Morocco trekking tours are as flexible and suitable to your holiday plans. Often times, too, they have the right equipment, supplies, and transportation to get you to a site and off to a good start.  However, there are still a few things you should bring along for your Morocco trekking excursion.  To help you prepare for your trip we have a list of things for hikes that you will need to bring.

High Atlas Mountain trekking can last one day or over ten.  The trip you elect to take will determine the supplies you need.  It is a good policy to inquire what the tour operator will supply before packing for yourself. Get specifics for what they pack and where you will spend your evenings.  Journey Beyond Travel provides lodging with local residents, thus negating a need for camping equipment. Some trekking tours, however, require spending the night next to rivers under starry nights. They supply mules for long trips to lighten your burden and make walking more comfortable.  Food, water, and first aid supplies will be part of the equipment supplied.

Despite offering much of what you need, you will still need to bring clothing and certain personal effects. The mules are there to carry the most needed items along with your backpack. A small day pack is critical for carrying sunscreen, snacks and water along the route.  Packing light ensures that you and the mules make it to the next gite (moutain lodge) or campsite safely.

Items such as medications, a few changes of clothes, camera can be considered important things to bring.  Again, the duration of your excursion will determine what you decide to take. Here are some ideas of what to pack for such a trek.

1. Change of clothing: under this category you will first need to know if the mules will be able to carry your items, and how much room there will be.  The less you bring the easier it will be to carry.  Still, you do not want to be too minimalistic.  The streams or lakes can be cool at certain times of the year. A mistake that gets you wet could require an additional change of clothing.  Socks and undergarments are most important for changes of clothing.  You may want a few sets of shirts and pants, as well, but these are less important if you have a specific amount of space.  Layering clothing is imperative to a high quality of hiking lifestyle. The more you can add and remove will make you comfortable as temps rise and fall. Remember: At Higher altitudes, especially at night, you’ll need more to stay warm.

2. Sunscreen:  Even in the high mountains and thick forests the sun can penetrate, making a small bottle of sunscreen important.  You will want to avoid any sunscreen that has perfume, as this would only attract bugs.

3. As mentioned above, medications you are on or may need should be with you at all times.  While there is a first aid kit with the trekking group, you are responsible for personal medications. Other things that make hiking easier is mole skin (second skin), sun hats, and bandanas.

4. Hiking boots: It may seem common sense to mention that you would want to bring a pair of hiking boots on your vacation.  Any amount of trekking will require the proper footwear.  Mount Toubkal or multi day hikes need hiking boots to give you the proper support.  Sandals on any of the treks are not recommended, even on the short day trips where you may be walking on mostly flat surfaces.

5. Raingear: Certain months of the year in Morocco have a heavier rainfall.  Storms can brew in the afternoon requiring a full rain suit.

6. Trekking would not be complete without some way to record the journey.  Longer treks may make taking a tripod, professional digital camera, and other equipment difficult. Know your limits, so if you want to bring movie making equipment, you’ll have to carry it (as the mules are often slower or faster depending on the terrain). For most Morocco holidays a simple camera suffices.

7. It is a good idea to have a map, even with a tour operator.  The map can help you pinpoint your location, and offer you bearings.  While you may not need it to guide you, it helps orient you. It’s always nice, moroever, to know what mountain or valley you’re heading towards.

Lastly, before undertaking any trek, be sure to know where the first aid equipment is, how the tour operators communicate with their base, and the general lay of the land. If ever you are separated from the group, be sure to go to the last place you saw them and wait. Morocco is not a land to go wandering through without the proper guides.

by Sam Mitchell

Tagged as: hiking morocco, morocco trekking, morocco walk, trek morocco, trekking morocco tours