Become mesmerized by Morocco! This guide will help prepare you for your incredible adventure. Please read this carefully, and if there is anything we have not addressed, feel free to reach out at meetuptours@sofetravel.com. Can’t wait to show you this amazing country.
Things to expect
Physical level
Morocco is a country which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Heat, pollution, poverty and the crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge. During our time here we have come to love this wonderfully different country but we know that we should always expect to encounter some difficulties along the way. In Morocco there are very different attitudes to time keeping, public cleanliness, privacy and service. If you are able to travel with a lot of patience and a sense of humour, then we know that you – like all of us – will be captivated by Morocco.
A good level of fitness is recommended and will certainly help increase the enjoyment of the trip and help you to make the most of the variety of optional walks and hikes around towns and villages.
Inclusions
exclusions
Itinerary
Your general Morocco itinerary can be found here or on the Morocco Meetup Tour webpage. Daily schedules will be given by your guide when you arrive in Morocco. Because the seasons, operating hours of inclusions, traffic, and many factors can affect the daily schedule, specific timing will be determined by your guide to give you the best possible experience. If you have questions about when to wake up, how long you will spend at a particular site, etc. please feel free to ask your guide at any time.
Salam Alaykoum, welcome to Morocco! A country known for its flavorful food, layered history, instagrammable riads, and of course – sunset views from the backs of camels. Our driver will meet you at the airport according to your arrival time and bring you to our hotel in Casablanca. Here we will meet the rest of the group for a 6pm welcome meeting and dinner. Meals: dinner
You’ll start the day with a tour of Hassan II Mosque, an architectural masterpiece built next to the crashing waves of the sea. After our introduction to Morocco with a tour of the mosque and breathtaking views, we hit the road to the Rif Mountains on our way to Chefchaouen, The Blue City! Once we arrive, enjoy solo time walking around the neighbourhood or at your hotel with views overlooking the city, a sunny pool, and the best restaurant around. Meals: breakfast | Drive time: approx. 4.5 hours
Today is your day! Spend the day getting lost with your camera in the winding blue lanes and alleys, people watching from a cafe, and enjoying a cup of tea with a friendly city resident. We know all the best cafés, photo tours, henna artists, and local experiences if you want to join in an optional activity or even hike up to score the best views. Meals: breakfast
Step foot into impressive Roman ruins at Volubilis, once a provincial capital famed for its mosaic floors, steaming bathhouses, hustling marketplace, and towering palaces. After our morning contemplating the mysteries of the past, we visit the sacred pilgrimage village of Moulay Idriss where we’ll have home-cooked lunch with a local family. Then, we are off to the magnificent city of Fes. Once we arrive, you have the rest of the evening for solo time in our dreamy 5 star riad. Meals: breakfast, lunch | Drive time: approx. 4.5 hours
Take a female-led guided walking tour through the old city, known by locals as Fes el Bali. Step back in time to the Middle Ages in the labyrinth of the Medina, one of the largest car-free urban zones in the world alive with craftsmen, markets, tanneries and mosques. Visit Medresse el Attarine and the splendid Funduk Nejjarine, a beautifully restored 18th century inn. You’ll also see the famous tannery, known for the iconic view overlooking its dye pits, and a ceramics factory where you can see potters working in traditional methods, and taste local delicacies. We finish our day with dinner at local family house. Here, we are treated with one of the city’s signature dishes, pastilla (or bastilla), a salty and sweet pastry parcel. After dinner, the ladies have a special surprise for you! Meals: breakfast and dinner.
