Travel preparation

Morocco Packing List

Pack layers, cover shoulders and knees, and leave space in the case. In one trip you can meet near-freezing desert nights, Atlas snow and 40°C afternoons in Marrakech.

Long sleeves, a long skirt and a wide hat above an oasis in the south. Photograph: Fatimahabouz, CC BY-SA 4.0

Plugs: Type C/E, 220 V
Dress: Shoulders & knees covered
Dirham limit: 2,000 MAD in or out
Desert nights: Near freezing in winter

Packing for Morocco: What You Need to Know

One trip can take in the Sahara, the High Atlas, the windy Atlantic coast and a steaming hammam. Pack light layers you can add and remove through the day, modest clothes for the medinas and villages, and only the specialist gear your plans need.

The rest of this page goes in that order: documents, clothing by season, what to wear where, gear for desert, mountains and coast, electronics, a small health kit, money, and what to leave at home. For the weather month by month, see Morocco weather by month.

Essential Documents

Without these the trip either does not start or gets much harder. Check them the night before you fly.

Passport
Validity rules vary by nationality (UK: at least 3 months after arrival, per gov.uk; Canada: at least 6 months beyond departure, per travel.gc.ca), so check your own government’s advice. Airlines may refuse boarding if it expires sooner. Leave at least two blank pages for stamps.
Visa or visa-waiver confirmation
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Other nationalities should check with the nearest Moroccan consulate, and print any visa approval.
Travel insurance
Not legally required, but take a policy that covers medical evacuation. Private hospitals in the big cities are good; rural areas have little. If you plan to trek or ride camels, check the policy covers it.
Copies of everything
Two paper copies of your passport, visa, insurance and cards: one set in your luggage, one left at your accommodation. Keep scans in your email or cloud storage too.
Flight and first-night bookings
Print your flight confirmation and first-night address. Immigration may ask for proof of onward travel and where you are staying, and paper does not run out of battery.
International Driving Permit, if you will drive
UK advice is to carry the 1968 IDP together with your UK licence, and to get the IDP before you travel. Drivers from elsewhere should check their own government’s advice.
Emergency card
Your embassy’s number in Rabat, your insurer’s emergency line, blood type and allergies, written in English and French. Moroccan emergency numbers: police 19, Royal Gendarmerie 177 outside towns, fire and ambulance 15, 112 from a mobile.
Vaccination records
No vaccinations are legally required to enter Morocco. Carry your card if you have one, and see our vaccinations guide for what to discuss with a travel clinic.

Clothing by Season

What works in Marrakech in August leaves you shivering in January.

Spring · March to May

Mild days and cool nights; wildflowers in the Atlas. Rain comes suddenly in the north, around Chefchaouen and Fes.

T-shirts, a light fleece and a compact rain jacket
Broken-in walking shoes
Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
A light scarf
Waterproof boots if you are trekking in the Atlas
Binoculars if birds interest you: spring is migration season

Summer · June to August

Hot inland: Marrakech regularly passes 40°C. The Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Agadir) stays far cooler with sea breezes.

Loose linen or cotton shirts and long trousers
A long-sleeved shirt for sun cover
Wide-brimmed hat
Closed walking shoes and sandals
Refillable insulated bottle
A light layer for air-conditioned rooms and mountain evenings
Swimwear for pools and the coast

Autumn · September to November

Warm days, cooling nights, little rain. The date harvest in the south and peak trekking season in the Atlas.

Short and long sleeves plus a jacket
Walking shoes and sandals
A warm fleece for desert nights
Sunscreen and a sun hat
Modest clothing for the medinas

Winter · December to February

Mild by day on the coast and in the lowland cities; cold at night, below freezing at altitude in the Atlas and near it in the desert. Rain is common in the north. Many riads and guesthouses have little heating.

A warm down or fleece jacket
Waterproof outer layer
Thermal base layers, top and bottom
Warm hat, gloves and scarf for the mountains
Waterproof closed shoes
Warm pyjamas and socks

Modest Dress Guidelines

Loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees work almost everywhere, for men and women.

