Send me a brochure/catalog

All our tour information is available only on our website at www.SaharaTrek.com. Any changes to tour itineraries due to change in flight times or changes in prices due to exchange rates are quickly and effectively communicated by updates to the website, which we do as frequently as necessary. By not printing paper brochures and catalogs, we help protect the environment while saving money on office overhead and pass the savings onto our clients. Please review our website to choose among the great vacation possibilities listed there and let us know if you have questions about any of the tours. We are always here and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Do you work with Travel Agents?

No. The travel industry has changed as people have become more net savvy and budget conscious. It used to be the travel agent controlled the information and based available tours on the amount of commission they'd get paid, not the desires of the clients. With the internet, travelers can do their own research and find the programs and prices that suit them best without the commission driven filter of a travel agent. Because we don't have to pay commissions we can reduce the cost of our tours by 12-20% and pass that savings on to our clients.

How much should I tip?

The standard is 50 dirham (about $5) per person, per day for the guide and about 30-50 dirham (about $3-$5) for the driver.

Is it safe for women to travel to Morocco alone?

Travel to Morocco for a single woman is possible, but not always wonderful. Western women alone still draw quite a bit of attention that they may not always welcome. Moroccan men are inquisitive and persistent though not dangerous, as violence against a woman, especially a western tourist, is frowned upon. There is no way to sugar coat the fact that unless you are with a guide, you will be approached and propositioned in one way or another all the time.

In the camps in the desert — will it just be my traveling companion and our guide(s) or will there be other travelers as well?

People may think that the Sahara is a vast wasteland devoid of life, but that's the farthest thing from the truth. The Sahara is a fragile ecosystem, its flora and fauna always existing on the edge in the world's harshest environment. To reduce our footprint and try to preserve the Sahara's pristine wonder, we use permanent camps where our clients are afforded the maximum privacy of their own tents, common dining areas, and a few conveniences all without the tourism sprawl.

Can I avoid the 4:30 AM pick-up time and make other timing changes to an itinerary?

There is only the one flight out from Ouarzazate which connects with the transatlantic flight departing from Casablanca in mid-day. Even though there are later flights during the day out of Ouarzazate, only the early morning one connects to the international flight that gets you to JFK the same day. So to answer your question, unfortunately there is no way to avoid the early morning pick up for your flight out.

The current tour schedule is based on the optimal use of time given the resources, flights, distances, and other means of transport involved. Rearranging the itineraries is possible, but it always adds to the cost of the tours and involves additional travel and backtracking between cities and it is best avoided.

Why do I need travel insurance/why is it important?

We highly, HIGHLY recommend travel insurance to the point that we think you'd be foolish not to get it. There are always uncertainties when it comes to travel in general and international travel in particular. Same as you cannot guarantee that you will not get sick the day before your trip and are unable to go, no airline carrier can guarantee that you will get to where you need to be without any problems or delays. The payments that we receive from our clients and forward to the ground operators in Morocco are sent months in advance and under Moroccan law absolutely cannot be repatriated to the US. Once the tour is in progress, no refunds are possible for unused portions if something happens like you get sick and cannot go on. That is one way travel insurance keeps you covered along with many other possible scenarios. Please review the legal disclosure on our website.

We've been told not to visit the Western Sahara.

And they're right, the Western Sahara is an area in "transition," that's why our tours stay far away from there, firmly in the Moroccan Sahara.

Why is your price lower/higher than the competition?

Our costs are determined by what we do, and what we don't do.

We do:

• operate only in Morocco using only carefully selected accommodations and guides for all our clients, making us their biggest customer and securing the best rates

• work under contract with Royal Air Maroc for all the flights for our clients, and after many successful years we get a very favorable rate

• base our costs on 2 people traveling on a private tour, not a bus of 50

• answer the phone 7 days a week for questions and reservations make ourselves available in case of an emergency

We don't:

• pay commissions to travel agents

• print and mail thousands of big glossy brochures run pricy ads in glitzy magazines

• include meals at overplayed tourist restaurants add tips, porterage, and other services that you might not even use to the cost of the tour

The single traveler/single supplement:

We strive to deliver the best value possible on the tours to our clients. In order to achieve that, our tours are based on double occupancy where two or more travelers share the expenses. However, when the party does not have two travelers, the cost doubles for the single traveler. The single supplement is the equivalent of the ground only price of the missing second person. As our tours are private, we do not combine groups on a tour, so it is not possible for a single tourist to travel with other guests.

Extra gear for the desert

There are cots and blankets provided for the desert overnight camping. But winter nights do get cold in the desert, so depending on your required comfort level, you may want to bring some extra warm clothes. The camp chores and food cooking is done by the guides in the camp, so you do not need anything for that. You really need very little for the desert, but you may want to see our suggested packing list for ideas listed in our Practical Guide.

What's the temperature in Morocco?

Here is a link for the temperatures in Morocco. The closest city to the desert that the temperatures are provided for is Ouarzazate. The temperatures in the desert will be a few degrees hotter in the summer and a few degrees colder in the winter than is listed for Ouarzazate.

Is Morocco Safe?

