Morocco: What to Expect

MOROCCO

October 24th – November 5th, 2022

Sombody’s going to Morocco!

We hope the excitement is growing because soon enough we will be wandering around historic cities, exploring the stunning countryside and experiencing life in the great Sahara Desert. Plus, we’ll be visiting local villages, touring colorful markets and interacting with wonderful Moroccans everywhere we go!

This document will help you continue to prepare for the adventure ahead. Once you have a read, please let us know if you have any additional questions at all!


What Should You Expect in Morocco?

Morocco is a fascinating land with a diversity of people, culture and sights that few other countries enjoy. And while it is indeed a developing country, life here is quite relaxed and organized, making it relatively easy to dive right into the experience.

On this trip, we’re going to explore bustling cities, a remote and gorgeous valley region, the Sahara Desert, ancient markets, traditional villages and more. We’ll meet all kinds of people, eat all kinds of food and participate in all kinds of activities – all of which will make this country come alive in every destination we visit.

So, get ready for the incredible adventure ahead!


Weather in Morocco

During this trip, you can expect quite pleasant weather, very comfortable during the day and cooling down to a nice level in the evenings. Autumn is an ideal time to visit the country as there should also be very little rain.

Here are the average temperatures of each destination we will visit:

  • Casablanca – 75F/24C high – 60F/16C low
  • Fes – 75F/24C high – 50F/10C low
  • Merzouga/Sahara Desert – 73F/23C high – 55F/13C low
  • Dades Valley – 64F/18C high – 52F/11C low
  • Marrakech – 75F/24C high – 57F/14C low

Recommended Packing List:

For the most part, taking comfortable, light clothing is the best idea. It’s also a good idea to dress relatively conservative. In general, shorts are not worn by locals (men or women) so it’s best to wear pants/long skirts each day and shirts with sleeves (tank tops are not acceptable in Morocco).

For women, avoiding tight or revealing clothing is a good idea. Also, you will need to wear long pants in order to be allowed into some religious and non-religious sites that we might visit. We recommend packing the following items:

  • Pants (3-4 pairs – comfortable, lightweight, dark colors)
  • Shirts (4-5 short-sleeve shirts, 4-5 long-sleeve shirts)
  • Shorts (2 pairs to wear around the hotels, in the desert and in some cities)
  • Underwear/Socks
  • Shoes (sneakers or hiking shoes)
  • Sandals
  • Swimsuit (there will be opportunities to go for a swim)
  • Warm Clothing (1 sweater and 1 jacket for cool nights)
  • Toiletries (keep in mind that anything you need can be bought in Morocco)
  • Medicines (bring sufficient amounts of any medication you take)
  • Earplugs (if you’re a light sleeper)
  • Small daypack
  • Gadgets (camera, laptop, Kindle, mobile phone, etc)
  • Chargers and plug adapter (see more information below!)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Scarf/Shawl (covers women’s hair at religious sites and is useful for everyone in the desert)

If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for a trip to Morocco.

Luggage: In terms of what you should carry, a suitcase or a backpack, it doesn’t really matter much. The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as traveling around Morocco, just like traveling in any country, is always easier if you don’t have large, heavy luggage to lug around!

Laundry: It is possible to have your laundry washed while in Morocco. Some of the accommodations offer this service and it usually costs about $10 – $15 US per load.


Immunizations

Morocco does not currently require any immunizations in order to enter the country. If you are interested in getting other immunizations before you travel for your own comfort and safety, you can find suggestions on the CDC website.


COVID-19 Testing

With rules and regulations regarding Covid testing constantly changing, our team will ensure that you have all the information necessary to properly prepare for your entry into Morocco and return to your home country. You can expect communications specific to Covid-19 and travel testing as the tour gets closer.

Currently, a valid Vaccination certificate OR a negative PCR test is required to enter Morocco. The test must be taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Morocco and must be presented to airline check-in staff. If you are vaccinated, you simply show your vaccination card upon check-in for your flight and again at immigration when you land in Morocco.


Additional Information

Tech/Gadgets:

Feel free to bring whatever gadgets you feel are necessary. However, do keep in mind that the more expensive gadgets you bring, the more you’ll have to watch out for them, not necessarily to protect them from theft, but to protect them from getting banged up while on the move. Morocco is very safe and you’ll be able to leave any valuable items safely in your room whenever we’re out and about.


Outlet Adapter:

Morocco uses a standard two-pin European plug with a volage of 220V. You can easily purchase such a plug adapter from Amazon for just a few dollars.

As for electricity, most mobile phones, laptops and other devices can handle all types of voltage when charging. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V. If that range is listed on the charger, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour. You won’t need a converter, only the plug adapter.


Staying Connected:

As Morocco is a developing country, strong internet is not quite widespread. While almost all of the accommodation has Wi-Fi (except the desert camp), the connection can be poor at times, so be prepared to be offline more than you are probably used to back home. In general, the internet access will work and you’ll be able to do whatever you need to do online, but it might take longer than normal with the potentially spotty connection.

For those who wish to get a local SIM card to use during the trip, which will give you a stronger data connection during the tour, we’ll get that set up for you upon arrival. Just make sure you have a GSM-enabled unlocked phone in order to use a foreign SIM card.

Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.


Safety/Security:

Morocco is one of the safest countries in Africa and apart from a handful of innocent scam attempts and people offering to ‘help’ you in exchange for some money, there’s not too much to worry about. Use the same common sense you would use at home and you’ll stay perfectly safe. If you feel an interaction is not genuine, politely say ‘no’ and you’ll be left alone.

Once in Morocco, we’ll talk more about safety and security, however, there’s definitely no need to worry and we encourage you to avoid treating every Moroccan we come across as someone who is trying to cheat you as that’s simply not the case! As always when traveling, It’s just a good idea to always be aware of your surroundings.


Is there any free time on the tour?

Yes! Some days will be full of planned activities but most days will include time together in addition to free time for you to enjoy a destination at your own pace. When there is free time, your tour guide will, of course, be available to offer you their personal recommendations and suggestions as to things you might want to do or see, places to eat and other interesting activities you might want to check out.


Money:

In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $15 – $30 USD per day for all of your needs. This would include meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (soap, shampoo, laundry service, bottled water, etc) as well as any activities you do on your own.

As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in Morocco. Using this method, you won’t have to carry around large amounts of cash and you’ll receive the best exchange rate possible. However, please check with your bank at home as many banks charge foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas.

If using an ATM machine is not an option for you, or the fees seem too high, the second best method is to simply bring USD, Euros or GBP in cash that you can exchange at money exchange booths or banks located all over the country.

*$1 USD = 10.34 Moroccan dirhams

*Avoid bringing traveler’s checks as it is very difficult these days to cash them and when you find a place that will accept them, they typically charge very high fees to do so.

*There’s no need to exchange money at home before you come to Morocco. You will always get a getter rate in the actual destination and not have to pay any commission to your bank. Simply arrive in Morocco and we’ll get you to an ATM or a trusted money exchange booth where you’ll get a much better rate.


Tipping:

In Morocco, tipping is a part of the culture but there are very few rules to follow. Here is a general guideline:

Waitstaff: 10% (however, check the bill as some restaurants include a service charge already)

Hotel staff: 10 dirhams if someone assists with your luggage or cleans your room

Local driver: It is recommended to tip our local driver (who will be with us during the entire tour) $5 USD (or 50 dirhams) per day per person. We will collect this at the end of the tour and give it to him together.


That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this trip, just as we are!

If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com

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