Morocco is a country located in Northwest Africa, right on the edge of the African continent, bordering Algerian to the east, Mauritania to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north.
The country’s political capital is Rabat, located on the northern Atlantic coast. Most of Morocco’s economic activity, however, is located in nearby Casablanca, the largest city. Other major urban centers in the country include Tangiers, to the north, which has long been a natural link for Morocco’s historic relationship with Europe; Fes, which was the former royal capital of the kingdom; Marrakech, a popular tourist destination in the foot of the Atlas Mountains; and Agadir, coastal fishing and resort town in the south of the country.
The Moroccan Sahara offers far more than sand dunes. For visitors who find the time to travel to this area of great beauty and peace. including an exciting mix of scenic gorges and valleys, dunes, mountains, and beautiful oasis towns located in the southeast of Morocco. Many areas have a stunning backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, which you need to cross to access the desert from Marrakech, Taroudant, and Fes.
Morocco is so full of diversity, color, textures, smells, and intrigue that all you can do is catch your breath and stare in wonder. Its timeless quality no longer exists in the modern world, and with a sense that the past still lives on; you are plunged into a lifestyle, a culture, and a religion completely unlike anything else you have ever experienced. Morocco is a mysterious land full of endless surprises, enduring fascination, and total enchantment just waiting to be discovered by you.
Language:
The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber (Tamazight), Although both languages utilize modern standard versions in their official use, Moroccans mainly speak Tamazight and the Moroccan dialect known as Darija, which is a mix of Arabic, Tamazight, French, and Spanish. with Tamazight pronunciation.
Many Moroccans speak other languages like Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese Chinese…, while English, French, and Spanish are the languages taught in all public schools. although there are people who learn these languages without school instead by interacting with tourists from all over the world.
Culture:
Morocco is also a mix of Berber, Arabic, African and European influences that have blended together to make a rich cultural identity. Across Moroccan cities, it is common to see people wearing various clothing styles, from Western garments to Bedouin dress and traditional Djellaba, a hooded robe that is worn over other clothing in several North African countries. Away from the urban centers, traditional Berber clothing is more common, with women generally wearing colored garments and ornate jewelry. Berber designs also permeate much of Morocco’s handicrafts, such as leather goods, carpets, blankets, silver jewelry, and Trilobites.
Religion:
The official religion of Morocco is Islam. most populations are Muslims. Islam is the dominant religion in Morocco – the Sunni variant in particular. “Islam” is an Arabic word that denotes submission, surrender, and obedience. As a religion, Islam stands for complete submission and obedience to Allah – that is why it is called Islam. The other literal meaning of the word “Islam” is “peace.” This signifies that one can achieve real peace of body and of mind only through submission and obedience to Allah. Such a life of obedience brings peace of the heart and establishes real peace in society at large”.
There are also Christianity and Judaism. Catholic churches, Protestant churches, and synagogues are found in all of the major cities. As it was known Morocco mostly consisted of Berbers who were free to practice any faith they pleased. Today, the people of Morocco are still free to practice whatever faith they please.
Geography:
Morocco is a North African country and can be seen from the Spanish mainland across the Gibraltar Straits, a stretch of water measuring just 9 miles between the two countries at its narrowest point. Tangier to the far North has beaches on both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines. The western coastline of Morocco borders the North Atlantic Ocean; Algeria is to the East and Mauritania to the South.
Morocco has 1,835 km of stunning coastline, and a large part of the land is mountainous, with the Atlas Mountains located mainly in the center and the south of the country, and the Rif Mountains in the North. With the Great Saharan desert to the south, Morocco has some of the most diverse and dramatic landscapes found in any one country, making it possible to swim in two oceans, visit ancient cities, ski in the mountains, and go camel trekking in the desert, all in the same amazing holiday!
Much of Morocco’s natural richness and variety stems from the country’s geographic location, on the north-western tip of the African continent. Sitting on a landmass of 710,850 sq km, the country has a vast coastline of 3500 km, which encompasses both the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Additionally, Morocco shares a total of 2018 kilometers of borders with neighboring Algeria, the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the south.
Weather:
Morocco’s climate is very diverse, varying with the season and region. In general, the country has a tropical climate, with temperatures reaching as high as 35°C (95°F) and as low as 5°C (41°F) in the Sahara. The coast has a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered on the eastern coast by southwest trade winds whilst inland areas have a hotter, drier, continental climate. In the south of the country, the weather is very hot and dry throughout most of the year. However, temperatures can drop dramatically at night, especially in the months of December and January.
Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas, and the country is mostly dry with high temperatures in summer and a cooler climate in the mountains. Marrakech and Agadir enjoy an average temperature of 21°C (70ºF) during the winter.
Money:
The Moroccan currency is the dirham (MAD) which is split into hundred cents. The most valuable bill is worth 200 dirhams, and you can find coins for 1, 2, 5, and 10 dirhams, as well as ascents.
You can change the currency in your own country and also in Morocco. Dirham is a stable currency and normally the change is 10 dirham for 1 euro. A lot of tourist spots and hotels accept Dollars and Euros.
Cashiers:
The best way to get money in Morocco is to withdraw some, although on some weekends they run out of cash. The quantity of money you will be able to get depends on your credit card.
Credit Cards:
In tourist spots, even in the little villages, they accept the most known brands: Visa, MasterCard, Electron, Maestro, and InterBank. But remember that there’s a 5% fee.
We advise you to bring two credit cards, one of them not debit.
Cash:
Cash money is necessary. You’ll need it for everyday expenses and to pay in remote areas with no cashiers and where cards are not accepted. We advise you to bring cash in the small denomination to pay for tips and street markets, and also a Dollar or Euro reserve.