Through experience, we have learned that our job is to make the holiday of our guests enjoyable by showing them the nicest places or the places they are curious to see. We also believe that the conversations had along the way are one of the ways to build bridges between different cultures and our task is to choose the bridges that are certain.
Take care of a regular and careful washing of the hands before each meal (very strict hand hygiene in particular after visiting toilets).
Avoid going bare foot on the wet sand and grounds in the campsite.
Be aware of wild animals as they may be dangerous.
Keep a low profile: Don’t bring attention to yourself by wearing fancy clothes or accessories.
Keep all your papers (passports, driving licence etc…) on you always.
If during the tour you feel tiredness or a particular pain, speak with your guide as sooon as it happens to make necessary arrangements.
Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected.
Do not drink unopened beverages or drinks with ice.
Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
Use uncontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten raw.
Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors.
Avoid eating uncooked foods – Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!
We may have planned your trip to the umpteenth degree, but Mother Nature often has ideas of her own. When you enter the wilderness, even when you are as prepared as you possibly can, its encouraged at the same time to go with an open and adaptable mindset.
The unexpected is an integral part of adventure tours. Harsh weather conditions or other factors may force your guide to change the planned tour…good humour and flexibility of character are the best medicine.
Atlas Outdoor was founded in a spirit of solidarity with local people. Through our actions we are committed to improve the daily life and future of local population. We use and employ only local resources and play an active part in local development associations including Tawaya, in the High Atlas ( www.association-tawaya.org ) and association Amrad in Tazarine, South Morocco, we also donate 3 % of each tour to Tawaya NGO.
Respect the Local Community:
Never take someone’s photo without first asking permission..
Dressing in a culturally appropriate manner will go some way in helping you to gain the acceptance of your hosts, first impressions matter, you are making a conscious effort to adapt by embracing the cultural 'norm'.
If you are invited among inhabitants, think of taking off your shoes, of washing your hands and of using only the right hand at the time of the meals (left for the left-handed person).
We must create as little impact as possible and in some cases we can leave the area in a more natural state than we found it. To maintain the natural beauty of areas we travel in, the following guidelines offer suggestions for low-impact and culturally sensitive travel;
Ensure that all garbage is packed up, our team collects all garbage and brings it back to Marrakesh to be recycled.
Burn toilet papers after use.
Stay on the trail, straying from the trail while hiking can cause erosion and other damage
Respect the wildlife; viewing animals from a safe distance is fine.
Protect local water systems, use only biodegradable soaps and shampoos while camping, we encourage the use of ecological soaps (or European Ecolabel certified Ecocert)
Respect historical and archaeological sites.
In Morocco, staff expect tips from tourists after their tours. The best way to tip the accompanying team is to make a contribution at the end of travel and provide an envelope for each team member. There’s no set amount as this often depends on group size, but as a guideline around £20 (or 300 Dirhams).
When shopping for souvenirs in the souq (markets) it is normal to haggle. Don’t be alarmed by the shopkeeper’s inflated starting price as you can usually hope to finish up at about half of this. It can be a frustrating experience but it always pays off to stay calm and good humoured and the general idea is to come away feeling that you got good value for your purchase. In other words there’s no right or wrong price, just a price that suits both parties and everyone goes away happy. In upmarket boutiques haggling is not appropriate.
The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, a currency not available outside Morocco. In Marrakesh, Azilal, Ouarzazate… there are plenty of exchange facilities and cashpoints accepting Mastercard, Visa, Maestro and Cirrus. Most city restaurants accept payment by credit card. Even though accommodation and most of your meals are included in each trip, you will need some spending money for meals that are not included, bar bills, tips and souvenirs. Please refer to your guide for suggestions on how much money to take. 1 euro = approximately 11 DH
