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Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco 1

20 Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

by Katie Dawes

Whether it’s via Facebook or Instagram, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions recently about Morocco and so I thought I’d compile a list of things to know before you travel to Morocco…

This was initially intended to be a ‘Top 5’ list, but once I started writing I realised how muchย is probably worth addressing – especially for those who know nothing about the country.

So the ‘Top 5’ quickly became a list of 20 things to know about Morocco! If there’s anything I’ve missed that you think would benefit future travellers to the country, share your tipย in the comments!

20 Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

20 Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

1. You canโ€™t take more than 1000 MAD (โ‰ˆ68 GBP) in or out of the country

Morocco has a closed currency and therefore it’s illegal to take more than 1000 dirhams in or out of the country.ย For this reason, it’s almost impossible to change currency before boarding your flight to Morocco, however you can do so in most major airports.

I usually just take a bank card and head straight for the ATM in the airport once I arrive in Morocco. Most Moroccan airports will also have currency exchange desks so that you can exchange your currency for dirhams on arrival.

2. Carry cash

Very few places aside from the larger supermarkets accept credit or debit cards. You definitely won’t be able to use a card to pay for purchases in a souk or local village shop so consider this when going shopping.

It can also be quite difficult to find a cash machine if you are staying outside of a major city. When staying in Tamraght and Taghazout, the nearest ATM was in the village of Aourir.

3. Women are expected to dress conservatively

How to Dress in Morocco-1

I have covered this topic extensively in a previous article: How to Dress in Morocco – A Complete Guide to Morocco Dress Code.

In short, it is uncommon for Moroccan women to show any skin other than their face, hands and feet. Whilst this tradition is not as strict for tourists, it shows respect to dress conservatively and cover at least your shoulders, chest and knees.

4. Morocco is multi-lingual

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Moroccans can speak one of, or a combination of, Classic Arabic, Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Berber, English, French, and Spanish – sometimes mixing them all in one sentence!

Of all the European languages, Moroccans speak and understand French far better than English. But the major language of Morocco is Darija.

There are a few resources out there for you to learn a little Darija before visiting Morocco:

5. You are sometimes asked for your flight out of the country when entering

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

This hasn’t actually ever affected me. In fact, in 2015 I flew into Morocco three times (once from Amsterdam and twice from London) and was never asked for proof of my flight out of the country.

However I have been told by others that a lax of exit plan is sometimes queried at customs, so perhaps to keep things simple it’s best to book your flight out of the country if you know your dates before arriving.

6. Fridays are holy days

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

You may find that the majority of shops and businesses in Morocco will be closed on Friday, especially after midday.

Friday is the day on which the Islamic tradition ofย Jumu’ah is upheld and therefore the day on which Moroccans, as Muslims, are expected to be at the mosque for congregational prayer.

7. Carry small change and cigarettes forย beggars

Many visitors to Morocco can get really frustrated by beggars asking for money, especially in the busier cities of Marrakech, Agadir and Casablanca. We even had one guy materialise out of a bush in the middle of nowhere when we were on the road to the Sahara desert!

Whilst it can be disheartening, those asking for money are usually content to receive a few dirhams and when 1 MADย is less than 10 cents EUR I don’t mind handing it over.

Cigarettes are also widely appreciated – my photographer friend Michael was asked for cigarettes in exchange for taking someone’s photo – although using tobacco as a form of exchange is best left to your personal conscience.

8. It gets cold

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

In the summer months of 2015, Morocco hit highs of over 40 degrees celsius during the day! But whilst many will pack for the heat, few will consider how quickly the temperature drops once the sun sets – especially in the winter.

This is especially true for theย Atlas Mountain range and the Sahara desert, where the temperature drops dramatically, so make sure to pack warm clothing and layers!

9. Vaccinations arenโ€™t mandatory

Many people looking to travel to Morocco believe certain vaccinations are required by law in order for you to cross the border, but whilst the UK National Health Service recommends various immunisations, these aren’t mandatory and you can enter the country without them.

10. The left hand is considered unclean

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

Islam places quite a lot of importance on personal hygiene. Part of this includes only using the left hand when visiting the toilet, so it’s important to avoid shaking hands with yourย left.

