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What do you need to pack in your luggage....... ?

What do you need to know about Morocco....... ? How do you say hello....... ?
Morocco is blessed with a huge variety of dazzlingly beautiful landscapes,

from the Rif and High Atlas mountains to the Haouz Plain, and from sandy

Atlantic beaches to arid lands in the south, not to mention the Valley

of Roses east of Ouarzazate!

The wealth of flora and fauna here are given special protection, particularly

in the nature reserves at Toubkal (south of Marrakech), in the eastern High

Atlas and at Ifrane. As for the desert, it is far more lively than you might think

with its scores of animals including dromedaries, golden jackals, striped hyenas, hedgehogs, gazelles and all kinds of lizards, snakes and pleasant insects like scorpions.
 

To reach the more remote areas, where the most magnificent sites are located (like the Chigaga sand dunes and the Erg Chebbi desert), you will need

a suitable vehicle such as a 4x4. But you can take a "different" kind of tour

of the area - on a camel or horseback trek, or even hiking

(in the Mgoun massif for instance).
King

Capital

Telephone code

Internet domain

Official languages

Total Population

Mohammed VI

Rabat

+212

.ma

Arabic Amazigh French

33 848 2425 inhab. (2014)

Surfing buffs will enjoy the breakers on the Atlantic Coast year round. And the coast at Essaouira is famous for its waves and very windy beaches. Morocco is a special place where the light, colours, scents and the people's noble character was so fascinating

to Delacroix. It is also worth visiting for its palaces surrounded by gardens, souks, and medinas with tightly packed houses.

Currency

Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (Dh), with one dirham being made up of 100 centimes (c). Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, Dh 1, Dh 2, Dh 5 and Dh 10 coins, while banknotes are available in denominations of Dh 10, Dh 20, Dh 50, Dh 100 and Dh 200. There are ATMs available in all major towns and cities in Morocco, with good places to look for one being around tourist hotels and in shopping districts. While there aren’t plentiful ATMs in the souks, there are plenty of people who are willing

to exchange dollars or euros for dirhams on the black market. The Moroccan

dirham (Dh) can only be bought and sold in Morocco and should not be brought

in or out of the country.

Customs

Morocco has customs regulations with regards to bringing firearms, antiquities, pornography and medication in and out of the country. Contact your nearest Moroccan embassy for further details prior

to travel. Customs duties on certain items can be very high,

so it is worth checking first.

 

Electricity

Newer buildings are adapted for 220 V / 50 Hz power usage,

while older buildings use 110 V / 50 Hz.

Language

The official language in Morocco is Classical Arabic but is spoken in a different and particular dialect. Berber (Tarifit, Tashelhit, and Tamazight) is also used, as first or second languages, in the rural areas. French, widely used in education and government, is taught universally and is still Morocco's primary language of commerce, while Spanish is popular 

in the northern part of the country and English is fast becoming the foreign language

of choice among the youngsters.

Etiquette

With Morocco being predominantly Muslim, visitors here should modify their dress with respect to the more conservative culture of the country. Women in particular should not expose shoulders or cleavage and wearing trousers or long skirts is recommended. Failure to pay heed to this advice will simply attract unwanted attention.

Be aware that a liberal dress code may be misinterpreted as an invitation for something more.

Greet

Always greet strangers with a handshake, unless it is between opposite sexes. Kissing on the cheek is reserved for close friends and family and couples making public displays of affection are severely frowned upon. As with all Arab cultures,

the left hand is reserved for ‘unclean’ things and should therefore not be used

for passing food or money. Visitors should refrain from saying anything that may

be considered insulting about Morocco’s king; absolute loyalty and devotion

is expected among Moroccan citizens and photos of him adorn most trading establishments and homes.
A service charge is usually included in all hotel and restaurant bills, making tipping unnecessary unless

you consider the service to have been especially good. It is customary to give a small tip to porters,

waiters and tour guides as well as to children if you take their photos or they give you directions.

Visa and Passports

Visitors to Morocco must have a valid passport, but citizens of many countries can get visa stamps as they enter. This includes citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom. Citizens of other countries should check with their nearest Moroccan embassy prior

to travel as an application for a visa may have to be obtained in advance of travel. Visitors are allowed

to stay for 90 days.

Tourist Information Offices

Morocco Visitor Information Services are the best source of tourist information in the city.

You will find them at the airport.

 

Morocco Travel Guides

Depending on your itinerary, your feelings about Morocco may be subject to change throughout your holiday and long after you have returned home. The country has a magical appeal that draws many back time and time again, eager to discover more about this mystical gem. Some of the things you may despise about the place on your travels may turn out to be the very things you miss the most when you get home.
Morocco has hundreds of delights waiting for those who are adventurous enough to explore the country. For many visitors, a trip to Morocco is the first taste of Africa, with the overwhelming bombardment of new sounds, sights and smells hitting them from the moment of arrival.

