When people ask us about packing for Morocco, they tend to be concerned about if they need to dress modestly, how hot it will be and making sure they pack clothes that are suitable for their planned activities. Luckily visiting Morocco is not a difficult place to pack for. The Adventures with Sarah team have been visiting for years and we find it pretty straightforward to make our Morocco packing list.

If it will be your first time traveling here or simply want to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything, keep reading for our guide to what you should be thinking about including.

Travel Essentials

Deciding what to pack for a trip to Morocco will depend on the time of year you’re traveling and what activities you’re planning to do. However, there are some essential travel items that we recommend you always bring with you to Morocco:

• Sarah’s Box of Awesome, which includes multiple helpful items for all sorts of travel emergencies.
• Morocco has a well-equipped healthcare system, but it’s always better to be prepared and have essential medications on hand. Bring any prescription medications you may need for the whole duration of your trip. It’s also wise to bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic cream, and pain relievers, as well as Imodium just in case you get traveler’s diarrhoea.
• Travel adaptor – a universal travel adapter block is a permanent fixture in our travel bags, as it saves having to remember which type of adaptor you need to bring. Morocco uses a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz, and has two plug types, C and E. C is two thin round pins and E are thicker – these are the same as those used in most of Europe.
• Sun protection – the sun in Morocco is strong, even in the winter months. Make sure to bring a high spf sunscreen to protect you in the summer, but we recommend packing some regardless of when you’re traveling.
• Portable Charger – a good quality power bank is an essential tool when you’re on the go, it’s surprising how fast your cell phone battery will go down.
• Tissues – many public toilets in Morocco don’t have toilet paper, so be prepared and bring your own packs of tissues with you when you’re out exploring. Hand sanitizer is also a great addition for your day bag.

Finally, you should assess what suitcase or bag you are planning to bring with you. It’s common in Morocco to have to carry your luggage at times, so make sure that a) your luggage is not too heavy for you when fully packed and b) it has straps or a handle that you can use comfortably.

Clothing Suggestions

Packing for Morocco will require you to bring clothes that are maybe not what you would normally take on vacation. That said, you do not need to go out and purchase specialist items, but rather add some items to your packing list that would otherwise be left at home.

Dressing Conservatively in Morocco

Morocco is a Muslim country and so there are certain local customs and requirements you should be aware of.

Firstly, if you’re planning on visiting mosques or any religious sites while you’re visiting Morocco you must dress modestly. For men this means shoulders covered, sleeves to your wrist and full length pants. For women this means the same, plus wearing a head covering/scarf.

As a tourist you are not required to dress as if going to a mosque the whole time, but it is better to dress conservatively while you are in Morocco. Tight-fitting clothing, very short dresses or shorts, and sleeveless/cropped tops will draw unwanted attention for both men and women, particularly if you are outside the major cities.

Our Morocco packing list consists of long pants, with a mix of t-shirts and long sleeved shirts for men. For women, bring maxi/midi skirts or dresses, loose tops with longer arms, long pants and a lightweight scarf which can both cover your shoulders or your head as needed.

Wearing full length pants and long sleeve tops sounds like it would be uncomfortable in the warm weather conditions of Morocco. But if you bring lightweight clothing made with breathable fabric like linen or 100% cotton, trust us, you’ll be far more comfortable than you would be wearing tank tops and shorts!

Weather Conditions

As well as curating your Morocco packing list for the local expectations, you’ll also want to think about what’s included in your travel itinerary and when you’re traveling.

Morocco is very hot in the summer, so bringing plenty of sun protection (high factor SPF, hats, cool clothing) is essential. It does cool down a little in the winter but you won’t need heavy jackets and knitwear, rather sweaters and a rain jacket.

Dressing for Your Travel Itinerary

For the ultimate packing list you should also consider your planned activities. The Sahara desert is very warm during the day but much colder at night, so if you’re camping out there (as our guests do on our Morocco adventures) you’ll want warmer sleepwear. Similarly, if you’re spending any time in the High Atlas mountains, the altitude makes the climate that much cooler so you’ll want to bring slightly heavier clothes and shoes with you.

Unlike on a Sahara desert tour, when you’re in cities like Marrakech or Fez, it stays hot even into the late night. Breathable clothing will be your saviour here, plus we find it always helps to shower and change into a fresh outfit. Even if it is essentially the same type of clothing you’ve been wearing during the day, having that reset makes the fresh outfit seem cooler somehow!

A word on shorts, especially for men. Moroccans in the tourist areas are used to men wearing shorts, but opt for longer styles where possible. Shorter styles like we would wear to the gym will make you stand out a lot.

Finally, if you are spending time at a hotel pool or at one of the beautiful beaches in Morocco, you don’t need to worry about wearing a cover up by or in the water. You can wear your regular swimwear, just remember to get dressed when you leave.

Footwear

Shoes are such an important part of any packing list, wherever you’re going. There is nothing worse than struggling with bad footwear choices, but this doesn’t mean you should pack tons of pairs for Morocco.

We recommend including 2-3 pairs of shoes in your packing list for Morocco. Firstly, you’ll want comfortable shoes that you can walk in all day. This could be sneakers or walking sandals depending on your preference, but they have to be practical. Morocco’s streets tend to be uneven so you want something with a decent grip. If you’re visiting a mosque you will need to take off your shoes, so keep this in mind when deciding which pair to bring as well.

Your second pair of shoes should still be comfortable, but be a bit more dressy if needed for evening meals or events. Having a pair of shoes you can switch out helps with blisters and foot pain if you’ve had a long day.

You may need a third pair of shoes if you have specific activities planned. You made hiking boots for a trek through the Atlas mountains or water shoes if you’re spending time in the coastal areas for example.

Finally, they don’t really count as a pair of our shoes in our opinion, but a pair of flip flops or light sandals is an essential item when packing for Morocco. These are perfect for wearing around your hotel room or at the beach, plus they’re light and easy to pack!

Travel Accessories

There are no end to the options online and in stores when it comes to travel accessories, but we’ve found that very few are actually useful or worth the extra weight in our luggage. There are some items however that we do recommend you include in your packing for Morocco:

• A small backpack or day bag is always on our accessories list. Sometimes this will be our personal item for the plane, but sometimes we will bring an additional one. This should be big enough to hold bottled water, tissues and hand sanitizer, sunscreen, scarf and anything else you need for the day.
• Anti-theft items such as a money belt and clips for your bag zippers are not entirely necessary but will provide peace of mind and keep your belongings secure. A neck strap for your cell phone is an excellent idea as well.
• A travel pillow to bring on the plane as well as on the move is absolutely essential. Sarah’s commitment to her pillow is well documented, but it really does have a huge impact on your adventures – who wants to go out and explore busy medinas or ride camels on a bad night’s sleep?
• Ear plugs and maybe an eye mask if you are a light sleeper. The call to prayer can be loud and distracting at first if you are not used to it, plus just being in an unfamiliar environment will affect most people. Shutting out the sound and light helps your body adjust to the new sleeping conditions.

Your packing list for Morocco will of course be dependent on your own personal needs, but take it from people who have made this mistake, stuffing your bag full of travel accessories is unlikely to make any real impact on your travel experience.

Packing for Morocco

Deciding what to pack for Morocco is much more straightforward than many people expect, as long as you take into account the climate, your plans and the expectations of the local culture. You do not need a huge wardrobe of options, and you can always purchase some of the lovely clothing available while you’re here if you need more.

Hopefully the information in this guide will allow you to create your own ultimate Morocco packing list for your travels. If you would like more information about what it’s like in Morocco or our upcoming adventures there, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.