Welcome to Run Morocco: Backroads of the Atlas!

Please see below for pretty much everything that you need to know in advance of your upcoming adventure. You can also click "My Trips" at the top of this page to access and edit your personal information, register for early arrival or a private room and view/pay your remaining balance at any time.

And of course, feel free to refresh yourself on the full itinerary and inclusions/exclusions any time at this link: https://www.roguexpeditions.com/morocco-2/details/s2024

Your main RE contact for any pre-trip questions or concerns is allison@roguexpeditions.com.  

Your Rogue Expeditions guides for this trip will be Alain Pernau & Kara Folkerts; contact info for your guides will be provided prior to departure!

Once you have booked your flight, please submit your flight details here.

For this trip you will need to arrive in Marrakech (RAK) no later than 3:30pm on Friday, April 12, 2024 and depart the same place no earlier than 12 noon on Saturday, April 20, 2024.  We will be there to meet you at the airport, and we will take you back there at the end of the trip. If you opt for early arrival then you should arrive no later than 4pm on Thursday, April 11.

Please note that If you book flight times outside of these parameters we can help you arrange alternate transport, but there may be added expense.

Want tips & tricks for landing flight deals? Check out this article.

READ THIS: Packing (light) tips for your next adventure

GENERAL THINGS TO CONSIDER 

*This is an active trip with lots of time in rural areas, so there is no need for particularly dressy clothing.

*Think lightweight, quick-drying, interchangeable items/colors, and layers. 

*Any type of luggage is fine, but backpacks and duffels tend to be the most durable, easy to move around with and can hold a lot. Luggage will be strapped on top of the vehicles, so leave the designer bags at home! 

*Have some sort of ‘day bag,’ whether it’s a small backpack, messenger bag, etc. It should be big enough to carry money, a camera, a water bottle, and a jacket. 

*Conservative dress is the name of the game, for men and women. In rural areas and villages especially, avoid short shorts and tank tops (think: knees & shoulders) out of respect for local custom. Things are more modern along the coast, and for our last two days in Essaouira wearing shorts or tanks is not a big deal.

*Running shorts are fine for men and okay for women, though capri-length tights or lightweight jogger pants are a better option for women when running through rural villages (which we do most days). Please avoid anything very short, with split sides or very tight-fitting. Definitely no shirtless running, regardless of gender!

*You don’t need a different running outfit for every day. Though it will be warm during the day, it is extremely dry away from the coast and you really won’t sweat much at all. You can easily re-wear a few items throughout the trip, and a rinse-out in the shower keeps things clean enough – hang it outside your window for a quick dry! 

CLOTHES 

*2-3 pairs running shorts (men) / 1-2 pair running capri/pants and 1-2 pair running shorts (women) 

*2-3 short sleeve running shirts + jog bras and 1-2 long sleeve running shirt 

*3-4 non running shirts/tops 

*2 pairs pants or jeans or 1 pair pants/1 long skirt 

*1 lightweight jacket or pullover 

*1 warm jacket (fleece or down) for the mountains 

*Underwear 

*1 set of sleepwear 

*1 pair of running/warm up/loose pants (this makes it easy to have your actual running clothes on underneath, so that you don’t have to mess with changing clothes when it’s time to run) 

*1 rain jacket (can double as a running jacket) 

* Swimsuit. The more conservative the better. Though there are plenty of tourists in the coastal areas and swimsuits are nothing new, it’s always best to be respectful of local custom and avoid anything too revealing – you won’t see any Moroccan women in swimsuits, nor Moroccan men without shirts. Swimsuits at hotel pools are generally fine, though we do use one riad whose owners request conservative dress at the pool (ie tshirt and loose shorts). In reality, most of the pools are freezing cold and rarely used for anything beyond a good post-run leg soak!

ACCESSORIES + SHOES 

*1 pair running shoes + 1 pair flip flops + 1 pair non-running shoes. We recommend trail shoes for this trip!

*1 pair gloves 

*5-6 pairs socks 

*Running hat (!!) + warm hat/beanie 

*Sunglasses!!!! 

*Day bag 

*Hydration pack with space to carry at least 1L of water, a rain jacket & phone/camera.

TOILETRIES 

(Everything can be found in Morocco, so don’t feel that you have to pack huge amounts of any one item) 

*Travel bottles of shampoo/soap/cond (can get Nalgene versions at REI that hold more than the sample items in the drugstore) 

*Toothbrush/toothpaste 

*Brush/comb 

*Few travel packages of kleenex and/or wet wipes (emergency/backup TP) 

*Feminine products 

*Razor 

*Contacts/solution if needed 

*Sunblock 

*Chapstick 

*Dramamine (if you tend to get motion sickness – there will some winding mountain roads) 

*Moleskin or bandaids – we’ll have some of this for the group, but blisters were a common problem and it’s good to have some of your own on hand 

*Any other medication you may need (we will have a basic first aid kit for the group, and pharmacies abound)

DOCUMENTS 

*Passport (US citizens must have 6 months validity when you enter Morocco; other nationalities should check their requirements) 

*1-2 credit/debit cards (make sure to call your bank the week before departure and tell them the dates that you will be in Morocco, as well as any other stops. This way they won’t put a security hold on your card). 

*Contact info for guides (will be provided before departure) 

*Copies of flight itineraries (no guarantee of pulling it up in your email)

OTHER STUFF 

*Phone and/or camera + chargers

*Reading/writing material

*Pens - keep these in your carry-on for filling out immigration forms!

