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Packing List for Morocco (And What to Wear in Morocco)

Morocco is such a unique destination. A country characterised by the diversity of experiences it offers the traveller.

Cosmopolitan and ancient cities. A rugged mountainous interior, vast expanses of unending desert and stunning coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Morocco has many cross-cultural influences, and while more relaxed than some of its neighbouring Muslim countries, it is still a conservative nation. Morocco’s climate is as diverse as its geography, and has so many different experiences; packing for Morocco needs to be both practical and respectful of local culture.

With all this in mind, it can be difficult to know what to wear in Morocco and what you must bring.

Related: Plan Your Morocco Itinerary – A Guide to The Best Places to Visit in Morocco

We have put together a practical packing list for Morocco that covers all the travel essentials beyond what you would pack for a typical trip abroad. These are the items we use ourselves and, from experience, what we would pack for Morocco.

What to Pack for Morocco

Ladies at oranage juice stand in Morocco

What to Wear in Morocco

Aside from cultural considerations and the different activities you have planned in Morocco, you also need to pack clothes to cover you for a changeable climate. No matter what time of year, bring layers and prepare for both hot and cold weather at some point.

Even on a short visit to Morocco, you could go from breaking out a sweat in the markets of Marrakech to being very cold at night in the Atlas Mountains or the Sahara Desert.

Layers will serve you well in any season and cover you for all situations. Also, think lightweight, breathable and loose. Aside from wanting clothes that are comfortable in the heat and easy to wash and dry, overly tight clothing can attract unwanted attention.

Looking for practical and stylish travel clothing with hidden pockets?

Read our Buying Guide to the Best Pickpocket Proof Clothing for Travel.

We’ve put together a collection of the most stylish anti-theft clothing for travel for both men and women.

How to Dress in Morocco for Women

Compared to other Muslim countries, Morocco is pretty relaxed about how female tourists dress and rarely will you be required to cover your head. It doesn’t mean you don’t still need to consider the local culture with what you wear.

While the main tourist areas are quite accepting of how foreigners dress, some rural areas you visit may not be, so there is still a dress code for tourists to consider. Even in the more progressive tourist hubs, you need to think about any unwanted attention your dress may attract.

Basic Morocco Dress Code for Women

  • Always keep shoulders covered – no strappy tops unless covered by a shawl or cardigan.
  • Shorts, dresses, and skirts should always come to at least your knees, if not over.
  • Full-length skirts or pants are always better. Lightweight, loose-fitting pants are best for Morocco, especially in hotter areas.
  • Always avoid tops that reveal cleavage. Wear a vest or camisole underneath if required.
  • If you wear jeans or tighter-fitting pants such as leggings, mix them with a longer top such as a tunic to cover your rear.
  • You don’t need to cover your head daily; however, you will need to when visiting mosques. Some ladies choose to cover their heads as a matter of course, out of respect and as a way to blend in a little more.
  • A lightweight travel scarf is also handy for keeping the sun at bay and the sand from your face if you plan on visiting the desert. We were so thankful to have a scarf to cover our faces in the Sahara.

Complete your Travel look for Morocco: Find The Best Women’s Travel Jackets for every season and the Best Women’s Travel Pants that are comfortable, versatile and stylish. If you can’t bare to leave home without a hair dryer – see our guide to the best lightweight dual-voltage hair dryers for travel.


What to Wear in Morocco for Men

Men do not have the same considerations as women when travelling in a conservative country such as Morocco. However, they must still consider local culture to avoid offending or attracting unwanted attention. Blending in can go a long way to enhancing your experience in any country.

Much like women, men in Morocco dress relatively modestly and avoid looking untidy or too casual in public. The idea of modest dressing also extends to any ostentatious displays of brand names, logos, jewellery or high end electronics. Also, consider covering any excessive or offensive tattoos.

Basic Morocco Dress Code for Men

  • Generally, men should wear long pants with a shirt for eating out.
  • Jeans and a T-shirt are fine, although a collared shirt is considered more appropriate. Jeans should be well-fitting and not torn.
  • Singlets or tank tops are rarely considered appropriate dress.
  • Avoid clothing with unnecessary branding, logos or designs that may not be appropriate or possibly offend.
  • Long shorts for male tourists are ok in the hot weather, although it is not really considered appropriate for adult men in certain situations, especially not in religious sites. In some rural regions, shorts are considered underwear. Follow local cues on this.

Tip: If you need a lightweight men’s travel jacket, consider one with hidden pockets for Morocco. It can help keep things safe when you don’t want to carry a bag. Especially in the crowded souks and medinas. See our top pick for the most stylish and practical Men’s Travel Jackets with Hidden Pockets.