If you are eating with bread in public try and use only your right hand, as this is considered the cleaner hand.

11. Moroccans favour using bread rather than cutlery

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco

Traditionally, Moroccans eat almost every meal with bread (and theirย right hand!), which they use as a utensil in place of forks or spoons.

It might seem strange at first, especially as it means you eat bread with every meal – breakfast, lunchย and dinner! But it’s a more communal way of eating, leaves less to wash up after the meal, andย I wasย actually caught eating my scrambled eggs this way this morning by my dad!

12. Alcohol is hard to find and expensive

Being a Muslim country, the purchase of alcohol is definitely frowned upon in Morocco but allowances and acceptance is given to tourists who would like a drink on holiday.

If you can, buy directly from supermarkets such as Carrefour as the prices are drastically lower than the cost of alcohol in restaurants, hostels and hotels. Much of this has to do with the high tax of selling alcohol, and also the time and cost associated with stocking it for guests – especially in the case of hostels.

It’s important to note that during Ramadan alcohol is almost impossible to buy and is taken off the shelves of many stores.

13. Local SIMs are cheaper than using your phone data plan abroad

I have a Maroc Telecom SIMย card which I use when in Morocco, and the initial cost was just 50 MADย (less than 5 EUR). When topping up I always splash about 200 MAD (less than 20 EUR) on internet which usually gets me about 8GBs and lasts for a while.

Other phone service providers in Morocco are Meditel and Inwi. The best way to choose a provider is to ask locals which one gets the best reception. When I’m in the South near Agadir my Maroc Telecom SIM probably has the better service out of the three.

14. Photography isnโ€™t welcomed by all

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco 1 2

Moroccans, especially those in more rural areas, are nervous when it comes to having their pictures taken.

SomSo I think it’s crucial to ask before taking a picture of anyone in Morocco. At the very least it shows respect that many locals appreciate.

15. Morocco observes the holy month of Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide – including Morocco. During Ramadan Moroccans fast from sunrise to sunset, and are not allowed to smoke, eat or drink at all during day light hours.

During this month (the ninth in the Muslim calendar) it is even more important to respect the conservative Moroccanย dress codeย and to avoid eating and drinking in front of locals during the middle of the day. Alcohol stores also close during this period.

16. Carry toilet paper

For personal hygiene reasons, Moroccan toilets (often which are squat toilets without a seat) are equipped with a small shower or tap and bucket, rather than toilet paper.

Most toilets should, however, have a waste basket, where you can dispose of any toilet paper you may have thought to carry with you. It’s also advisable for us women to carry a plastic bag when on our periods to dispose of tampons and pads – as with rough plumbing in most toilets these can’t be thrown down the hole with the rest of our waste!

17. Be wary of stray puppies and kittens!

If you have a soft spot for puppies and kittens, the strays of Morocco are certain to pull on your heartstrings!

I managed to ignore most of them and not get too attached until I met the little boy in the top left photo! He was so young and adorable that had I been staying long term in Tamraght I definitely would have adopted him…

…Just like my friends did! The puppy in the top right photo is Paula, and she was adopted by two friends of mine who now plan to walk with her from Morocco back home to Germany!ย Follow their journey on Instagram!

18. Buying or consuming hashish is illegal

Here’s a funny story. On my first trip to Morocco we arrived to Fez airport and took a taxi straight to our hostel. Once there we realised the first thing we needed to buy – water.

Leaving the hostel, we’d been walking for about five minutes when some guys on the street stopped us and asked if we wanted to buy hash.ย Before we’d even bought water we were offered hash.

Hash is offered regularly on Moroccan streets, but whilst it might seem easily acquiredย it’s illegal to buy, sell or consume hashish and a lot of locals will use this to scam tourists or even tell the police that you have it once they’ve sold it to you.

I’ve never been much of a fan of drugs, but I have always been a fan of sticking on the right side of the law – especially in countries in which I don’t know the law. Don’t smoke kids, it’s probably not worth it.

19. You will get lost in a medina

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Medina is the name given to the old walled inner cities of Moroccan and other North African cities. These old cities contain tight meandering alleyways, and only the main streets (of which there are few!) have street names. So to see a lost touristย (or ten) in a medina is not uncommon!

