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Africa

Morocco

A red earth kasbah in front of a palm grove and the Atlas mountains

Medinas, mountain passes and nights under the Saharan stars.

Morocco packs a lot into a short trip. Wander the souks of Marrakech and Fes, cross the High Atlas, and ride out to the dunes of Merzouga for a night in a desert camp.

Riads offer beautiful rooms at hostel prices, and the train between the big cities is comfortable and cheap.

Good to know

Time zone
GMT+1, GMT during Ramadan
Plugs
Types C and E, 220V
Emergency numbers
19 police, 15 ambulance and fire
Tap water
Drink bottled or filtered
Traffic drives on the
Right
Tipping
Expected in small amounts: about 10% in restaurants and a few dirhams for porters, guides and drivers.
SIM cards
Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi SIMs are often free at the airport, and 10 GB of data costs around 50–100 dirhams.

When to go to Morocco

Best months to go: March to May and October to November. Pick a month to see what it’s like.

Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.

September

The heat eases off. Good walking in the mountains again.

Daytime high
32°C
Rainfall
8 mm
Crowds
Quiet

What Morocco costs

Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.

How do you travel?

Dorm beds, street food and public transport.

14 days

$490for 14 days, about $35 a day (MAD 4,510 in total)

Bed$12$168
Food and drink$10$140
Getting around$5$70
Things to do$5$70
Everything else$3$42

Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.

What things cost

  • Glass of mint teaMAD 10, about $1.09
  • Bowl of harira soupMAD 8, about $0.87
  • Tagine in a local caféMAD 50, about $5.43
  • Fresh orange juice in Jemaa el-FnaMAD 10, about $1.09
  • Hostel dorm bed in MarrakechMAD 120, about $13
  • Train, Marrakech to Fes, second classMAD 220, about $24
  • Petit taxi across townMAD 20, about $2.17

Routes through Morocco

Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.

14 nights, 6 stops

The classic loop from Marrakech over the Atlas to the Sahara, then north to Fes and the blue town of Chefchaouen.

Find a tour to join on the way

  1. Marrakech

    3 nights

    Souks, riads and the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna at night.

  2. Imlil

    2 nights

    Walk between Berber villages below Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.

  3. Aït Benhaddou

    1 night

    A mud-brick fortress village seen in countless films.

  4. Merzouga

    2 nights

    Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night in a desert camp.

  5. Fes

    3 nights

    The largest car-free medina in the world, with the famous leather tanneries.

  6. Chefchaouen

    3 nights

    Blue-washed lanes in the Rif mountains and easy hikes to waterfalls.

Getting around

  • Train

    $10–25 for a long trip

    ONCF trains link Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes and Tangier. The Al Boraq high-speed line gets you from Casablanca to Tangier in about two hours.

  • Bus

    $5–20 for a long trip

    CTM and Supratours are comfortable and reliable, and reach places the train does not, like Chefchaouen and Essaouira.

  • Private car

    $2–10 a seat in a shared grand taxi

    Shared grand taxis leave when all six seats are full. Pay for two seats if you want some room.

  • Minibus

    $80–150 for a three-day desert tour

    Group tours from Marrakech to Merzouga include transport, a camel ride and a night in camp. Long days in the van, but easy.

What to eat and drink

  • Tagine

    Slow-cooked meat or vegetables in a clay pot, often with prunes, olives or preserved lemon.

    MAD 50, about $5.43

  • Couscous

    Steamed semolina piled with vegetables and meat. Traditionally eaten on Fridays.

    MAD 50, about $5.43

  • Harira

    A tomato, lentil and chickpea soup, eaten to break the fast in Ramadan.

    MAD 8, about $0.87

  • Bissara

    Thick split pea soup with olive oil and cumin. A warming breakfast in Fes.

    MAD 10, about $1.09

  • Msemen

    Flaky square pancakes from street stalls, with honey or soft cheese.

    MAD 5, about $0.54

  • Atay

    Sweet mint tea poured from a height. You will be offered it everywhere.

    MAD 10, about $1.09

Say it like a local

A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.

  • Hello

    السلام عليكم

    sa-laam a-lay-koom

  • Thank you

    شكرا

    shok-ran

  • No, thank you

    لا شكرا

    la shok-ran

  • How much?

    بشحال؟

    b-shhaal

  • Too expensive

    غالي بزاف

    ghaa-lee bzaf

  • OK

    واخا

    wa-kha

  • Delicious

    بنين

    bneen

  • God willing

    إن شاء الله

    in-sha-lah

Places to go in Morocco

  • Moroccan zellige tiles and carved arches around a fountain

    Fes

    Morocco’s oldest imperial city, with a vast car-free medina, tanneries and medieval religious schools.

    Shoestring

Tours in Morocco

See all tours in Morocco

Questions travellers ask

How do I haggle in the souks?

Decide what something is worth to you before you ask the price, then start at about a third of the first offer. Stay friendly, and walk away if it is not right; you will often be called back.

How do I deal with fake guides and touts?

A polite "la shokran" and walking on with purpose works best. If someone says a road is closed or offers to show you the way, they will expect payment. Use offline maps in the medina.

What should I wear?

Cover shoulders and knees in the cities and villages, especially if you are a woman. Loose, light layers are comfortable and draw less attention.

Should I travel during Ramadan?

You can, and the evenings are lively when everyone breaks the fast. Many cafés close during the day and transport can be slower, so be patient and avoid eating in public in small towns.

Do I need cash?

Yes. Most riads, taxis and souks are cash only. ATMs are easy to find in towns but rare in the desert and mountains, so stock up before you leave Marrakech.

Stories from Morocco