Travel In Morocco : When to go to Morocco for an ideal trip?
If idleness is the object of your Moroccan tourist stay, it is better to target cities where windsurfing and palm trees are king, especially in the north of Morocco, where the seasons are milder: Casablanca, Fez or Rabat, are first choice destinations. You can do the following activities:
- Walk in the local medina,
- Excursion in the surroundings, in particular the desert, the city of Meknes or Chefchaouen,
- Camel trek among the Berbers.
In the south of Morocco, seaside resorts are legion and allow you to enjoy an ideal climate for summer. For example, Agadir is one of the most popular destinations in Morocco, with 300 days of sunshine a year and little rainfall! This means that you can go there all year round without any problem. Same thing with Essaouira, where you can:
- Surf from July to September,
- Enjoy the beaches and relax,
- Prepare a road trip in the Great Moroccan South.
We will then distinguish seven large spaces in Morocco:
- The North Atlantic plains, with Tangier or Tetouan,
- The plains of Doukkala up to Souss, with Agadir,
- The interior shelves, with Marrakech,
- The Mediterranean coast and the Rif, with Oujda,
- The Middle and High Atlas, with Ifrane,
- The Anti Atlas and the pre-Saharan valleys, with Ouarzazate,
- The Saharan domain, with Dakhla.
Morocco suffers from several types of weather influences, which explains the differences in climates: oceanic, Mediterranean, mountain, continental and desert.
What budget to plan to visit Morocco?
Money is always at the heart of expenses for a trip to the Maghreb: between transport, food, housing, the bill is quickly salty. This is why we give you here some indications of average prices, to get an idea.
Transport side, you have to think about:
- Your plane tickets to go to Morocco,
- On-site transportation, with public transportation,
- For your personal trips, especially in taxis,
- Possibly, other means of transport during your stay, such as cycling.
In cities, traveling by taxi is economical provided you know the prices. Always ask the driver to put the meter. If he refuses, do not go up with him. Taxis are official and must respect the current pricing which is generally 2 Dh at pick-up (3 if it is in the evening or in front of your hotel) and between 4 and 8 Dh per kilometer.
Make sure you have change with you so that you can pay the right price. In case of conflict, do not hesitate to take the number of the taxi and tell them that you will go to the tourist police, the conflict should be resolved as if by magic!
Also, if you prefer to organize everything yourself, know that the bus network is well developed in Morocco and connects big cities like remote corners.
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Three major companies provide the majority of services:
CTM
Supratours
ONCF Train
As for accommodation, the cost of hotels in Morocco varies according to their geographic location, their standing and the period in which you are staying in the country. Large hotel chains such as Ibis and Sofitel are present, but many hotels are available across the country at all prices. For example, the Swani hotel in Meknes costs only € 5 a night in a double room. In Casablanca, the average is around 50 € per night, in Tangier, you can find 40 € per night in a double room.
If you want to stay with locals in Morocco, you can turn to Airbnb and choose to stay in a private room with a Moroccan family. Count between 30 and 70 € per night in a private room.
If you don’t have too much money, here is an example of a backpacker budget for two
Besides the plane tickets, it is possible to spend less than 300 € for a couple by spending a week in Morocco.
Count on average for two:
- € 27 per night for accommodation,
- € 10 per day for food,
- 4 € per day for transport,
- Choose free activities.
This budget is valid for most cities in Morocco but it will then be necessary to give up visiting southern Morocco by taking an excursion in the desert.
How to stay in Morocco during a trip?
We are talking about expenses, but did you know that accommodation generally corresponds to 30% of the total spent during a stay? This is why it is better to make your choice according to your desires of stay: focus on comfort, or reserve your money for authentic activities?
The advantage of Morocco is that it is a multifaceted country, where it is possible to stay as well “European”, in conventional hotel chains, as in housing unusual, like in a Berber bivouac in the middle of the desert. Original, isn’t it? Here is a summary of the accommodation available in Morocco:
- Moroccan camps,
- The youth hostels,
- The hotel rooms,
- Private apartments, including riads,
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It is very easy to camp in Morocco. Many campsites are available throughout the country. In Arabic, you can use the word moukhayyem which means camping if you want to camp in more remote parts of Morocco. A campsite generally costs 10 to 20 Dh per person to which you must add 10 to 20 Dh (less than 2 €) to pitch a tent.
Youth hostels are not very common in Morocco. There are a dozen officially listed by the Hostelling International network. They are in the main cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Fez, Meknes, Essaouira, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tetouan, Asni, Azrou, Chefchaouen and Laayoune. The rates are between 6 and 15 € for a bed in a dormitory.
Traveling to Morocco can also be done through resort hotels or simpler hotels. You will find all the rates according to the range of hotels you choose. Generally, hotels will ask you to enter your passport and visa number in the register upon arrival. A tourist promotion tax and a municipal tourist tax will also be required, the two combined rarely exceed 35 Dh (around 3.30 €).
Homestay in Morocco is highly appreciated: with prices ranging from 24 to 43 € per day and per person, depending on the level of comfort chosen and the number of people accommodated, it is an ideal economic option in the context a circuit or a road trip.
Travel In Morocco : Top 10 things to know when visiting Morocco!
Morocco welcomed 11.3 million tourists in 2018 alone, according to the Tourism Observatory, an increase of 8.5% compared to the previous year. But going on vacation to Morocco, just like any other destination, involves local customs, rules or lifestyle habits to take into account.
Among other things, the kingdom of Morocco is a Muslim country and whether you go to Tetouan, Chefchaouen or the Sahara Desert, whether you are a man or a woman, remember to respect customs. Provide sober and covering clothes. Even if the cities of Fez and Marrakech are used to tourists and accept Western fashion, it is better to try to blend in with the landscape so as not to attract attention.
Friday is the day of prayer for Muslims. Stores may change their hours or not open at all. Also, it is not recommended to leave during Ramadan (May – June) because everything works in slow motion in the cities.
Visiting Morocco also means learning to bargain and negotiate in the souk and elsewhere. Moroccans are considered very welcoming, sometimes too much in the alleys of the souk. Don’t be naive. Their warm gestures and their sympathy are there for only one purpose: to make you buy argan oil, a pair of babouche or a tagine dish.
In addition, we advise you to respect a few hygienic rules, such as not drinking tap water or refusing ice cubes in your drinks in a restaurant. Bad for digestion!
Finally, adopt a positive and open attitude, by agreeing not to talk about certain subjects (do not put anyone uncomfortable on the street) and by showing you “good tourist”, by giving some tips, much awaited by providers on duty. After all, that’s how it works!
So, ready for your Moroccan stay?
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