 

Those who opt for a beach holiday here will encounter fewer challenges than those who choose to tour

in country; however, all visitors will be confronted with an altogether different world than they are used

to back at home, which makes Morocco an inspiring cultural holiday destination.
 
Major cities have major hotel chains to match including all of the main international establishments such as Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Hyatt. While a stay at one of these reputable hotels will ensure

a high level of service, if you prefer to stay in a more traditional Moroccan environment, this is catered for by converted villas and palaces. While for those with tighter purse strings there is a selection

of renovated riads, traditional houses built around a central courtyard.

History

Inhabited since Neolithic times, it was the Phoenicians who drew Morocco

into Mediterranean trading circles, which led to the lands of Morocco becoming

an important and strategic Roman settlement known as Mauretania. Upon the collapse

of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the region succumbed to various powers:

the Vandals, Visigoths and then the Byzantines. However, none of these occupants managed to subdue the Berbers living in Morocco’s mountains.
In the 7th century, Morocco began to develop as an Islamic state, a characteristic that remains today.

With its beginnings under the Idrisid Dynasty, based in Baghdad, the Morocco Berbers soon broke away

and subsequently developed under self-rule, becoming a centre of culture and learning, with territories stretching across northwest Africa. 

The period from 1666 to 1912 saw Morocco come under rule by the Alaouite Dynasty,

who successfully fought off Ottoman and Spanish invaders. The end of this period saw France become a protectorate of Morocco under the Treaty of Fez, which recognised France’s sphere

of influence in Morocco. As a result, many Moroccan troops fought alongside the French army

in both World wars. The post-WWII period saw nationalistic sentiments grow and the call

for independence from France become stronger. Having successfully achieved independence

in 1956 and recovered Tangier from Spanish occupation in the same year,

the country of Morocco has continued to develop and has status as a major non-NATO ally.

Weather

Morocco is known for its scorching weather, meaning that those who do not like the heat may be persuaded to holiday elsewhere. However, with a bit of planning, the right season, an air-conditioned hotel and some ocean breezes, things can cool down considerably.

 

Many people prefer to be on the coast in Morocco so that they can take advantage

of the beaches and the southwest trade winds. The Mediterranean weather along the coast

is perfect for those who enjoy sunbathing and a relaxing, slow-paced holiday,

with Casablanca being an all-time favourite hotspot.

Inland, temperatures are higher and the weather is drier. The south of the country is the hottest region, with centres such as Tarfaya and Tata experiencing Morocco’s highest temperatures and little rainfall.

Evenings are always cooler, making this a popular time to go shopping, with much activity

in the cities after nightfall. The months of December and January are the coolest for visiting Morocco, with average temperatures in Marrakech hovering around 21°C at this time.

Rain along the coast occurs from November to March. The rainy season brings temperatures down but is not that conducive to a beach or sightseeing holiday. Cooler weather can also be sought in the mountains.

Cheap Flights to The Morocco

Marrakech is just a short flight away There are many ways to get to Marrakech
Click on the airline name to be taken to their online booking page.

 

United Kingdom

  • • Easyjet flies to Marrakech from London Gatwick and Manchester.
  • • Ryanair flies to Marrakech from Bristol, London Luton, East Midlands,
  •    and Edinburgh.
  • • Thomsonfly flies to Marrakech and Agadir from London Gatwick
  •    and Manchester.
  • • Royal Air Maroc flies to Marrakech from London Gatwick and London
  •    Heathrow (via Casablanca).
  • • British Airways is resuming flights to Marrakech from London in March
  •    of 2011.
  • • BMI, British Midland will begin flying to Marrakech from London during 2011.

France

  • • Air France flies to Casablanca.
  • • Royal Air Maroc flies to Marrakech from Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux,
  •    Nantes, Marseilles, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
  • • Easyjet flies to Marrakech from Paris CDG, Lyon and also to Casablanca
  •    from the same cities.
  • • Transavia flies to Marrakech from Paris Orly.
  • • Ryanair flies to Marrakech from Marseilles, Paris Beauvais.

Germany

  • • Royal Air Maroc flights to Marrakech from Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart,
  •    and Frankfurt.
  • • Ryanair flies to Marrakech from Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Weeze.
  • • Germanwings flies to Agadir from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart,
  •    Dusseldorg, and Frankfurt.

Spain

  • • Vueling flies to Marrakech from Barcelona.
  • • Iberia flies to Marrakech from Madrid and Barcelona.
  • • Easyjet flies to Marrakech from Madrid.
  • • Ryanair flies to Marrakech from Alicante, Barcelona (Reus and Girona),
  •    Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla.
  • • Royal Air Maroc flies to Madrid.

Italy

Switzerland

Other European Destinations
MARRAKECH
GORGE TODRA TINGIR
AIT BEN HADOU
ESSAOUIRA
OURZAZATE
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