Explore North Africa

Explore North Africahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africaExplore North Africahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/why-tangier-is-an-underappreciated-destinationOld Tangier was a booming trading center long before more-famous Marrakech was even a camp for camel trains, and yet this historic city is inexplicably overlooked by visitors. 2021-12-06T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/why-tangier-is-an-underappreciated-destinationhttps://www.worldnomads.comThe coast of <a href="/explore/europe/spain">Spain</a> lies just 9mi (14km) from my breakfast table and all of Africa lies spread out behind me. This is my 10th visit to Tangier, and I get the feeling that here, on the “balcony of Africa”, I’m in one of the most delightfully, and unexpectedly, cosmopolitan spots on our planet. I’m aware it’s best to order my thé à la menthe (mint tea) in French at the Hotel Continental. Down the road, in the bustling Petit Socco, the waiters at Café Central tend to speak Spanish, so that’s how I order my café con leche. Almost all the shopkeepers along Rue Siaghine, which runs through the heart of the <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/safety-in-moroccos-souks-and-medina">medina</a> (the old walled city) speak English but farther up, in the French-built Ville Nouvelle, Arabic is more common. Even when two Moroccans meet in the street, Arabic might not be the common language because the Tangerine dialect, called Darija, is unique, borrowing many words from neighboring Andalucía. As befits the mysterious old International Zone, Tangier is a city with many facets to its character. Fleeting visitors rarely catch the magic of the place but if you take time to soak up the atmosphere, you’re likely to spark a fascination that will lure you back time after time. Old Tangier has an atmosphere incomparable to anywhere else – and yet this historic city is inexplicably overlooked by visitors who seem to view it as Marrakech’s poor relation. The key to getting to know Tangier lies in getting to know the various quarters. <ul> <li><a href="#petit">Petit Socco</a></li> <li><a href="#medina">Tangier medina</a></li> <li><a href="#kasbah">The Kasbah</a></li> <li><a href="#coastline">The coastline</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="petit">Petit Socco</h2> One of the world’s most evocative literary hangouts, this tiny triangular plaza has seen literary greats such as Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, Truman Capote, Jack Kerouac, and Tennessee Williams. It’s one of the best places in Africa to simply sit and people watch. The upper floor of Café Fuentes (now a basic and noisy – but wonderfully located – hostel) is like a balcony box over the living theatre of Tangerine street-life. <h2 id="medina">Tangier medina</h2> As with most Moroccan cities, the real lure of Tangier lies in the old walled medina (the historic quarter). Rue Siaghine is the main pedestrian thoroughfare that connects the Petit Socco (literally the small souk) with the Grand Socco and this is the focal point for souvenir hunters. However, if you turn towards the coast at any point, you’ll find yourself in a mindboggling maze. Smaller in scale than the great labyrinths of <a href="/explore/north-africa/morocco/five-things-to-do-in-marrakech">Marrakech</a> and Fez, Tangier’s advantage is that you’ll begin to recognize alleys within a couple of days. These backstreets are studded with cafes and terraces – look out for Café Baba, Tangier hangout of everyone from the Rolling Stones to Barbara Hutton (socialite and heir to the Woolworths’ fortune, who lived in the house next door). <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/tangier/medina.jpg" alt="Steps lead through a whitewashed alley in Tangier's old medina." /> <figcaption>Tangier's old medina. Photo credit: Getty Images / Ruben Earth</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="kasbah">The Kasbah</h2> Unless you have a guide – or are blessed by sheer luck – the most logical way to reach the Kasbah (the old fortress) is by following the road that sweeps northeast from Grand Socco. Standing in the great courtyard of the Kasbah you can see the main facets of Islamic life lined up in front of you: mosque, palace, treasury, and prison. Bab el-Assa (literally the gateway of the stick) is so-called since it was here that a very rough form of justice was once meted out. The old palace is now a fascinating museum – well worth a visit even though displays are only in Arabic and French – detailing the history of a city that is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status and dates back more than 3,000 years. <h2 id="coastline">The coastline</h2> Tangier beach sweeps eastwards in a great curve from the port and the sparkling new marina. Take a walk down the beach and past the Corniche Gardens in the late afternoon and you’ll see friends, families, and courting couples strolling happily in the Mediterranean sunshine. For a couple of euros, you can even hire a horse (often surprisingly spirited gallopers) for a <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/horse-riding">canter along the waterline</a>. Follow the coast in the opposite direction (west of the old town) and you’ll arrive at the stepped terraces of Café Hafa, a Tangier icon and a wonderful place to watch the sun set onto the Spanish coast. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> <h3>Getting there and onward</h3> Ibn Battuta International Airport makes Tangier the ideal starting point for a Moroccan adventure. Who could have imagined the day when sleepy Tangier would be the destination for Africa’s first high-speed <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/the-return-of-train-travel">train line</a> (connecting the city with Casablanca, 211mi (340km) away, in two hours and 10 minutes)? The old Marrakech Express (immortalized in the 1969 song by Crosby, Stills, and Nash) is best taken as a leisurely and romantic overnight sleeper train which arrives around dawn. <h3>Where to stay</h3> Budget Petit Socco: Pension Fuentes (+212 5399-34669) is ideally located with balconied rooms (from only US $22/MAD 201) looking right onto the cafes of Petit Socco. It can be noisy at night, but the evocative charm of the prayer-call is hard to beat. Mid-range Kasbah: <a href="http://kasbahrose.com/">Kasbah Rose</a> is a charming five-room guesthouse in the tangled alleys at the edge of the Kasbah, with wonderful views from the rooftop breakfast-terrace. This is the sort of place you might book in for a quick visit and end up staying 1001 nights. High-end waterfront: <a href="https://hcontinental-tanger.com/">Hotel Continental</a> was once the ritziest hotel in Tangier and an element of faded charm and a wallet-friendly price tag (at US $40/MAD 366 for a sea-view room) inspires a romantic mood of International Zone sophistication. <h3>Hire a guide</h3> Koumila Marrakchi Mohammed was born in Tangier and four years of training has made him one of the most knowledgeable and reliable guides in the city. Ask for Mohammed when you book a tour to Tangier – or beyond – through <a href="https://www.tangier-private-tours.com/">tangier-private-tours.com</a>.Mark Eveleigh 0 Mark Eveleigh Bab el-Assa (literally the gateway of the stick). one of the entrances to Tangier’s old Kasbah.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/tunisia/why-tunis-is-africas-rising-starNomad Lauren shares why the attractions of Tunis rival Marrakech, Cairo, and Rome, but without the crowds.2021-03-15T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/tunisia/why-tunis-is-africas-rising-starhttps://www.worldnomads.comBy flying under the radar, Tunisia’s under-visited capital retains an authentic sense of self. It’s easy to draw comparisons to better known – and widely diverse – doppelgangers elsewhere around the Mediterranean, and it’s this improbable mixture of place that makes Tunis so dynamically different. <h2 class="p1">The UNESCO-listed Medina of Tunis</h2> I wander through the tangled alleyways of Tunis’ Medina – the old walled part of town that’s a common feature of ancient North African cities – accepting the adventure that comes in getting lost in a square mile of labyrinthine lanes. The UNESCO-listed Medina was founded as a settlement in 698 AD, and for more than a millennium, the city existed only within these walls. Today, tradition still reigns supreme. Centuries-old mosques and markets continue to be local meeting points, and the elaborate bathhouses, mausoleums, fountains, and palaces, hidden behind brightly painted, metal-studded doors, hark back to a well-pampered past. As I walk, I notice that the squeezed-in shops cater for residents’ needs, instead of being stuffed to the brim with the imported tourist tat that’s sadly taken over medina stalls in neighboring countries. Marrakesh and Fez in Morocco have become the poster children of the North African medina experience, but because of their popularity, some visitors come away feeling like they’re all for show, a Disney-fied construction instead of a living, breathing neighborhood. Stopping me in my tracks, a shopkeeper, genuinely curious about how I ended up here, offers me a glass of piping hot mint tea that doesn’t come with a strings-attached sales pitch. Instead, after a cobbled-together conversation, he sends me on my way with a humble request: “Please tell all your friends to visit us.” <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/tunis-medina-getty-179138835-dark_eni.jpg" alt="“Medina" of="" tunis="" /><figcaption>The Medina of Tunis. Photo credit: Getty Images / Dark_Eni</figcaption></figure> <h2>Roman ruins in Carthage</h2> I take the rickety, suburban TGM train a few stops out of the city center to Carthage, a well-to-do suburb whose very name carries the heavyweight of history as one of the ancient world’s wealthiest cities and most important trading ports. I huff and puff to the top of Byrsa Hill, where the ruins of a Phoenician-era neighborhood from the first millennium BC poke out from the earth, its street grid still intact. In the distance, the Gulf of Tunis glitters blue in the sunlight, and I follow its magnetic pull down to the Roman-built seaside Antonine Baths, the largest bathhouse outside ancient Rome. I imagine the Romans relaxing among this sprawling complex, the water and ocean views a balm for this seafaring civilization. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/carthage-lauren-keith.jpg" alt="“Ruins" at="" carthage="" /> <figcaption>Ruins at Carthage. Photo credit: Lauren Keith</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="p1">Sidi Bou Saïd</h2> If visitors know anywhere in greater Tunis, it’s undoubtedly Sidi Bou Saïd, a postcard-perfect clifftop village that’s perched precariously above the sea. I hop back on the TGM train heading away from the city, and then disembark and climb the hill up to the whitewashed town. Sidi Bou Saïd is the only place where I encounter people who are obviously visitors, who have come to take selfies on the cobbled lanes and snack on bambalouni, a donut-like ring of honey-soaked, oil-fried dough. I can’t resist one either, as I slowly wander past the brightly contrasting ocean-blue window shutters, arched doors and umbrella tops against the chalky buildings. If I didn’t have my bearings, I could have sworn that I had gotten off the train in Santorini. I drop into an elevated, open-air cafe for a mint tea and slouch into a front-row seat for an afternoon of people-watching, and then a lazy gaze at the sky as it turns pastel come twilight.   <h2 class="p3">Bardo National Museum</h2> The next morning, I take the tram to the Bardo, easily one of Africa’s finest museums, which houses a priceless collection of Roman mosaics that have been uprooted from archeological sites across the country in the name of preservation, as well as artifacts from other civilizations. It’s not only the wonderful, nearly complete mosaics that make me gasp, but also the setting – inside the palace of an Ottoman monarch, which would be museum-worthy even without any collections. Blankets of ancient Roman tiles lie under intricately carved domes, can be observed from grand balconies, and lead to small patios with marble fountains. I’m utterly transported by the exhibits, as I have been by the rest of my experiences in Tunis. With offerings that rival the medinas of Morocco, the museums of Cairo, and the ruins of Rome, the capital of North Africa’s smallest nation has cultural cache to spare. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/bardo-museum-lauren-keith.jpg" alt="“Bardo" museum="" tunis="" /> <figcaption>Bardo Museum, Tunis. Photo credit: Lauren Keith</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="p1">Trip Notes</h2> Most international flights land at Tunis-Carthage International Airport, and it’s best to arrange a transfer through your accommodation, as the taxi cartel will ensure that you’re paying double the standard fare, or more. Fortunately, outside of the airport, taxi prices are reasonable for getting around the city. A suburban train line, The Tunis-Goulette-Marsa (TGM), runs from central Tunis to Carthage and Sidi Bou Saïd, and a tram system operates within Tunis. Public transit tickets can cost as little as 0.7 Tunisian dinar (about US $0.25). As independent travelers have not been a huge part of Tunis’ economy for many years, knowing a few phrases in French or Arabic is helpful. Older, traditional neighborhoods such as the medina tend to be more conservative, so both men and women should dress to cover everything between their elbows and knees. Accommodation can be found all over the city, but the most atmospheric choices cluster in the medina and Sidi Bou Saïd.Lauren Keith 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/egypt/wonders-of-upper-egyptAway from the popular sites near Cairo, these lesser-known Egyptian temples and religious sites offer a deeper insight into ancient Egyptian life.2020-09-21T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/egypt/wonders-of-upper-egypthttps://www.worldnomads.comKarnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Hot air balloons over Luxor and the Temple of Seti I. The ancient highlights of Upper Egypt have been a draw to international visitors since well before Thomas Cook introduced mass tourism to the country in the 1860s. But away from the popular stops for big-bus tours and day-trippers from Cairo is a wealth of rarely-visited Pharaonic temples, markets, and religious sites that offer a more nuanced insight into ancient Egyptian life. In my weeks of wandering Upper Egypt, from Luxor to the Sudanese border, these are a few of my favorites. <ul> <li><a href="#dendara">Temple of Hathor at Dendara</a></li> <li><a href="#aswan">The islands of Aswan: Seheil and Philae</a></li> <li><a href="#monastery">St. Simeon Monastery</a></li> <li><a href="#market">Daraw Livestock Market</a></li> <li><a href="#abu-simbel">Temples of Abu Simbel</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip Notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="dendara">Temple of Hathor at Dendara</h2> In a quiet village on the banks of the Nile, 30mi (50km) south of Luxor, I visit one of the best-preserved Pharaonic temples in Upper Egypt: the Temple of Hathor. A dark forest of massive columns towers above my head, leading me past carved reliefs that tell the story of successive rulers' sacrifices to the ancient Egyptian Gods, all under the watchful eyes of capitals carved in the image of the cow-goddess Hathor. I creep along cold, dark, and ornately carved passages leading to the temple's rooftop shrines, where I’m treated to expansive views of the Egyptian countryside. Very few of Egypt's ancient buildings afford such a privilege. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/upper-egypt/egypt-hathor.jpg" alt="Carved columns inside the hypostyle hall of the Hathor Temple at Dendera in Egypt." /> <figcaption>Exquisitely carved columns inside the hypostyle hall of the Hathor Temple at Dendera. Photo credit: Stephen Lioy</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="aswan">The islands of Aswan: Seheil and Philae</h2> Between the Nile-divided banks of the city of Aswan, Elephantine and Kitchener Islands are popular full- or half-day excursions featuring botanical gardens and small museums. While they’re busy with tourists, who are often overcharged by overzealous boatmen on the Aswan shore, two smaller islands upstream are just as worthwhile, but with fewer crowds. I ferry across to small Seheil island, around 1.8mi (3km) from Aswan, primarily to see the 200 or more cliff-side carvings left by Nubian royalty, military leaders, and other VIPs who cruised along the Nile since the 18th century. More interesting, though, are the tiny villages dotted around the island. Friendly residents offer warm invitations to step inside the colorful walls of their houses, to sit with tiny, strong glasses of tea for simple conversations on living and traveling and a bit about Nubian identity. These insights into daily life feel well off the beaten track. Further from the city, by another quick boat ride, is the more famous of the two small islands: Philae Island, about 5mi (8km) from Aswan on the far side of the old dam. As I climb the island’s banks to the Temple of Isis, one of many that were relocated by UNESCO before the completion of the new Aswan High Dam, the bustle of visitors reflects the site’s original purpose – this was one of the final, active pagan temples in the region after the arrival of Christianity. Lingering till the late afternoon, a relative quiet descends, and I’m able to explore these storied ruins virtually alone. The massive carved walls, lit unevenly by the slanting sun, tell stories of Pharaohs defeating the enemies of Egypt, and the later Nestorian conversion of the space into chapels of the Christian God. Deeper inside stands a stone shrine which once held a sacred boat, displaying the image of the goddess Isis, that made an annual journey from here down the Nile and back. Walking the temple's darkened halls feels like flowing through the eras of Egyptian history – only to return to bright sunshine and the persistent souvenir peddlers of the modern era. <h2 id="monastery">St. Simeon Monastery</h2> An anomaly in a region of Egypt dominated by Pharaonic sites, the 7th-century Monastery of St. Simeon looks more like a fortress than a worship center; however, it was built as a home base for monks to travel into surrounding Nubia in an attempt to convert the region to Christianity. Visiting today offers little more than the impressive stone structure of the building, the once-vivid frescoes inside destroyed by the armies of Saladin in the 12th century, but the beautiful walk (I opt to ignore the <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/camel-riding">many camel touts who offer a ride</a>) through a strip of sparse desert is fittingly ascetic – evocative of the stark conditions those early proselytizers would have endured. <h2 id="market">Daraw Livestock Market</h2> Animal husbandry has played a key role in Nubian life for more than 4,000 years, long before agriculture was widely adopted in the region. Still an important source of income for many local families, the largest livestock market in Upper Egypt is at Daraw, around 25mi (40km) north of Aswan. Walking into the market is chaos – an atmosphere of trader’s yells, animals’ cries, the smell of sheep; the market scenes of today could almost be mistaken for 100 or 1,000 years ago. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/upper-egypt/egypt-market.jpg" alt="Cattle vendors wait for a sale at the Daraw Livestock Market in Upper Egypt." /> <figcaption>Cattle vendors wait for a sale at the Daraw Livestock Market. Photo credit: Stephen Lioy</figcaption></figure> I stop for a fresh-roasted coffee at a small tent cafe near the center of the action – the calming crackle of roasting beans offsetting the bustle and noise just on the far side of a flimsy rope barrier. The market is busiest on Tuesday mornings, when vendors of sheep, goats, cows, horses, donkeys, and poultry join the fray, though it also operates on Sunday mornings as a camel-only market. <h2 id="abu-simbel">Temples of Abu Simbel</h2> In the far south of Egypt, just 12.5mi (20km) from the Sudanese border, are two incredible temples carved out of the mountainsides of Abu Simbel: the Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, built to honor Ramses II's wife Nefertari. Like Philae temple, these were moved stone by stone between 1960 and 80 to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser during the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The modern temples were reconstructed with such precision that the sun still shines on the deepest statues inside the temple on Feb and Oct 22 each year – the dates of Ramses II birth date and coronation date, as they have since the temples were first built in the 13th-century B.C.E. I visit in the pre-dawn – before the first rays of light break across the Nile, to shine on the waters that lap just meters away from the temples. Guardians approach in the quiet to offer whispered pleas for baksheesh – just a little cash to look the other way while I take forbidden photos, which I decline. Soon the moment will have passed – the arrival of daytrippers who fly from Cairo or drive in from Aswan or Luxor for a few hours' visit. But this early morning is (like late afternoons) free of crowds, and full of glorious light on the temple facades. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/upper-egypt/egypt-abu-simbel.jpg" alt="A lone guard stands inside the entrance to the Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel in Upper Egypt." /> <figcaption>A lone guard stands inside the entrance to the Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel. Photo credit: Stephen Lioy</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip Notes</h2> Dendara is accessible from Luxor by train (40 minutes ride and 15 minutes driving) or car (1.5 hours). Both Seheil and Philae are reached by quick transfers from Aswan followed by short boat rides. St. Simeon Monastery is just across the Nile from Aswan. Daraw is a 40-minute drive or one-hour train ride north of Aswan; the market is a further 1.25mi (2k) from Daraw station. Abu Simbel is a three-hour drive or a 45-minute flight from Aswan.Stephen Lioy 0 Stephen Lioy St. Simeon Monastery as seen from the Aswan bank of the Nile River in Egypt.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/tunisia/road-trip-through-roman-africaFar from the beaches (and the crowds), the Tunisian countryside is strewn with ancient Roman cities just as intriguing as their counterparts across the Mediterranean.2019-05-31T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/tunisia/road-trip-through-roman-africahttps://www.worldnomads.comTunisia’s 700 miles (1125 km) of Mediterranean coastline have long been prime real estate for European sun-seekers. But, I found the country’s true heart is not among the sprawling beach resorts, but hidden away in its central core, a rural, welcoming land that not enough travelers make time to explore. <ul> <li><a href="#dougga">Dougga</a></li> <li><a href="#thuburbo">Thuburbo Majus</a></li> <li><a href="#takrouna">Takrouna</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip Notes</a></li> </ul> The April sun warms the car keys in my hand. I’m not fully sure what I’m getting myself into; since the Arab Spring revolution, which started in the central Tunisian town of Sidi Bou Zid in late 2010 and later engulfed most of the region, there was little tourist information to be found. Two terrorist attacks in 2015, and the subsequent travel warnings, which have now been lifted, ensured that North Africa’s smallest country had fallen off travelers’ radar. But I’m determined to see what has been lost from our collective maps. The historical importance of Tunisia’s remote interior has been clear for millennia. When the ancient Romans arrived, they named this small slice of their empire “Africa” and built extravagant cities on the foundations of Berber and Phoenician settlements to look after the olive groves and grain fields that spread over the surrounding hills. I find the ruined cities, reused by subsequent civilizations and then abandoned and left to the elements, just as intriguing as their counterparts on the other side of the Mediterranean, but scarcely visited, even though the entry price is a fraction of Italy’s. The farther I get from Tunis, the more likely it is that the only other souls joining me at the site are a passing shepherd and his flock. On my journey through central Tunisia, I witness a new kind of spring that I am sure would consume the country: this time, Tunisia is blossoming, hopeful and ready to turn over a new leaf and dive into its next chapter. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/dougga-theater.jpg" /><figcaption>The theater at Dougga. Image credit: Lauren Keith</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="dougga">Dougga</h2> In my head, images of dusty, parched landscapes and flat stretches of nothingness had been firmly planted, but the drive to Dougga, one of Roman Africa’s best-preserved ancient cities, is anything but. Taking the scenic route through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it towns of Thibar and Teboursouk leads me through lush fields of purple and yellow wildflowers waving me along in the wind and – much to my surprise – hairpin turns through the increasingly rugged hills surrounding the highway. Dougga is set into one of these hillsides, offering a million-dollar view of the surrounding countryside that the well-to-do Romans must have enjoyed from the nosebleed section of the 3,500-seat theater or the extensive bathhouse, which still has some mosaics in situ. <h2 id="thuburbo">Thuburbo Majus</h2> Winding through perfectly planted groves of olive trees and through low mountain passes, the lonely highway wanders past ancient monuments scattered in farmers’ fields, apparently too numerous to take the time to signpost. After a few hours of seeing hardly any vehicles but tractors on the road, I stop at Thuburbo Majus, another ruined Roman city of unimaginable wealth, blessed by the wheat, grape, and olive crops that are still planted here thousands of years later. The war veterans that were the town’s original residents competed with one another to construct ever grander buildings and mosaics, on this day seen only by me, the site’s lonesome caretaker, and the chirping swallows darting out of the overgrown grass as I walk by. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/thuburbo.jpg" /><figcaption>Ancient mosaics at Thuburbo Majus. Image credit: Lauren Keith</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="takrouna">Takrouna</h2> Driving around the hills of Zaghouan, I puzzle over the clifftop rock formations that look like water-etched fortresses of stone, too well-sculpted to be accidental, but too well-camouflaged to be fully man made. The asphalt twists and turns towards the summit, and at the road’s end, the remnants of a semi-abandoned Berber village come into view. The inhabitants had decamped to the base of the hill years ago, but some enterprising locals are breathing new life into their old home. A welcome cafe has set up shop with panoramic views down to the valley floor and, on clear days, all the way out to the Mediterranean. After being served a coffee sprinkled with orange blossom, the cafe manager asks if I’d like to take a look at a small museum of Berber artifacts next door. As he gingerly unlocks the door and shows me inside, I know I have discovered the true essence of Tunisia, full of eager locals ready for curious visitors who will venture beyond the beach and find its heart for themselves. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/tunisia/takrouna-museum.jpg" /><figcaption>Museum of Berber artifacts in Takrouna. Image credit: Lauren Keith</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip Notes</h2> Most international flights land at Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunisia’s capital city, and it’s easiest to pick up a rental car here. Unless you speak French or Arabic, stick with a well-known international rental car company so that if you need assistance, it’s easy to explain the situation in English. You can also explore by train, bus, or louage (the country-wide network of shared minibus taxis). Staying overnight in a dar, (a traditionally designed house, decked out in North African tiles and textiles, that’s similar to a riad in Morocco), is a highlight of a visit to Tunisia. Almost every town has at least one dar, but as family homes, they are often not distinguishable from the outside. Tunisia’s archeological sites have poor, if any, signage, so to get the most out of your visit, use a local company, such as Tunisian Journeys, to arrange a driver-guide who will bring the sites to life and make reservations at dars along the way.Getty Images / Rosita So Image 0486319463 Getty Images The ancient Roman city of Dougga in central Tunisia.

A Traveler’s Mantra | Morocco Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/a-travelers-mantra-in-moroccoA Traveler’s Mantra | Morocco Travel StoryFri, 13 Sep 2019 23:27:27 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/a-travelers-mantra-in-moroccoBaring It All in Marrakech | Morocco Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/being-naked-in-marrakechBaring It All in Marrakech | Morocco Travel StoryThu, 15 Aug 2019 21:08:28 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/being-naked-in-marrakechPaddling the Nile, Part 4: The Home Stretchhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddling-the-nile-egyptPaddling the Nile, Part 4: The Home StretchTue, 02 Jul 2019 16:47:44 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddling-the-nile-egyptPaddling the Nile, Part 3: The Long Way Uphttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddling-the-nile-sudanPaddling the Nile, Part 3: The Long Way UpFri, 31 May 2019 22:32:12 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddling-the-nile-sudanConfessions of a Romantic Traveler | Morocco Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/love/confessions-of-a-romantic-travelerConfessions of a Romantic Traveler | Morocco StoryThu, 06 Sep 2018 22:56:08 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/love/confessions-of-a-romantic-travelerhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/the-world-nomads-podcast-moroccoListen to this episode of the World Nomads Podcast on Morocco for tips on capturing great photos, surf culture and travel on a budget.2018-08-28T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/the-world-nomads-podcast-moroccohttps://www.worldnomads.com<div> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2V9BgOBKU7Mu64Jii8i9DY?si=ucNEpy2dQ_GZeHkenEK_UQ"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/spotify%20logo%20green.png" style="width: 46px; height: 46px;" alt="“Listen" on="" spotify="" /></a>   <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=154934&refid=stpr"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/stitcher-logo-120x46.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 46px;" alt="Listen on Stitcher" /></a></div> <h2>The World Nomads Podcast: Morocco</h2> In this episode, tips on capturing great photos in Morocco, the surf culture and why traveling there doesn't need to break the bank. <h2>What's in the Show</h2> 00:14 Welcome 00:43 Quiz Question 01:31 Marek Bron from Indie Traveler 05:50 Morocco on a budget 07:07 What was Claudia doing in Morocco and why was she in tears? 16:25 Peter chats to the locals in Morocco and finds out why a carpet salesman has given up mint tea. 19:40 Meet the women traveling to every country in the world 23:00 #twinbedsbydefault 28:11 Is Morocco safe? 28:45 Tips for taking great photos in Morocco 35:27 Travel News 39:00 Surfing Morocco 45:24 Answer to the quiz question 46:07 Where to next? <h2> Who is on the Show</h2> Oli Russell-Cowan is the Founder & CEO of <a href="https://radseason.com/about/">Rad Season</a>, an innovative, all-in-one website for finding and booking accommodation <g class="gr_ gr_1164 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1164" data-gr-id="1164">to</g> the best action sports and adventure events in the world. Whether it is a snowboarding music festival in the Austrian Alps, a Marathon in Hawaii or one of Red Bull’s never-ending series of truly epic events, there’s always something going on in the world of action sports and adventure.  <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Morocco/oli-surfing-morocco.jpg" alt="" width="790" height="450" p="" /> <figcaption> Oli surfing in Morocco</figcaption></figure> Marek Bron runs the blog <a href="https://www.indietraveller.co/about/">Indie Traveler</a> encouraging others to travel more and to travel independently and on a budget by sharing real stories and offering honest advice.   Rach & Marty are <a href="http://www.veryhungrynomads.com/">The Very Hungry Nomads</a>. You can follow their journey as they aim to be the first Australian and the youngest European woman to visit every country in the world – all 195!    <a href="https://photoenrichment.com/about-the-company/">PhotoEnrichment Adventures</a> is run by travel photographer, author, and international guide Ralph Velasco. You can join Ralph on his 2019 Mystical Morocco tour, click <a href="https://photoenrichment.com/tours/mystical-morocco-2/">here</a> for details.   <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Morocco/copyrightralphvelesco.jpg" alt="" width="790" height="450" /> <figcaption>Camel and Touareg Desert Nomad <g class="gr_ gr_1182 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1182" data-gr-id="1182">taken</g> by Ralph Velasco with an iPhone</figcaption></figure> Ralph can also teach you how to organize and lead your own special interest tours through an online course called <a href="https://tourorganizertraining.com/course/">Get Paid to Travel: How to Organize and Lead your Own Tours for Profit</a>.   Claudia Crook was a World Nomads 2018 Writing Scholarship winner. You can see her work from Argentina under the Resources & Links heading. In this <g class="gr_ gr_1171 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1171" data-gr-id="1171">episode</g> Claudia tells the story of her time in Morocco staying with a local family and sharing Thanksgiving. You can read more <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/stories/connection/the-first-tahksnahky">here</a>.   <h2>Resources & Links  </h2> <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2018/claudia-crook">Read</a> Writing Scholarship winner Claudia Crook's first assignment as a travel writer. Scholarships Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. <h2>Want to Re-publish This Episode?</h2> Copy this code onto your web page or blog: <iframe width="100%" height="200" src="https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/episode/id/268347?visual=true&sharing=true" frameborder="0" style="width: 100%; height: 200px"></iframe> <h2>Want to Talk to us?