We exchange the intensity of the city for the simplicity of the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains. Southbound, we drive inland through a variety of spectacular scenery – fertile valleys, cedar and pine forests and barren, rocky landscapes. The area is populated with wandering nomadic shepherds attending to their flocks. Pass through cedar forests which are home to Barbary apes, North Africa’s only monkey, and on to our destination: the market town of Midelt. On arrival we join our host for a farm visit and home-cooked lunch. In the late afternoon stretch your legs as you explore the nearby village of Bremmem and enjoy a bread making demonstration with local woman. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner | Drive time: approx. 4 hours
Today continue the journey to wonderfully isolated Saharan village of Merzouga, backdropped by the orange Erg Chebbi sand dunes. It feels like the modern world has left us behind. An erg is a vast sea of shifting wind-swept sand that’s formed into picturesque, undulating crests and valleys. The Erg Chebbi is one of the world’s iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 meters in height, this feels like frontier country. We hop onto a 4WD and cruise to the edge of the Sahara Desert where our luxury glamping site awaits. After check in, experience sunset from the backs of camels. The dunes are stunning, especially at this time of the day, and tonight we stay in luxury glamp style tents, enjoying lively music and dancing under the stars. Meals: breakfast and dinner | Drive time: approx. 5 hours
Rising early, we’ll witness the most spectacular colors as the sun wakes up the Sahara desert. Leaving camp we set off on a spell-bounding drive through the impressive Todra gorges, a series of limestone river canyons up to 400 meters high. We stop often to admire the landscape and take pics! From here we continue to the palm grove of Skoura, our home for tonight. Meals: breakfast and dinner | Drive time: approx. 4 hours
Today, we’ll create authentic, slow cooking couscous dishes and Moroccan pastries in a cooking class with locals! While the couscous readies, spend time getting to know the women of Skoura over tea. Once the food is ready, we feast! This afternoon we will walk through the village of Ait Benhaddou, the location of many famous movies, before continuing on to Marrakesh for a solo evening. Meals: breakfast and lunch | Drive time: approx. 4 hours
Oh, Marrakech. It’s hard not to fall in love! Our local guide will take us to a workshop at Nour Association. Afterwards we’ll visit Bahia Palace, Jardin secret, spices market and Koutoubia. This afternoon and evening are yours to explore. Allow the mesmerising calls to prayer, the jostling of the local merchants or the street performers to take you on your own adventure. We suggest ending the day relaxing in one of many rooftop bars for a glass of wine and a delicious meal. Meals: breakfast
Get a little lost in the magic of Marrakech today with solo time. You can choose to try a hammam (traditional bathhouse) experience, venture to Marjorelle Gardens at YSL museum, or just wander and see where the day takes you! This evening we will meet for a farewell feast a restaurant owned and run only by women, where we will reminisce over the last week and make plans to keep in touch! Meals: breakfast and dinner
Say goodbye to the beautiful, life changing country of Morocco along and farewell (for now) to the wonderful new friendships you have made along the way. As your tour comes to a close, ask your guide to help arrange transportation to the airport. Check out by 11am. Meals: breakfast
Itinerary Disclaimer
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Morocco Traveler Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.
Joining Point
Hotel Idou Anfa
85 Bd d’Anfa, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
Joining Description
Fly into Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca (code CMN). We will have an airport transfer waiting for you there to take you to our group hotel in Casablanca. After grabbing your luggage, exit the airport through the main arrivals hall. Look for a person holding a sign with the SoFe logo on it and your name!
Remember, our welcome meeting with your guide is at 6pm in the hotel lobby on the first day of the tour. We recommend arriving to the airport around 3:00pm in order to make it to the hotel with some spare time before 6pm. But, we will pick you up at any time on Day 1, even if you arrive later that day. If you miss the welcome meeting, your guide will find a time to catch you up on the details.
If you arrive a day or two early, the airport transfer is not included. Please email us directly if you book flights outside this window so we can assist with the procedure.
Finishing Point
Boutique Hôtel Marrakech | Bab Hôtel
Address: Angle Bd Mansour Eddahbi et, Rue Mohammed el Beqal, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
Finishing Point description
Fly out of Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) anytime on our tour end date. We recommend departing around 11:00am after breakfast and checkout.
Please note that your departure airport is different than your arrival airport.
Departure transfer is not included. Your guide can help you arrange transportation to the airport as needed.
Problems and emergency contact
While we always endeavor to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognize that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction – if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still traveling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com/contact-us
For any arrival transfer related issues, please contact +212 611186188. Our general emergency contact number for Morocco is: +212 661922693.
Payment schedule
You are required to pay a non-refundable $500 deposit at the time of reservation. This non-refundable deposit confirms your Meetup Tour booking and you will receive a confirmation email detailing the terms of your reservation. Once the confirmation email has been sent to you, a contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice.
Please refer to your booking confirmation for specific dates, deadlines and details regarding final payments for your Meetup Tour. For standard Meetup Tours, the program fee balance payment is due 90 days before the departure date. SoFe’s payment system allows you to input the dollar amount for each payment you submit, so you are welcome to make as many payments in any dollar amount as you prefer before the final payment is due.
The final payment deadline is 90 days before the Meetup Tour start date.
If you have not paid the full balance, requested a cancellation and/or transfer by the final payment deadline, your credit card on file will be automatically charged the remaining balance of the Meetup Tour program cost. A $100 late payment fee will also be levied. Additionally, SoFe reserves the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
Feedback
Can’t stop thinking about your adventure? Tell us all about it! We read each piece of feedback carefully and use it to make improvements for travelers like you. Share your experience with us by emailing meetuptours@sofetravel.com!
