So, you’re thinking about visiting Morocco soon. You’ve always wanted to spend at least one vacation in Morocco, and you think the time for it might be soon. You probably have already set your eyes on the spots you want to visit, and you have a vague idea about what’s going to happen.
Since you’re a careful traveler, which explains why you’re reading this in the first place, having vague plans isn’t enough. You know that planning a vacation to Morocco isn’t just about deciding a couple of places you want to visit. There’s more to planning a trip to Morocco, or any place than meets the eye. That’s why we’re here to provide a twelve-step process to plan your trip to Morocco.
To avoid making the common mistakes that people do on their vacation in Morocco, you’ll have to be mentally prepared. When you’re mentally prepared, your trip becomes less stressful and more aligned with your expectations. Without further ado, here are the 12 steps to plan your trip well in Morocco.
Table of Content
Current Entry Requirements to Morocco
Planning a Vacation to Morocco in 12 Essential Steps
Step 1: Check visa requirements if needed
Step 2: Book your plane tickets!
Step 3: Plan your Morocco vacation beforehand
Step 4: Set your budget for your Morocco vacation
Step 5: Plan the activities of your vacation in Morocco.
Step 6: Book your accommodations before you go to Morocco
Step 7: Make sure you don’t need any vaccination and get a medical kit
Step 9: Learn a little bit of Moroccan Arabic
Step 10: Prepare for arrival Time
Step 11: Get travel insurance!
Plan your Vacation in Morocco FAQs
How many days in Morocco is enough?
What is the best month to visit Morocco?
Is Morocco cheaper than Spain?
Can you drink alcohol in Morocco?
Current Entry Requirements for a vacation in Morocco
Morocco has opened its doors to tourists starting from February 7th, 2022. After Omicron appeared, Morocco shut down its doors completely.
Morocco has also loosened the entry requirements as of May 2022, which made it quite easier to travel there.
Before you enter Morocco, you’ll first have to present your vaccination record to prove that you’ve been completely vaccinated against the virus. The pass you have in your country should be enough. The Moroccan government states that all vaccine passes are accepted as long as they’re valid in your home country.
If you don’t have a vaccine pass, you’ll have to test negative within the first 72 hours after you arrive Additionally, you’ll need to fill out the health pass form and provide your contacts.
Planning a Vacation to Morocco in 12 Essential Steps
Step 1: Check visa requirements if needed
Morocco is actually pretty permissive when it comes to entry requirements. For stays that take less than 90 days, you don’t have to get anything other than your passport if you live in one of the following countries:
All citizens of the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Gabon, Hong Kong ( for 30 days), Iceland, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore (for 30 days), South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E., U.K, U.S.A.
Please confirm with your embassy to Morocco because policies sometimes change.
As for citizens of Mali, Guinea, and the Congo, they must recieve an electronic travel permit without having to apply for a visa.
If you can’t find your country here, you must acquire a visa from the Moroccan embassy.
Another important thing is to have a passport that has at least 6 months of validity. If your passport doesn’t have at least 6 months of validity in it, you’re very likely to find issues when you arrive. Make sure to update your passport before you head to Morocco if you think it has less than 6 months of validity in it.Step 2: Book your plane tickets!
Depending on where you’re traveling from, a large sum of your Morocco vacation expenses might be spent only on a plane ticket. The closer you are to Morocco the less you pay.
The main Moroccan airports are Marrakech (RAK), Rabat (RBA), Casablanca (CMN), and Fes (FEZ). depending on where you want to arrive, you might be able to land a good deal.
You can use Skyscanner if you want to take advantage of their search engine which permits you to browse for the best deals.
Traveling from the Americas or Asia can cost anything from $500 or more. Depending on the time, you might have a good deal. As for flying to Morocco from Europe, it gets really cheap sometimes. You can travel to Morocco from a European country at $10 sometimes when there are promotions.
If you’re very keen on saving money on your flight to Morocco, you might want to fly to a European country during the time of a kind of promotion and head to your Morocco vacation from there. Traveling from the major European cities to Morocco on cheap airlines during promotion time costs practically nothing (the price of a meal).Step 3: Plan your Morocco vacation beforehand
If you like to plan your itinerary before heading to Morocco, we’re glad to help you out. We can plan the perfect Morocco itinerary for you over a Zoom meeting.
Anyway, if your vacation to Morocco is short, we recommend you spend it at Marrakech, which is the number one tourist attraction in Morocco. If you just want to get the general vibe of Morocco, staying in Marrakech is what you want. From Marrakech, you’ll be able to head on some interesting 1-day excursions to some cool spots like Essaouira and Ouzoud Waterfalls.
However, if you have more time to spend in Morocco, you can go on a Magical Morocco Journey, that includes visiting the Sahara desert and other interesting places. The tour starts from Casablanca, which is very convenient if you arrive at the Casablanca International Airport.
If you’re a family, you might want to go on a Aventura en familia por Marruecos, which is more convenient for families. This 9-day Morocco tour is oriented in a way that makes it family friendly and more comfortable for parents.
