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Traveling with Berber Tours • General Questions about Morocco
TRAVELING WITH BERBER TOURS
Does Berber Tours supply information on airline flights or other transportation?
What type of saddle is used during a camel trek?
What type of clothing/footwear should I bring for a camel trek?
What type of clothing/footwear should I bring for a mule trek or a 4x4 tour?
What should I bring for a camel trek or mule trek?
Which days will we need to hire guides?
How much should I tip a guide?
What type of luggage should I bring?
Will I need to worry about mosquitoes or other types of insects?
What kind of accommodation do you use?
What do we do for bathroom facilities in the desert? Are there bathrooms available?
Will I need to bring a sleeping bag for my camel trek?
Can I be sure that Daoud will be my driver?
What does the term "driver/guide" mean for 4x4 tours and does Berber Tours provide guides to tourist sites?
Does Berber Tours charge a consultation fee for CUSTOM itineraries?
How many itinerary or program changes can I expect to make before I will be charged for them?
For small groups of six (6) or less is transportation to and from Marrakech/Zagora included in the price of a camel trek?
Is transport for groups of more than six (6) included in the price in a camel trek from Zagora?
After a camel trek from Zagora, is dinner with the Bouhaddou family included for groups of 6 people and less?
Do you employ local people wherever possible?
Do you ensure that the local people are given a fair price for their work or service?
Are you able to ensure that the local people whose villages/homes are visited are happy about tourism?
Do the subcontracting mountain guides you use have knowledge of local languages/dialects of any local people? Is this sufficient for them to be able to translate for clients if necessary?
Do the mountain guides always ask permission to enter someone's land or property?
How are the mountain guides trained?
Do the desert or mountain guides you use advise clients to buy illegal artifacts, or wild animal products?
Do you try to minimize any impact the clients and your staff have on the environment: e.g.: not leaving rubbish; not overusing resources such as water?
Does Berber Tours supply information on airline flights or other transportation?
Berber Tours is NOT a "travel agent", but rather a "tour operator". Therefore, we do not provide any kind of information whatsoever on airlines or the cost of air flights into or out of Morocco. For GROUND transportation such as the train system in Morocco, please refer to the following website: www.oncf.ma. This is the website for the Moroccan National Railway system which is in French, English and Arabic.
What type of saddle is used during a camel trek?
There is none as such in the way of a horse saddle. What Moroccans use as a "saddle" is a kind of "cushioned metal frame" that fits over the backbone of the camel. This keeps everything up off the camel's back and allows air to circulate beneath so that the camel does not develop sores from any friction that may occur.
Over the metal frame there are several layers of blankets or authentic Berber carpets sufficient to make a comfortable ride. What you will do is to sit astride the camel like you do a horse but you will be more over his front legs and shoulders as opposed to riding directly on his back between his two sets of legs. There will be a large "saddle horn" coming up between your legs and that is used to balance yourself or to brace yourself when the camel gets up on all four feet, or down for you to get off.
There are also no "stirrups." Stirrups are mostly used for balance on a fast moving horse that is constantly changing directions. Camels on the other hand, usually only move at a walking pace, although, they can run quite fast when they want to. Also, because a camel is wider than a horse would be there is little use for them and they would be very difficult to use.
What type of clothing/footwear should I bring for a camel trek?
The type of footwear recommended for you to bring is a GOOD pair or two of athletic shoes or hiking boots. The terrain you will be walking over will be mostly sand but you will also find the desert very "stony." You will find stones there the size of "cobblestones" and smaller so a good, comfortable pair of athletic shoes or hiking boots will be welcome.
The type of clothing you should bring for a camel trek is LOOSE fitting clothing; shirts, pants, etc. made of a light, breathable material such as cotton or linen. Shorts are not a good idea because you will be riding a camel for several hours each day and the sun can still be blistering even in the winter months and you could suffer from sunburn on your legs. Desert people wear a material that is almost "cheesecloth" like and they jokingly call it "Moroccan air-conditioning" because it is so breathable. The crotch of the trousers hangs past their knees as well and that is so they can sit astride a camel comfortably.
