Local Costs

	UK	Morocco
Tea/Coffee	£1.50	£0.80
Soft Drink	£1.50	£0.80
Bottled Water	£1.50	£0.60
Bottle of Beer	£3.50	£2.50
2 Course Meal*	£15.00	£15.00
3 Course Meal**	£20.00	£20.00
Bottle of Wine	£14.50	£11.00
Breakfast	£5.00

*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.

Important Information

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.

If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.

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Visa Requirements

Entry visas are not required by UK, AUS, NZ, USA & CAN citizens. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.

 

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Know before you go

We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/

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Preparing for your tour

Additional Information for your Cycling Tour

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Cycling Safety

Our bikes are serviced frequently: spokes, tyres, gear and brake mechanisms are checked over and tested thoroughly by experienced mechanics before each tour begins.

We strongly recommend that you wear a helmet whilst cycling. We do not provide helmets locally; by bringing your own you can ensure a good fit and that it hasn’t been damaged.

Your tour leader will give a full safety briefing at the start of the tour, along with instructions on how to deal with any minor mechanical problems you may have along the way. Puncture repair kits will be provided locally, when and where necessary during the trip.

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Bike details

Bike Details	Equipment provided
Bike type:	Mountain Bike
Bike model:	Stockli XC
Number of gears:	21
Brakes:	Shimano
Suspension:	Front
Frame range:	17" and 19"
Panniers/bike bag type provided:	Small bike bag under seat
Water bottle holder provided:	Yes
Water bottle provided:	No
Adjustable handlebars:	Yes
Female saddles provided:	No
Gel saddles provided:	No
Option to fit own saddle:	Yes
Option to fit own pedals:	No

 

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Bike hire is included on all Explore cycling trips: you don’t need to bring your own or pay extra to hire one locally. We also provide a support vehicle, spare parts and take care of day to day bike maintenance. All you need bring is your own helmet. If you prefer to use your own saddle or pedals please bring them too, as they can be fitted to your bike for the duration of the tour.

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Climate

Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.

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The climate is both Mediterranean and Atlantic. The dry, hot season is from May to October when summer temperatures can reach 38°C and above (we will vary our sight seeing times as best we can to avoid the heat during this period). Temperatures may drop significantly at times during the night as the day’s heat rapidly diminishes. From December to January snow can be expected on mountain passes and it can be wet. In winter, day temperatures will probably be around 18-25°C, dropping to perhaps 0-5°C.

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Clothing

We recommend you bring padded cycle shorts and quick drying cycle shirts for the daily cycling. Soaked cotton clothes tend not to dry while cycling. Cycling gloves are strongly recommended as they will protect you from sunburn and may also help protect your hands if you fall.

Evenings and nights can become quite cold between October and March. It is advisable to take warm clothing (e.g. track suit or thermal underwear) to sleep in, as the quality of heating in Moroccan hotel rooms can be variable. Keep in mind that at altitude and in the desert, temperatures can drop rapidly, so a warm sweater or fleece, plus waterproof/windproof shell garment, hat and gloves are essential. Don’t forget your swimming costume in the warmer months.

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Footwear

Lightweight walking shoes/trainers for cycling. Comfortable shoes/sandals for evenings and visiting the sites and towns.

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Equipment

We recommend you bring your own helmet. Bring a water-bottle that clips on to the bike. Wrap-around sunglasses help prevent insects or pollen getting in your eyes. A penknife is useful for picnic lunches. For additional comfort you may like to bring a gel seat cover. A torch is also useful.

Please consider carrying all or some of your cycling equipment, e.g. helmet, as part of your hand luggage.

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Please bring a sleeping bag for the nights in local houses.

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General Information

Please note:

RAMADAN 2013 - 9th July to 8th August
Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some restrictions to services and minor amendments to the itinerary. Restaurants may have limited supplies of fresh food available during this period.

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EID AL ADHR 2013 - 15th to 17th October

The 'Festival of Sacrifice' or Greater Eid is the 2nd most important celebration in the Muslim calendar and is a public holiday. This means that many shops and restaurants may be closed during this period so that families may join together to enjoy the festival. There may also be some restrictions to services and minor amendments to the itinerary.

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