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Introduction
Morocco is a country of varied sights, sounds, smells and tastes that will overwhelm your senses. You can look forward to a wide range of experiences while seeing the highlights of the country. Our aim is to help you enjoy the best Morocco has to offer and ease you into the culture and customs of the country by providing helpful tips and phrases.
On any one of our Morocco tours, you’ll be able to travel through various ecosystems, mountain ranges, valleys, gorges, deserts, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, desert, oases, plateaus, plains, beaches, forests, medieval cities, roman ruins, and more. From date palms to cedars, storks to Barbary apes, Morocco’s plant and wildlife is abundant. Other wildlife you may spot are camels, sheep, goats, hawks, woodpeckers, foxes, lizards and scorpions, just to name a few.
Morocco Travel Guide - Fun Facts
Name: Kingdom of Morocco Capital: Rabat Government: Constitutional Monarchy; King Mohammed VI Geography: Mountains, Desert, Beaches, Forests, Oases, Gorges, Plains, Valleys Population: 34 million; Abroad: 1.7 million Area: 172,000 sq miles (about the size of California) Languages: Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish Religion: Sunni Muslim (99%); Christian (0.8%); Jewish (0.2%) Literacy Rate: 52% Unemployment Rate: 11% Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD) Number of tourists in 2011: 8 million Largest Cities: Casablanca (3.3 million); Rabat (1.6 million) Best Times to Visit: September through November; March through June
History, Climate, and Architecture
Morocco had been geographically important and historically rich way before the Arabs invaded in the seventh century. Fossil remains in parts of the country show Morocco was inhabited over 50,000 years ago. Rock carvings portray lush forests populated by elephants, ostriches, giraffes and lions.
Punic tombs attest to Phoenician settlement from the 12th century B.C. until the 2nd century B.C. when the Romans took over—it was at this time that Jews started coming to Morocco after the Egyptian Exodus.
The Arabs and Islam arrived to Morocco in the 7th century. However, even before the arrival of the Phoenicians the land was already inhabited by a group of indigenous tribal people known as the Berbers, who still inhabit much of the countryside and mountain regions, and whose origins are still being debated.
Just as varied as its landscape is its climate. Temperatures along the coast range from 12°C/54°F to 25°C/77°F in the winter and summer, respectively. However, you can expect much hotter temperatures inland, and much colder temperatures in the High Atlas and Middle Atlas mountain ranges. While it is a relatively dry country, expect rain or snow during the winter and early spring.
Marrakesh is Morocco’s hottest city with temperatures that have reached as high as 54C/130F in the summer. The coldest city is Ifrane, nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains. This city is reminiscent of a European alpine village with snow in the winter and temperatures plummeting to below freezing. One of the lowest temperatures recorded in Africa was in Ifrane in 1935 where it fell to an icy -24?C/-11?F.
Architecture
You will see many different types of architecture, all of which cannot be described in full in our Morocco travel guide. Typically, square, adobe huts in small, mountain villages, colonial-style buildings in the new cities, and lavish palaces in the Imperial Cities. The road between Ouarzazate and Erfoud is known as the “Route of 1000 Kasbahs”. There aren’t exactly 1000 kasbahs, but these fortified Berber structures are primarily made from the reddish-brown mud of the region.
The most impressive kasbah in Morocco is the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. Other notable structures to look for are mosques and minarets, medersas (koranic schools), mausoleums, babs (medina entries or doors), and riads (traditional Moroccan houses, many of which have been turned into boutique guesthouses).
Moroccan Cuisine
Morocco abounds with food stalls, stands and restaurants. Moroccan food is delicious and can be an enjoyable experience, but if you’re eating at these stalls, stands and restaurants, clean and sanitary conditions aren’t always a main priority, so it handy to bring a guide along to find the most reputable spots. Many travelers do get sick from the food and water, so unless you have a strong stomach, drink bottled water, avoid eating uncooked salads, and make sure the places you eat at are relatively clean–check the kitchen and bathroom areas. Tip a minimum of 10%.
Moroccan food is quite rich. Most dishes are prepared with meat, spices, vegetables or dried fruit and plenty of oil. The meal will always come with round, flat bread and sometimes French fries served on the side. You eat with your right hand by breaking off a bite-sized piece of bread then taking it, gripping the food with it, and putting the medley in your mouth. It takes some practice, but no need to worry because you will also be brought utensils. Soft drinks are widely available, as is bottled water, and don’t forget to try a pot of very sweet, mint tea after your meal. You may have an alcoholic beverage with your meal if you are eating in the new part of town; however, alcohol is not served in eateries in the old medinas, even in Fez and Marrakesh.
