November 6th – 18th, 2023
Your exciting trip to Morocco is just around the corner, promising to be a truly memorable experience! Please read the next document carefully as it has important information to help you get ready for the journey ahead. You’ll soon be exploring exotic markets, star-gazing in the Sahara desert, walking through ancient cities, and so much more! If you have any questions, just let us know!
You will need a passport to travel to Morocco. Your passport should be valid until at least June 2024 and it should have 2 full empty pages.
If you don’t have empty pages, please contact us and we will send you instructions for getting a new passport in time for the tour.
Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European countries are allowed to enter Morocco without a visa for stays of less than 90 days. If you are from one of these visa-free countries, no preparations are needed and you do not need to obtain a tourist visa for this trip. If you have any questions about entry to Morocco, please let us know so we can provide more details.
For this tour, please ensure your arrival flight is booked to Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). While you can depart from either Marrakech or Casablanca, we recommend departing from Marrakech since that’s where the tour concludes. If you choose to depart from the Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), we’ll organize your transfer, with the airport just 10 minutes from the hotel. However, if you opt for a departure from Casablanca, we can offer a transfer at an additional charge, keeping in mind the journey takes about 2.5 hours.
Currently, Morocco doesn’t have any additional immunization requirements. However, as is the case when traveling to any country, it is always good to speak to a medical professional about what immunizations might be right for you and to ensure you are up-to-date with standard immunizations such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus.
Renowned as a fascinating, safe, and wonderfully exotic gem in Africa, Morocco offers an extraordinary experience. Throughout our 13-day adventure, we will explore colorful ancient markets full of traditions, wander across incredible cities such as Fes and Marrakech, visit the stunning Dades Valley and spend the night in the unique and magical Sahara desert.
Although, what truly makes this trip unique will be all of the interactions with local Berber, Gnawa and Bedouin communities along the way. Soon, you will find out why Moroccan hospitality is so well-known as you encounter the warm and welcoming cultures across the land.
This Travel Tribe Morocco tour is a laid-back experience. We have a plan in place, however, that plan is never set in stone and remains flexible.
We’ll be staying at a variety of 3/4* accommodations throughout this trip. From traditional riads to boutique family-run guesthouses to well-appointed hotels, as well as a glamping experience in the Sahara Desert, all accommodations provide a comfortable experience with private bathrooms as well.
We’ll use a deluxe Mercedes Sprinter to travel around the country. This van ensures everyone will have plenty of space as we move between destinations. Also, by not using a standard bus, we will have access to areas that larger vehicles simply can’t go.
➜ Population: 37.34 million people
➜ Religion: The predominant religion is Islam, being the religion of 99% of the population. Approximately 99% are Sunni and less than 0.1% Shia. Small minorities of Christians, Jews and Baha’i also exist.
➜ Languages: Arabic and Moroccan Berber are both the official languages of Morocco, although French is widely spoken in the country. Spanish is also widely spoken around the northern regions. English is not widely spoken but people living in larger cities will understand the basics.
➜ Politics: The government of Morocco is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with the prime minister being the head of the government and the king having extensive powers over many areas of politics. The current king is Mohammed VI.
Tap water in Morocco is not ideal for drinking and you should always drink bottled water. Brushing your teeth with tap water is okay but many travelers choose to brush with bottle water instead.
We will always have bottle water available in the vehicle.
All of the food provided during the tour will be completely safe to consume. Fruits and vegetables are always washed in filtered water, so the chances of getting a stomach bug are very slim. Street food at popular markets and food stalls is also safe to eat. We would only suggest avoiding street food from vendors where the food appears to have been sitting out for a long time. Most street food is cooked fresh though, so this should rarely be an issue.
The local currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 10 MAD.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $30 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are everywhere in Morocco. This is the easiest so that you don’t need to carry around large amounts of cash.
However, check with your bank at home as some banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.
If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices that are located all over the country.
**US dollars are not accepted anywhere in Morocco. You must make purchases in the local currency.
**Credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants, cafes and shops in cities and larger towns. In more rural areas, cash is generally the main payment option.
Tipping in Morocco is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:
➜ Restaurants – 7% – 10% if a service charge is not already added to the bill
➜ Hotel staff – 10 MAD if someone helps you with luggage or anything else
➜ Our drivers – At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives a $50 USD tip for our driver. We will collect this on the last day and give it to our driver before we say goodbye
➜ Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Morocco is a very safe country. The chances of anything happening are very slim as long as you use the same common sense you would use at home.
➜ Watch your stuff – Always keep an eye on your stuff and avoid putting a wallet or phone in your back pocket. Keep your purse or shoulder bag on your front hip and make sure the zippers are zipped on your backpack. Simple as that! You can also leave valuables in your room while out and about each day as the hotels we use are all very safe.
➜ Scams – Simple scams can happen in Morocco, but they are rare and can be easily avoided with common sense. Locals might help you find your way through a market area if you appear lost and then ask for a tip at the end. It’s not really a scam but be prepared to pay for such assistance. Also, if you take photos of an anyone with an animal (snake charmers, monkey handlers, etc), they will require payment as well. Also, please check with your tour leader before purchasing expensive items such as argan oil or carpets as some shops do sell fake items at inflated prices. Your tour leader will help you get to a reputable shop if there is something you are interested in.
During this trip, we can expect relatively consistent weather. November is an ideal time to visit Morocco, with pleasant temperatures and no intense heat. Here are the average temperatures of each destination we will visit:
➜ Casablanca: 70F/21C high – 54F/12C low
➜ Rabat: 70F/21C high – 52F/11C low
➜ Fes: 70F/21C high – 48F/9C low
➜ Merzouga: 72F/22C high – 48F/9C low
➜ Sahara Desert: 70F/21C high – 41F/5C low
➜ Dades Valley: 63F/17C high – 39F/4C low
➜ Marrakech: 73F/23C high – 52F/11C low
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). Shorts can be worn while in the Sahara Desert.
➜ Laundry – Only a couple of our accommodations offer laundry service. But you will be able to have laundry done in the Dades Valley. The cost is approximately $10 USD per load.
We recommend packing the following items:
The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around country with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins.
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 this trip.
You may bring your camera bodies and lenses into Morocco as a tourist. Please note that drones of any brand and size are illegal in Morocco and will be confiscated upon entry.
Morocco uses the same plug outlet that you will find in most parts of Europe. You will need Type C and/or Type E plug adapters (European type) as these are both used throughout the country. It is highly recommended to purchase these adapters in advance.
As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.
As Morocco is a developing country, strong internet is not quite widespread. While almost all of the accommodations have Wi-Fi (except the desert camp), the connection can be poor at times, so be prepared to be offline more than you’re 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.
The easiest way to stay connected during the tour will be to purchase an E-SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.
We can also set up local SIM cards upon arrival for those who wish. 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.
Yes! Most days will include time together as well as free time for you to enjoy a destination at your own pace. With that said, your tour leader will always be available to offer personal recommendations and suggestions as to things you might want to do or see, places to eat and other interesting activities that you might want to check out when there is free time.
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!
If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com
