Key information for traveling to Morocco
everything you need to know
Recommendations before traveling to Morocco
- WEATHER IN MOROCCO
- VACCINES
- CLOTHING AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- ELECTRICITY
- MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
- RAMADAN
- LOCAL FESTIVALS
- CHANGE MONEY
- VISIT THE MOSQUE
1. THE WEATHER IN MOROCCO
Temperature in Morocco
July, August and September are the summer months in Morocco. Winter starts in December and lasts until March, but from October onwards it gets colder at night. The country is vast and the temperature varies depending on where you are. In the regions where temperatures are warmer, the climate is dry, there is not much humidity, but the following precautions should be taken:
- Always wear a hat or cap.
- Put sunscreen on your face, arms and legs (some prefer to wear thin clothing and long sleeves).
- Wear sunglasses
- Do not drink very cold beverages (In Morocco, mint tea is drunk in summer and winter, as it helps regulate body temperature).
- Do not set the air conditioning too high in the hotel room to avoid contrasts when you go out.
- In the Moroccan desert, the temperature can sometimes drop at night. We can go from 30 to 35°C during the day and drop to 10°C at night, so even in summer we recommend wearing a thin sweater; in autumn (September to early December) it is quite cold. In winter, the temperature in the desert can reach zero degrees at night.
2. VACCINATIONS
You do not need any kind of vaccination to travel to Morocco. With the yellow fever problem in Brazil, Morocco still does not require its tourists to be vaccinated against yellow fever. However, this number can change without notice, or up to 10 days in advance. So if you are planning to travel abroad, our recommendation is that, although it is not mandatory, you get the recommended vaccine as soon as possible.
3. CLOTHING AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
Morocco is a Muslim country and women wear kaftans and djellabas or western clothes such as skirts and pants.
In Morocco the headscarf is NOT mandatory and it is one of the most open countries compared to other Muslim countries. For women: You will be walking a lot during your visits, so wear sneakers or flat shoes and avoid heels. If you want, take a slightly more refined outfit for a special dinner. But nowhere is it mandatory to wear dress shoes. In the desert I usually wear hiking boots / sneakers and safari-type pants or shorts, which are much more comfortable.
Before traveling to Morocco, you should take the following precautions:
- Women wearing short skirts, shorts or sleeveless shirts are not allowed to visit the Casablanca Mosque, but it is not necessary to cover their heads.
- With the heat, it is common to see tourists wearing shorts or miniskirts. If you are traveling in a group (small or large), there will be no problem, but if you are traveling alone, we do not recommend that you wear very low-cut clothes.
- Always drink bottled water.
- In spite of the precautions, take some medicine against diarrhea.
- Moroccan food has a lot of spices. Some people feel bad with too much spice, so talk to your guide/driver before meals. In addition to Moroccan food, many hotels serve international cuisine, and in some you will find buffet meals.
- If you are traveling during Ramadan, as a sign of respect, avoid eating or drinking while walking on the street. You can do so in hotels or restaurants open to tourists.
- Alcohol is very expensive in Morocco, a beer usually costs between 3 and 5 euros and a bottle of wine between 15 and 20 euros. It is not easily bought in small towns, some supermarkets sell it.
- Let yourself be carried away by the adventure, don’t plan your trip too much, Moroccans are quiet and do things in their own time, relax, after all it is a trip you are making!
- If you are traveling in an organized group, ask the guide or driver any questions you may have: it’s their job.
- If you call a Moroccan phone, the country code is 00212.
- In big cities, there are always many children asking tourists for coins, and this is often annoying. When exchanging money, ask for a lot of coins, as there is no one to win them….
- It is very common to tip drivers and guides in restaurants at the end of the excursion.
- Sleep in an Arabian tent. The tents have beds, mattresses and blankets, but talk to the driver/guide, as he may recommend that you only carry a small bag or backpack for the night and leave your gear at the hotel the night before or in the car. However, valuables and passports should always be taken with you. You do not need a sleeping bag, but we recommend that you carry mosquito repellent. It is not always necessary, but if you need it, it is best to have it on hand.
