morocsurf.com · Please help your instructors load and unload your boards and rinse your wetsuit...
Transcript of morocsurf.com · Please help your instructors load and unload your boards and rinse your wetsuit...
GUEST INFORMATION BOOKGUEST INFORMATION BOOK
WELCOME Salam Alaikum and a warm welcome from all of us here at Moroccan Surf Adventures.
We thank you for choosing to stay with us and appreciate the distance you may have
travelled to get here. As owners and operators, our aim is to provide you with warm
hospitality, clean and comfortable accommodation and great home-cooked food
throughout your stay. We hope you have a great time here, catch some waves, enjoy some
laughs along the way and leave us with fond memories.
To help you get the most out of your stay, please take time to have a look through this
information book, which should answer many of the questions you may have about your
time here with us.
Should you require further information or if you have any special requirements, please do
not hesitate to ask. We are here to help. We look forward to getting to know you and hope
you have a surfing holiday to remember. Inshallah!
Kind regards,
Denny, Nige and the MSA Team
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CONTENTS:
IMPORTANT NUMBERS 3
SURF LESSONS - DAILY ITINERARY 4
SURF GUIDING - DAILY ITINERARY 5
SAFETY 6
AROUND THE CAMP 7
HONESTY BAR PRICES 7
A FEW DO’S AND DON’TS 7
DEPARTURE INFORMATION 8
TIPPING 8
FOOD 8
OUTSIDE THE CAMP 9
OTHER USEFUL INFO 9
USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES 10
YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE..? 11
EXTRA ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMP - PRIVATE TUITION 12
EXTRA ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CAMP 13
MOROCCAN SOUVENIRS AND MERCHANDISE 14
MSA CLOTHING IS NOW AVAILABLE! 14
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS Our Address: Moroccan Surf Adventures
Dour mosque
Sahel
Tamraght
Agadir
Morocco
24 Hour Number: 00212 666 283 172
Office Number: 00212 528 314 874
Email: [email protected]
Momo's Number: 00212 600 684 017
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SURF LESSONS - DAILY ITINERARY Please note that the daily itinerary is subject to change due to tide and weather conditions.
For that reason, make sure you check the notice boards in the main house entrance each
evening for updated daily departure times.
Yoga lessons start promptly at 7.30am* in the main house.
*Please note there is no yoga on Sundays
If it is your first morning at the camp, please make your way to the equipment room,
located at the main entrance at least 20 minutes prior to departure in order to pick up your
wetsuit and board.
Please be punctual with departure times to the beach as other guests may not be keen to
wait for you. Set the alarm on your bedroom clock radio if the call to prayer hasn't woken
you up!
Each day, collect your equipment from the board room
(and give your instructor a smile - it always goes a long way!)
Please make sure to bring the following items with you each day:
• Bottled water
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Beach clothing
• Clothing to protect you from the sun
• Swimming costume
• Any personal medication (please advise us of this)
• Beach towel (NOT room towel!)
• Cash for sundries like doughnuts and camel rides...
End of Day Please help your instructors load and unload your boards and rinse your wetsuit out.
Nobody likes a sandy wetsuit! Please let us know if you are having any problems, of any
kind, at this point.
Hire Equipment We have a great range of high quality boards and wetsuits for your use. Please respect the
equipment and look after it carefully. Any damage to hire equipment at the beach must be
highlighted to a member of the coaching team for repair asap.
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SURF GUIDING - DAILY ITINERARY Please note that the daily itinerary is subject to change due to tide and weather conditions.
For that reason, make sure you check the notice boards in the main house entrance each
evening for updated daily departure times.
Yoga lessons start promptly at 7.30am* in the main house.
*Please note there is no yoga on Sundays
Please assemble at the front driveway in good time to help the guides load your equipment
onto the trucks and depart punctually. Please inform your guide if you wish to change
board to ensure your board isn’t already in use by another guest.
Note: Our guides are some of the most respected surfers in the region, with an excellent
knowledge of local waves, tides and winds, so please accept their judgement in finding you
the best surfing option on any given day. Trust us!
Please make sure to bring the following items with you each day:
• Bottled water
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Beach clothing
• Clothing to protect you from the sun
• Swimming costume
• Any personal medication (please advise us of this)
• Beach towel (NOT room towel!)
• Surfboard wax
• Cash for sundries like doughnuts and camel rides...
End of Day Please help your instructors load and unload your boards and rinse your wetsuit out.
Nobody likes a sandy wetsuit! Please let us know if you are having any problems, of any
kind, at this point.
