Best of Morocco

What's Included

Accommodation

9 Nights -  4**** Hotel Accommodation

• Marrakech: Kenzi Rose Garden  or similar 
• Casablanca: Hotel Kenzi Basma or Hotel Oumpalace or similar
• Fez: Riad La Perle de La Medina, Riad Ghita, Hotel Across or similar
• Merzouga: Standard Haimas Campsite
• El Valle de Dades: Auberge Panorama, Kasbah Tizzarouine, Hotel Babylon or similar

Guide

English–speaking guide in Marrakech, Volubilis and Fez (except for the guide at Ait Ben Haddou: € 2 (US$ 2.20) per person)

Meals

Daily breakfast and Dinners in Merzouga and Dades Valley

Additional Services

• Camel Ride in Merzouga
• VAT taxes

Transport

Transfers and transport per itinerary with AC vehicle with an English-speaking driver

What's Not Included

• International flights
• Personal expenses, beverages, meals other than mentioned. 
• Entrance fees to monuments 
• Tips for your guide and driver
• All non-mentioned services

Please Note

Important Trip Notes & Tips

Road & Transportation

This trip is a around 2275km road trip covering both royal cities as well as Berber towns and Sahara region. Between royal cities there is a highway to shorthen the duration (120 Km per hour average) while in rural areas average speed is 80 km per hour. Our cars are comfortable and its size depends on the group size. (usually AC Mercedes van)

Accommodation

As usual, Eskapas accommodation is first class/4**** category. However 4**** hotel standard in rural area  such as Erfoud, Zagora or Ouarzazate are not same as in large cities. We tried to use the best 4**** in the region. In case you want to upgrade to a 5***** let us know during your booking.

Fpr our customers that purchase 4x4 Sahara Experience In Merzouga Denes, our tents are around 20 m2 including ensuite facilities toilet and shower.

Meals

The trip is designed as half board basis.  Meals are on the route or in small villages where there are limited or sometime no other choice of restaurant.  You can always purchase single meals on the site (15-20€ per meal per person).  We strongly recommend full board supplement to people that are used to have 3 meals per day.  Please note that the full board supplement includes also a dinner-show Chez Ali. Meals do not include Water nor any other drinks.

Guide

The guide of this trip is a bilingual official guide in Spanish and English.

During Ramadan

if you’re visiting Morocco during Ramadan, you should dress conservatively. Also, you won’t be expected to fast, but it is polite to eat, drink and smoke indoors away from the locals who are fasting during this holy month.

Don’t criticise the Moroccan monarchy

Morocco has lèse–majesté laws which means it’s illegal to criticise, mock or speak badly about the Moroccan king and the royal family. Defacing the king’s image is also illegal, and breaking these laws could actually land you in jail, so keep your royal opinions to yourself in Morocco.

Don’t disrespect Islam

Another big no-no is criticising Islam. More than?99% of the Moroccan population are Muslim?and Islam is the state religion of Morocco. If you disrespect Islam here, you risk offending the locals, and no traveller should go out of their way to be rude to their host. While it’s fine to ask questions in a genuine attempt to learn more about the religion, you should avoid sharing any controversial opinions that may upset the locals.

Also remember that non-Muslims are forbidden from entering certain areas like shrines, mosques, graveyards and koubas (tombs of marabouts or local saints). Even if you’re near a mosque, you should be very respectful and never get too close or look inside, especially if you’re taking a photo. The main exception to this rule is the famous Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and it’s a wonderful experience to see the intricate Islamic architecture up close here.

Ask before taking photos

It’s hard to resist taking hundreds of photos a day in this incredible country, but it’s important to be respectful of the locals when getting snap happy. Most Moroccans don’t appreciate being photographed, so you should always ask permission first.

If you’re visiting the famous Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh, you’ll need to pay before taking photos of all the amazing dancers, artists and entertainers there, so remember to ask the price before clicking away. You should also know that it’s illegal to take photos of border checkpoints and police and military figures and buildings in Morocco.

Languages?in Morocco

Moroccans are skilled at speaking many languages, and you’ll likely hear everything from Arabic (the official language), to Darija (the local Moroccan dialect). French is also widely spoken in cities, while Spanish is spoken in Tangier. There’s also the dialects spoken by the Berber people, including Tarifit, Tachelhit and Tamazight.

While you might be able to get by with English in the main tourist areas like Marrakesh, Fes and Casablanca, it will be more helpful to learn a few common phrases in Arabic as this is spoken country-wide. You should never expect anyone to speak English, but don’t worry if you don’t speak perfect Arabic – your local Trafalgar Travel Director will be able to help you out with any translations.

The art of haggling

Morocco is famous for its vibrant souks (traditional markets), selling everything from spices and tea to lanterns, leather goods and clothing. It’s hard to resist loading up on souvenirs in these enchanting places – so you’ll need to?learn the art of haggling. It’s a huge part of Moroccan culture and most locals haggle when buying anything from food to carpets.

The general rule is to never pay more than 50% of the original starting price, and your first offer should be around 60-70 % less than the asking price. If the vendor doesn’t offer you a reasonable deal, you’re not pressured to buy anything and you can walk away. But also remember to remain polite and friendly, and don’t take it too seriously… It’s all part of the fun of shopping in Morocco!

Tipping in Morocco is customary, so you will be expected to leave a?few dirhams?in a number of places during your travels through the country. Although there is no standard amount that you should always leave in different establishments and different circumstances, we’ve covered the most basic rules of thumb to help you out.

In hotels, you should tip bellboys (10-20dh depending on the size and number of suitcases) and cleaning maids (20dh or 100dh per week).

At restaurants, you should always tip your waiters but this will vary according to the style of the restaurant: consider leaving about 5dh in moderate places and 10%-15% in more upmarket establishments.

At museums, monuments and local tourist attractions, it is custom to leave 3-5dh to curators.

If you indulge in a spa treatment during your holiday, you should consider tipping here as well: it’s customary to leave 20dh to 25dh per person that services you.

Taxi drivers don’t typically expect a tip but generally appreciate it so you can always consider rounding up your bill to the nearest 5dh.

Professional tour guides customarily receive a wide ranger of tips, depending on group size. 100-200Dh for a 1/2 day tour is fairly standard for small groups.

Drivers are a more subjective experience and at the discretion of the client. Some clients base gratuity on 5% to 10% of their trip total. Others?recommend?200dh-500dh a day, if you’re happy with the service.

If you get lost and someone helps you find your way back to your hotel, restaurant, et cetera, consider offering a 5dh or 10dh tip. Though we don’t recommend soliciting help from strangers,?particularly?in the confusing medinas of Fez and Marrakesh, and you will nearly always be asked for more money… this?is?sometimes the only way to find?your way?back!

In all cases, tipping is a very emotive attitude and it’s often based on a personal perception of the quality of the service provided. Even though it is customary to tip in Morocco, how generous you are can be left up to you and to your satisfaction. The most important thing to remember, however, is to never ask someone how much they are expecting to receive in tips from you. This will only lead to an awkward conversation and you will still be left in the dark.