For New Zealanders, Australians, Canadians, EU passport holders and US citizens, no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months. For South Africans, a (free) visa is necessary from the Moroccan Embassy in Pretoria. 

Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Morocco.

Note: Please check with your local embassy whether you need to obtain a visa prior to entry into Morocco or whether you can obtain a visa upon entry. Please note that visa requirements are subject to change.

Obtaining your visa is solely the responsibility of the traveller and not of S A S Travel Ltd.

There is no departure tax when leaving Morocco.

You can visit Morocco all year round but the climate varies throughout the year. Summers are long, hot and dry and winters short and cool though because of the country’s variety of altitudes, Morocco has climates to match.

Health insurance should be taken out before you leave your home country.

No vaccinations are required to enter Morocco but it is recommended that you check with your doctor in good time before departure.

Medical facilities are good in all major towns.

The unit of currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD), which is divided into 100 centimes. It's a restricted currency, so can only be bought inside the country. ATMs are now widely available in the larger towns and are the best and easiest way to get funds. Money can be exchanged at many places in the city and ATMs outside the airport beat the airport queues.

Do not bring travellers cheques or Australian dollars.

Euro and USD notes can be exchanged at banks or official bureaux de changes, which are also widespread in major towns. Dirhams cannot be obtained or exchanged outside Morocco and receipts must be retained as proof of legal currency exchange, as well as in order to re-exchange money when departing.

Major credit cards are accepted in the larger shops, hotels and restaurants, but not AMEX. Cash is required for all other places.

Morocco is five hours ahead of US Eastern Time

The electrical current in Morocco is 220 Volts. European two-pin round plugs are standard. Adaptors are not easily found in Morocco, so bring your own

It is advisable to drink bottled water and be selective in the case of street food. Bottled drinking water is available everywhere and is inexpensive, although some restaurants charge an exorbitant mark-up. From any street-side shop, a 1.5-liter bottle of water should cost no more than 10dh.

Often street food is safer than some tourist restaurants.

Modern Standard Arabic is the official language and all TV and newspapers are in Arabic. However, Moroccan Arabic is the spoken language. Tachelhit, Tamazight and Tarifit are all derivations of Berber (all of our guides and drivers are of Berber origin, but all the guides have fluent English and French). English is growing in importance and generally understood in the tourist areas, but French is the more common.

Moroccan cuisine is typically a mix of Mediterranean, Arabic, Andalusian and Berber cuisine and is characterized by rich spices and often includes Couscous which is traditionally topped with rich stews and roasted meats. Lamb is a principal meat, although beef, chicken, goat and seafood are also eaten. Tagines are a fruity meat and vegetable stew cooked for some time. Savoury foods are enhanced with fruits, dried and fresh and preserved lemons are used in many poultry dishes. Desserts range from fresh seasonal fruit to sticky, sweet, honey enhanced cakes.

Morocco has well established wine industry as well as good beer production. Many Moroccans drink, but very few in places other than restaurants or bars. The legal drinking age for Moroccans is 18, however many places will serve most people.

The souks of Fes, Marrakech and Meknes are full of pottery, carpets and killims, leather goods, spices and cloth and Essaouira specialises in Thuya wood products. There is lots o offer and bargaining is expected.

Internet Cafes are everywhere but the keyboards are often French or Arabic . Almost every riad and hotel now has free wifi. Connection speeds vary between average and good. Phones - The international access code for Morocco is +212. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Casablanca: 0522 / Oualidia: 0523 / Marrakech, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate: 0524 / Agadir, Tafraoute, and Taroudannt: 0528 / Erfoud, Fes, Meknes, and Midelt: 0535 / Rabat: 0537

Hotels can add a hefty surcharge to their telephone bills; it is best to check before making long international calls.

Ramadan is not a problem for the tourist. It is actually an interesting time to visit, as the medina square is very lively after sunset and it’s a chance to try the local iftar (evening meal that breaks the fast after the sunset prayer) such as Harira soup and pastries. In the cities there are several cafes open in the tourist areas. In the mountains and on treks through villages there will be nothing open during the day for eating and drinking, but the guides and cooks make sure that all is available for the trekkers as normal.

Opening times for some sights are changed, and the hour goes back to GMT during the month and reverts to BST after Ramadan.

Estimated dates for the coming years are:

2018          May 15th - June 14th

Morocco is a Muslim country and it is preferable to keep the wearing of swimsuits, shorts and other revealing clothing to the beach or hotel poolside. Religious customs should be respected particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.

The giving and receiving of things, and the eating of food, should only be done with the right hand, as the left is considered unclean.

When photographing people, it’s important to be respectful – and always ask permission first, and it helps if you get to know your subject a bit better.

The import and use of civilian drones is illegal in Morocco. If found on arrival they will be confiscated until exit and you could be fined.

