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About Morocco

Language

Morocco’s official language is Classic Arabic. But, the special Moroccan Arabic dialect is known as Derjia. And this language is spoken widely all over the country. The second unofficial language spoken in Morocco is French. The primary schools in Morocco introduce French in the third year. Though this is not common in remote areas, you will find lots of French-speaking people in the cities. For example, taxi drivers, tourists based restaurants, etc. and guides are quite comfortable to communicate in French.

The local people will definitely appreciate it if you attempt to communicate in Classical Arabic. So, you can try learning some useful phrases before starting the trip. “salamu ‘Alaykum” (peace be upon you) and “insha’Allah” (God willing) are useful to greet the Moroccans as you meet them. Anyways, Arabic and French are not the only options to communicate there.

English is another popular mode of communication in Morocco. The city is full of people who know good English. Especially, the tourist areas, hotel staff, restaurant staff, and tourist companies are skilled enough in English. So, you can easily communicate with them in that language. Also, being a Tourist place, most of the shopkeepers and merchants in Marrakesh and Fez know English. So, you will not face as such any language barrier during your trip to Morocco.

People and culture

Morocco is a dream destination and visiting this heavenly country is like a dream come true. The tourists are flooded with loads of stuff to enjoy there and the local warm hospitality is really appreciable. The people and culture of Morocco is the blend of Arab and European style.  And, we all know about the excellent Arabian hospitality. But, Amazigh hospitality is even more popular and people in that area are really humorous, open and social. As a tourist, you can definitely expect excellent kindness and warm greeting all through the country.

Safety is another concern that comes to mind while visiting a new country.  And thankfully, that is maintained at the best in Morocco. However, be careful always to avoid the infrequent petty thief, scammers, and catcallers.

If you visit a family in Morocco and they invite you for lunch or dinner, you will be bound to collect a new amazing experience. You will be seated on the floor with a small table. You need to eat with your right hand. They usually do not use a fork or spoon. But, do not forget to carry some small gifts such as fruits, nuts or pastries.

Morocco is a Muslim country and they are conservative too. But, they are more relaxed as compared to other Islamic countries. And, you should always be respectful towards the people and culture of this country as a good sign of etiquette.  

Dressing at the sahara desert of Morocco

Morocco is an Islamic country. So, when you start packing for a trip to this vivacious country, you may find it a bit tricky. Morocco is not always accompanied by the word conservative. Rather they are liberal too and you will find people there with all kinds of trendy dresses. Moroccan women are highly influenced by the Arab and European style. And women in the tourist’s places wear everything from a bikini to Burkhas. But, it always suggested staying covered for better reasons. People in the street will respect and look at you the way you are dressed. Here are some tips on dressing for a trip to Morocco.

Dressing tips for Erg Chebbi Dunes

  • Depending on the season, from November to March it can be very cold at thje desert nights. So we recommend a scarf and a Jacket.
  • Because there can be small animals and insectes we recommend closed toe shoes but not long boots. It must be comfortable but breethable.
  • Shorts are always fine. But, it’s good if you can pack long pants as well to fit in their culture greatly in some religious places.
  • On summer, autum and spring it can be very hot we recommend a cap or a hat.

Note: Always dress for the weather and season. The temperature usually drops at night time. So, pack something warm to stay safe and comfortable. Jacket, sweatshirts are some good options to carry with you. One more important tip is not to forget your sunglasses anyways.

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Moroccan Food & Water

Morocco is the blend of rich tradition, beautiful deserts, mountain ranges, and diverse landscapes. In, other words it is a vivacious country and a trip to this beautiful place is a must once in a lifetime. you can explore loads of stuff there and their delicious Moroccan food is definitely one of them. If you have planned a trip to Morocco, here is a list of dishes and drink worth exploring.

  • Harira This is a tasty soup made of tomatoes, beans, chickpeas, and lentils. It is a very traditional soup in Morocco which is served with chopped coriander leaves.  People of Morocco break their fast during Ramadan with this soup generally.
  • Tagine This is succulent meat cooked with vegetables and spices. The specialty of this food is the pot in which it is cooked. It is a clay cooking pot that has a conical lid.
  • Meschui It is nothing but the tasty and spicy whole roasted sheep or goat.
  • Tangia It is the combination of fresh salad, fruits, hot steaming bread along with other delicacies. This food is very special is Marrakech. So, if you have a plan to visit that place, try exploring it there.
  • Mint tea You must have heard of mint tea of Morocco. This is available in every roadside shop.  And this is definitely a must-have drink there.
  • Couscous: Couscous is originally a Berber dish and for this reason couscous is avery famous in our region.

