About Visiting Morocco | Morocco Explored Travel advice and holiday information about Morocco, what to wear and bring, customs and culture, flights, food, weather, good news, and more.

Morocco is different. Ethnic diversity, colour and contrast creates a holiday destination for everyone, whether you are a seasoned traveller, an adventurer, a trekker, a shopper, a big city escapist, weary of your office, seek sunshine and smiling faces, love to photograph, paint, dance, enjoy music, or simply want to feel the warm sand on your feet and slow down to unwind.

As your holiday unfolds you will find yourself caught in Morocco’s splendor. Wandering through the medina, you will hear the wail of the Muezzin calling the faithful to prayer, and “balek! balek!”, the cry of a donkey cart driver warning you out of their way. In the market, jewel colours of indigo, saffron and henna dazzle in beautiful carpets. In Marrakech’s Djemaa El Fna square you can dance with the bellydancers, have your fortune told, pay a scribe to write a letter, watch the acrobats and be mesmerised by the flute that charms the viper. Relax in a streetside cafe and taste exotic spice in your food, and mint in your tea. Ancient mosques and minarets, opulent palaces and the stark beauty of the sunrise among towering kasbahs in the Sahara desert are waiting for you.

In Sahara time slows to the pace of your camel softly shuffling across the dunes to the oasis. Watch the moonrise, your world will fall away and you will be caught in the aura of mystery that pervades this land. The desert nomads, like their camels, are in no hurry. Where is there to go? The desert has a timeless quality — go with it and you will begin to understand. Here is a land where something forgotten lives on.

Can we invite you to join us and fall under the enchantment of Morocco? For Morocco Explored tour options click on Tours & Treks below.

Who is MOROCCO EXPLORED?

Clothing
In the cities of Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca etc. Moroccan men and women often dress as they would on the streets of London or New York. However, outside of the cities and especially in the rural villages, we recommend that you follow the local tradition where both men and women cover themselves from the knee (shorts or skirt) to the elbow (short-sleeved T-shirts). Loose trousers are recommended for camel treks. See also Q9 on FAQ's.

In the High Atlas mountains, a fleece jacket or warm sweater, and long pants are needed for desert and High Atlas nights outside of the summer months. For winter, a warm coat, a hat, gloves and wool socks are essential. A windproof jacket is also essential for walking treks in the desert or in the Atlas mountains.

Currency
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham. Morocco's currency is restricted (you cannot sell Dirhams internationally) so you will need to convert your own currency on arrival. Cash is recommended for initial conversion at the airport, and although ATMs are readily available at airports and throughout Moroccan cities, they occasionally run out of Dirhams when they are busy! We recommend that you retain all receipts for cross-checking when you arrive back home. Euros are generally accepted as payment as well. For more about credit cards and aquiring cash see FAQ's.

Convert Moroccan Dirhams to another currency.

Guides, Drivers and Vehicles
Regulations govern guides, drivers and vehicles licensed to work with tourists in Morocco. Each driver and vehicle has to be registered and carry the associated permits. Both drivers and vehicles are checked twice yearly before the touristic permit is renewed. Police checkpoints regularly stop and check for the correct paperwork. We use registered drivers who are personally known to us. Guides are liscensed according to district and activity: ie: mountain guides, Marrakech city guides, etc. They must have a badge showing they are liscenced in the district. Because of this, as a tourist you should hire a local guide if you wish to have a guided tour. They will have up to date knowledge and personal experience of the site you are visiting. Our drivers cannot act as a guide in some cases. Please see FAQ's for more about tipping guides.

Environment
Morocco defies a simple description. It spans the Northwest corner of Africa from the Rif mountains and the Mediterranean below Spain, and south down the Atlantic ocean. The High Atlas mountains divide the Sahara desert from the fertile flat cental plains. We like to think of it as a country of cedar forests, long Atlantic beaches, colourful markets, ancient medinas, sandy deserts, bountiful vineyards, acres of olive, argan & orange trees, hedgerows filled with wild flowers and herbs, exotic palmeries, snow capped mountains, and deep river gorges. The climate invites visitors for skiing, surfing, wind-surfing, golfing, cycling, trekking and more. Please see weather below.

Morocco Explored runs most tours in the southern part of Morocco, in the delicate desert environment and High Atlas mountains. We foster responsible tourism and recommend that our guides do not leave rubbish anywhere, and respect the environment with preservation of resources, flora and fauna, etc.
Read about us in Ode Magazine!

Please do not leave your own rubbish behind. Wherever possible please take out whatever you bring in, (i.e.: empty shampoo containers, etc.). If you go on a camel trek in the desert, there are no disposal facilities. Please be environmentally aware and burn toilet paper or carry it out for disposal. If you bury toilet paper in the desert it will not decompose, and the wind eventually shifts the sand to expose it.