Before you leave
Important notes
Food and dietary information
Moroccan food is, generally speaking, excellent though not particularly varied. Breakfasts usually consist of bread and jam with coffee or tea. Meals eaten out are reasonably priced – kebab and bread cost only about MAD 30. In main towns, it is possible to find very good French and Moroccan restaurants where a meal and French wine will cost anything from MAD 220 upwards. Generally, dinner is likely to cost between MAD 80-120 depending on what you drink – so an estimate for food would be about MAD 150-200 a day. Soft drinks are available at very reasonable prices, but generally speaking, alcohol is not widely available in Morocco due for cultural and religious reasons. Still, in some hotels and restaurants, you will be able to purchase beer, wine and spirits, but you will pay foreign prices or more for imported alcohol. Please be aware of local laws, believes and traditions, and be very sensitive and respectful while consuming alcohol. Your leader can help recommend restaurants each evening.
Vegetarians can be catered for but there is a fairly limited choice of vegetarian couscous and tajine or omelets. This is particularly the case in rural parts of this itinerary. Please note that if you have any special dietary requirements you should inform us prior to the trip. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.
For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader or representative will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Money Matters
Spending money is a personal choice, and everyone will have different spending habits and needs. It is best to budget a reasonable amount for things like meals not included, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. It’s always better to bring a little more than you think you’ll need. Please have a thorough look at the itinerary and at what is included so you will be prepared for what isn’t included. Our Meetup Tour is very inclusive, however some meals and extras are not included. This guide should make budgeting a little clearer.
PRICES IN MOROCCO
Morocco is often misjudged as being an inexpensive destination. With tourism booming, the influx of cheap flights from Europe, prices for some items are becoming more equivalent to prices you would be used to at home. Eating in local restaurants, road side stalls and from markets can be inexpensive, but for nights out at tourist friendly restaurants you can expect to pay much more. With drinks, tipping and of course – shopping, it can all add up. Budgets are a personal choice but please bear in mind that you should not expect Morocco to be a budget destination.
BARGAINING
In Morocco some services and products are not a fixed price which means that your bartering skills will be tested from hiring taxis to buying a souvenir in the Medina. This can be challenging for travelers who have not experienced this before. Ask your leaders for advice when you arrive however the best approach is to smile and have fun as this is an entrenched part of Moroccan culture.
EMERGENCY FUNDS
Please also make sure you have access to an additional US$500, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (e.g. a natural disaster, civil unrest, strike action or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
There are ATMs in all major cities, which accept Visa cards, MasterCards and cards connected with Cirrus. Some ATMs, belonging to smaller banks, will not work so occasionally you may need to try two or three before you are successful. We would strongly recommend bringing a combination of cash and credit cards. Credit cards are useful for large purchases such as carpets or gold from a large store, but generally speaking they are not accepted in many places. Local restaurants, markets, and many hotels will only accept cash as payment for goods or services.
Changing money is easy and you will find banks and exchange bureaux in Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech. Please note that sometimes Australian dollars are not accepted in exchange bureaux or banks, so the safest option is to bring US dollars. In the desert and Atlas Mountains opportunities to exchange money are limited. Please ensure you only use banks, licensed money exchangers or hotels. We also suggest you keep your receipts. Do not change money with street touts. This is illegal.
Tips are included on all SoFe trips, covering hotel staff, included experiences, included meals, and the people who will take care of you during your travels.
This amount does not include a tip for your leader or driver, so you may wish to set aside some funds for this. It is customary to tip your leader for outstanding service provided during your trip. You are free to tip more or less as you see fit. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, as a guideline, US$10-12 per person, per day can be used for your guide. For your driver, $6-8 per person, per day is the guideline.
There may be times when you find yourself exploring solo. When you’re out by yourself and you’re happy with the services, providing a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many SoFe destinations.
Restaurants: rounding up the the nearest dollar is fine in most restaurants. In upscale eateries look for a 10% service charge. If there is a service charge, there’s no requirement for tipping. Otherwise, 10-15% of the total bill amount is appropriate.
The currency of Morocco is the dirham (MAD), divided into 100 centimes. Bank notes come in denominations of MAD 200, 100, 50 and 20. Smaller values are issued as coins in values of 10, 5, 1 as well as 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c.
Many meals are included in this tour, but some are purposefully left out so you can experience different restaurants and dishes to your liking.
Lunch at a local restaurant could cost between $10USD to $20USD. However, local street food is relatively safe to eat and is normally much cheaper.
Your leader and guide will help you find local options. Meals will cost between $10USD to $30USD, depending on the restaurant.
Food prices in Morocco range widely from cheap street food to fine dining. If you have a strict budget, be mindful of your choices and let your tour leader know the type of food you are looking for, so she can direct you to the best places.