Note: Never drink tap water in Morocco. Always try drinking bottled water everywhere. We do not recommend to have ice in the drinks since it may not come from drinking water.

At Kam Kam Dunes we usually cook a mix of traditional Moroccan cusine and western dishes, with a fusion specially with Spanish food. Because one of the owners of Kam Kam Dunes is from Spain, our food has a bit of Spanish influence.

 

Shopping in Morocco

Visiting Morocco is incomplete if you do not stop over Souk. Souk is the name of the Moroccan market which consists of more than 100 tiny shops. It’s a very popular market. Morocco holds an ancient artisan tradition and this is why shopping in Morocco is a must. You will definitely end up buying something once you land into Souk. Shopping is actually fun and you will feel that to the fullest here. The items are not priced there. The seller starts with a price that is more than double the actual price of that item. So, you have to be an expert in negotiating. Otherwise, your money will go to the vein. Anyways, the sellers soon drop the prices once you utter the word NO.

Crafts are very popular there. And buying one will be with you forever as a memory of the Morocco trip. But, ensure to have some cash with you. Most of the shops are tiny there and they will not accept credit cards.

Also, remember that the salespersons are very skilled and will persist you to buy something as you enter their shop. So, you should be prepared to say NO if you plan just to visit the market.

Around Kam Kam Dunes the nearest markets are in Rissani and in Erfoud. If you are interested in shopping local crafts, artesanian and food please ask your driver to stop in the Erofoud or Rissani markets.

Alcohol in morocco

Morocco being an Islamic country has definitely some restrictions. But, they are liberal too in many of the cases. And drinking alcohol is allowed here. You can buy and drink alcohol from any of the bars or restaurants available there. But, ensure the bar or restaurants are licensed ones. Also, the local people do not feel offended at all by this behavior. But, consuming alcohol outside the licensed bar or restaurants are not allowed in Morocco.

Drinks are highly-priced in Morocco. So, if you are planning to make a trip there very recently, you can definitely carry some with you. There are no restrictions on it. But, stay away from drugs. This is not allowed there and any wrong cases can results in prison sentences for many years.

Anyways, if you are planning to test the beer or other drinks in Morocco, you can try the following beers.

  • Casa- This is a local beer. You can taste it to have their local taste.
  • Flag special- This is another most popular beer in Morocco which is really affordable.

Other popular beverages to try there are mint tea, coffee, and juice.  Moroccan Mint tea tastes brilliant and you must try it at least once.

Morocco tour Guides & Drivers

Regulations administer vehicle, guides & drivers licensed to work with tourists in Morocco. They should follow the stated rules. And make sure the driver along with the vehicle is registered before starting the journey. Also, ensure that they are carrying the associated permits with them. Kam Kam Dunes guides are freelancers that we trust them from the last 7 years. We ensure they have a lisence, insurance and tourism travel permit. The guides & drivers are stopped and checked by the Police at checkpoints regularly for the correct paperwork. Guides are licensed according to district and activity: ie: mountain guides, Marrakech city guides, etc. False guides are very common in Morocco. And you are suggested to stay away from them for better reasons.  The drivers are very skillful and they can guide you on the trip perfectly. A false guide is someone who does not have the tourism lisence. Remember, the false guide will be very persistent and you need to be a bit strict to refuse their offer. Also, you can take the help of the nearby policeman if required. However, Fes and Marrakech are really beautiful and there are lots to know about these places. So, we recommend you hire a licensed guide for these two places. The guides can better explain to you about the history and architecture of Fes and Marrakech. The guide will earn a commission on anything that you buy. So, make that very clear at the beginning of your tour that what if you are interested to shop anything.

