Visiting Morocco with travel tips for first-timers.
Our regular readers probably know that we were chosen as one of the Imzi Nomads for 2018. That was a huge honor for us as we tried hard to step up our game in 2018. Anyway, this was the first time we heard of Imzi Tours, and we noticed that they specialize into tours, trips and excursions to and in Morocco.
As we have never visited this exotic country, we thought it would be a great idea to interview Imzi Tours for an insider view of this top travel destination and all Morocco attractions. Before moving on to the Morocco travel tips, let’s introduce you to Imzi Tours first.
Imzi Tours Inter is a Morocco travel agency, and this Moroccan travel agency was established in 2000. Imzi Tours Inter organizes trips, excursions & tours from Marrakesh to several destinations in Morocco.
You’ll find day trips to Essaouira, to Ouzoud Cascades, the Ourika Valley, Ouarzazate and its Kasbahs and many other destinations, over the years they have served thousands of happy costumers.
First-time travelers to Morocco have a lot of questions. So, we created a list of FAQs and had Imzi Tours provide the answers for those considering visiting Morocco.
Reasons to visit Morocco? Is Morocco worth visiting?
Morocco is a southern European/North African country. It’s were the East meets the West, so if you want forests and snow mountains, palm trees and desert, then Morocco is where you want to go.
That’s probably the main reason why Morocco is a good place to visit. Morocco has it all, unlike some other strictly summer or winter destinations.
Is it safe to travel to Morocco right now? Is Morocco safe to travel to?
Morocco is one of the safest countries in the world. Of course, no one can give you a guarantee, but, by the standards of the crazy world we live in, Morocco is very safe.
Any advice for female travelers visiting Morocco? Is Morocco safe for female tourists?
No, not really, feel free to explore the country and remember that each city has its monuments so make sure to visit all the monuments.
What are your best-selling tours? Do you have any Morocco Desert Tours?
Our best-selling tours are Group Desert Tours.
What travel budget would you recommend to someone who wants to spend a week in Morocco?
Around 700 American dollars is the best budget for visiting Morocco. Of course, there are a lot of variables that can impact the budget, but to be safe we’d say go with 700 dollars.
What’s the best time of the year to visit Morocco? When to visit Morocco?
Depends on what you want to see. If you want to see the snow on the Atlas Mountains, the winter, for the desert lovers, anytime. If you want to visit the forest like the Bouskora Forest, then spring would be the best time to book your trip.
Anything else our readers should know before visiting Morocco?
To get the most out of your trip, organize it very well. Let’s say you want to visit the Ourika Valley, that is cool, but why stop at Ourika Valley, you can also visit the Toubkal Heights, you are there anyways.
We would like to add some important tips for travelling to Morocco and Morocco travel warnings for our female travelers visiting Morocco for the first time. With our travel tips to Morocco, you can have a smooth and safe visit in the African country.
After all, it was not long ago when two Scandinavian female tourists were murdered while camping in a secluded area near the High Atlas Mountain. Naturally, scary and devastating events like the one mentioned above always give travelers second thoughts. Therefore, it is always the best to have some useful tips and put safety first in order to avoid any incidents or some more serious issues.
So, we’ve created a list of Morocco travel tips for female travelers to keep in mind when visiting the country. These are tips provided by women who have visited the country and believe are crucial for a pleasant vacation.
Pick modest clothes and avoid exposing knees and shoulders. This rule goes both for men and women. Even if you see some men wearing shorts, it’s still ill-advised to discard this rule especially in rural areas where Moroccans are very religious and traditional.
Never go topless. This is a big no! Morocco is a Muslim country, meaning the vast majority of the population is Sunni Muslim. So, even if you are on a private beach, a woman should never be exposed in public.
Stick to popular spots. Check reviews and how reputable and safe spots like hotels, restaurants and bars are before booking or visiting them.
Avoid making eye contact. Making eye contact with a Moroccan is seen as a sign for something more – in the romantic sense. Dark sunglasses help a lot here to cover your eyes, or look at the ground when talking to men.
Avoid alcohol. Have alcoholic drinks only at large hotels, and double check if it’s allowed. Local bars are usually male-dominated.
Bring a male friend. Women that travel with a male companion are lot less likely to be harassed in Morocco. They are perceived as taken, so most do not bother them.
Avoid hitchhiking. Even though hitchhiking is not illegal in Morocco, it’s not recommended for female travelers for safety reasons.
Avoid sitting to men in public transport.
Try not to wander around alone late at night or in secluded areas. As the tragic event mentioned above teaches us, even two female travelers alone are not 100% safe.
After reading the travel tips for Morocco on mostly what “not to do,” here is a list of travel tips on “what to do” in Morocco to help you with unwanted attention.
It’s the best to have a trusted local travel guide. Especially if you are traveling alone, it’s advised to have a reputable tour guide to get you around Morocco. Think about possibly booking a local guide through your hotel or a reputable and high-rated tour agency. There are even travel agencies that do one, two, or three-night tours to the Sahara Dessert.
If you find yourself offended, try not to be overaggressive as the other side may respond in the same way – or worse. It’s the best to ignore and get away from the situation or contact the police if you can find an officer nearby.
Many female travelers claimed that wearing a wedding ring, even a fake one, helped them in avoiding unwanted attention. Sometimes, female travelers go even further by carrying photos of fake husbands and children to keep males away.
Keep in mind that it’s hard to come by tampons in Morocco. If you’re lucky enough to find them, then the variety will surely be poor. So, make sure to bring your own ones if you need them during your trip. Also, you will need to bring a plastic bag to the toilets to dispose of the hygiene products.
Do opt for a bottled water. Even though it’s common to drink tap water in Morocco, most foreigners might have stomach issues, so it’s best to drink bottled water. Nowadays, most hotels have filtered water to reduce plastic pollution from the water bottles.
Bring a supply of toilet paper. Like in most Muslim countries, regardless if the toilet is flush or squat, the population uses water to clean oneself after using the toilet. There is lack of toilet paper, so it’s best to bring your own. Use the bins provided in the bathroom to dispose of the used paper.
Finally, the best Morocco travel tip that applies to everyone is to understand where you are going. In other words, you need to learn more about the Moroccan culture and way of life in order to be able to act appropriately in the country. If you’re not willing to go the extra mile of preparation, then you should probably pick another travel destination altogether.
Here are some great travel options for all travelers, especially female-friendly destinations:
