GENERAL INFO

TRAVEL IDEAS

Morocco

COUNTRY QUICKFACTS

The Atlantic to the west, the Mediterranean to the north, wonderful beaches, four mountain ranges with cascading waterfalls, century old cedar forest, eternal snows, immense plains flowering with orange and almond blossom, rivers that lay out a carpet of greenery to the threshold of the desert and carve out the most spectacular gorges. From the Straits of Gibraltar to Mauritania, nature has made Morocco one of the most beautiful countries in the world, the country that is a feast of the senses.

The History

Morocco has been inhabited since very early prehistoric times, as the many prehistoric remains show. Then came the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Berbers, Byzantines, Romans and Vandals before the Arab invasion which took place in the 8th century.

Morocco as an independent state has been in existence since 788 AD, when Idris I was proclaimed King at Volubilis (by way of comparison, it was nearly 100 years later that King Alfred the Great became King of Wessex).

Today, Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. King Mohammed VI came to the throne in 1999. A descendant of the Prophet, he is also the Commander of the Believers, or in other words, Morocco's religious leader.

Here are a few significant dates to help you situate towns and monuments in their historical context.

681: Beginning of the Arab conquest of Morocco (introduction of Islam)
788: The Idrisside Dynasty
809: Fez founded by Idriss II
1055: The Almoravide Dynasty
1061 – 1107: The reign of Youssef ben Tachfine (founder of Marrakesh)
1130: The Almohade Dynasty
1184 – 1199: The reign of Yacoub el Mansour, who made Rabat his capital (building of the Hassan Tower at Rabat, the Koutoubia in Marrakesh and the Giralda in Seville)
1258: The Merinide Dynasty
1269 – 1286: The reign of Abou Youssef Yacoub (building of Fez el Jedid)
1331 – 1351: Reign of Abou Hassan (building of the Chellah necropolis at Rabat)
1554: The Saadian Dynasty
1578: The battle of the three kings ending Portuguese rule
1578 – 1602: Reign of Ahmed el Mansour (Saadian tombs at Marrakesh)
1664: The Alaouite Dynasty
1672 – 1727: The reign of Moulay Ismail, builder of Meknes
1927: Accession to the throne of H.M. Mohammed V
1956: Independence of Morocco
1961: Accession to the throne of H.M. Hassan II
1971: The new Constitution adopted by referendum
1975: The Green March reunified Morocco with its Saharan provinces
1993: Inauguration of the Hassan II Mosque at Casablanca
1999: Accession to the Throne of H.H. Mohammed VI

Important Statistics

Population 27 million, of which 50% are under 20 years old and 70% under 30.
Covers 710,850 km
2,900 km of Atlantic coast, 500 km of Mediterranean coast
57,520 km of roads
3 million date palms
800,000 tons of oranges per year
More than 3,000,000 tourists
The three Moroccan ports of Agadir, Safi and Tan Tan are the world's largest for sardine fishing
World leader in the production of phosphate with 75% of world reserves

Climate

Annual sunshine levels are more than 8 hours a day at Agadir, Fez, Marrakesh and Ouarzazate with average temperatures above 21Î. But if you feel too hot or too cold you only have to travel a few kilometres. You can go from the snow of the Atlas to the Saharan desert in one single day.

ANNUAL AVERAGE	Centigrade	Fahrenheit
Agadir	23	73
Al Hoceima	19	66
Casablanca	21	69
Essaouira	21	69
Fez	19	66
Marrakesh	22	71
Meknes	20	68
Ouarzazate	18	64
Oujda	19	66
Rabat	22	71
Tangier	19	66

The Language

Apart from classical Arabic, the language of education, the Civil Service and the media, the everyday language in Morocco is a dialectal Arabic, as well as Tamazight (Berber) spoken in the Rif, the Atlas and the Souss and which varies according to region.

Most Moroccans speak French and many speak Spanish and English.

The Food

Moroccan cuisine offers refined preparations of sun-drenched fruit and vegetables, rate and aromatic spices, delicate fish and succulent meats. This is the very best of Oriental cuisine, famous throughout the world – a real delight for your taste buds. Here are the main Moroccan dishes which you must try.

Kebabs

You will see delicious kebabs being cooked in front of you at the entrance to the souk, in squares or at the roadside. A convenient and cheap delight.

Couscous

The traditional family dish for Friday lunch, but you will find it every day in restaurants. You can taste many different types of couscous during your visit, for they vary according to the region and the cook's imagination.

Try not using cutlery but eating it with your fingers in Moroccan style.

Mechoui

Oven or spit or roasted lamb. The meat melts in your mouth!

Pastilla

A fine flaky pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds. The famous Moroccan sweet and salty taste. There are also variants with fish, chicken and even with milk for dessert.