Hire Equipment We have a great range of high quality boards and wetsuits for your use. Please respect the
equipment and look after it carefully. Any damage to hire equipment at the beach must be
highlighted to a member of the coaching team for repair asap.
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SAFETY You must meet at least the minimum criteria for the surfing package you have selected
(see key here and on our website). If we feel your ability level is below what is required, we
reserve the right to move you onto a different package. This is for your own safety.
If you don’t feel that you meet all of the prerequisites for your preferred package, please
see page 12 for details of private surf tuition with our in-house coach; and yes, he can
teach you how to duck dive!
Prerequisites Beginner (learn to surf)
Intermediate (guiding)
Advanced (guiding)
Able to swim at least 25 metres. ✔ ✔ ✔Possess a reasonable level of fitness and be in general
good health. ✔ ✔ ✔Able to take off un-aided on a green (unbroken) wave. ✔ ✔Able to turn frontside and backside across the wave. ✔ ✔Comfortable with surfing over rocks. ✔ ✔Surf a "hard" board. ✔ ✔Able to surf waves up to head high from the peak to the
trough. ✔ ✔Able to duck dive or punch through green waves with
confidence. ✔ ✔Able to perform cutbacks, re-entries and possess the
ability to tube ride. ✔Able to surf over shallow rocks or reef. ✔Able to ride a short board or longboard. ✔
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AROUND THE CAMP • Reception is located in the Main House on the ground floor.
• Wi-fi is available throughout the camp. Please note that the signal here in Morocco
isn’t always the best, but is generally improving! The wi-fi code is available from reception.
• All plug sockets work on 220 Volt 2 pin round plugs
• Please do not leave personal possessions lying around.
• We accept no responsibility for personal possessions.
• Please ensure you lock your room door and lock away any personal items when it
is unoccupied. Please let us know if your room has any maintenance issues that
require attention.
HONESTY BAR PRICES • Beer 25 DHS
• Wine 60 DHS (bottle)
• Soft drinks / bottled water 10 DHS
Please mark all your drinks from the honesty fridge and pay for your drinks prior to
departure in Dirhams (DHS). Card transactions will incur a 10% charge.
Please only consume alcohol within the camp and understand that Morocco is essentially
a dry country and attitudes to alcohol differ.
A FEW DO’S AND DON’TS • Bath towels are for room use only and must not be used for the beach.
• Boards and wetsuits are not to be brought into the bedrooms. Please use the
board storage available.
• Please respect other guests and keep noise levels to a minimum after 10pm.
• Do not throw toilet paper or sanitary towels into the toilet as Moroccan sanitation
is not designed to take it and you will cause a blockage. Use the waste basket next
to the toilet.
• Please keep the communal areas tidy and dispose of any rubbish.
• Water is a scarce resource in Morocco, please save water when possible. Please also help us to conserve energy by switching off lights behind you.
• It is important to keep hydrated. Tap water is fine for bathing but DO NOT drink it!Bottled water is available from a number of nearby shops.
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DEPARTURE INFORMATION Rooms must be vacated by 10am on day of departure, unless otherwise notified. You are welcome to leave personal items behind reception and make use of the camp
facilities after this time. Please remember to leave your key in the room door!
Onward transfers: Depart camp 3 hours before flight time from Agadir. Please confirm
your flight departure times to the the office during your stay.
Onward Bus Travel: If you are leaving the camp by bus and have not already purchased
your ticket, please ensure you do this well in advance of your departure date. During
certain times of the day and year the buses may be full and a long distance taxi will be
your only option if you do not book your bus ticket in time. Depart camp at least 1 hour
before bus departure time from Agadir.
TIPPING Tipping is the norm in Morocco. If our service has exceeded your expectations and you
would like to leave a tip, please feel free to do so. You can leave tips at reception for a
specific member of staff or for all members of the team. Thank you.
FOOD At MSA we put a lot of effort into providing fresh, authentic, tasty and well-sourced meals.
Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements, by speaking to
Chef Mo Mo and he will do his best to accommodate you. Please be aware that we are in
Africa and we may not be able to source certain specialised foods.
FREE COOKERY CLASSES - Sunday night cookery classes are available to all guests. It is
not obligatory, and there is no extra charge, but we are sure that you will want to join in
the action in what we hope will be a fun and lighthearted introduction to Moroccan
cooking. One thing’s for sure, if you follow the big man’s instructions, it is gonna be tasty!
Local shops in Tamraght sell a variety of different food and snacks and there are cafes and
restaurants including a pizzeria and crêperie. You are welcome to bring takeaways back to
the camp and consume them on the terraces/dining area. Please clean up afterwards!