Desserts
Cab ghezal (1/4 moon-shaped cookies filled w/ almond paste)
Ghreeba (sweet almond or walnut cookies)
Braywat (triangular-shaped pastry w/ sweet or salty filling)
Shopping, Money, Post, Phone, & Hygiene
You will pass many shops and vendors. The vendors will urge you to go in and look, and possibly have some tea. If you aren’t interested, be polite and say no, thank you. If you do go in to look and are interested in buying something, you MUST bargain. The starting price you are quoted will be doubled, tripled, or more. Be firm; state your price and haggle. If you don’t agree on a price, say thank you and walk out. Your guide might be able to help you with getting the best deal. You can shop around and compare prices, then go back if you want. However, if you do bargain for an item and agree on a price, then don’t decide to buy it, you will offend many vendors. Bakeries, restaurants, bookshops, pharmacies, clothing shops in the new city, and supermarkets and local grocery stores have set prices. If you see a price tag on an item at any of the above places, avoid bargaining. Many cities and most towns have a weekly open-air market where you can find fruit, vegetables, spices, clothes, kitchenware, and anything else you can get at bargain prices.
You will be able to exchange money in most banks in the major cities and towns such as Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Erfoud, Ifrane, Meknes, Fez, and Tangier. A local guide can help you exchange money as credit cards aren’t widely accepted, except at big hotels, major department stores & supermarkets, and some highly touristy shops. However, you will be able to extract funds with a Visa or MasterCard from ATM machines located almost everywhere. You won’t be able to use or cash traveler’s checks, and it isn’t wise to exchange money with people on the street or standing outside of banks.
Post Office
Post offices can also be found in every major city or town, but are sometimes hard to find, so bring a guide that indicates the location. Stamp prices are reasonable and you can send packages via regular or express mail.
Phoning Home
Public phone shops are everywhere and Internet cafés are quickly spreading–most are equipped with Skype, MSN messenger and headsets and video cameras! Calling abroad from a pay phone can be expensive. Internet rates range from 5-12 dirhams an hour.
Bathrooms
Most bathrooms have squat toilets. You will also find a bucket or other receptacle and a low-to-the-ground faucet. Moroccans wash with their left hand (right hand is used for eating) after going to the bathroom. Try to bring toilet paper with you and purcahse a roll at any little grocery store. The best tissues to buy are called Tempos. Avoid throwing toilet paper or tissue down the toilets. It is necessary to have a small plastic bag with you in case there is no trash bin. Some public bathrooms will require you to pay a dirham after using the facilities; you will find a saucer with coins on a chair or table near the exit/entrance. Drop your dirham there.
Transportation and Driving
To get around any major city or town, you can use a small taxi, which you will see everywhere. They are usually brightly colored and the rates are inexpensive. When you get into a taxi, make sure the meter is working. If it’s not, get out and hail another cab. Moroccans don’t usually tip taxi drivers. All taxis start out charging you a minimum fare of 2 to 3 dirhams as soon as you get in. The only time you will have to negotiate a price is when hiring a taxi to the airport or from town to town.
You will see many old, white Mercedes zooming to and from any city, town or village; these are the big taxis. They transport people back and forth at all hours of the day. Once 6 people are tightly packed in, the taxi will leave. The standard fare is 25 dirhams an hour per spot. This rate won’t apply at airports. For a ten-minute drive into downtown Fez or Marrakesh from the Fez-Saiss or Marrakech-Menara airports expect to pay 120-150 dirhams.
Trains in Morocco are quite comfortable and usually on time. First- and second-class seats are available, and you can easily travel by train to Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fez, and Meknes. You won’t be able to take the train to Essaouira or farther south, or east of Marrakesh to the desert. To get to these places you can take a big taxi or a bus, or rent a car.
There are several bus companies that provide service to all cities, most towns, and some villages. Traffic accidents are rampant in Morocco, so make sure you go with a reliable bus company—CTM or Supratours.
Driving isn’t highly recommended by the writers of our Morocco travel guide since they know the roads can be quite dangerous and challenging for a number of reasons. Once you leave the network of interstate highways that connect Tangier to Marrakesh and Rabat to Fez, the roads and national highways are a narrow and bumpy ride. You can rent a vehicle starting at $50/day and up in any major city. You can also hire a big taxi for the day for about $100.
Other Travel Tidbits
In general, Morocco is a safe country to travel in. But, be on the lookout for petty thieves, touts and con artists, especially in popular places and tourist attractions. Avoid being out late at night unless you are in a well-lit area with other people around.
For women, it is wise to dress modestly. Avoid wearing clothes that are too short, low-cut, tight or revealing. Being harassed by males on the street is common and many Moroccan females enjoy the attention. Dating and sexual relations are still taboo and not talked about in the home or at school. Therefore, the only time men and women get to meet and flirt is on the street.
