Backpacking Morocco: Insider Tips For Your Spectacular Adventure

Morocco, with its captivating blend of ancient culture, vibrant cities, and breathtaking landscapes, is a backpacker’s paradise. If you’re planning a trip to this North African gem, you’re in for an unforgettable experience. To help you navigate Morocco’s diverse offerings and make the most of your adventure, we’ve compiled our best tips and tricks from our month long visit. Here’s your guide to a stress free Moroccan adventure.

Moroccan Culture

Morocco’s culture is a rich tapestry woven from Arab, Berber, and Andalusian threads. As a predominantly Muslim country (with the religion making up 99% of the population), Islamic principles shape its architecture, art, social customs, and laws. The daily call to prayer from mosques echoes through cities, a constant reminder of the faith’s importance. Along with its neighbours, Algeria and Tunisia, Morocco was colonised by the French but regained its independence in 1956. Today, it is the only monarchy in North Africa.

Beyond the urban centres, you’ll discover the enduring legacy of the Berber people, North Africa’s indigenous inhabitants. Their language, customs, and traditions are deeply ingrained in many regions, especially in the mountainous areas. Our visit to a Berber village was an incredible experience and definitely a highlight of our time in Morocco. We loved observing their unique way of life firsthand and learning about their history.

The souks—bustling marketplaces brimming with colourful textiles, aromatic spices, and handcrafted goods—are a complete sensory overload. Amazing places to lose yourself in, these vibrant spaces showcase the creativity and skill of Moroccan artisans, preserving ancient traditions in a rapidly modernising world.

When to Visit Morocco

Morocco boasts a very diverse climate, making it a year round destination with something to offer every traveller. However, certain times of the year are particularly ideal for specific experiences:

March to June

During these months, you can expect warm days and cool nights, making it the perfect time for exploring cities and the countryside. Spring is the best time of year to explore the Sahara Desert, where daytime temperatures are fairly mild (between 22°C and 28°C).

July to August

These are the hottest months throughout Morocco, with sweltering highs of 43°C in Marrakech. During these months you will find more comfortable temperatures further north, like in the mountain town of Chefchaouen or the coastal city of Tangier.

September to November

Similar to the spring months, Autumn also has comfortable weather, perfect for both sightseeing and outdoor activities. This is the best time of year if you wish to hike or go climbing within the stunning beauty of the Atlas Mountains.

December to February

These are the coolest months in Morocco but still warm, reaching highs of 20°C in the southern cities such as Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca and Fes. Enjoy some Christmas shopping in the medinas, as this will be the best time of year to avoid the crowds. It is also the perfect time to visit if you intend to go skiing (yes you can ski here). The best ski conditions will be during the months of January and February, in the High Atlas Mountains.

Cultural Events and Festivals

Morocco’s vibrant culture is celebrated through a variety of festivals and events throughout the year. Here are some key ones to consider when planning your visit. Dates for these events vary slightly each year, so it’s always a good idea to check the specific dates closer to your travel time:

• Ramadan (March/April): The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated throughout Morocco with prayer, fasting, and community gatherings.
• Eid al-Fitr (April): The festival that marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated with family gatherings, feasting, and gift-giving.
• Rose Festival in Kelaat M’Gouna (April/May): This festival celebrates the harvesting of roses, a major industry in the region. It features traditional music, dance, and parades.
• Mawazine World Music Festival (May/June): A massive music festival held in Rabat, featuring a diverse lineup of artists from around the globe.
• Eid al-Adha (June): A religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide, commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham.
• Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (June): This renowned festival celebrates sacred music from around the world, promoting intercultural dialogue and exchange. It takes place in the historic city of Fez.
• Essaouira Gnaoua World Music Festival: June – This unique festival showcases Gnawa music, a traditional Moroccan art form, and features.
• Imilchil Marriage Festival (September): A unique Berber festival held in the High Atlas Mountains, where young men and women come together to find love and marriage. The festival includes music, dancing, and cultural displays, offering a fascinating insight into Berber traditions.
• Marrakech International Film Festival (November/December): One of the most prestigious film festivals in Africa, attracting international filmmakers and celebrities.

Getting Around

Directions

In our experience, walking around Moroccan cities (especially Fes!) can be a bit of a chaotic adventure. And Google Maps doesn’t always have the streets 100% correct here. So it’s good idea to have the directions up to guide you towards the general direction you are heading in, but don’t be surprised if certain roads are not where they say they are… Generally, the narrow winding alleyways and unexpected detours you will encounter do connect in the end, however, if you do end up feeling lost and need directions, we recommend asking a shopkeeper. You can trust them not to try and make money off you as an unofficial ‘guide’, which is a very popular tourist scam around the streets of the big cities.

Taxis

For airport arrivals, we suggest booking yourself an airport transfer into the city centre. While there are taxis available at the airport on arrival, you will be expected to haggle over the fare. After the long journey and sometimes very exhausting wait at Moroccan customs, it is a big relief to find your name on a sign and hop straight in a car into the main city, at an already agreed and clear price (we used GetYourGuide).

