Desert guide?
 

Does anyone know if you need to employ an 'official' guide when wandering into the Sahara?

On our last trip we were told we needed an official guide to see us from Mahmid to Foum Zguid, and that it was 'illegal' to go without!

We're planning another trip, so wondered if others did it without a guide, and if they had any problems at the checkpoints afterwards?
We were stopped for the first time in Morocco, coming out of the desert, instead of being waved through as usual, for a 'passport check', and wonder what would have happened if we didn't have a guide with us?

Cheers,
Robin

Absolutely not required even in the Western Sahara that is still politically sensitive.

Sounds like you may have be victim to a new(ish) scam by the desert guides around Mhamid generated from the loss in business for them from wider use of Sat Navs

Thanks for that.

I thought that might be the case, though it was a veteran Morocco traveller with us who insisted we needed one doh

Looks like I'll be trying to sort out Olaf's maps then, or just use a compass.

Cheers,
Robin.

The passport checks are nothing to worry about, have a look on Chris Scotts Morocco Overland website and download the Fiche Template fill this in a print a load of copies before you go, when stopped just hand over one of these with the passport so the authorities have the information they need and off you go.

The checks tend to follow a standard set of information
Where have you come from
Where are you going
Passport Number
Occupation (tip is you have an unusaula profession say your something the can understand g)h I'm an Environment Manager in Construction but that takes about 10 minutes of explaining so now say I'm an engineer and they undertand that, my friend is a freelance illustrator and says he's an artist)

Having a preprepared Fiche saves the questions and explanations

Thanks again,

My only concern was that despite 4000 miles driving in Morocco, the ONLY time we were stopped was coming out of the desert at Foum Zguid and I did wonder if it was to check we had a guide :confused1:

Now I know there's no legal obligation to hire a guide, I'm quite happy to deal with them myself next time :thumbup1:

Cheers,
Robin.