Morocco

Quick Facts

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Local name

Al-Maghrib

Capital

Rabat

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

Nationality

Moroccan

Population

31 690 000

Languages

Arabic, Tachelhit, Tamazight

Religions

Islam

Currency

Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

Calling Code

+212

Time Zone

WET (UTC)

Daylight Saving Time

WEST (UTC+1)

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Introduction

Marocco

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Morocco (Arabic: المغرب‎ "Al-Maghrib") is separated from Spain and Europe by nothing more than the needle-thin Strait of Gibraltar, but its position on the African continent has led to a more common association with the African world. Berber culture has been long-standing and remarkably robust in the face of foreign invaders, including the Romans, the Arabs and France during colonial days. Since power was handed back to Morocco in 1956, the country has developed into a devoutly Muslim nation that is being drawn into the waves of modernity. Western fascination with the country has been prime ever since Hollywood produced a series of Morocco-glorifying films in the middle of the 20th century such as the 1942 Casablanca. Its stunning Atlas Mountains, outstanding trekking opportunities, invigorating cities and cultural exoticism have continued to make it a deserved favourite amongst travellers.

Brief History

Geography

Regions

Absolute Marrakesh

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Morocco has 16 administrative regions, from north to south being:

• Tangier-Tétouan
• Gharb - Chrarda - Béni Hssen
• Taza - Al Hoceima - Taounate
• Oriental
• Fès - Boulemane
• Rabat-Salé - Zemmour - Zaer
• Meknès - Tafilalet
• Grand Casablanca
• Chaouia - Ouardigha
• Doukkala - Abda
• Tadla - Azilal
• Marrakech - Tensift - El Haouz
• Souss - Massa - Draâ
• Guelmim - Es Semara
• Laâyoune - Boujdour - Sakia El Hamra
• Oued Ed - Dahab - Lagouira

Of these last 3 southern regions, only the last one lays entirely in the Western Sahara, which is a twisted area, considerd by Morocco part of its surface. The other 2 (Guelmim and Laâyoune) are partly located in Morocco and partly in the Western Sahara.

Cities

Casablanca Mosque Hassan II

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• Rabat - The nation's capital
• Casablanca - Morocco's largest city
• Marrakech
• Fez
• Meknes
• Tanger
• Ouarzazate
• Essaouira
• Tetouan
• Chefchaouen

Sights and Activities

Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains

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Morocco has one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and the Atlas Mountains are a very impressive mountain range, with the highest mountain being the Toubkal. Although much of the Atlas Mountains is part of Algeria and even Tunesia, the highest parts are in Morocco. Activities are numerous and in winter skiing down the slopes is possible, just an hour away from Marrakech. Oukaimeden is a good place to ski and Imlil is a good place to start some serious hiking. Of course, if you are less adventurous, there are some passes up to 2000 meters or higher which can be reached by a regular car. The views are tremendous!

Medinas

Morocco has several of the most beautiful cities anywhere in Africa or the Arabic world and many of the oldest parts of these cities, the medinas, are placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include those of Fez, Marrakech, Tetouan and Essaouira. There are many jewels to be found in the medinas, including palaces, the Kasbah, mosques and gardens and fountains. Many of these medinas date back to the time between the 8th and 14th century.

Desert adventure

Erg Chebbi - Shadows

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In the east of the country you can find one of the most world's most beautiful stretches of sandy desert. The Erg Occidental (western great sand sea) starts here and you can visit these high dunes from places like Ouarzazate, M'Hamid and Merzouga. From these towns at the edge of the Sahara you can go out and ride a camel or 4wd vehicle into the desert. You can choose to spend only the day in the desert but if you want longer trips there are many overnight options as well, even a week or more is possible and you will reach some parts that most people never visit.

Other sights and activities

• Volubilis - Archaeological site, Unesco site.
• Ait Benhaddou - Ksar, Unesco site
• Todra Gorge
• Meknes - historical city is on the Unesco list.
• Chefchaouen
• Casablanca - visit the second largest mosque in the world
• Ouzoud Falls - One of the Famous Waterfalls

Events and Festivals

Weather

Morocco has a diverse climate. Although in summer most of the country is dry and warm to hot, in winter the differences are bigger. Summer temperatures can reach almost 50 °C in the south and eastern desert areas, but in winter frosts are possible at night here. Most other parts have temperatures of 30 °C to 35 °C during the summer months, except the Atlas Mountains which can get rather cold at night and even chilly during the day, especially when you want to climbing. Snow in winter is possible here and there is a skiing season!

Much of Morocco's coastline has warm and dry summers and mild and wet winters, typically for the Mediterranean area.