Climate information
WEATHER IN MOROCCO
As a desert country, Morocco can have extreme weather. Winter (November to March) can be very cold, particularly in the mountains and the desert, with overnight temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Celsius or below. Even in summer the desert gets cold at night. It is recommended to bring a sleeping bag, thermals, a scarf, gloves and a warm jacket for travel in winter. Please be prepared for cold showers.
Summer (May to September) can be very hot everywhere, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water.
EID AL-ADHA
Eid Al-Adha (Sacrifice Feast) will take place in Morocco from Jun 16, 2024 – Mon, Jun 17, 2024. This festival honors the sacrifice Abraham made of his own son. In commemoration of this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: one-third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family. Please expect delays or complete suspension of public services during that time which may be disruptive to the trip schedule. For some, it may also be disturbing to see animals being sacrificed, as this can take place in public.
HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAIN PASSES
On this trip, you will cross the High Atlas Mountains through the impressive Tizi n’Tichka pass that rises to the altitude of 2,260 metres above sea level (7,415 ft). It is a great mountain road with breathtaking views. During the winter months (November to March) this part of Morocco can be hit by heavy snowfalls and it is possible for Tizi n’Tichka to become impassable. This usually lasts only for a day until authorities have a chance to clear the road. In the event of a snowstorm, your itinerary may be required to change. This is dealt with on the ground and depending on the situation we may re-route your itinerary or reverse it.
RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress Sun, Mar 10, 2024 – Tue, Apr 9, 2024 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it’s a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.
passports, visas, and entry requirements
Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Americans, EU and British citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Morocco for stays up to 90 days.
Many countries still do require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government’s foreign travel advisories or consular websites.
You need a valid passport to travel internationally. Most countries require that your passport does not expire for at least 6 months after the date you enter. We require your passport details 45 days before departure. When booking your Meetup Tour, please enter your name as it appears on your passport and contact us immediately if there are any errors.
We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leaving copies at home with family or friends.
Packing
Our tours are comfortable and very inclusive with premium accommodations. This means you can pack a little lighter since the hotel will have a wide range of amenities. Since you will be carrying your own bags to the lobby or at the airport, we suggest packing in a way that is manageable for solo travel. You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc. for day trips.
Please limit your baggage to one suitcase, a backpack, and a purse. Extra baggage means less space in the vehicle.
The following is a general list to be used as a guideline. If you think you need more items, pack them.
For Morocco there are two associated plug types C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins with a hole for the sockets male earthing pin. Morocco operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz. We always suggest bringing a universal adaptor.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory on all our Meetup Tours. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are traveling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank’s name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
We recommend that you check your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
on the road
Group Guide
All tours with The Solo Female Traveler Network are accompanied by a guide who is with the group for the whole trip. The guide’s role is to be the local expert of the destination and coordinate a lot of the on the ground logistics. Premium leaders are SoFe’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your guide will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At SoFe, we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialized information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
Accomodation
We use a range of accommodation that we choose based on season, group size, and availability and because of this, we can not provide a confirmed list of hotels before the tour. However, here is a list of the accommodation we are most likely to use. Feel free to request a confirmed list of all accommodation from your guide on Day 1.
We do provide the confirmed start and end accommodation to help you plan transportation, pre/post travel plans, or visa needs. You can find this in the “joining point” and “finishing point” sections of this page.
Casablanca: Idou Anfa Hotel
Chefchaouen: Dar Echchaouen
Fes: Riad Fes Ziyat
Midelt: Ksar Timnay
Merzouga: Madu Luxury Camp
Skoura: Auberge Chez Talout
Marrakech: Bab Hotel
*PLEASE SEE YOUR DEPARTURE’S DOWNLOADABLE ITINERARY FOR YOUR CONFIRMED HOTELS
10 nights in hotels or riads, 1 night at a desert camp.
Please note: Riads used to be people’s homes, so rooms are not always equal in size or view. We do our best to keep it equitable throughout the trip, but some may get luckier than others. We guarantee twin beds, but sizes may vary between room mates. We encourage everyone to go with the flow and appreciate the special details that can be found in every room.
Rooms are twin share with an ensuite unless you upgrade to a private room, based on availability.
The accommodation indicated on the webpage is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
In the base cost of the tour, a shared room is included. You may choose to upgrade to a private room for an extra charge and as long as there is availability. Private rooms also have an ensuite.
Upgrading to a private room once in Morocco is more difficult and may result in a higher cost than advertised on the webpage.
