For the mobility impaired, Morocco travel can prove to be a difficult endeavor, but is not impossible with some preparation. If you have a helpful travel companion and are willing to spend extra money for private transportation, many of Morocco’s tourist sites and experiences will be accessible to you.
Moroccan Cities
Large Moroccan cities typically have two sections: the old city (medina) and the new city (ville nouvelle). Mobility impaired travelers will have an easier time maneuvering the newer sections of town, as avenues tend to be wider and well-paved while the medinas are made up narrow, bumpy, unpaved lanes.
Tourist sites located within the medinas can usually only be accessed on foot, and in a place like Old Fez it would be impossible to take a wheelchair. Even if the lane looks wide enough, donkeys with oversized loads often pass through causing pedestrians to press up against the walls or duck into shops in order to avoid being knocked over.
Rabat is likely the easiest imperial city to navigate for less-than-abled travelers, as its medina has wide lanes and it doesn’t have the traffic of Casablanca or Fez.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Morocco is not wheelchair friendly. Moroccan trains do not have handicap access, and during peak times passengers may end up elbowing each other in their attempts to cram into a crowded car. Aside from first class, rail classes do not have designated seats for passengers and trains can become overbooked. Slow walkers would do best traveling by train with a buddy and booking first-class seats.
Moroccan buses are also not wheelchair accessible. Many local buses will not leave the bus station until a certain number of seats have been sold, so passengers may end up waiting for over an hour until the bus departs. CTM buses generally run on time and can be booked ahead. The atmosphere is less chaotic.
Two types of taxis operate in Morocco: petit (small) taxis within cities and grand (big) taxis for traveling outside of or between cities. Petit taxis have limited trunk space and would not be able to fit a wheelchair, but grand taxis are usually Mercedes and are roomier. If you’re unable to rent a private van, the best option for traveling around a city would be to hire a grand taxi and driver for the day.
Accommodation & Dining
The majority of budget and mid-range hotels do not have accessibility features. In order to find a hotel with wheelchair-accessible rooms, look for international chains in major cities.
Ground-level roadside cafes and restaurants are plentiful in major cities; the outdoor seating can be a good option if the establishment doesn’t have ramp access.
Some hotels and restaurants are located in traditional Moroccan houses known as dars. When booking, be sure to inquire whether your destination is located on the ground floor, as Moroccan homes typically have steep, narrow staircases. In the older sections of the city, restaurants are often located on the top floor of a multi-family home.
Bathrooms
Moroccan toilets are of the squat variety and are usually tiny. To find a western-style toilet, head to an international chain restaurant like McDonald’s or Pizza Hut. High-end restaurants and hotels often have western-style toilets, but you are not likely to find bathrooms especially made for handicap accessibility unless you are in a large international hotel.
Resources
Here are a few French-language resources for handicapped Moroccans. These organizations may be able to further assist you in your travel planning.
http://www.marochandicap.com/
http://amh.ma/
Written by Heather Carreiro.
Photo by blueSkySunHigh.