TIP

Don’t Stick Out as a Tourist – How to Dress Like a Local When You Travel

Tips on how to dress appropriately when you travel to avoid standing out. Especially in conservative countries.

Morocco Clothing Essentials for Both Men & Women

There are a few simple items both men and women will want to pack for Morocco.

  • A sun hat will be a must. You are in Africa, after all.
  • Equally, a warm winter beanie if you plan to visit the Atlas Mountains or the Sahara Desert. It gets very cold in the mornings and at night.
  • A hoodie or other warm, lightweight top will be necessary. We like a hoodie for the added warmth of the hood and the Smart Travel Hoodie because it has loads of Anti-Theft pockets for your valuables and packs down small. Perfect for Morocco.
  • A lightweight travel scarf for both men and women. You will need one for keeping the sun at bay and the sand from your face in the Sahara. It is also handy for both men and women when visiting mosques and religious sites. Men wearing shorts will often be asked to cover up.
  • Pack a swimsuit. In addition to the many beach possibilities, many hotels and riads will have pools. We found the opportunity to cool off at the hotel pool at Ait Benhaddou very welcome after a full day of sightseeing. You may also be able to have a dip at one of the hotel pools in the Sahara.

Best Shoes for Morocco

It goes without saying; bring shoes suitable for the activities you will be undertaking. The following will help you decide the best shoes for Morocco based on your itinerary. See our packing hacks on how to pack shoes to maximise space in your bags.

  • Sandals are suitable for most casual occasions in warmer weather. Just make sure they are comfortable, especially for a long day’s sightseeing.
  • In cities, and especially when exploring the Medina’s, we would highly recommend a comfortable closed-toe walking shoe. Not only will you be doing some miles, the road conditions, in the medinas especially, are not always pleasant. There will be many uneven surfaces, and your feet will get very dirty.
  • Unless you are doing some serious hiking, sneakers will be suitable for most activities in Morocco, such as the Atlas Mountains or Sahara. See our guide to the best travel sneakers.
  • Flip-flops are always handy, especially if you plan to visit a Hammam.

If you want an all-around, breathable shoe for warm weather that will work for lite hiking, sightseeing, or even swimming, you might want to try a show like Astral Loyak Water Shoes or Crocs LiteRide Pacer Sneakers for Morocco.

Crocs Men's LiteRide Pacer Sneaker, Navy/White, 4 M US
Astral, Women's Loyak, Navy White, 7 W US
 Desert camp in the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

What to Pack for Morocco By Season

Summer – June to August
The Sahara Desert will be extremely hot. Cities on the Atlantic coast, such as Casablanca and Essaouira, will be warm but not uncomfortable.
The north coast, Tangier and Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, sunny days.

  • Loose, breathable clothing that will keep you cool.
  • Clothing for sun protection. E.g. large hat. Long sleeve light shirts.
  • Even though the weather will be hot, still allow for a light jacket for cool evenings in high altitude and desert areas.
  • It will be hot, but ladies still keep their knees and shoulders covered, and men; still stick with long shorts.
Travel Shop On Amazon

Winter – November to February
Temperatures in the south will still be mild during the day, although evenings can get surprisingly cold. If you plan an overnight camel trek in the Sahara, the nights and mornings get very cold. The north experiences wet winters. The High Atlas Mountains can be exceptionally cold. There will be snow in the mountains and even the possibility of skiing if you’re keen. Snow can still be visible on its peaks as late as July.

  • Bring a warm jacket. A windbreaker will be welcome if heading to the coast. It can get quite windy.
  • Additional lightweight underlayers for cold mornings and evenings. Easy to remove as the days warm up.
  • Closed-toe shoes and socks.
  • A wool beanie and winter weight scarf.

Shoulder Seasons – Spring -mid-March to May | Autumn – September to October
The best time to visit Morocco is the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. Great times of year for hiking in the mountains. While the temperatures are very pleasant, the nights will still get quite chilly.

  • A jacket or windbreaker for evenings and mornings.
  • Still, pack comfortable clothes that will keep you cool during the day. Loose-fitting pants, long skirt and breathable tees.
  • You may need both sandals and closed-toe shoes for the shoulder seasons.
Man walking in the dark streets of Fez medina in conservative traditional dress.

Take the Right Luggage

Consider practical luggage for a trip to Morocco. When we say practical, we mean easy to manoeuvre and carry. If you are planning to visit Marrakech or Fez, for example, one of the great experiences of these cities is staying in a riad in the Medina. As you can’t get cars into the medina’s, you must carry your luggage to your accommodation.

The streets of the medinas are very uneven. Fez, in particular, can be quite challenging with bags, often with stairs and narrow uphill streets. Some accommodation will send someone with a cart to meet you, but this is not always the case. The roads are also filthy, often with donkey droppings, so you don’t want to ruin a good suitcase either.

