Morocco Travel Guide

Social Conventions

Greetings involve a handshake and friendly inquiries after health, happiness and family, and no business is discussed until after these pleasantries. Friends may tack on a cheek air-kiss or two. Moroccan chattiness makes everyday interactions more pleasant, if longer; patience and extroversion are assets. In the souks, vendors to call out to customers, joking and striking up conversations before bargaining begins. When offered tea, it's polite to at least take a sip.

Although casual gear is widely acceptable, wearing any clothing that reveals arms or legs is disrespectful. Swimsuits, shorts, sleeveless tops and clingy clothing should be confined to the beach or poolside for both men and women. Women traveling alone can expect help and friendship, but will avoid undue attention if they cover up, ideally in local garb. Sexual relations outside marriage (including homosexual conduct) are theoretically punishable by law, but this is rarely enforced. Smoking is widespread, though sometimes limited to smoking sections in restaurants. Drinking alcohol in view of a mosque is highly disrespectful and alcohol licenses are expensive, but alcohol is often served discreetly indoors or on terraces.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

The national airlines are Royal Air Maroc (AT) (www.royalairmaroc.com), and its twin low-cost carrier Atlas Blue (8A) (www.atlas-blue.com).

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Casablanca (CMN) (Mohammed V) is 30km (19 miles) south of the city (journey time - 35 minutes). To/from the airport: There are taxi services into Casablanca and train services available to Rabat. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and bureau de change, restaurant, tourist help desk and car hire.

Tangier (TNG) (Boukhalef Souahel) is 11km (7 miles) from the city (journey time - 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Bus and taxi services are available into Tangier. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, banking and bureau de change, restaurant, bar, tourist help desk and car hire.

Other international airports include Fes (FEZ), Marrakech (RAK) and Rabat-Salé (RBA).

Getting There By Water

Main ports:Tangier and Nador in Morocco proper, and the Spanish-held ports of Ceuta and Melilla. Several lines from Europe serve these ports.

Ferry operators include FerriMaroc (tel: (950) 274 800; www.ferrimaroc.com) and Trasmediterranea (tel: (902) 454 645; www.trasmediterranea.com). There are reasonably priced and regular car- and passenger-ferry links between southern Spain and Tangier and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north Moroccan coast. Most links are roll-on, roll-off car ferries except where shown. The routes are from Algeciras to Ceuta (Sebta) (car ferry); Algeciras to Tangier (hydrofoil and car ferry); Tarifa to Tangier (hydrofoil); Gibraltar to Tangier (hydrofoil and car ferry); Almería to Melilla or Nador (car ferry); Málaga to Melilla (car ferry); Almería to Nador (car ferry); Gênes (Italy) to Tangier; Alicante to Orán; and Almería to Al Hoceima.

There are also car ferries between Sète on the French coast (between Béziers and Montpellier on the Golfe du Lyon) and Tangier run by Compagnie Marocaine de Navigation.

Getting There By Rail

Rail links between Morocco and Algeria are suspended. Trains can be caught from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord in Paris, and then Gare d'Austerlitz to Algerciras in Spain. From here ferries can be caught to Morocco.

Getting There By Road

The best road link is from southern Spain or France via passenger/car ferries. The road link on the north Algerian border is closed. Eurolines (tel: 0870 580 8080, in the UK; www.eurolines.com) runs services between Europe and Morocco.

Duty Free

Overview

The following goods may be imported into Morocco without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g of tobacco.
• 1L of spirits and 1L of wine.
• 5g of perfume.

Prohibited Imports

Items it is illegal to bring into Morocco in any quantity are narcotics and drugs, pornographic and politically sensitive material and firearms and explosives.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

Royal Air Maroc (AT) (www.royalairmaroc.com) operates regular services from Casablanca airport to Agadir, Dakhla, Fes, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda and Tangier. The Marrakech-based national low-cost carrier Atlas Blue (8A) (www.atlas-blue.com) also runs a comprehensive domestic air service.

Getting Around By Rail

The Moroccan rail system, run by Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) (www.oncf.ma) provides regular services. Rail fares are very reasonable, although a supplement must be paid for air-conditioned trains. Sleeping cars and restaurant cars are available.

The network runs from Oujda in the northeast to Casablanca on the west coast, Tangier on the north coast and Fes and Marrakech in the interior. However, only a small part of the country is served, and even large centers such as Agadir and Essouira are not covered. The most useful route is from Fes to Rabat and Casablanca, with five daily and two overnight trains. There are also two daily trains and one overnight train (without sleepers) that run from Casablanca to Marrakech, and Monday to Friday, a train runs every 30 minutes from Kenitra to Rabat.

Getting Around By Road

The major Moroccan roads are all-weather highways, particularly those covering the north and northwest of the country. In the interior, south of the High Atlas Mountains, road travel becomes much more difficult, especially across the Atlas Mountains in winter.

Coach: The main centers are connected by a wide variety of coach services, many of which are privately run. The two main firms are: CTM (tel: (22) 753 677; www.ctm.co.ma), covering the whole country and Supratours (tel: (37) 686 297; www.supratourstravel.com), which complements the train network. Morocco has a poor road safety record; the roads from Agadir to Marrakech via Imi'n Tanoute and Chichaoua are particularly hazardous.

Bus: Connections between most major towns and villages are regular and frequent, although buses can be crowded and it may be wise to buy tickets in advance and arrive well before departure to secure a seat. The price of tickets is very low, especially with some of the smaller local bus companies. It is customary to tip the guard for loading luggage.

Taxi: Metered petit taxis are available in major towns. Larger, grand taxis are usually Mercedes cars, used for travel outside medinas and to areas outside towns. These can be shared, but fares should be agreed before departure as they don't have meters.

Car hire: International and local car hire companies have offices in major towns and cities. Car hire is generally expensive. The minimum age for driving a hired car is 21.

Regulations: Traffic drives on the right in Morocco. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory. The speed limit is 40kph (25mph) in cities and built up areas, rising to 80km (50mph) on more major roads, up to 120km (75mph) on motorways. No alcohol at all is allowed in the bloodstream when driving.

Emergency Breakdown Service: There is no national breakdown service. Hire cars will contain contact details in case of emergency.

Documentation: Foreign driving licenses are accepted, as well as International Driving Permits. Third Party insurance is required. Insurance documentation and a license must be carried with you at all times. A Green Card is also necessary. Insurance can be arranged locally.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

There are extensive bus services in Casablanca and other main towns. Pre-purchase tickets are sold. Urban area petits taxis are plentiful and have metered fares. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped, although it is common to round fares up at least to the next Dirham on short trips.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Casablanca to other major cities/towns in Morocco.

	Air	Road	Rail
Rabat	0.30	1.30	1.00
Marrakech	0.30	4.30	4.00
Tangier	0.50	6.00	6.00
Fes	0.30	4.30	4.00