Morocco
Medinas, mountains and desert skies
Move between intricate old cities, Atlantic coast, Atlas trails and Sahara landscapes while keeping the route unhurried.
The honest overview
Get to know Morocco before fixing the route.
Morocco is famed for its labyrinthine medinas, dune seas on the edge of the Sahara and a mountain-to-coast landscape that shifts by the hour's drive, attracting first-time Africa travellers, culture-focused backpackers and photographers alike from across Europe and further afield. Morocco is known for being one of the most accessible gateways into North African travel, thanks to a short flight or ferry from the UK and Spain, a well-run rail and bus network linking the main cities, and a hostel scene concentrated in Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and Essaouira, making it a natural first stop for backpackers without a lot of independent-travel experience under their belt.
Part of the joy of backpacking in Morocco is deciding what deserves more time. Keep space for weather changes, longer travel days and recommendations from people you meet on the road.
Card acceptance is patchy outside riads, hostels and larger restaurants, and cash machines can run out in smaller towns, so carry a decent buffer of dirham. Note that the dirham is non-convertible – you can't buy it before you arrive, and you're limited to bringing 2,000 MAD in or out of the country.
There's no single fixed route through Morocco, and plenty of backpackers change plans on the fly once they've made friends in a hostel dorm. That said, most trips fall into a loose loop: Chefchaouen or Tangier in the north (often reached by ferry from Tarifa in Spain), down to Fes, then a long desert road via the Ziz Valley to Merzouga for a night in the Sahara, over the Atlas Mountains (often via Todra or Dades Gorge) to Marrakech, and out to the coast at Essaouira before looping back to Marrakech or Casablanca for a flight home. The Morocco–Algeria land border is closed and shouldn't be attempted, so there's no overland route east – anyone continuing further into Africa typically routes back through Europe or flies on.
Season by season
What each season means for your trip
Morocco's weather can change sharply by region and elevation. These are planning patterns, not guarantees.
Wetter travel conditions
Cold and often wet in the north and the Atlas Mountains, with daytime temperatures in Marrakech and Fes around 17–19°C but dropping close to freezing overnight, especially in stone riads without central heating. Desert nights near Merzouga regularly drop below zero. Snow settles on the High Atlas peaks.
Drier travel window
The best weather of the year for most of the country, with warm, dry days of 22–28°C and 8–10 hours of sunshine. Good conditions for trekking in the Atlas and comfortable temperatures in the Sahara before the summer heat sets in.
Warmer-season travel
Extremely hot inland, with Marrakech and Fes regularly hitting 37–40°C and afternoon temperatures in the desert climbing well past that. The Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Agadir) stays noticeably cooler thanks to sea breezes, often 10°C+ below the inland cities. Ramadan (dates shift on the Islamic calendar) can fall in these months, affecting daytime food availability.
Shoulder-season balance
A second shoulder season with warm, dry days of 24–28°C, making it one of the better windows to visit the Sahara before winter cold sets in overnight. Marrakech and Fes are noticeably busier again after the summer lull.
Check the forecast for the exact region and elevation on your route, then leave room to change outdoor plans when conditions move.
Cost of day to day travel
Build a budget around the route
Morocco is one of the cheaper countries in reach of the UK. £15–20 a day covers a hostel dorm, street food, mint tea and local transport comfortably across Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and Essaouira.
Morocco is one of the cheaper countries in reach of the UK. £15–20 a day covers a hostel dorm, street food, mint tea and local transport comfortably across Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen and Essaouira.
Long transfers, specialist tours and headline activities can change the daily total quickly.
Card acceptance is patchy outside riads, hostels and larger restaurants, and cash machines can run out in smaller towns, so carry a decent buffer of dirham.
Average the full trip rather than forcing every day into the same number. Keep emergency funds separate from daily spending.
Key backpacker routes
Find the route that feels right for you
There is no single route you need to follow. Let your timeframe, interests and season shape the journey through Morocco.
Start with the natural route Core journey
There's no single fixed route through Morocco, and plenty of backpackers change plans on the fly once they've made friends in a hostel dorm.
