"You'll Never Feel as Small as You Do When You're in the Sahara Desert."

08/01/22 • 52 min

On today's episode, Azdean chats with a colleague from the travel industry, Laura Ericson, who organizes small guided tours to exotic destinations like Colombia and Peru.

Laura was recently on her first trip to Morocco, and her enthusiasm and evocative storytelling inspired Azdean to invite her on the podcast to share what she learned.

A big part of the experience of Morocco is the journey itself around the country, the rapidly changing scenery and complete shifts in landscape and people. Laura pointed out to her guide, "I feel like I'm in a movie scene!" To which he replied, "You are!" Many popular films and shows have been made in Morocco, and you can tour everything from the Atlas Studios to the streetscapes of Essaouira, following in their footsteps.

Laura shares stories from her journey through Marrakech, Fès and in particular, the Sahara desert, where the shifting sands create a constantly changing landscape. It was actually raining through most of her time in the Sahara, and they even got trapped on the wrong side of a flooded road, and had to figure their way out.

The Berber locals, friendly and welcoming as always, were keen to show their camps in the desert, and Laura reflects on how remarkable this life is in this day and age.

And then there's the silence: the eerie yet beautiful silence of the desert. It is a peaceful place that inspires reflection and contemplation, as you ride a camel to go watch the sunset.

Laura shares her experiences as a woman travelling, whether solo or with a friend, and being prepared for what can happen. How to blend in and not look like a tourist, and how to be assertive and confident. She and Azdean chat about important safety tips and advice, and the merits of guided trips to places like Morocco, giving you safety and security, a chance to become friends with someone local, and even saving you money in the long run.

You're about to learn:

How glad Laura was to have chosen to stay two nights in the Sahara instead of just one.
The experience of a Sahara desert tour by 4x4, on no roads.
How Fèz is great for shopping and finding unique local artisan crafts, maybe even better than Marrakech.
The story of how Laura was having breakfast, on her riad's rooftop terrace, put her foot down on what she thought was a rock, but it was in fact their pet turtle!

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On today's episode, Azdean chats with a colleague from the travel industry, Laura Ericson, who organizes small guided tours to exotic destinations like Colombia and Peru.

Laura was recently on her first trip to Morocco, and her enthusiasm and evocative storytelling inspired Azdean to invite her on the podcast to share what she learned.

The Berber locals, friendly and welcoming as always, were keen to show their camps in the desert, and Laura reflects on how remarkable this life is in this day and age.

And then there's the silence: the eerie yet beautiful silence of the desert. It is a peaceful place that inspires reflection and contemplation, as you ride a camel to go watch the sunset.

You're about to learn:

How glad Laura was to have chosen to stay two nights in the Sahara instead of just one.
The experience of a Sahara desert tour by 4x4, on no roads.
How Fèz is great for shopping and finding unique local artisan crafts, maybe even better than Marrakech.
The story of how Laura was having breakfast, on her riad's rooftop terrace, put her foot down on what she thought was a rock, but it was in fact their pet turtle!

Previous Episode

Culture Shock in Morocco vs. Reality

In today's episode, podcast listener, professional photographer and seasoned traveller Maxx Walske fulfills a dream by visiting Morocco.

Maxx is a planner who loves to research and learn about her upcoming destinations. Typically she travels independently, but this time, having listened to the podcast, she went for the peace of mind and comfort of a private, guided tour, organized by Destination Morocco.

In our episode today, Maxx chats with Azdean about her trip, about culture shock, the reality of being in Morocco as a tourist, the accommodation, the food, the shopping and more.

Maxx had all the typical questions and concerns going into the trip, but discovered a country blessed with stunning scenery and modern amenities: an open society of warm, friendly people.

And, "A photographer's dream!"

Punctuated by fun anecdotes and stories, it's a pleasant conversation that reminds you it's not all about Instagramable scenes and selfies, you have to enjoy the moment and be present.

Morocco is unique and magical, "You have to see it to believe it!" (Maxx).

You're about to learn:

How busy it was, in general, and if there were people everywhere.
How the square changes from day to nighttime. "It's a beast!" (Azdean).
How June is a very good time to go, weather-wise.
How planning helps you prepare, but throw away your expectations once you get started on your trip.
How to prepare for shopping in Morocco, and how having local guides you can trust makes the entire experience worthwhile. You'll come home with quality items that you feel good about.
Azdean talks about planning an itinerary, based on a person's interests and schedule, and how it becomes a very personal experience.
About the wonderful hospitality, people going out of their way to help, even inviting you into their home.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Maxx's travel photos

Volubilis, Meknes (Roman ruins)

Next Episode

Answering Your Questions About Morocco, Info for Travel Agents and a Special Guest!

It's been a fun and exciting 7 months since we launched our Destination Morocco podcast, and in that time we've enjoyed interacting with listeners, getting your questions and hearing your feedback about the show, and about Morocco in general.

To keep all this useful information in one place, we've assembled an episode that answers some of the most frequently asked questions about travel to and around Morocco.

You may be considering a solo or couple's trip, a group tour or a destination wedding, or you may in turn be a travel agent looking to answer your own clients' questions and be better prepared.

This episode is for you, everything from the fundamentals about weather, transport and group sizes to questions about Roman history, Jimi Hendrix and camping in the desert.

And, we introduce to you a budding young podcaster with a great voice, who will present your questions to Azdean!

Some of the questions we'll answer:

Do you offer guaranteed departure tours?
Are there tours to the Merzouga Desert?
How is the safety and comfort for the LGBTQ community?
Are these Group or Private tours and how many people on each tour?
Do you need shots to go to Morocco?
How many tents are there for a wedding, and what is their capacity?
How long does it take to get to the desert camps from Fes?
Do you only work with travel agents, or direct to the public?
How long is a good stay to the beach city where Jimi Hendrix went?
Do you take Travel Agents for tours?
What type of vehicles do they use for a party of 4?
Which city is still "searching for their theatre”?
What is the best time of year to travel for good weather and less crowds?
What about dietary restrictions? Are dietary restrictions able to be handled in Morocco?
How is the safety?
Are any documents required other than a passport?
Do you list the hotels you use on your website?
Do you provide Spanish-speaking Guides?