If you are arriving at the airport, you will pass through immigration, baggage claim and customs. As you exit customs into the public arrivals hall, please be on the lookout for our representative, who will be holding an S A S Travel Ltd logo signboard. Our representative will introduce you to our driver, who will transfer you to your hotel.

lf for any reason you have trouble locating our representative or your flight to Morocco is delayed, please call or send a text message to emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher.

If you are being met at your hotel, our representative will let you know he is there and meet you in the lobby and holding an S A S Travel Ltd logo signboard.

Travellers to Morocco over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g tobacco; 1 litre spirits and 1 litre wine; and perfume up to 5g

The levels of fitness depends on the trek, the mountain treks need more fitness than the desert treks and people need to be able to walk 3 to 4 hours each day for both. The guides can help out with perhaps a mule ride or camel ride if people are very tired.

Good walking shoes are recommended and comfortable layered clothing.

Travel insurance is required for each traveller you may have to pay a premium to cover yourself if trekking in higher altitudes (over 4,000m usually). It is essential that you get the correct level of cover so please check the maximum altitude you'll be trekking to before arranging your insurance.

All bedding is provided at the Campsites used. You can bring your own Sleep sheet or sleeping bag if you wish. You will also need to pack Insect repellent and a torch/headlamp would be very useful.

• Passport, Tour Booking Confirmation and a copy of your travel insurance

• If visiting in winter, pack warm clothes and an umbrella.

• If summer bring lightweight clothing, sunscreen & a hat.

• 2 pin (European) electrical adaptors.

• Camping overnight - All bedding is provided at the Campsites used. You can bring your own Sleep sheet or sleeping bag if you wish. You will also need to pack Insect repellent and a torch/headlamp would be very useful.

• Proper walking shoes (joggers/ trainers) for all walking at all sites

If you want to see the highlights of Morocco in just seven days – look no further.

Explore the exotic city of Marrakech – its souks, medina, gardens and bustling lifestyle.

Visit Casablanca and the Capital city of Rabat – a fascinating mix of old and new.

Step back in time at the Roman city of Volubilis.

Enjoy walking round Fes taking in the sights (palaces, souks, madersas) and smells (tanneries) of the city.

Glimpse Berber life as you travel the foothills of the High Atlas to Lac Bin El Oudine for stunning views.

All this in eight amazing days.

A superb mixture of an historical city, a stunning desert and the imposing Atlas Mountains.

Time to explore the sights and sounds of the magical city of Marrakech.

Travel the foothills of the High Atlas to Ouirgane in the heart of the mountains.

Journey from the High Atlas to the edge of the Sahara Desert for a short camel trek and overnight desert camp.

Drive through palm groves to Ouarzazate and visit Ait Ben Haddou where movies such as Gladiator were filmed.

On the way back to Marrakech enjoy stunning scenery driving over High Atlas passes reaching 3,000m.

A trip to remember.

An opportunity to experience Moroccan life in a vibrant city and with a Berber family in the mountains.

Live the city life in bustling Marrakech – busy by day and by night.

Enjoy the country life in Ouirgane and spend 3 days working in the fields, orchards and olive groves, cooking and eating with a Berber family.

A fabulous mix of the modern with the more traditional.

This tour is truly something special – especially for the adventurous who love to be close to nature and explore a country’s sights in detail.

Starting with time to enjoy the sights, smells and excitement of Marrakech before heading to the Atlantic coast to savour the seaside beauty of Essaouira.

Continue southwards down the coast to Taroudannt, the Berber capital of the South.

From the modern - a visit to the El Noor solar power plant, the largest in Africa – to the ancient with time to explore Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – Morocco is a country of contrasts.

In the foothills of the High Atlas explore Ouarzazate before traversing the Gorges of Todra and spending time enjoying the surroundings.

Enjoy the scenery and atmosphere on a desert trek and overnight in the Sahara desert before heading over the High Atlas to Midelt.

The journey continues over the Middle Atlas before entering the Imperial city of Fes and its palaces, souks, tanneries – so much to see and do.

Travel to the foothills of the Rif Mountains and the blue city of Chefchaouen.

Back to the Atlantic and the Capital City of Rabat – a great mix of the old and modern before returning to Marrakech .

Morocco from all sides

A special mix of the city sights of Marrakech with 5 days trekking to and from the town of Ouarzazate.

Enjoy the everyday hustle and bustle of the city of Marrakech – energised by day and by night.

Start to unwind with a visit to the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou before reaching the edge of the Sahara Desert at Ouarzazate.

Then the five days of trekking begins – through the Draa, exploring dunes and all that the desert has to offer.

The trek safari concludes in Ouarzazate, then back to Marrakech.

A desert adventure to remember.

On this short but wonderful break spend 2 nights in Marrakech and one in Essaouira.

Take in the sights and smells of exotic Marrakech, explore the souks, the medina and palaces – all the time watching the salesmen and showmen entertain.

Relax and enjoy the Atlantic seaside in Essaouira – listen to the seagulls and chill.

A lovely taster of what Morocco has to offer.