Add the region that earns your time Build depth
That said, most trips fall into a loose loop: Chefchaouen or Tangier in the north (often reached by ferry from Tarifa in Spain), down to Fes, then a long desert road via the Ziz Valley to Merzouga for a night in the Sahara, over the Atlas Mountains (often via Todra or Dades Gorge) to Marrakech, and out to the coast at Essaouira before looping back to Marrakech or Casablanca for a flight home.
Keep the order flexible Adapt as you travel
The Morocco–Algeria land border is closed and shouldn't be attempted, so there's no overland route east – anyone continuing further into Africa typically routes back through Europe or flies on.
Main destinations and attractions
Where to spend your days
Pick a connected group and leave room for hostel friendships and changing plans. Morocco rewards depth more than a checklist of stops.
Marrakech. Photo: Riccardo Maria Mantero / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0.Marrakech
The classic first stop and Morocco's most visited city, built around the chaos of Jemaa el-Fnaa square, which shifts from snake charmers and orange juice stalls by day to food stalls and storytellers by night.
Fes. Photo: August Brill / flickr, BY 2.0.Fes
Home to Fes el Bali, the largest car-free urban area in the world and considerably less touristy than Marrakech's medina, though no less easy to get turned around in.
Chefchaouen. Photo: cattan2011 / flickr, BY 2.0.Chefchaouen
The "blue city" in the Rif Mountains, painted in shades of blue that make it one of the most photographed spots in the country.
Sahara Desert (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi). Photo: WanderingtheWorld (www.ChrisFord.com) / flickr, BY-NC 2.0.Sahara Desert (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi)
The reason most people build a Morocco trip around a loop rather than a single city. Camel treks out to Erg Chebbi's dunes for an overnight in a desert camp are the standard booking, usually arranged as a package from Marrakech or Fes rather than independently.
Atlas Mountains (Imlil and Toubkal). Photo: Richard Allaway / flickr, BY 2.0.Atlas Mountains (Imlil and Toubkal)
The base for trekking North Africa's highest peak, Toubkal, and for shorter day hikes through Berber villages without committing to a summit attempt.
Essaouira. Photo: Riccardo Maria Mantero / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0.Essaouira
A relaxed coastal counterpoint to the inland cities, with a walled medina, working fishing port and some of the best wind in North Africa for surfing and kitesurfing.
To get a feel for the cities you're exploring, we'd highly recommend booking a "free walking tour" via Guruwalk. You sign up for the tour and pay via a tip-based system. Alternatively, many hostels offer a walking tour within their activities. Our Outpacker chatbot is available to help you plan and build out your itinerary to make the most of your trip.
Getting around
Compare time, comfort and cost
Morocco's transport network is affordable and easier to navigate independently than a lot of first-time visitors expect.
Train (ONCF)
Morocco's national rail operator runs fast, comfortable trains linking Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech, and is the most comfortable way to cover the main north-south corridor.
Bus
Beyond CTM and Supratours, cheaper local bus companies cover the same routes at a lower price and lower comfort level – fine for short hops, less fine for long overnight legs.
Grand taxi
Shared taxis (usually ageing Mercedes sedans) run fixed routes between towns and fill with other passengers before leaving, working out cheap per person.
Petit taxi
The city-hopping option within a single town, metered in theory though drivers don't always use the meter for tourists – agree a price upfront if the meter doesn't appear.
Make sure you've got an eSIM or local SIM sorted for navigating medinas that don't always match what's on the map, and download your cities offline in Google Maps as a backup.
Culture and events
Events worth knowing about
Dates can shift, so verify the current programme before building a trip around an event in Morocco.
A cultural festival marking the Berber calendar new year, celebrated most visibly in Amazigh communities across the Atlas and Rif regions with traditional food, music and, in some areas, folk performances.
Not a festival in the usual sense, but worth building your trip around either way.
A cultural and music festival bringing international and Moroccan performers to Fes's historic venues, with a focus on spiritual and world music traditions rather than mainstream acts.
A music festival rooted in Gnaoua spiritual music traditions, expanded over the years into a wider fusion and world-music lineup that fills Essaouira's medina squares for several days.
A film festival that draws an international industry crowd alongside local audiences, with red-carpet premieres and public screenings around the city.
Confirm the official programme, accommodation pressure and transport changes before committing non-refundable plans.
Moroccan food
Discover the flavours that make Morocco memorable
Moroccan food is built around slow-cooked, richly spiced dishes, and it's one of the best-value cuisines a backpacker will eat their way through.
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Taginethe namesake slow-cooked stew, usually chicken with preserved lemon and olives, or lamb with prunes and almonds.Photo: 16:9clue / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Couscoustraditionally a Friday dish, served with a mountain of vegetables and meat piled on top.Photo: austinevan / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Hariraa hearty tomato, lentil and chickpea soup, especially common around Ramadan iftar.Photo: Axel Freeman / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Msemena square, layered flatbread, often eaten for breakfast with honey or jam.Photo: Riccardo Maria Mantero / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0 -
Pastillaa sweet-savoury pie, traditionally pigeon or chicken, wrapped in filo and dusted with sugar and cinnamon.Photo: Jess and Colin / flickr, BY-NC-SA 2.0 -
SfenjMoroccan doughnuts, sold hot from street stalls, unsweetened until you dip them in sugar yourself.Photo: ALT123 / flickr, BY 2.0 -
Mint teapoured from height as a matter of ritual, sweet enough to count as dessert on its own.Photo: jotunbani / flickr, BY-NC-ND 2.0
Food markets and the smaller stalls tucked into medina side streets are generally the best and cheapest way to sample a wide spread in one sitting, rather than sit-down restaurants aimed at tourists.
Visible turnover is a useful guide. Explain allergies carefully and carry a translated note when an ingredient could cause a serious reaction.
Hostels
Choose the atmosphere, not just the bed
Morocco's hostel scene is smaller and more concentrated than Southeast Asia's, clustered in the medinas of the main four cities.
BackHome Fez
Fez, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →The Central House Marrakech Medina
Marrakech, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Tangier Kasbah Hostel
Tangier, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Roof House Hostel
Taghazout, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Sun Hostel
Marrakech, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Hostal Znika
Chefchaouen, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Ocean Charm House – Tamraght near Taghazout
Agadir, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Atlas Hostel Taghazout
Taghazout, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Equity Point Marrakech
Marrakech, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →Earth Hostel
Marrakech, MoroccoProperty image from Hostelworld's official HOSCAR record.View photos and details →What you need to pack
Pack for the route, not every possibility
The gear you need depends on the time of year and the route you're taking, so check out our trip planner for anything specific to your dates – it'll build you a kit list based on exactly where and when you're going.
Climate and clothing
The main challenge in Morocco isn't one extreme, it's the range: daytime heat in Marrakech, the Sahara or the coast can sit well into the thirties, while desert and mountain nights drop close to or below freezing, even in spring and autumn.
- A scarf or shesh (the local desert scarf) – doubles as sun protection, a modesty cover and a shield against blowing sand on a desert trip.
- A padlock – for hostel lockers, standard practice across the medina hostel scene.
- Run all of this through the trip planner to build your full kit based on your specific route and dates.
Rain and terrain
Cotton is fine for daytime comfort here given the dry heat (unlike a humid country, sweat evaporates fast), but you'll still want a synthetic or merino option for the layer you're not washing daily.
- A universal travel adapter – Morocco runs on Type C/E sockets at 220V.
- A basic first aid kit – plasters, rehydration sachets and something for an upset stomach.
Hostels and travel days
Hostels and local laundrettes both offer cheap laundry services in the bigger cities, though don't count on this in smaller desert or mountain towns.
- High-factor sunscreen and sunglasses – the desert and high-altitude sun is stronger than it feels.
- A reusable water bottle with a filter – tap water isn't reliably drinkable, and this cuts down on buying plastic bottles constantly.
Activities and health
Add specialist equipment only for booked activities and current health guidance.
- Sturdy, closed walking shoes – medina cobbles and Atlas trails aren't kind to sandals.
- A headtorch – useful for desert camps and guesthouses with patchy electricity.
Language
A few local phrases go a long way
Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is the everyday spoken language across the country, while French remains the practical second language for business, signage and dealing with officialdom – both are useful enough on the ground that we've covered them below.
Darija (Moroccan Arabic)
| English | Say it in Darija (Moroccan Arabic) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Salam | sah-lahm |
| Goodbye | Bslama | bs-lah-ma |
| Yes / No | Ih / Lla | eeh / lah |
| How much? | Bshhal | bshh-hal |
| How are you? | Labas? | lah-bahs |
| Please | Afak | ah-fahk |
| Do you speak English? | Wach kat'hdar bloghat inglizia? | wash kat-hdar bl-ogh-at ing-lee-zee-ya |
| Help, please | Awni afak | ow-nee ah-fahk |
| Where are you from? | Mnin nta/nti? | mnin nta/ntee |
| What is your name? / My name is... | Ash smitek? / Smiti... | ash smee-tek / smee-tee |
| Thank you | Shukran | shoo-kran |
French
| English | Say it in French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bon-jhoor |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | oh reh-vwahr |
| Yes / No | Oui / Non | wee / non |
| How much? | Combien? | kom-byan |
| How are you? | Comment ça va? | koh-mahn sah vah |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo pleh |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? | par-lay voo ahn-glay |
| Help, please | Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît | eh-day mwah, seel voo pleh |
| Where are you from? | D'où venez-vous? | doo veh-nay voo |
| What is your name? / My name is... | Comment vous appelez-vous? / Je m'appelle... | koh-mahn voo zah-play voo / zhuh mah-pel |
| Thank you | Merci | mehr-see |
Street signage and menus often mix Arabic and French depending on the region, with English increasingly common in the main tourist medinas but not something to rely on outside them.
Visa requirements
Check the rule for your passport
Entry rules depend on nationality, journey and length of stay. Confirm the current rule before booking, then check it again shortly before departure.
Check your exact requirements
Use Sherpa to review entry requirements for your passport and journey. Also confirm passport validity, permitted stay, proof of onward travel and any current arrival-form requirements.
Vaccinations
Make the advice fit your route
Vaccination and health advice depends on your route, duration, medical history and activities.
Review current CDC guidance
Read the current CDC Morocco traveller guidance, then discuss personal recommendations with a qualified clinician.
Arrange appropriate travel insurance and keep policy details available offline. Consider the practical risks created by climate, altitude, insects, animals, water activities and road travel on your specific route.
Safety and common scams
Standard caution, specific habits
Morocco is broadly safe for backpackers, including solo travellers, but the level of hustle in the big medinas (especially Marrakech and Fes) is more persistent than most first-time visitors expect, and it's worth pacing yourself for it rather than letting it sour the trip.
Bogus tourist guides
People posing as official guides will approach you near major sights or medina entrances, sometimes insisting an attraction is "closed" before offering to lead you somewhere else, often ending at a shop paying them commission. If you want a guide, book one through your hostel or confirm they're carrying an official badge.
Medina misdirection
Similar to the bogus-guide scam but more casual: someone offers directions you didn't ask for, then either walks you toward a shop or expects payment for the "help." Polite but firm refusal usually ends it quickly.
Unmetered taxi fares
Petit taxi drivers, especially around airports and tourist zones, will sometimes skip the meter and quote an inflated flat fare. Insist on the meter or agree a fair price before getting in.
Overpriced or unrequested henna
Henna artists in tourist squares sometimes start work before agreeing a price, then demand a high fee once it's done. Agree the price and design before anyone touches your hand.
Credit card fraud
Card skimming and cloning are reported often enough to be worth caution – use cash where you can and keep an eye on your card during transactions.
Marriage fraud
A recognised issue for travellers who form relationships in Morocco, sometimes escalating into pressure or attempted extortion. Worth keeping in mind if a whirlwind romance starts asking for money.
Regionally, the Morocco–Algeria land border is closed and shouldn't be approached, and Western Sahara, to the south, is a disputed territory with its own separate FCDO travel advice – it isn't covered by this guide. None of the above should put you off the trip; a bit of pace-setting in the medinas goes a long way.
Sources and feedback
Help us keep this guide useful
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