• During your trip :

The best seasons to discover southern Morocco are undoubtedly in the spring and autumn.
Temperatures are lower, but beware, the nights are very cool.
Do not forget to pack warm clothes for the evenings around the fire!
Summer is scorching: the thermometer can climb to 50 ° C (122+ °F), and the eastern wind lifts the sand and dries everything in its path.
The months of December, January, and February may be rainy, but the desert is strikingly beautiful after the rain when it blooms and turns green!

• Jet lag :

The time in Morocco is in GMT, and daylight saving time is permanently observed
For example, summer time is 2 hours off with France and 1 hour in winter.
When it is 12 pm in France, it is 10 am in the summer and 11 am in the winter.

• Don’t forget to pack !

-> Two bags (a backpack for hiking and one to leave some of your things on the farm)
-> A good sleeping bag for the cool nights
-> Good walking shoes
-> Spare shoes for down-time
-> Warm clothes for the evening and the night
-> A headdress to protect you from the sun- “chèche” to buy on site
-> Sun protection (suncream and sunglasses)
-> Moist towelettes to stay clean in the desert
-> A flashlight
-> A Swiss army knife
-> A camera
-> The Routard Guide (a must-have!)
-> The Michelin Map Morocco No. 959
-> Your passport
-> Your national and international driving license if necessary

• Merchandise

Be careful with Moroccan “chocolate”!
Cannabis is primarily produced in the northern region, but possession is illegal and can bring serious problems. The general rule, as in other Maghreb countries, is 1 gram = 1 year in prison. This law is strictly enforced!

• Sharp objects

Remember to place scissors, knives, razors, nail clippers, etc. into your checked baggage. This will save you a lot of trouble during airport security checks.

• Medecine and Pharmacies

French doctors have settled in Morocco and many Moroccan doctors did their studies in France. So not to worry— treatment is available if necessary, in quality conditions.

• In M’Hamid, there is a clinic with a doctor and a nurse

They carry anti-venoms in the event of viper bites or scorpion stings. Moroccan pharmacies are generally very well equipped and are found in all cities.
However, if you take any treatment for a medical condition, remember to bring your medication with you, as well as the prescription in the event of a customs inspection.

• Formalities :

Tourists are very well received in Morocco. However, be careful to remain in good standing with the authorities and to behave respectfully.
A visa is not required for EU nationals, but a passport is mandatory. It must be valid and must not expire within three months of the date of your entry into the country.
The duration of your stay is limited to three months, and is renewable once a year.

• Currencies :

Morocco’s currency is the Dirham (DH).
11 DH equals approximately 1€.

Exchange can either be done in your country of origin (but is generally disadvantageous), or when arriving at the airport or in a currency exchange bureau, which are quite common in large cities.
Banks are closed on Sundays and often as early as Saturday at noon.

Take note that on Fridays (the holy prayer day), banks may closer earlier and their hours will vary during the period of Ramadan.

You can also withdraw Dirhams directly from an ATM with your credit card, but be aware of the withdrawal limits abroad as set by your bank.

• Sanitary advice :

The climate of Morocco is quite dry, and thanks to this there are no measures to take in regard to malaria and yellow fever.

However, verify the status of your tetanus, polio and diphtheria vaccinations. This is of the utmost importance!

Beware of the so-called “Tourista” illnesses: Salmonella, Ameobic dysentery, Hepatitis A, and parasites such as Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis).

Be extremely careful with water, raw vegetables and fruit, eggs, shellfish and ice cream.

Only eat well-cooked meats. This being said, you’ll have no problem with Tajines and Couscous, nor with bananas, oranges and juicy tangerines!

Drink only bottled water and drinks. Favor sparkling water (as it can’t be tampered with) and check that bottles of mineral water are sealed before drinking.

Don’t accept well-water and don’t brush your teeth with it! Or, if you must, boil, purify, and filter it with tablets such as Micropur and water filters such as Katadyn that have resin cartridges.

Do not soak in stagnant water.
Avoid suspect, untreated pools with non-chlorinated water.