Fri, 29  Aug 2008

We often receive emails regarding trekking and travelling during the month of Ramadan. The holy month of Ramadan is due to start in or around the 2nd of Sept and last for the month more or less. The exact dates are never known for reasons that often escape us (e.g. they can forecast lunar and solar eclipses years in advance and accurately predict the exact track of the planets yet there is a reticence it appears from the religious to forecast the exact day Ramadan will begin and end - keeping everyone in suspense until the last possible moment). I digress.

So what's it like to trek in the mountains during this time? Well it is a rewarding time if you are prepared to maintain a high degree of flexibility throughout - particularly in relation to meal times! Moroccans will prepare food for you if you are with a commercial trekking group and have this pre-arranged. However at Toubkal Mountain Guides we prefer not to run any trips during this month as we are reluctant to engage local staff to walk all day in the mountains without any water or food. 

In terms of travel - there is an air of expectancy and dare I say it panic from mid-afternoon on particularly for taxis travelling any sort of distance. I have known 8 in a grand taxi (including 2 in the drivers seat!) as the time was getting nigh to get back down to Marrakech in time for sundown and the breaking of the fast.

The other thing to bear in mind that outside of the tourist areas in Marrakech and to a certain extent Fez and Agadir, all the cafes and restaurants are closed during the day making getting a midday snack or drink impossible if you are travelling.

Bank and other office hours are shortened also.

A good general article on travelling in Muslim countries has appeared on the UK FCO website and is well worth a read. You will find it on this link.