For those who wish to dine out further afield, there are a number of restaurants and cafes
in Taghazoute (5 minutes by taxi) and a wider selection can be found in Agadir (20 minutes
by taxi)
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OUTSIDE THE CAMP Clothing etiquette and local customs.
The emphasis on dress code�depends on where you are in Morocco. Agadir�is
a�cosmopolitan tourist region where there is no strict dress code,�but visitors need to
show consideration for Moroccan and Islamic culture.
In tourist resorts you can dress much as you would anywhere else when on holiday but
with certain limitations. Women should not go topless�on the beach. T-shirts and shorts
are acceptable. If you are in places such as small villages, Moroccan homes, public events
etc you should keep most parts covered although this would not normally mean having
your head covered. Tourists are not allowed into mosques (except in Casablanca) where
you would remove shoes.
Many female travellers use lightweight scarves to cover their shoulders and mid-front
when out and about around town. This is a good idea and it will stop any stares.�
For men, it is not acceptable to go shirtless in the town, so please wear at least a t-shirt
and shorts.�
The beach is a different matter, so you will expect to wear swimwear as you would
elsewhere and you will see Moroccan women bathe in the sea covered.�
Tamraght is a very social & friendly village so do take time to say hello to people - you may
find yourself being invited into someone’s house for a mint tea!
Please do not walk around the village with alcohol and note that drugs are illegal in
Morocco, please respect the law.
OTHER USEFUL INFO Taxis - return price to/from Agadir (Agadir Markets or Massage) approximately 150 DHS
Marrakech - 1300 DHS each way.
Cash Machines - There are also plenty of ATMs in Agadir. The closest ATM machine to
Tamraght is Aourir, a two minute drive away.
Mobile Coverage - excellent through most of the country.
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USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES A few words in the local language always go a long way to cement relationships when
abroad and Morocco is no exception. Our instructors and guides all speak, English,
French, Spanish, Arabic and Berber. Our cleaning and breakfast staff speak Arabic and
some French; please be patient with them and give them a big smile and greeting in the
mornings. Here are a few useful phrases you may want to try out both in and outside of the
camp...
Hello - Salaam Alaikum
Hello (in reply) - Alaikum as salaam
Goodbye - Bislama
Cheerio - ma asalaama
Good morning - sabba elkhir (‘kh’ as in Scottish ‘Loch’)
Good afternoon - Mselkhir
Good night - maas elkhir
Please - Afak or lah ihefdak
Thank you - shukran
This is delicious (Mo likes this one!) - Hadshi bneen
Yes - n’aam
No - La
Where is..? - Feen..?
How much..? - Shahal taman..?
water - maa
tea - atay
coffee - qahwa
milk - hleeb
bread - khobz
egg - beyd
sugar - sukkar
butter - zebda
Numbers:
wahd - one setta - six
jouje - two sebeaa - seven
telatta - tree temenya - eight
rebeaa - four tess oud - nine
khamssa - five aacherra - ten
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YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE..? Explorer Tour: Are you looking for a surfing adventure and the thrill of discovering great
waves off the beaten track? Imagine travelling through beautiful desert landscapes with
friends and meeting new and interesting characters on your way to the next uncrowded
peak... Imagine no longer. Our legendary Explorer 4x4 Package is all about getting away
from the crowds and taking a journey to discover new waves. Are you ready for it?
Background: We had been acutely aware of the potential for great surf in the ‘desert
regions’ outside of Agadir for many years, having been fortunate to guide many of the
world’s elite surfers into The Sahara on film and photo shoots. Over the years we have
gradually discovered and documented some fantastic new surf spots. The hard work has
been done and now you have the opportunity to surf perfect, uncrowded waves with just a
handful of select friends on one of our unique Explorer 4x4 Tours.
The Package: Our Explorer tours are flexible to suit the conditions. We don't follow a strict
daily itinerary but adapt to the weather, waves, time and tide to ensure you get the most
from your adventure. Our tours are flexible to suit you. Some guests like to spend time at
the camp recovering from their journey to us and acclimatising - and we have developed a
new Extended Explorer package especially for them - whilst others like to depart the
moment they touch down in Morocco. Our selected path dictates our choice of
accommodation during the week. We could be staying in a mixture of hotels or Riads, but
camping under the desert stars is a firm favourite and an experience like no other. One
thing’s for sure. Once we leave the camp our mission to find uncrowded waves begins...
Who is it aimed at? During the peak swell months of November to March, the Explorer 4x4
Package is aimed at confident intermediate and experienced surfers who are used to
riding in all conditions and who want to push their surfing boundaries. From April through
to October, when the swells are smaller and the waves less demanding, we can organise
'learn to surf' trips by prior arrangement.