Morocco remains one of the most stable and progressive Islamic countries in the world and has close ties to both Europe and the US. That being said, we always take precautions. We use accommodations deep inside of cities in pedestrian districts and away form the large tourist hotels, our guides are good friends of ours and have been working with the company for years, we only operate private tours to avoid the large and obvious tour buses, finally we operate in cities and desert regions well known to us and never send our clients to places that we feel are unsafe/unstable (Tangier and Rabat being at the top of the list). So sure are we in the safety of our programs that the families of our US employees even traveled with us to Morocco with great regularity. The world can change in an instant and if you're looking for the safest place to be, you might want to consider staying at home (which is rarely much fun). If you're looking for some adventure mitigated by years of experience and planning, then we're ready when you are!

What are your References?

SaharaTrek is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. We are licensed, regulated, and bonded by the Florida Dept. of Consumer Protection. We work under exclusive contract with Royal Air Maroc, and are listed as a preferred supplier with the Moroccan National Tourist Office. The International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) also endorses our company. We have been reviewed and appear in no less than 18 separate newspapers, magazines, and guidebooks. And we also publish our clients’ feedback on our website. However, we do take the privacy of our clients very seriously and we will not provide the contact information of any of our previous clients, even when they volunteer to be a very positive reference. Per the privacy policy (as required by the Better Business Bureau), we do not sell, disclose, publish or provide any information on any current or past clients to outside sources regardless of purpose.

When do your tours regularly start?

The only limits on when a tour starts is when Royal Air Maroc has scheduled flights with available space from JFK to Casablanca. The basic schedule for flights is Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, but they'll often add Monday, Friday and Sunday depending on which season it is. So chances are good there will be a flight whenever you're ready to go. Contact us with your desired departure date and we'll let you know if Royal Air Maroc has a flight that is available.

Royal Air Maroc flies non-stop from New York's JFK Airport to Casablanca, Morocco. You are responsible for making your flight arrangements to New York's JFK airport, Terminal 1. You must be at the terminal for check-in at least 3 hours before the Royal Air Maroc departure.

If you've decided on a ground only tour, then you are responsible for all your flight arrangements to and within Morocco.

What is a Private Tour?

A private tour is just you and your guide, moving through the cities at your pace letting your interests determine what you see and how much time you spend seeing it. No crowds of strangers being herded through the streets with a guide yelling over their heads. This is one-on-one personal attention so you get the most out of each city you visit. And when your city tour is done, you'll have free time to explore and experience on your own.

How are transfers handled?

Transfers between Fez, Casablanca, and Marrakech are by First-Class train, the most comfortable and quickest way to get between destinations while being able to see the countryside and meet Moroccans. When transferring by vehicle or camel caravan you'll have the opportunity to stop when and wherever possible along the route. Just say so and you'll have the time you need to take a picture, stretch your legs, or just enjoy the scenery. Transfers for groups of 4+ are always private. Transfers for groups of 2 are usually private except on the rare occasion when we have clients going to the exact same place at the exact same time. When that happens, we'll combine the small groups together to share the ride and save the planet, but don't worry about being inconvenienced, it will be no more than 4 passengers per vehicle and everyone has a window seat with plenty of room.

"Worry Free" Single Voucher System

Most travel companies will weigh you down with vouchers for your tours, vouchers for your transfers, vouchers for your accommodations, vouchers for your meals, and even vouchers for your vouchers. You worry more about the stack of stapled papers that you have to keep track of than just relaxing and enjoying your vacation. SaharaTrek has found the solution with its Worry Free Single Voucher System. You get one document which identifies you to our guides with your names, the tour itinerary, and emergency contact numbers. That's it. Since all our tours are private tours, the guides and drivers are there only for you and won't leave until you're safely picked up and checked into your accommodations. Your hotel rooms are booked under your names, and our staff in Morocco are always available if there's a problem. It can't get any easier than this.

7 day service

Why are most travel companies only available Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, the exact same time when people are busy earning the time and money for their vacations? Shouldn't planning your vacation be a part of the enjoyment and relaxation of a vacation? Shouldn't the travel company work around your schedule instead of you having to work around theirs? SaharaTrek believes it should, and we work hard to prove it! You can plan your Morocco vacation whenever it's convenient for you because SaharaTrek is here to help you every day. When you call or send us an email, you'll be working directly with a staff member that has spent at least 4 months in Morocco, learning about the destinations, accommodations, culture, shopping, religion, people, and everything else that comes with Morocco travel. Morocco is a tough country to get accurate information on and unlike a travel brochure, we tell it the way it is: the good, the bad, and the unusual. By being straight about Morocco, we're able to provide our clients with the most comprehensive descriptions and best advice available so you'll have the best opportunity to plan and prepare for your vacation. Should you have a problem or a question while traveling in Morocco, help is just a call away. With SaharaTrek's network of representatives on the ground, 24/7 emergency assistance from our US office, and international support through your travel insurance, we've got you covered. It's even better to know that should there be a problem at home, your family or friends will be able to call the SaharaTrek office in the US at any time, day or night, and we'll get the message to you wherever you are in Morocco. It's an extra piece of mind that lets you worry less and enjoy your time in Morocco more.

I live in HI, IA, NV or WA

If you live in HI, IA, NV, WA then the only legal way you can book a SaharaTrek tour is through a travel agent licensed by that state. As we said before, to keep our costs down we don't work with travel agents. Sorry.

What should I pack

Check out our Practical Guide for a recommended packing list and other helpful information about Morocco.