Dishes For Ramadan

At sunset, the fast (f'tour) is broken with the rich and savoury harira, a soup of meat, lentils and chickpeas, with beghrir, little honeycombed pancakes served with melted butter and honey with shebbakia, cakes turned in oil then covered in honey.

This "light snack" will tide you over until the real dinner which is served later in the night.

Tajine

This word designates both the decorated earthenware plate with its distinctive conical cover and the dish itself (meat, chicken or fish stew with vegetables). Taste it and you will understand why Tajine is the Moroccan national dish.

Mint Tea

Refreshing, warming and stimulating, drunk in the morning, after meals or at any time. A pleasure you should never refuse.

Pastries

Honey cakes, cornes de gazelles, almond feqqas, raisins, ghoriba with almonds or sesame…quite irresistible.

Activities

The warm waters of the Mediterranean, the magnificent Atlantic breakers, sleepy lakes, captivating wadis and raging torrents – Morocco offers a wide range of water sports: Surfing, windsurfing, rafting, yachting, canoeing, rowing and fishing. One word of warning: Only swim on beaches under surveillance and keep an eye on the weather – the Atlantic can be dangerous at times.

On dry land there is much to do: Golf, tennis, riding, hiking, camel or mule trekking, archery, fencing, hunting, skiing or hang gliding.

Every sport is regulated by its respective federation in a highly organized way.

Hiking and Trekking

With its four mountain ranges, a dozen summits over 4,000 metres high, 400 over 3,000 metres and all of them accessible to people in good physical condition, Morocco offers exceptional hiking opportunities.

On foot in the Sirwa, the Sargho and the Rif, on skis in the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas; a combination of skis and mules in the High Atlas, or canyoning; every season reveals a different aspect of nature.

The Moroccan mountains are beautiful and wild – yet they are well organized for hikers with qualified guides and monitors, a network of refuges, hire of pack mules and cross-country bikes.

To get there, hire a four wheel drive, take the collective taxis or the buses.

The Desert Marathon

One of the toughest tests of endurance in the world. The race lasts a week and covers almost 250 km over dunes and rocky desert. And as if that were not enough, participants have to carry everything they need for the week with them, including their food.

Golf

Golf is a national passion in Morocco, with superb facilities in a setting of varied and magnificent landscapes. Major competitions attract golfers from all over the world. The most famous is the Hassan II Trophy held on the famous Red Course at the Royal Dar-Es-Salaam Golf Club in Rabat, classified among the most spectacular golf courses in the world. There are seventeen courses in the country.

You can contemplate the eternal snows on the Atlas in Marrakesh, breathe the fragrance of the pines and cedars on the hills around Tangier, enjoy the hundred-year-old oaks in the forest at Rabat, the joyful colours of the heather, tamarisk and junipers at Cabo Negro, the dunes at Agadir, Settat, Benslimane, El Jadida, Mohammedia, Ouarzazate, Fez, Casablanca and play right at the heart of the Imperial city of Meknes, the splendid park of the Royal Palace.

You can hire clubs, caddies and electric vehicles at most of the clubs. Some are closed one day a week.

Surfing and Windsurfing

The Atlantic breakers, the propitious winds of the Mediterranean and huge lakes – amateurs and professionals alike will find everything they need at the many Moroccan "spots". Some, such as Essaouira or Dar Bouazza near Casablanca, are world famous and host major international competitions.

Skiing

You can ski during several months of the year. Alpine skiing on the powdery snow in the High Atlas, at Oukaimeden, only 70 km from Marrakesh, or the winter sports at Mischliffen in the Middle Atlas on the doorstep of Meknes and Fez. These resorts are equipped with ski lifts. Fans of cross-country skiing also have a wide choice: The massifs in the Rif, the Middle and High Atlas all offer exciting itineraries.

White Water Sports

Ideal for coming face to face with Morocco untamed. But be careful! Do not leave without a guide. In four days you can make a round trip of the canyons in the east or the west. The wadis in the High and Middle Atlas offer some outstanding descents, for up to 145 km along the Ahanesal and Melloul. You can descend the Oum-er-Rbia for 60 km by raft at any time of the year. If you like excitement, this is for you.

Riding

The horses are superb and the country ideal, so relax and enjoy the pleasures of riding amid fabulous scenery. Gallop the length of the long white beaches, among the dunes and through the forest of century-old oaks. You can also play polo, jump, or take part in races.

Four-Wheel Drive

Morocco hosts the greatest international competitions. The Paris-Dakar and Atlas Rallies have shown the breathtaking Moroccan landscapes to the world. Thousands of kilometers of track give enthusiasts a wide range of challenges to choose from. Exciting trips with unique and attractive objectives: An Imilchil engagement party, a moussem in the High Atlas, sunrise over the Merzouga dunes, or a search for wild sheep in the Dades gorges.

From the tiny "quad" to the heavy long chassis four drive, with or without driver and/or camping equipment, the choice is yours. You can hire everything.

