Information About Morocco

About Morocco

Information about Morocco, Morocco Culture Heritage Tours, Desert Trips Around Morocco, Camel Sahara Excursions

Morocco (the full Arabic name is Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah which translates into "The Western Kingdom») is located on the North West coast of Africa and has ports in the North Atlantic Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It is the third most populous Arab country. Morocco shares the largest part of its border with Algeria to the East and Mauritania to the South. Morocco is divided into Twelve regions. Each region is further divided into provinces and prefectures. The capital of Morocco is Rabat and its largest city is Casablanca. The national currency is the Moroccan Dirham.

Getting Here:

For U.S. citizens and British citizens, passports are required for entry into Morocco, but a visa is not required for stays up to three months. Mohammed V International Airport (CMD) is the main international airport and is located in Nouasseur, which is approximately 25 km (15 miles) from Casablanca. There are also some 60 regional airports throughout the country. Royal Air Maroc is the national air carrier. For U.S. travelers, Delta and Continental offer regularly scheduled flights. From the United Kingdom and Europe, flights are offered by Air France, Easy Jet, and Ryanair into many Moroccan destinations. For domestic flights within Morocco, travelers rely upon the company called Regional Air Lines. Travelling to Morocco is also accomplished by ship with cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, offering itineraries with regular stops at Morocco’s main port in Casablanca. For more information about travel, see our flights and hotels sections.

Accommodations:

Morocco has a variety of accommodations from which to choose. In the larger cities, such as Casablanca and Tangier, there are a number of international hotels including the Ramada, Sheraton and Hyatt Regency. However, throughout all of the major cities and in the metropolitan centers of Morocco, excellent five star hotels that offer the luxury of their international counterparts but with local charm and hospitality are available. Many travellers find that the best accommodations in Morocco are Riads, which are traditional Morocco homes that have been converted into small hotels and private guest houses. Riads are usually located inside the older districts throughout Morocco which are steeped in culture.

Destinations and Attractions:

Morocco is a land rich in natural beauty and unforgettable places that are both fascinating to visit and intriguing to explore. For those who want to immerse themselves in Moroccan culture and history there are hundreds of mosques, palaces, and historical sites to visit. Some of the favorites on our list include the ancient city of Asilah, the Grottoes of Hercules, and the El Bahia Palace. Equally memorable is the Moroccan landscape, which is framed by several impressive destinations such as the Sahara Desert and stunning mountain ranges such as the High Atlas, the Chefchaouen Mountains and the Oregano Mountains, which offer outdoor activities such as snow skiing, hiking, climbing, and adventure travel. For travelers wanting the relaxation of seaside towns and beaches, the Moroccan coast is home to spectacular fishing villages such Dakhla and swimming beaches such as Plage Quemada and Lalla Fatma.

Culture and Heritage:

Moroccan culture is as rich as history, the arts and sciences. Throughout Morocco there is a wide choice of museums such as The Museum of Antiquities and The Ethnographic Museum in Tetouan. Another favorite stop is the Museum of Moroccan Art, which houses on display unique collections of glass objects, manuscripts, exquisite carpets, jewelry, pottery and ancient manuscripts. For those enjoying live performances, Morocco has may wonderful theatres that present classic, translated and reworked productions of western classics such as Shakespeare to modern productions of Moroccan plays that are filled with the country’s tradition and folklore. Unique theatrical venues include Alliance Franco-Marocaine Theater and the Teatro de Cervantes. Popular outdoor festivals also abound with performances held at the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival and the Amazigh Theater Festival in Casablanca. Seekers of outdoor adventure may wish to explore the wonderful national parks and reserves of Morocco, such as Souss Massa National Park and the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve established through UNESCO. A more detailed review f these and other parks can be found by reading our section on National Parks.

Things of Interest:

Key Facts Would you like to know some key facts on Morocco? Things such as what time line they work on, what is the capital city and what languages are spoken there? Perhaps you would be interested to find out what the dominant religion is or what type of currency is used there. This section will help you to find the answers to these questions and more.
Climate if you have health problems or difficulties that might be affected by the climate in the country you are planning to visit, take a look at the climate page to see how well you’d fare.
Weather doesn’t know what to pack? The weather in Morocco changes all year around – sometimes with extreme highs and lows on the same day. The weather also depends very much on what area you are visiting. Have a look at the table to see what to expect.
Newspapers Many of us like to keep up to date with the latest information – especially with regards to the place we are staying. Visit the newspaper page to find a list of the local newspapers in Morocco.
Public Holidays Holidays celebrated by most of the citizens in a country can greatly affect a persons travel plans. Check out the public holiday page to see if there will be any during the duration of your trip.

History:

Ancient Morocco Ever wonder exactly who the original inhabitants of Morocco were or how their governmental system developed? Perhaps you may have wondered why there is such a strong French and Spanish influence on the country. Reading a bit more about ancient morocco can help you to understand this.
Famous Moroccan People Most people do not know much about famous people who come from Morocco. We have put together a small list of some, but would greatly appreciate suggestions.
Moroccan Proverbs Every culture has it proverbial sayings – a few brief words that have profound meaning. Moroccans are no different. We have supplied a few proverbs in order to help you better understand their culture.
Folklore Moroccans have an especially rich folklore history. Story telling has always been a way of life in this mystical country.