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Five Pillars of Islam
Morocco is an Islamic country and its people are predominantly Muslims. As a Muslim one is expected to;
1) take a declaration of faith;
2) pray 5 times a day facing Mecca;
3) fast from daybreak to sunset during the month of Ramadan;
4) give alms and be charitable;
5) visit Mecca once in your lifetime.

When you travel throughout Morocco you will witness the declaration of faith e.g. praying in the street or fasting during Ramadan. In the month of Ramadan, many businesses are closed during the daytime, but life goes on as usual at night, and Moroccans must keep working. Sometimes tempers and patience can be tested during daylight hours when no smoking, food or water is consumed but overall, people are very happy to be expressing their faith through fasting with strength and dignity. It's an amazing time to come to Morocco and witness this most important time of year. Please be respectful.

In 2009 Ramadan will start on August 22 and end on September 21.

While you are in Morocco you may be asked for alms. It is acceptable to give to those genuinely in need i.e. the elderly. However, we strongly advise against giving anything to children, including sweets. Please see FAQ's for more about giving gifts and tips.

Food and Drink
Moroccan cuisine is delicious and offers you traditional dishes such as harira (tasty and nourishing bean soup traditionally served for breakfast), tagine (succulent meat cooked with spices and vegetables in a conical shaped pot), meschui (whole roasted sheep/goat), tangia, a Marrakech specialty, couscous, fresh salads and fruits, hot steaming bread and other delicacies. Café au lait, or café "nous-nous' with pastries is a popular pastime in the street side cafes and mint tea awaits you wherever you go. Alcohol is permissible and can be purchased at supermarkets and hotels (but may be partly unavailable during Ramadan).

Most food in Morocco is typically grown without hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides. Enjoy!
Want some great Moroccan RECIPES?

If you are invited to eat with a family, you will typically sit on the floor and eat from a communal plate, placed in the middle of a small table - eat with your right hand only. Utensils are not used although, as a visitor, you are likely to be offered a fork or spoon.

Vegetarian requests are understood and accommodated in most tourist visited areas. Vegan is not.

Water in the cities is fine for washing and brushing teeth etc., but we do not recommend that you drink quantities of tap or well water. Excellent bottled mineral water is available everywhere.

If you are an inexperienced traveller, chances are you will suffer stomach upsets. It will pass, (usually within 24 hours), so give yourself a break, eat only well cooked foods, and drink plenty of water, then congratulate your stomach for joining the well-travelled guts around the world!

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Health and Safety
For our tour liability please see Terms and Conditions.

Visit your countries' travel advisory for Morocco. Also we have more comments and opinions on FAQ's.

Australia: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au//
Canada:http://www.voyage.gc.ca/
Great Britain: http://www.fco.gov.uk/
United States: http://travel.state.gov/

Hotels/Accommodation
We have a list of links to Hotels booked regularly by our clients.

We offer accomodation in superbly renovated riads, traditional kasbahs, desert auberge, and the simplicity of a camel wool tent among the nomads.

Hotels are a matter of choice and fit every budget. Many of the unclassified hotels are small (up to 12 rooms), clean and charming, often attached to a lovely walled garden where breakfast is served on a patio or terrace. The classified hotels are 1 star (simple) to 5 star (pure indulgence in the cities), auberge, riad, and rural gite d'tape.

Desert bivouacs are traditional nomad carpeted tents with mattress, sheets and blankets. You can shower at the auberge where you will also have breakfast.

Morocco Explored uses 3 star level hotels, but that said, there are many charming auberge (small country inns) and boutique hotels we like to use. Stays include breakfast, and many include dinner. You will stay in traditional mud (kasbah) style buildings, many with wood burning fireplaces and salons or roof terraces for taking meals. They are very charming and comfortable, or otherwise in more modern hotels or equivalent. In Marrakech, Essaouira and Fes we use small hotels renovated from old Merchant houses (riads) in the old medina.

Why we don't send a list of our hotels before you book...
We can provide 2 examples of the types of hotels we use when asked, but for our small hotels, we do not disclose until receiving a booking confirmation (deposit) from our clients. Past clients have told us they've found Morocco Explored emails and webtexts have been copied word for word by other tour operators and guides. We don't want the same to happen with our small intimate hotels, which for the most part have limited rooms available. Some hotels are exclusive to us, our Marrakech riad for example. It's taken us a long time to find and create excellent working relationships with our hoteliers and we're protecting the quality of our hotels for our clients.

Immunisation
Professional medical advice for updating your shots should be obtained at home before entering Morocco. Some shots take several weeks or longer to be effective. Do not delay.
See Health and Safety above for travel advisories.

