Question: My husband and I are travelling to Morocco in October for four weeks. We would like to do some trekking for three or four days in the High Atlas Mountains and we were hoping you could recommend some Morocco-based tour companies. Would we need camping gear? We will be travelling around the country using local transport. What is the best way to get to the Todra Gorge area from Fez, and to Erg Chebbi?
Answer: Daniela Giani The highest mountain range in North Africa, the High Atlas runs diagonally across Morocco, covering a distance of almost 1000km. The Toubkal region contains the highest peaks and is the most frequently visited area of the High Atlas. It's only two hours from Marrakech and is easily accessed by public transport. !Numerous foreign and Moroccan operators offer trekking tours in the High Atlas Mountains.
A few companies worth looking at are Atlas Sahara Trek (www.atlas-sahara-trek.com), Nature Trekking Maroc (www.maroctrekking. com) and Sahara Expedition (www.saharaexpe.ma). Tour companies will supply sleeping bags, but you may want to travel with a lightweight sleeping bag liner.
Alternatively, you could shop around for a tour when you get to Morocco, or ask your hotel for a recommendation. This way, you get to choose your guide and probably get a better price.
Getting around Morocco is easy. A network of buses operates, with private companies competing for business alongside the main national carrier, Compagnie de Transports au Maroc (CTM; www.ctm.ma). Morocco's train network, the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF; www.oncf.ma), runs buses through Supratours.
It's best to book ahead for CTM and Supratours buses when you arrive. ONCF and Supratours will get you from Fez to Tinerhir, a few kilometres from the Todra Gorge, as a full-day trip, followed by a local grand taxi.
Erg Chebbi is Morocco's only Saharan erg - an impressive, drifting chain of sand dunes that can reach 160m. Without your own transport you'll need to travel from Fez to Rissani, then take a taxi or minibus from Rissani to Merzouga..
Read MFAT's travel advisory for Morocco at www.safetravel.govt.nz - The New Zealand Herald