Prices: 1 week trips start from 8000 DHS
Dates: Please speak to Denny or Nige for further information or consult the website.
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EXTRA ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMP - PRIVATE TUITION Private Surf Tuition - With Scott Rannochan
Moroccan surf adventures in conjunction with Scott are now offering his bespoke surf
coaching services to all of our guests. This in-house service is designed to fit in with all
our current packages and daily itineraries. Group sizes depend on ability and are limited to
a maximum 4 clients per session and all abilities are welcome.
As well as improving your surf technique, Scott’s knowledge of a whole range of surf-
related topics will also be a great source of inspiration and information that will help you
improve as an all round surfer. You will pick up tips on surfing equipment, body
conditioning, wave type and formation, synoptic charts and surf forecasting.
Lessons are structured to fit around the best conditions during your stay and consist of 3
hours of practical instruction in the water followed by a 1 hour post surfing de-brief to
recap on the session and reinforce the lessons learned.
Price: 800 DHS per person
About Scott: Scott first started surfing in 1988 and has surfed all over the world, He has
been competing since 1991 and continued to surf professionally for over a decade.
Scott's coaching career began with the internationally recognized O'Neill Surf Academy,
before moving on to the development of personal programmes for numerous international
surf schools and fellow professionals. Scott's passion for surfing and surf coaching is
unrivalled and his sessions are structured around skill development for the individual in
small private groups.
Testimonials:
“It's an absolute treat to spend a few hours away from everyone, being coached by an expert,
focused only on improving your surfing. Scott has a way of explaining and demonstrating the
mechanics and techniques of surfing that is entertaining, original and incredibly funny. We went to
an empty part of the beach, found our own peak and I probably caught more waves in that session
than I did the whole 6 days before.”
Christian Bennett - Video Producer, Guardian News and Media
“He is probably THE best host I think I have ever seen on any holiday. Passionate beyond belief
about surfing, hilarious company back at the ranch, an exceptional tutor, and an all round
showman.”
Dave Pritchard
“Scott convinced me that I needed to rebuild my technique from standing up to setting the rail to
turning for more power. It was a difficult transition, but he guided me through the process with
compassion, high energy, and the in depth knowledge to explain the precise details. I am so stoked
with the results.”
Patrick Linderbach
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EXTRA ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CAMP A trip to Morocco is not complete without a visit to a spa to sample the traditional
Moroccan massage and Hammam.
A Hammam is essentially a steam room, similar to a Turkish bath, where Moroccans
habitually go each week to cleanse themselves.
The Hammam is an incredibly important part of Moroccan culture and life.� Men, women
and children will visit their local Hammam at least once a week, and spend two or three
hours there (sometimes even longer), catching up on gossip with their friends, and
following the long rituals for cleansing their bodies until their skin glows.
As a visitor, its a great treat for both men and women alike especially after a long day at
the beach. Its a great way to relax and the best way to rejuvenate the skin.
We recommend you take the trip into Agadir and visit the beautiful Nat Argan spa.
Spotlessly clean with professional staff, they offer a great range of traditional Moroccan
cosmetics and oils, including the local organic argan nut oil used in their own massages,
that make great gifts ..
Prices and Treatments: 1hr Massage - 250 DHS
1hr Hammam - 200 DHS
Package including both treatments above - 450 DHS
2hr Massage- 350 DHS
1hr Hammam 200 DHS
Package including both treatments above - 550 DHS
You need to make a reservation in advance and specify your desired treatments. You will
also need to book a return taxi to Agadir, this will cost approximately 150 DHS. We are
happy to make these reservations for you at reception.
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MOROCCAN SOUVENIRS AND MERCHANDISE The Moroccan souk (market) is a must visit for many people. The Souk el Ahad in Agadir is
no exception being the third biggest market in North Africa, after Fez and Cairo medinas.
It stocks a vast range of essential items for local people such as fresh fruit and vegetables
and large mounds of fragrant herbs and spices, along with the standard tourist fare of
babouches (Arabic slippers), leatherware, jewellery and trinkets.
Many of the stalls have lovely ranges of Moroccan lamps, silverware and wooden
hand-carved items which you can buy and there are a lot of genuine artisan goods like
beautiful ceramics and traditionally-produced goods.
We can organise you a taxi to visit the market upon request.
Good buys include: • Leather goods such as Moroccan slippers (Babouches)
• Woven goods such as carpets, shawls and hats
• Tagines
• Tea Pots
• Spices
MSA CLOTHING IS NOW AVAILABLE! Check out our Classic MSA Tee - purchase from reception.
A great way to remember your trip...and your new Moroccan family!
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