Insurance
Travel insurance should be obtained before leaving your country of origin. Moroccan hospitals have limited diagnostic capability. Foreign run clinics are extensive, but can be expensive. Liability laws in Morocco follow the French model, where you are expected to insure yourself for any accidents as well. Buying travel insurance is recommended.

Languages
In this former French colony English is spoken as the 3rd or 4th language after Arabic, Berber and French. Alongside Arabic and French, Spanish and English is now taught in schools.

Myths about Morocco
Films, fiction and images often depict Morocco as a Middle Eastern (Asian) country covered by sand and inhabited by dark, blue-robed men who lure you to their tent to offer an exchange of gold or women for camels. Although anything might seem possible, a more authentic Morocco description should include an hospitable North African tribal people who delight in sharing their culture of fine cuisine, exotic music, exquisite crafts, and fascinating history.

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People of Morocco
The original occupants of Morocco are collectively known as the Berber tribes, but over time parts of modern-day Morocco have been occupied by Arabs, Phoenicians, Romans, Vikings, Spanish and Portuguese, and Nomadic peoples of Sahara to name a few.

Moroccans are a naturally curious and hospitable people who are intrigued by the outside world. They delight in welcoming you into their home, which could be a black wool tent (Atlas and desert regions), a flat-roofed traditional house made of mud and straw (pise), or a medina villa (riad).
For more in-depth information please visit http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/morocco/

Policies
When you choose Morocco Explored, you will be supporting many Moroccan partners and guides, as our work is diversified among many regions and families, unlike some other tour operators who work exclusively within their own family. We take advantage of local knowledge and wisdom. We choose to respect, on every level, the unparalleled diversity within Morocco. See also Who Are We? and FAQs.

We foster Carbon Neutral travel and responsible tourism; respecting nature, the environment and culture. We also contribute to Just Giving/Morocco, a Moroccan NGO starting to build and run boarding houses near secondary education colleges to allow young women from disadvantaged rural families to continue their education beyond the Primary level.

Politics
Morocco is considered the most moderate democratic Islamic country. The ruling monarchy is open-minded, peace loving, and tolerant. Since 9-11 English-speaking visitors have continued to visit Morocco and have always been welcomed with warmth and typical Moroccan hospitality. The September 2003 and May 2007 attacks in Casablanca are rare events and retribution was swift for the offending terrorists. Foreign Embassies advise that caution should be taken in public places when political situations arise, such as with protest marches, etc. as is prudent anywhere.

Sahara Desert
We are often asked if it is safe to travel into the Sahara and the answer is Yes! (See also FAQs.) For many the desert is the highlight of their trip. We will transport you to the Erg Chebbi sand sea. You will not need a Land Rover or a camel to access the dunes and enjoy the ever-changing colours of this remarkable landscape, especially at sunset.

The Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga are the highest in Morocco and climbing them is an exhilarating experience - just remember to always carry a bottle of water with you.

For those whose dream is to wander the desert like a nomad and sleep under the stars at an oasis deep in the dunes, you might want to experience a camel trek. For those wanting to enjoy the tranquillity of the desert without travelling by camel, we can arrange for a nomad tent camp. Alternately, you can enjoy the comfort of an en-suite room just minutes walk to the dunes.

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Shopping
Shopping in Morocco can be an challenge rather than a casual pass-time. A visit to the souk* (a market consisting of hundreds of tiny shops), will mean sharing a glass of mint tea with the merchants, while you examine the variety and quality of the craftsmanship and haggle for a bargain, all this takes time. Enjoy, it can be a lot of fun.

Please note that it is considered inappropriate to offer money (or anything else to anyone) with your left hand.

*A souk is a market in which you can find almost anything, including locally grown/made products.

The larger cities have hip and sophisticated shops that sell clothing, electronics and jewellery etc., much of it imported from Europe. There are also shopping centres that sell brand-name food, pharmaceuticals and household goods. But more often you will buy from the local merchants for daily essentials such as mineral water (eau mineral), toilet paper, shampoo, chocolate and liquor stors, etc.

Our guides watch over our clients to avoid any illegal occurrences as outlined in the Geneva Convention for acquiring cultural property or endangered species. Also, we strongly discourage our clients from purchasing anything that compromises wild populations of plants or animals. See also FAQ's.

Support Staff
We employ local people whenever possible (muleteers, camel handlers, drivers, guides, guest house owners in the mountains). See also FAQ's.

Tailor-made (Bespoke) Tours
Tours can be tailor-made, costs vary according to length, choice of hotels, the distances covered etc. For tour options click on Book a Tour below. For more information, please contact us.

Trains and Buses - ONCF, Supratours, CTM bus
See schedules and information website links.

Visas
Visa requirements are country-dependent. An entry visa for 3 months is granted by Morocco upon arrival.

