[MOROCCO] How to Plan A Trip in Morocco

08:47 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Morocco is the second country I visited in North Africa after Egypt. I travelled for about a week in Morocco. Here's how I planned my trip in Morocco.

Visa to Enter Morocco:

Malaysia Passport holders: Starting from 27 December 2017, Malaysian can enter Morocco without the requirement of a visa, for a period of stay not exceeding 90 days, for official, business or social purposes. 

* Fully vaccinated Malaysian can enter Morocco without restriction. Unvaccinated Malaysian can enter Morocco with a negative covid test result within 72 hours before departure.

Please see the full list of countries whose citizens are exempted from entry visa into Morocco here.

Major Cities in Morocco:

The top five major cities (marked in orange box) in Morocco are Casablanca, Rabat (capital city), Fes, Tangier and Marrakesh. International visitors will mostly be arriving in one of these major cities.  Depending on how many days you plan to spend in Morocco, you can adjust your itinerary accordingly. The desert tour from Fez to Marrakesh or vice versa would take at least three full days (see the brown line). As a rule of thumb, you should not spend less than a week in Morocco. If you stay for 10 to 14 days, you can actually make a round trip linking all five major cities. * Click to see enlarged map

My 7D6N itinerary in Morocco as below (click pink font for further reading):

Day 1: Arriving in Fez

Day 2: Day trip to Chefchaouen from Fez

Day 3: Fez - Ifrane - Ziz Valley viewpoint - Merzouga - overnight in desert camp

Day 4: Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Boumalne Dades

Day 5: Boumalne Dades - Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou  - Marrakesh

Day 6: Full day in Marrakesh

Day 7: Marrakesh - Casablanca

Travel Season in Morocco:

Best time to visit Morocco is spring (March to May) or autumn (October to November) when it is not too hot during the day but still chilly at night in the desert. You should definitely avoid the intense heat in summer which can go up to 50 Celsius in the desert. You can get accommodation at discounted rates in the summer as inland cities sizzles, but domestic tourism means peak prices on the coastal cities.

Avoid the Ramadan month if possible as it is the fasting month for Muslims. Only a small amount of restaurants or food stores would stay open for foreigners during the day. It is not advisable to eat, drink or smoke in public during the fasting hours of Ramadan. Many places of attraction will also open for shorter hours during Ramadan.

Currency in Morocco:

The official monetary currency of Morocco is Moroccan Dirham. Euro and USD are widely accepted. It is best to bring Euro or USD for currency exchange upon arrival. Cash is still the preferred payment method. Some places might accept credit card with additional charges.

1 MAD = 0.44 MYR / 0.10 USD

Where to stay:

A Riad is a Moroccan house with an internal courtyard. It is part of the travel experience while travelling in Morocco. 

Some fancy riads even has swimming pool in the courtyard.

In Fez, I stayed in Dar Lala Wafae. It cost me EUR 48 for two nights, back in October 2019.

Two nights accommodation is included in the desert tour. The desert camp is pretty basic and has no shower facilities. I had no complaints as I was only there for one night.  

Dar Ahlam Dades at Boumalne Dades on the other hand is a good hotel and I had a comfortable stay.

In Marrakesh, I stayed for two nights at Riad Jnane Mogador in the Medina. It cost me EUR 90 for two nights, back in October 2019. If you're willing to splurge, there are better and prettier riads in Marrakesh. Further reading on seven best riads in Marrakesh: https://wanderingwheatleys.com/marrakech-morocco-best-riads-hotels-place-to-stay/

Transportation in Morocco:

Train and bus are the main public transportation connecting cities in Morocco.

ONCF Train:

ONCF is the Morocco's national railway operator. Their official website is in French. I didn't buy the tickets online. I bought it at the ticket counter a day before my departure.

Map above is the railway network in Morocco.

The main train station in Marrakesh.

The main train station in Casablanca.

I took a train from Marrakesh to Casablanca. The train ride was about 2 hours 40 minutes. It was a comfortable ride.