What is the currency in morocco

If you have planned a trip to the beautiful place of Morocco, you must be aware of the Moroccan currency Dirham beforehand (MAD). Dirham is a closed currency. That is, the tourists can buy this currency only after arriving in Morocco. And, it is considered illegal to carry Dirham to Morocco from any other countries.

Roughly, 1 Euro = 11 dirham and 1 USD = 10 dirham.

This is the exchange rate. This rate may fluctuate anytime. However, Moroccan currency dirham actually does not change radically in a day or month.

The best place to convert your money is the Airport and ATMs. ATMs are located here and there.  And this is the easiest way to get your money converted. Though, you should be ready to provide some small fee for that.

  • The notes are available in the denomination of 20dh, 50dh, 100dh, 200dh, and so on.
  • The coins are available in the denomination of 1dh, 2dh, 5dh, and 10 dh.

Most of the restaurants and big shopping places accept credit cards. Also, Euros are accepted by many of the Moroccans. You are suggested to carry some change as tipping or ‘Bakhsheesh’  are very popular there. Most of the services include tipping. So, you must be ready for that. In the southen part of Merzouga there are few places where accept credit card, we recommend to bring cash when travelling to Erfoud, Merzouga and the High Atlas.

Mobile phones and signal at the desert

Staying connected during travel is vital. And if you are planning for a trip to Morocco, this should not be an exception. But, using your home network in Morocco is really costly. And this is why most of the tourists prefer to use a local SIM card for their mobile phones to stay in touch with other family members. Here are some important pieces of information regarding this.

  • Morocco has mainly 3 large mobile network operators and those are Maroc Telecom, Inwi, and Orange. Most of them offer similar deals. However, we recommend you opt for the Orange SIM card. As this is the only one to provide a bit of 3G signal in the desert and Merzouga area as well.
  • Maroc Telecom is the largest mobile network of the mentioned three here. They offer good services. However, it may cost you a bit more and the 3G signal at the desert is very low.
  • Orange is the second largest network in Morocco. This one too has good coverage in most of the places. And it will cost you around MAD 200. We recommend this network since it has more chance to get network internet at the desert.
  • Inwi is the smallest of the three mobile networks. This SIM card is perfect if you belong to the Asian countries.
  • Airport and Tobacco kiosks are the best places to buy a SIM card.

Note: The tourists are required to show their passport to buy Mobile phones SIM card in Morocco. Also, the seller will take a picture of your passport. This is nothing but a rule in Morocco.

Does ramadan affect tourists in Morocco

Visiting Morocco during Ramadan, its almost as any other month for the tourism. Even that some things needs to be considered.

This holiday is concluded as Eid al-Fitr. The Moroccans being a Muslim country celebrate this festival greatly. The Muslims observe fasting during this time from sunset to sunrise. They refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking between sunrise and sunset. Also, changes are made in the shop opening and closing time. The restaurants too serve meals lately. But, it is still worth visiting Morocco during Ramadan. And if you are planning to make a trip to Morocco during this time, note down some changes in Morocco as compared to other times of the year.

  • The shops usually do not open before 11-12 PM and close soon. And they will reopen the business again after ftour which means their breakfast at 9.00 PM.
  • You may find difficulty in getting alcohol during this time.
  • Restaurants generally serve dinner after 8.30 PM and may have more waiting time.
  • Transport could be less frequent.

Fasting is observed from dusk till dawn which is usually from 4 AM to 7.30 PM. So, if you are a non-Muslim, try not to eat, drink or smoke in a public place. People will definitely not abuse you or throw stones at you. But they may be a bit offended. However, you can always eat or drink in front of the guide as they are used to non-Muslim tourists during Ramadan.

Begging in Morocco

Poverty is everywhere in the world and Morocco is not an exception. And this is why begging is practiced there as well. So, you must be ready to witness this unfortunate practice in the beautiful place of Morocco too. People asking for help stretching their hands are a very common thing there. However, not all beggars are genuine. Especially the able-bodied persons are not at all in need. They are actually fake and begging is practiced by them as a daily job.

You can consider giving them loose change if you have. But, try ignoring persistent begging in case you have refused once. Just ignore them and move on.

You need to deal with different types of beggars in Morocco. For example, child beggars. The children are used for this purpose. They are taught to ask for money and the parents wait somewhere. The problem is most of us can’t resist ourselves from helping them. Also, sometimes you will notice some children are very pushy and they will follow you.

