Everything You Need To Know Before Traveling To Morocco

Outside the arid desert of eastern Morocco, the weather can be compared to countries in the Mediterranean. Warm to hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. As with any country, the weather varies depending on where you are. Thus, when to go to the desert will be a lot different than when to go to the coast or the mountains:

• Temperatures in the Sahara are pretty hot for most of the year, so expect them to be scorching during the summer months.
• On the other hand, the coast is a very popular destination to cool off during the hot summer months.
• The Atlas Mountains can get quite cold during the winter months, so if you don't like the snow, the best to visit is during the shoulder season when the air is fresh but not too cold.
• January and February, are usually the coldest months in Marrakech, but that also means cheaper prices and fewer crowds.
• You will recognize the rain season when Riads start to cover up the otherwise open inner courtyards. Usually, the rain starts around November and can last as long as March.

So what is the best time to visit all the regions? March to May and September to November are generally the best months to visit Morocco. This when the weather is at its best throughout the country. There is lots of sunshine, the temperatures are a lot milder, and you still experience cooler nights.

With the good weather come some awesome festivals. Two of our favorites are the Rose Festival and the Gnaoua World Music Festival. The Rose Festival:This three-day festival takes place during the first week of May in the town of El-Kelaa M’Gouna. During the festival, the streets are filled with Berber tribes singing and selling a multitude of Persian rose-based products. The Gnaoua World Music Festival:This four-day festival takes place in June in the town of Essaouira. It is an eclectic music, arts and cultural festival that connects local Gnaoua musicians with foreign artists to discover new and old music.

First of all, I would like to say Morocco is a pretty safe tourist destination. This section is not meant to frighten or scare you, but to make you aware. While Morocco is not a dangerous country, you still need to be skeptical, alert and keep your guard up at all times. We have traveled to a multitude of places during our nine years of wandering the globe and I would say that we are pretty experienced travelers. We have seen a lot and have dealt with all kinds of scenarios, but Morocco is the only country to date where we have felt a bit unsafe at times. I have even traveled through Morocco all by myself as a woman for almost a month as well. While I have no issue walking around during the day by myself, I would never leave the Riad on my own after dusk. The old medina, in particular, can be a little bit intimidating, especially when groups of young male adults linger in the narrow side streets laughing and often drinking. Most men in Morocco are Arabic and practicing Muslims, so their expectations of women are different. Being a white woman in the medina of Marrakech will automatically give you unwanted attention. Usually, this just entails men starring you down or making random noises to get your attention. It’s best to walk with confidence and to avoid flashy or revealing outfits. The more you fit in the less you will stand out. I have been grabbed a couple of times from men driving by with their scooters or bicycles even during the day while walking alone through the narrow streets of the medina. Just avoid these roads if you can.

On the other hand, Gueliz, the new and more developed part of Marrakech is a totally different story. You will see the contrast the moment you get there. The local women wear whatever they want, it is seriously like entering a different world. I was quite shocked when I visited Gueliz for the first time because men in the medina looked at me as if they have never seen a woman's shoulder or exposed leg before, but the minute you leave the medina local women wear everything from short skirts to tank tops.

You can do all the research you want on the internet prior to visiting a country, but there are always unforeseen things that come up. The list below is not meant to solve everything, but it will help you to avoid some uncomfortable situations that we've faced while in Morocco. Taxi fares – To avoid any drama make sure to negotiate the taxi price before you get into the cab. Usually halving the price is a good place to start negotiating. Always be aware – While I have never had anyone steal anything from me in Morocco, I would always recommend zipping up your bag and carrying it in the front. Especially while roaming places like the souks or in big crowded markets such as the Jemma El Fna in Marrakech. Since pickpocketing is pretty common I would go as far as leaving all your valuables at your Riad including your passport and bringing only what you need. Street stalls – You can never be too careful when ordering from street food stalls. If there are many locals eating from the same place, chances are that this food is safe to eat for you too. We always recommend asking the local staff at your riad or hotel for local recommendations. While the prices at restaurants are easily compared to prices in the USA $15 eating at local eateries can be as cheap as $3. Cover your knees and shoulders – This is especially true in the medina of Marrakech and is required at most of the religious sites. When you head out to explore I would recommend to always bring a scarf or a shawl to cover yourself out of respect for their culture and religion. Taking pictures in the medina – Let me be the first to tell you that the Marrakichs DO NOT like to have their picture taken. Even if you are shooting a street or a beautiful carpet if the camera is pointed in their general direction you may end up with a not so happy local in your face. Be sneaky when you take photos. Try to visualize what photos you want to take before you take them and quickly snap 1 or 2 before putting your camera down. We have a large DSLR, so it can be quite tricky to take photos, so we sometimes just switch to our phone to be more inconspicuous. Don’t fall for the con artists – The first thing they do is ask an engaging question “Where are you visiting from?” (the first alert). If you answer, they usually reply something like "ohh my cousin used to live there or is currently living there" (the second alert). The goal here is to build a connection and win your trust. You will then be offered free help to guide you somewhere “for free” (the third alert). Politely say no thank you and move on. Attraction/Road is closed – This has happened to us too many times. A friendly-looking local will approach you and ask you where you are going. Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an act of kindness. Once you tell them, they might inform you that the street ahead is closed or that the attraction you are looking for is closed for whatever reason (holiday or religious reasons such as ceremonies, etc.). Then they will offer you to show you either a way around or an alternative attraction. The best advice we can give you is to see for yourself and to just ignore them. Wrong Change – Always make sure you count your change after purchasing anything. I am no exception, it takes me forever to get used to the size and the color of foreign bills. Nash is definitely quicker and is usually the one responsible for paying. However, be alert especially in countries where the bills look similar to each other.