The best time to travel to Morocco is during the months of September to April. The summers in Morocco are very hot and dry, and in the winter months from November to February, the nights can be very cold, although the temperature during the day is pleasant.

As Morocco has different climate zones, the travel time depends on the destination (north-west, south-east or Atlantic coast) as well as the type of travel (cities, desert, beach).

The north-east of the country has a Mediterranean climate, while the south and south-east are characterized by the Saharan-continental climate. The climatic divide is formed by the crest of the Middle and High Atlas Mountains. This region forms a separate climate zone.

In northern Morocco, the climate is characterized by hot dry summers and mild humid winters. For Morocco's north (including the coastal region), the months from April to October are therefore considered a pleasant time to travel. If you are planning not only a beach holiday but also cultural tours in the (hot) interior, it is best to visit Morocco between February and May and September and November.

For the south and the area around Marrakech, as well as inland cities, spring and autumn - March to May and September to November - are the best times to travel, as temperatures are more extreme than on the coast: colder in winter, often hotter in summer. Inland, temperatures rise to 45 degrees in midsummer, and the further south you go, the drier it gets and the more the rainfall decreases.

Where the Sahara zone begins towards Algeria, there is a desert climate, it is very hot and rainfall is sparse. It is best to travel to southern Morocco in the winter months of October to April.

The best time to visit Morocco for a beach holiday is between June and September. The climate at the sea is pleasantly warm, but it can get very hot inland, especially in July and August, when the Atlantic Ocean is a good place to cool off. For a combination of cultural and beach holidays, tourists should choose the summer months of June and September. 

Direct flights are available from cities throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America. Royal Air Maroc is the national airline of Morocco. Information about Moroccan airports can be found on the Office National des Aéroports website (www.onda.ma). 

Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca is the country's main gateway, followed by Menara Airport (Marrakech). Other important airports are Fez-Saïss (Fez), Ibn Battouta International (Tangier), as well as Ouarzazate and Agadir.

Direct flights to Morocco are offered by the following airlines, among others:

• Royal Air Maroc  www.royalairmaroc.com
• Air Arabia  www.airarabia.com
• Lufthansa  www.lufthansa.com
• Eurowings  www.eurowings.com
• Ryanair  www.ryanair.com
• EasyJet  www.easyjet.com

To enter Morocco, you need a passport valid for at least 6 months. If you are entering Morocco from Europe or the USA, you do not need a visa for Morocco for stays of up to 90 days.

Information on other countries can be obtained from the Moroccan Consulate or from Visaguide.

Depending on the booked trip and travel time, we will be happy to advise you on suitable equipment. For cultural tours in the north and west, you can get by with normal luggage. Bring comfortable clothes and shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking in the cities.

We recommend a light jacket or fleece jumper in any season as it can get chilly at night, especially in the desert.

For yoga trips and trekking tours in the Sahara, we provide a packing list with suitable equipment so that nothing stands in the way of your desert experience. 

When traveling through Morocco, it is not necessary for women to cover their heads and hair. However, it is advisable to cover your legs and shoulders out of respect for the local population, especially in more rural areas, the Altas Mountains and southern Morocco.

Travel documents:

Passport (+ copy), credit or Maestro card, reservations and tickets (as print copy or digitally on mobile phone), number of foreign health insurance, blocking numbers for credit and Maestro card.

Equipment for camel trekking:

• Comfortable daypack
  

• Travel bag (pack sacks or trekking backpacks, suitcases or trollis cannot be strapped onto camels)
  

• Sleeping bag and small travel pillow (warm sleeping bag with comfort range up to 5°C (nights can get cold))
  

• Light hiking boots, if necessary open trekking sandals
  

• Comfortable, breathable and durable casual clothing that can be easily combined (better several thin layers than a few thick ones)
  

• A warm sweater/fleece/down jacket is recommended for the rather cool morning and evening hours (for those sensitive to cold: warm sleeping clothes, additional warm socks, possibly scarf and hat)
  

• Comfortable clothes that may also be suitable for trekking, otherwise hiking trousers

• Light, quick-drying travel towel
  

• Personal toiletries
  

• First-aid kit (medicine against diarrhea, pain, fever; mosquito repellent; plasters; disinfectant spray)
  

• Sunscreen cream or lotion, after-sun cream, lip balm, cap or hat as headgear for sun protection, sunglasses
  

• Water bottle to fill with water for the day (made of aluminium or BPA-free plastic)
  

• Camera, spare batteries
  

• Flashlight or headlamp (incl. batteries)
  

• For light sleep: earplugs :-)
  

• Note for contact lens wearers: best to use daily lenses or glasses.

Good medical care is available in the country's larger cities.  Smaller towns also have doctors to help with minor injuries, illnesses and other less complicated medical needs. Should you become seriously ill or injured, we always advise returning to a larger city to be treated in a private clinic where all the modern equipment is available. 

We definitely recommend that you take out international health insurance.

No compulsory vaccinations are required on entry to Morocco. It is advisable to brush up on your standard vaccinations (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps and rubella). In general, hepatitis A and B immunization is advisable. Seek advice from your doctor.