Medinas: Cover shoulders and knees, in loose clothes. Fes, Marrakech and Meknes medinas are neighbourhoods where people live and pray. Tourists are not expected to wear a headscarf.
Mosques: Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the best-known exception: on its guided tour, cover arms and legs, and bring a scarf.
Villages: Mountain and desert communities are more conservative than the cities. No short shorts; keep shoulders covered.
Beaches: Swimwear is fine at hotel pools and resort beaches. Family beaches are more conservative. Cover up when you leave the sand.
Modern cities: Casablanca, Rabat and Gueliz in Marrakech are relaxed. Smart-casual suits upscale restaurants and rooftop bars.

Our what to wear in Morocco guide goes further, with outfits for each setting.

Gear for Desert, Mountains & Coast

Pack for the landscapes on your route, not all three.

A line of loaded camels led across orange dunes under a clear sky — A camel caravan crossing the dunes. Photograph: Sergey Pesterev, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sahara

Desert-Specific Gear

Hot days, cold nights and sand in everything. The commonest mistake is packing only for heat: desert nights are cold from October to March.

Long-sleeved shirt in a light, breathable fabric
A cheche (desert headwrap) against sun, sand and wind; you can buy one in Merzouga or Zagora
Closed shoes: sand burns by midday and sandals are hard work on dunes
A warm fleece or packable down jacket for the night
Warm sleeping layers; camps supply blankets, which may not be enough in winter
Wraparound sunglasses, with a strap for the camel ride
Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, enough for the whole stay: there are no shops in the dunes
A refillable bottle of at least 1.5 litres
A headlamp for the walk to the bathroom and the pre-dawn start
Zip-lock bags for phone, camera, passport and cash

Snow-streaked Jebel Toubkal under a blue sky, with a group of hikers in the foreground — Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m), with hikers below. Photograph: Kurinurm, CC BY-SA 4.0

High Atlas

Mountain & Trekking Gear

Temperature falls about 6.5°C for every 1,000 m you climb, and weather turns fast. On most multi-day treks mules carry the main bags, so you carry only a daypack.

Broken-in boots with ankle support for scree
Synthetic or merino base layers; damp cotton chills you
An insulating fleece or light down layer; nights at the Toubkal refuge (3,207 m) fall well below freezing in winter
Waterproof, windproof shell
Collapsible trekking poles for the descents; basic poles can be rented in Imlil
A 25–35 litre daypack with a rain cover
A sleeping bag: refuges provide mattresses, not bags. Three-season from April to October, four-season for winter
A way to treat stream water
Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: UV is stronger at altitude
A small first-aid kit with blister plasters

White houses of Taghazout along the Atlantic shore, with dry hills behind — Taghazout on the Atlantic coast. Photograph: AJSPARK4444, CC BY-SA 4.0

Atlantic coast

Beach & Coastal Essentials

The Atlantic coast is windy, with strong currents; the Mediterranean is calmer. The breeze hides how strong the sun is.

Two sets of quick-dry swimwear, including a modest one-piece for family beaches
A rash guard or UV swim top for surfing
Reef shoes for rocky beaches such as Legzira
A sarong: towel, picnic blanket and cover-up for the walk into town
A windbreaker; Essaouira is known as the windy city
A waterproof phone case for surf lessons and boat trips
A microfibre towel
Water-resistant sunscreen

Tech & Electronics

Morocco Power: Type C/E Plugs, 220V / 50Hz

Standard: Type C (two round pins) and Type E (two round pins plus an earth hole), 220 V, 50 Hz.
EU travellers: European plugs fit directly. No adapter needed.
UK & Ireland: You need a plug adapter only; the voltage is compatible.
US, Canada, Japan: You need an adapter, and a converter for any 110 V-only device. Most phone, laptop and camera chargers are rated 100–240 V; check the label.

Universal adapter with USB ports
Riads often have few sockets, so a multi-port charger lets you charge everything from one.
Power bank
For long bus rides, desert camps without power and full days in the medina. Airlines allow power banks in hand luggage only.
Local SIM or eSIM
Maroc Telecom, Orange and Inwi sell SIMs at the airports and in their shops. Coverage is good in cities and along main roads, patchy in the mountains and desert. Plans and prices are in our SIM card guide.
Offline maps
Download Morocco before you go. GPS works without data, which matters in the medinas and on desert tracks.
Headlamp
For dark medina alleys at night, desert camps and the occasional power cut in small towns.
Hair tools: check the voltage
A 110 V hair dryer or straightener plugged into 220 V will burn out. Bring a dual-voltage one or leave it at home.

Health & Toiletries

Pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are easy to find in the cities. Carry your own basics for the mountains and desert.