But practice a little caution in the busier Medinas (such as Fezย and Marrakech) as the bustling nature of the small streets can often invite local pickpockets and ‘guides’. The guides are often just locals who will offer to take you somewhere you want to go and then charge a lot of money when they get you there.

Even if you tell them that you know your way, getting rid of guides in the medinas can be difficult. The best methods are to either callย for the police (which will scare them away) or to call shame on them (shame =ย 7chuma –ย pronouncedย ha:shooma with a harsh ‘h’).

20. Don’t pay the asking price

Things to Know Before you Travel to Morocco 1

Another trick of the Medinas! When you visit a soukย (this is a Moroccan market place – which can take place in an open village square or within the inner walled sections of the Medina) be prepared to haggle as vendors always ask for more than an item is worth!

It’s just part of the culture to haggle over the price, and whilst it can be annoying being offeredย the ‘tourist price’ I think it’s also important to realise that the tourist price is still a hell of a lot lower than any price I’d pay in England.

So my general rule of thumb is to halve what they’re asking for and try and put my foot down! If they’re adamant they won’t take your price, walk away. Either they’ll call you back and offer a lower price or I’m sure you’ll see the same item in another store in another alley!

Morocco: Final Travel Tips

Rome Travel Resources

โžค I research all my flights with Skyscanner. Book your flight to Moroccoย now!

โžคย Want to see all available hostels in Morocco? Click here to book a hostel in Morocco.

โžค Rather stay in a hotel? Click here to book a hotel in Morocco.

My Recommended Guides & Phrasebooks:

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Like it? Pin it!

One of my favourite countries and one of the countries I spend the most time in, this is just a sneak peek and what to watch out for and how to make the most of your time in Morocco!

Have you been? What would be your top tip on Morocco?

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65 comments

Michael Vanarey January 3, 2016 - 8:06 pm

Great list and I totally agree! I’d also add doing a search for the local scams happening in the places your planning on going too. People always publish them when they have fallen for a scam. Ones I know of are – Not all car parking fee on beach carparks are legit and can be conmen. Mandatory tour guides for the Marrakesh Tannery is also a scam.

Katie Dawes August 4, 2016 - 9:26 am

Can’t believe I missed this comment Michael! But GREAT tip – thanks for adding it! Oh the tour guides… I think they are a post in themselves! Thanks for the reminder ๐Ÿ™‚

KenyanMoments A February 23, 2016 - 6:42 am

A very informative read…thanks!

Katie Dawes February 23, 2016 - 1:28 pm

You’re welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

Rita Graรงa April 3, 2016 - 10:05 am

Hey Katie,

I would love if you could help me with somethings (you’ve actually helped me so much already)…
1 – is there a similar way to go to Ouzoud waterfalls like the one you shown to Ourika valley?
2 – from Marrakech to essaouira is there any train? How long is this trip? In essaouira can we use the beach and swim?
3 – in the places we can swim (like ouzoud waterfalls) can I use a regular swimsuit (all together not bikini)?

Hope you can help me…
Thanks a lot,
Rita

Katie Dawes April 5, 2016 - 11:16 am

Hey Rita – so glad you got hold of me on Facebook to answer these ๐Ÿ™‚ You didn’t ask me the second question – so in response to that there’s not train between Marrakech and Essaouira so you have to get the bus or taxi. And yes you can swim – I wear a swimsuit in Morocco and Essaouira sees a lot of waterspouts so they are more used to seeing tourists on the beach in less clothing…

Rita Graรงa April 5, 2016 - 11:23 am

Hi Katie, I didn’t because meen while I found my answer. There are two bus companies and the best one should be supratours because it should arrive in the center of Essaouira. The other one you’d stil would have to catch a taxi…

Katie Dawes April 5, 2016 - 11:13 pm

Perfect – glad you found it! I’ve taken Supratours and I definitely prefer them to CTM ๐Ÿ™‚

Samantha Wright July 23, 2016 - 7:53 pm

This was all really great advice, I’m so glad I stumbled across this on Pinterest. Thank you!