We recommend a bag with good sturdy wheels. Preferably one that can be pulled on two wheels as opposed to having to be pushed on four. This helps with dragging bags up hills and stairs. A duffle style wheelie bag that can be picked up and slung over your shoulder or on your back is even better. A soft bag is also better than a hard case for fitting into the back of cars if you are planning any 4×4 tours.

We use a combination of Samsonite and Eagle Creek wheeling duffle bags as they are lightweight, no fuss bags with sturdy “off-road” wheels.

eagle creek No Matter What Rolling Duffel Bag-Large Wheeled Duffle Luggage for Travel, Slate Blue, 30-Inch
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Samsonite Ripstop Wheeled Rolling Duffel Bag, Blue, 30 Inch
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Daypack

You will also need a day pack. Other than for just day to day use, if you do an overnight camel trek in the Sahara, you will have to leave your main luggage for the night and only take what you absolutely need.

We use a lightweight, foldable daypack that we can shove in our suitcase when we are not using it. Whereas, some people like to take a multipurpose daypack. One that will work equally as well hiking in the Atlas Mountains as exploring the souks of Marrakech. For both, we recommend a backpack with anti-theft features, especially for the busy city and tourist areas.

Women should also consider a quality anti-theft handbag suitable for all travel situations.

You can read more about the best anti-theft travel gear here.

NeatPack Durable, Foldable Nylon Backpack / Daypack with Security Zippers, 20L - Red
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Foldable Daypack with Security Zippers


Travelon Anti-Theft Active Daypack, Charcoal, One Size
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Travelon Anti-Theft Daypack


Travelon: Heritage - Anti-Theft Backpack
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Travelon Anti-theft Multipurpose Backpack

A lightweight waist pack/sling bag is perfect for travel in Morocco, especially in busy souks or nights out. We’ve rounded up 13 stylish and practical anti-theft waist packs for men and women here.

Marrakech to Fez - Man with donkey in the Atlas Mountains Morocco

Lockable Luggage Cables for Trains and Hotels

In addition to luggage locks, we can highly recommend taking A lockable luggage cable. We used it when taking the train from Casablanca to Marrakech and again from Fez to Tangier by train. You may have to stow your luggage in an open area away from your seat. In our case, it was in front of the open carriage door, a long way from our compartment. We found it gave us peace of mind to be able to lock all of our bags together and to a fixed structure on the train.

If buying new luggage locks for a trip to Morocco, consider locks with a long shackle or better, a long cable shackle. It enables more flexible locking arrangements. Especially for bags that have outer pockets with only one zip head. A long or flexible cable shackle gives you the length to link to another zip or lock on the bag ensuring all pockets are secure.

Again, peace of mind on trains or situations like a night in the Sahara where all your luggage will be stored for you.

Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock: TSA Luggage Locks for Suitcases, Carry On, Laptop Bag & More, Set Combination Lock to Create Secure Padlock for Travel, Vacation, Business, or Backpacking
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TSA Approved Cable Luggage Locks Plus 4 Foot Steel Cable Lumintrail Combination Travel Security Lock - 2 Pack, Black
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TSA Approved Cable Luggage Locks, Re-settable Combination with Alloy Body
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Read Our Comprehensive Buying Guide to the Best Luggage Locks, Luggage Straps & Cables to get the best locking arrangements for your luggage.


Power Adapters and Portable Chargers

Morocco operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz, types C and E plug types which are two circular prongs. The same as what you would use in Europe. If you need to bring an adapter, we also recommend bringing a lightweight power board from your own country, so you only need to have one adapter for charging multiple things at once. A powerboard with USB ports is especially useful for this purpose. One powerboard can take less space and weight than numerous adapters.

Don’t forget to bring a portable charger. It will come in handy for charging your smartphone or camera in situations where there is no power, such as camel trekking in the Sahara or travelling by train between cities.

Power Strip Surge Protector 3 AC Outlets with 3 USB Ports (5V/2.4Ax3), HITRENDS Outlet Strip with USB Charger, Extension Board with 5ft Extension Cord for Indoor, White
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iWALK Small Portable Charger 4500mAh Ultra-Compact Power Bank Cute Battery Pack Compatible with iPhone 12/12 Mini/12 Pro Max/11 Pro/XS Max/XR/X/8/7/6/Plus Airpods and More,White
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DANDELION Travel Adapter Outlet Adapter Traveler Accessory Universal Wall Charger 2 USB Ports (UK, USA, AU, Europe, Asia) International Power Plug Adaptor for Multiple Socket Type C, A, I, G (Gold)
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Travel Purifying Water Bottle

One of the sad things we noticed about Morocco was the amount of plastic and rubbish on the roadside in the open desert areas and around the Atlas Mountains.

