Travel in Morocco

• Morocco exudes an Arabic atmosphere. In addition to the beaches in the south (also good in winter), the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech (pearl of the south, with a fantastic souk) and the other Imperial Cities, such as Fez, are the highlights. In many places along the coast you can go golfing and windsurfing. Morocco has a lot to offer with high snow-capped mountains, sultry beaches and arid deserts!
• One of the absolute highlights of Morocco is the Sahara. You can make beautiful trips on foot or by camel. Ride a camel over the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi and sleep in a Berber tent.
• The Atlas Mountains are very popular with mountain trekking enthusiasts and in Infrane, for example, you can also ski in winter.
• Surfing is possible in many places along the coast, the top spots are north of Safi, where top surfers from all over the world come.
• A trip to Morocco is not complete without a visit to the souk in Marrakech. Marrakech is the country's major tourist attraction and very different from the modern port cities.
• Casablanca and Agadir are very suitable for a cheap beach holiday. You will find a completely different atmosphere there than in the rest of Morocco, so don't think you have seen Morocco if you have only been here. Most (luxury) resorts are located here.
• The old medina of Fez (8th century) is forbidden for cars, so you really find yourself in a medieval Arab city. The many alleys, the smell and the craftsmen give the old city a very exotic character.
• The small village of Chefchaouen in the Rif mountains is almost completely light blue. A lot of craft work is done in the narrow streets, and many people come here to buy souvenirs.
• Rabat: The 1,000 year old capital of Morocco. However, the city centre is small and the city is in the shadow of Marrakech and Fez. But Rabat is definitely worth a visit, if only because you cannot avoid it due to its central location. Ouzoud Falls: This town is home to the most famous waterfalls in Morocco. The 110-metre-high waterfalls are especially beautiful in spring, when meltwater still flows from the mountains.
• Essouira is a nice harbour town that was discovered by hippies and surfers in the sixties. Nowadays, there is little of that atmosphere left, but it is still a nice place to enjoy a few days at the beach. There is a lot of wind and is therefore very suitable for windsurfing. 1 km south of Essouira is the hippie village of Diabat, which is legendary because of a visit by Jimi Hendrix in the sixties.
• Red City: Marrakech is also called that because the city walls and houses are made of red clay. It has the oldest medina (city centre) in Morocco, is incredibly versatile because of its art, culture, nightlife and the many places where you can relax and shop.
• The amounts of beggars and pushy street vendors. It is best to walk on in a friendly but determined manner and not to react too much to them. There is little point in getting annoyed, this is just part of a country like Morocco.
• Pickpockets are a plague, especially in the big cities.

Updates Morocco

• More about Morocco, updates and contributions, see the link below.

Packing list for Morocco, travel insurance for Morocco, and taking your belongings

To take or not to take to Morocco, leave at home or arrange locally?

Sufficiently insured or not for your activities in Morocco?

Sufficiently insured or not for your trip to Morocco?

What to take with you to Morocco: spotlighted

Featured items:

• Documents: passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and copies.
• Money: dirhams for your first few days, after that you can easily top up with your debit or credit card.
• Care: good sunscreen.
• Outdoor and handy items: travel cap or hat and sunglasses. A buff, scarf or bandana for your desert adventure. Earplugs if you sometimes get tired of calling the mosque.
• Protection: light rain gear and possibly a backpack cover for the months of October - April.
• Clothing: very much depends on when you go and where you go. The most practical is clothing in the form of layers. Loose, airy clothing that covers your body is useful if you don't want too much unwanted attention as a woman. In the Sahara, airy clothing and a warm layer for the evening (also for the mountain areas, it can get very cold here!). Covering clothing for visits to mosques or conservative settlements. A swimming outfit if you visit the coast!
• Shoes: comfortable shoes are essential, as you will be walking around the souks a lot! A pair of flip-flops or sandals that are easy to put on and take off will also do no harm.
• Medicines and travel kit: a small first aid kit with plasters, painkillers and ORS (dehydration is a thing). Insect repellent (see also DEET mosquito repellent).
• Technology and equipment: world plug type C & E (see also world plug or travel plug). Power bank for when you go on a road trip.
• Women: scarf or light shawl for religious/traditional visits.
• A travel umbrella for the rainy months (October to April). An umbrella can also be useful against the hot sun the rest of the year.

What are some other options for packing as well?

• Reusable water bottle with filter.
• Quick-drying travel towel
• Dustproof cover or packing cubes – for a visit to the Sahara. Offline entertainment if you are travelling to remote places and do not want to chat with your travel companion all the time.
• Money belt for your money and passport for busy areas.
• International driving license, if you want to rent a car.
• Tissues for the public toilets.

What should you keep in mind when traveling to Morocco with your belongings?

• The climate (warm during the day and quite chilly in the evening) and the season.
• The dress code/culture in certain places you want to visit.
• There is quite a difference between the dress code in big cities and rural areas.

Are there mosquitoes in Morocco?

• Mosquitoes are present in Morocco throughout the year, and the numbers increase significantly from May to October.
• Mosquitoes can transmit various diseases, so it is better not to make friends with them and to stay away from them if you use mosquito repellent.

Are there sandflies in Morocco?

• Sand flies are a problem for local public health in Morocco because they can and often do transmit leishmaniasis.
• They are present throughout the country and are therefore difficult to avoid if you are there for a long time. As a tourist, you are of course at a much lower risk than the local population.
• Sand flies are most active around sunrise and sunset.
• Fortunately, covering yourself well helps and insect repellents are often used against them.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Morocco?

• It is not easy to buy mosquito repellents in Morocco.
• In the big cities, you have the best chance at large supermarket chains and pharmacies.
• The easiest, and probably also the cheapest and most effective, is to bring your own repellent from home.

Can you buy a beer or wine in Morocco, or take it with you to Morocco?

• Alcohol can only be consumed and purchased in certain places, such as hotels, bars and tourist places. Some supermarkets also sell alcohol. Drinking in public is not allowed, and it can get you into serious trouble.
• You are allowed to bring at least 1 liter of alcohol into the country.

Can you buy a joint or weed in Morocco, or take it with you to Morocco?

• Morocco produces a huge amount of hashish. Not for fun, but for medicine and industrial use. The country is a world leader when it comes to exporting cannabis.
• In northern Morocco, cannabis production is even the most important economic activity.
• Cannabis has also been used in traditional rituals for a long time. Majoun, for example, is a traditional form of candy made with cannabis.
• However, cannabis for recreational use remains illegal, as is importing it.