Hello wise ones, I come seeking your knowledge in the ways of the world again.

I'm heading to morocco for a few days in the near future and I have a couple of questions, which I should of asked a while ago.

My current insurance is not valid in Moroc, but I can swap policies for about £40 quid to one which would cover me. is this the best option or could I get a "local" short term policy (10days) when I'm there. I'm not fully clued up to what awaits me when I try to get on/off the ferry!

Second question is more general, I'll be hopefully making it over the atlas and hanging around south of the mountains, for a real change of scenery. Bearing in mind it will be the start of march, should I take a tent. Will sites be open? Safe? and will I be likly to freeze my nuts & bolts off?

Your help is gratefully recieved, and of course if any one else is in the area early to mid march and would like to meet up......... Bilboa - Fes- Erg de chebi

cheers

Richard

30 days insurance cost me 860 Dirhams on the border at Ceuta (for a LR110). I think 10 days was 500 or so (about £30). 5 minutes and very simple to arrange.

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Pictures, Mauritania 2011

You write << should I take a tent. Will sites be open? Safe?...>>
It will be cold in the mountains and cold in the desert - and it could rain anywhere at this time of the year. Take a minus 2 sleeping bag and a cheap tent, you'll be glad of them both. Don't worry too much about campsites, except in built up areas. Camp off road, out of sight, and use only candle light after dark. That way you'll attract no uninvited guests.
Have fun

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Kitmax - Traveller
homepage [URL=http://www.kitmax.com]

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Kitmax

cheers lads,

very useful info yet again, I dont know about the candlelight after dark business! they'd be able to smell me a mile off, I'd sh*t my pants!

Richard

Are you going to stay only 10 days in Morocco?
I was this winter holidays there for 14 days and I found it to be a very short period of time. I slept in hotels/pensions. The average price for a single room is about 10-15 euros. I thought also about camping, but I needed some rest in the end of the day, because I was hassled nearly constantly. Merzouga (with a tarmac road from Errachidia) (where Erg Chebbi is) was fine, but very "touristy", not really what I thought to be the Sahara.
Just take the ferry to Ceuta, not Tanger, as it is "cheaper" (85 euros for a car and 25 euros for person ONE WAY) and the petrol there is really cheap (enter Ceuta with very little fuel only and full there!). Don't plan to sleep in Algeciras or Ceuta, as the only places where you can sleep are 3 or more star hotels (cheap hotels and pensions are whore houses -and very noisy-) and I didn't see any camping site.
Better don't eat at restaurants, take your own food as I had a 2week diarrhea after returning home and drink only bottled water.
Maybe Mhamid is a more sahara-like place than Merzouga, but there are no spectacular sand dunes (if you go there, be aware that there are childer trowing stones between Zagora and Mhamid) and I wont suggest you not to stop in Tamegroute (I didn't liked it at all - only begging children and nearly "compulsory" "guides".
If you use fuel, bear in mind that "sans plomb" means unleaded. Take a french dictionary if you don't know french and IMPORTANT: old clothes and whisky (bought duty-free in Ceuta) pour change (to change instead of money).

Have a nice trip.

'Kitmax''s reply is interesting.... but do remember that a burning cigarette can be seen over a mile away... so a candle.....much further!!! draw your own conclusions about that advice... ;0)

[This message has been edited by bert333 (edited 16 February 2006).]