VOLUBILIS The city of Volubilis, set at the foot of the Zerhoun hills, is by far the most impressive of the Roman remains in Morocco. This ancient city once ruled the whole Roman province of Mauritania. It is beautifully situated, overlooking a wide and fertile plain rich in corn crops. The African King Juba II, who married the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, made his capital Volubilis splendid some years before the birth of Christ. It was however, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD that the city reached its zenith. At least 15,000 people lived within its walls protected by a garrison recruited from all over the ancient world, including a contingent from Britain, as revealed by the inscriptions. Many treasures have been unearthed at Volubilis, including some remarkable bronzes. Much of the masonry was plundered by Moulay Ismail for the building of Meknes and some was damaged in the devastating earthquake which overthrew Lisbon in the middle of the 18th century, but enough remains to remind us of just how thoroughly the Romans equipped their great provincial capitals.

FES Fes is the oldest of the four imperial cities and was founded more than 11 centuries ago by Moulay Idris II. Its name has long been familiar because of the crimson skull caps called Fez, which were and still are worn everywhere in the Muslem world. A visit to the Medina is a must. One fascinating feature of this old quarter is the way that each trade has its own Souk (or market) and district. Near the carpet makers for instance are the workers of hand woven cloth and this Souk exports its precious wares all over the world. Another quarter is devoted to the potters and in another the aromatic smell instantly betrays the grocers and spice sellers who are surrounded by great tubs of saffron, cinnamon and all manner of herbs. Looking down on the old quarters of Fes, from the surrounding hills is a magical experience, the muffled sounds of the buzzing city and the contained disorder below all add to the timeless quality of this ancient city.

TODRA GORGE This incredible abyss separates the High Atlas range of mountains from the Jbel Sahro and is the same kind of geographical accident, but on a smaller scale, as the Grand Canyon. With walls soaring over 300 metres skyward, the red cliffs and the brilliant blue sky form an awe- inspiring scene. The charm of Todra lies in its changing moods and colours as the sun slowly treks from east to west. The local hoteliers have constructed huge Berber tents and provide authentic Moroccan dishes for those of us wishing to experience some of the local lifestyle.

SAHARA CAMEL TREK We will arrange on day 6 an overnight camel trek into the Sahara for the group. This will be organised in Merzouga and involves a traditional Berber camp and meal for the night in the desert. The camel ride lasts several hours making arrival at our camp all the more welcome!

MARRAKECH In ancient times Marrakech was called 'Morocco City' and sometimes referred to as the 'Pearl of the South'. The colour of Marrakech is most remarkable; a reddish-brown describes it best. The city walls, the houses and the soil are all of the same shade and even the new French-style quarter contains houses tinted to the some colour. Marrakech has approximately 2Okms of walls enclosing gardens and lakes. Its great pride and landmark, visible from many miles, is the Koutoubia Tower, sister to the Tower of Hassan in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Sevillle. It is said that after the third of these was completed, the cruel sultan had the eyes of his architect put out, lest he should build another more beautiful tower elsewhere. One of the most striking features of Marrakech is the huge open souk, which for the past eight centuries has been the scene of parades, executions and entertainment, as well as the centre for buying and selling for hundreds of miles around. It is now the liveliest place imaginable, where all sorts of exotic entertainment can be seen, from poetry reading to snake charming to acrobatics. The enthusiastic may wish to hire a bicycle to further explore Marrakech and its environs. Particularly of interest are the many beautiful public and private gardens.

LOCAL TOUR PAYMENT LTP: is payable to your Tour Leader. (Payable in GBP’s or Euros only) The Local Payment covers meals whilst camping and all of your camping costs on tour. Your Local payment also covers the cost of all core entrances as described in the itinerary. We carry a large supply of staple food and large water tanks, enough for many weeks of self-sufficiency. In local markets we will buy fresh food of the day. We provide 3 meals a day.

PEOPLE OF THE AREA

THE ARABS Morocco has a significant Arab population. The Arabs spread across North - Africa in two great waves, in the 7th and 11th centuries. They stamped their religion, culture and language on the countries in the west. They also destroyed the irrigation-based civilisation of North Africa and it was not until the French arrived that any attempt was made to restore this type of agricultural economy.

THE BERBERS Berbers have long been the inhabitants of North Africa, though their exact origins have never been traced, they were converted to Islam by the Arabs who arrived in the area around the 7th century AD, Mostly animal breeders, they are often nomads who travel with their flocks. Berbers do not just belong to a loose linguistic group, but are a distinct branch of the Caucasoid race. They have also a remarkable uniformity of culture considering their scattered distribution. Techniques of agriculture, weaving and pottery show strong similarities throughout the Berber areas, whether on the fringe of the Sahara or in the snow-capped Atlas mountains.

