Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
Footnotes
Morocco
THE TRIP
The author travelled with Audley Travel (01993 838420; audleytravel.com/ morocco) who offer tailormade trips to Morocco. An 11-day cultural tour, including Fez, Asilah, Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira, costs from £3,610 per person, including flights, B&B accommodation in boutique riads, private transfers and a selection of private tours.
Vital statistics
Capital: Rabat
Population: Around 36.5 million
Languages: Morocco’s official languages are Modern Standard Arabic – although Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is the vernacular – and Tamazight (Berber). French is also widely spoken, Spanish is often understood in the north and English is common in tourist areas.
Time: GMT+1
International dialling code: +212
Visas: UK passport holders do not need a visa to enter Morocco for stays of up to three months.
Money: The Moroccan dirham (MAD), currently around Dh12 to the UK£. ATMS are found in cities and major towns, and credit cards are accepted at most hotels and shops, but you’ll need cash for cheaper establishments, rural areas, markets and tipping. Euros and US dollars are also widely accepted in major cities.
When to go
Morocco is a year-round destination, but the weather varies around the country. Dates of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when Moroccans fast during the day, change slightly every year; in 2020 it will end around 23 May.
March-may and Septemberoctober: The best time to visit the inland cities of Marrakech and Fez.
April-june and Septemberoctober: An ideal time for visiting the desert and the mountains. Nights are cold outside these months and there’s snow on peaks.
July-august: The coast gets crowded with domestic tourists.
Health & safety
Hepatitis A and tetanus vaccinations are usually advised (check fitfortravel.nhs.uk). There’s a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,400m or higher. Drink bottled water and avoid contact with stray animals as rabies is present.
Getting there
Air Arabia (airarabia.com) flies from London Gatwick direct to Tangier three times a week. Flight time is around three hours; fares start from £74 one-way, including taxes and 10kg carry-on luggage. One-way fares to Marrakech start from £40.
Getting around
CTM (ctm.ma) and Supratours
(supratours.ma) buses can transport you to most places in the country.
For a faster option, you can try the train network (oncf.ma): the Al Boraq,
a new high-speed train, covering Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca.
Air Arabia (airarabia.com) also flies between nine Moroccan cities.
Cost of travel
If you’re on a budget you can get by on around Dh600 (£47) per day by sleeping and eating cheaply,
or up to Dh1,400 (£110) per day if you stay in a comfortable hotel, eat at better restaurants and take tours.
Staying in more luxurious hotels and eating in high-end restaurants will set you back Dh1,500 plus (£118) a day. Tip guides and private drivers, and leave around 10% in restaurants.
Accommodation
Morocco has accommodation to suit all budgets. In Tangier, La Maison Blanche
(lamaisonblanchetanger.com) has B&B doubles from Dh1,200 (£95); in Asilah, Dar Manara
(asilah-darmanara.com) has B&B doubles from Dh700 (£55); in Moulay Boussalem, Vila Bea
(vilabea.com) has B&B doubles from Dh1,375 (£108); in Salé, the Repose (therepose.com) has B&B doubles from Dh450 (£35); in Rabat, L’alcazar Luxury Ryad
(lalcazar.com) has B&B doubles from Dh900 (£71); in Casablanca, Hôtel Le Doge Relais & Châteaux
(hotelledoge.com) has room-only doubles from Dh1,650 (£130); in El Jadida, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort (mazaganbeachresort.com) has B&B doubles from Dh1,520 (£120); in Oualidia, La Sultana
(lasultanahotels.com/oualidia) has doubles from Dh4,400 (£347); and in Essaouira, Riad Dar Maya (riaddarmaya.com) has B&B doubles from Dh1,270 (£100). Salut Maroc (salutmaroc.com) has doubles from £105.
Further reading & information
Morocco (Lonely Planet, 2017) muchmorocco.com