| Arbalou Trekking - Hikking in mountains and deserts of Morocco |
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Morocco is the country of junctions, a door opened on Africa and a window on Europe ; a land for meetings and dialogue between cultures and religions Tahar Ben Jelloun, Moroccan writer GENERAL INFORMATION Morocco is situated in the north west of Africa and is borded by the Mediterranean sea in the north, the Atlantic ocean in the west, Algeria in the east and Mauritania in the south. The kingdom covers 711 000 km2. Morocco is a land of the mountains, the main range is the Atlas mountains which is devided in three regions: the Middle Atlas, the Anti Atlas and the High Atlas. The High Atlas stratches from the East to the West over a distance of 700 km, that way it splits the country to tow different parts: the North which is fertile, green and humid, and the South deserted and dry due to the Sahara winds. The moroccan currency is Moroccan Dirham (DHS), 10 DHS correspond to 1 Euro. It's easy to exchange euro or pounds into dirhams in most cities. Some hotels, restaurants and shops accept payment by euros, pounds or credit cards. The population is estimated at 30 million and is made up of Arabs who live big cities and Berbers who live in the mountains and the desert. Many tribes of these Berber populations are still nomadic and spend their lives under big tents and moving between the High Atlas and the desert. TREKKING IN MOROCCO Further to the numerous mule trails in the Atlas mountains, the hiker in Morocco enjoys endless possibilities of walking and trekking. The beautiful landscapes in the mountains and Sahara desert offer many tours to explore our wonderful country and allows visitors to meet the isolated Berbers in the High Atlas and share experience with the nomadic people living in green oasis. WHEN TO DO TREKKING IN MOROCCO? You can do trekking in Morocco all the year round: In Summer: - Just in the mountains: The central High Atlas with Ait Bougmez valley (so called happy valley) and the M'goun massif which rises up to 4068m. The western High Atlas with the 4167m high Toubkal: the highest point in north Africa and the third in Africa. Camel treks through small hills of argan trees, a rare and benefic tree which grows only in Morocco. From October to May: - In the mountains: The Anti Atlas with its tow volcanic massifs: Djebel Sarho and Sirwa. The roses valley situated at the foot of the southern slopes of the High Atlas. - In the Sahara Desert: camel trekking through the wide Moroccan Sahara, the red sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in the east, the large dunes of Chegaga in the west and the beautiful dunes of Erg Sahel in the center. PROVIDED EQUIPMENT - All cooking and kitchen gear - Dining tent with foam mattress - Kitchen tent - Individual tent for two persons with foam mattress EQUIPMENT TO BRING - Trekking kit bag - Small backpack (daypack) - Hiking boots - Hiking or running shoes - Hiking sandals or flip flops to walk in water and for night at the camp - Wind and waterproof vest and pants - Hat - Scarf - Sleeping bags - Head torch - Water bottle - Pocket knife - Plastic bags to protect clothes - Sunglasses - Sun milk - Lip balm PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT Please bring any medicine you are used to take and add some more against diarrhoea and constipation, antiseptic wipes, plasters, aspirin and other essentials. Water purifying tablets may also be useful. TAKE PICTURES ONLY AND LEAVE YOUR FOOTPRINTS ONLY!... The mountains and the desert are our treasures! Thus we pay our full attention to protect it. Please don't leave waste in the nature, please follow the trails and do not walk on herbs along side trails, please avoid picking flowers, it's necessary to reproduce plants in that fragile environment. |