is it safe to travel to morocco ?

Posted by Private Morocco Tours on February 22nd, 2017

Morocco is a truly delightful country to discover. Charming ruins, pristine beaches, enchanting palaces, picturesque streets and bustling medinas are all a part of what makes the country so diverse and wonderful to explore.

But, as with any other North African, Muslim country, life in Morocco is very different from that in the West and that may raise some safety concerns for travelers. In the various sections below, we cover the main safety issues in Morocco while offering plenty of practical and easy solutions to help you deal with them during your stay.

Health Concerns

Health does not need to be a main concern for those looking to travel to Morocco. As a virtually malaria-free country, you do not need to worry about mosquito bites, but you can take the usual precautions to stay safe (i.e. wearing lightly-colored clothes, using insect repellent in the warmer months, etc.).

There are also no required vaccines to enter the country but you are advised to have your polio and tetanus vaccines in order. If you like to be as safe as possible, having the Typhoid and Hepatitis A (and even Hepatitis B) vaccines are recommended.

Food and Water Safety

As with any other foreign country, the local food (and especially street food) is not always cooked in the same conditions your stomach is used to. For that reason, be aware of where you choose to try street food. Generally, the Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakesh, Skala du Port inEssaouira and Port in Agadir are safe places to try Morocco’s local flavors.

Many guidebooks recommend only drinking bottled water. However, most water from taps are safe to drink as cistern systems are well maintained (and are relatively new) throughout the country. While drinking bottled water is OK, our team has partnered with an international organization called TAP. We suggest that you bring a small filtering mechanism or a Steri-Pen with you to treat water as you consume it. We also advise travelers to not eat uncooked vegetables or fruits that you haven’t washed yourself or cannot peel in order to avoid an upset stomach during your travels.

Road Safety

Road quality in Morocco varies throughout the country and throughout the year. From high-speed toll roads to secondary roads which may be more poorly maintained, the safety of the roads depends on the season as heavy rains or snow can create more dangerous driving conditions.

Drivers are known to be more erratic and all kinds of vehicles, from bicycles to donkey carts, are legally allowed to share a road. Traffic accidents are a major concern in Morocco so it is essential to be as careful as possible when driving around the country.

Is it Safe for Kids to Travel in Morocco?

Moroccan society is a very family-oriented one and you will be sure to witness that especially when you travel to morocco with your family and young children. Family is the priority for Moroccans and children are typically spoiled rotten by elder relatives, being able to stay up later than is customary in the West and allowed to play freely indoors and on the streets.

When you travel with your little ones, you may then notice a friendlier attitude from the locals with people frequently coming up to you and admiring your children, affectionately caressing or possibly kissing their cheeks, inviting you in to their shops and cafés, and even offering free tea. This is all friendly behavior and you should not feel uncomfortable or unsafe about it. Morocco has an extremely child-friendly culture and bringing your little ones along on your journey may even be an advantage for you to interact with the locals and explore the Moroccan way of life first hand.

Is it Safe for Women in Morocco?

There is no doubt that forwoman travelling in morocco it is different than traveling to a Western country. In Morocco, gender roles are much more defined and the traditional views of a patriarchal society are quite prominent which means women will have to take extra precautions when discovering the colorful streets of Morocco.

Moroccan men have very little contact with women outside of their family growing up and that coupled with their misconceptions of Western sexuality (very much fed by their easy access to internet pornography) can sometimes lead them to misinterpret the actions and behaviors of Western women. Cat-calling and some lewd comments can be targeted frequently to both Moroccan and foreign women and the best response is to simply ignore those remarks. It is rare for things to be taken a step further, but if sexual harassment becomes physical, feel free to respond how you would at home: screaming, yelling and calling for help are all acceptable and helpful ways to react. This will not only shame your aggressor but also alert locals who will rush in to help you (especially if you yell out “Ha-Shooma!” which means “Shame on you!”). Whenever possible, report the harasser to the localBrigade Touristique.

Some practical tips for women traveling to Morocco include:

• Use common sense: Although this applies to almost any kind of international trip, it is especially fitting for women traveling in Morocco. Be sensible, try to adhere to most local customs and do your research before traveling to be as informed as possible.
• Dress modestly: Wear covering that covers the knees and shoulders. If you are comfortable with it, wearing a headscarf, even in the larger cities, can also help to avoid those types of uncomfortable situations.
• Look confident: When walking through the busy medinas (old city centers), a look of confidence and purpose in your eyes as opposed to one of disorientation can help to deter young men from harassing you.
• Behave appropriately: Men and women have very strict codes of interaction. In general, avoid intense eye contact and especially any kind of touching as this can be considered a come-on for Moroccan men.
• Mention your “husband”: If things start to feel uncomfortable when you are talking with a Moroccan man, casually mention your “husband” who is just around the corner. No matter who your male travel buddy is, introducing him to others as your husband will help to safeguard you against unwanted harassment.
• Keep your cool: Ignoring the sexual remarks can be difficult especially for women who have not had to deal with such behavior before, but the best way to handle the situation is to keep a calm attitude. There is no reason to be afraid and it would be a shame to let an unpleasant situation ruin your whole trip.

Although Morocco remains a conservative country with respect to gender roles, change is occurring. Many women today don’t wear a full facial veil and while some opt for a simple headscarf other young women can be seen drinking alcohol in up-scale bars with a mixed-gender group of friends. However, rural areas are still more conservative than cosmopolitan cities such as Marrakesh and Fez so it is advisable to follow the tips above to avoid uncomfortable situations.

Traveling through Morocco can be a more challenging experience for women as opposed to men. Nonetheless, the fear of sexual harassment occurring is not a reason to avoid a trip to this wonderful country. It may or may not happen to you but remembering the fact that neither Islam nor any respectable Moroccans condone sexual harassment will help you see that the situation is not that threatening after all.

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