M'hamid 4X4 vehicles are used to reach the Dunes, where you find Camels and guides/handlers, all arranged by the operator.
From Ouarzazate the N10, or from Agdz the N12, takes you to the desert village Merzagora, lots of accommodation here too and overnight or day trips can be arranged in to the Sand Dunes of Erg Chebbi,
Given you are travelling in mid-November, with shortening daylight, at that time of year expect some wet weather especially in the north (Fez etc.), so check weather forecasts as you go, consider less travel, spending more time south of the High Atlas, research the Sous Valley area and the seaside towns and villages on the Atlantic Coast. See this old link, still helpful today.....
http://looklex.com/morocco/index.htm
http://looklex.com/morocco/merzouga.htm
Research buses on these links.....
http://www.oncf.ma/
http://www.ctm.ma/
https://www.lagare.ma/en/city/city.php
Ideally I would get a mix of city and non city options.
I also would advise just one imperial city, otherwise you waste time travelling. From Fez you could do an overnight trip to Azrou on Monday/Tuesday. Azrou is less than two hours by bus or grand taxi (less than 50dh/seat). Get a local Azrou taxi to take you to the crossroads with the wild monkeys and have a wander through the cedar forests. More information here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/morocco/barbary-apes-in-the-cedar-forests
I normally stop overnight in Hotel des Cedres in the middle of Azrou which has a good restaurant next door, but there's a more upmarket option with Hotel Panorama. Tuesday morning get up early and visit the weekly market which is not at all touristy and is fascinating. On the return you could stop off at Ifrane which was built by the French as a summer retreat from the heat of Fez (one time capital of Morocco) with buildings similar to those in the Savoy Alps/Switzerland.
From Marrakech you could do an overnight trip to Imlil which is the trailhead village for serious trekking and also has loads of easier walks in the vicinity.
Unfotunately can only arrive/depart from Casablanca due to discount tickets. Thinking of moving up to early Oct. Would arrive 8 am Fri Oct 5, depart 3:30 pm Sun Oct 14, so 9 full days in country but more like 8 due to recovery time for overnight flight.
Thinking of heading straight to Marrakesh on Friday and spending Sat-Monday in and around. Moving early Tues to desert, stay Tues/Wed nights, then to Fes on Thurs. Fes and environs Fri and Sat, then Sat night to Casablanca for return flight. Could swa[ a day in Marrakesh for day in Fes.
Would taking a night bus to/from desert shorten the side trip? We could also reverse order, starting in Fes and ending in Marrakesh.
Any opinions on whether we should rent a car and self drive or hire/use tour bus to desert?
Many thanks in advance.
I find the difference between Fez and Marrakech quite startling, the Fassi are educated and clever, Marrakshis are just avaricious, these of course are personal generalisations but based on many visits to both cities over four decades.
There is not much noticeable difference in pricing between the two cities, except that Marrakech is the tourist "capital" of Morocco, therefore there is an expectation of merchants being able to realise a greater profit at the expense of the many gullible tourists.
I find that Chefchaouen can be the cheapest place to buy artwork and souvenirs, villagers often bring their handcrafts to the street markets for sale, and by cutting out any middle men I have made some excellent purchases to decorate my home, on the downside the range of articles on offer in the small mountain town is more restricted compared to Fez and Marrakesh.