The Hostel Girl July 28, 2016 - 1:58 pm

Hi Samantha – I’m so glad you did too. And that you found it useful! Feel free to get in touch if you have any more questions! ๐Ÿ˜€

Nico Atienza July 29, 2016 - 6:47 pm

Very informative as well. Looking forward to going to Morocco now!

The Hostel Girl July 31, 2016 - 6:01 pm

Glad you found it useful Nico! I hope you get to visit soon!! <3

ade August 4, 2016 - 7:28 am

Just bought a return ticket and flying there in October. I have no ideas where to go. LOL. But Chefchaouen and Marrakesh are on my list.

Katie Dawes August 4, 2016 - 9:28 am

I’ve still not been to Chefchaouen but I’ve not known one person who has gone and didn’t like it – so I would recommend it! Marrakech is a culture shock but fantastic! If you’re into a calmer vibe, my top suggestions would be Taghazout and Essaouira!

Fred August 15, 2016 - 11:26 am

Going agadir tomorrow. 1st time so well excited.

Katie Dawes August 16, 2016 - 10:17 am

Hi Fred – awesome! I hope you enjoy it and if you get the chance to take a few day trips there are some great smaller villages around Agadir that I love! <3

Yi August 25, 2016 - 11:54 pm

Hi Katie! I am from Korea. I am planning to travel to Morocco this October with my husband. This really helps me. Korea does have very few information for Morocco tourists, almost impossible to get tour books written in Korean. Your page will be very helpful. Thank you!

Katie Dawes August 26, 2016 - 2:46 pm

Hi Yi! Thanks for commenting and letting me know that this article is useful for your upcoming trip! Perhaps when you return you can write more information for future Korean travellers to Morocco to make up for the lack of info available in your language! I hope you enjoy Morocco! x

carolin beyer September 22, 2016 - 7:26 am

Hihi just now I got the chance to read the full article and it’s amazing. Makes me wanna go back! And you wrote about Paula that’s so sweet. Today is her first puppy class…she will be brilliant. Everyday we find other dogs to play like in tamraght ๐Ÿ™‚

Maybe you could add that maroccan people always want to help out. and if u ask something they don’t know they rather tell something that could be right instead of answering that they have no idea. That dosnt mean they want to lie, it just means that they will try and hope to be helpfull ๐Ÿ™‚ that’s a funny thing about giving information in marocco.

Big hug girl you do an amazing job! I love to get on you website from time to time and see what your doing !!!

Kisses

Katie Dawes September 26, 2016 - 10:28 am

Carolin! Of course I wrote about Paula – how adorable that she is going to puppy class!! I hope she likes Germany! And that is a great tip – thanks for adding it!

I hope I get to visit you soon…! I’m working hard this year to travel more next year so I can visit you and Paula ๐Ÿ™‚ xxx

Eli October 16, 2016 - 1:49 pm

Hi, Katie! Would you know how cold it gets in early November in Marrakesh? Is it comparable to fall temperatures in England? Attending a conference around that time and would want to be sure I pack the climate-appropriate formal wear. Wouldn’t want to be lugging around a heavy coat if a cardigan is enough. Your advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Katie Dawes October 17, 2016 - 9:30 am

Hi Eli! You definitely won’t need a heavy coat but it does get quite chilly so a warm jumper or cardigan will come in useful. My best advice is to pack a couple of long sleeve tops that you can layer with the lighter tops that you wear in the day, plus a jumper/cardigan to wear over them at night. I would say the average is about 15 degrees Celsius in the nights ๐Ÿ™‚ I hope you enjoy the conference and Marrakech!

SHAZIA October 21, 2016 - 8:37 pm

Hi, I’m in Rabat next week for 3 days and travel to Agadir from there, what is the best way to make this journey ? Thanks

Katie Dawes October 26, 2016 - 7:10 am

Hi Shazia – I haven’t taken that journey myself but bus connections with Supratours and CTM are great across the whole country and as there are limited rail links between those two cities I’d suggest going by bus – I hope that helps!

Marsha October 31, 2016 - 7:33 am

I am planning an extra leg of my Andalusia trip to visit Morocco. Thinking of including Marrakech, Fez and Chefchauoen and fly out of Tangier to Lisbon. It sounds like bus will be my best option between these locations. Is there any issue for an older (70) woman travelling alone? My visit will be 5-7 days.