Once you’re in the medinas, walking is often the easiest way to get around. However, if you are needing to travel anywhere that is not within walking distance, both petit and grand taxis are readily available and can be flagged down easily. Be sure to ask for the metre to be switched on immediately or negotiate an amount you’re happy with before you set off. Otherwise, some drivers are known to pretend the meter is broken in order to charge an exorbitant amount later, so make sure this is dealt with before getting in.

Petit taxis take up to 3 passengers, where as grand taxis can take up to 6 passengers but will cost more for the same distance. Having smaller denominations of Moroccan dirham can be helpful for paying taxi fares and avoiding receiving excessive change. Something to note is that taxi drivers may pick up other passengers if there are spare seats. This is completely normal here – don’t worry!

BONUS TIP: InDrive, Morocco’s answer to Uber, is an app that can be downloaded onto any smartphone. The premise is great as you are able to negotiate a price in advance via the app (bartering is in their blood!). Once the driver accepts your price, they will pick you up and take you to your destination. Although InDrive works in most major cities, it’s worth noting that the app is unlicensed, and drivers using it are technically breaking the law. You are not doing anything illegal using the app itself, but we have seen first hand that if you order to be picked up near to a taxi rank, ‘official’ taxi drivers will quite often mob the car and shout at you and the driver, not allowing you to get in. We have read lots of stories online of both locals and tourists using the app to get around quite happily, but there are others that have had similar experiences to us, so we recommend never ordering one near to a station, airport or taxi rank if you can help it.

Buses

We find CTM to be the most reliable option for intercity bus travel. Their buses are noticeably more modern and well maintained compared to other companies, and the fare difference is minimal. Helpfully, there are always clearly marked CTM bus counters are easy to find in all major bus stations, or you can book tickets online for added convenience.

For those considering other bus companies, tickets are typically available bus stations or through platforms like 12Go. Be prepared for ‘sellers’ to board buses at some stops, in an attempt to flog sandwiches, tissues, snacks, powerbanks, headphones, jewellery… (you name it, they probably sell it!). CTM buses are the only exception, as they will not allow salespeople onto the buses, ensuring a more relaxed and comfortable journey.

Always check your ticket for the required arrival time, as some companies enforce strict boarding deadlines. Also, be mindful of luggage restrictions and fees, which can vary between bus companies.

Trains

Another way to travel between major cities in Morocco is by train. This can be a very scenic and pretty stress free way to get around.

Morocco’s newest rail system, Al Boraq, is a high-speed train modelled on France’s TGV and is one of Africa’s fastest. It connects major cities along the Atlantic coast, including Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca, and has significantly reduced travel times between these cities. In addition to Al Boraq, Morocco has a well established classic rail network, known as Al Atlas, connecting many other cities and towns. Although slower than the Al Boraq, these trains provide a more affordable option and still offer a glimpse into the country’s diverse landscapes.

All trains can be easily booked directly at train stations, through the 12Go app or on the Moroccan Railways (ONCF) website.

General Tips

Cash Withdrawals

Payment will be expected in cash for pretty much everything around Morocco. When withdrawing cash we recommend always using an Al Barid ATM, as these are the only ones that will not charge you a service fee. They are always located within or next to a Post Maroc (Post Office). In major cities the queues for these can be long and the machines can be known to run out of cash, especially in Marrakech. So it’s always good idea to consider checking to see if you need to get some more out whenever you see one.

Alec & Eve Recommend: For the best travel card options, consider Monzo or Revolut. These cards help you avoid the high bank charges when withdrawing cash, that traditional banks charge.

Learn to Haggle

Haggling is expected in the souks, so you must be prepared to bargain for the best prices. Moroccans are totally used to bartering with tourists, especially in major cities, so will start with a hugely inflated price expecting you to negotiate. We suggest initially starting your counteroffer at around 25% – 30% of the initial price, before working towards an agreement, in order to not get ripped off. Not going to lie, Alec does most of the haggling for us… especially in Morocco, but he does speak French so that’s fair!!

SIM Card

Contrary to most other countries, you will get the best deals for a SIM card at the airport when you arrive. The main companies are Orange, Maroc Telecom and INWI. They provide a variety of data plans, depending on how much internet you require and how long you are planning to stay in the country. We used Maroc Telecom and can absolutely vouch for their connection – we even had data coverage in the Sahara Desert!

We definitely recommend getting a SIM card as WiFi can be quite sketchy, even in hostels and hotels. It is also incredibly useful to have internet when you are out and about checking directions or translating menus.

Be Respectful

Arabic is the most widely spoken language in Morocco, and you will find that English is not very common. As a general rule, French is spoken in the central and southern parts of the country, while Spanish is more common in the north. We recommend learning a few basic phrases in Arabic before you go to help you communicate with locals and get around easily. Some essentials are Salam or Salam alaikum for Hello, and Shukran for Thank You.

