How to organize your trip in Morocco: Guide and tips -

The success of any trip lies in good organization: from the moment the idea arises and the decision is made to visit a country until you leave its territory on the plane back home. And Morocco is no exception. As it is such a culturally different country, it is advisable to tie up all the loose ends before leaving. Therefore, in this article, we have prepared a small guide to organize your trip in Morocco, with links to the sections of our website where you can find more detailed information, if you need it.

The most important things to organize your trip to Morocco

Whatever your age, tastes, and route, when organizing your trip to Morocco you cannot overlook the following aspects, as they are inherent to the trip itself. Take good note of them.

Documents to travel to Morocco

In recent years, Morocco has withdrawn the visa requirement for most countries of origin of tourists, such as Europeans, Americans, and Asians. You can consult this list in this post. If your country is not on the list, you must submit some documents to your nearest Moroccan consulate, both at the time of applying (photographs, bank statement, etc.) and at the time of visa collection (insurance, hotel reservations, etc.). You can also complete these formalities online through Acces Maroc.

How to get to Morocco

There are several ways to enter Morocco from another country. We explain them in depth in this section but, by way of summary, they are as follows:

Plane: the most important international airports are Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Fez, Rabat and Nador.
Ferry: the main port of entry from the north is Tangier, but you can also consider other options such as Nador or Al Hoceima. Most ferries arrive from Spain, but not only from Morocco.
By bus: the routes are very few and very long, but some companies organize trips to Morocco by road, starting from cities like Madrid or Malaga.
By car: you can cross the strait with your car by ferry, mainly from Algeciras. But keep in mind that this way you will have to go through additional bureaucratic procedures at customs.

Where to move

It is one of the first decisions you must make since that choice will determine everything else. You may have it very clear or you may have only a vague idea of the route to take. That’s why you can take a look at our tours section to find inspiration. You will find them sorted by starting cities and number of days of travel. Broadly speaking, the proposals are:

From Marrakech, from 2 to 10 days
From Tangier, from 4 to 14 days
From Fez, from 2 to 10 days
From Casablanca, from 6 to 16 days

In these cases, the starting point coincides with the major tourist airports of the country, but you can also organize your trip to Morocco as a relaxing vacation, traveling to Agadir, Nador, or other sun and beach destinations, adding to the program some excursions of interest in the surroundings or one-day sightseeing tours.

How to get around Morocco

This question is fundamental, especially if you plan to make a wide circuit and you are not going to limit yourself to visiting a city and its surroundings. As we tell you in its respective section, you can evaluate:

Plane, as the country has numerous national and international airports.
Bus, with a relatively wide network of routes.
Train, with a scarce but expanding network, including high-speed trains.
Petit and Grand Taxi, abundant in the big cities
Rental car, for those who prioritize freedom of movement.
Private vehicle with chauffeur, for those who prioritize comfort and safety.

Where to stay in Morocco

There are more and more tourist accommodations that Morocco offers to its visitors. But it is not superfluous to make a brief review of the options that exist, because some of them are practically exclusive to this country:

Hotel or hostel: generally a large building with facilities and services in keeping with its category.
Riad: a very original option in the country, often in historic buildings within the medina, rehabilitated as accommodation around a beautiful central courtyard.
Kasbahs: ancient desert fortifications, now used as picturesque lodgings for travelers visiting the far south.
Tent camps: located in or around dunes, reminiscent of the lifestyle of nomadic tribes, but with all the comforts a tourist might need.
Tourist apartments: are often offered by their owners, although of variable quality.
Camping: popular with the local population and with those who prioritize contact with nature.

What services to enjoy

It can be said that all of the above (documentation, transportation, accommodation…) will make up the structure of your trip, but from there you will have to decide what services and activities you want to hire to enjoy the experience and expand your knowledge about this country. Among the most popular and advisable are:

Guided tours to tour the historic center and museums of the main destinations.
Gastronomy: if you conceive this aspect as one more cultural element to discover, you should book traditional and good-quality restaurants.
Wellness services for those who prioritize relaxation, such as sessions in hammams and spas
4×4 routes for adrenaline-fueled desert tours

It is not always easy to choose correctly all these activities, nor the essential services listed above. Therefore, delegating to an agency with experience in the field is the best option. In this sense, Desert Merzouga Tours will be your reliable agency: except for the possible bureaucratic formalities of the visa and the purchase of entry and exit air tickets, we can take care of all the details of your trip, from the moment you set foot in the country until you leave it. We are experts in private trips to Morocco, organizing in a personalized way even the smallest aspect.

Some useful tips for your planning

Another aspect that makes the difference between Desert Merzouga Tours and other agencies is the advice we can give you before and during your trip: we have different advisors, so we will assign you one so you can ask him your questions and design a tailor-made tour. The same will happen with the driver and the accompanying guide who will be with you during the route.

Both will be able to give you the best travel advice, but it will be good for you to know beforehand some recommendations on the following issues:

Travel insurance: it is highly recommended, if not essential, to take out one. With it, you will be able to receive adequate medical attention in case of need, since private hospitals are the best equipped for mishaps related to tourism. In addition, you will have your back better covered against theft and other unforeseen events.
Currency: in Morocco, the dirham is used, so it is advisable to carry a certain amount in your pocket when you arrive. You can also change or withdraw in the country, of course. In this post, we tell you more details about its use, its equivalences, etc..
Take into account the weather, to make two decisions: the dates of the trip and the protection that you will have to deploy during the trip. In this post, we explain the best seasons to travel to each destination.
Adapt your technology to Morocco: everyone will carry a cell phone, a tablet, a camera, and other electronic gadgets. You should know that the electric current in the country is 220-240V, similar to that of most European countries. But if you are coming from another country, you will probably need adapters to charge and use those devices.
Solve your communications during the trip: to make phone calls and use the Internet you have several options at your fingertips. From contracting your carrier’s roaming service to buying temporary SIM cards when you arrive in the country. In this other post, we tell you more.
Respect the local culture: as the saying goes, “Where you go, do as you please”. You don’t have to become a Moroccan, but you will have to behave in such a way as not to offend the local population, especially when it comes to dress and manners. In this post on Customs, you will find some guidelines
Defend yourself with the language: traveling is always a good opportunity to learn a language. Knowing the basic words and phrases will be a way to make contact with the local people, so we suggest you have a small repertoire at hand.

In short: a matter as important as organizing your trip to Morocco cannot be left to chance, far from it. If you want everything to be well organized, with the highest quality services and unforgettable experiences, get in touch with our agency. We will give you a no-obligation quote and we will be at your disposal from now on, so make the most of your time with us!