The Friendship Raid

As its name implies, the object is both sporting and amicable. Running from Tangier to Rabat and crossing the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara, it is open to motor bikes and four-wheel drives, but is not an against the clock. It gives young people from all over the world the chance to meet and get to know each other.

Hunting

Quail, doves, snipe, teal, grouse, pheasants, thrushes, pigeons and even wild boars flourish in vast reserves. The season varies according to the species: From October to March for most game and June to July for doves.

Fishing

The trout is of course the queen of fresh water fish. It can be fished in the wadis and becomes a real sport in the gorges. Pike, black bass, perch, roach, carp, eels and barbells abound in the lakes. (Season from May – June according to the species). Bonitos, sea perch, mullet, chad and sea bream are abundant in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Underwater fishing along the entire coast is quite enchanting.

Several ports are equipped for deep sea fishing: Dakhla in the Sahara and Mohammedia near Casablanca for example…tuna, swordfish, marlin, grouper and barracudas are plentiful.

Aerial Sports

Aviation, parachuting, ULM, gliding, deltaplane, parachute gliding and even hot air ballooning: It's easy to go up in the world in Morocco – there are several areoclubs which will allow to indulge in your favourite sport.

Spas and Thermal Cures

There are a thousand and one ways to do yourself good by taking the plunge in Morocco. In particular there are the soothing waters of Moulay Yacoub (close to Fez) which give relief to rheumatism, skin and respiratory problems in a spa with ultra-modern medical and hotel facilities. There is also a thalassotherapy institute at Casablanca.

Sailing, Yachting and Water Skiing

Cast off at Al-Hoceima and head your boat out towards the Straits of Gibraltar, pass the ramparts and tie up in the port of El-Jadida, taste the oysters at Oualidia, anchor in a wild creek to the north of Agadir and take in some water skiing. Whether you prefer sail or power boats, there are 3,000 km of Moroccan coast to choose from, plus all the opportunities offered by the natural and artificial lakes.

Transportation

Car

Road Network
In good repair. You can roam over the entire country at will. There are four categories of road:

Motorway: Linking Casablanca Rabat to Fez (61 DH toll)
and Rabat to Sidi Lyamani (47 DH toll). It is being extended to Tangier.
Main: 10,647 km, with 9,213 km paved
B roads: 10,739 km with 6,434 km paved
C roads: 30,134 km with 12,335 km paved

Driving on the Roads

The highway code is of the international type, road signs are written in French and Arabic. Speed is limited to 120 kph on the motorway and 100 kph on roads, 40 – 60 kph in built up areas. The wearing of safety belts is compulsory.

Drive very carefully. You not only have to deal with other cars but also with crowds of pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, carts and even animals…don't be afraid of sounding your horn.

Don't forget Morocco is a mountainous country including very high passes such as the Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m) between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate.

Be careful of the snow and ice in winter.

Driving on Rough Tracks

If your itinerary includes sections of track, check that your vehicle is adapted to those conditions: Some tracks can be negotiated by all kinds of car, some with a Renault 4, while others are exclusively restricted to four-wheel drives.

Before you head off onto a track, make enquiries (passability of fords if it has rained), make sure your spare wheel is in place and usable, check your tires and make sure you have a spare supply of petrol and water.

Finally, if you are taking difficult tracks, avoid driving at night and drive with other vehicles.

Petrol

Average prices – Super and lead free: 9.09 Dh/1: ordinary 8.69 DH/1; diesel 5.80 DH/l. Lead free petrol is becoming more widely available: 70 pumps at present. But apart from large towns, it might still be difficult to find. Make enquiries at the Tourist Office before setting out.

If you are leaving the trunk roads, you would be well advised to fill up at every opportunity without waiting to be "on the reserve". A wise precaution to avoid any surprises.

Car Hire

There is a wide choice, from the large four-wheel drive to the small private car. You can reserve your car before you leave with a major international car hire firm – a wise precaution in busy periods. You will also find Moroccan car rental firms when you arrive, often with very competitive rates. In any case, check carefully the state of the care before taking to the road (spare wheel, jack, etc.).

Railway

The railway system, with its 1907 km of track is more concentrated in the north of the country. The express trains are fast, comfortable and air-conditioned. They have a bar service and a buffet car.

Some major cities are not served by rail, but the O.N.C.F. (National Railways) provide bus connections.

Buses

The most popular means of transport. They will take you everywhere at very low rates. CTM LN, the main company, runs comfortable, air-conditioned coaches.

Small and Big Taxis

Very cheap, the "Petit taxi" (maximum three people), have a distinctive, bright colour for each town; red in Casablanca, blue in Rabat, etc. They only drive in town and will not, for example take you to the airport some way from the city center. They can take on other passengers who are going in the same direction. Settle the price before leaving if they have no meter.

Collective or individual, the "Grand taxi" (maximum 6 people) will take you to the outer suburbs or to other towns. You are advised to fix the price in advance.