Morocco

Fact File

Population

31 million people

Capital City

Rabat

Currency

Dirham: 1 USD buys about 8.85 MAD (as of August 2012)

Language

The official language is Standard Arabic, but most people speak a distinct local
dialect called Darija. French and Berber are also spoken.

Attractions

The Sahara Desert, Fes, Marrakech

Local Lingo

سلام (Salam)	Hello.
شكرا (Shokran)	Thank you!
براك الله فيك (Baraka allahu feek)	God bless you.

Did You Know?

• The full Arabic name of Morocco is ‘Al-Mamlaka al-Maghribiya’, which translates to ‘The Western Kingdom’.
• The national dish of Morocco is "couscous". It is just steamed wheat served with a vegetable, fish, or meat.
• A "jellaba" is a loose-fitting hooded robe with long sleeves worn by Moroccan men and women.

Contact Us: For more information about Morocco you can email us at morocco@rusticpathways.com.

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“Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone”

Morroccan Proverb

Packing List

 

To Help You Come Prepared...

Travel light! In Morocco, we will be traveling in minibuses, and it’s likely our luggage will go on the roof of the car, so leave bulky or expensive items at home. A medium checked bag and a small carry-on would be best.

Morocco is an Islamic country, and many people  dress conservatively. It’s not necessary for female travelers to wear headscarves, but it is respectful of the culture to leave tight clothing, two-piece bathing suits, miniskirts and shorts, off-the-shoulder and low-cut or cropped tops at home.

Moroccans don’t usually wear shorts, tank tops or T-shirts, so keep this in mind when you pack. As a tourist, you don’t have to follow all the cultural rules, but you will draw attention to yourself if you don’t respect them. Find a balance that works for you!

Bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying.

Carry-On Luggage

• Passport - you can't get on the plane without this
• Photocopy of Passport (2 additional photocopies should be carried in checked luggage)
• Book or a deck of cards to pass the time on the plane
• Snacks 
• Camera - Be aware that cameras can easily get broken, lost, or stolen so only bring a camera which you are prepared to part with.  Also, don't forget to bring your chargers, batteries and memory cards.  You can also bring your USB cords for downloading pics for emails.
• Nalgene or other Water Bottle (You can’t take liquids though security, so bring it empty and then fill it up once you’re at the gate area.)
• Pens and paper
• Medications - Must alert staff, but keep these in your carry-on in case of lost luggage!

Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry-on regulations of the TSA.

Checked Luggage

• 2-4x Lightweight pants, capris or long shorts. Keep in mind the culture – nothing tight, and if you bring shorts, they should be as long as possible, like knee-length. Jeans are OK to bring, but they are hard to hand wash and not very climate-friendly.
• 10x Underwear
• 5x Socks
• 6-8x Shirts. Again, keep the culture in mind. Moroccans frown on T-shirts (they view them as underwear) but for tourists, they are tolerated. But don’t bring tank tops or any tight shirts.
• 1x Heavy Hooded Sweatshirt
• 1x Jacket (it does get cool after the sun goes down!)
• 1x Swim Suit (One-piece)
• 1x Tennis Shoes or hiking shoes
• 1x Sandals or Flip Flops
• Towel (Not all hotels will have them)
• Sun Hat or Ball Cap
• Sunglasses
• Headlamp or flashlight with spare batteries
• Watch or clock with an alarm
• Heavy-duty garbage bags (2) - for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)

Toiletries

Please pack all items that could leak in a PLASTIC or ZIPLOCK bag

Bring the usual, plus:

• Soap in a plastic dish (Many hotels don’t provide soap)
• Small packs of Kleenex Tissues - public toilets and some hotels do not supply toilet paper - you are meant to bring your own. It's always handy to have a few packs of Kleenex tissues with you.
• Contact lenses and solution (Tough to find in Morocco, so bring enough)
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Hand sanitizer (1-2 small bottles per week)
• Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a personal kit is always helpful)

Optional Items

• Arabic phrasebook
• Frisbee, Hackysack, Soccer Ball or Volleyball
• Music
• Pictures of family (Moroccans love photos).
• Reading Material
• Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas)

PLEASE NOTE - Rustic Pathways will not be responsible for ANY lost or stolen items. During travel it is common for items to be lost or stolen so please bring only items you are prepared to part with.