Unfortunately, in a country like Morocco, where the average traveller will not be used to local water, buying bottled water is instinctive. As more people are travelling now than ever before, bottled water is no longer sustainable for the environment.

However, you don’t need to buy bottled to have access to purified water. As the Moroccan Government have started to implement ways to reduce the rubbish issue, many hotels now supply filtered water to refill bottles. Or, for convenience, you can carry reusable purifying water bottles.

A personal water bottle with an inbuilt filtration system, like a Lifestraw water bottle, works very well. Or, if you want something more compact, collapsible water bottles used with a stand-alone filtration straw work equally well.

We have a guide to the best filtering water bottles for travel to suit all travel types covering all the different water filtering and purification technologies.

LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle with 2-Stage Integrated Filter Straw for Hiking, Backpacking, and Travel, Purple
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LARQ Bottle Movement PureVis - Lightweight Self-Cleaning and Non-Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with UV Water Sanitizer 24oz, White/Pebble
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4 Pack Water Filter Straw - Water Purifying Device - Portable Personal Water Filtration Survival - for Emergency Kits Outdoor Activities and Hiking - Water Filter Camping Travel Survival backpacking
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Mosque Hassan II Casablanca Morocco

Travel Ear Plugs

We all know the obvious reasons for travelling with earplugs. In Morocco, however, there are reasons for needing earplugs you may not consider. Morocco has some of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in the world, the Call to Prayer will play over loudspeakers five times a day. While there are few sounds more evocative, you may not feel that way at four in the morning. Also, if you are planning to take the overnight train between Marrakech and Tangier you may welcome the quiet.

We love reusable earplugs. Many not only reduce noise, but they also reduce aeroplane pressure and are more hygienic than the disposable foam variety. They are also less likely to get lost like the disposable foam plugs tend to do.

Travelon 2 Pair Pressure Reducing Ear Plugs, Asst, One Size
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Medication and Personal Items

Medication

When travelling to foreign countries, it is always wise to prepare for the worst and hope for the best when it comes to health and personal requirements.

Obviously, you will need to bring any medications you require with more than enough to see you through your trip. It is also prudent to keep a copy of your prescription with you. While Moroccan Customs don’t seem to keep a list of prohibited medications, they do advise anyone travelling with prescription medication to carry a copy of the doctor’s prescription which covers the drug and quantity carried with you. It will also help if, for any reason, you require a refill.

As basic medications go, you should bring the usual suspects with you from home. Basics like Ibuprofen or aspirin. An antidiarrheal drug for precaution such as Imodium. And should you fall victim to a dodgy Tagine – Electrolyte tablets will go a long way to keeping you hydrated and feeling better. Especially in the hotter months.

Personal Items

Consider bringing things like sunscreen or insect repellant from home as these items tend to be quite expensive comparatively in Morocco. Bring a quality, high SPF sunscreen – You’ll need it.

We always travel with insect repellent wristbands. They are an excellent way to stay covered without having to use spray. You can throw them in your luggage without having to worry about liquids or aerosols when you fly.

Also, don’t just assume you will be able to get certain things in the same way you would at home. You may not be near any stores that stock certain items or they won’t have what you need. If it’s something you can’t do without, bring it just in case. 

Ladies, this is especially important when it comes to sanitary products. Never assume you will have easy access to or be able to find the products you normally use at home. Be prepared.

Travel Size Wipes and Hand Sanitiser

Without a doubt, you will come across bathroom situations in Morocco that are less than ideal. The train springs to mind. Often, in Morocco, you will have to pay to use the bathroom which will include a small issue of toilet paper. Sometimes there will be no paper at all. A small pack of travel wipes in your bag will come in handy more often than you think.

A small bottle of hand sanitizer is essential no matter where you travel. We like the sanitizer bottles you clip to your bag. In Morocco, however, you will be confronted with occasions where you will have to eat with your hands. The Central Markets in Casablanca is one instance where a piece of crusty flatbread is given instead of cutlery. Again, you will be glad you have some wet wipes after lunch.

Stall Mates: Flushable, individually wrapped wipes for travel. Unscented with Vitamin-E & Aloe, 100% Biodegradable (30 on-the-go singles)
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PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer Variety Pack, Naturals and Refreshing Gel, 1 Fl Oz Travel Size Flip-Cap Bottle with Jelly Wrap Carrier (Pack of 8) - 3900-09-ECSC
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Purell - 9124-06-EC PURELL Hand Sanitizing Wipes, Clean Refreshing Scent, 20 Count Travel Pack (Pack of 6) - 9124-09-EC
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moroccan men at the market - Moroccan Packing list
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