- Valuables. Avoid carrying jewelry, a laptop or any large valuables. You think Morocco is a typically rural country, where only Marrakech and Casablanca or Tangier are more cosmopolitan cities.
- Shopping in Morocco: bargain! and take your time, Moroccans love it, I think it is their favorite “sport” after soccer. Note that there are no prices on products in Moroccan stores. When you are interested in something, the seller tells you the price and then the game begins: you have to bargain until you reach an agreement.
4. ELECTRICITY
220V. Two-prong round plugs, as used in Spain.
It is possible that during the trip we will find 3 sockets, but we will not need an adapter, it will be connected directly.
5. MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
Carry a small travel kit with painkillers, antidiarrheals (etc.) and mosquito repellent. People who regularly take medications should take them with them if they are very difficult to find or require a prescription. If you need to buy medicines, you can find them in a pharmacy in Brazil or Portugal. We always recommend drinking bottled water.
6. RAMADAN
For 30 days, Muslims do RAMADON. They can only eat after sunset. The cities take on a new life, as it is at night that Moroccans go out for a stroll, do their shopping and go about their daily lives. Some restaurants are not open, but the holiday does not prevent vacationers from visiting or eating, as hotels, riads and restaurants are open as usual. The only thing is that, in some medinas (souks), the sale starts later than usual. The dates depend on the changes of the moon, so they may vary by one or two days. Ramadan 2018: May 15 to June 15 Ramadan0 2019: May 5 to June 5
Ramadan0 2020: April 23 to May 23
7. LOCAL HOLIDAYS
Official celebrations: HOLIDAYS IN MOROCCO January 1: Gregorian New Year
January 11: Independence Manifesto
May 1: Labor Day
July 30: Feast of the Throne (commemorating the coronation of King Mohamed VI)
August 14: Feast of Loyalty (commemorating the occupation of Rio de Oro)
August 20: Anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People
August 21: Youth Festival.
6 November: Anniversary of the Green March November 18: Independence Day (commemoration of independence and the return of King Mohamed V)
Religious celebrations:
Ras as-Sana: New Year’s Day
Ashura: Day of national mourning
Eid or Mawlid en-Nabaoui: Celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Eid Al-Fitr: End of Ramadan Important: Eid al Adha Celebration of Sacrifice. The festival of the lamb is very important and, along with the festival of the end of Ramadan, is the biggest of all festivals. In 2017 the festival is on September 1 and in 2018 it will be on August 17 (approximate dates).
The celebration commemorates the sacrifice of Ibrahim and, according to the Quran, on this date every Muslim must kill a lamb for a special dinner and give part of it to a poor family.
When traveling to Morocco and coinciding with the feast of the lamb, many people see a lot of butchers on the streets, that’s right! The fact that they have to go to people’s homes to sacrifice animals is different from our culture. It is a very special holiday that Moroccans live with great intensity. . Part of this celebration consists of going out with the family and visiting friends. The date of the holiday varies on the Western calendar, and usually takes place about 40 days after Ramadan.
8. CHANGE MONEY
The Moroccan currency is the Dihram. There are bills of 20, 50, 100 and 200 DH, and coins of 1, 5 and 10 DH. For reference, 1 Euro is equivalent to approximately 11DHs. Changing money in the street is illegal, so for your own interest do it in the exchange offices, in the reception of the hotels, there are many exchange offices in the medinas and in all the cities. Moreover, they are perfectly recognizable, so you will not have any problem. We recommend you to bring US dollars or euros and change them little by little during your trip. Use of credit cards in Morocco : perfectly accepted in hotels and in most restaurants and stores, also in villages or small places we recommend to carry euros or dollars to change when necessary.
