3. Travel tips

 

Telephone / Internet:

Morocco has definitely acquired some of the best coverage systems in Africa. I pod, wireless or cable communications can be operated from most places and even the remotest areas (about 87% coverage in the country). Get advised near your operator on the best ways to keep in touch while in Morocco. Yet, phone calls can be made too from téléboutiques, e-mail when on route can  be sent from cyber cafés available in most good sized dwellings. And prizes are generally speaking very reasonable at about 40 p/ or o.50 € (5-6 dirhams / hour)  

 

 

Camera Film and photography:

Moroccan sky procures some of the finest lights for photographers. If you seek for photogenic people, scenic landscapes and interesting culture the country will give you plenty satisfaction. Away from the simplistic explanation about representations of human being issues, forbidden by Islam, there is a common indulgence towards this particular issue and it remains absolutely ethical to ask permission before you capture some beautiful faces. However, most items necessary for your camera are available while touring.

 

 

Electricity:

Electricity supply in Morocco is 220V, 50Hz and you will need an adaptor for the European two round pin system which is used in Morocco. Around 87 % of the country is electrified. 

 

 

Time:

Moroccan authorities tend to change times especially during summer vacations and Ramadan, the fasting month. Yet, the country is on the whole on GMT – Greenwich Mean Time – year round. That means during winter as per the UK and in summer an hour behind.

 

 

Tipping, shopping and haggling:

Handing a tip at the end of your trip is elective and as the custom goes amounts to about 10% of your bill could be saved for the same purpose. That goes for bars, cafes and restaurants. Taxi drivers will accept a tip if offered but you are never obliged if you do not feel so.

After your trek it is customary to tip your Moroccan guide, driver(s), and / or muleteer(s) provided you feel you have received good treatment. There’s no set amount as this often depends on group size, but as a guideline around € 30 (or 300 Dirhams) should cover your share of all tips for a week’s trip.

When doing some shopping in the souks and purchase some souvenirs it is very normal to barter. Don’t be offended by the merchant’s suddenly far too expensive starting price as you can usually hope to finish up at about half of this. It can be a frustrating experience but it always pays off to stay calm and good humoured and the general idea is to come away feeling that you got good value for your purchase. In other words there’s no right or wrong price, just a price that suits both parties and everyone goes away happy. In up market boutiques etiquettes say that haggling is not appropriate.

 

 

Moroccan cuisine:

The cuisine of Morocco has been influenced by native Berber cuisine, Arabic Andalusian cuisine, Turkish cuisine, and Middle Eastern cuisine brought by the Arabs. French influence came later and the fusion between traditional Moroccan and French cuisine is at the heart of many of the fine-dining experiences in Morocco today.

Couscous is probably the most famous Moroccan dish originating with the Berbers. One of the main methods of cooking in Morocco is using the tagine, an earthenware dish with a conical shaped lid. The dishes described as tagines (because they are cooked in one) are Moroccan slow-cooked meat, fruit and vegetable dishes which are almost invariably made with mutton or chicken. Moroccan food is generally heavily meat-orientated and vegetarians may find that their options are rather uninspiring and very limited especially in restaurants. The best culinary tours to Morocco will include a stay in a traditional home, or Riad, where you can take cooking classes and sample the best of Morocco's traditional cuisine.

 

 

Alcohol in Morocco:

Despite the fact that Alcohol is ‘forbidden’ by Islam and the local authorities, it is widely available and the country produces some of the finest red wine. Larger hotels, foreign-owned accommodations and up-market restaurants sell it. In most big cities there are numerous bars (usually of the fairly expensive variety) but small towns usually have no bars and no off-licenses. Many of our stay places  are not licensed to serve alcohol, although we can buy wine/beer in large towns or prior to departure as you are often permitted to “bring your own”.

 

 

Dress ethics:

No specific dress-code exists in Morocco but it is recommended that you dress conservatively and adhere to a few basic rules. Most of the big cosmopolitan places apply no specific rules and you can wear pretty much what you like, although women are recommended to cover up shoulders and legs above the knee. In rural communities, vest tops and short shorts (above the knee) can be regarded as underwear and may cause offence. We therefore recommend an pre-advise from your tour leader and bring t-shirts, cotton shirts, long shorts or long lightweight trousers. Clearly, in uninhabited areas there is no particular dress code.

 

 

Your safety:

Morocco is generally a very safe place to visit. Criminal activity is rarely reported and violent crime is not common. That said,  always look after your valuables as theft from cars and hotels is not unheard of. We recommend wearing a money belt as a good way to keep your valuables (passport, money, or other…) on you at all times.

 

 

bathing:

Moroccans tend to undergo a hammam treat (steam bath) once very week and it is the perfect remedy for those seeking a truly invigorating Moroccan experience. The hammam is traditionally a place for men or where women are to meet (separately) and chat whilst being scrubbed clean and massaged. Hammams are a hive of activity and noise, and many exhibit fine examples of Moroccan architecture, with vaulted ceilings, tadelakt (clay) walls and elaborately tiled floors. Spas however are inspired from this local culture and exhibit a whole tradition of refinement, tastes and natural incenses mixed with relaxation and lifestyle.

Yet we truly recommend a quick visit to one of the popular places. It is all about spending as much time as you can bear in the steam room and later proceed to a cooler room for a scrub with a coarse glove and black soap before being manipulated by a masseur or masseuse. Then it’s time for some quiet contemplation in the “salle de repos” (rest room). Be advised that at hammams males and females are strictly segregated and in female sections women usually go naked, but you can bring along a swimming costume if you prefer not to. Nudity in the male world is taboo, so men keep their trunks on. All Moroccan towns have hammams as do many hotels and auberges.

 

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