</h2> We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">Ask Phil</a>, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a> <h2>Sign up for Podcast News</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. Next episode: Amazing Nomad Mike Dawson <h2>About World Nomads & The Podcast</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"></div> Speaker 1: Welcome to the World Nomads Podcast, delivered by World Nomads, the travel lifestyle and insurance brand. It's not your usual travel podcast. It's everything for the adventurous, independent travel. Kim: Thank you for tuning in. My name is Kim and alongside me is Phil, and on this episode, we are traveling to Morocco. Phil: Very exotic, indeed. <g class="gr_ gr_1124 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1124" data-gr-id="1124">North</g> African country bordering the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Did you know it is the fifth largest Arab country by population? There are over 33 1/2 million people in the country. Of course, it's known, predictably, for sand dunes, but also beaches and markets, and mountains. Kim: And it also forms a backdrop to many foreign films that have been entirely, or at least partially shot in Morocco, which brings us to your quiz question. Phil: Name three Hollywood movies that have been filmed in Morocco, and if you say Casablanca, you are wrong. That was filmed in Burbank, California. Kim: It was entirely on-site, yeah. On-site. Phil: Pick three others. Kim: We will have the answer the end of the episode, but we don't have any Hollywood stars in this episode, Phil. Our guest's a star in their own right, including yourself. Ali runs a business called Red Season. It's an all-in-one website for finding and booking accommodation to the best action, sports, venture, and music festivals in the world. He's going to check surfing in Morocco. We will find out about capturing the best picks with Ralph, and Claudia will share <g class="gr_ gr_1133 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1133" data-gr-id="1133">her story</g> of her time in a family, and it was around Thanksgiving, which is a really important time to Americans, isn't it? Plus, meet the girls who are traveling to every country in the <g class="gr_ gr_1137 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation multiReplace" id="1137" data-gr-id="1137">world;</g> but our first guest is Merrick Braun. He was a gaming designer. I know, right? He quit his job to travel. He runs the traveler blog called Indie Travel, and it's sharing budget travel guides alongside tips on packing in gear, and Morocco is one of the destinations that feature on the site, and Merrick has broken down a visit there into three key areas. Merrick B: Yeah, I think what I did was probably ... So, I spent a month in Morocco, and it struck me that there are some itineraries or routes that people usually might want to consider. I think the standard trip seems to be Marrakesh, the city of Marrakesh, and the Sahara. Those usually go together in a one-week experience where you are in the old city for a while exploring the markets, maybe staying in a riad, one of those sort of traditional, almost palatial little hotels with a courtyard. You go to the Sahara. That's a one-week, sort of classic, Morocco experience, I would say, and there <g class="gr_ gr_1165 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1165" data-gr-id="1165">are</g> two other <g class="gr_ gr_1162 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1162" data-gr-id="1162">sort</g> of clusters of popular destinations, one in the north closer to Spain. You can even get there from Spain with the ferry, and one further to the south which you can reach quite easily if you fly to Agadir, for instance, which is kind of a resort, a seaside resort place. Not usually my kind of thing. I like to explore and discover in a country, but <g class="gr_ gr_1166 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1166" data-gr-id="1166">actually</g> Agadir is really well-connected. So from there, you can do a trip around the south very easily. Kim: <g class="gr_ gr_1100 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1100" data-gr-id="1100">There's</g> not many places we can put sand dunes, beaches, mountains, and desert into the kind of top five things that has going for it. It's pretty unique. Merrick B: Yeah, it is. I think Morocco is great, actually. It is very unique as you mentioned, and it <g class="gr_ gr_1148 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1148" data-gr-id="1148">is so use</g> to Europe, as well. I'm from Europe, so it's easy for me to get there, but other listeners who might be from Australia or the United States, it's a really great add-on if you're visiting Europe, anyway, because it's just so different. You go there and just culturally, it's very different, and just visually, as well. All these desert towns and these markets and everything <g class="gr_ gr_1147 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1147" data-gr-id="1147">is</g> a whole different little <g class="gr_ gr_1143 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1143" data-gr-id="1143">worlds</g>. I like to have these sort of immersive experiences when I travel, and that's really definitely possible in Morocco, <g class="gr_ gr_1118 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1118" data-gr-id="1118">weather</g> in the Sahara where it's just sand stretching as far as you can see, or you are going through a little town's marketplace and there's just so many smells and spices and different things going on there, so much activity. So, that's just one of the most appealing things about Morocco. It's just a very unique and different place. Kim: One of the things we try to uncover at World Nomads and on the podcast is those places that are off the beaten track, and when you Google Indietraveller.co, and we will have the links in our [inaudible 00:04:46]. You go to Morocco, and there is a link there to the seven best places for wild swimming. So, what are some of those secret spots? Merrick B: That's an interesting question because I think the resource I linked was another site, and I did use that to find one swimming hole near I believe it was Tafraout. It's a small town in the South, and I just went up there and you get to a place where there's really no sign or anything. You have to know where it is or ask people around, and you get to a sort of oasis-like place underneath the rocks where you can take a little dive. It's quite deep. You can jump right in, and there was not any tour itinerary that I know of. Kim: Okay, so how much does it cost to travel to ... Not travel to Morocco because, as you say, you can get budget airline flights to Morocco; but once you are there on the ground, how do you do it without breaking the pocket? Merrick B: I would say don't take tours. There are very many tours on offer when you get to Morocco that <g class="gr_ gr_1109 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1109" data-gr-id="1109">take</g> you to the desert and so on and so on, but these do cost a little bit more. Another great tip is to not let yourself be seduced by all the salespeople that are everywhere. They will try to sell you an expensive rug, and if you don't have the budget for that, you should resist, of course; but in general, if you stay in a budget accommodation and you eat in non-touristy places, this can be a huge difference between having some food in <g class="gr_ gr_1108 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1108" data-gr-id="1108">a main</g> square or walking a block or two away from there and going to a local place. It doesn't have to be too expensive. I think it's a country that you can do on a backpacker budget <g class="gr_ gr_1103 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1103" data-gr-id="1103">of</g> <g class="gr_ gr_1105 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1105" data-gr-id="1105">may be</g>, 30 or 40 US dollars a day. It doesn't have to be too expensive if you try to travel independently and take local buses and eat local food. Kim: Still to come, surfing in Morocco, but right now, let's here Claudia's story about her time with a local family in Morocco. Claudia: I had already bought my tickets to Morocco. I was going. I didn't know anybody, and then I happen to connect with <g class="gr_ gr_1087 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="1087" data-gr-id="1087">family</g> member who somebody who worked for him was Moroccan<g class="gr_ gr_1095 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation multiReplace" id="1095" data-gr-id="1095">; and</g> I met him, and he was like, "Oh, you should call my sister when you get there." So, I was like, "Cool." So, I did that, and I without having set up a length of stay or any formalities at all, she was just like, "Yeah, call me when you get to the bus station. You can <g class="gr_ gr_1094 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1094" data-gr-id="1094">come</g> stay with us", and I ended up staying for a whole month. Kim: Wow. Claudia: Yeah, and that was the month of November, and I was personally going through a lot at that time, which I don't know if we necessarily want to get into, but the whole trip was an Eat, Pray, Love kind of thing for me. I had just gone through this whole big breakup, I had just left my job, I had just left Los Angeles, I had left everything. I was assaulted the first week of my trip when I was in <g class="gr_ gr_1081 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1081" data-gr-id="1081">France,</g> and then came to Morocco, which was funny because it was the place that I was in the most danger was actually the place was actually the place where I was the most comfortable. So anyway, it was a lot that I was going through when I arrived at their doorstep, but they were so welcoming and, "Who was this girl who doesn't speak any Arabic? She doesn't know how to milk a cow and all this kind of stuff", but they were so willing to teach me and we very quickly started making jokes about how I wasn't going to go back to America and I was just going to stay in Morocco, and all that kind of stuff, and how it was going to bring my mother over, and all that; and again, early on, it was like the first week or two that the American elections happened; and the people I was staying with, they were four sisters, and one of their sister's sons; and the youngest of the four sisters was actually really cool. She spoke English and French as well as Arabic and Berber, but she was one of only four women who was elected a council member of their local community council, and so she was very much a representative for women's rights in the community. So, she was politically savvy and <g class="gr_ gr_1174 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1174" data-gr-id="1174">aware,</g> and had been paying attention to the American elections as everybody <g class="gr_ gr_1175 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1175" data-gr-id="1175">was,</g> because it was all over the news everywhere. So, we had all been sort of joking around about Hillary, Hillary, like we are so excited; and then that, obviously, isn't how it turned out. So, my sense of disembodiment and not really knowing where I was or what was going on and having this really bizarre ... I was in this very different place with people that I didn't know but was becoming more comfortable with, and all these crazy things were happening in my life and in the world, and blah blah; and it was coming onto the holidays which are about home and family, and things that are supposed to be comfortable and familiar, and all that kind of stuff; and that's something I latched onto a lot no matter what, and I think that I knew that because Thanksgiving was at the end of my time with them, I was planning to leave because I had to get back for my flight, because that's when I had to leave; I just wanted to offer something because they been cooking with me for a month, and I was like, "Well, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can cook this for them." So, that was sort of the idea was that it was like, I wanted to make this dinner for them as a parting gesture of giving of thanks, actually, for the hospitality that <g class="gr_ gr_1071 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_hide gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar" id="1071" data-gr-id="1071">they it</g> <g class="gr_ gr_1072 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1072" data-gr-id="1072">shown</g> me. So, that's sort of where it came from. Kim: And you talk in your story about actually crying after that election result, and then realizing that the soon to follow <g class="gr_ gr_1063 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1063" data-gr-id="1063">travel</g> ban would affect people like your hosts. Claudia: Oh my gosh. It was crazy. First off, all this was going down in the wee hours of the morning in Morocco. It was very late at night in the US that the counts were coming in and this was happening, and I remember setting up an alarm and getting up at five in the morning and checking the news and seeing what was going on, and that was the first thing that I saw when I woke up that morning was like, "Oh my God, this did not happen the way I wanted to", and for a couple of hours, I was just glued to my computer screen in my room alone; and once it was finally settled, I was weeping in my bed alone for a little while, and then I finally was like, "I've to collect myself and go downstairs because they're going to be confused and they're not going to know where I am, so I have to go down for breakfast", and then as soon as I would try to start to talk about it, I would start to cry again; and I remember I kept saying, "She laws, she lost. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry" That's what I kept saying over and over again. It was like, "I'm so sorry." Yeah, I'm getting emotional about it now. So, that sort of started the month, and I just had to leave it. I had to leave and focus on being where I was, which was really difficult, and I had stopped journaling for a little bit, I stopped checking my emails, I stop doing whatever, just really focused on getting the most out of being where I was. Going out and picking carrots, going in milking the cow. I became really good friends with the sons. Both of the <g class="gr_ gr_1117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1117" data-gr-id="1117">sisters</g> sons spoke English, and one of them really taught me quite a decent amount of Arabic, at the time. So, that was a relationship that I had, and again, I was extremely emotional when I left. The night before I left them after we had had our Thanksgiving dinner or whatever, there was some sort of miscommunication. [Shadiza 00:13:37], actually, who I wrote about, was going to henna my hands, and there was some kind of miscommunication about when it was going to happen, and so, she didn't know that I was leaving the next day and it was late at night and so we weren't going to do it, and some of the stress of whether or not I would get the henna on my hands, I just started crying. It was one of those things where it wasn't a big deal, but it was a big deal. That's was where I was when I left, And we were all super said. One thing I loved about everyone that I met in Morocco was that they were so immediately passionate or so open with their love for each other, for strangers, whatever. They were immediately very effusive like, "Oh, you're one of the family. You're one of us now. We love you." They were so quick to that, and that was really affecting, 'cause I felt that way about them, too. So, of <g class="gr_ gr_1080 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1080" data-gr-id="1080">course</g> to get back and so soon after that have such a smack in the face as this blatantly ethnic travel ban happening in my home country, which I also cared deeply about, it was just adding insult to injury in a way that was motivating at the time. I was very involved with local politics for a little while when I got back. I drove from Nashville to DC by myself in one go to go to the Women's March, and I drove a poster with all of the words of hatred that I had pulled from Donald Trump's speeches on one side and then all the words of love and friendship and community that I had been taught in Arabic by these women and men in Morocco, and marched all day with it. Kim: Well, I could listen to you all day. Claudia: Thanks. I could talk about it all day. Kim: You could. I bet you could. Claudia: I try not to talk about it so much because I don't want to be that girl that's like, "Oh yeah, that one time that I was in Morocco." I would talk about it all day every day. Kim: So, big thumbs up for Morocco from you, Claudia. Claudia: Yeah, big thumbs up. Big thumbs up. Kim: And look, listen. I know that times passed. Have you stopped crying? Have you been through your Eat, Pray, Love? Claudia: I mean, I've stopped crying about that. PART 1 OF 3 ENDS [00:16:04] Speaker 2: Have you been through Europe [inaudible 00:16:01]? Kim: I mean, I've stopped crying about that, but <g class="gr_ gr_1042 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="1042" data-gr-id="1042">who ever</g> really stops crying? Speaker 2: Phil, Claudia was one of our 2018 writing scholarships winners. Phil: Yeah. There's always some quality stuff that comes out of there, that's right. Speaker 2: Yeah, she spent some time in Argentina. She's got a few stories coming out from her time there, but she has also put that story into print, so we'll share that and shine that as well. Now, Peter Murphy's an Aussie guy. He's just visited Morocco, and he pulled his phone out to capture some of the locals for the world nomads podcast. Peter M: Welcome to the Medina affairs, and I have with me Khalid who has been here for all his life. He's a descendant of the original Berber inhabitants of the land, and hello, Khalid. Why is Morocco different <g class="gr_ gr_878 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="878" data-gr-id="878">to</g> all the other Islamic states? You don't see a lot of the burkas, and you seem to have a freer life. Khalid: Yes, because that's mainly imported or introduced by different ideologies or TV channels or other people who went to the Middle East. We are proud to be a native people of Morocco, but <g class="gr_ gr_1048 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1048" data-gr-id="1048">also</g> North Africa. We have our own Islamic version practice in Morocco, very soft and very modern, believing <g class="gr_ gr_1044 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1044" data-gr-id="1044">on</g> everyone's freedom and respect, exactly. Peter M: So, it's not as strict as an Islamic [crosstalk 00:17:21]. Khalid: No, definitely. Peter M: People don't actually pray five times a day. Khalid: Exactly. People confuse us with the Middle East, and a good example is [inaudible 00:17:27], which is more of a tribal Islam. So, it's in Islam, what was there we know it, a religion that is a religion of coexistence and living in peace, but they introduced a <g class="gr_ gr_1064 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling" id="1064" data-gr-id="1064">tribe</g> ritual that is very strict and preservative, and it is not the case in Morocco where the native people have always lived in peace and harmony, and with it, a different civilization on our land that we would come through sometimes with fight or sometimes with hospitality; but diversity is our highlights. We are all different but <g class="gr_ gr_1062 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1062" data-gr-id="1062">in</g> the same time, one nation. Peter M: And here is Aziz who grew up in the Medina affairs. Aziz, why do people come to Morocco? What's the best thing? Aziz: Well, Morocco, of course, we have the sun. We have the beautiful weather, the landscape, and of course, history. Lots of history in Morocco. Nice food, nice people, very friendly, and this is something exotic. Peter M: Now, that's not what you told me before. You said people come to Morocco to see you. Aziz: Yeah, of course. Aziz famous in all Morocco. I'm getting famous in the whole world, so they come to see me, to see, to learn, I tell them jokes, I tell them about everything. Peter M: Are your family man? Aziz: Yes, very much. Peter M: Thanks <g class="gr_ gr_1025 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1025" data-gr-id="1025">Aziz</g>. Aziz: Thank you. Peter M: And here we have Mohammed. Mohammed, why do people come to Morocco? Mohammed: Please. They come to Morocco for buying carpet and drinking mint tea. A lot of mint tea, because the mint tea is aphrodisiac, and my wife told me, "Stop Mohammed. No more mint tea. I have five kids. No more mint tea." Peter M: You've got beautiful carpets here. Beautiful carpets, Mohammed. Mohammed: Yeah, thank you <g class="gr_ gr_1022 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1022" data-gr-id="1022">sir</g>. Thank you very much. Kim: Thanks, Murph. [inaudible 00:19:16] and men, anyone can do that. If you're overseas, Phil: Yeah, we'd love to <g class="gr_ gr_1023 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1023" data-gr-id="1023">hear</g> you. Kim: Just take some on your iPhone. Send it through on Podcastworldnomads.com Phil: Yep, very easy to do. We love to hear from you. Kim: Rach and Marty. They are two women, also known as the very hungry nomads. They bid on food, and they're taking this adventure to visit every single country in the world very seriously. 