Venus Adventures is a NZ and Swiss based company which focuses on women travellers.  They can help you organise your own custom trip (mixed or women-only) to Morocco!

If you are thinking of going to Morocco on an exotic holiday, but are not sure what to see and do, just let us know what your interests are and we can put together an itinerary especially for you – whether it be hiking in the mountains, riding camels into the Sahara, cooking classes in Marrakech or indulging in a traditional Moroccan spa treatment – we can tailor make something to suit your budget and needs.

Or if you want to remain flexible, we can put you in touch with our trusted local contact in Marrakech and he can help you with anything you need while in Morocco, from airport transfers to shopping to tours. For more information, please just email us on info@venusadventures.travel.

Or if you would like to join us on a fun, women-only trip to Morocco, our itineraries can be found here:

Here is some feedback from the last trip:

Into the Desert

“I can’t seem to stop thinking of all you guys and Morocco, it was such a fabulous time and I think we had the kind of holiday not that many people get to have, with the adventures and meeting the people.” Angela, NZ

“Thank you for the great tour. My family could hardly believe it when I told them all the things we did, especially the rafting. It was fun unpacking everything and giving out presents. It seems really dull at home now after all the fun we had but I guess the normal round will take over again.” Helen, Australia

“Emirates have released an early bird special for sales in NZ until the 17th of December 2009. For your Morocco trip, a fare ex Auckland would be $2310 including taxes.”

Probably similar deals for Ozzies too …

So what to do now? If you are interested in the Venus Adventures for women 18 day Morocco trip starting 2 April 2010, please let me know asap so we can get you booked and looking forward to an exotic holiday. The sooner I know numbers, the better, so I can get info out to everyone.

Morocco is fabulous – I have did it last year and it is fabulously memorable -  from the food, to the shopping, to the Sahara, the Atlas mountains, the people and the old cities of Marrakech and Fes!

Just do it….

Salam from Morocco!

Well, we have just completed another 14-day extravaganza of Morocco and thought you might enjoy a few photos!

Highlights of the trip were riding camels across the orange dunes of the Sahara whilst the sun set in the distance and then sleeping under an African sky, hiking up into the Atlas mountains to stay in the basic home of a Berber family and see how they live, experiencing the old medinas of Fez and Marrakech, meeting lots of friendly locals including Nezha who is a Moroccan 5W member (5W = Women Welcome Women Worldwide, an international hosting network) who lives in Fez and joined us for dinner one night. It was great to meet Nezha, who is an English teacher at the American school in Fez, and to learn more about Moroccan life from her.

[[Show as slideshow]]

The Morocco trip is all about experiencing the variety of local cultures from the desert tuaregs to the mountain Berbers, having some great little adventures (hiking, riding camels) and of course lots of fun! In Morocco “fun” for my Venus girls usually involves spending every free minute in the souq (market) haggling for beautiful handmade exotic goodies – no one seems to have any trouble finding their “inner shopaholic” in Morocco, because the shopping is so irresistible! You can see them in the pictures wearing beautiful caftans, jewellery etc. below.

The over-stimulation caused by shopping/sightseeing was always balanced with pre-dinner drinks at “gin o’clock”, where we would get together and recount tales of the days events and haggling experiences, and show-off new purchases.

We also celebrated a 50th birthday on the trip, with dinner at our Moroccan guides house and live Berber music and dancing– great fun!

XMAS SHOPPING TRIPS TO MARRAKECH

In response to the demand to shop, if anyone is interested in a 5 day Christmas shopping spree trip to Marrakech and Essaouira, we are offering the following programme. You choose the dates, we arrange all the rest . Price is Euro 500 per person and includes everything (hotels, transport, meals, shopping guide etc) all you need to pay for in addition is your flight, travel insurance and shopping), and the trip will run with a minimum of 2 people.  Contact Julie for more info

I got sent this advice from a travel company in Morocco, having been there, I thought most of it made a lot of sense.  Source of Advice

My recommendation would be to join a small group tour – the best way to explore, be safe and have fun.  Check out this calendar for tours for women to Morocco

In Morocco, male/female relationships are patterned differently than in western countries because gender roles are much more fixed. Family is the center of life in Morocco therefore it is not surprising that each sex has expectations that tie-in with raising children.