*a few ziploc bags for waterproofing your phone/camera on the trail

*Electrical adapter: Morocco uses two round prongs, like this

Country: Morocco
Language: Arabic, Berber and French
Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Landscapes: High alpine mountains, canyons, high desert mountains, palm oases, Atlantic coast
Food: Fresh and local! A typical breakfast will include a spread of just-baked bread, pastries, local fruit jam, butter, cheese, eggs, fruit, coffee, mint tea and fresh-squeezed OJ. Lunches will typically be pre- and post-run spreads of fresh fruit, nuts, dates, olives bread, salads and meat dishes prepared by our cook team. Dinners feature tajine – chicken, beef or lamb simmered in a clay vessel with an assortment of vegetables and spices – and couscous dishes along with fresh bread, olives, light soup and fresh fruit. Fresh seafood on the coast!

Drinks: Most Moroccans do not drink alcohol, though it’s widely accepted behind closed doors. Bars are rare but full liquor stores can be found in the cities; you will have the chance to stock up on the first day. Nothing happens in Morocco without mint tea; you’ll be served many times per day. Coffee is very good, and the orange juice is phenomenal. Avoid drinking tap water, though it's fine for brushing your teeth and whatnot. We will provide purified and/or bottled drinking water throughout the week.

Weather: Generally you can expect clear nights with temperatures around 40F/5C in the mountains and 60F/15C on the coast, and bright, sunny days with high temperatures around 70-75F/20-24C and little to no humidity. Rain is rare, but aways possible in the mountains.

Connectivity: Everywhere that we stay will have wifi, though connection strength can be anywhere from great to unusable. You can count on good wifi in Marrakech and Essaouira, and then hope for the best elsewhere. Cell signal and 3G/LTE data coverage is very good most everywhere; if you really want to stay connected, consider an international plan for your cell phone. 

Cultural Notes:
Morocco is full of extremely hospitable, friendly, wonderful people, and you’ll meet many of them throughout our trip! There are of course a number of cultural differences, and it’s good to take note of some before you arrive:

> Drinking. Alcohol is by no means outlawed, but Morocco is an Islamic country and it’s rare to find locals who drink or sell alcohol outside of the cities. Few hotels will sell alcohol, though we can bring our own - it’s no problem! We will take everyone to a supermarket with a liquor store upon arrival to stock up for the week. Enjoy yourself, but please avoid getting loud or sloppy.  

> Along the same respecting-customs lines, keep the clothing on the conservative side. Guys, there aren’t many rules here, but please do not run shirtless – it will be considered inappropriate. Ladies, there are no actual rules, but we suggest avoiding shorts and tank tops when passing through rural villages (which is most days!). Capri-length bottoms are great, as are jogger pants. Short sleeves are fine any time, and swimsuits at hotel pools are fine. Always run in a shirt, no jog bras. Shorts and tanks in the desert, away from villages, are totally fine.  

> Marrakech is home to one of the most interesting, colorful, vibrant markets in the world, and there is so much to see and buy! The vendors that you’ll encounter are some of the most talented salespeople on the planet, but tactics can come off as pushy if you aren’t prepared for it. Go in with the right attitude, have fun with it and be prepared to bargain - a good rule of thumb is to start at half of whatever price they tell you and meet somewhere in the middle. If you engage in bargaining, know that it means you are serious about buying whatever the item is. And remember that it’s not about getting the cheapest price, but rather about finding a price that satisfies both parties.  

> The medina is full of performers, snake charmers, henna artists - it’s amazing and so much fun, but know that most photos and performances will have a price attached - these people are trying to make a living. If you want the photo or the entertainment, be prepared to pay a small amount in exchange.

> Moroccans are not in a rush. This is a place where every conversation and visit is precluded with mint tea, questions about the family, etc. There is a significant amount of travel time on slow, but beautiful roads. The entire trip is a wonderful time to slow everything down, enjoy meals, conversation... you’ve got nothing to do but run, eat, drink and explore amazing new places!  

> Useful phrases to start with (these are Arabic, written phonetically, as our American ears hear them:
* Salaam - greeting
* Shukran - thank you
* Naa-am - yes
* La - no
* La Shukran - no thank you
* Min Fadlik - please
* Yallah - let’s go
* Safi - I’m good, satisfied, full  

You’ll learn more words throughout the week of course... and those of you who speak French will get along great!

Most everything is already paid for, so you shouldn’t need too much in the way of cash. There are ATMs and exchange kiosks all over Marrakech, and we can make a secondary stop halfway through the trip if necessary. Credit cards are not widely accepted - plan to use cash.

Things you’ll want to plan for:
> Alcohol and other drinks/snacks that you might find along the way. We will take everyone to a modern supermarket on the first day to stock up on alcohol - this will likely be the only place you find it throughout the week. The supermarket does take credit and debit cards.

> Souvenirs. Even if you claim that you’re not a shopper, you WILL find things to buy in Morocco. Pottery, silver, leather, scarves, paintings spices, rugs - Morocco is packed with skilled artisans and their beautiful handmade wares. Get ready to bargain, and consider bringing an extra bag to fill for your trip home. Higher end items (like rugs) can typically be purchased with a credit card.

> Tips. Our Moroccan team - guide, drivers & cooks - will be going above and beyond for you all week, and tips are certainly appreciated. We will take a group collection on the last evening for those who wish to contribute; the amount is of course up to you though we suggest 1000-1500DH (about $100-$150 USD) as an appropriate contribution. Tips for your Rogue Expeditions run guides are at your discretion - never expected, always appreciated.

If you have the time, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of early arrival! This gives you a chance to explore Marrakech and, most importantly for those coming from North America, recover from all of the travel before we hit the road. You can make your own arrangements, or let us handle it - our early arrival option includes airport pickup, dinner, hotel, breakfast, lunch and a walking tour of Marrakech with a licensed city guide (who also happens to be our good friend, Said). Those choosing the single option will be given a single room for their first two nights.  

Single room upgrades for the remainder of the trip may become available once balances are paid; we will reach out to those who indicated interest if and when that time comes.