195 of them. Let's check in and see what inspired them. Rach: So, yeah. Obviously, traveling is in our lives. We've both been traveling for long, long time, and we love it. However, <g class="gr_ gr_1052 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1052" data-gr-id="1052">couple</g> of years ago, we took off together and did a year and a half travel. So, we did travels through <g class="gr_ gr_1053 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="1053" data-gr-id="1053">Iran,</g> and Central Asia, and Mexico for a couple of months. It was awesome. So, it's a year and a half, and we got back, and we went back to work and thought, "Okay, let's go back to the 9-to-5. Let's get jobs. We work and travel anyway", and returned for a couple of years; and when people would ask us about our travels through those countries, which were incredible and beautiful, pretty much the number one question they would say is, "Oh, was it safe to travel? Was it safe to travel as females? Did you feel safe? Also, how many countries are there?" So, I think those were the two questions that we got asked so much, and then from that, they did ask us about our trip, but it was more about, "Is it safe?" And "How many countries other?" So, we were talking and thought, "Well, how many countries, actually, are there? Because it does go up and down a little bit [inaudible 00:20:52]. Marty: Yeah, and I guess the question was, "Has anyone seen them all?" And when we sort of looked it up, it was not that many people, and it was really dominated by males, and we were just like, "Well, wait a minute. How come there <g class="gr_ gr_1017 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1017" data-gr-id="1017">is</g> no women?" We do meet so many female travelers traveling out there, I guess from that moment, somehow, I think I turned around to Rach, and the [inaudible 00:21:15] said, "Hey, you want to see them all?" Rach: And it really was. We were literally in the café, and Marty said, "Do you want to go and see them all", and I straight away am like, "Yes. Let's do this." Marty: So, the plan was born. Rach: The plan was definitely hatched. So, we started planning how we actually make it all work in the most logical way that we'd be able to do it, and mostly it's to inspire. Marty: Yeah. Rach: You always use common sense, and we always say do your research so you know where you're going and where you shouldn't be or should be, but overall, we think that the world is much safer place than we make it <g class="gr_ gr_1021 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="1021" data-gr-id="1021">to</g> be through media and we generally actually agreed that hospitality and friendliness in most of the countries. Kim: You guys happen to be same-sex couples. Are you married? Rach: No. Marty: No. Kim: Traveling the world, and release, sadly, same-sex couples who choose to travel overseas are at risk of even criminal charges, in fact. Hard to believe in 2018. So, I'd love to get your insight into what it's like to travel as a same-sex couple knowing that as I'm asking this question, I don't think this should be an issue. So, please spill the beans. Rach: You know, Kim, it's definitely a different world when you're a same-sex couple. In fact, if you look at our blog or our social media, you won't see any reference to the fact that we are. I think for an Australian's and people in certain countries, it's an obvious thing, although we don't promote it and that's really due to the fact that there are different countries that still have capital punishment for homosexuality. I think <g class="gr_ gr_1005 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1005" data-gr-id="1005">there's</g> nine countries. So, you do <g class="gr_ gr_1061 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1061" data-gr-id="1061">had</g> to be about your wits about it. The majority of places we actually are going are not really friendly when it comes to same-sex couples. In fact, just getting a double bed, which is such a noble thing for another couple the challenge. We tend to go in between, "Oh, can we have a double bed because the mattress is better, or we watch movies at a computer, so can we have a double as we can more easily watch them?" Marty: We don't really show any affection that goes beyond being best friends, and that's also what we say. We are best friends. I think that's common as in a lot of countries, they don't show a lot of affection, so it's not a biggie; but look, it's wonderful when you go to a place somewhere, and you can do the extra hold a hand or maybe just have a dinner, or not be questioned. When we do book a double bed through online reservations, almost always we get to the room and it's a twin room, so then we have to go downstairs and ask if we booked it a double or a queen, and they sort of look it up and then they give you the twins and I'm like, "Who's going to go down this time?" Rach: What do they call it? Marty: Twin beds by default. Kim: Hashtag twin bed by default. I love that. Marty: Should we, and I think the other thing we missed is that what is so obvious to most of us, we seek out couples all the time, obviously, but in countries where homosexuality is not really illegal, or they just believe that they have no gay people, they don't look for it. They don't see yes as a couple. They just see us as two friends because I guess the expectations, maybe, are different. Kim: From this perspective, then, if you are two women who want to travel together, what's your advice? Rach: I <g class="gr_ gr_880 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="880" data-gr-id="880">think</g> connect with other women, other travelers. Instagram's a great one for that. We use a lot of Instagram and it's always social media, Instagram's great because to other women who have travel somewhere and if they've seen female travelers, or if they are traveling together they can give us some really good tips and hints. Marty: Tips and hints, and instant. It's really good, and there are women and people from all over the world, obviously. Kim: Did you guys win the $21 million Saturday lotto draw, or something? How are you funding this? Marty: Having no kids is one. Kim: That helps. Marty: Actually, originally we said, "Okay, let's just do this trip. Everyone tells us that we can't get in [inaudible 00:25:21] because we spent too much money on the avocado smash." So, we were just like, "Okay, will just cut it down. We have lots of money, right?" That's what the baby boomers said. That didn't work, but ultimately we put all of our life savings into this trip. It means we might not have a house or probably a tiny apartment, and the costs of dwellings. So, we are putting all of our savings in. We are traveling on a strict budget of 50 US dollars a day, which can be challenging at times. Rach: But I think at the end of the day, we both worked really, really hard, the same as anybody else to get enough money, and the bottom line is, we are pretty minimalist. We always have been. We are super happy that we have just a couple of black T-shirts and brown shorts. Marty: We travel with a carry-on backpack, also, so we keep it super light. Is the way forward, especially if you doing <g class="gr_ gr_1009 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1009" data-gr-id="1009">this many countries</g>. We might do couch surfing a little bit again. We've done in Iran a couple of years ago and that was just the most amazing experience. Kim: What was amazing about couch surfing? Just that you got to live in the lives of locals? Rach: Yeah absolutely, and I guess because Iran has [inaudible 00:26:36] you visit, and everything happens behind the closed doors because you cannot go out. There <g class="gr_ gr_1015 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="1015" data-gr-id="1015">is</g> no bars, there's no drinking. So, the young and old people tend to meet all in their homes, and they have little parties, Marty: Elaborate lounge rooms. Rach: Yeah, elaborate lounge rooms, [inaudible 00:26:56] using them, so we started dancing because <g class="gr_ gr_976 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="976" data-gr-id="976">there's</g> no places you can dance. Marty: Yeah, it was incredible because we got to know people and learn more about it. We played spin the bottle. We didn't even know what to ask because I don't want to insult anyone. I really don't know [inaudible 00:27:11]. You have the guidebook like, what you should not ask and spin the bottle. I remember when it was Rach's turn, I was like, "Oh my God. I don't mind answering any questions", but I'm like, "I don't know what to ask", and then I remember you asked the other girl on our team, "Oh, did you ever kiss a girl?" And then they all giggled. They are like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. We were all practicing." So phenomenal, and then one of the guys, and I'm not kidding. There was like what, 15 of us? He asked his friend, "If you had to be with a guy, which one would you choose here?" And he says, "So-and-so", whatever his name was. And I said, "Oh my God. That is so open-minded." Rach: And it took us all those places that they even the food was phenomenal. Kim: Rach, Marty, amazing nomads. Incredibly inspiring. You are on an incredible adventure and you guys are on a journey of a lifetime. Rach: Love it. Marty: Thanks. Kim: And at the time of recording, Rach and Marty are in Cyprus. We will have a link to the blog on show night can follow their journey. Phil: By the way, Morocco, it's a relatively safe place for women to travel, and it's had its bad reputation but it's not too bad now; and while aim sex relationships are illegal for locals, if you are traveling as a same-sex couple or LGBT couple in Morocco, you can't be punished by law, but take it easy. Don't offend anybody too much. Don't be too over the top. Kim: Yeah, be discreet. Phil: Indeed. Kim: Now, Photo Enrichment Adventures was founded by travel photographer, author, and international guide, Ralph Velasco. He runs cultural tours focusing on photography, is that right, Ralph? Ralph: Right. I teach travel photography and I call them cultural tours with a focus on photography. So, photography is part of the trip. These aren't photos workshops which, by my definition, is pretty much 12 hours a day photography all the time. So, my trips are half-day scheduled, half-day free time, and photography is a part of it. Kim: Now, just before we started chatting, I did say that anybody that goes to Morocco and takes a photo seems to get it right. Is it visually stunning, or are we looking at photos with a few tricks? Ralph: No. It's a gorgeous place. It's hard to take a bad shot there, but <g class="gr_ gr_991 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="991" data-gr-id="991">obviously</g> everyone does, even myself; but to me, in any destination, it's about being out at the right time of day. So, getting that better light, and Morocco has wonderful light. I say my number one tip <g class="gr_ gr_978 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="978" data-gr-id="978">is just get</g> out early, and Patrick Saenz, who is a photographer says, "If you don't like getting out early, then be a writer." Kim: I like that. Ralph: Yeah, I love that one. I use that often and I think it's very true. Kim: Yeah and look, so many backdrops in Morocco, too. You are really spoiled for choice. Ralph: Yeah, it's <g class="gr_ gr_970 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="970" data-gr-id="970">a wonderful</g> for variety, and what I look for in a country or destination when I'm putting together my trips is variety, and Morocco has <g class="gr_ gr_965 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="965" data-gr-id="965">a in</g> spades. So, everything you said, beautiful, old cities, and whitewashed walls and the blue city of Chefchaouen, and the capital of Rabat, Casablanca, which gets a little bit of a bad rap, kind of a place to just fly in and out of. I think it's got one of the best Medina's, or old towns, that I've seen in Morocco. The old <g class="gr_ gr_973 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="973" data-gr-id="973">center,</g> and I love the market there, and so I get my people out and we go and shoot those places. It's great. Kim: So, you mentioned a few of your favorite spots. Are there any that you won't find in a guidebook that you've stumbled across and just thought, "Wow". Ralph: Well, I'm sure it's probably in a guidebook, but there is a small town called Skoura. S-K-O-U-R-A, and we use it as a midpoint between the deserts of Erfoud, which is the main city around Erfoud. For the Sahara desert, it's the stepping point off to the really iconic sand dunes that you see, and camel rides, things like that. These great hotels right out in the desert; but Skoura's on the way to Marrakech; and so, we use it as a stop off point, and one of my favorite things that we do on the whole trip is we actually do a hike through an oasis, and when I was a kid, I don't know about you, but I used to watch those old cartoons, and to me, <g class="gr_ gr_954 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="954" data-gr-id="954">and</g> <g class="gr_ gr_943 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="943" data-gr-id="943">oasis</g> was just a little clump of sand with one palm tree. PART 2 OF 3 ENDS [00:32:04] Ralph: ... was just a little clump of sand with one palm tree. But, in Morocco, and I'm sure other parts of the world, they can be 40 miles long and five miles wide, and just in this very stark dry desert, you've got this very lush ... Obviously, there's a river there. There's got to be water. So, there are these communities that have developed. We walk through the oasis and see what's actually there, because as you're driving ... and there's a lot of driving in Morocco. You see these oases. You're driving by them typically, but to actually get in them and see how they really work is, to me, really fascinating. Kim: What's the most photogenic country? Ralph: That's a tough question. They're all photogenic in their own ways and for different reasons. I say as a travel photographer, you have to be a jack of all genres, master of some. A genre photographer. You've got architectural photographers. You've got landscape photographers, portrait photographers. But, as a travel photographer, if you want to tell the story of the place, you have to come back with a variety of images. That's why I look for variety in the places I go to. Morocco is certainly high on that list, but also Romania's wonderful, Cambodia, Cuba of course. It doesn't matter what kind of camera you have or what your experience is, if the light is good, that's going to take your photography to another level. Kim: Well, you've also captured images on your iPhone haven't you? Ralph: Yeah. I've got some really nice stuff on my iPhone. Actually, one of my shots from Morocco was a finalist in the smartphone category for the Travel Photographer of the Year just two, three years ago. It's a shot of, I'm sitting on the camel, and I've got the camel and his head and the camel driver, and in the distance, you see our hotel. It's just a really nice shot, but what you can get with these smartphones is just incredible. I'm doing a lot more video these days as well and using the smartphone almost exclusively for that. Kim: Wow. Well, that's exciting. So, anyone that's listening, you don't have to, if you're going to Morocco, pack a digital SLR. You'll capture some good stuff on your iPhone. Ralph: Yeah. You sure can. I don't even use a DSLR anymore. They're big. They're heavy. They're very obtrusive to the subject. I like to use what's called a mirrorless system or Micro Four Thirds. It's sort of between a DSLR and a smartphone, this fairly new category, but they're lightweight, they're small. They're not obtrusive to your subject. I don't want to look like a professional photographer. I just want to look like a regular Joe, and that's going to help me get a lot