Journey Beyond Travel

Morocco: Getting Ready & Packing

When traveling in Morocco, be prepared to do a lot of walking through medinas and busy streets, going up and down stairs, and getting in and out of transportation. If you are staying at a hotel inside any old medina, a taxi will drop you off at the entrance and you will need to walk to wherever you are going.

The three main regions of the country are:

Inland & South: Fez, Marrakesh, Sahara, Todra & Dades, Ouarzazate
Coast: Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira, Asilah, Agadir
Mountains: Ifrane, Azrou, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Imlil, Armed

Since the weather varies greatly and considerably drops at night, depending on the season you plan to travel in, you may need to bring a variety of clothes.

The following will help you plan what type of weather to expect & what to bring.

May - September

Inland & South: Very hot, dry & dusty -- Average temp: 30-40°C/ 86-104°F
Coast: Hot, humid & mild -- Average temp: 25-30°C/ 77-90°F
Mountains: Hot, dry, intense sun -- Average temp: 20-30°C/ 68-90°F

Be sure to bring:
• Sunscreen
• Sunburn relief
• Lip protection
• Wide-brim hat
• Light-colored, loose and breathable clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
• Swim clothes

November - April

Inland & South: Warm; rain/floods -- Average temp: 18-25°C/ 65-77°F
Coast: Cool and rainy -- Average temp: 16-21°C/ 62-70°F
Mountains: Cold and snowy -- Average temp: 0-17°C/ 32-65°F

Be sure to bring:
• Warm clothes
• Waterproof jacket and travel umbrella
• Comfortable, waterproof & breathable walking/hiking shoes or boots

* Average temperatures are daytime only. 10°(C)/ 20°(F) colder at night.

Packing:
Pack light and bring only what you can easily carry or roll.
In addition to the above, below is a packing list suggested by JBT.

Suggested Packing List:
__ Passport, visa, travel insurance, airplane tickets
__ Money: cash & credit or debit card, secure money pouch
__ Daypack
__ 3-4 pairs socks
__ 2-3 pairs comfortable walking pants or walking shorts
__ 3-4 short- and/or long-sleeve shirts
__ 4-5 under garments
__ Light, waterproof jacket
__ Sweater or fleece
__ Travel towel
__ Alarm clock
__ Flashlight / torch
__ Sunglasses (UV protection)
__ Travel clothesline
__ Sewing kit (travel size)

Winter Gear / Hiking & Trekking: (In the High Atlas Mountains & Mount Toubkal)
Warm + windproof/waterproof wear; scarf, gloves & cap
0°-rated sleeping bag & Thermarest sleeping pad
Headlamp (head torch)
Nalgene water bottle
Collapsible walking poles
Crampons

Recommended First Aid kit:
__ Anti-diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, & motion-sickness medicine
__ Pain reliever & antihistamines
__ Prescription medicine, as needed
__ Sunscreen (SPF30+) & sunburn relief cream
__ Antiseptic & topical skin irritation cream
__ Anti-bacterial & anti-fungal cream
__ Band-Aids, bandages, gauze
__ Tweezers & scissors (travel size)
__ Insect repellent & eye drops
__ Ibicus syrup (initiates vomiting in case of poisoning)
__ Thermometer

For Mountain Hiking:
Whistle & string or small rope
First-aid pocket guide
Weatherproof sports tape & blister pads
Rehydration salts & foil body-heat emergency blanket
Water purification tablets or drops (or small water filter)
Acute mountain / altitude sickness medicine (Acetazolamide)

Travel Insurance:
If you choose to purchase travel insurance, choose a company that will provide you with at least US $5,000 for emergency repatriation from land, sea, and air. It is also wise to have insurance for lost or stolen luggage and plane tickets, and to allot at least US $350 in an emergency account that you can access from Morocco.

Visas to Enter Morocco:
Most foreigners do not need visas to enter Morocco and are allowed to stay for up to three months (except: South Africans, Israelis, Zimbabweans). However, before traveling, make sure your passport is up to date and good for at least 6 months, and has enough blank pages. It is always best to check online or contact your nearest Moroccan Embassy.

Vaccinations:
There are no vaccination requirements needed before entering Morocco. However, it is always a good idea to consult your physician before travel to make sure your regular inoculations are up to date.

Electronics:
Morocco runs on 220 V and uses the same two-pronged plug-ins as in Europe.

Air conditioning & Heating:
Morocco does get quite hot in the summer and chilly in the winter. Most small hotels do not have air conditioning or heating. Most 3- to 5-star hotel rooms, however, do come equipped with multi-purpose air-conditioning/heating units.

Weights & Measures:
Morocco uses the metric system. Some handy conversions to know:
2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram
1 mile = 1.6 kilometers
1 inch = 2.5 centimters

Time:
Morocco uses military time, or a 24-hour clock.
06:00 = 6 a.m.
18:00 = 6 p.m.