30 Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Morocco

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Any time we travel, it is helpful to know some things before we go.

So, here are 30 Dos and Don’ts of Traveling in Morocco to help you prepare, put your mind at ease, and get you excited to embark on your next adventure!

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1. DO try Moroccan cuisine! While there are plenty of French, Spanish, and even American-style restaurants, nothing beats the distinct and delicious flavors of authentic Moroccan food! The unique blends of spices and food pairings will help you immerse even more in the local culture while expanding your palette. For example, I never would have thought that beef and prunes cooked together would yield anything good, but it turned out to be one of my very favourite dishes that I tried.

2. DON’T drink the tap water! Moroccan locals are able to handle it, but the tap water in Morocco contains a bacteria that can wreak havoc on your foreign gut biome. It’s best to be safe and drink bottled water, avoid ice in drinks, even brush your teeth with bottled water if you are extra sensitive. To be more mindful of plastic waste, you can also use a reusable water bottle/filter while there. Life Straw is a popular option, but I personally love my Grayl filtering water bottle.

3. Speaking of drinking, DON’T drink alcohol openly, if at all. While there are places you can go to drink, please be respectful of the local Muslim culture and refrain from drinking publicly or being publicly intoxicated. Obviously, this is also for your own safety.

4. Do dress modestly. This goes for both men and women. In general, avoid showing too much skin…shoulders, cleavage, anything above the knee, tank tops, or extremely tight-fitting clothes. Looser, longer clothing will not only show respect for local sensibilities but will also help you keep cool and sheltered from the sun.

5. DO invest in a regional digital SIM card. This saved me a lot of money and gave me peace of mind knowing that I would be able to contact friends and family and access local WiFi easily without having to purchase physical cards that can be lost or damaged. Nomad was easy to use and had great pricing options.

6. DON’T take photos of people without their permission. This is seen as extremely rude and makes people very uncomfortable and even angry. Consent is very important.

7. DO be open to the beauty of the local Muslim culture. If you are an observer of life’s subtleties, you will notice how the Islamic faith is woven into the everyday lives of people in Morocco. It’s actually lovely to see and certainly contributes to the generous and relatively easy-going Moroccan culture. Part of why we travel is to experience life through a different lens, so embrace this beautiful aspect of travel in Morocco.

8. That being said, DON’T enter mosques. These are sacred spaces meant only for those practicing the faith and you will be asked to leave. In fact, there is only one mosque in all of Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter beyond controlled tours…the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

9. DON’T eat, greet, or exchange things with your left hand as it is seen as unclean. Sorry Lefties….you may want to practice with your right hand before visiting to avoid uncomfortable situations.

10. DO accept the invitation to drink tea. This is a very common act of hospitality and is something iconic about life in Morocco! Mostly, the tea offered is Moroccan mint tea, a sweet tea that locals drink throughout the day. Even vendors in the souks commonly offer tea to potential buyers. That being said, context is important and single women should exercise some caution when offered tea by unattached men as this can culturally be taken as an offer of relationship. Usually, though, its just fine, especially in group settings.

11. DON’T engage in obvious or over-the-top public displays of affection, especially for same-sex couples. It is technically illegal to be gay in Morocco, and even for heterosexual couples, it is seen as vulgar to engage publicly in what is largely considered private behaviour. Hand holding can be ok, but making out in publicly is really frowned upon.

12. DO learn some Arabic phrases such as shukran (thank you), salam (literally means “peace”, commonly used as hello), na'am (yes), la (no)… Not only will this help you with basic communications, but it will also be really appreciated by the locals. Even if you stumble over pronunciation, the effort will be noticed and goes a long way to having positive interactions with people.

13. DO bring some travel tissues or toilet paper with you, especially in the more rural places as not all bathrooms provide toilet paper without a fee, if it is provided at all.

14. DON’T accept, purchase, or consume drugs even though hashish or cannabis may be offered to you. While it is considered “legal” for medical and industrial use now, there are strict laws against recreational use and it’s really just best to avoid it altogether. You don’t want to be getting in legal trouble abroad!

15. DON’T fall for fake guides. If an unknown local says that they can show you around, just politely but firmly decline by saying “La, shukran” (no, thank you). They will walk around with you and point some things out and then demand payment, often for exorbitant prices. We provide licensed and vetted local guides for exactly this reason.

16. DO plan on using cash. It’s a cash-based economy in Morocco, and ATMs aren’t always easy to get to, especially outside of the bigger cities.

17. DON’T, however, carry around big bills if possible. It’s better to have smaller bills and coins to use in public so that you aren’t seen as a target as there are , unfortunately, a fair amount of pickpockets keeping an eye out for folks flashing big bills. Our Tour Specialist can help you break bigger bills safely if needed.

18. DO relax. "Morocco time" is a thing and moves more slowly or unpredictably than people from Western cultures are generally used to. Just go with the flow and remember that you are on vacation.

19. DON’T just stay in the big cities. Morocco is a large place with varied and beautiful terrain. Get outside of the cities to experience authentic Morocco. There are several day trip excursions you can go on, or opt for a longer range (and entirely enchanting!)experience by booking an excursion to the Sahara Desert. Our Tour Specialist is happy to go over options with you to find the very best activities and places for you to explore.

20. DON’T forget travel insurance. This can really save you if you have any kind of emergency and you can usually find reasonable rates before you go.

21. DO bring a small flashlight. This is one of the most commonly overlooked yet useful items you can bring while traveling. A small, pocket-sized one will do, but a light source is always helpful to have

.22. DON’T forget to pack a current converter/power adapter! This means all the difference between your devices working as planned or having to spend a lot of money on buying items that work locally or trying to find appropriate adapters once you are there.

23. DON’T engage in animal tourism. While that cute monkey or charming snake charmer in the square may seem like a fun and harmless (if overpriced) novelty, it actually encourages illegal and abusive activities.

24. DO agree to a price before using a taxi, otherwise you will almost certainly be overcharged. If you are unsure what price to expect, ask our local Tour Specialist or licensed guides…they will help you avoid getting scammed.

25. DON’T be afraid to haggle! This is expected, so vendors, taxi drivers, etc will quote you an outrageous sum at first (usually about 3x an acceptable rate). So, start ridiculously low yourself and then go back and forth until you are roughly in that ⅓ of the originally quoted price range. This is a loose rule but generally works.

26. DO expect to give moderate tips for services, food, drivers, etc. Again, Morocco does have a cash-based economy and most people rely on tips to make a living.

27. DON’T overplan…give yourself some time to explore and go with the flow. For our longer tours, we often build in a “free” day or two for exactly this purpose.

28. DON’T forget that Friday is a day of rest. Expect many businesses to have reduced hours, and take advantage of the chance to take it easy yourself.

29. DO download an offline map, especially if you are going into the more remote areas where WiFi isn’t always available or reliable.

30. DO converse with locals! Moroccans are generally friendly, helpful people who enjoy talking with travelers and you will learn so much through these simple conversations.

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I hope this list proves helpful to you in your travels, and perhaps I’ll see you in Morocco!

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Check out our tours on offer or contact our Tour Specialist to create your own!

www.hearcenteredtravel.com