Morocco - Just a 4-hour flight to a different world!

Tracey, Manager of our Framlingham branch, recently travelled on a small group tour to Morocco with Intrepid. “We connect people to the heartbeat of adventure and the soul of the planet,” say Intrepid on their website, and their company is dedicated to showing travellers the world in a way that respects the local people and places visited. Carbon neutral since 2010, using local guides and including homestays or community-led experiences on some itineraries, they firmly believe in keeping the economic benefits of travel where they belong and leaving a minimal footprint on the global paths they tread.

With over 30 years’ experience, Intrepid offer immersive experiences and a small group of around 12-14 people all escorted by an expert local leader. They currently offer over 30 different Morocco itineraries, with a trip for everyone, whether they are solo travellers, families, couples, even women-only, and wanting to travel for a few days to a few weeks. Tracey was very much looking forward to her experience, “Having never been to Morocco I was very excited to experience the culture, smells and sights of the country. I was expecting it to be bright, colourful and fragrant. It did not disappoint!”

“The tour was put together flawlessly,” says Tracey, “We experienced colourful Marrakech to the majestic Atlas Mountains and the awesome Agafay Desert. Our trip was about meeting strong women of Morocco. We had the wonderful Sara as our guide who is an example to all women of Morocco for her strength of mind in finding herself education and work, when, like most girls, her sister had got married at the age of 15. We visited ‘Education for All’ which is a charity to help young girls get educated and find their own life. We rode camels and had a yoga class as the sun rose across the desert. We met Alice Morrison a famous female adventurer who trekked with us up Mount Toubkal.”

Contemporary Morocco is a melting pot of Amazigh, Mediterranean, Andalucian and African traditions, which are all present in the food, dress, culture and customs. Located in North Africa, Morocco offers great variety in its landscapes, from coastal beach resorts to the mighty sands of the Sahara and the snowy peaks of the High Atlas and Rif Mountains. The best time to visit Morocco is generally during the autumn (September-November) or early spring (March-April), but Morocco is a year-round destination and whatever time of year you visit there’s always something to enjoy.

“This trip is suitable for travellers who wish to experience a very different culture to our own and who like to immerse themselves into a different way of life,” says Tracey, “The mountains and terrain mean it would be brilliant for people who like to be active with the possibility of a physical challenge. Intrepid pre-warned us to take good walking shoes and to pack light as we would be moving around, and this helped a lot. You really need to bring light layers. In September, when I travelled, the weather is warm to hot but can get cooler in the evenings. I wish I had packed a hand fan and I’m glad I did pack a hat. I was very aware that this is a largely Muslim country, so women should keep this in mind when packing. It can be offensive to have too short a dress or too low a cut top and I felt it was respectful to dress modestly.”

The accommodation was in riads – traditional Moroccan buildings with an indoor garden or courtyard and thick walls with minimal vents to keep out the heat and street noise. Tracey confirms that their outer appearance can be misleading, “The buildings are built around an inside courtyard and set back from the main roads, so walking to them could feel a little daunting, but once inside, wow they are fantastic! So much attention to detail, everywhere was spotlessly clean and each riad we stayed in had a spa where you could have treatments and massages,” Tracey continues, “Our rooms had everything we needed and the desert hotel Jnane Imlil had an amazing room with a beautiful balcony and magnificent views of the Atlas Mountains. The staff were all wonderful and made you feel completely welcomed. In fact, everyone we met was happy which is lovely when you consider the poverty many of them face.”.”

Moroccan food includes internationally popular dishes like tajine as well as regional specialities, and all are full of flavour, using the main ingredients of meats, such as chicken and lamb; vegetables and fruits such as olives, apricots, prunes and accompaniments like couscous – all spiced with turmeric, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cumin. “Being gluten free was a little bit challenging for me at times,” says Tracey, “but vegan options seemed readily available.” Intrepid always ask for any dietary requirements ahead of your trip to ensure these are as well catered as possible.

“Much of Morocco is a dry country, and you would have to go into new Marrakech town to get an alcoholic drink,” says Tracey, “but our desert hotel did have a bar.” For a bit of downtime after a busy day, Tracey liked to head to the roof, “The riads and most of the buildings including the restaurants had roof top terraces which were a lovely place to relax and see the views.”

Tracey reflects on her trip, “It would be impossible to say which part shone out most for me. Trekking Mount Toubkal was such a personal achievement. Meeting the young girls at the school who are trying to better their future was an incredibly moving experience. Yoga in the desert at sunrise was incredibly spiritual and a memory I shall never forget. If you want an amazing experience immersed in a different culture and to meet friendly people, visit Morocco!”

If you would like to learn more about Intrepid’s tours or Morocco, please visit your local branch. You can find Tracey at Framlingham.