Morocco is a "modest" country, so showing a lot of "skin" to begin with is not a good idea and is generally frowned upon.
What type of clothing/footwear should I bring for a mule trek or a 4x4 tour?
You can relax and wear whatever is familiar and comfortable. Morocco is very tolerant and welcoming to visitors, you are not expected to act or look like a Moroccan. Hiking shorts and T-shirts are fine for men. For women it is a good idea to bring a scarf to cover bare shoulders in the rural villages. Shorts are not really acceptable for men or women unless they are around knee length.
If you choose to dress with skin showing, the people in rural areas are basically shy and will react with a muffled laugh or cover their eyes if they are embarrassed. City dwellers often dress as we do.
What should I bring for a camel trek or mule trek?
*denotes essential or highly recommended
Pack light and pack tight.
sleeping bag *
day-pack *
sunglasses *
water bottles (collapsible bladders pack flat!) *
towel (Moroccan hotels don't always have them) *
ziplock baggies *
toilet paper * (buy it in Morocco)
needle and thread / safety pins
camera, batteries, memory cards, film — bring lots!
sealable bag for your digital camera* (essential!! for sand/dust)
Clothing:
sarong (can double as a towel, lightweight sheet or scarf)
cotton long sleeved shirt (for intense sun) *
light wind-proof jacket
hat (sun) *
warm socks * (mule trek)
light weight gloves *
lightweight long pants *
2-3 T-shirts
woolen sweater / fleece *
cotton scarf (doubles as a wash cloth)
hiking boots or hiking shoes*
First Aid:
Make sure you use water proof labeling when re-packaging.
disinfectant cream / gel (Polysporin)
bandaids
Ibuprofen (Advil or generic — for pain, swelling) *
Tylenol (colds and fever)
cold medication — echinacea / zinc lozenges
tweezers
Visine
aloe vera gel (for burns)
anti-histamine tablets
diarrhea medication (Imodium) *
Personal:
sunblock *
sanitary supplies with ziplock baggies to carry out
moisturizer / lip balm with sunblock *
books / magazines
music (cassette tapes are commonly played in Morocco — and make great gifts too)
small flashlight (small bicycle lights make good traveling lights)
nail clippers
wet-wipes
soap / shampoo / toothpaste / toothbrush etc. *
prescriptions in original containers
ear plugs *
MANY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE CARRIED ON BOARD BY THE AIRLINES FOR SAFTEY REASONS. HOWEVER, YOU ARE STILL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO PICK SUCH ITEMS UP ONCE YOU ARRIVE IN MOROCCO BECAUSE THEY ARE READLY AVAILABLE AND WILL MAKE YOUR TRIP WITH US MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.
Which days will we need to hire guides?
It seems there are days where it might be necessary... or is it easy to get around those spots without a guide?
Berber Tours does not include guide services as part of the cost of one of our tours. The reason for this is that Moroccan Law complicates the matter for us by not allowing us to be our own client's guide. Moroccan Law prohibits anyone other than those guides who actually live and work in any given city or area of Morocco from actually guiding tourists in that city or area. However, Berber Tours has a list of trusted guides in various areas of Morocco that we can recommend if you wish a guide, at a reasonable extra cost to you.
Many people love to find their own way around the cities and Marrakech is wonderful to explore by foot. We suggest you bring a good guide book with you if this is what you want to do; Rough Guide or Insight Guide-Morocco are our choices for accuracy, good advice, maps and cultural details.
How much should I tip a guide?
Tipping is up to you... but you should please remember that if someone does you a service, they expect a tip. For instance if someone on the street shows you back to your hotel, you can give them 10 dirhams.
As for a 4x4 tour, camel or mule trek we ask you tip one extra days pay, that is 300 dirhams from EACH client to EACH Moroccan who has accompanied you on the tour or trek; or if you really enjoy your driver or guide, think about what they might deserve in your own country.