If you happen to be a Jewish person, you’ll really appreciate the Patrimonio judío 10 días. This tour is tailor-made specifically for people interested in exploring all the Jewish heritage sites all over Morocco.
If you have more than 10 days to spend in Morocco, you’ll be interested in this particular itinerary: Signature Morocco 12-day Tour. Starting from Casablanca, this tour is organized in a way that pays close attention to all the iconic historical sites and cultural experiences that make Morocco special.
Note that you can start your tour from wherever you want. If you decide to land at another airport other than the one listed in the itinerary, the tour can be adjusted to that.
Check out our blog about the 11 Things You Must Know Before Visiting Morocco.
If you like to plan your itinerary before heading to Morocco, we’re glad to help you out. We can plan the perfect Morocco itinerary for you over a Zoom meeting.
Anyway, if your vacation to Morocco is short, we recommend you spend it at Marrakech, which is the number one tourist attraction in Morocco. If you just want to get the general vibe of Morocco, staying in Marrakech is what you want. From Marrakech, you’ll be able to head on some interesting 1-day excursions to some cool spots like Essaouira and Ouzoud Waterfalls.
However, if you have more time to spend in Morocco, you can go on a Magical Morocco Journey, that includes visiting the Sahara desert and other interesting places. The tour starts from Casablanca, which is very convenient if you arrive at the Casablanca International Airport.
If you’re a family, you might want to go on a Aventura en familia por Marruecos, which is more convenient for families. This 9-day Morocco tour is oriented in a way that makes it family friendly and more comfortable for parents.
If you happen to be a Jewish person, you’ll really appreciate the Patrimonio judío 10 días. This tour is tailor-made specifically for people interested in exploring all the Jewish heritage sites all over Morocco.
If you have more than 10 days to spend in Morocco, you’ll be interested in this particular itinerary: Signature Morocco 12-day Tour. Starting from Casablanca, this tour is organized in a way that pays close attention to all the iconic historical sites and cultural experiences that make Morocco special.
Note that you can start your tour from wherever you want. If you decide to land at another airport other than the one listed in the itinerary, the tour can be adjusted to that.
Step 4: Set your budget for your Morocco vacation
Budgeting your trip is the most essential thing. You can’t go anywhere if you don’t have the required finances. It’s very helpful to have an idea about the kind of money you need to travel to Morocco.
Luckily for us, Morocco isn’t Switzerland when it comes to affordability. As long as you can afford anything, you can spend as much as you want in Morocco.
Morocco offers a huge range when it comes to speniding. If you’re on a tight budget, you can spend as low as $30 per day in Morocco, especially if you’re only looking for the cheapest offers at anything. However, if you’re planning to spend very low, you should expect many limitations when it comes to what’s possible to do.
Generally speaking, it’s quite recommended to set a mid-range budget for your trip to Morocco if that’s all you can afford. With a mid-range budget, you can head on many interesting day trips, taste better cuisine options, transport more comfortably, and stay at good accommodations.
For example, one of the best experiences you can have in Morocco is staying at a traditional riad, which tends to cost anything between $50 and $70. So, if you can spend more than $80 per day, you’ll have a great time. However, if you can afford more than $100 per day, you’ll be able to enjoy even more luxurious things like eating fancy Moroccan cuisine choices, having massages at traditional hammams, engaging in day trips and excursions with interesting activities, and so on…
Things can get quite pricy if you’re willing to go for the extra mile and spend a few thousands of dollars per day. The most expensive hotels in Morocco can reach to soaring high prices.
In conclusion, when it comes to budgeting, it’s quite recommended to break your budget to a per day, per person cost. When you do that, you should allocate a third of what you have to accommodations, a third for activities, and a third for everything else like shopping, food, and extra activities. You should also allocate a certain amount for anything unexpected.Step 5: Plan the activities of your vacation in Morocco.
Not everyone agrees with the notion of planning your activities before you travel. You might be thinking, why should you plan the activities of your vacation in Morocco when you’re not even there yet.
If you’re among those who like to plan your activities beforehand, you’ll avoid a lot of unnecessary stress and weird situations.
When you travel to Morocco without planning your itinerary, you risk falling into the traps set by scammy locals for tourists. If you’ve never been to Morocco before, it’s better if you travel with a professional touring agency with certified guides and well-established connections with legit businesses.
When you book all of your activities with one trustworthy agency, you end up saving a lot of time and even money that would’ve been spent in vain.
This is not to give you a bad impression about traveling on your own in Morocco. It’s just that for many people it’s a lot better to travel with a professional agency, especially if it’s your first time.Step 6: Book your accommodations before you go to Morocco
If you’re traveling with a professional touring agency, you don’t have to worry about booking your accommodations. The touring agency will take care of your accommodations. Most of the good touring agencies book your stays at riads, which are traditional Moroccan houses for upper-class families. When traveling to the Sahara region, you’re very likely to spend a night or two in a desert camp, which is usually well-equipped like a hotel. Other types of accommodations include kasbahs and auberges. However, if you’re traveling on your own, it’s better if you book some of the places where you’ll stay before you get there. Booking your accommodations before you get to Morocco will help you structure your trip more efficiently. You can use booking.com to search for the best deals. Step 7: Make sure you don’t need any vaccination and get a medical kit
For the best information about the subject of health safety as a traveler in Morocco from a western country, you might want to refer to the CDC’s guidelines. Make sure you’re up to date when it comes to boosters for tetanus, chickenpox, polio, and MMR. It’s also strongly advised tp get boosters for hepatitis A and typhoid to avoid any potential issues.
