Your Ultimate Travel Guide To Morocco pt 1

Your Ultimate Travel Guide To Morocco pt 1

Hello beautiful people , if you didn't know I am actually moroccan and I live in a city called Agadir . I came up with this idea to write an ultimate travel guide to Morocco . I will list in this post some tips , must-see places etc ...

 Morocco is a heady mix of languages, cultures, religions, ancient traditions and modern sensibilities. Islam is the majority and constitutionally established state religion (98,7%) , the second largest religion in the country is Christianity (1,1%) . Only a fraction of the former number of jews has remained  in the country , many having moved to Israel (0,2%) . Each city has a distinctively different character . Tangier in the north, is characterised by its white-washed buildings, sandy beaches and burgeoning cultural scene. Further down the coast lies cosmopolitan Casablanca , the faded coastal town of Essaouira and the lively beach resort of Agadir , favoured by sun-seekers and surfers. Inland lies Fez , with its dusty souks, high-sided streets and maze of stunning riads (traditional houses built around a central courtyard).

Beyond the cities, awesome landscapes await . The beautiful berber city of Ouarzazate , nicknamed The Door Of the Desert , is a noted film-making location . Films such as Lawrence of  Arabia (1962) , Gladiator (2000) , Prince of Persia (2010) , Exodus : Gods and Kings (2014) , Hanna (2011) were shot here , as was part of the Tv series Game of Thrones . Then there's Merzouga , famous for camel-trekking and birdwatching . 

The official language is Arabic. French is widely spoken throughout the country, except in the northern regions where Spanish is more predominant. English is also understood, particularly in the north and major tourist destinations like Marrakech .

For men, there’s not too much special to consider when figuring out what to wear in Morocco . Even though Morocco is a muslim country , not all women ear a hijab . In fact , in big cities you'll see a lot of women wearing normal clothes and not wearing a hijab . 

  • Jeans and t-shirts are fine 
  • Knee length dresses and skirts are fine , in rural areas full length is even better
  • Strappy tops are fine 
  • You don’t need to cover your head, but bring a scarf for visiting mosques.
  • Loose fitting pants and tunics are fantastic for travel to Morocco, especially if you’re there in a hotter month​ .
  • Showing cleavage is a no no 

 Technically, you could totally walk around in shorts and a tank top in Marrakech’s Djema el Fnaa or any other touristy region — but it will get you attention you don’t want . 

Encountering unwanted attention from Moroccan men is unfortunately a possibility for female travelers. This generally takes the form of catcalls and straight-up come-ons . Women on the receiving end of nonphysical sexual harassment should do what Moroccan women do: Ignore it. Showing confidence and self-assurance also seems to deter a lot of would-be Romeos.

Morocco is often referred to as a cold country with a hot sun . The Best Time to visit Morocco on a Private tour is spring and fall. Morocco's summers are exceptionally hot and winters can be chill to the bone. Traveling through Morocco during Ramadan can a little tricky because many shops and tourist sites close early or permanently to observe the month long holiday. Right now it is 32° C in Agadir , and 38° C in Marrakech . Marrakech is very hot in the summer season .

Morocco's national carrier is Royal Air Maroc (www.royalairmaroc.com). Other airlines operating flights to Morocco from the UK include British Airways (www.ba.com), easyJet (www.easyjet.com), Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) and Thomson Airways (www.thomson.co.uk/flight). The busiest international airports are at Agadir , Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Rabat and Tangier . July to September is peak season in Morocco, so fly outside the summer months to take advantage of cheap deals. 

Airports : 

  • Agadir Al-Massira Airport  (AGA)

It is located 25 kilometres from the Agadir city center.Taxis are readily available outside Arrivals. The journey time into central Agadir is about 20 minutes, and the fixed fare is Dh200. It's also possible to pre-book minibus transfers online ahead of travel. Local bus 22 leaves from a bus stop on the main road, about five minutes' walk from the terminal building. The service runs from 0600 to 2030 to Inezgane on the outskirts of the city, from where other buses depart to central (buses 20, 24 or 28) and resort areas. The fare to Inezgane is Dh4, and onward journeys cost Dh3. Car hire companies at Agadir Al-Massira Airport include: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and a number of local operators. 

  • Marrakech Menara Airport Guide (RAK)

It is located on the immediate outskirts of Marrakech, 6km (4 miles) to the southwest of the city centre. There is a taxi rank outside the terminal with plenty of drivers touting for business (journey time: 15 minutes). Expect to barter for a good fee, most drivers will ask for around Dh100 (and claim it is a fixed price!), but some will go down to Dh50. Bus 19 runs every 20-30 minutes to Jemaa el Fna in the medina (buses are infrequent on weekends). The bus stop is located 800m (0.5 miles) from the airport, and the one-way fare is around Dh30. International car hire companies: Budget, Europcar and Hertz, as well as several local operators, are all represented at the  airport. 

  • Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport Guide (CMN)

It  is located 30km (19 miles) south of Casablanca. Taxis are available outside Arrivals, 24-hours a day. Make sure you agree a fare before getting in the cab - haggling is required for the best price. A train service (tel: +212 890 203 040; www.oncf.ma) operates from the airport arrivals area to Casablanca’s port and the city centre (journey time: 45 minutes). This is by far the easiest and most comfortable way of travelling into the city. From Casablanca there are intercity connections to numerous major centres. Car hire companies at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport include: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty, as well as several local operators. 

  • Rabat-Salé Airport (RBA)
  • ​Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (TNG)
  • Fes - Saiss International Airport (FEZ)

There are many hotels and riads out there . A riad is a traditional Moroccan house designed around a central open-air courtyard or garden. Most are to be found in the medinas of the larger cities, and are popular for their privacy and wonderful authentic features. Many are centuries old and include decorative beam work and original Arabic mosaic tiling. Here is a list of the cheapest hotels in Morocco ( https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelsList-Morocco-Cheap-Hotels-zfp20380.html )

There will be a part two of this travel guide where I'll be posting must-see places , cities you  must go to , shopping tips , how to tip etc ...

Published by Yasmine

Reply heres...

Login / Sign up for adding comments.