Females in Morocco are not discriminated against, however, upon reaching puberty (especially in small cities and villages) they are often separated with the intention of making sure that they stay virginal and to better prepare them for motherhood. In Morocco, getting married is considered one of the most important times in a woman’s life.

As a tourist, it’s important to maintain sensitivity to the differences between men and women. Public displays of affection are a taboo between men and woman. Kissing in public for example, should not be done. Couples you may see in the street walking near to each other or holding hand are typically married or possibly engaged in prostitution. While platonic friendships do exist between males and females, they are less common than in western countries. Since Morocco is a country that has had foreigners living among them for hundreds of years it is common to find less traditional differences between men and women in the larger cities such as Marrakesh and Casablanca. Still, as a traditional Muslim nation there are old fashioned and traditional values that must be respected.

Women in Morocco are stereotypically expected to take care of the home and family, engaging in activities such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, weaving, caring for the elderly and educating the children while the man is away at work. In their free time, women meet other societal expectations of visiting family, friends and attending evening prayer services at the local mosque or shrine. These roles also apply to women in the countryside, where agricultural duties are shared with their husbands. However in the countryside where you find Berber villages it is the women who often run the households and spend most of their time doing the agricultural work.

As a result of Morocco’s culture and traditions, women do not often accompany their husbands on social outings. With the exception of modern cities such as Casablanca and Marrakesh, it is not likely to see a co-ed group of Moroccans mingling in a local cafe or bar. In fact, female tourists withstanding, cafes and bars are traditionally limited to males.

In more traditional areas of the country and in some of the larger cities, women are also not supposed to smoke, travel alone or without parental consent, or be unaccompanied late at night.

Much of this is gradually changing as foreigners continue to make their lives in Morocco. Morocco is the home to a large population of British and French families along with many American, Germany and Spanish. As a result of foreigners relocating to make Morocco their permanent and others purchasing property for vacation homes or building riads, Morocco has become increasingly open.

Considering Morocco’s history, its occupation by the French and Portuguese, the country has become a melange of the novella (new) and the old. European contemporary influences on Moroccan traditional architecture, cuisine, fashion, film, music and decoration are leading the way to a new Morocco! The combination of these factors and increased tourism to this wonderful country has created a new world view which has been coined a Moroccocracy. By definition a Moroccacracy is the description of a 21st Century Morocco that has risen to take on democratic ideologies in its social and political culture and opened the door for a larger conversation with its European neighbors and American friends.

For the most part Moroccans are incredibly open-minded, especially in cities where tourism is common (Marrakesh, Casablanca, Fes, Essouaria, Rabat, Meknes, and Ouarzazate) and you will find it quite easy to have conversations with locals (in souks and hotels) about world politics, the cultural and historical traditions of Morocco and the economy. Moroccans who work in the tourism industry and in the souks tend to be multi-lingual and up to date on world politics. If you are a person who enjoys conversation during your travels you will find the opportunity to discuss many things within the souks and markets while you are shopping and being offered the traditional hospitality of mint tea.

If you are a female traveller in Morocco there is little to worry about as long as you maintain respectful dress and carry yourself appropriately, not making eye contact with men. The popularity of tourism caused the Moroccan economy undergo a process of liberalization and modernization, consequently altering some societal values. Today, Moroccan women are taking more active roles in the government, law, medicine warfare, and trade. There is also an increase in university enrolment among the younger generation, ultimately, leading to a more open-minded youth and a greater tolerance for modern ideas and western influences. Consequently, Moroccans are getting more used to seeing females (particularly tourists) visiting cafes and other places that were in the past were primarily frequented by men.

