Morocco is the outdoor traveler’s dream stacked with adventures to be had. You can summit peaks in the High Atlas Mountains, trekking in the Sahara Desert, and surf at one of the many coastal destinations.
But it’s not just adventure that’s on offer in Morocco. The North African nation has a rich culture with good food and interesting history.
There are tasty dishes such as tagine and couscous to eat along with ancient cities to explore and Arab dynasties to learn about.
Table of contents
- Key facts about Morocco
- Morocco adventure travel guides
- The best time to visit Morocco
- How safe is Morocco for tourists?
- How much does it cost to backpack in Morocco?
- How to get around in Morocco
- Can you drink alcohol in Morocco?
Key facts about Morocco
- Population: 37 million
- Size: 710,850 km²
- Capital city: Marrakech
- Languages: Moroccan Arabic, French, Berber, Spanish
- Interesting fact: Morocco is roughly the same size as California
Morocco adventure travel guides
Find your next adventure in Morocco.
The best time to visit Morocco
Morocco is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit is October to March.
These months encompass the Moroccan winter and spring when the weather is warm and comfortable. This is unlike the summer months where temperatures can easily reach over 30°C.
Although winter and spring are the colder moths of the year in Morocco, it’s still possible to hike in the High Atlas Mountains. This includes Mt Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.
The winter months bring consistent swells along the Moroccan coast for surfers and are also the perfect time of year for visiting the Sahara Desert.
The cooler temperatures make desert trekking possible and fewer tourists means less crowds exploring the sand dunes.
How safe is Morocco for tourists?
I generally consider Morocco to be safe for travelers if you take precautions. However, the country does have its fair share of problems that you need to know about.
Harassment of tourists by locals posing as ‘guides’ is a big issue. This happens in cities and is most common in the Medina of Marrakesh.
A fake guide will typically try to convince you that where you’re heading is closed. Their intention is to convince you to go elsewhere with them as your ‘guide’ for a fee.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching and drive-by motorcycle theft also happens. Be sure not to have any valuables such as jewellery on display. Keep wallets, phones and important documents such as passports in zipped pockets.
Respecting the local customs will help you avoid problems. Morocco is a Muslim country with strict rules around alcohol consumption and sexual relations. Unfortunately, this includes intolerance of homosexuality.
It’s a good idea to save displays of affection for when you’re in private.
How much does it cost to backpack in Morocco?
Traveling in Morocco is very affordable and budget travelers can make their money stretch far here.
I recommend a daily budget of around $30 US to cover hostel or budget hotel accommodation, transport, food and the mandatory daily tourism tax.
Pretty much every attraction in Morocco charges an entry fee, so factor in a couple extra dollars per day if you’re checking out museums and historical sites etc.
How to get around in Morocco
For the most part it’s pretty easy to get around Morocco thanks to reliable buses, the many taxis and trains.
Buses within cities are generally cheap, frequent and reliable. They typically run from early in the morning into the night.
If you want to travel between cities, then you can hop on a coach. There are a few coach lines in the Morocco, but the 2 best-known are CTM and Supratours. Their coaches are normally clean, comfortable and affordable.
Trains run between the major cities in Morocco. There are standard trains, nights trains and high-speed trains. Trains can be affordable for budget travelers depending on the distance you want to travel and the type of train.
However, coaches are always cheaper and sometimes cover the journey in a similar amount of time.
Taxis in Morocco are either petite taxis (up to 4 passengers) or grand taxis (up to 6 passengers). Petite taxis can only operate within cities while grand taxis can take you beyond city limits.
Taxis in almost all areas of Morocco have to work to fixed rates and meter increments.
It’s a good idea to clue yourself into taxi rates before you visit a destination in Morocco as taxi drivers often rip off tourists. It’s common for taxi drivers not to switch the meter on for tourists. Make sure to always agree a fair before setting off.
Transport options are limited in less touristy and more remote areas of Morocco. You may have to head to one of the main cities to find an affordable way of getting to your next destination.
Can you drink alcohol in Morocco?
You can consume alcohol in Morocco, however the county has strict laws regulating its consumption.
Alcohol is only sold by licensed shops and supermarkets which are few and far between. It can only be drunk in licensed bars, restaurants and hotels.
Drinking alcohol in public is illegal in Morocco. Doing so can land you in trouble with the law and also with locals who may take offence to it.
Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol and you won’t find many Moroccans who drink it.
That said, Morocco is one of the more liberal Muslim countries, so opinions towards alcohol aren’t as rigid compared to other Islamic nations.