Trailblazer Guide Books

Worth watching out for.
 - John Cleare

INTRODUCTION

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP

    With a group or on your own?
    Independent trekking 9 – Trekking with a guide and muleteer 9
    Group tours 12 – Trekking agencies 13

    Getting to Morocco
    By air 14 – By road 16 – By rail 16 – By ferry 16

    Visas and documents 17

    Budgeting and costs
    Accommodation and meals 19 – Guides and transport 20
    Other expenses on the trail 20

    When to go
    Climate 21 – Ramadan 23

    Route options
    Planning your route 23 – Jbel Toubkal 24 – Mgoun Massif 24
    Jbel Sirwa 25 – Jbel Sahro 25

    What to take
    Tent 28 – Rehydration systems 29 – Water purification systems 29 – What
    to pack it all in 30 – Sleeping bag 30 – Footwear and foot care 31
    Clothes 32 – Toiletries 33 – Medical and first-aid kits 34 – General
    items 34 – Provisions 35 – Money 35 – Photography and photographic
    equipment 36 – Recommended reading 36 – Maps 38 – GPS 39

    Mountain safety
    Trekking independently 40 – Mountain rescue 41

    Health precautions
    Altitude-related problems 42 – Inoculations 42 – Insurance 42

PART 2: MOROCCO

    Facts about Morocco and the Atlas Mountains
    Geography 43 – Geology 43 – Historical outline 44 – Morocco today 52
    The people 55 – Religion 57 – Berber architecture 58

    Fauna and flora
    Mammals 60 – Reptiles 60 – Birds of the Atlas Mountains 60 – Flora 64

    Practical information for the visitor
    Local transport 65 – Language 69 – Embassies and consulates 70
    Electricity 70 – Time and dates 71 – Opening hours 72 – Holidays and
    festivals 73 – Money 75 – Keeping in touch 77 – Media 78 – Travelling
    in a Muslim country 78 – Women in Islam 79 – Women travellers and
    sexual mores 80 – Homosexuality 80 – Drugs 80 – Food 81 – Drink 83
    Hammams 84 – Toilets 84 – Things to buy 85 – Security, crime and the
    police 87

PART 3: MINIMUM IMPACT TREKKING

    The need for minimum impact trekking
    Environmental impact 88 – Economic impact 90 – Cultural impact 90

PART 4: MARRAKECH

    History 94 – Arrival and departure 96 – Local transport 97
    Orientation 98 – Services 99 – Where to stay 101 – Where to eat 111
    Nightlife 113 – What to see 113

Part 5: OUARZAZATE

    History 124 – Arrival and departure 125 – Local transport 125
    Orientation 126 – Services 126 – Where to stay 127 – Where to eat 130
    Nightlife 131 – What to see 131 – Map key 132

PART 6: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS

    Using this guide 133

    The Toubkal region
    Getting to Imlil 134 – Imlil 135 – Toubkal Circular Trek 138

    The Mgoun region
    Getting to Azilal 152 – Azilal 152 – Getting to Tabant 154 – Tabant 154
    Upper Aït Bou Guemez Circular Trek 157 – Mgoun Circular Trek 160
    Mgoun Traverse 175

    The Sirwa region
    Getting to Taliwine 188 – Taliwine 189 – Sirwa Circular Trek 191

    Jbel Sahro
    Nkoub 204 – Jbel Sahro Traverse 207 – Qalaa’t Mgouna 223 – Jbel Sahro
    Circular Trek 226 – Boumalne du Dades 243

APPENDICES

    A: Arabic, French & Berber 247         B: Glossary 254        C: Health 257

INDEX  265