Tips for Female Travelers

• Don’t react to catcalls, whistles, or anything else directed at you.
• Wear sunglasses to avoid direct eye contact with men when travelling during summer months.
• Dress conservatively, no mini skirts, shorts, tank tops or tight shirts.
• Enjoy the culture by becoming a participant and dress in a Caftan or Jellabah (the traditional robe worn by local women).
• Don’t go out on your own at night if you are not in a major city or area that is well lit.
• If asked, let people know you are married and carry a photo of your ‘husband’ with you.
• If you feel you are being harassed or followed, walk into a shop or hotel and ask for help.
• If you are lost ask directions from a woman or family.
• If you feel threatened by someone make a scene by shouting loudly to shame the person.
• If you speak French, Spanish, or Arabic it will make it easier to stand up for yourself if you encounter undesirable behavior.
• If it is possible, travel in a group of women or with a male. While tourists are welcome all over Morocco, Moroccans are still uncomfortable with the idea of a solo female traveler; with the exception of major cities.

Overall, Morocco is an amazing and most hospitable country therefore women travelling alone should not be afraid, just be sensible and cautious.

Gay and Lesbian Travelers

While gay sex is officially illegal in Morocco, it does exist. As a result of Morocco’s traditions and culture to separate males and females, gay sex is not uncommon in Morocco.

However, gay travelers must keep in mind that gay resorts, such as those popular in Tangier and Marrakesh back in the 1950’s are gone. Also, although gay couples can be met throughout Morocco, it is unlikely to see a public display of affectionate gay interaction. In Morocco being gay is considered a social taboo. Yet, if you see two men holding hands, this is probably an indication of their friendship rather than their intimate relations.

If you do want to meet gay men in Morocco, you can do so at Morocco’s gay bars and discos (clubs). The annual Spartacus Gay Guide, available at bookstores in many western countries, indicates how to find gay sources of entertainment in Morocco.

With regards to lesbianism in Morocco, it is highly unlikely to encounter a woman who identifies herself as a lesbian.

Regardless of Morocco’s progressiveness, women are still expected to marry and raise children. The rules dictated by tradition and family for who a woman can choose as her partner is strict. Moroccan women are encouraged and rarely marry outside their faith. In particular, it is forbidden for Berber-Arab women to be married to French, Spanish or Jewish men. While there is definitely exceptions this is the accepted socio-cultural norm of Morocco. On the other hand, men are free to marry anyone they choose. Men in Morocco live a more unstructured life than women.

do these things sound like something you would like to experience? Well, read on, because your prayers have finally been answered!

As busy women we often have a myriad of (often feeble) excuses why we don’t do things for ourselves. But let’s face it: there is never an excuse good enough for not doing something positive for yourself – like taking a well-deserved short break somewhere!

Venus Adventures – Trips for Women – is now offering a range of short breaks within New Zealand (and Europe) for women who, well, just need a break! The breaks include anything from culture to adventures, and are always a lot of fun, and the website is a one-stop shop for short breaks for women.

The idea behind women-only trips is to help women escape their everyday roles and routines as busy mums, wives or workers, and to get away with the girls and have some fun!

“More and more women are realizing the importance of getting away from it all and letting someone else do all the organizing for a change”; says Julie Paterson, founder and owner of Venus Adventures Trips for Women. “Women naturally bond and network easily. Doing a trip which gets you out of your comfort zone a little is easier in a supportive women’s group. It’s a great environment in which to try new things. But, depending on the trip, we also indulge in fun things like spas and a little retail-therapy! Age also doesn’t matter as long as the spirit is there!”

All you have to do is get yourself to the trip starting point and all the rest is taken care of. So what are you waiting for? Your next adventure is just a mouse click away…for more information visit www.shortbreaksforwomen.com.

By Julie Paterson

Venus Adventures – Trips for Women

www.venusadventures.travel

www.shortbreaksforwomen.com

Haggling for rugs

OK, so have found yourself in a fabulous Arab bazaar in some hot, sandy and exotic country. It is a maze of twisting alleyways crammed with people and intriguing shoplets selling bright and alluring handicrafts: colourfully decorated carpets, lamps, clothes, leather and metalware.

Trapped in shopping heaven, you almost pass out with excitement. Sweet, musky incense wafts through the air, and as you saunter along in the heat, handsome swarthy men try to entice you into their shops with cheesey one-liners “Madame, can I ask you something…?”