With taxis you can pay the tariff up to the next round number. Always negotiate a price if the taxi is not using a meter, before you go anywhere.
Otherwise 10-15% is the standard but as always it is up to you.
You also might consider that part of the social support system of Islam is to give alms to the poor. That said, you may want to assess how needy someone really is who has NOT done a service for you or done you some small service as some able-bodied persons actually make their living by begging. These types of people can usually be easily spotted due to the "niceness" of their clothing and their general, all-round cleanliness.
What type of luggage should I bring?
You will NOT want to bring any "hard-sided" suitcases or bags. Instead you will only want "soft-sided, squashy" type luggage. You will also want to have handy some type of small bag that you can tie to the saddle horn of the camel to keep your camera, sunglasses, sunscreen in. A big hat for the daylight hours and for the night time, possibly a light jacket of some type will also be welcome.
Will I need to worry about mosquitoes or other types of insects?
You will not need insect repellent or bug jackets.
What kind of accommodation do you use?
The desert camel trek bivouac is quite comfortable with nice beds made of Berber carpets, foam mattresses and blankets, within a carpeted tent. Toilet facilities are limited in our desert bivouacs (See below).
Otherwise we use 3-star level hotels, but that being said, there are many unrated auberges (small country inns) and family run B&B's we like to use as well. Clients are also able to "upgrade" to a higher standard of hotel (4-star or 5-star) or a riad at an additional cost to them.
Most hotel stays include breakfast and many include dinner. You will stay in traditional mud (kasbah) style buildings, many with wood burning fireplaces and salons or roof terraces for taking meals. They are very charming and comfortable. In Marrakech, Essaouira and Fes we use small hotels renovated from old merchant houses (riads) in the old medina (See description below). In Casablanca we use a small modern hotel downtown.
 
A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden that was built within the city walls or "medina." The word riad comes from the Arabian term for garden, "ryad." Historically, riads were inward focused which allowed for family privacy and protection from the weather in Morocco. This inward focus was expressed in the central location of most of the interior gardens and courtyards and the lack of large windows on the exterior clay or mud brick walls. Entrance to these houses is a major transitional experience and encourages reflection because all of the rooms open into the central atrium space. A traditional riad which is located in a city medina, is limited in overall "land space." Because of this, most traditional riads will not have a pool, and if they do, the pool will be extremely small and appropriate for wading or paddling only, and not for "swimming."
What do we do for bathroom facilities in the desert? Are there bathrooms available?
Bathrooms... as such... are not available in the desert. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to carry a "chemical toilet" on a camel. It might be easier to do so in a 4x4, but most tour operators don't simply for the fact that they would have to carry the "chemicals" and waste until the end of the tour because it is against the law to dump the "chemicals" in the desert for environmental reasons. Since the waste by ITSELF is organic and will breakdown very quickly because of the desert climate, people who travel in the desert just dig a hole in the ground for a "latrine" and cover it over with sand when they move on.
Will I need to bring a sleeping bag for my camel trek?
For SMALL GROUPS of not more than six (6) people, you will not need to bring sleeping bags as we will supply them for you. For large groups of over six (6) people, yes, you will need to bring a sleeping bag.
Can I be sure that Daoud will be my driver?
Daoud would like nothing better than to be with everyone who would like to visit Morocco with him. Since that is not possible, Daoud will ask one of our employees who will also speak your language to be your driver/guide. Berber Tours' employees are young Berber men from his village. They are experienced drivers and you will enjoy their company.
What does the term "driver/guide" mean for 4x4 tours and does Berber Tours provide guides to tourist sites?
Berber Tours does not provide "guides" to tourist sites. The term "driver/guide" means that our drivers "guide" the client from "Point A to Point B" over the sometimes inhospitable Moroccan roads. As stated in other areas of our website, any additional guide services are NOT included in the price of one of our 4x4 tours or camel treks, and therefore, are at an additional cost which is separate from the cost of the 4x4 tours or camel trek.
