There are many excellent tours offered throughout Morocco. Tours that really everyone should consider include camping in the desert with the nomads, camel rides in the desert, tours of the Altas Mountains, and tours to UNESCO-protected Ouarzazate. Many of these tours start in Marrakech, but others are offered from other common arrival points in the country. Ask our team at Africa North Journeys

Absolutely. Marrakech is the most colorful of all Moroccan cities when it comes to traditional shopping - as it has been for hundreds of years. For many tourists, shopping is a central part of their trip, and in Morocco there are so many exotic products to browse and choose from. The traditional Arab markets are called "souks."

• Souks/Souqs: traditional name for a market or bazaar with a wide variety of stalls/booths or small stores usually specializing in one thing

One can discover in souqs mainly leather, carpets, metalwork, pottery, traditional Muslim clothing, traditional lanterns, nuts and dried fruits, jewelry, argan oil and much more. There is an amazing variety of spices, teas, nuts and other exotic products.
 

No, tourists can mostly wear what they like, but it is advisable to dress modestly (i.g.no mini skirts or bikini tops in public), so as not to offend the locals

Go for at least two weeks, if one only has limited time, then priorize Marrakesh. Here you will get the fastest insight into the diverse and colorful culture of Morocco.

You can always exchange Euros everywhere in the country. You can even pay with EUR very often. Swiss Francs are not so popular, so you have to go to an official exchange office or bank to exchange. We recommend to change MAD (Moroccan Dirham) directly upon arrival, in case something cannot be paid in EUR. However, coins in foreign currency are not welcome.

No, alcohol is permitted, while many Moroccans will frown on other Moroccans for drinking (their faith dicated this), there is no issue for tourists.

Much of Morocco is desert, so it can get very hot. It is best to avoid summer there to escape the worst of the heat. Temperatures around 50 degrees are then not uncommon. Also at night it is then still around 25 to 30 degrees. At the Atlantic or in the High Atlas it is rather pleasant in summer with around 30 degrees and a cooling breeze. In winter you can not travel to the High Atlas - there is snow and the roads are closed. On the Atlantic Ocean, winter temperatures tend to be cooler, around 15 degrees. The most ideal time is actually spring or autumn - if you want to visit all regions.

It is advisable not to drink the water from the tap, even if local people do. They are used to it. However, water can be bought on every corner. A bottle costs about 6 MAD (60 cents).

It is possible that you will not tolerate the local food in restaurants or at fast food stands. A medicine for gastro-intestinal problems (e.g. charcoal tablets) should therefore definitely be in the first-aid kit. However, I have never had any problems with the usual tajine (Monika Elsen).

Throughout Morocco, the rule is to throw toilet paper in the bucket next to the toilet (as in Andalusia, by the way). This can possibly lead to odor nuisance, but with time you get used to it. Next to the toilets there is often a washing facility or a bidet (in the hotels/riads). The reason for this is probably Islam, which requires cleaning after each use of the toilet. In public toilets there is usually only a washing facility for the hands. And - for us Europeans, it takes some getting used to - often standing toilets, especially in rural areas.