Katie Dawes November 1, 2016 - 3:11 pm

Hi Marsha – what a great trip you have planned! When it comes to the safety of someone your age, I’m not sure I can relate very well. However I will say that the bus travellers across Morocco range from the very young to the very old. And so the only added comfort that the more senior women have travelling by bus is that they speak the language. Aside from this, I would always suggest taking a daytime bus, just to be on the safe side, and to dress as the locals do. It can be very confusing at the bus stations (you must get a separate ticket from a separate desk for your luggage usually) with a lot of people talking over each other, but as long as you stay calm and give ourself plenty of time, I think you will do fine!

Gillian Smith November 1, 2016 - 4:04 am

Hey Katie, Just came across this sight and find it great and positive. Just about to head back to Morocco from Australia – third trip in 12 months. I am a jewellery artist here so you can imagine how much I love it there. Have already made many great local friends including of course other artist and jewellers and is great to share the creativity of course and enjoy the ongoing incredible hospitality of this diverse and interesting culture. Cheers Gillian – GillyB Design (Australia)

Katie Dawes November 1, 2016 - 2:55 pm

Hi Gillian – I’m so glad you like the post, especially a a frequent visitor to Morocco! I love how creativity seems to flourish in Morocco – I also have friends there who are jewellery and clothing designers. Not to mention photographers and stroytellers. I also googled your jewellery and it’s lovely! Perhaps I will bump into you there one day – although I won’t be returning until February/March now!

Dordaneh December 24, 2016 - 9:15 am

Dear Katie! Morocco has always been on my bucket list and your article doubled my thirst to visit this great destination! ๐Ÿ™‚
http://irantourtravel.com

Katie Dawes December 26, 2016 - 10:14 pm

Glad to hear it Dordaneh and I hope you get the chance soon ๐Ÿ™‚

Jรณna January 7, 2017 - 12:48 am

Great article and very helpful. I’m going to Marrakech on Monday. Me and my boyfriend will be staying there for 10 days. I’m so looking forward to it. Now I know what to wear and what to expect.
Greetings from Iceland

Katie Dawes January 8, 2017 - 10:31 am

Hi Jรณna – I’m so excited for your trip to Marrakech and I’m so glad this post has helped you prepare! I hope you and your boyfriend have a great time and a safe trip from Iceland!

Fontaine Talamoni January 12, 2017 - 4:19 am

Aloha Katie,
Great read, me and wife are headed there ( Morocco) in a couple months. You have some of the best travel advice!

Mahalo from Hawaii๐ŸŒด

Katie Dawes January 13, 2017 - 10:44 am

Aloha Fontaine – my first commenter from Hawaii! I’m glad this post can help you get ready for your trip. And I hope you enjoy Morocco as much as I always do!

Fontaine Talamoni January 13, 2017 - 3:59 pm

Aloha Katie,

Yes cannot wait for Morocco! On another note, while in Rome 2015-2016 we heeded your advice and on a whim took “Megabus” to Venice for a mere $20 us roundtrip, which is unbelievable, so heaps of thanks๐Ÿค™

Mahalo๐ŸŒด

Kristian February 13, 2017 - 2:33 pm

Found this article just in time! Booked a spur of the moment flight to Agadir for tomorrow and been trying to do some last minute research… loving your article on Tamraght too, the plan is mainly chilling and surfing so I’ve booked in to the Lunar Surf House and see how it goes from there ๐Ÿค™
Safe travels!

Katie Dawes February 14, 2017 - 11:09 am

Hi Kristian – yes I love spontaneous trips!! Have a great flight and enjoy the Lunar Surf House! Give my love to Irina & Adil, and little Luna the cat who is not so little anymore!

Martha February 13, 2017 - 5:09 pm

Thanks so much for a great post. I was hoping you could clear up whether harassment was an issue, from men on the streets. Also, do you recommend a guide, and if so, what is the best way of getting a fair one? We are planning a girls-only trip to Marrakech in June.

ps: Any hostel reviews? Thanks bunches!