The reason for this is that by Moroccan law, the ONLY people who can guide tourists through a tourist site are those who actually work at that site. In Marrakech, for example, ONLY licensed tour guides FROM Marrakech are allowed to guide tourists in Marrakech and in Ouarzazate at the large Glaoui Kasbah there, ONLY people from Ouarzazate who actually work at the Kasbah are allowed to "guide" people through it.
Does Berber Tours charge a consultation fee for CUSTOM itineraries?
We do charge a fee for preparing a custom itinerary. In preparing a custom itinerary, we ask our customers to provide as much pertinent information as possible and include FIRM dates of arrival and departure, along with times of arrival and departure as it will help us to ensure that we create the best possible itinerary for you. It would also be extremely helpful to us if you were to give us an idea of your interests; what you want to see during your 4x4 tour; and, where you are interested in going.
Feel free to ask questions should you have any questions to ask — we will be happy to assist you. When you have completed the contact form and we have received it, an itinerary consultation fee of $150.00 USD will be added to your itinerary request total. All of our custom trips are subject to a non-refundable itinerary consultation fee of $150.00 which will be added to your NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. Following consultation with Berber Tours and once your deposit has been received; you can expect to receive your itinerary by email within 10 working days.
How many itinerary or program changes can I expect to make before I will be charged for them?
A "change fee" of $50.00 USD per person will apply to any changes made by the traveler(s) after confirmation has been sent.
For small groups of six (6) or less is transportation to and from Marrakech/Zagora included in the price of a camel trek?
Yes. Even our prices for camel treks of 6 people and less are sold as "packages" and include a FLAT transportation fee between Marrakech and Zagora, round trip.
However, Berber Tours reserves the right to determine the type of vehicle used in transport. While we make every effort to supply 4x4 transportation, because of any unforeseen circumstances the mode of transport may change to a suitable, again to be determined by Berber Tours, private car or any suitable taxi service if a 4x4 is not available at the time of transport.
Is transport for groups of more than six (6) included in the price in a camel trek from Zagora?
Yes, transport for groups of more than six (6) for camel treks is included in the price. However, Berber Tours reserves the right to determine the type of transport used for groups of six (6) or more. The type of transport will range from multiple 4x4s, to a mini-bus, to a tour coach depending on the size of the group.
After a camel trek from Zagora, is dinner with the Bouhaddou family included for groups of 6 people and less?
While we advertise that the client may have dinner with the Bouhaddou family the client DOES NOT actually pay for this as part of their camel trek. This is done as an invitation and as a way of showing our appreciation to the client and there is no obligation whatsoever that the client participate. The client is free to stay at the hotel to have dinner, which they are already paying for in the cost of the hotel room. However, if the client does have dinner with the family it is understood that they do so in order to see how one Moroccan family lives and that they will be participating AS A FAMILY MEMBER and that they should not have any unreasonable expectations.
Do you employ local people wherever possible?
And when visiting rural areas, do you also employ rural guides? Under what circumstances do you employ non-locals?
We employ local people when ever possible (muleteers, camel handlers, drivers, guides, guest house owners in the mountains). Sometimes we have to employ guides from Marrakech who speak English when local ones cannot. Higher end guest houses and riads are most often run by Europeans.
Do you ensure that the local people are given a fair price for their work or service?
Local people are sometimes badly paid. For example a porter or a muleteer with a mule gets the Moroccan Ministries' recommended minimum. We strive to pay higher than this. Also your tip is important to support their livelihood. Please tip well when deserved!
Are you able to ensure that the local people whose villages/homes are visited are happy about tourism?
The people we work with are happy to have visitors because tourism helps support the local economy with cash, spreads the wealth from private home to local shopkeeper in the village and beyond. Many rural economies are still based on the barter system.
Do the subcontracting mountain guides you use have knowledge of local languages/dialects of any local people? Is this sufficient for them to be able to translate for clients if necessary?
