Question 1

What is a riad in Morocco?

Accepted Answer

A traditional medina house turned inward: rooms wrapped around a courtyard garden or fountain (riad means 'garden'), with a roof terrace instead of street-facing windows. Converted riads are Morocco's signature hotels — intimate (often 5–10 rooms), personal, and inside the old cities where big hotels can't build. On our circuits we favour riads wherever the medina allows: they are half the experience of the night.

Question 2

What is a riad, and why do you use them?

Accepted Answer

A traditional house built around a courtyard, converted into a small guesthouse — usually 6 to 12 rooms, family-run, inside the medina walls. You sleep inside the old city rather than beside it, and breakfast on the roof. Where medinas end, we use kasbah hotels, mountain lodges and desert camps.

Question 3

What does half-board mean on my tour?

Accepted Answer

Breakfast and dinner at your accommodation are included on the nights your inclusions list says so; lunches on the road are yours to choose — which is deliberate, because roadside grills, souk stalls and oasis cafés are half the fun. Budget €5–15 for a generous lunch.

Question 4

Can you handle vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or allergies?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Moroccan cooking adapts well (vegetable tagines, couscous, salads, pulses), and camps and riads cook to order when warned. Tell us dietary needs at booking and we brief every kitchen on the route ahead of you.

Question 5

Is there wifi everywhere?

Accepted Answer

Riads and hotels: yes, usually decent in the courtyard and patchy in thick-walled rooms. Desert camps: little or none, on purpose. If you need to stay reachable, a local SIM is the answer.

Question 6

Should I buy a Moroccan SIM card?

Accepted Answer

For stays over a few days, yes — Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs with generous data for a few euros, at airports and city shops. Coverage on our routes is better than most travellers expect, deserts excepted.

Question 7

What are the plugs and voltage?

Accepted Answer

European two-pin plugs (types C/E) at 220 V — travellers from the UK, US and elsewhere need a standard Europe adapter. A small multi-USB charger earns its place in the bag, especially for the solar-powered camp nights.

Question 8

Can I get laundry done mid-trip?

Accepted Answer

Yes — riads arrange next-morning laundry in every city, and a two-night stop (Fes, Marrakech, Essaouira) is the natural moment. It is inexpensive; pack lighter than you think and let the route wash for you.

Question 9

What time zone is Morocco on, and does it change?

Accepted Answer

Morocco runs on GMT+1 year-round, with a temporary shift back around Ramadan. Phones usually adjust on their own; your driver will confirm times on the mornings that matter (balloon flights, ferries, airports).

Question 10

Is Morocco good for buying crafts, and can I ship things home?

Accepted Answer

Exceptional — carpets, leather, brass, ceramics and argan oil, each with a home region our routes pass through. Reputable workshops arrange insured shipping for anything bigger than a suitcase; your guide will steer you to fixed-price cooperatives if haggling is not your sport.

Hotels, food & daily life

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12. Hotels, food & daily life