Also, try ignoring the able-bodied people who do begging for no reason.

 But, you can help the handicapped beggars who are in actual need. They do it as they do not have any other opportunities to earn their daily bread.

Plane & Passport customs in Morocco

IMPORTANT PASSPORT CUSTOMS FOR TRAVELERS TO ENTER MOROCCO: ALWAYS ENSURE TO STAMP YOUR BOARDING PASS (PRINTED AT HOME) FROM THE CHECK-IN DESK. ALSO, ENSURE THAT YOUR BOARDING PASS IS STAMPED BY THE AIRLINE BEFORE HEADING TOWARDS THE SAFETY CONTROL. Non-Moroccan visitors always should carry their current passport to avoid any issue. However, the visa requirement is optional and it depends on your nationality. Very few countries require carrying a visa, please check Visa information prior the arrival in Morocco. As per 2020, a visa is not required by the Spanish citizens to enter Morocco. Here are some entry requirements and customs in Morocco that you should follow. Passport customs to enter Morocco:

·        Check that your passport includes an expiry date after the date of travel while arriving in Morocco. A paper must be filled at the entrance and exit of the Country. Also, it is vital that the PROFESSION box matches the arrival and departure.

·     As a visitor, you will be allowed 90 days of entry upon their arrival. Anyways, you can extend this if required. But this will be time taking process.

·        In case you have children traveling with you on your passport, affix a photo of your child in the passport.

Follow these tips strictly, otherwise, your entry to Morocco can get denied anytime.

Electricity & Hygiene rules in Morocco

Staying healthy and fit during a trip can make the trip even more fruitful. Even a small health issue like runny nose too can ruin the trip. If you have already booked a travel Insurance, that is very good. However, it is designed to resolve an issue and not to prevent anything. And we all know that prevention is better than cure. It is true that everything can’t be controlled. But, there are many things that can be checked beforehand. So, try following some simple electricity and hygiene rules during your trip. And it will make the trip brilliant.

Electricity and hygiene rules:

Electricity is like Spain, France or Italy.

220 v, sockets

Hygiene tips during a trip:

  • Always look for bottled drinking water and use that for teeth washing as well.
  • Avoid ice for better reasons.
  • If you love to drink juice or any other liquid, always enquire if they have added water in it.
  • Always eat peeled fruit.
  • Do not eat lettuce or salad that you suspect may have been washed with running water.
  • Stay away from eating anything raw.
  • Always carry a clinix, or a roll of toilet paper, so it can pass.
  • Use Hand Sanitizer Gel frequently.
  • Avoid big meals and raw meat, all well done.

Stomach illness

 Morocco is an amazing place to offer lifelong experience. However, it comes with some cons as well.  And stomach illness is very common of them. Moroccan cuisine is one of the finest in the world – with popular dishes like tajine or couscous. But, you must stay away from some food and drinks to stay fit and healthy.

What to avoid during a trip:

  • Tap water
  • Cookies from carts
  • Street food vendors
  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Salads

Gastrointestinal infections can be prevented by following a golden rule: Boil it, Cook it, Peel it, or else Forget it! And you should definitely opt for the second one on a vacation to keep diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach illness, and belly cramps like issues at the bay. 

“About 40% of all travelers are affected by the unpleasant disturbances of the digestive tract between the third and the ninth day of travel.” (Travel Guide Marrakech, 2019) 

As per the statements, it’s tough to remember and identify the location and start of the infection. But, most of the time, consequences appear from the third to the ninth day and sometimes can appear once arrival at home.

As the Laboratoire de Microbiologie in France in their Review Staphylococcus aureus and food poisoning mentions: “The pathogenesis of bacteria causing food-borne poisoning depends on their capacity to produce toxins after ingestion” it’s almost impossible to isolate where the focus came from.

The infection spreads easily and from anywhere. So, we at Kam Kam Dunes always suggest using the hand sanitizer to maintain hygiene.

Kindly note that the traveler’s intoxication is different from a restaurant food intoxication where all the clients get the gastrointestinal illness at the same time.

In any case, if you are feeling bad or have stomach illness after 2-3 days, we recommend you to see a doctor.