Morocco Packing Guidelines
Morocco Packing Guidelines
The climate in Morocco varies between areas, especially in the fall months. In these periods
there are not a lot of rainy days and the daily temperatures are between 60-90F, depending on
your location.
When it comes to clothing, it is important to remember that the local etiquette of clothing can be
rather different to Western travellers. Morocco is a Muslim country, meaning that conservative
clothing is expected throughout the country. As responsible and respectful travellers, as we all
are, it is polite to avoid excessively short, tight, or low-cut clothing. Moroccans are rather liberal
compared to other Muslim countries, therefore t-shirts, skinny jeans, and knee-length dresses
are quite common, especially in bigger cities. A good rule of thumb is to keep shoulders and
down to your knees covered. The countryside is naturally more conservative and there we
recommend wearing something a bit more covering and with a loose-fit. This also applies if you
are possibly going to visit with local families. If you are going into the Sahara Desert and
making a stop to visit a nomadic family, please be aware you will likely be having to crawl into
the tent and will be more or less sitting on the ground, so please keep that in mind for
appropriate attire.
If you are visiting the Hassan II Mosque, be aware that you will have to remove your shoes
during the tour. Also, shorts, ripped clothing, exposed shoulders, and any clothing that would be
otherwise deemed in poor taste is prohibited. However, it is not required to wear full-length
sleeves, skirts, or cover your head.
When you are heading to the mountains make sure to bring some good walking shoes. Those
might be a good idea in the cities, as the best way to explore medinas is on foot, and not all of
the ground is smooth and level. Protection from the sun is also important while in the south,
particularly in the desert. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen will all help protect you in the
desert. There is no need for women to cover their hair. Wearing a hijab is a personal choice for
Moroccan women, and many choose not to wear it. As it is a religious symbol, it should not be
adopted lightly or to try to “fit in”. However, having a turban wrapped in the Sahara is a matter
of practicality, and your guide will be more than happy to teach you how to wrap one!
If you intend to take advantage of local nightlife in the cities, attire is much as you would find in
the United States.
September is usually quite warm, especially in the south. Shorts and knee length skirts are
perfectly acceptable to help stay cool. However, the Sahara Desert cools dramatically after the
sun goes down, so a light jacket is a good idea to have. Also, comfortable pants are
recommended for the camel ride, as well as for the day spent traveling south. Comfortable
walking shoes are important for the city tours, as not all walkways are as smooth as you will find
in the U.S. While we have a pretty full schedule, most of the properties do have swimming
pools that there may or may not be time to take advantage of.
Beyond clothing, be sure to bring sun protection, and we highly recommend stomach medicines
as it’s always possible something could disagree with you. Additionally, if you are prone to
motion sickness, you will absolutely need some sort of remedy for traveling through the
mountains. The electrical outlets are the same as European, but twice the voltage of the U.S.
Therefore, any heating implements (hairdryer, curling iron, etc.) MUST have a power converter,
not merely an outlet adapter. If you short out the electricity in a property because you just had
to have your own hair dryer without appropriate power conversion, you are fully responsible for
any damage caused.
Money will be exchanged on the ground in Morocco. This can be done several times during the
trip, as it is best not to have any leftover cash that must be converted back before leaving
Morocco. Most everyday shops and restaurants do not accept credit cards, and tips are
common for practically all services. A SIM card can be purchased for a low price to be used in
any unlocked cell phone if desired.
Suggested packing (some items can be purchased here)
- Sneakers/hiking boots for hiking
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Comfortable pants for hikes and camel trek
- Knee length shorts/skirts for time in the hot cities, such as Marrakech
- Swimsuit if you wish to take advantage of the swimming pool
- Light jacket for the chilly nights
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Motion sickness remedies
- Stomach issue remedies
- Backpack/overnight bag to pack for overnight in the desert
- Power adapter (African/European)
- Power converter if you are planning on using heating elements (hair dryer, straightener, curling iron)
- Unlocked cell phone if you plan to use a SIM card