better photographs than if I've just got this huge camera that can be intimidating to the subject. Phil: We'll have a link to Mystical Morocco tour for 2019 in show notes, but right now ... I've given myself a theme song. Kim: Here is the news. Phil: Travel news. How cheesy is that? Kim: That is very cheesy. Are you seriously going to keep that? Phil: We'll see. I don't know. Kim: We might vote on that. Phil: Yeah, okay, you can vote on it. Kim: It gets the attention though. You set out to grab our attention. I think you've achieved it, Phil. Phil: Thank you very much. I've got another thing for you. Are you ready? Kim: Yep. Phil: The inception horn. Kim: What? What's that? Phil: For when something dangerous is happening. Kim: I like it. I can see this is going somewhere. This is going somewhere. Phil: Yeah, we're going to have some fun. All right, but slightly serious start to the news. As we speak, Hawaii is bracing itself for a battering from a hurricane, as is Western Japan, although it's a typhoon once you switch hemispheres, and earthquakes continue to ripple across Indonesia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. Kerala in Southern India is dealing with a flood crisis, as are parts of Laos and Thailand, so stay safe everybody. If you're thinking of traveling to any of these spots in the coming weeks, check with us here at worldnomads.com about your insurance coverage. Maybe even read the policy summary, so you know what is and what is not covered in terms of cancellation, delay and rescheduling, and whatever. But chat to us if you're going to head off to any of those places. All right, here we go. Here's something definitely not covered let me tell you. Italian police are hunting a couple of tourists who stripped down to their underwear in the summer's heat and took a dip in the fountain at the monument to the unknown soldier. Kim: No, not respectful, mate. Phil: They both face fines of several hundred dollars each if caught, and probably a kick up the bum as well from the local constabulary. Kim, I've got to tell you, Iceland, it seems, is so yesterday with another Nordic country set to take the mantle as the hottest spot for travelers. It's riding on a wave of popularity as a foodie destination and because of those quirky Nordic noir TV mystery shows. Did I tell you that? Kim: Yeah, yeah. Phil: Yeah. Where I'm talking about <g class="gr_ gr_930 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="930" data-gr-id="930">is</g> Denmark. Denmark is booming. Kim: And the books too. There are lots of great authors or books- Phil: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and all that stuff- Kim: Isn't that Sweden, that one? Phil: Possibly. Sorry. Kim: Oops. No, I'm not going to say it's sort of the same. Phil: The Danish Tourism Authority says they expect to top 10 million visitors by 2021. Hotel occupancy already runs at 80%, so expect to see a lot of building work over the next five years. Copenhagen is going to be chockers. Kim: Gee, that's exciting. Phil: Vogue has named a list of underrated countries you should visit now before everyone else does. The irony of the headline seems to be lost on them, but anyway. On the list: Zagreb in Croatia, as a capital. Palawan Island in the Philippines. Marrakesh, in Morocco, of course. Danang in Vietnam; we've spoken about in an earlier episode, and Tasmania. Kim: Yes. Phil: No, I'm only kidding. It's not on the list. Kim: Oh, why would you do that to me? Phil: Why would you do that to a good Launceston girl? Kim: Tasmania being my home state, and it is ... But, seriously, it is one that's on the lips of most travelers, even from ... Don't look at me like that. Don't look at me. I'm going to take you there. Phil: No, it's great. Kim: I'm going to take you on a tour of Tassie. Phil: Absolutely. Kim: Let's move on. Phil: All right, let's move on. Kim: We have a guest in the World Nomads studio here in Sydney, that you met at a travel expo. Phil: Yeah, yeah. Ollie, welcome to the studio, mate. It was great to meet up with you down at the Travel Massive meetup in Sydney. Fantastic. Ollie: Yeah, thanks, Phil. It was good to meet you there. Kim: Well, we were pretty excited about your business, Rad Season. Can you just take us through what it is? Ollie: Yeah, sure. So, Rad Season is a one-stop shop for action sports, and adventure events, and festivals, where we showcase festivals worldwide. It's everything from surfing events in Australia, the U.S., to snowboarding festivals, music festivals, in Europe. We've got a whole variety of festivals which we cover. Kim: Anything that's rad. Ollie: Anything that's rad. Phil: Did you get into that because you're a bit of an adventure traveler yourself? Is that how you got into it? Ollie: Yes. I guess my main, probably for the past 15 years, my main sort of goal with traveling was to do something predominantly around surfing and action sports related. So, surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking. The site's now been up for two years. Kim: Well, there's plenty on it. Obviously, this podcast is about Morocco, so I had a bit of a search on what is happening in Morocco. Outside of the markets and outside of the Sahara desert, there are actually music festivals, and there's a big surfing culture. Phil: Surfing? My jaw dropped right then. Surfing in Morocco. Kim: You just don't put the two together, do you? Ollie: It's amazing. I'm originally from London and we would always ... Friends and I, or I would go off on solo trips, and we'd plan surfing locations that were not just in Europe, but that would be close to London, and Morocco, the capital of surfing Taghazout and Agadir, is about a four-hour flight from London. They do daily flights there, and it's a completely different world. The first time I went there, that was probably about 10 years ago, and then, since then, sort of been back numerous times, predominately just to go surfing because it's such an incredible place. Phil: Is it <g class="gr_ gr_905 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="905" data-gr-id="905">Mediterranean</g> Sea? Ollie: It's on the Atlantic Ocean. It sort of cuts in on the North, right near [Djavorcian 00:41:17], in the north of Morocco, sort of breaks into the Mediterranean. But the main surfing is based around the central part of Morocco near Agadir, and then south. So, <g class="gr_ gr_909 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="909" data-gr-id="909">the Western</g> Sahara. All the way up <g class="gr_ gr_910 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="910" data-gr-id="910">there's</g> amazing waves, and it's just- Phil: And nobody on them? Ollie: Some of the areas are getting a bit more popular, but yeah, if you take a drive you can definitely find empty amazing waves to yourself. Kim: So, for those people that understand surfing terms, what kind of breaks are they? Ollie: Breaks. I'd say it was the Disneyland of right-hand point breaks in anywhere in the world that I've been. I've surfed probably about 35, 40 countries, and Morocco is something special for surfing. Kim: Give us a few more countries then. As Phil said, his jaw dropped when we put Morocco and surfing in the one sentence. When we did the podcast on Peru, that's got a massive surfing culture. Ollie: It does, yeah. Kim: Give me three other countries that you don't expect there to be a surfing culture. Ollie: Israel is one. I couldn't believe it when I was out there, and there was probably about a hundred people in the water. It was like being on Manly Beach. Kim: Really? Ollie: Yeah, it was pretty incredible. Kim: Okay, that's one. Ollie: Where else? I'd say the U.K., and Scotland has got a pretty big scene. It's cold, but- Kim: No. You'd have to have a fairly thick wetsuit, I would think. Ollie: ... but yeah, all around the U.K. Cornwall and Devon in the south. Yes, Scotland's amazing. Norway has got some incredible waves. Now, I guess there's all these locations which are sort of cold water surfing destinations that people are looking to do once they've done all the ones around the equator and all the tropical locations. Kim: Back to Morocco. When you're there, what's it like in terms of safety? Ollie: I mean, there's one or two that are patrolled but the majority of the surfing spots, yeah, you're left to your own devices, so there isn't much water safety. But if you're, it's sort of ... There's plenty of spots for beginners, intermediate surfers, advanced, so there's a variety of breaks, <g class="gr_ gr_899 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="899" data-gr-id="899">there's</g> beach breaks. There's a big infrastructure around the surfing there now. People can go <g class="gr_ gr_898 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="898" data-gr-id="898">on</g> surf camps. <g class="gr_ gr_900 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="900" data-gr-id="900">There's</g> people all over the world, all over Europe, coming to Morocco to do a week's surfing experience. Some of them incorporate it with yoga, and you stay in these amazing camps and places, and normally go out every day doing surfing classes with local guys and local instructors. Phil: Apart from the Disneyland of right-hand point breaks, what is it that you like about Morocco? Ollie: I guess the main thing, it was so different. Surfing in Europe, and surfing in different countries in Europe, they've all got their own ... Like, whether you're in France, or Portugal, or Spain, it's still ... You still, obviously you are in Europe, but you feel that way. Whereas for maybe like a half hour longer flight to get to Africa and get to Morocco, you feel like you're in a completely different world. I think the first time I ever got there, traveling from London in December, getting off the tube it was freezing. Get to the airport, arrive in Agadir, and then jump in a minivan. 20 minutes away, suit up, get in the wetsuit, and it's 25 degrees, all the locals are standing on the cliff side wearing djellabas, which are these robes which look like something out of Star Wars, <g class="gr_ gr_891 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="891" data-gr-id="891">there's</g> camels. It's just <g class="gr_ gr_890 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="890" data-gr-id="890">a completely</g> ... Like, all these senses. All these smells that you're getting from the market; everything from saffron to all these different spices. That's something that you don't really get anywhere else. Kim: I'm off, Phil. Phil: Yeah, see you later, Kim. Kim: See you. Phil: She's gone. Kim: I'll say goodbye though before I head off to Morocco. Thanks so much for coming in. We'll share Rad Season in show notes, and if you've got a pic of you surfing in Morocco that would be great too. Phil: Yeah, love to see that too. Ollie: Yeah, no worries. Kim: Cheers. Ollie: Thanks, guys. Kim: That brings us to the end of our episode on Morocco. Fairly action-packed that episode, so time to find out the answer to the quiz question. Phil: Name three Hollywood blockbusters that were wholly or partly filmed in Morocco? Lawrence of Arabia. Kim: Obviously, yeah. Phil: Obviously. The Jewel of the Nile. Kim: Yes. Phil: We've also got The Mummy. Kim: Yes. Phil: Alexander. The one with Angelina Jolie, in the early 2000s. Sex in the City 2. Although, are we calling that a movie? I don't know. Ah, and this one. Inception. Kim: Also, the James Bond movie, Spectre. Phil: Is that right? Kim: Yeah. Phil: American Sniper, and Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation. Kim: Find us on iTunes or the Google podcast app. Get in touch by emailing, podcast@worldnomads.com. Our next destination episode, Phil, where are we heading? Uruguay. Phil: That's right. Kim: We'll see you there. Phil: Bye. Kim: That might just be me. Speaker 3: The World Nomads podcast. Explore your boundaries. PART 3 OF 3 ENDS [00:46:23] </div> </div>Ralph Velasco 2015 0

The First Tahksnahky | Morocco Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/the-first-tahksnahkyThe First Tahksnahky | Morocco Travel StoryThu, 26 Jul 2018 00:27:02 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/the-first-tahksnahkyhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/five-things-to-do-in-marrakechExciting, colorful, and bustling, Marrakech can be a place of sensory overload. Mark Eveleigh shares his suggestions for getting the most out of one of his favorite cities.2021-12-03T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/five-things-to-do-in-marrakechhttps://www.worldnomads.com“Just go out of the front door and head for the main alleyway,” Mohammad Aznaque explained to me, “then follow it until you see the arch where the donkey carts are. Next, take the middle passageway through the souks until you reach the main road leading to the plaza…” He made it sound so simple but, as expected, within 15 minutes I was hopelessly lost. It didn’t matter, though. I’d visited Marrakech many times and was aware that being adrift in this labyrinth was often part of the excitement. There’s a common refrain in this most magical of cities that “if you didn’t get lost in the souks then you weren’t really in the souks.” Mohammed, who works at the lovely Anayela Riad on the northern edge of <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/safety-in-moroccos-souks-and-medina">the medina</a>, has years of experience in extricating tourists who’ve become hopelessly entangled – like flies in a spiderweb – in the maze. Since I first visited 25 years ago, Marrakech has been one of my all-time favorite cities and my favorite thing to do here is simply wonder like Alibaba through the Thousand and One Nights and see what I stumble across. It can be a place of sensory overload, so it's necessary to have a series of boltholes you can head for, to recoup energy for another foray into the happy anthill of activity. Here are my five top suggestions for soaking up the atmosphere. <ul> <li><a href="#tea">Mint tea overlooking the Djemaa el Fna</a></li> <li><a href="#souk">Authenticity near the Spice Souk</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Take a Moroccan food tour</a></li> <li><a href="#green"> La Bahia Palace and Le Jardin Secret</a></li> <li><a href="#hammam">Soak in a hammam</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="tea">Mint tea overlooking the Djemaa el Fna</h2> Fortunately, for a city that could otherwise potentially be exhausting, Marrakech is home to the world’s most invigorating drink. A glass of syrupy-sweet mint tea on the rooftop (the so-called Grand Balcon) of Café Glacier is my first stop at the beginning of every visit to Marrakech. From here you can gaze right over the <a href="/stories/love/confessions-of-a-romantic-traveler">Djemaa el Fna</a> – the great plaza that is the setting for the world’s greatest never-ending “festival”. Ideally, I try to be here around 4pm when a convoy of 50 or more food stalls roll out, like a wild west wagon-train. When the sunset prayer-call echoes out from the ancient Koutoubia minaret the smoke from scores of barbecues begins to waft like dancing djinns across the shimmering lights of the stalls and the Djemaa becomes more magical by the minute. <h2 id="souk">Authenticity near the Spice Souk</h2> The little plaza of the Spice Souks is universally known to tourists so, for something infinitely more authentic, I love to head into Souk Laghzel. This tiny plaza (down a short alley off the south-western corner of the Spice Souk) has a disturbing history: it used to be the slavery souk. Today, it’s the workplace of dozens of women who sell second-hand clothes, along with a couple of hidden antique/bric-a-brac stalls. As you enter the plaza you find Bezzari Zakaria, a tiny bazaar selling a mindboggling array of traditional remedies and strange charms. On the opposite corner is a little eatery with no name. It is run by Fatima (known as “the mother of the souks”) and is where the stallholders get their afternoon meal. As such, it is perhaps the best value, heartiest food in Marrakech. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/marrakech/souk.jpg" alt="A donkey stands outside a shop selling luggage in the Marrakech souk." /> <figcaption>Within the maze of the medina. Photo credit: Mark Eveleigh</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="food">Take a Moroccan food tour</h2> Ace-guide Ali (who can be booked through <a href="https://marrakechfoodtours.com/">marrakechfoodtours.com</a>) is a wealth of information not only on his city’s culinary heritage but also on all aspects of history and culture. An evening with Ali is a gastronomic adventure, taking in some secret spots that you would never stumble across as a tourist. Whether you’re an adventurer willing to challenge yourself with steamed “goat-face”, sheep’s brain, and snails or a street-food junkie tempted by sfnj (deep-fried donuts) or msmen (savoury Moroccan pancakes), Ali’s tours provide stories that you could dine out on for weeks to come. <h2 id="green">Escape into La Bahia Palace and Le Jardin Secret</h2> Majorelle Gardens – best known for its connection with Yves Saint Laurent – is one of Marrakech’s premier icons but, for something more unexpected (and within the walls of the old city) I prefer La Bahia Palace and Le Jardin Secret. The aptly named “Secret Garden”, which had been falling into ruin for almost a century, was restored in 2016 to create a real oasis of calm in the frenetic bustle of the souks. La Bahia Palace is a wonderfully cool expanse of marble courtyards and reception rooms at the southern end of the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter). Both these gardens deserve an hour or two, allowing time simply to sit under the palms listening to the birds. (Note: Bahia Palace was damaged in the Sept 2023 earthquake and was closed immediately after. Check to see if it has reopened before you visit.) <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/marrakech/la-bahia-palace.jpg" alt="A fountain within the elegant, tiled courtyard of La Bahia Palace, Marrakech, Morocco." /> <figcaption>La Bahia Palace. Image credit: Mark Eveleigh</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="hammam">Soak in a hammam</h2> The <a href="/stories/connection/being-naked-in-marrakech">hammam</a> (steam bath) is a ritual not to be missed. But, as with any ritual, there are codes of conduct that can sometimes make it daunting – and no two hammam are the same. The lovely Riad Star, in the heart of the Medina, has a private hammam on the roof (open also to non-guests) where an attendant will scrub and soap you. Of the public hammams Mouassine, dating back to around 1571, is one of the most historic. There are separate male and female sections and at 1.5 euros it is one of the best-value experiences you’ll ever have. An hour spent comfortably simmering on the tiled floor is closer to transcendental meditation than to a mere bathing session. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> <h3>Getting around</h3> If you choose to stay in the medina all sights are likely to be within easy strolling distance. Tuk-tuks are ideal if you want to get back to your hotel after dark since the drivers (all people with special needs) can steer down the tightest alleyways after the stalls have closed. For longer journeys a “petit taxi” (rather than the bigger inter-city Mercedes) works on a meter system. <h3>Where to stay</h3> There are hotels and guesthouses to suit all budgets in Marrakech but a riad (from about 60 euros upwards) makes for one of the world’s most evocatively romantic accommodation options. Typically windowless, historical houses with all the rooms looking inwards to a central courtyard, the best riad also have wonderful roof terraces. You can’t go wrong with <a href="https://www.anayela.com/">Riad Anayela</a> or any of those featured on <a href="https://www.marrakech-riad.co.uk/">Marrakech Riad</a>.Mark Eveleigh 0 Mark Eveleigh The bustling Djemaa el Fna plaza in Marrakech at sunset.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/6-unique-things-to-do-in-fez-moroccoVisit the oldest and largest Medina in North Africa, find local handicrafts, and visit impressive religious sites when you travel to Fez.2017-04-20T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/6-unique-things-to-do-in-fez-moroccohttps://www.worldnomads.comAs photographers (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Instagram @SaltinourHair</a>), we had an incredible time shooting all the sights in this city - there wasn't a moment of borem! Here are a few of our favorite unique experiences Fez has to offer. <h2>1. Bou Inania Medersa</h2> The Bou Inania Medersa is an impressive religious building that can be entered by all travelers. Previously a school, it’s now popular among visitors for its amazing architecture and colors. Entry is completely free, and we expected it to be super crowded when we went around 4pm, but there were only a few other people there. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/bou-inania-medersa-hannah-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Bou Inania Medersa. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>2. Take in the Smells of the Tanneries</h2> We really wanted to check out the world-famous tanneries where the locals color animal skins. We knew the smells would be quite strong, so we took a bit of mint and a scarf to cover our faces. They tried to offer us “mint for free” on our way to the tanneries, but I’m sure if we’d said yes, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/moroccan-scams-and-rip-offs" target="_blank">they would have asked for payment</a>. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/fes-tanneries-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Tanneries in Fez. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>3. Sunset on a Rooftop</h2> It’s the first thing we do once we arrive at a new place to stay: Check the rooftop view (if it has one). Sit down and enjoy the sun setting behind the beautiful city of Fez. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/sunset-rooftop-fes-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Watching the sunset from the rooftop in Fez. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>4. Buying a Carpet or Rug in Fez</h2> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBlDL58Xy98" target="_blank">Fez is known for its handicraft</a>, and there’s no doubt you’ll struggle to avoid the carpet sellers in the main streets of the Medina. A French woman living in Marrakesh let us in on a little secret, and suggested we go to her favourite shop where they’d give us an honest price. 20 rugs later, we selected our favorite one. We paid about US $150 for a rug that’s 2m long and 1.5m wide – which we thought was a fair price for a rug. <h2>5. Get Lost in the Fez Medina</h2> The UNESCO World Heritage Medina of Fez is the oldest and largest in North Africa. Its historical elements have been well-retained, making it super easy to get lost in the narrow alleyways. We got lost here a few times at night, and trust us, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/safety-in-moroccos-souks-and-medina" target="_blank">that isn't a fun place to lose your bearings</a>. We used signs to get back to our hotel – even Google Maps gets lost in this maze! <h2>6. Get Your Fresh Orange Juice Every Morning</h2> Orange juice is one thing we love. So a cheap, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/food-and-water-in-morocco" target="_blank">fresh</a> OJ every morning was a perfect start to our day. Probably one of our best addictions while in Morocco. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/fresh-oj-morocco-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Hannah enjoying a fresh OJ in Morocco. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure>Salt in our Hair 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/top-things-to-do-in-blue-city-of-moroccoTaste delicious Moroccan food, watch the sunrise, go shopping in the Medina and explore the local village of Chefchaouen with Salt in our Hair’s tips on things to do in Morocco’s Blue City.2017-04-20T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/top-things-to-do-in-blue-city-of-moroccohttps://www.worldnomads.com<h2>1. Taste All Kinds Food</h2> The taste and texture of Moroccan food is unlike anything we’d ever tried before. Looking for bread wasn’t difficult: Every corner of the sloping streets had homemade bread baked in wood-fired ovens. At restaurants, we were served typical Moroccan dishes of couscous, fish, spices and vegetables. We couldn’t leave the restaurant without a cup of freshly made mint tea! This is a tradition in Morocco, not just for the companionship, but for the <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/food-and-water-in-morocco" target="_blank">health benefits</a> as well. In the town square, get yourself a cheap breakfast at Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and for lunch or dinner, we highly recommend Restaurant Populaire Bab Ssour. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/chefchaouen-morocco-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Chefchaouen. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>2. Sunrise and Sunset in Chefchaouen</h2> Waking up early in the morning really pays off. We got to the rooftop of our riad and enjoyed one of the most magical sunrises during our trip. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/chefchaouen-sunset-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Watching the sunrise from our riad. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> At the end of the day, hike to the top of a hill near the Spanish Mosque where you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous sunset. <h2>3. Wander Around the Medina</h2> All the narrow alleys and steep climbs in the <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/safety-in-moroccos-souks-and-medina" target="_blank">Medina</a> (old blue city) were an awesome place to get lost. Each corner we turned, the walls were a different shade of blue. <h2>4. Go Shopping in the Medina</h2> Chefchaouen is a <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/morocco/moroccan-scams-and-rip-offs" target="_blank">popular shopping destination</a>. From wool garments to woben blankets, it offers many native handicrafts that aren’t available anywhere else in Morocco. The goat cheese is also popular, and definitely one of our favourite side dishes. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/shopping-chefchaouen-media-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Shopping in the Media. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>5. Explore Nature Around Chefchaouen</h2> We didn’t do this ourselves, but we’ve heard some really good experiences from fellow travelers! Here are three things you should do if you’d like a break from the Medina: <ol> <li>Ras el Maa Waterfall</li> <li>Bridge of God</li> <li>Hiking Talassemtane National Park</li> </ol> <h2>6. Enjoy the Beautiful Bus Ride to Fez</h2> Our next destination was Fez, and taking the bus from Chefchaouen is the best way to get there. We were surprised by the beautiful scenery during this trip. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/morocco/wandering-around-morocco-blue-city-salt-in-our-hair.jpg" /> <figcaption> Hannah wandering the streets of Chefchaouen. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/saltinourhair/" target="_blank">Salt in our Hair</a></figcaption></figure> Salt in our Hair 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/tunisia/local-laws-and-customs-tunisiaTunisia is a Muslim country, and it's important to respect the local religion and culture. Here's everything you need to know before you go.2019-05-23T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/tunisia/local-laws-and-customs-tunisiahttps://www.worldnomads.comBuying antiquities, being careless about what you photograph, and carrying Tunisian money out of the country can get you into trouble if you don't follow the local laws. The southern desert areas are quite traditional, but the northern beach resorts (where most travelers go) are more cosmopolitan, and have a fairly European style, so you can be a little more relaxed with how you dress. However, it's still important to dress modestly, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/tunisia/tunisia-crime-and-scams">especially if you're a woman</a>. If you're coming to Tunisia after spending a little time in France, be aware that topless sunbathing in public is not acceptable in Tunisia and will cause both offense and unwanted attention. The dominant language spoken in Tunisia is Tunisian Arabic, though many natives also speak French, especially in the north. Below are some other useful tips for knowing what's forbidden, and navigating the culture and customs in Tunisia. <ul> <li><a href="#pda"> Public displays of affection </a></li> <li><a href="#smuggling"> Smuggling of antiquities </a></li> <li><a href="#photos"> Rules regarding photography </a></li> <li><a href="#drugs"> Drugs in Tunisia </a></li> <li><a href="#medical"> No free medical for non-citizens</a></li> <li><a href="#currency"> Currency laws in Tunisia </a></li> <li><a href="#rules"> Road rules (and whether they are followed) </a></li> <li><a href="#roads"> Road conditions in Tunisia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="pda">Public displays of affection</h2> Even in the less conservative north, Tunisian law applies to personal relationships. Like many Muslim countries, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/tunisia/tunisia-crime-and-scams">homosexuality is illegal</a>. Public displays of affection between same-sex couples and talking publicly about homosexuality are taboo. It‘s technically illegal for mixed-gender couples who are unmarried to share a room together. It's not much of a problem in western-style hotels, but elsewhere, just say “wife/husband” rather than “boyfriend/girlfriend” when talking to hotel staff. A gold ring worn on the appropriate finger can smooth the way, too. <h2 id="smuggling">Smuggling of antiquities</h2> There is a reasonable amount of antiquities smuggling in Tunisia. People who try to remove antiquities without the right government permits may be arrested, and have a very long delay added to their departure. Make very sure that, if any of your purchases are antique, you obtain permission. Getting arrested when you‘re trying to leave will definitely ruin your experience. <h2 id="photos">Rules regarding photography</h2> Tunisia does not allow photographs to be taken of embassies, military, or government buildings, as well as other sensitive places. If you‘re in doubt, look around for one of those “no camera” signs. If you see one, don‘t take the photo. As in most countries, Tunisians don’t like to be photographed <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/how-to-take-photos-responsibly">without their permission</a>. Ask first, and you’ll likely be rewarded with a great photo, an interesting cultural interaction, or, at worst, a polite no. <h2 id="drugs">Drugs in Tunisia</h2> Like many countries in the world, drugs are illegal in Tunisia. However, Tunisia tends to have somewhat harsher drug laws than western nations. Use and trafficking are obviously serious offenses, but the possession of even small amounts of “soft” drugs can result in imprisonment. In case you were wondering, yes, one joint or even a small amount of hash or marijuana can result in being locked up. <h2 id="medical">No free medical for non-citizens</h2> Tunisia has a strong medical system for Tunisian citizens, but not for people who aren‘t. If you do require medical attention in Tunisia, be aware that private hospitals and clinics can be very expensive, and payment is required immediately. <h2 id="currency">Currency laws in Tunisia</h2> There are some interesting laws regarding currency in Tunisia, and you should make sure you’re aware of them if you’re planning on going. It’s actually illegal to either import or export Tunisian money. If you're a cash-only type of traveler, take the amount of money you want to spend into the country in your local currency, and convert it into Tunisian Dinars as you need it. Be sure that you declare how much currency (in cash) you’re bringing into the country, or it won’t be leaving with you. Keep receipts for every money change transaction. Those of us who use the ATM to access funds won't have a problem (although it's always a good idea to keep the receipts ATMs spit out). <h2 id="rules">Road rules (and whether they are followed)</h2> If you haven’t ever driven in a non-Western country before, <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/tunisia/tunisia-crime-and-scams">driving in Tunisia</a> will be an interesting experience. It's common for local drivers to ignore road regulations, even when police are clearly visible. Pedestrians have right of way, but not all drivers follow this rule. Pedestrians also frequently run between traffic, even on major highways. People who ride bicycles, motorcycles, and motor scooters will regularly weave through traffic, attempting to squeeze through incredibly narrow spaces at high speeds. It doesn’t help that few of these vehicles have adequate lights or reflectors, making them difficult to see. Tunisia has a high number of police and military checkpoints, and if you come across one of these, be sensible and approach slowly. Speeding towards a checkpoint is a good way to make several men with automatic weapons very nervous indeed. Checkpoint authorities tend to be polite to foreign travelers, but you must be ready to present photo ID upon request, and they may detain you if you don‘t have it, particularly if you are near one of the more troubled border regions. Tourists must carry ID with them at all times. <h2 id="roads">Road conditions in Tunisia</h2> If you are planning on driving outside of the urban areas, be aware that conditions vary. The Tunisian road network is relatively modern and of good quality overall, but road quality can deteriorate rapidly, particularly in the southern part of the country, where many roads are unpaved and/or full of potholes that are covered with blowing sand. Traveling cross-country and off-road means traveling in the desert. If you‘re not used to that, the advice is fairly straight forward and <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/tunisia/tunisia-crime-and-scams">should be strictly adhered to</a>. For a start, make sure you‘re traveling in a vehicle that‘s capable of off-road desert travel, which means sedans are out and you really need a four-wheel drive. Make certain you have enough water and food, and pack a little extra just in case. Travel in multiple cars so that, if one breaks down, you can get back to civilization in one of the other vehicles. Take a GPS with you, but be aware that there are many areas in the south that have very little mobile phone coverage, and often none at all. Lastly, while it does get incredibly hot in summer (as high as 115°F/46°C), the desert is also subject to chilly conditions and night and can even get close to freezing in winter. Even when you‘re traveling in summer, you need to bring something warm for the evening.iStock 0 A colorful market street in Tunisia.