Our Morocco tour is considered premium accommodation including staying in riads/hotels and 1 night in a desert camp. When we stay in hotels and riads, the standard may be less than what you are used to in terms of design, facilities, and inclusions. If there is a problem with your accommodation, always alert your tour leader so it can be remedied, if possible. We will also stay in more rural areas where 5 star hotels are not available, and instead we will experience warm Moroccan hospitality, home cooked meals, and very photogenic lodging that is always clean and comfortable, if perhaps a little simple.
Sometimes it is not possible to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels, especially if you arrive before check in time. We can store your luggage and you can explore the surrounding area. Standard check in time is 4:00pm.
Check out is at 11:00am on the last day.
All of our accommodation has air conditioning, with the exception of the desert camp. Should it not work, we will attempt to replace your room or the unit, upon availability. Some evenings are cold in Morocco in winter, and most accommodation in Morocco does not have heating. Bedding is always provided, however if you are extra sensitive to the cold, please be prepared with extra layers or thermals.
Optional Activities
During this tour, there may be times when you are offered a selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travelers. When we do offer optional activities, prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and may be on a join-in basis. When it’s recommended that travelers pre-book an optional activity, we will list them here. For most, they can either be organized independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist.
Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not operated by us is at your own discretion and risk.
Transportation
For this tour we will travel by private air-conditioned vehicle and a camel ride to our desert camp (if you are unable or do not want to ride a camel, we can arrange alternate transportation to the desert camp for you)
a few rules
Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewelry at home – you won’t need it while traveling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you’ll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your SoFe itinerary, and SoFe makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
Seat belts are always provided and must be worn in accordance with local law.
While most of the tour, especially in major cities, will be with your guide and the group, petty theft is common in any tourist area. Do not walk around alone at night if it can be avoided and hold your belongings close on public transportation. Your local guide will give you some safety tips throughout your tour, and we suggest heeding this advice.
As suggested earlier, please do not bring valuables. Use a TSA approved luggage lock to secure your luggage and belongings throughout trip.
We suggest checking your government’s advice in relation to the areas you will be visiting for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers.
When not with your guide, we recommend the following:
- Do not walk in isolated areas or at night by yourself
- If hotel staff need to enter your room, arrange to be either on tour or in the lobby, so you are not alone.
- Respect the local customs.
- Do not hire a driver or guide for tours from the street. Always go with a reputable company or ask us to help you arrange any pre or post experiences.
- Do not accept any invitations for anything from random people on the street.
- Always carry your tour guide’s contact information and hotel address with you during solo time.
- Alert your guide of any inappropriate behavior or perceived risk to your safety
Women should exercise caution when travelling in Morocco. While the risk of an incident occurring on your trip is very low, below are some things you can do for your safety and peace of mind when travelling. Street harassment such as cat calls, stares, invitations to get in a car/bar/restaurant/home are common. These are our tips for responding to this unwanted attention:
- Ignore. Don’t even bother smiling. Just keep about your business.
- Wear sunglasses to avoid eye contact.
- Ignore. We mean it, so we said it twice! Ignore them but also ignore your internal commentary on it all. Let it roll off your back and walk on focusing on all the amazing things around you.
- Dress respectfully and you will find both men and women will respond to you in a more respectful manner.
- While it very unlikely to happen, do feel free to stand up for yourself if you feel threatened. Men you do not know should not be touching you at all and if you’re in public, people will come to your aid if you make a fuss.
For both modesty and to better manage the heat, we suggest loose fitting clothing that protects your skin from the sun. Long flowing skirts are comfortable and respectful to the the culture. In mosques, we will be required to cover our knees, shoulders, and our heads. Swim suits are, of course, appropriate when participating in water activities. Short skirts, plunging necklines, and tight clothing should be avoided.
When walking through touristy areas of cities you may be approached by ‘helpful’ locals who want to show you where to go or take you to a local spice shop. They will either ask to be your local guide for the day or expect money when you arrive at your destination. Please note these people are not registered guides and will try and get as much money from you as they can. A friendly ‘no thank you (or ‘la shukran’) should suffice.
phone and internet access
There is wifi available in most of our accommodation, but it is not always the most reliable, especially in more rural areas. We suggest purchasing pre-paid sim card at Casablanca Airport. This option only works on unlocked phones. When you are in the arrivals building after baggage claim, you will find the booths for mobile phone providers. The three main providers in Morocco are: Inwi, Maroc Telecom and Orange.
Plans and prices can change but expect to pay between 100-200 dirhams for a plan that will provide you 5GB of data. You will require your passport to purchase and register your new sim.
Alternatively, ask your home service provider for international plans.
medical and health
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while traveling.
We do not recommend drinking the tap water, even in the hotels. All accommodations will have drinkable water, sometimes for purchase and sometimes provided with your room.