Shopping in an Arab souq is something you have to be in the mood for. Patience and a sense of humour are a necessity or you won’t last 5 minutes. And if you don’t have your wits about you, you may find yourself limping back to your hotel under the strain of five carpets and no money to finance the rest of your trip…and wondering how that all happened when all you wanted to buy was a scarf. You had only asked out of interest how much that lovely rug was….and before you knew it – you had five!

Golden Rule No. 1: don’t ask how much something is unless you want to buy it. If you do ask, you are entering into a “negotiation”- commonly known as “haggling”. Your lovely salesman will enquire how long you have been in his country to see how green (stupid) you are, suss out how many gold rings you have on, and then name an extortionate price. Your jaw will drop and you will gasp in horror.

Golden Rule No. 2: ask yourself how much you might pay for this item back home, look at the quality, and then remember you are buying it at the source. It has not been imported and you are cutting out several middlemen. Think what you would be prepared to pay, and then name a lower price. Now it is your salesman’s turn to gasp in horror and act insulted. Game on!

Haggling is theatrics, and can be a lot of fun if you are patient. Have a mint tea and get comfortable! You will now negotiate with your man, he will try to force your price up with all sorts of sob stories about how business has been bad, how many kids he has to feed etc. You have to invent some of your own sob stories about how little money you have and you saved all your life to get here….remember, keep it fun and encourage humour!

Golden Rule No. 3: Stick to your guns! The Arab salesman always wants to win this game, even if only by a small amount, but if possible, by a huge amount! If the price gets beyond what you are willing to pay…walk away. Better to walk away than to regret it later. If your price was not fair, he will let you go. If your price was reasonable after all, your charming salesman will most likely come after you (he hates to miss a sale), drag you back to the shop, wrap your exotic treasure into a neat package, and relieve you of your cash.

And this brings me to the most important rule, Golden Rule No. 4: both parties should be happy at the end of the transaction – you should be happy with what you paid and the treasure that you bought, and the salesman should be happy with his sale. And thus you will get the lovely scarf you wanted and not five rugs.

By Julie Paterson

Venus Adventures – Global Trips for Women who Love to Travel

Then look no further!!!

Venus Adventures has some GREAT fun trips for women coming up in September, October, November 2009, and now is the time to start thinking about them. There are lots of great air fare specials coming out, so now is also the time to book!

Vietnam: 18 days – this is exotic Asia at it’s best – wander the fascinating maze of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, meet the highland peoples of the north, cruise the twisting arms of Halong Bay…and much more!

Ethiopia: 14 days – discover an “undiscovered” destination – forget all the myths, Ethiopia has great food, 1000 year old churches and monasteries and castles, fantastic scenery, and a rich and diverse culture. You have to see it to believe it…go to a country where others don’t go to (only because they don’t know about it!) It will knock your socks off!

Egypt: 11 days – Egypt is just one of those countries you have to tick off as it has an extraordinary history. We visit the Pyramids, Sphinx, tombs, mummies, and take a blissful cruise on the Nile for 3 nights….life doesn’t get much better than sipping a cool drink on the deck of a cruise ship as we float through this historic land.

Morocco: 14 days – ride camels into the romantic Sahara desert for the night, trawl the markets for exotic wares, visit the ancient cities of Fés and Marrakech, hike into the spectacular Atlas mountains and stay with a Berber family – this trip is full of variety and very popular!

If you have any questions about these trips, please contact me:

julie@venusadventures.travel or take a look at the website www.venusadventures.travel

I have finally succumbed to Moroccan tummy – everyone has had a touch of it, and I thought I had escaped. I am laid low and close to the toilet. Luckily we have a few days in Marrakech to recover. I forgo the seaside trip to Essaouira and spend the day in bed. I do manage to attend our last evening festivities, but I don’t eat anything apart from an avocado juice (a fabulous local specialty.

We spend a magic evening at Adil’s family home where there are musicians and dancers and the best food of the trip. This is certaintly part of what makes this trip special – Julie and Adil’s contacts means that we are not just skating across the surface of Morocco, but meeting people in their homes. It will be one of my strongest memories of the trip.

I have another day to spend in Marakech before the train trip to Tanger, so another trip to the central square – I feel I can risk an orange juice and fancy some of the delicious squid.