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/egypt/ecotourism-and-endangered-wildlife-in-egyptHere are few ways you can play a positive role towards supporting the environment as a traveler in Egypt.2011-11-16T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/egypt/ecotourism-and-endangered-wildlife-in-egypthttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#wildlife"> History and Wildlife </a></li> <li><a href="#wadi-al-hitan"> Wadi Al-Hitan </a></li> <li><a href="#losses"> Despite the Losses </a></li> <li><a href="#but-how"> How Can I Play a Positive Role as a Traveler? </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="wildlife">History and Wildlife</h2> Egypt’s heritage has always been about its history – Ancient Egyptians, their pyramids, temples and tombs. But Egypt’s wildlife is just as remarkable, and even more critical. Egypt is finding that a tourist industry that doesn’t support or consider its impact on the environment is unsustainable, and a shift toward ecotourism is an opportunity for the country to look toward a flourishing future. <h2 id="wadi-al-hitan">Wadi Al-Hitan</h2> Among the well known United Nations UNESCO World Heritage sites in Egypt – the Great Pyramids in Giza, the Theban Necropolis in Luxor, Abu Simbel in the south and Saint Catherine’s in the Sinai – there is one you may not have heard of: Wadi Al-Hitan, otherwise known as Whale Valley in the Western Desert. You won’t find man-made structures of awe-inspiring significance, and you won’t find an ocean of whales. An ecotour into the desert reveals a site of invaluable fossils of prehistoric cetaceans. The extinct whale known as Archaeoceti is the earliest ancestor of today’s whales. Yet the Archaeoceti is certainly not the only example of extinction in Egypt. Throughout temples and tombs, carved reliefs and the hieroglyphics of Ancient Egyptians portray an array of animals – lions and cheetahs, oryx and ibis, papyrus and lotus flowers… All were once natives to Egypt and thrived. But all have suffered extinction, or near extinction, in modern times. The Nubian Lion – which once ranged from Morocco to Egypt, was last seen in the 1920s. The Saharan Cheetah is “possibly” extinct according to IUCN, with rare glimpses every few years leaving a grain of hope. The Arabian Oryx – with a similar fate to the Egyptian Barbary Sheep – went extinct in the wild, but has been salvaged in zoos. Certain members of the ibis bird family are gone, while others like the endangered Hermit Ibis, no longer frequent Egypt. And in the late 1800s the infamous Egyptian Papyrus Plant disappeared, followed by the Lotus Flower in the Nile Valley, due to the changing influences of modern irrigation systems, dams and the loss of swamps. (Fortunately, papyrus was reintroduced by the 20th century thanks to a few European specimens.) Today, such plants can be seen in ornamental gardens, such as the lovely pond in front of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo.  <h2 id="losses">Despite the Losses</h2> Egypt is still rich with an incredible array of invaluable wildlife that is as varied as its numerous geographical terrains: from the Fennec Fox of the Western Desert to the Cattle Egret of the lush Nile Valley, the Nile Crocodile in Lake Nasser to the grazing Dugong of the Red Sea. Today, efforts are being made to preserve these unique habitats and their fauna, and throughout the country one finds optimistic conservation work being performed: coral reef monitoring programs, Egyptian Tortoise and Green Sea Turtle preservation projects, and Acacia Tree rehabilitation to name a few. Protected areas are appearing all over, from the legendary Sinai Peninsula to the Great Sand Sea of the Saharan Desert. And ecotourism is an opportunity for tourism - Egypt's most vital industry - to become sustainable, to support and give back to the environment, and find a means to have a lower impact. Just as the billions of birds that migrate through the country each year play a role in Egypt’s ecosystem, the millions of tourist that come to Egypt also have an impact. Ecotourism transforms the viewpoint of responsibility, empowering the tourist with the opportunity to choose a means of travel that is positive for the environment. Everyone stands to gain from the benefits of responsible ecotourism. <h2 id="but-how">Here Are Few Examples of How You Can Play a Positive Role Towards Supporting the Environment As a Visitor to Egypt:</h2> <ul> <li>Enjoy at least one wildlife excursion, whether bird watching on the Nile or snorkeling in the Red Sea. The value you place on the environment you are sightseeing stimulates a local interest for protection, conservation and education. A journey to the Western Desert to catch a glimpse of the adorable Fennec Fox will inhibit further hunting of this endangered species.</li> <li>Hire local guides to support jobs, their communities and further education. Bird watching guides and Nile River experts abound, and park rangers at various preserves are available for questions and advise. Be wary of tour operators who are not sensitive to the local communities, wildlife conservation or environmental impact.</li> <li>Utilize local transportation such as buses and trains for your sightseeing tour. A hot air balloon over Luxor, a felluca boat journey down the Nile, or a camel ride in the desert is a wonderful way to have a unique and low-impact experience. Keep in mind, a slower journey will have a lower impact, and is much more relaxing.</li> <li>Stay at an eco-lodge which are owned, constructed and managed by the local people. There are numerous options throughout the Sinai and coastal areas, and an excellent way to meet likeminded adventurous people. Or try to find locally-run hotels that have water and conservation policies.</li> <li>Support conservation programs by visiting their programs or volunteering for a few days. Red Sea monitoring and rehabilitation programs are an incredible opportunity to explore underwater coral reefs or encounter endangered sea turtles. Such programs can give you a unique, exciting experience, while providing accommodations, transportation and meals. </li> </ul> The ancients venerated their natural environment. From cats to cattle, crocodile to cobras, images of wildlife are carved adoringly into the walls of temples and tombs, allowing a glimpse into a time when man and wildlife flourished together. Today, people – governments, locals and tourists – must work together if the environment is to thrive and survive. Egypt’s heritage is as much about it’s archeological past as it is about its ecological future. About the Author Dominique Navarro is a writer and natural history illustrator for <a href="http://www.mantapublications.com/" target="_blank">MANTA PUBLICATIONS</a> which produces natural history books, posters, and the WEEKEND NATURALIST and TRAVELING NATURALIST field guides, for schools, museums, eco- tourism and ecology programs. View her website <a href="http://www.dominiquenavarro.com/htmldom/Ecology.html" target="_blank">here</a>.iStock/oversnap 0183239241 iStock River Nile

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/egypt/5-tips-to-digging-and-living-in-south-asasif-egyptDominique Navarro shares five lessons she learned while digging her way through the foothills of South Asasif.2011-11-06T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/egypt/5-tips-to-digging-and-living-in-south-asasif-egypthttps://www.worldnomads.com"Welcome to Alaska!" I was greeted upon arrival in <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/egypt/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-egypt" target="_blank">Luxor, Egypt</a>. Working in the depths of a temple tomb excavation at the foothills of South Asasif in 114 degree heat, dense white dust soaking into my sweaty Egyptian cotton shirt, the last thing I would expect is the inability to stop laughing. I was in awe of the strength and endurance of a team of over 80 local men, hauling hefty loads of rubble on their shoulders in cumbersome rubber baskets ascending a steep plank of wood out of the tomb, and descending with massive limestone blocks tied with ropes and a dozen men easing them down. Yet I was more shocked by their attitude: despite the sun and hardship of their labor, these guys knew how to laugh. I couldn't understand the nature of all their jokes (and possibly some of them were about me) but to share in their amusement was welcomed and I was embraced as a member of the team. Lesson one: keep your sense of humor! This applies to almost every (potentially awkward) <a href="/travel-safety/north-africa/egypt/women-travelling-in-egypt" target="_blank">encounter you might have with the locals</a>.  <ul> <li><a href="#slow-down"> Slow Down, You're in Egypt </a></li> <li><a href="#gratitude"> Show Gratitude </a></li> <li><a href="#memories"> Take Home Memories in Egypt </a></li> <li><a href="#optimistic"> Be Optimistic </a></li> <li><a href="#just-go"> Into the Unknown </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="slow-down">1. Slowly, slowly...</h2> Being from Los Angeles, with its deadlines and traffic, and a clock always ticking, it's part of my nature to rush. But in Egypt, I learned another kind of pace. Whether walking down the road to catch the ferry across the Nile, or digging for fragments of hieroglyphics from the debris in the tomb, I was reminded again and again, "slowly, slowly". Taking the advice, I found I could endure the sun's beating and work longer. Walking leisurely allowed me time to look around, carry-on a conversation with strangers, and find myself in unusual new circumstances. One afternoon, I made friends with a felluca captain who made me a glass of hot karkaday on his boat, and in silence to the sway of the Nile beneath us, we enjoyed the sun setting over the West Bank. I had places to go and people to meet, but it is a memory I will never forget. <h2 id="gratitude">2. Shukran</h2> Gratitude can take you far, and I've never been so grateful for the hospitable nature of strangers. Walking in the afternoon heat to get to the East Bank for errands, when most of the town is napping and a taxi isn't available for hours, I received countless rides from perfect strangers. Perhaps this shouldn't be recommended as "safe" but after a month living in Luxor I had encountered nothing but kindness. Spontaneously one morning I caught a ride with an American couple who were being driven to Abu Simbel (with the lack of tourists this year, flights to southern Egypt have been cancelled). I had no idea how lengthy the trip would be: 14 hours of driving roundtrip. But the two hours we spent at the remote temples of Abu Simbel were well worth it; standing alone in the Holy of Holies facing the four sculpted figures of Ra-Horakhty, King Ramesses II, Amun-Ra and Ptah, I truly felt like a time traveler. The long drive home was filled with deep, overwhelmed exhaustion, and when our tireless driver stopped in a little town along the way to invigorate himself with a cup of hot tea, I joined him, thanking him profusely for his zealous driving: "Shukran! Shukran!" He was pleased, and shared his tea with me. (I also made sure to give him a good tip!) <h2 id="memories">3. Habibi Illa'Abed</h2> Most memorable of all the imagery I was immersed in each day - the Nile River flowing gently through the city, the mountains cradling their ancient tombs, and the people working tranquilly in their fields amongst flocks of cattle egret - I adored the infinite depictions of love painted and carved with devotion by Ancient Egyptians in all of their temples and tombs. Pharaohs embrace their wives, or kneel in adoration to their gods and goddesses. Animals are worshipped and idolized. All of life seems a celebration of harmony between the stars, the earth and its perfected beings. To glimpse their joys and passions so many thousands of centuries later made me reflect on my own life and values, and I feel humbled and inspired to be more devout toward this experience of life. Lesson four: take something home with you, spiritually speaking. <h2 id="optimistic">4. Insha'Allah</h2> God willing, everyone seems to say about almost everything. It is a way of expressing hope, faith and fate, which - to me - describes the Egyptian personality completely. In a country facing so many political unknowns and poverty at every turn, it is amazing to find so much optimism. I left Egypt with amazing memories, new friends, and a fresh faith in life. "Insha'Allah you come back", my Egyptian friends told me. <h2 id="just-go">5. And Finally...</h2> Be optimistic and trust in the unknown that lies ahead.  About the Author  Dominique Navarro has worked as Art Director in the documentary television and film industry for nearly a decade for programs featured on the History Channel, Discovery and National Geographic. The diversity of her assignments has led to an unusual journey working with everyone from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office to the US Marine Corps, and working everywhere from the Salton Sea to NASA. She is also a forensic artist creating law enforcement composite sketches and reconstructions from the skull of unidentified persons and ancient archeological remains. You can view her website portfolio at <a href="http://www.dominiquenavarro.com" target="_blank">www.dominiquenavarro.com</a> <o:p></o:p>Getty Images/oversnap 1183521338 Getty Images Avenue of Sphinxes, Egypt

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/morocco/6-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-moroccoPlanning a Morocco adventure? Mark Eveleigh shares his expert travel tips, from when to go and how to get around, to culture and etiquette, to the ideal Morocco itinerary. 2023-12-11T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/morocco/6-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-moroccohttps://www.worldnomads.comDuring the late 1990s I was a struggling travel writer based in Madrid. My business plan didn’t budget for long-haul trips, so the best I could do in the quest for adventurous new material was to board the overnight bus that would deliver me to Tangier in time for breakfast. It was like having Africa on my doorstep. I’ve returned on assignments to Morocco’s farthest reaches often since those days. It remains one of the most fascinating, exhilarating, and challenging countries I’ve ever traveled in. I trekked with Berber mule trains in the Atlas, rode in a Tuareg camel caravan across the Central Sahara and criss-crossed the country in taxis, buses, trains, and cars (once driving a 34-year-old VW Beetle in a convoy bound all the way to Gambia). Despite its relative accessibility Morocco remains one of the most exciting adventure destinations on the planet. Occasionally it can be stressful but more often travelers are charmed by a code of hospitality that is perhaps a national characteristic of Moroccans from all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds. Here are five things to bear in mind before traveling in Morocco. <ul> <li><a href="#like">What is Morocco like?</a></li> <li><a href="#culture">Culture and etiquette</a></li> <li><a href="#places">Places to visit in Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="#when-to-visit">Best time to visit Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="#getting-around">Getting around Morocco</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="like">What is Morocco like?</h2> Morocco defies generalizations. There is a world of difference between famously <a href="/explore/north-africa/morocco/why-tangier-is-an-underappreciated-destination">edgy and cosmopolitan Tangier</a> (with its ancient Mediterranean history and mysterious International Zone background) and the sleepy rural towns of the Rif Mountains, or the last nomadic communities of the southern desert. <a href="/explore/north-africa/morocco/five-things-to-do-in-marrakech">Marrakech ranks highly</a> on any list of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities. The Djemaa el Fna (the city’s main plaza), the world’s greatest never-ending “festival”, is a spectacle that any traveler should experience at least once. Fes with its captivating souks and timeless tanneries has a thrill all its own. Then there are enchanting towns like Chefchaouen, with alleyways painted ice blue under the unforgiving African sun, and Essaouira, the windswept city perched on the Atlantic coast. But to travel in Morocco and miss out on the wilderness is to miss the very soul of the country. You can hike among the greenery of the Rif Mountains, join a camel train into the desert from Merzouga or walk with baggage-mules to Kasbah du Toubkal and then continue among the arid peaks of the Atlas. Morocco is a world unto itself. <h2 id="culture">Culture and etiquette</h2> While religious freedom has historically been a central part of Moroccan life, it’s important to remember that this country is predominantly Muslim (albeit of a fairly relaxed nature). Exercise discretion with public displays of affection and be aware of appropriate dress. Cover shoulders and legs especially when visiting palaces, kasbahs and (crucially) in the vicinity of mosques. Women should carry a scarf to cover the head at religious sites – and some (specifically blondes) find it an effective way to blend in with crowds. Morocco has its share of westernised beaches (around Agadir and Essaouira especially) where beach attire is the norm but once away from the beach-front it’s wise/polite to dress more modestly. In ancient medinas and traditional towns, you should enquire about the etiquette surrounding the <a href="/stories/connection/being-naked-in-marrakech">traditional hammam steam-baths</a> (potentially a highlight of your trip). Many Moroccans prefer not to have their photo taken. It goes without saying that you should <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/how-to-take-photos-responsibly">always ask if you want a portrait</a> and respect your subject’s decision. Professional photographers are aware that Morocco ranks among the most difficult places to work since, even in a wide-angle crowd scene, you might often have someone who will object. Shopping is irresistible part of any trip to Morocco and (aside from a few designer shops) you’ll be expected to haggle almost everywhere. The deal should never degenerate into an argument; maintain a friendly smile and a light-hearted demeanor and always pay up when your price has been accepted. <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/tipping-and-haggling-how-to-get-it-right-on-the-road">Don’t drive too hard a bargain</a> – a dollar either way might not matter to you but, contrary to popular belief, a struggling trader will sell at a loss if it’s the only way to feed his family that evening. Alcohol is only available in tourist areas and then usually only in inconspicuous bars. It can be worth asking at your hotel/riad though because, even within the medina of Marrakech, you can find some unexpectedly lovely cocktail bars. