GOOD TO KNOW

Researching Morocco beforehand made me think that the country is relatively unsafe, especially for women. We did not find that to be the case; in fact my 18 year-old daughter remarked that she felt safer in Marrakech at night than she does in Brighton. That said, of course be vigilant and take care of yourself and your possessions.

Morocco is a predominantly Islamic country with 99% of the population being Sunni Muslim. From my experience, I would call Morocco a liberal Muslim country.

Women are not expected or required to cover their heads or dress modestly but I would suggest not baring much skin as a sign of respect to the environment you’re in.

Be aware that homosexuality is still illegal in Morocco. Despite this, it is a popular destination for LGBTQ+ travellers.

I was warned beforehand that we would be pestered by vendors but we did not experience much of that. A firm ‘no, thank you’ always did the trick.

Don’t take photos of snake charmers and performing monkeys – it only encourages the cruel practices.

Morocco is not the cheap destination it used to be. Petrol stands at £1.13 a litre and food prices are on par with Greece. You will find fantastic works of arts and crafts at very reasonable prices though.

Funny creatures, camels – moody and docile all at once! Our trusty steeds walked us into the Sahara not long before sunset and we trekked the last bit by foot, battling up a giant dune to find ourselves atop, looking as far as the eye could see at the most awe-inspiring, endless desert sands.

It’s hard to describe the feelings stirred by the desert to someone who has never been. You can describe what you see; the undulating sands, a sea of golden red dunes that appear to have no beginning and no end. You can show pictures and write words, but portraying that feeling is next to impossible. It is something that absolutely needs to be experienced in order to be appreciated. Perhaps it’s one of those things, like seeing the ocean for the first time…

The Saharan night sky was a blanket of stars, unsurpassed by even those that I saw in the clear, crisp nights in Greenland. Sleeping under the stars, the desert sky at night is an evocative and awe-inspiring visual phenomenon. It made me feel as part of the beginning and end, part of the primordial soup of the universe.

Our departure from the desert was quiet, all of us in our own thoughts; reset in a way. But as we continued, with traditional Tinariwen music playing in our van, we felt the joy of knowing we have even more to see and discover.

On we travelled, taking in the magnificent Todra Gorge, stopping to explore a traditional Kasbah, still being maintained by all the ancient methods. The UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou was another highlight; a traditional pre-Saharan city maze of tightly packed houses, still inhabited.

Too soon it was time to head back to Marrakech. However, getting back to the loud, proud and colourful city simply tied our trip up nicely. We will be back in Morocco, and soon, that’s for sure.

Return flights in March from Gatwick to Marrakech starts at £97.00 with Wizz Air www.nomadic-tours.com