Sunscreen, with enough for the trip
Prescription medicines in their original packaging, with a copy of the prescription
Hand sanitiser and wipes for street food and souks
A small first-aid kit: plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister plasters, tweezers
Insect repellent for oasis towns and irrigated valleys in summer
Pocket tissues: many toilets have a water jug, not paper
Your usual sanitary products; tampons are harder to find outside the big cities
Contact lens solution and glasses; dust and dry wind irritate eyes in the desert
Moisturiser and lip balm

For medicines, water safety and when to see a doctor, read our health guide and ask a pharmacist or travel clinic before you go.

Money & Security

The dirham is a closed currency: you get it in Morocco, and you can take no more than 2,000 MAD in or out.

Two cards from different banks
If an ATM keeps one or a bank blocks it, you still have the other. Tell both banks your travel dates.
Some dirhams on arrival
Enough for a taxi and tips. Airport ATMs work. Cash still rules in souks, small restaurants and the countryside.
Small notes and coins
Small shops struggle to break a 200 MAD note. How much to tip is in our tipping guide.
A money belt or flat pouch
For your passport, cash reserve and backup card, under your clothes. Pickpockets work the crowded souks.
A zipped crossbody bag
Worn in front, it is harder to open from behind than a backpack or shoulder bag.
Card numbers and bank phone numbers
Stored apart from the cards, so you can cancel quickly if they are lost.

ATMs, cards and exchange are covered in our money guide.

Photography Gear

Wide and short-telephoto lenses
A wide angle for dunes, mountains and medina architecture; a 50–85 mm for markets and portraits, with permission.
Spare memory cards and batteries
Cold desert nights drain batteries and camps have no power to recharge.
A blower and microfibre cloths
Fine sand gets everywhere. Clean the lens often in the desert, and cover the camera in wind or on a camel.
A small tripod
For night skies in the desert and blue hour in Chefchaouen.
Drones: get authorisation first
Importing or flying a drone in Morocco needs prior authorisation, and Moroccan customs says drones should be declared on arrival to avoid confiscation. Never fly near military sites, royal palaces or government buildings.

What NOT to Bring

Flashy jewellery and valuables
They draw attention in the medinas. Simple is practical and respectful.
A wardrobe of only revealing clothes
Tank tops and short shorts alone limit where you can go comfortably and bring unwanted attention. Pack some modest options.
Too many shoes
Three pairs is plenty: walking shoes, sandals and one pair for your main activity. You can buy leather sandals and babouches in the souks.
A drone without authorisation
Customs can confiscate it. See the photography section above.
Single-use plastic
Morocco banned plastic bags in 2016. Bring a reusable bag and bottle.
Camouflage clothing
Military-style clothes can cause problems with security forces near borders and military zones. Stick to plain outdoor gear.
More dirhams than the limit
You can take up to 2,000 MAD into or out of Morocco. Foreign currency worth 100,000 MAD or more must be declared when you arrive and leave (gov.uk).

Packing Tips

Pack a day-one bag in your hand luggage
A change of clothes, toiletries, medicines, charger and documents, in case checked bags arrive late.
Buy a big scarf when you arrive
Sun shield, mosque cover, bus blanket, beach wrap and train pillow. They are sold everywhere.
Leave room for the souks
Leather, ceramics, textiles, argan oil and spices add up. Pack the case three-quarters full, or bring a collapsible duffel.
Dress in layers
A base, a mid layer and a shell let you follow a day that starts cold, peaks hot and ends cold.
Use packing cubes
They make moving between riads quicker and keep dirty clothes apart from clean.
A rubber doorstop
Cheap extra security for budget rooms with weak locks.
Download offline language packs
French and Arabic in your translation app. A few words of Darija (salam, shukran, la shukran) go a long way.
Test everything before you leave
Charge the power bank, try the adapter, break in the boots and check medicines are in date.

Luggage & Weight Guidelines

Backpackers: A 40–55 litre pack with a rain cover, plus a small daypack. Medina lanes are narrow and uneven, so wheels struggle.
Most travellers: A soft-sided medium suitcase and a daypack, with room left for souvenirs and a collapsible duffel for overflow.
Treks & expeditions: A waterproof duffel that a mule can carry, a daypack with a hydration sleeve, and dry bags against sand.

Continue Planning Your Trip

Safety in Morocco