9.VISIT THE MOSQUE
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the only mosque that non-Muslims can visit. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before, buy your ticket at the door and indicate your language. A local guide will lead you (usually groups of 15/30 people). The visit is conducted in English, French or Spanish. As an attraction or a museum, the Mosque is not free entrance like the churches. There are 4 times when you can enter the mosque to see it. Therefore, we recommend you to check the visiting hours of the Hassan II Mosque of Casablanca and find out if it is open, as during some local holidays it is not possible to visit.
- 9h00
- 10h00
- 11h00
- 2:00 p.m.
However, we recommend that you check the official website to find out if the Mosque will be open on the day of your trip: http://fmh2.ma/fr/visitas-mezquita-hassan-ii
Suitable clothing to visit the Mosque:
You do not have to cover your head, but you may not enter wearing shorts or a skirt or show your shoulders (you may enter wearing a short-sleeved shirt).
FURTHER ADVICE
Food and drink
In Morocco you can find all kinds of drinks, coke, soft drinks, sweets and even alcoholic beverages.
The truth is that, as a Muslim country, alcohol carries a higher tax (as well as tobacco) and many travelers prefer to enjoy natural soft drinks and mint tea. Also, in hotels and tourist places, you can buy a beer, Casablanca, Heineken, Flag or other brands and it will cost you between 3 and 6 euros.
Moroccan wines produced by the French in the area of Meknes and Fez can be found in restaurants for between 12 and 35 euros a bottle. COELIACS AND ALLERGICS
Coeliacs in Morocco should inform themselves before choosing what to eat. In the 5* hotels you will have no problems, but in the riads and more popular hotels you will not find bread or special meals. Therefore, it is very important that you are very clear about the type of food you can eat. Something very important When it comes to Morocco, the food is very healthy, based on vegetables, salads and legumes, so travelers will not have any difficulty when it comes to eating. Whether you are vegetarian or vegan, there are many vegetable-based dishes to choose from. This makes Morocco an accessible country for the most delicate stomachs.
SPICES IN MARRUKOS
That would be a separate chapter. Be very careful with the spices, most tourists really enjoy the flavors of the tajines and typical dishes where the spices used in Morocco stand out.
It is local custom to add many spices to various dishes, from the simplest to grilled fish, which can be full of them.
DO NOT drink tap water, always use bottled water. I even recommend you buy them at a Moroccan market so you can have them in your living room to brush your teeth. When it comes to street food, I’m sure you’ve seen those street stalls, with the meat literally hanging out? They are the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten. Orange juice. Of course, I’m referring to Djema el Fna square. In the spring and summer months, it’s worth trying a good natural orange juice and another juice that is all the rage in Morocco, sumom and sugar cane. simply amazing. The official currency in Morocco is the dirham, and the official exchange rate is usually 11 dirhams for each euro (more or less depending on the week). You will find many places in Morocco, from the exchange office at the airport to the exchange offices in the cities or even at the reception of the hotels.
Moreover, in the case of a specific purchase, they also accept payment in euros. but keep in mind that they often give you back the change in local currency. Bargaining
If soccer is our sport, bargaining is the Moroccans’ favorite. When you enter a store, you will see that there is no price on any product. until I asked the seller … The match begins … But take your time. We are in Morocco and, according to them, there is a rush to kill … Also, without haste and slowly, ask the seller for a mint tea and start bargaining. Don’t be stunned, you will surely get what you want at the price that suits you best. Cultural differences
Don’t forget that Morocco is a Muslim country. The truth is that over the years there has been a change in the Arab-Moroccan culture. The presence of women in the labor market is remarkable. Policemen, tourist guides, businesswomen. The veil is not compulsory and, for tourists, there are two things in demand when visiting the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, besides a T-shirt or a miniskirt. and during Ramadan, avoid eating in the street. the rest you have to be prepared to enjoy it. Come and have fun, get to know a new culture and live an experience you will surely want to come back to.
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