Getting There

By Plane

Mohammed V International Airport (IATA: CMN, ICAO: GMMN), located 30 kilometre southeast of Casablanca, is the busiest airport in Morocco. Royal Air Maroc, the flag carrier, is based at this airport and has destinations in major cities of Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

Other airports with flights to mainly European destinations are Al Massira International Airport (IATA: AGA, ICAO: GMAD) in Agadir and Menara International Airport (IATA: RAK, ICAO: GMMX) in Marrakech. From the latter, there is a growing number of flights from southern and western Europe.

By Train

By Car

You can travel by car to Ceuta and Melilla and south to the Western Sahara and Mauritania. The border with Algeria has been closed for years now.

By Bus

By Boat

Several ferries go to and from Morocco. Algeciras in Spain is the port which most travellers use and there are boats to Ceuta and Tangier. A ferry between Algeciras and Ceuta takes 40 minutes, and less than 2 hours to get to Tangier. Another option is to from Tarifa, on the southernmost tip of mainland Spain, which takes 35 minutes. Other Spanish ports that have connections to Morocco but which are used less are Malaga and Almeria which have connections to Melilla, which is close to Nador in Morocco. Gibraltar connects to Tangier through a high-speed boat service. If you want to travel from France directly, there are options from Sète near Montpellier and Port Vendres near Perpignan. This will take much longer and will be much more expensive. From Italy, there are connections from Genoa and Naples.

Below are the main ferry operators and their routes between Morocco and mainland Europe.

• Ferries to Europe

There are dozens of options to get to Morocco by ferry, the shorter and thus cheaper ones from Spain. But ferries from France and even Italy are a possibility as well.
http://www3.gnv.it/en/gnv-home/gnv-home/0/home/0/140/0/home-page.html|GNV]] has ferries from Genoa in Italy and Barcelona in Spain to Tanger in northern Morocco. Comanav has services between Tanger and Genoa as well, and to Sete in France, located between Marseille and Montpellier. From Sete, SNCM has ferries to Tanger as well.
Ferrimaroc has boats plying the route between Almeria in Spain to and from the Moroccon city of Nador, while Euroferrys travels between the southern Spanish town of Algeciras to Tanger. It's also a major operator to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.
FRS has boats travelling between both Tarifa and Algeciras (Spain) and Tanger and between Gibraltar and Tanger. Comarit travels from Algeciras to Tanger as well.
Finally, Trasmediterranea plies the route between Algeciras and Tanger and between Almeria and Nador. Trasmediterranea has many connections to the Spanish exclaves Ceuta and Melilla from Algeciras, Almeria and Malaga in southern Spain.

Getting Around

By Plane

Agadir, Casablanca, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda are served by Royal Air Maroc, among other cities.
Atlas Blue has a number of domestic services as well.
Regional Air Lines flies between Agadir, Al Hoceima, Errachidia, Essaouira, Goulimime, Marrakech, Nador and Oujda.

By Train

Trains connect Marrakech and Tangier via Casablanca and Rabat and a branch line goes inland to Meknes and Oujda near the border with Algeria. For more information you can check the ONCF website.
Fes to Rabat and Casblanca and Marrakech to Casablanca are probably the best routes, with regular day and overnight services, and sleeping cars and restaurant cars are generally available.

By Car

Getting around Morocco by car is a perfect way of seeing a lot of the country with a maximum flexibility. Although you don't really need a car when you prefer to see the cities, it is very usefull when travelling in the southern parts, for example south and east of Marrakech. There are many international and local companies offering rental cars at airports or downtown in the major cities. Better to go for the bigger companies and be sure to get maximum insurance. You need an international driver's licence and the minimum age is 21. Car hire is relatively expensive in Morocco with the cheapest (usually a Fiat Uno withouth aircon) already costing as much as €40 a day.
Note that some roads across the Andes Mountains can be impassable in winter, when snow is common. To get to the remote desert parts you really need a 4wd, otherwise you will be fine with a normal car.

By Bus

CTM runs many buses between cities and towns. Supratours has an extensive network as well and SATAS is convenien between Casablanca, Agadir and places further south from Agadir.
Shared taxis are often quicker though on most routes but can be a little crowded.

By Boat

There are no public passenger services as there are almost no notable rivers or lakes to cross and the coastline is excellently served by buses or minivans.

Red Tape

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.

• Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Republic of Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guinea (Conakry), Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore (up to one month only), Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Venezuela. (Source: Consulate-General of Morocco in New York)

Permissions to extend a stay must be requested from the nearest Police Precinct in Morocco.

All others are required to obtain visas of single or double entries, and a stay of up to 90 days. If you want to stay longer, it is best to cross into Spain or the Ceuta and Melilla and go back again.

Money

See also: Money Matters

The official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). One dirham is equivalent with 100 santimat (singular: santim).

• Banknotes 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 dirham
• Coins 1, 5, 10, 20 santimat; ½, 1, 2, 5, and 10 dirham

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