Malaria: Morocco is considered malaria-free. 

Medicines for diarrhea, pain, fever; electrolytes; mosquito spray; first-aid kit (plasters, disinfectant spray, bandages).

To avoid diarrhea, wash your hands regularly, drink water only from sealed mineral water bottles and avoid ice cubes. If mineral water is not available, water can also be boiled or disinfected if necessary.

Observe the principle "boil it, peel it, cook it, wash it or forget it" for food and fruit.

Traveling to a foreign culture and a developing country like Morocco can be a particularly rewarding and challenging experience. African cultures have much to teach those of us from the modern Western world, and offer opportunities to combine pleasure with learning new and old ways of living and surviving. 

Moroccans work very hard to make visitors feel welcome and provide everything that is needed. However, patience and understanding are sometimes required. Morocco is a developing country and modern amenities that we are used to are only being built or are not available in many places outside the city. Many people therefore have no idea of certain wishes, expectations or demands. Therefore, please understand if your wish or request is perceived differently.

Life in Morocco moves more slowly than we are used to in modern life, and you should take this into account if something is taking too long. The best way to approach Morocco is with an appreciation of the cultural differences, the sounds, the smells, the language, the culture and colorful surroundings, relaxing, enjoying and accepting. Remember: laughter speaks the same language everywhere :-)

• Morocco - Kingdom of light  www.visitmorocco.com

The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Moroccan Tamazight. French is used throughout the country as a commercial, educational and unofficial working language. Spanish is also used in northern Morocco, Western Sahara and around Sidi Ifni.

• National currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD), divided into 100 centimes.

• Exchange rate: One Euro is approximately 11 MAD.

• Currency exchange: Cash can only be brought into Morocco in Euros. Exchange is possible in the country itself, directly in the airport exchange offices.

• EC card: Can be used at any ATM with the Maestro symbol for a fee. You should check with your bank beforehand whether the card is activated for Morocco.

• Credit card: Best payment option in Morocco, whether cashless in tourist centers or for withdrawing money from ATMs (these are located in every major town).

Tipping is common in Morocco and is part of good manners, e.g. for the small services in the hotel, for taxi drivers, tour guides, parking attendants etc.. But you should not feel pressured to tip someone if you are not satisfied with the service you have received. To give a guideline: twenty dirhams for the bellboy / porter, five or ten dirhams if you are photographing someone.

Here are some official non-religious festivals whose dates are fixed in the calendar:

1 January: New Year's Day;1 May: Labour Day; 30 July: Throne Day (coronation of King Mohammed VI); 14 August: Reunification Oued Ed-Dahab; 20 August: Anniversary of the King and People's Revolution; 6 November: Green March Day; 18 November: Independence Day.

Islamic festival days follow the Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar, and thus move through the solar year by about 11 days annually. Islam has two main feast days, the Feast of Breaking the Fast and the Feast of Sacrifice.

Although Muslims are forbidden to drink alcohol, Morocco is a moderate Islamic country and you can drink alcoholic beverages in private or in restaurants or bars where alcohol is served. Moroccan wines are often excellent and a small selection of Moroccan lagers and occasionally imported beers and wines are available. 

Alcohol cannot be purchased in shops in the medinas, although many riads and hotels offer it. Outside the medinas, alcohol can be purchased in some shops and supermarkets and in tourist hotels, especially the larger ones.

• Police: 190 (or 112 from mobile phones)

• Gendarmerie Royale: 177 (police outside the cities)

• Ambulance: 150

• Fire brigade: 15

The voltage in Morocco is 220 V. There are two types of sockets: Type C and E. 

The flat Euro plug type C, which is also used in many mobile phone chargers, can be used in Morocco without an adapter.

Most hotels offer Wi-Fi, if not in the room, then at least in the lobby and reception area. If you want to be online while traveling, it is worth buying a local Moroccan SIM card. You can buy a prepaid SIM card ("forfait sans abonnement") directly at the airport, in shopping centers or telecommunications shops.

Morocco is a tourist country and therefore largely pleasant and safe to travel in. As in all major cities around the world, caution is a top priority in tourist magnets and places of interest. Therefore, keep your valuables close to your body, especially in such places.

The respective ministries of the federal states provide information on the general situation in the country, e.g.:

• Austria: www.bmeia.gv.at
• Germany: www.auswaertiges-amt.de
• Switzerland: www.eda.admin.ch

Train

Most major Moroccan cities are served by rail. The country's main lines run from Casablanca.

Bus

Buses provide connections between most cities and towns in the country. There are also private buses at bus stations that provide regular services between most Moroccan cities.

Taxis

In the major cities, there are the usual taxis. However, there are also other types of taxis in Morocco. The "grand taxi" is for transport from one city to another. The "petite taxi", with a roof rack, takes one to three passengers for trips around town. For longer distances or excursions, the „grand taxi" is a good solution, it is usually comfortable, but remember to negotiate the price in advance.

Airport

The main airport in Morocco is in Casablanca, Mohammed V Airport. The second most important is Agadir Airport, it also offers direct connections to several European capitals, as well as with Rabat, Marrakech, Ouarzazate and Tangier.