ABOUT YOU, ABOUT OVERLANDING, ABOUT THE CREW The majority of passengers are aged 18 - 35, travelling with a partner, by themselves or in a group of friends. They originate from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Europe, and are in good health and of likeminded character and looking for an adventure of a life time. Overland travel is by its nature adventurous. These are not regular package holidays. We aim to visit destinations and leave them as we have found them, respecting the culture and customs of the people that live there. The responsibilities and demands placed on our team are great and therefore a considerable number of skills and attributes are expected by us of our crew. These include having social skills to harmonise group dynamics, being a diplomat and ambassador, to being a mechanic and a qualified first aider. Respect and enthusiasm for this fascinating continent is an absolute must. On all expeditions the Tour Leader will have full responsibility for the safety of the passengers, the crew and the truck. He/she is therefore entitled to make any changes to the itinerary that he/she feels are necessary to achieve this. Local Guides: Wherever possible we employ the services of local guides where we can benefit from their expert cultural and geographical knowledge.

EXPEDITION VEHICLES A range of vehicles custom built for the tour. The Expedition vehicles are purpose built for Overlanding. There is plenty of room onboard for your luggage and all the cooking and camping equipment needed to run a successful tour. Other forms of transport may include trains, boats and ferries as well as the occasional mini bus.

LIFE ON TOUR

MEETING POINT AND TIME TANGIER Meeting Time: You will be met by our Tour Leader, who is looking forward to your arrival. You should be at The Tarik Hotel by 6 P.M. on Day 1 of the Tour. Please don’t miss it. If you are unable to meet at this time please leave a note or message prior, or look at reception from your crews details on how to meet up with the tour. Our first night will be spent at the Hotel Tarik in shared rooms (3 people per room). All tours in Morocco end after breakfast on the final day.

RECCOMENDED SPENDING MONEY & OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES we are not responsible for price changes or unavailable excursions on your tour. All optional activities are completed at your own risk and are not necessary endorsed by us, Before Participating in these activities you should check carefully if you are covered by your medical insurance.

Exchange rate = 100 Dirham = £7.00 GBP, $13.00 USD, $15.00 AUD, $13.00 CAD, and $17.00 NZD

Budgeting: To cover drinks and souvenirs and the odd visit to a restaurant or nightclub, we recommend bringing at least the equivalent of £10. per day spending money in either £’s or Euros’s. Although Cash often gives a higher exchange rate, we do advise to bring some Traveller Cheques for security as well. (Thomas Cook, American Express) Credit Cards are useful but in general are hard to use and should be used as a backup for cash. Remember the optional excursions are optional and you do not have to do them all, they are extras and not core to the enjoyment of your holiday. At times you may have to choose between activities. You need to bring enough British Pounds or Euros with you to cover the Local Tour Payment, Visas and Options. Reliance on Credit cards may be a problem that will dog you for the whole tour.

• Please do not rely on your Credit, Cirrus and Maestro Cards for local currency withdrawals except in the larger cities. American Express and diners club is rarely accepted.
• We usually have a traveller’s cheque stop once a week or so; but cash is the only real answer.
• Bring a mixture of denominations, both large and small notes. Please make sure that the notes are in perfect condition, no nicks or tears.
• Do bring your sales advice slip for your traveller’s cheques or at least a copy. Most banks require this advice slip before changing your cheques. This is a response to counterfeit traveller’s cheques in the market.
• You will not have to carry hard currency around with you once you join our expedition, the safe we have provided on the truck is used for this purpose and you will only need to carry on your person enough local currency for daily use.

VISAS Visas are not included in the tour price or recommended daily spending money. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the visas for your tour. Visa requirements do change at times so we advise you to check the current requirements before the commencement of your tour. Most visas must be used within 3 months (or less) from the date of issue so make sure you don’t apply for them too early. If you are doing a longer tour make sure your visa will be valid for the time when you are due to enter that country. For information check out www.visaproject.com

SECURITY Travelling overseas can be a bit daunting especially if it is your first time. In general travel is safe and group travel even more so. Here are a few ideas to help you out.

• Take the same precautions you do when travelling around your own country
• Never flash wealth around, people WILL be watching. Take off your earrings, watches and jewellery.
• Listen to your crew’s advice when entering a new area.
• Be careful placing valuables when relaxing or in Internet café as this is were lots of tourist flock and so do the people who live of them.
• In the end don’t worry yourself sick be prudent and keep you valuables in safe secure places.
• Use the safety box that is bolted into the truck to store your important documents while travelling.
• Note. Bukima takes no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects.