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Kingdom of Morocco: Algeria - Andorra - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Bahrain - Belgium - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Chile - Republic of Congo - Croatia - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Germany - Great Britain - Greece - Guinea (Conakry) - Hong Kong - Hungary - Iceland - Indonesia - Ireland - Italy - Ivory Coast - Japan - Kuwait - Latvia - Libya - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxemburg - Mali - Malta - Mexico - Monaco - Netherlands - New Zealand - Niger - Norway - Oman - Peru - Philippines - Poland - Puerto Rico - Qatar - Romania - Russian Federation - Saudi Arabia - Senegal - Singapore (Singaporean nationals may stay up to one month without visa) - Slovakia - Slovenia - South Korea - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Tunisia - Turkey - United Arab Emirates - United States of America - Venezuela.

Citizens from countries not listed above need to obtain a visa prior to entering the country. For more information contact the Moroccan Consulate, or contact your home government office or Morocco embassy for more details.

Weather - Forecasts for Morocco cities.
Will it be Hot? In a nutshell, hot in summer, warm in spring and fall, warm to cold in winter. The truth is, it can vary immensely depending on where you are. Northern Morocco including Tangier, Fez and the Atlantic coast down to Casablanca has a pleasant Mediterranean climate, and does get more rain than the rest of Morocco. The Atlantic coast has steady year round temperatures resembling pleasant summer weather, but can be especially windy during the summer months. The further south you go it will be hotter.

The High Atlas mountains offer relief from Marrakech hot summers, with pleasant daytime temperatures and cooler nights. These mountains experience the full 4 seasons, with deep snow falling some years, making it a unique destination for skiing. Snowpack can stay on the mountain passes until mid-June which hampers any high elevation mule trekking. So be prepared for anything in the mountains.

Because sand does not hold any heat, the Sahara dunes can be cold at night and very! cold in the winter, with pleasantly warm sunny to very hot summer daytimes. Summertime it's especially important to drink water every half hour or so to avoid nausea and heatstroke. We do use our air conditioning in the vehicles to keep you comfortable. But please remember to still drink water often. Fruit juice and sugar based drinks are not considered proper rehydration fluids, nor is coffee or tea. Please drink water often during your summer visit to Sahara. Flash thunderstorms can be spectacular. Sand storms and mud rains occasionally last an hour or so, and make memorable experiences.

January and February can be quite cold in the mountains and in the desert, especially at night this time of year. But there are fewer tourists, and sunny warm days in Marrakech contrasting with snowy High Atlas in the distance is otherworldly.

What to Bring on Camel Trek
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Bottled water minimum 1.5 litres
Matches or a lighter.
Medical Supplies (e.g. prescription drugs, painkillers, bandages - various sizes, topical disinfectant, eye drops, diarhea medication)
Moisturiser/lip balm 15 SPF or higher.
Rubbish bag
Sunscreen SPF 15 or higher and good quality UV sunglasses.
Toilet Paper (buy in Morocco)
Torch/Flashlight
Wet-wipes
Zip Lock style baggie(s) for just about everything.
We have sleeping bags available for you to use, but in high season in December (Christmas and New Years) we sometimes cannot supply everyone. Warm blankets are supplied, but during winter high season, if you can bring a sleeping bag, we recommend you do so.

What to Wear on Camel Trek
See recommended clothing.
A traditional long cotton scarf to wrap around your head is recommended if sand is blowing, you can buy one enroute for about 50-100 dirhams (depending on size) if needed. They’re great for keeping sand out of your hair, nose and eyes. Longer pants are most comfortable on camels. It can also be cool in the desert at night October to May, so please bring extra clothing for this time; warm sweater or light jacket. Walking Shoes (lightweight) or sandals are fine. Winter nights (December, January and February) you'll need to wear shoes, warm socks, long pants, plus bring a warmer coat, hat, and gloves.

For more information click on the icons across the top of this page. FAQ's also has important information about visiting Morocco.

Contact

info@moroccoexplored.com

Telephone Morocco:
GSM: +212 66 770 5212

Telephone inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 66 770 5212

Telephone Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715

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Links | Site Map | Terms & Conditions

It has come to our attention that other tour companies have been copying text from Morocco Explored website and emails. We have no affiliation with any of these companies.

MORE About Morocco:

12 GOOD THINGS About Morocco . . . How Moroccans are different from you and me.

Top 10 TO DO LIST for Marrakech . . . An electic list!

Book a Tour	Hotels	Shopping
Camel Treks	Immunisation	Support Staff
Clothing	Insurance	Tours in Morocco
Cancellations	Islam	Terms and Conditions
Currency	Language	Trains and Buses
Desert	Links	Telephone
Environment	Myths	Vegetarians
Flights / times	People of Morocco	Visas
Food/Alcohol/Recipes	Policies	Weather
Guides	Politics	What to Bring
Health / Safety	Ramadan	Women travellers