Moroccans have a very warm and welcoming culture. 

Most locals are happy to help out anyone in need, and may even befriend travelers and invite them to enjoy a cup of tea. Tea is often offered in shops, or even market stalls, to customers. If a Moroccan really wants to welcome you, they will also you cookies with your tea, or perhaps even dates and milk as the highest form of welcome. While there is little physical contact between men and women in public, people of the same gender will often greet one another with an embrace and a kiss or five on the cheek.  Romantic public displays of affection should be avoided.

Morocco is also a conservative country when it comes to dress. 

While many women in Morocco choose to wear traditional djellabas and hijabs, there are also many women who wear contemporary clothing, with or without hijab. Visitors should keep their shoulders covered, skirts should be kept around knee length or longer, and overall, clothing should not be excessively tight or low cut. This is especially true as you go further south and into smaller cities, where none of the women wear Western clothing outside the house. However, if you are in one of the large cities and heading to a nightclub or disco tech, high heels and revealing dress are commonly seen. You will also see a clothing a bit shorter and tighter in these large cities as well. With our Morocco private tours we will adjust to your personal preferences.

While Morocco is a Muslim country, the religion is not mandatory. 

However, it is still good to consider which religious holidays may be happening during your travel time. The holy month of Ramadan and subsequent festival of Eid changes dates every year.  During this month, most Moroccans will be fasting and abstaining from water from sun up to sundown, as well as praying several times a day. This can lead to some locations being closed during the day.  It is also polite to avoid eating, drinking water, or smoking outside during this month.

Arabic is the official language of Morocco, though it is a different dialect than the Modern Standard Arabic.

French is also widely spoken, and many signs and menus can be found in both French and Arabic. As you go further south, there will be more Berber tribal dialects, and you may even see signs in Arabic and Berber. However, many in the south are exposed to many different languages through tourism, so most hotels and restaurants will have staff that can speak and understand at least enough English to conduct business. The guides often speak five or six languages!

The Moroccan Dirham is a closed currency, meaning you can only obtain it once in Morocco. 

There are many places in every city where you can change money, including large hotels. While credit cards can be used in hotels, only large restaurants and shops are able to take them. Most shopping is done with cash. While the exchange rate fluctuates, it is generally in the range of 9dh to $1US. You should try to ensure your always have some coins, as they come in handy for tipping.

Tipping is very common in Morocco, and is expected for practically any service.

Whether it is someone serving you in a restaurant, someone carrying your bags in a hotel, or the guide showing you around the city, tipping is expected. For smaller services, anywhere from 1-20dh is appropriate. Many restrooms have attendants who should be tipped 50cents to 1dh, and in some places, it is required for using the facilities. For guides and drivers, 50-100 dh per day per person is recommended. For performers, anywhere from 10-200dh is appropriate, depending on whether it is a street performance you want to just get a picture of, or Gnawa musicians hired for a private party. 

Morocco has some of the most delicious cuisine in the world. 

It’s wonderfully fresh, deliciously spiced, and nearly always accompanied by a glass of Moroccan mint tea and followed with fresh fruit.  However, for those with dietary restrictions, you may find your options limited. 

Breakfast is traditionally a variety of breads, from layered msemmen to traditional baguettes, served with cream cheese, honey, olive or argan oil, and hard boiled eggs and yogurt completing the meal.

Lunch and dinner are generally a traditional tagine or cous couse, or perhaps barbecued skewers of lamb, beef, or chicken.  There are also a multitude of cooked and raw salads that will precede the main course, and Moroccans usually eat with their hands, using bread to scoop up the food. 

There are also many sweets served all throughout the day, from the honey drenched cookies, to dates, to French pastries.  Almonds are also in abundance, as well as peanuts. 

Allergies are not very prevalent in Morocco, nor are special diets such as gluten free or vegan, so if you have any allergies or special dietary needs, you should be very clear with your Morocco travel agency to ensure there are no misunderstandings.