Ten tips to do my trip of Morocco and sand boarding

I would definitely suggest Erg Chicaga and Morocco to anyone who wants to do something active and a bit different, with the opportunity to see some amazing natural sites. Some of these tips are a bit different to those in the vid, which gives you an excuse to look at both (and isn't because I was woefully unco-ordinated making this blog and Vlog haha) - enjoy...

1) Know your exchange rate and haggle. This one is pretty obvious, but worth remembering, people will try and rip you off if they can. Not the guys from the camp though, they were amazing! However in the souks and roadside shops, always remember to haggle and don't be corralled into buying things you don't want.

2) If anyone offers to help you, let's say to find your hostel, or to give you directions, THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY! They will be really forceful about it too, so be warned. There have been a few exceptions, but in general they aren't helping out of the kindness of this hearts. If you genuinely so need help, then go ahead, but be prepared to haggle and be firm afterward or agree a price up front.

3) Pack carrier bags, they are really handy for splitting out sand covered clothes from clean ones in your luggage.

4) Bring plasters, the chances are that you will fall off your board and cut yourself. I busted my
shoulder a bit and you can see pics Of one of my cuts here. Don't worry you shouldn't need anything more than a normal plaster, just to keep the sand out of any small cuts and grazes.

5) Pack warm night wear and a jumper. It gets cold at night so you'll want to wrap up to see the stars, sit by the open fire, watch the sunrise, etc.

6) On the subject of sunrises, be aware that the tents block out a surprising amount of light. I almost missed the sunrise because I hadn't realised that it has started getting lighter.

7) Take an action camera. I used my GoPro Hero 3+ Silver edition and I feel it's a better way to remember the feeling of dune boarding, plus they take great photos. 

8) Watch the stars, after a long day, and a big, hearty dinner (with wine included), it can be quite easy to slope off to bed, but take the time to sit out and see the stars, they are phenomenal and the camp has a telescope, should you wish to see more.

9) The food is spiced, but not spicy, which means it's full of flavour. My favourite dish was beef and prune tagine with couscous, which was served at the camp with red wine. In a word, DELICIOUS!

10) Visit in November apparently. I had a great time and the place wasn't overrun with other visitors, while the cities were still very lively. The weather was also just right during the day.

Hope you enjoyed my tips and as always suggestions, shares and comments are always great fully received :) 

World travel day 2 - Road to the Sahara

Mists over the Atlas Mountains

I wasn't planning on making another video on my second day, after all I was spending 10hrs in a car... However I underestimated Morocco and it's amazing scenery, dramatic weather and very interesting people, for that Morocco I am sorry.

The day started at 6:30am, which I was surprisingly awake for. I was met by my driver Hicham and we quickly made our way through the winding back alleys of the souks to the car, a big 4x4 with a safari snorkel.

It was still very cold and just around sun rise. This meant that the mists were still low and hugging the Atlas Mountains when we got there, creating beautiful views and an unexpected rainbow, all set to the background of burnt red rocks and deep green trees. As the day went on the sun burnt the mists away and the vast views of the mountains and later on the wide expanses of desert were epic. 

En route we stopped at a few cafes and tourist shops where the local people were actually less pushy with their wares than I thought they would be. 

Throughout the journey Hicham highlighted points of interest, including the country's main filming location, where they shot Gladiator and some scenes from Babel. This and the ever-changing scenery made the journey pass very quickly and we were soon at the desert. 

The real fun started when we went off road. Hicham picked out the path with an obvious knowledge and understanding of the area, throwing the car around very safely over hills, along long since dried river beds and even through a sand storm that brought visibility down to a couple of feet. Hicham said that they were expecting a sandstorm as there had been snow and mists on the mountains that morning.

We arrived at 4:30pm and I was quickly shown to my tent, which far out stripped my expectations. I then unpacked did some video editing and was considering going to bed when I was informed dinner was ready, I then realised it was only 6:30pm.... It had been a long day and surprisingly tiring, but a lot of fun, which did bode well for the day ahead. 

If you want to find out more about sand boarding I'll be posting another blog with the rest of my experience soon, plus you can check out the camp's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ErgChigagaLuxuryDesertCamp