Website: https://www.oncf-voyages.ma/

Bus:

The bus network is more extensive than the railway network in Morocco. Taking a CTM Bus is a convenient way to travel between cities. Another bus company that you may consider is Supratours. I took CTM bus from Chefchaouen to Fez. Bus fare was about 75 Dirham. You can buy the tickets online or at the ticket counter. It is recommended to take the CTM bus since it is air-conditioned and comfortable. Take note that CTM bus station in Fez is located in the newer part of the city, not the medina.

Website: https://ctm.ma/

Taxi:

There are two types of taxis in Morocco: Grand Taxi and Petit Taxi. Grand taxi is taxi that travel long journey between cities and operate at a fixed rate. Petit Taxi is taxi that travel within the city which can only fit two to three passengers. They operate on taxi meter although most taxi driver usually refuse to use meter when they see tourist. See tips below on taking a taxi. The minimum amount to pay Petit Taxi is 7 to 10 Dirham.

Tram:

Casablanca has tram service in the city. There is a tram station in front of the train station, Gare de Casa-Voyageurs. I have not tried it though.

Food in Morocco:

Moroccan cuisine is generous with its flavorful seasoning. Here are some of the must-try Moroccan food:

1) Couscous

Couscous is the national staple grain in Morocco. It is sometimes cooked with meat and vegetables in tagine.

2) Tagine

This is perhaps the most popular food among tourist. This slow-cooked Moroccan stew takes its name from the traditional clay dish it's traditionally cooked in.

I like this chicken tagine with prunes and almonds that I ate in Marrakesh.

3) Harira

Harira is a tomato-based soup laden with lentils and chickpeas. It is typically eaten with plain bread.

4) Khobz 

Khobz means "bread" in Standard Arabic. It is a round crusty white bread with coarse texture.

5) Msemen

Msemen is a flat, square-shaped and crispy Moroccan pancake. The same dough is used to make the round pancake, rghaif. It is something like the Malaysian version of roti canai.

I also tried Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus. It tasted a bit like mango and has lots of small seed in it. 

The most popular drink is Moroccan mint tea. Their dates drink is also pretty good.

Safety tips in Morocco:

Morocco is a country that requires extra vigilance because petty crime, scam and harassment can happen to you if you're not being careful. I raised my alertness after my husband's incident in the medina of Fez. Throughout the remaining journey, we managed to stay out of trouble.

General: Do not wander in the souk or medina alone at night regardless whether you're man or woman. You'll be an easy target for petty crime or worse. Only bring small cash with you. The remaining cash should be kept in a safe place.

Scammers: Remain vigilant and watch out for scammers throughout your entire journey in Morocco. I'm not joking. Ignore anyone soliciting your attention. Do NOT trust any locals offering "free" service or you'll ended up paying more than what you bargained. Scammers like to use the word "free" to lure you in. Free guide? Free tea? The only answer you should give is "No, thank you." and walk away. My husband learnt it the hard way in Fez. 

Booking a tour: If you're booking a tour, make sure that you book from a reputable travel agency with good testimonies online. Some local touts will try to sell you tours at cheaper rates, but it is only cheaper because some things are not included or they will bring you to shops and try to pressure you into buying something.  

Female travelers: It is advisable to dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) while travelling in Morocco, especially solo female travelers. Local men will usually leave you alone if you're travelling with a male partner or family with children. Wearing a ring would help to ward off unwanted attention from men. Firmly say no and don't smile if you find yourself being harassed by strangers. You don't need to be rude but don't act too friendly either around local men.

Taking a taxi: The taxi drivers usually refuse to use meter. When this happens, always negotiate the price and agree on the fare with the driver before getting in. Always pay the taxi driver the exact change, or he will claim that he doesn't has change and you ended up paying more.

Buying souvenir: Always haggle for best price in the souk, a third of the price is a good point to start with. Watch the seller when they wrap up your souvenir to make sure that it is not swapped with something of inferior quality, especially if you're buying something expensive like leather or carpet.

Taking photos of local: Locals generally don't want you to take their photo. Always ask for permission if you want to take photo of them. Taking photo of their back is fine.

Stay safe and happy travels!