Katie Dawes February 14, 2017 - 11:04 am

Hi Martha – I’m glad you find the post useful! In terms of harassment, when it comes your way it’s almost always just verbal cat-calling and very rarely anything physical. It’s a pain in the arse but I have mastered a fantastic resting bitch face to counter it. As for getting a guide, I’ve never had one but I’ve heard that the Marrakech Food Tours by Maroc Mama are great!

And finally, the hostel I love the most in Marrakech is Equity Point. I have written a proper review, but I did write this post about the hostel that shows just how beautiful it is!

If you need anything else just let me know!

AYMAN ELGHANODUR March 2, 2017 - 12:54 am

You always welcome in Morocco , and especially in our small city ‘Moulay bousselham’ there so fantastic views in this city for more information contact me

Katie Dawes March 2, 2017 - 3:09 pm

Thank you Ayman! ๐Ÿ™‚

achraf March 11, 2017 - 9:26 pm

hi sis thanks for for what you said about my country ,
but there were 2 things are not correct :
the first thing : ” Some genuinely believe that cameras have black magic abilities to capture a personโ€™s soul ”
that’s totally wrong , we probably don’t like someone else to takes a pic of us only because we are not used to it … and also some they don’t like it only because they are shy , and some other ones find it annoying thing it like you want to stick your nose in their business
we don’t believe in such reckless things that are not exist such as the black magic sis
the second thing : you can take with you 10000 MAD out of the country not 1000 , but you shoud change it first to the usd or euro , it;s not allowed to take the moroccan currency out of the country and ,( it’ll not usefull for you abroad either)
peace sis

Hitesh March 17, 2017 - 1:43 am

Thank you, so much, for such a helpful post. We’ll be visiting Morocco in April.

How safe are roads? Is driving in Morocco safe? especially, City to City.

Regards.

Katie Dawes March 21, 2017 - 11:47 am

Hi Hitesh! I would say the roads in Morocco are safe – but they can be very busy around the cities so you just have to drive with confidence! Once you start driving from one city to another you’ll find the roads aren’t so busy, especially if you are going to some of the smaller towns. Just make sure to always carry documents and stick to the speed limit as the police love to do random checks!

Fernanda March 19, 2017 - 2:21 am

Katie, i’ll go to Europe next september and Im planning to jump to Morocco for 3 days at the most, what cities and places do you recomend me to visit? Is it a dangerous country?? Thanks a lot

Katie Dawes March 21, 2017 - 11:44 am

Hi Fernanda! Wow – three days is really not much if I’m completely honest! So I would recommend just visiting one city. Marrakech will offer the most things to do, but if you want a calmer experience I would suggest Essaouira ๐Ÿ™‚

Steph March 27, 2017 - 6:08 am

Thanks for all these articles, very helpful and succinct information!

PT March 30, 2017 - 8:54 am

I’m going to Morocco in 2 weeks and your blog just save me!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Katie Dawes April 4, 2017 - 1:14 pm

Great to hear it! Have a great trip!

Sophie April 10, 2017 - 7:06 am

Hello!! Thank you for this, great advice! I’ll be landing in Tangier and flying out of Casablanca. Late 20s female solo traveller (I’ll master the resting bitch face as well :)) , where would you recommend more of visiting for a 5 day trip? I was planning on going to Chefchaouen, but not sure if the trek there is worth it…heard it’s beautiful though. Not sure how buses run yet, need to do more research, from your experience would it something easy to figure out? Would you recommend a tour guide with me? Thank you in advance!!!

Katie Dawes April 20, 2017 - 12:24 pm

Hi Sophie. I’ve never been to Chefchaouen, but I’ve heard so many incredible things about it that I would recommend it (and hopefully you love it!). But another city you can hit on the way to Casablanca from Tangier is Fes. Personally, I find Fes quite intense. A lot of budget airlines land there and I think it shows in the locals, who can be quite aggressive when trying to get money from tourists. However, like any destination, this doesn’t represent the whole community there and the Medina is one of the best preserved in the whole country in my opinion! If you do decide to go, I stayed in a cute hostel called Funky Fes which is a little difficult to find but very close to the Medina.

Andros Gregoriou April 21, 2017 - 11:25 am

Great post! So informative and has a lot of information people don’t think about or realise. Would have loved this post before travelling to Morocco.