LUGGAGE Remember your bags are your responsibility it is up to you to collect all your belongings and carry them to and from the tour vehicle. It is not the job of the crew to carry or to look after your belongings they have their own rolls to play and their own things to look after including the rest of the group. So if you cannot carry it yourself you shouldn’t bring it.

• 1 Duffel bag or backpack with an internal frame
• Day bag
• Good torch and spare batteries
• Pocket knife (Swiss army/Leatherman)
• Sun glasses & Hat
• Writing material and diary
• Toiletries + contraceptives
• Washing line & soap
• Water bottle (max 2 litres)
• Drivers Licence/Yellow Fever Certificate/Passport/Photocopy of Passport/Travellers cheque advice form and copy Spare Glasses or Contact lenses and solutions
• ****Sleeping bags are NOT necessary as the truck has camp beds and blankets on board.
• Bring a sheet if you wish.

CLOTHING

• Waterproof jacket
• Socks Trousers or jeans T-shirts/shirts
• Underwear
• Shorts/skirt/dress
• 1 pair Trekking Boots
• 1 pair thongs/flip flops/jandals
• 1 Towel/Sarong
• Swimsuit
• Smart casual attire
• Warm jacket or jersey it does get very cold

We would always stress that most people tend to bring along too much. Remember you will need a certain amount of spare space when leaving for souvenirs purchased along the way. So please don’t over pack at the start of your tour.

FIRST AID KIT

• Antiseptic cream, Betadine is good Sunscreen & lip cream - Insect Repellent - Cotton wool & sterile swabs Dressing pads like melonin or telfa and adhesive tape Bandages and Band-Aids
• Pain killers - paracetamol/Panadol - Ear & eye drops - Butterfly tape (steri strips)
• Water purification tablets - Re-hydration sachets for diarrhoea
• Antibiotics for infected cuts and tropical ulcers Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin or Augmentin)
• Tweezers & scissors (don’t carry in hand luggage on Camping It is primarily a camping expedition.

You will be sharing a tent with one other person. We will bush camp, as well as use campsites. Participation Participation is essential. A successful and smooth tour depends very much on everyone taking part in the duties that a rise i.e. cooking, vehicle cleaning, food shopping and security. With this in mind your Leader will organize groups on a rotating roster. The most successful tours are those where everyone becomes involved as much as possible, so join in and have some fun. In the end the more you put in the more you get out.

Cooking When camping, cooking is usually done on a roster basis with 2 - 4 people cooking each day. Gas burners and wood are used for cooking and are supplied along with pots, baking trays, frying pans, woks, lighting, campstools ect. Eating utensils are also provided. Don’t worry; the tour leader will help in the planning and preparing of meals to keep standards, variety and hygiene high. Internet Keeping in touch has become more and more important. In general there is internet access whilst on tour.

TOUR ACCOMMODATION TANGIER we can help with pre and post tour accommodation. We recommend that people stay at our pre-departure hotel below. TANGIER TARIK HOTEL You will be met by our Tour Leader, who is looking forward to your arrival. You should be at The Tarik Hotel by 6 P.M. on the deptarture date given for your tour. Please don’t miss it.

TARIK HOTEL Route De Malabata TANGIER TEL: (00212) 39340949 AIRPORT

Exchange rate = 100 Dirham = £7.00 GBP, $13.00 USD, $15.00 AUD, $13.00 CAD, and $17.00 NZD 

TRANSFERS TANGIER It may not always be possible to pick passengers up from the airport. If the truck is there hop on, otherwise you should agree a price with a licensed (grande) taxi to take you to your accommodation - these can be shared and should cost about 120 dirham. This cost will be reimbursed to you at the Pre-departure Meeting.

PORT TRANSFERS FROM ALGECIRAS If you are arriving by ferry, you should visit the Marco Polo office opposite the exit gate which is 700m and then a further 150m on the right hand side of the Post Office. The transfer to the hotel from here is already arranged and you don't need to pay. The ferry from Algeciras takes a few hours and costs 23 euros each way.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BY FERRY YOU WILL NEED TO GET YOUR PASSPORT STAMPED ON THE VESSEL BEFORE YOU DIS-EMBARK.

IN AN EMERGENCY In an emergency you can contact Marco Polo Travel Agency, 72 AV D'Espagne,Tangier. Tel: (++212) 39.94.01.46/++212 39.32.22.24 You can also reach us at the office Tel: 0044 (0)870 220 17 18 or Mob: 0044 (0)7711 132 530.