Preparation · Logistics and culture
What you’ll take. What you’ll say.
A short page with all the practical info. No affiliates, no cross-discounts, no Amazon stars. What we actually use each year.
What we you’ll take
Essential (year-round)
- Passport with six months remaining beyond return
- European adapter (Morocco uses type C/E plugs like Spain and France)
- European health card or travel insurance
- SPF 50+ sunscreen and after-sun (even in winter in the Sahara)
- Polarised sunglasses
- Portable charger 10,000 mAh minimum
- Clothing covering shoulders and knees in mosques
For the Sahara
- Long cotton scarf (1.5 m) for head and neck protection
- Closed shoes with thick soles (sand gets in)
- Lightweight windproof outer layer
- Thin fleece for the night (temperatures drop 25°C after sunset)
- LED head torch · red light to preserve night vision
- Zip bags to protect electronics from dust
For the Atlas
- Ankle-high trekking shoes (even for easy trails)
- Folding carbon poles if you’ll walk more than 3h a day
- Layers: thermal + mid + windbreaker
- Winter hat and gloves (even in April if you go above 2,500m)
What you do NOT need to bring
- Universal adapters — Morocco uses standard European plugs
- Detergent or travel toiletries (riads provide quality ones)
- Mosquito net (not applicable in the areas where we take you)
- Large amounts of cash: card is accepted at every curated riad and restaurant
- Formal wear: the code in Morocco is always relaxed
Ten phrases that change the trip
They will not make you look Moroccan. But they will open kitchens, smiles, and a discount that nobody offers to a European who doesn’t greet.
Hello
Salām
Saludo neutro.
Peace be with you
As-salāmu ʿalaykum
Formal Muslim greeting.
Thank you
Šukran
Universal. The 'š' is like English 'sh'.
Please
Min faḍlik
Standard courtesy.
Good morning
Ṣabāḥ al-jeir
Until noon.
How much does it cost?
Bi-šḥāl?
At the souk. Bargain with a smile.
It’s delicious
Ladīd
Compliment to the cook — always appreciated.
God willing
Inshā Allāh
Indicates modesty towards the future.
I’m sorry
Smaḥ-li
Standard apology.
No, thank you
Lā šukran
To decline politely.
Three things that won’t happen to you
- Change money on arrival. Visa and Mastercard work in every riad, restaurant and experience we design. If you need dirhams (markets, tips), your host exchanges €200 for you at the daily rate.
- Bargaining in the souk. If you buy with us, you buy from selected artisans at a fixed and fair price. Performative bargaining is a fiction for tourists; serious artisans don’t negotiate.
- Driving. All inter-region transport is covered by a driver-coordinator. Distances are long (Marrakech-Sahara: 8h by road) and local driving is demanding.
Still have doubts?
Talk to Mohamed