Andros
Blogger @ https://swimeveryocean.com

Katie Dawes April 21, 2017 - 11:38 am

Hi Andros – thanks for the words of encouragement and I’m glad you agree with the content! ๐Ÿ™‚

Cecily April 23, 2017 - 4:29 am

Hi Katie
Thank you for such a comprehensive article. Very interesting and much appreciated.
As a 60 ish female would a maxi dress/skirt with regular polo shirt over the top be adequate cover for street wear or would longer sleeves be more appropriate? Very mindful of the heat! Is the dress code for visiting mosques stricter? Looking forward to our trip in October and thankful for your help.

Katie Dawes April 26, 2017 - 7:11 pm

Hi Cecily – I’m glad you appreciate the article. The polo shirt should be fine, but perhaps carry a light scarf with you to cover more of your arms in the mosques if required ๐Ÿ™‚ Also, if you light long sleeved tops the heat isn’t too bad in October (mid-summer is the worst)!

Andrea Fontana April 24, 2017 - 8:36 pm

Hello! Absolutely loved your blog post! I will be traveling to Morocco June 12- June 19! Casablanca is my first stop for the first half and then heading to Marrakech. Thank you for taking the time to write such an amazing post about Morocco. I look forward to my travels ๐Ÿ™‚

Katie Dawes April 26, 2017 - 7:08 pm

Hi Andrea – you’re welcome and I’m glad you’ve found the post useful! Have a great time in Morocco and if you want tips on Casablanca check out my friend Monika’s blog: Bewildered in Morocco ๐Ÿ™‚

David from travelscams.org August 14, 2017 - 4:02 pm

Great article, thanks for the tips! With the Sahara desert, interesting Mosque architecture, riads, Medinas, mint tea and many more, Morocco is a place not to be missed. However, there are numerous tourist targeted scams to be wary of.

Do be wary of the visa scam, coin collectors, scam orphanages, Angkor Watt touts, incense/prayer scam, Tonle Sap floating village rice scam, milk/food beggar, pickpocketing, snatch theft, invitations to a local home for gambling, tuk tuk scam, rape accusation, fake police and many more!

Nourdine El Jakani September 12, 2017 - 9:44 am

Thank you, so much for a Supportive post.planning to visit and explore the beautiful country of Morocco.

Katie Dawes September 12, 2017 - 10:23 am

You’re welcome Nourdine ๐Ÿ™‚

Melissa October 24, 2017 - 5:41 am

Thank you for such wonderful information! I am currently teaching a homeschooling co-op class called World Travelers and we are about to ‘travel’ to Morocco. I will be using some of your info for my students. I plan to look more at your site as well. Thank you so much!

Katie Dawes November 17, 2017 - 1:40 pm

You’re welcome Melissa – I’m so glad my content can help you with your students and that they enjoyed their ‘trip’ to Morocco! ๐Ÿ˜€

Bryanda November 9, 2017 - 6:48 pm

Hello love your article, very helpful! My roommates and I are studying abroad in Spain and are going to Morocco (Fes) in late November. We’re all in our twenties and are a bit worried as to the “street harassment” and the solo traveling haha. Do you have any tips? Also, we are interested in doing a desert/camel tour but we’re only going to be there 5 days (3 full ones without flying in and out). Do you recommend we do one? I came across a couple, and the shortest was 2 days because the desert is hours away. I really REALLY would like to, but I’m not sure if it is worth it because then we would only have one day to explore Fes. Please let me know, Thanks!

Katie Dawes November 17, 2017 - 1:43 pm

Hi Bryanda! I hope this reaches you before you leave for your trip – sorry for taking so long to reply! If you go to the desert then you will spend almost a whole day travelling by car – which can be quite exhausting. That being said – it’s such a great experience! As for the street harassment – you should be more than fine in a group and just act confident! I’ve never had a problem with serious harassment in Morocco – but the catcalling can be a bit intense so just stick together ๐Ÿ™‚ Oh and don’t let anyone ‘guide’ you anywhere in Fes – they ask for money at the end and can be very demanding! All that being said – Fes was the first trip I ever took in Morocco and I haven’t stop going back to the country since, so I hope you have a similar great experience! ๐Ÿ˜€

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