Since Morocco is a Muslim country, respectful attire is essential, especially when entering mosques or other religious sites.

Additionally, we found that Moroccans generally do not wish to be photographed. Make sure to respect their privacy and always ask before taking pictures of people.

Tipping

Tipping is not mandatory in Morocco, but it is appreciated as a gesture of gratitude for good service. Here are some general guidelines:

• Restaurants: A tip is not expected, but around 10% is appreciated for good service.
• Taxi Drivers: Tipping taxi drivers is not required, but rounding up your fare is a nice gesture.
• Tour Guides: Some tour guides expect a tip, which is usually stated when booking the excursion. A tip of 10-20% is appropriate.

Remember that tipping is a cultural practice, and the amount you choose to tip is up to you. However, a small tip can go a long way in showing your appreciation for good service.

Drinking Water

Tap water in Morocco is not considered safe to drink so we advise bringing a water bottle with a filter. Otherwise you will find that you end up buying a lot of plastic water bottles. Some brands to consider, that we use, are Grayl, LifeStraw & Water-To-Go.

Bring Earplugs

Wherever you stay in Morocco, you will never be far from a mosque. The first call to prayer of the day is ordinarily at 3.55am so we would absolutely recommend taking earplugs if you are a light sleeper.

Staying Safe & Popular Tourist Scams

Morocco is a captivating country with a rich culture, but like any tourist destination, it’s essential to be aware of potential risks. This section will provide you with valuable information on staying safe during your trip, as well as common tourist scams to watch out for. By understanding these issues, you can enjoy your Moroccan adventure with peace of mind.

Closed Roads

A popular scam that we encountered often in many Moroccan cities involves locals telling you that an alleyway or road is closed and that you cannot walk down it. They usually then try to give alternative directions or guide you, eventually demanding money for their services and attempting to prevent you from leaving until you pay. We always just said ‘no thank you’ and continued on our way. We never encountered a situation where the road was actually closed.

On one occasion, a child claimed that the way we were going was closed and then ‘directed us’ by walking ahead of us. Once we arrived at our destination, the child asked for money for ‘helping’ and became quite aggressive when we declined.

This can be very intimidating, especially for solo travelers, so we advise always straight up refusing any unsolicited ‘help’. The best thing to do is to just say ‘no’ or simply not respond and ignore them.

Argan Oil

Morocco is renowned for its argan trees, and the oil extracted from their nuts is prized worldwide for its culinary and cosmetic benefits. Unfortunately, the popularity of argan oil has led to an increase in fraudulent products. Many products labeled as pure argan oil are often diluted with cheaper vegetable oils and artificially coloured with turmeric to mimic the genuine article.

You are more likely to find authentic argan oil if you purchase it in the south, particularly in Agadir or Essaouira, where the argan trees grow. If you are buying argan oil in other cities, try to purchase from a cooperative store. We recommend using google reviews to establish whether the cooperative store is genuine, as sadly these are also sometimes fake. Don’t be tempted to buy them from a street seller – we’ve fallen for that one! If the price sounds to good to be true, then it almost definitely is.

Taxis

As previously touched on, a common scam you may encounter are taxi drivers refusing to use the metre, or saying it is broken. They do this in order to overcharge you when you reach your destination. If this happens, always make sure to agree the price with them before you set off in order to not get caught out, or simply refuse to use them and find another taxi.

Henna

While traditional henna is a safe and beautiful form of body art, be wary of the “black henna” offered by many street vendors in Morocco, particularly in Marrakech’s Djemaa El Fna square. This is often not henna at all, but a chemical dye containing paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a substance that is harmful to the skin. To protect yourself, only get henna from reputable establishments that use natural henna paste. The colour of true henna is a deep orange-brown and takes several hours to develop. If you see black henna being applied immediately walk away.

Henna Art Cafe is a reliable and safe choice if you are in Marrakech and want to get some done. They also have a lovely cafe upstairs serving traditional Moroccan cuisine, as well as vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.

Pickpockets

As is unfortunately common in many large and crowded tourist destinations, pickpockets may be in operation. Stay vigilant and keep a close eye on your belongings. Be mindful of where you place items like your phone and wallet to avoid potential theft.

Trust Your Instincts

Ultimately, trust your gut! If something feels off to you, it probably is. Remember, you’re in control—don’t hesitate to politely decline any offers or services that make you uncomfortable.

Final Thoughts

Morocco is a land of vibrant contrasts and endless adventure. From the bustling souks of Marrakech to the serene sands of the Sahara, each corner of this enchanting country offers something unique. As you navigate its rich cultural tapestry and stunning landscapes, remember to embrace the local customs and approach your journey with an open heart.

With these travel tips in hand, you’re well prepared to explore Morocco’s diverse regions, savour its delicious cuisine, and delve into its fascinating history. Whether you’re marvelling at ancient architecture, wandering through lively markets, or enjoying a tranquil sunset over the dunes, Morocco promises an unforgettable experience.

Safe travels and bon voyage!