To make sure you avoid rabies, stay away from street animals. A British tourist recently died of rabies after an infected street cat bit him. While rabies can be scary, it’s not a very dangerous problem in our day and age. Almost everyone gets treated for being infected with rabies with proper care. But as we all know, prevention is the best way to protect yourself.
Regarding a travel medicine kit, It’s always recommended to have some necessary items in your kit. The list of the most important things you should carry around with you includes stomach tablets, anti-diarrheal, motion sickness pills, and painkillers. Sunscreen and lotions should also be in your kit along with some Band-Aids and alcohol.Step 8: Pack your things!
The most important advice here is to pack only what you really need in a backpack instead of a suitcase. Backpacks allow you to be more flexible, and it’s also good to carry some extra weight on your back as an endurance exercise.
When it comes to clothing, make sure to take clothes that aren’t too revealing if you’re a woman. LBTQ people also might want to dress up more modestly in Morocco to avoid any unnecessary attention.
I believe you already know what kind of toiletries you like to have with you on your Morocco vacation. And if you’re the kind of person who carries around digital tools and camera equipment, make sure to have extra batteries in case you can’t get access to power.
Since pickpocketing isn’t exactly non-existent in Morocco, you might want to have a special kind of bag where you can store your precious things.
Step 9: Learn a little bit of Moroccan Arabic
While French and English are widely spoken in Morocco, having some Moroccan Arabic words at your disposal might come in quite handy. You can easily get by if you know a little bit of French or Spanish. Many Moroccans can also speak Spanish.
Actually, it’s not very uncommon to meet Moroccans who speak at least 2 European languages. Moroccan youth in the big cities are actually quite good at understanding and speaking English. Language is usually not a big issue for a tourist because most of the people who work in the touristic areas are quite good at communicating what’s needed. You often find shop owners throwing words in French, Spanish, English, Italian, and German until they land on your mother tongue or a language you understand.
While French is widely spoken in Morocco, and it can come in handy if you already speak French, if you are going to learn a few phrases I recommend learning the Moroccan Arabic (Darija) phrases which tend to be more widely understood. In the North, Spanish is widely spoken – I found it useful in both Chefchaouen and Tangier.
Anyway, here are some Moroccan Arabic words that will come in handy, especially in some situations.
Greetings – S’alamu alikum
Thanks– Shukran
Please – Afak
Excuse me – Sm’hli (sm’hiliya if you’re adressing a woman)
Yes – Y’yih
No – L’la
No, thanks – La, shukran (this one is pretty useful)
While no Moroccan would expect you to be good at Moroccan Arabic because it’s a crazy language, showing that you went an extra mile to learn some basic words would make locals more friendly toward you.Step 10: Prepare for arrival time
Here are some basic things that will make arriving in Morocco and moving around a lot easier.
When you arrive at a certain Moroccan city, it would be quite helpful to download the Google Map of that area. While Moroccan streets, especially in the medinas, tend to be labyrinthine and quite confusing, having a map at your disposal is always better than not having one.
Many hotels offer shuttles to drive you to your accommodation from the airport. Taxi drivers often get scammy and ask for exorbitant prices. You realize you’ve been tricked when you arrive.
Figure out how you’re going to get your internet service. If you’re not willing to use the roaming option, which tends to be pricey, it’s better to get a new SIM card the moment you arrive. You often find SIM cards distributed for free at airports.
In case you can’t withdraw money from an ATM, you better have some cash in U.S. dollars or euros. You won’t have difficulty finding an agency to exchange it for you. The only problem with exchanging money is that it gets costly. It’s better to withdraw money from the AT
Step 11: Get travel insurance!
While not everyone gets travel insurance because 90% of the time you figure out that it’s useless, it’s better to be prepared for anything. When you have travel insurance, you travel with more peace of mind, knowing that in case anything happens, you’ll be covered.
Morocco is generally risk-free when it comes to tourism, but there are always cases that require better preparation. You really don’t want an illness, an accident, or a crime to spoil your vacation in Morocco. So, it’s really useful to be prepared.Step 12: Take some snacks from your country
This step isn’t really necessary. But, I’m sure there’s at least one person out there who will appreciate it. So, this is for you.
While Moroccan cuisine is as good as culinary practices can get, it might not be easy for you to transition quickly. If you’re an American who enjoys eating beef jerky or any type of pork-based snack, you might not be able to suit yourself if you crave some. Moroccans care little for beef jerky and pork is not allowed for Muslims. So, make sure to take some familiar snacks with you in case you’re afraid you might not find them in Morocco.
Check out our blog about Moroccan cuisine.
