Arriving in Morocco

Arrival by international flight into any one of Morocco 's 14 major airports or by sea into Tangier requires the same minimal formalities outlined below:

Passports

A full 10 year passport is required with 6 months remaining validity. It may be wise to have a photocopy of the important page(s) to carry around with you as ID should be presented on request and therefore carried at all times.

Visas

Most nationals will not require a visa to visit Morocco , however, en route you will be presented with a landing card. On arrival in Morocco you will be required to hand over this completed card with your passport at immigration for a FREE one month entry stamp

Money

It is illegal to import or export Moroccan currency so we advise using the following methods:

1. ATMs are installed in most towns so this is a secure and cost-effective way to retrieve money from your bank account or credit card (usually up to maximum of 2000 dhs)
3. Credit cards are relatively widely accepted, even in some shops in the souks, particularly for carpets, however, it is advisable to have cash for petrol/diesel.
4. Travellers cheques are costly and time-consuming to acquire and, apart from the added security, are not particularly useful in Morocco .

Time

Morocco is on GMT all year.

Rediscover the World (TTA) Insurance

Other Customs Matters

Arriving with your own vehicle you must have Green Card insurance. If you have a trailer or caravan a relevant customs certificate must be completed. No vehicle can remain beyond 6 months and must never be left behind in Morocco .

Alcohol imports are limited to 1 bottle each of wine AND spirits or 3 bottles of wine and tobacco limits are 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g of tobacco per adult. No limit on import of foreign currency.

Any large, valuable items may be stamped in your passport and must be with you on your departure.

Health

No inoculations are compulsory for Morocco , however it is always advisable to be up-to-date with Tetanus and Polio and possibly Typhoid and Cholera; many agencies also recommend the Hepatitis A vaccination for travellers, which can last up to 10yrs with a booster jab.

NO Malaria treatment is necessary, although mosquito repellants for your hotel room and body are sensible precautions against general bite-related infections.

Bottled water (still and gaseous) is easily and cheaply available so we recommend sticking to this for all drinking and also for cleaning teeth - it is said that, of the two main brands, Sidi Ali is lighter on the stomach than Sidi Harazem which has a higher mineral content, although there is now a wider range of waters to choose from. In some areas it may also be prudent to avoid ice cubes, lettuce and rice that isn't freshly boiled. Street food such as that in the Djemma el Fna in Marrakech can be considered reasonably safe to eat once you are sure it has been cooked through and consider the usual rules of hygiene.

Guides

Buying from shops whilst you are with a guide is useful when you don't know the cost of things or wish to consult on quality and materials. To set the record straight, ALL guides will take a commission from your purchases from the shop but if you use him or her wisely and haggle hard then the guide's commission, paid by the shop, is not an issue. Remember tour guides in the UK take commissions from distilleries and woollen mills in Scotland as well as many shops and tea rooms on traditional tourist routes so the practice is 'normal' and not Moroccan 'corruption' that some people or guide books may lead you to believe.

Climate

Morocco has a very varied climate ranging as it does from the Mediterranean in the north to the Sahara in the south, however, the general 'holiday' seasons run as follows:

High Season - March, April, May, September & October - perfect warm temperatures (25 to 35 degrees Celsius) in the south, very little chance of rain and warm evenings.

Low Season (winter) - Mid November to Mid February - mostly warm (15 to 25 degrees Celcius), can be very chilly in evenings and it may rain but rarely for long periods.

Low Season (summer) - June, July and August - can be very hot in Marrakech and south (up to 45 degrees Celsius), more pleasant in mountains and on coast. We would suggest afternoons by pool or a siesta and make use of long days for sightseeing early and late and enjoy long warm evenings.

Electricity

220 volts in most hotels , some older ones may still have 110 volts - best to check. Continental type adapters will be required for UK visitors.

Public Holidays

Secular Holidays are :