The mountain guides we use know local Berber languages and Arabic, as well as French and English, and sometimes German, Japanese, Dutch and Spanish as well.
Do the mountain guides always ask permission to enter someone's land or property?
The guides we use always ask permission before entering private property.
How are the mountain guides trained?
All guides in Morocco must complete a two year government training course and carry a certificate and badge that qualifies them as a professional guide.
Do the desert or mountain guides you use advise clients to buy illegal artifacts, or wild animal products?
Our guides watch over our clients to avoid any illegal occurrences as outlined in the Geneva Convention for acquiring cultural property or endangered species, as well we strongly discourage our clients from purchasing anything that compromises the wild population of plants or animals in Morocco.
Do you try to minimize any impact the clients and your staff have on the environment: e.g.: not leaving rubbish; not overusing resources such as water?
Berber Tours is an environmentally friendly business!
Morocco defies a simple description because it spans Northwest Africa from the Rif Mountains and the Mediterranean, south along the Atlantic Ocean, and the High Atlas Mountains divide the Sahara desert from the fertile flat central plains. We like to think of it as a country of cedar forests; long Atlantic beaches; colorful markets; ancient medinas; sandy deserts; bountiful vineyards; acres of olive, argan and orange tree; hedgerows filled with wild flowers; exotic palmeries; snow capped mountains; and deep river gorges. The climate invites visitors all year round for skiing, surfing, wind surfing, golfing, river kayaking, cycling, trekking and more.
We are an ecotourism company, continually working to minimize the impact of our visit on the natural environment. We are aware of the fragile nature of the cultures and physical environments where we work. We promote conservation, encourage sustainable development and make economic contributions to local communities. Where possible, we employ local staff which directly benefits the local communities vs. government tourism bureaus.
Let Berber Tours take you responsibly "off the beaten track" into pristine areas that, in many instances, have experienced little, if any, tourism. We have pinpointed areas where isolation has preserved the stunning natural environment and traditional ways of life. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to explore these areas and return with extraordinary photographs and memories of these unique cultures and majestic sceneries.
Social Considerations:
Berber Tours makes every effort on each expedition to help the local populations where we can. This means hiring local guides, using local suppliers and making sure that they are given fair pay for their services. All too often the tourist dollars never make it to the local government and most stay with the national level government through money flows to government owned travel agencies. By channeling as much of the money as possible to local governments and communities, the local people are given alternatives, selling off mining rights in their rivers, or poaching endangered animals. Tourism becomes a viable option to natural resource exploitation, leaving something wild for future generations to enjoy. Where possible, Berber Tours will also contribute to community welfare through partnerships with local agencies in developing local projects.
Environmental Considerations:
Berber Tours is committed to the preservation of the wilderness habitats in the remote regions explored by our trips, which are designed to promote an understanding of these regions' delicate ecosystems. We take a low-impact, self-contained approach, carrying in what we need and carrying out all garbage, leaving the environment unspoiled for future generations of explorers. To minimize the impact of our trips on the environment, where possible we use stoves rather than firewood for cooking meals. We burn any paper garbage from our kitchen or collected from our clients. All food items originally in glass bottles will be rebottled in plastic that can be reusable on each trek. Used cans, foil from the garbage fire and used batteries will be taken back to civilization by our staff and delivered to a local waste management project where these items will be recycled.
Berber Tours runs most tours in the southern part of Morocco, in the delicate desert environment and High Atlas Mountains. We foster responsible tourism and require that the people who work for Berber Tours do not leave rubbish anywhere, and respect the environment with preservation of resources, flora and fauna, etc.
Please do not leave your own rubbish behind. Wherever possible please take out whatever you bring in, (i.e.: empty shampoo containers, etc.). If you go on a camel trek in the desert, there are no disposal facilities. Please be environmentally aware and burn toilet paper or carry it out for disposal. If you bury toilet paper in the desert it will not decompose, and the wind eventually shifts the sand to expose it.
SEE ALSO: General Questions about Morocco
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