I have been a little disappointed in Moroccan food – I expected more spices, more variety, but highlights have been the fresh orange juice, fresh date, figs and almonds, the pomegranites, and the home cooking wherever we went.

Train to Tanger - Adil has bought a ticket for me – a couchette on the night train – it leaves at 9pm and arrives 7.30 so is a great way to travel and cost just 350 dr (about $70NZ) I am shown to a four bunk room I will share with two other kiwis and a moroccan. The toilets are piped onto the rail tracks, so no using them in a station – and try to avoid it at any time. Luckily although still feeling distinctly sick, the medication I brought with me has stopped any movement whatever.

The process of buying a ferry ticket to Algericas is not straight forward – every ferry company has a different office with no notice outside of what they are offering. I end up accidently buying a ticket to Tarifa instead of Algericas, but am told a free bus trip to Algericas is included. When I arrive the bus is full, and I am pointed to a taxi which cost 25 Euros.

It is with much delight that I meet my friends Ceridwyn Parr and Danielle Melton. Together we are going to travel in Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Farewell Morocco Photos

Venus Adventurer Julie has planned the perfect end to our trek up the Atlas Mountains. After a shower and a change of clothes we are off to the Hammam Ziami – a boutique hammam especially for tourists by the look of it.

We had already purchased the necessities in the market – a scrubbing glove, some lavender scented olive oil soap and some mud for our hair.

Stripped down to our knickers we were led into the steam room. Here we sat on a stool in front of a bowl of water and pour water overselves for 5-10 mins to open the pores.

Then we rubbed the goey olive oil soap mixture over every inch – feet and hands especially. After washing this off, we sat in the steam and waited to be called. Next stop – the sandpaper process – we lie down and an attendant scrapes every part of our body with the scrubbing glove. An embarrassing amount of dead skin starts to gather like spagetti and we are sent off for another shower.

Finally clean, I am helped on to the massage table – we need to be careful here, it is covered in oil and the chance of slipping off the table seems high. The massage is exquisite and slippery – firm but delicate – I am in heaven.

Only the mud remained – the small cakes of mud are soaked in hot water, then placed all over our hair and rubbed in and left for a bit. After that another shower and my skin and hair feels like that of a new born child. That night Julie orders in Pizza, we are so tired and relaxed that we can not move from the Riad.

The next day I join guide Julie at a public hamman – the one the local women go to. It was very different, but also wonderful. Our body scrapers and massagers were also unclothed, so we were surrounded by lovely pendulous breasts on all sides.

As I was dressing after the Hamman, I was asked if I wanted to have a henna tatoo – and after a brief negotiation, I was soon getting a henna tatoo on my leg. Unfortunately I forgot that it took an hour to dry, so i had to walk home barefoot.

It was fantastic to be with Moroccan women in places where they feel comfortable. Clearly when they are in women’s company they are at home – there are far less inhibitions, no embarrassment, a freedom and touch and be intimate in a way that seems impossible outside these walls.

Its one of the noticable things in Morocco – men sit in cafes together, women walk together or are at home in their own domain together. Here they are relaxed and will dance and play and giggle.

It is easy to see this with ‘western’ eyes as some form of oppression, but that is a simplistic way of looking at this society. Its entire social structure is supported by this strong family and religious framework. The family is the social welfare system – people look after their own, rather than relying on the government. Islam supports giving to the poor – and there are beggars in the street with high unemployment. The system works for them – its just different to 0urs.

And it is a MOUNTAIN – no wee hill. We arrive at a village at the end the beautiful Ourika Gorge, where the road stops abruptly having recently been washed away.There we meet our host Lahcen and his three mules. I anxiously look up the steep cliffs and wonder how I am going to do it as we load up the mules with supplies and sleeping bags. It is a steep zig zag path pretty much straight up the mountain. I last a short hour before it is suggested I might like to hop on the donkey – I am not too proud to jump at the chance and I am not the only one – for the and the next hour two of us ride the mules as it follows the zig zag path up the hill. I am SO grateful I don’t have to walk it, and riding a sure footed mule is a dream.