Public hospitals, private clinics, pharmacies and dentists are located in every city and town. Hospitals and clinics are open 24 hours and 7 days a week, as are certain pharmacies. Pharmacies are everywhere. Look for the white sign with a green crescent moon on it. You can buy anything from anti-diarrhea to motion-sickness medicine, and the price of medicine is inexpensive. Getting treated at a hospital, clinic or dentist is also very reasonable. An average doctor’s check-up in a big city costs between 100-200 ds, and a dental exam is usually under 100 ds.
Religion
Morocco is a liberal Muslim nation but is still conservative in certain regards. You will see many mosques and tall rectangular minarets in every village, town and city. The call to prayer can be heard five times a day (one in the early morning a couple hours before sunrise), reminding practicing Muslims to pray. When passing by a mosque, be respectful. You can peer in, but avoid entering. If prayer is in session, refrain from taking pictures.
Dress
Most Moroccan women don’t wear the full black gown and veil. They either wear a long, colorful gown with a hood, called a djellaba, and a scarf covering their head, or western clothing. You will also see men wearing djellabas, but in more subdued colors.
Family
Family is very important to Moroccans and in most cases the main priority. Many families are big and include the extended family. The main married couple may have their own bedroom; otherwise, the whole family will sleep on the couches that line the living room.
Harassment
If a man is harassing you on the street, don’t make eye contact or talk to him. Ignore him and walk away. If he proceeds to follow you, continue ignoring and evading him. He will eventually realize you are not interested. If you talk back or tell him off, he might get angry and become aggressive.
Morocco is a very male-dominated society. You will notice, especially in rural areas, men leading businesses and sitting at cafés while the women are working inside the home or on the field.
Literacy
Most Morocco travel excursions with local operators will take you into the countryside. The literacy rate in these areas is under 50% for women, and overall unemployment is high. The educational system at present is still old-fashioned, out-dated, and conservative. In the workplace, a bureaucratic attitude is prevalent and corruption is widespread at every level. All of these factors contribute to a lax attitude regarding health, hygiene, littering, pollution, road safety and bribery.
Poverty and Begging
While Morocco does have a welfare and social security system, many people do not benefit from them. You will see many people of all ages and handicaps begging on the street. If you want to give someone money, it is best to give to the elderly or disabled. It isn’t good to give to children; this will encourage them to keep on begging as they get older.
Morocco is a country of varied sights, sounds, smells and tastes that will overwhelm your senses. You can look forward to a wide range of experiences while seeing the highlights of the country. Our aim is to help you enjoy the best Morocco has to offer and ease you into the culture and customs of the country by providing helpful tips and phrases.
Morocco abounds with food stalls, stands and restaurants. Moroccan food is delicious and can be an enjoyable experience, but if you’re eating at these stalls, stands and restaurants, clean and sanitary conditions aren’t always a main priority, so it handy to bring a guide along to find the most reputable spots. Many travelers do get sick from the food and water, so unless you have a strong stomach, drink bottled water, avoid eating uncooked salads, and make sure the places you eat at are relatively clean–check the kitchen and bathroom areas. Tip a minimum of 10%.
You will pass many shops and vendors. The vendors will urge you to go in and look, and possibly have some tea. If you aren’t interested, be polite and say no, thank you. If you do go in to look and are interested in buying something, you MUST bargain. The starting price you are quoted will be doubled, tripled, or more. Be firm; state your price and haggle. If you don’t agree on a price, say thank you and walk out. Your guide might be able to help you with getting the best deal. You can shop around and compare prices, then go back if you want. However, if you do bargain for an item and agree on a price, then don’t decide to buy it, you will offend many vendors. Bakeries, restaurants, bookshops, pharmacies, clothing shops in the new city, and supermarkets and local grocery stores have set prices. If you see a price tag on an item at any of the above places, avoid bargaining. Many cities and most towns have a weekly open-air market where you can find fruit, vegetables, spices, clothes, kitchenware, and anything else you can get at bargain prices.
To get around any major city or town, you can use a small taxi, which you will see everywhere. They are usually brightly colored and the rates are inexpensive. When you get into a taxi, make sure the meter is working. If it’s not, get out and hail another cab. Moroccans don’t usually tip taxi drivers. All taxis start out charging you a minimum fare of 2 to 3 dirhams as soon as you get in. The only time you will have to negotiate a price is when hiring a taxi to the airport or from town to town.
In general, Morocco is a safe country to travel in. But, be on the lookout for petty thieves, touts and con artists, especially in popular places and tourist attractions. Avoid being out late at night unless you are in a well-lit area with other people around.