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/morocco-carpet-weaving-ian-neubauer.jpg" alt="A Moroccan carpet being woven on a loom." /> <figcaption>A Moroccan carpet in the making. Photo credit: Ian Neubauer</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="places">Places to visit in Morocco</h2> Morocco has enough exciting locations to keep you traveling for months but an ideal trip that would give you a wonderful insight into the region’s cultural, historic and natural diversity might go something like this: fly into Casablanca and take a bus to Fes (a three-hour drive). After a couple of days exploring the historic city, hire a driver to take you through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen (four hours) and onward to Tangier (two hours). You can grab an extra day on the Mediterranean coast by taking the very comfortable night-train which will plant you in Marrakech in time for breakfast. From here you can take a taxi to Imlil (1.5 hours) to experience the High Atlas – the roof of Africa – before heading back to Marrakech for the long (10 hour) drive to Merzouga for your appointment with camels, Bedouin tents and the majestic expanses of the Sahara. Wherever possible (especially in Fes, Tangier and Marrakech) try to stay in riads. These renovated medina townhouses (often more like mansions) capture the soul of the old cities perfectly and, with their interior courtyards or gardens, are invariably a haven of peace from the sensory overload of the souks. It pays to be brave when it comes to food since Morocco is a gourmet’s paradise and you will often find some of the most unforgettable meals and snacks among the street-food vendors and local eateries. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/chefchaoen-blue-city-ian-neubauer.jpg" alt="Looking over Chefchaouen before sunset." /> <figcaption>Looking over Chefchaouen before sunset. Photo credit: Ian Neubauer</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="when-to-visit">Best time to visit Morocco</h2> There’s no bad time to be in Morocco but autumn (September-November) and spring (March-May) are particularly idyllic. Summers can be sweltering in the desert but an ideal time for hiking in the Rif or Atlas Mountains. Winter, while sometimes so chilly that you’ll struggle to remind yourself that you’re in Africa, is so astoundingly beautiful that some rate it as the best time to visit. Marrakech sees minimal tourists during winter and the city never looks so beautiful as it does when the snowcapped mountains form a backdrop to the glowing amber kasbah walls. Ramadan (which varies each year but in 2024 lasts from March 10 to April 9) is celebrated in every part of the country. <a href="/explore/worldwide/traveling-muslim-countries-ramadan">It can be a vibrant time to travel</a> since every evening takes on the feeling of a festival or street party. However, it can be restrictive since Muslims abstain from food and drink (and even smoking) during daylight hours. In the big cities some tourist eateries function as normal but – while the restriction doesn’t officially extend to foreigners – it is considered polite to avoid eating or drinking on the street. <h2 id="getting-around">Getting around Morocco</h2> Comfortable local buses, connecting all the major towns and cities, can be a great way to make Moroccan friends. Within cities and towns simply flag down the ubiquitous petit taxis (little taxis) or increasingly common three-wheeled tuk tuks, which have the benefit of being able to thread their way through some of the tightest parts of the medina. Petit taxis are metered but the driver will sometimes ‘forget’ to turn the meter on or will tell you that it doesn’t work … in which case you need to haggle the rate in advance. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/morocco/alleyways-morocco-ian-neubauer.jpg" alt="Narrow alleyways in Morocco." /> <figcaption>Narrow alleyways in Morocco. Photo credit: Ian Neubauer</figcaption></figure> Inter-city taxis are known as grand taxis (most commonly Mercedes Benz and sometimes of quite venerable vintage) and run long distances at competitive costs. Be aware that drivers of both petit and grand taxis expect to retain the right to be able to pick up extra passengers along the way (as long as there’s even a remote possibility of fitting them in). This can be a benefit for solo travelers who enjoy meeting local people but, unless you’re happy to pay for extra seats, you might have to wait around until enough passengers turn up. If you’re traveling with friends and prefer to retain autonomy so that you can stop for photo opportunities or mealtimes, it’s possible to haggle a price for the entire vehicle. Hotel/riad staff can advise you how to secure a grand taxi for your next destination. Excellent train services connect the main cities and provide a hassle-free and pleasant way to enjoy the landscape. A high-speed train now connects Casablanca with Tangier (211mi/340km away), in two hours and 10 minutes and from there you can get to Marrakech. Why rush, though, when you can catch the old Marrakech Express (immortalized in the 1969 song by Crosby, Stills, and Nash) from Tangier for a leisurely and romantic overnight rail-journey which will land you in legendary Marrakech at dawn?Ian Neubauer 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/egypt/things-to-do-and-see-in-egyptNomad Cassandra shares her expert tips for Egypt travel: the best things to see and do, when to go, how to get around, local etiquette, and why it's so worth visiting.2023-12-08T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/egypt/things-to-do-and-see-in-egypthttps://www.worldnomads.comEgypt is so much more than Cairo’s bustling bazaars and the great Pyramids of Giza. Luxor welcomes travelers to the tombs of the pharaohs, and Aswan explores Nubian culture – both ancient and present-day – while Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada are offer <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/scuba-diving-travel-insurance">scuba diving</a>, snorkeling, and <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/surfing">windsurfing</a> for adventurous travelers. My first trip to Egypt was seven years ago. I loved it so much that I went on to visit multiple times and, through my travel company, help other travelers organize trips there. My most recent visit was in 2022, when I was in Cairo, Alexandria, Sharm el Sheikh, and Hurghada, researching several chapters for an Egypt guidebook. Here’s what to know before you go and how to plan your trip to Egypt. <ul> <li><a href="#time">The best time to visit Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="#culture">Culture and etiquette rules</a></li> <li><a href="#see">What to see and do in Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="#transport">Transportation in Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="#guided">Guided vs independent travel in Egypt</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="time">The best time to visit Egypt</h2> The best time to go to Egypt depends largely on your tolerance for heat and crowds. October-April tend to offer the best weather, though December-February can get very crowded due to the lower temperatures (think 50s–60s Fahrenheit during the day and 40s-50s at night). May-August can be oppressively hot (think endless days above 100 degrees), so to avoid extreme temperatures and larger crowds, plan your visit during the two shoulder seasons, October-November and March-April. <h2 id="culture">Culture and etiquette rules in Egypt</h2> <h3>Dress code</h3> Women have no specific dress code in Egypt and they’re not required to cover their heads, but you should dress conservatively and cover your shoulders and knees. Areas that receive a lot of tourists, particularly beach destinations like Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, tend to be a bit more relaxed, but women should still avoid wearing tight leggings, see-through shirts, crop tops, and skirts cut above the knee. Shorts and swimsuits are allowed at beaches, hotel pools, and resorts, but avoid skimpy bikinis that expose your breasts and butt. <h3>Respect for religion</h3> Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, and many people are very religious. Should you visit places of religious significance, such as the country’s many mosques, respect whatever rules and customs are in place (such as removing shoes and women covering their heads). Dress modestly, behave courteously, and follow the lead of locals. <a href="/explore/worldwide/traveling-muslim-countries-ramadan">Visiting during Ramadan</a> can be a unique cultural experience that locals are very happy to share with you, and though you won’t be expected to fast, you may be asked not to eat in front of those fasting. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/egypt/cairo-mosque.jpg" alt="Mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo." /> <figcaption>Mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo. Image credit: Getty Images / ugurhan</figcaption></figure> <h3>Cultural no-nos</h3> Taking pictures of people without consent is considered rude in any country, including Egypt (see these <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/how-to-take-photos-responsibly">responsible photography tips</a> to learn more). It is especially offensive to photograph Bedouin women (who you may encounter in the Sinai Peninsula), and children, who you’ll surely encounter everywhere. As Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, some of their religious rules could impact your travel. For instance, it will be very hard to find alcohol in smaller cities (and even in larger cities during Ramadan). Couples may also be prohibited from renting a hotel room together unless they are married. Large resorts in big cities might look the other way, but independent establishments in smaller towns won’t. <h3>Tipping in Egypt</h3> Restaurant tipping is expected in Egypt and should be at least 10-15%. Even if you do not tip in your home country, understand that tipping is expected here, and many service staff rely on it as part of their living wage. Some restaurants automatically add a service charge onto the bill, but as this typically goes to the restaurant management (and not the server), be sure to also tip your server directly. Tour guides, scuba instructors, drivers and all other service providers should also be tipped. The amount you leave will depend on how much time you spend with them and whether you’re part of a group or private tour. If it’s a group tour, you might leave 50-100 LE (about $1.50-3 USD), but if you’re on a private tour, you may leave 150-200 LE (about $3-7 USD). Local currency is preferred, but if all you have are USD or Euros, leaving that is better than nothing. <h3>Public displays of affection</h3> Excessive public displays of affection are frowned upon in much of the Middle East, including Egypt. This is particularly the case among same-sex couples. Homosexuality isn’t officially illegal here, but it is frowned upon. Regardless of who your partner is (and whether you’re legally married or not), excessive caressing, intense kissing, or any other “extreme” PDA should be avoided. <h2 id="see">What to see and do in Egypt</h2> If you only have a week in Egypt, you’ll probably want to split your time between big city Cairo (where you’ll find the famous <a href="https://www.introducingegypt.com/khan-el-khalili" target="_blank">Khan el-Khalili bazaar</a>, a million majestic mosques, gorgeous churches in Coptic Cairo, and the nearby Pyramids of Giza) and “everywhere else.” With only seven days, you could fit in a few days in Luxor, where you can visit the Valley of the Kings and maybe even take a hot air balloon ride over them. You might also be able to fit in Aswan, where you can hop around islands, visit cliff-side carvings left by Nubian royalty, and catch the sound and light show at Philae Temple. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/egypt/markets-in-cairo-egypt-gettyimages-annapurna-mellor.jpg" alt="Markets in Cairo." /> <figcaption>Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo. Photo credit: Getty Images/Annapurna Mellor</figcaption></figure> Most travelers won’t make it to Aswan within a single seven-day trip, but if you have more time (or if it’s your second time visiting Egypt), definitely <a href="/explore/north-africa/egypt/wonders-of-upper-egypt">consider lesser-visited sites along the upper Nile</a>, including the impressive Abu Simbel temples near the Sudanese border. Fans of swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving would do well adding in either Sharm el-Sheikh (which is smaller but much more walkable) or Hurghada (which is larger and more spread out but which is better for windsurfing). <h2 id="transport">Transportation in Egypt</h2> There are many ways to get around Egypt, including taxi, private car, bus, train, plane, and ferry. However, the viability of each of these options changes from time to time. For instance, trains used to be a quick and stress-free way to get from Cairo to Alexandria, but constant construction and delays mean the bus is now much better. In general, buses are a safe way to get between cities, though the terminals are sometimes in an inconvenient part of town that requires a taxi to get to. Though friends and I have driven or taken buses to/from the Sinai Peninsula, this part of Egypt does sometimes experience violence, so check the security warnings before your trip. Also, keep in mind that buses can be significantly slowed down when crossing into the Sinai Peninsula due to so many security checkpoints. Daily flights are available from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, and Sharm el-Sheikh, and prices are quite affordable. Within cities, you can rely on certified taxis (have your hotel help you call one if needed) or on Uber, which is safe but not as reliable as it is in other countries. Careem is a more reliable local alternative to Uber. Technically, there’s a ferry that runs from Sinai to Jordan, but it’s been out of service for a few years, and nobody knows when it will start up again. <h2 id="guided">Guided vs independent travel in Egypt</h2> Joining a group tour means you’ll lose some freedom and flexibility, but you’ll also be paired with a knowledgeable guide who can share the local history, culture, and customs. They can also whisk you around mosques, museums, bazaars, pyramids, and other sites far more easily and efficiently than you could do alone. Cairo is sprawling, and it’s impossible to immediately assume the required knowledge and transportation network to see it all within a short time frame, so the city is a good opportunity to sign up for day trips or even multi-day tours. Nile cruises are a tempting way to get to know Egypt and there are loads of options, from high-end 12-day trips that include flights to/from Cairo (where there also included activities), to more affordable 3-day jaunts. Most cruises are between Luxor and Aswan, though you can find a handful of departures from Cairo, which are much longer trips. Unlike ocean ships that have thousands of people, Nile cruises usually only have a few dozen (or hundred) cabins. Independent travel is possible in Egypt, but it requires a lot of time and effort to review maps, navigate transportation options, look for guides, barter with drivers, and understand shifting timetables at various attractions. As such, joining an organized tour (be it by car or cruise) can dramatically simplify the process. If you’re on the fence about the matter, consider booking an organized tour for the first part of the trip to help you get settled, and then spend the rest of the trip traveling on your own. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/egypt/kom-ombo-egypt-gettyimages-ewastudio.jpg" alt="Kom Ombo temple at sunset on the Nile." /> <figcaption>Kom Ombo Temple, on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, at sunset. Photo credit: Getty Images/ewastudio</figcaption></figure>Getty Images/Nick Brundle Photography 0 Walking between massive stone columns in a temple in Egypt.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-africa/egypt/october-moulid-of-sayyed-ahmed-al-badawi-egyptFind out how to navigate the chaos of two million pilgrims at Tanta, in Egypt's Nile Delta, at the end of the cotton harvest in late October.2009-09-17T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-africa/egypt/october-moulid-of-sayyed-ahmed-al-badawi-egypthttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#location"> Location </a></li> <li><a href="#dates"> Dates </a></li> <li><a href="#description"> Description </a></li> <li><a href="#participation"> Level of Participation </a></li> <li><a href="#essentials"> Essentials </a></li> <li><a href="#attractions"> Other Local Attractions </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="location">Location</h2> Tanta, Egypt <h2 id="dates">Dates</h2> At the end of the cotton harvest in late October. <h2 id="description">Description</h2> One of Egypt’s most important moulids (religious festivals), held at Tanta in the Nile Delta, honours a Moroccan Sufi who fought the Crusaders in the 13th century. Some two million pilgrims arrive from across the Arab world to pay their respects at the main mosque, which holds al-Badawi’s tomb. In the resulting chaos, snake charmers induce cobras out of baskets, barbers perform mass circumcisions and hawkers flog Tartours (cone-shaped hats) and fanous (lanterns). Children are presented at the shrine to be blessed and the sick to be cured. It’s like a funfare with religious intensity thrown in. While munching some of the popular sugar-coated nuts called ‘hubb el Azziz’ (‘seeds of the Beloved Prophet’), you might pass a hypnotic Sufi zikr ceremony taking place in a colourful tent. Hoping to achieve oneness with god by chanting and clapping their way into a trance, participants stand in swaying lines with their rhythmic hand-claps gradually increasing in intensity. As the ceremony climaxes, they suddenly come to, sweating and blinking. <h2 id="participation">Level of Participation</h2> 2 – wander among snake charmers and entranced Sufis. <h2 id="essentials">Essentials</h2> Women should be escorted by men and valuables kept in a safe place. If you don’t fancy bedding down in the Sufi tent city, do a day-trip from Cairo, 90km south. <h2 id="attractions">Other Local Attractions</h2> Egypt’s largest camel market is held at Birqash, 35km northwest of Cairo. More Info: <a href="http://www.egypt.travel/" target="_blank">Visit Egypt.Travel for more information.</a>iStock/Mekhamer 0589955622 iStock Khan al-Khalili Bazaar