Lahcen sings a kind of chant as we climb (he also has breath as he is on the other donkey) and I join in as best I can.We stop for lunch at a beautiful spot under a cedar tree, on the edge of a very steep ravine. It is not long before children come out from a village looking for sweets – we have been warned and have brought supplies along.Mohamed cooks a tasty tangine for us all on a gas cylinder which has magically appeared from the back of one of the mules. Angela has sprained her calf muscle and a sleeping bag is brought to support her leg. When she moves, the sleeping bag rolls down the hill and we all watch as it slowly (but out of our reach) bounces once, twice and then into the ravine. Bugger, as we say in NZ.

No problem Mohamed climbs down the precipitous cliffs and recovers it. Sigh of relief all round when Mohamed appears breathless from the climb, sleeping bag in hand, as it has clearly been snowing on the mountain tops.Another hour and we can see the Berber village. The houses of stone and earth are barely distinguishable from the mountain from which they were made, but as we draw closer we can make out the square doors and windows.Below the village lush gardens fill the terraces which stretch all the way down the valley – there is clearly a spring and simple irrigation system at work here. Power poles have made their way almost to the village – power is clearly on its way, but not yet. However it turns out that satellite TV has already arrived, powered by solar panels – Fox Movies in arabic is the favourite. No sun, no TV I guess.

A half hour hike traversing the mountain and we arrive to meet our hosts for the night. There is the grandmother Fatima, Lahcen and his wife, daughters – Fatiha who at 18 is marrying age, Zahra, Nora the baby, and just one boy still at home – Osama. Aicha and Soumaya are nieces living there, making a household of 9, plus 10 of us for the night.We have come prepared with presents – Sarah, who works for Rebel Sport, is best prepared with a soccer ball for Osama and lots of girlie clips, hair ties and hand crème for the girls. The loot is shared out, with lots of giggles and shyness as we make friends with our host family, making sure we leave some for the rest of the village kids when we leave.

We are showed to the squat toilet which is out a door, down a corridor, out a door, across a courtyard, out a door, up a steep step, through a narrow gap, and around a corner – all but the corridor is outside in the strongly freshening mountain air. I decide at 5pm to stop drinking any liquids at all to try and avoid a night trip.We settle down in the kitchen by the fire – its warm here, but very smoky, my eyes start to smart. Fatiha is cooking couscous – not feeble instant stuff, but the real thing, which takes 3 hours to cook in three stages over boiling vegetables.When the hooker pipe and apple tobacco is fired up, it is the last straw for my eyes, and I have to leave. I head up to our communal bedroom, it’s freezing, but not smoky so I wrap myself up in a sleeping bag and watch the sun set over the mountains.

Soumaya is the shyest of the family and notices me alone. She brings a candle and sits down with me on the floor. We have no language in common, but the next hour passes quickly as I teach her to play shadows on the wall, I sing a song, she sings a song and so it goes.Eventually others join us and the party is on, until word arrives that the couscous is ready. It is the best couscous I have ever tasted. We fall into bed – well not actually bed, but a few rugs on the floor and more over our sleeping bags, and 6 of us in the room – we are quite snug,if not outrageously comfortable.Despite not having anything to drink I have to get up and visit the toilet, but have not brought my torch, so wait for someone else to stir – it is good to have some company on the trek – we hold the door and the torch for each other – all thoughts of privacy long gone. We fare better than Kate who has to get up 3 times, and the last time gets locked out in the cold.

She eventually makes it back and we are all awake at 4.30 commiserating with her, and vaguely hysterical waiting for the sunrise to come. Luckily we drift off to sleep again before breakfast.Before we head off the mountain, there are the rest of the presents to give out to the village kids. Crayons, pens and paper and sweets are dispensed while the mules are loaded. We all manage to walk under our own steam down the mountain, though my knees were screaming by the bottom of the gorge. Another tagine for lunch before heading back into town.There are about 50 families in this village, with about 10 per household that gives a population of nearly 500. There is a primary school, and a small mosque with an iman who comes very few months. When I ask what happens if someone gets sick, the answer is they go to bed. Then they get better or they go to the cemetery.This is life raw and basic and real – the way many in the world live. I am humbled by my affluence and discomfort, and the fact I know I can escape to comfort again.

View Photos