You’ve finally answered your dream to journey to Morocco, a land of sky-scraping mountains, never-ending deserts and mile-long beaches…not to mention vibrant Imperial cities filled with both elegant restaurants and street stalls brimming with hot made harira (soup), harsha (flat cornbread) and freshly squeezed orange juice (OJ—A Moroccan must-have). While all these make for a gastronomical pleasure-ride, such delight has its downfall. Yes, we’re talking about getting here. What should you take to meet all of your Moroccan traveling needs? Worry not, my friends, for we have listed here the TOP FIVE most crucial items to bring on your Morocco tours!
#1 – Long, loose and lightweight pants are the most critical item you will pack for your Moroccan travels. Wearing shorts or short skirts is not looked upon highly in this Muslim North African country, and you will receive some strange looks in smaller Moroccan villages if you show up baring your legs.
Pack pants that are lightweight, so that they will travel well. Taking pants that are a darker color. This is particularly useful as they will hide dirt well and can also be used as dressier pants in a nicer restaurant. Women, if you don’t want to take pants, a long skirt that covers your ankles will also be appropriate.
#2 – A versatile hat will be essential. Pack a hat that will travel well, and that has a string attached to it so that you can keep it tight on your head (the winds in beach towns like Asilah or Essaouira will blow that hat straight into the ocean if it’s not tied down!). The Moroccan sun is strong, bright, and often relentless – even if you are not accustomed to wearing a hat in your home country, you will find this item to be priceless in Morocco.
Sunscreen is also necessary, of course, but if you are spending all day under the Moroccan sun (as you might be if you are on a Saharan camel trek, for example), you will need to have your face covered and a wide-brimmed hat will do just the trick.
#3 – Wet wipes…ahh, you thought these were only for babies? No, these versatile little wipes may be used for a number of purposes in Morocco, and having a few small travel packs will serve you well. You may use these wipes as tissue paper, as you will not often find TP in Moroccan bathrooms. Most people in Morocco use the very sanitary but little-understood system (at least by Westerners) of water wiping; while this is a very convenient and eco-friendly way to use the bathroom, it is doubtful that you will become accustomed to it during your travels. So, pack those handy wet wipes! They can also be used after or before eating to wash your hands if you don’t have access to a sink.
#4 – An ATM card that is linked to international networks like “Cirrus” or “Plus.” Call your card company ahead of time and inform them that you are going to be traveling to Morocco and that you will be taking out money while you are there – this is critical, otherwise they may cancel your Visa when they see that 300 USD was taken out in Marrakesh! Using an ATM card is much simpler than traveller’s cheques (a waste of your time and money, these outdated cheques are accepted in very few locations in Morocco and you will lose money in the exchange). The same can be said for exchanging money, whether it be in banks or with some guy on the street. An ATM card is truly the way to travel while in Morocco.
#5 – And finally…bring a great, interesting, and easy to pack book (no coffee table picture guides!) that you can pull out at night, while relaxing over mint tea in a café, or while waiting in the Sahara Desert for your camel to have a rest. Morocco is not a fast-paced land, and you will find that life moves a bit slower than what you are used to. Don’t fret this, simply go with the flow and let yourself fall into the relaxed rhythm of the Maghrebi lifestyle.
Having a great book can help to pass the time during your Moroccan travels: a few great reads that are recommended to keep you psyched about Morocco are: Dreams of Trespass, Tales of a Harem Girlhood by noted Moroccan sociologist Fatimi Mernissi, The Caliph’s House, a Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah and Morocco, the Islamist Awakening and other Challenges by former New York Times correspondent Marvine Howe.
Follow these aforementioned guidelines and you will have the absolute essentials you need to journey through Morocco! There are certainly other items that are great to bring along (a camera, contact lens solution, etc.). However, if you bring these top five items, you will be in a good position to set out to one of the most exotic and beautiful countries in Africa…and everything else will work itself out.
