WATER
Tap water is chlorinated in Morocco’s cities and generally safe to drink – certainly safe to clean your teeth with. Elsewhere, stick to treated water – filter or purify it.
Bottled water is available everywhere, although there is an environmental cost through the mountains of discarded (and unrecycled) plastic bottles.
Off the beaten track, water drawn from wells or pumped from boreholes should be safe, but never drink water from rivers or lakes, as this may contain bacteria or viruses that can cause diarrhoea or vomiting.
Heat Illness
Causes Occurs following heavy sweating and excessive fluid loss with inadequate replacement of fluids and salt. This is particularly common in hot climates when taking unaccustomed exercise before full acclimatisation.
Symptoms and effects Headache, dizziness and tiredness.
Prevention Dehydration is already happening by the time you feel thirsty – drink sufficient water to produce pale, diluted urine. Morocco’s sun can be fierce, so bring a hat.
Treatment Consists of fluid replacement with water, fruit juice, or both, and cooling by cold water and fans. Treating salt loss consists of consuming salty fluids such as soup or broth, and adding a little more table salt to foods than usual.
Heatstroke
Causes Extreme heat, high humidity, physical exertion or use of drugs or alcohol in the sun and dehydration. Occurs when the body’s heat-regulating mechanism breaks down.
Symptoms and effects An excessive rise in body temperature leads to the cessation of sweating, irrational and hyperactive behaviour, and eventually loss of consciousness, and death.
Treatment Rapid cooling by spraying the body with water and fanning is ideal. Emergency fluid and electrolyte replacement by intravenous drip is usually also required.
Insect Bites & Stings
Causes Mosquitoes, sandflies (found around the Mediterranean beaches), scorpions (common in southern Morocco), bees and wasps, bedbugs and scabies (both found in cheaper accommodation).
Symptoms and effects More likely to be an irritant than a health risk. Sandflies have a nasty, itchy bite, and can carry the rare skin disorder leishmaniasis. Scorpions have a painful sting that is rarely life-threatening. Bedbugs lead to very itchy, lumpy bites. Tiny scabies mites live in the skin, particularly between the fingers, and cause an intensely itchy rash.
Prevention and treatment DEET-based insect repellents. Spraying a mattress with an appropriate insect killer will do a good job of getting rid of bedbugs. Scabies is easily treated with lotion available from pharmacies; people you come into contact with also need treatment to avoid spreading scabies between asymptomatic carriers.
Snake Bites
The chances of seeing a snake in Morocco, let alone being bitten by one, are slim. Nevertheless, there are a few venomous species, such as the horned viper, found in the southern desert areas. Snakes like to bask on rocks and sand, retreating during the heat of the day.
Prevention Do not walk barefoot or stick your hand into holes or cracks.
Treatment If bitten, do not panic. Half of those bitten by venomous snakes are not actually injected with poison (envenomed). Immobilise the bitten limb with a splint (eg a stick) and apply a bandage over the site, with firm pressure, similar to applying a bandage over a sprain. Do not apply a tourniquet, or cut or suck the bite. Get the victim to medical help as soon as possible so that antivenin can be given if necessary.
Women's Health
ATampons can be hard to buy in Morocco. Carrefour is the only dependable supermarket to stock them, and even then offers limited choice.
Language
Behind the Scenes
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Our Readers
Many thanks to the travellers who used the last edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful advice and interesting anecdotes:
Akis Vasileiadis, Alejandro Leano, Angela Parlane, Anne Hlinka, Asmus Dall Gregersen, Barbara Freeman, Beth Fertig, Carlos de Bustos, Claire Knight, Claire Patrick, Cornelis Faling, Daniel Schechter, Daniel Klement, Denise Chiarioni, Florian Rieger, Floris van Halm, Gail Doherty, Geeske Saad-Beukema, Harald Luckerbauer, Ilene Aveling, Jean-Claude Latombe, Julie Bartlett-Hejira, Katleen Matthieu, Keith Johnson, Krzysztof Światły, Leonard Naymark, Leonie Hutch, Martin Briggs, Michelle Leicester, Mirjam Brusius, Mirka Costanzi, Nick Cross, Nick McWilliam, Peter & Emma Greenhalgh, Ray Stokes, Rebecca Lebow, Rebekka van Roemburg, Rein Boumans, Renata Haffaf, Rob Buzacott, Rob Keereweer, Rose Button, Ruben Lelivelt, Sally Kondziolka, Sally Norris, Sam Firth, Sam Pulfer, Sander Steel, Sara Rei, Simon Carlile, Sophie Bull, Steven & Roberta Haas, Tessa Hatlelid, Tina Woodhouse, Zenon Lewycky
Writer Thanks
Jessica Lee
A huge shukran to all the Marrakshis who always make coming to Marrakesh such a pleasure. Big thanks to Youssef, Fatima, Hasan, and Amine; to Mark for a lowdown on the local scene over beers; Cyril for tips and advice; and in particular to Mohammed Nour for taking time out of his schedule to help out. Also thanks to Virginia and Peter for restaurant-checking fun.
Brett Atkinson
A big shukran to the following: Ben and Ollie in Taghazout, Irene in Tamraght, Jane in Taroudannt, Sissi and Mafhoud in Taliouine, Sadat in Tarfaya, Houssine and Liesbeth in Tafraoute, and Sally in Mirleft. Special thanks to Neil, Jackie and the kids in Dakhla. At LP, thanks to Helen Elfer for the opportunity to explore North Africa, my fellow authors and the hardworking editors and cartos, and final thanks to Carol for holding the fort back home in New Zealand
Paul Clammer
This was my first Morocco update job where I could commute from home, our house in the Fes medina. So, thanks and above all to Robyn for her amazing restoration job, and to Monkey the accidentally adopted mosque roof cat, for not smashing ALL the glassware when I was in Tangier. On the roof, my continued salaams to petit taxi drivers everywhere who put the meter on without asking.
Virginia Maxwell
Greatest thanks go to my travelling companion, Peter Handsaker. Thanks also to Tine Riera, Marie-Christine Martinet, Mustapha Bouamara, Helen Ranger and Jess Lee.
Lorna Parkes
Thanks to Helen Elfer, who gave me the best excuse to travel back to one of my favourite cities. To Said at Dar Bensouda, without whom I would have got lost in the Fez medina many more times than I did. Thanks also to Jess Stephens and Liz Campbell for their trusted insights, and to Robert Johnstone for his offerings of food. Biggest thanks of all goes to Rob, for looking after our son Austin, and to Austin himself, for joining me on part of the adventure.
Regis St Louis
Countless people across Morocco showed me such enormous and humbling hospitality. In particular, I’m grateful to Abdel Haydar, Lahcen Igdem, Almodhik Aissa, Mohamed El Qasemy and Carolyn, Tahrbilte Rachid, Abdel Jalil, Omar and Ibrahim of Dar Sofian, Rashid and Doreen (and Jack the donkey), Ziad and Amqrane Tair (and family), Vanessa and Xavier, Toufiq Mousaoui, and Abdel Benalila and his family. Biggest thanks to Cassandra and our daughters, Magdalena and Genevieve, for their enduring su
pport.
Acknowledgements
Climate map data adapted from Peel MC, Finlayson BL & McMahon TA (2007) ‘Updated World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification’, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 163344.
Cover photograph: Typical blue painted houses in the old town, Jan Wlodarczyk/4Corners ©
This Book
This 12th edition of Lonely Planet’s Morocco guidebook was researched and written by Jessica Lee, Brett Atkinson, Paul Clammer, Virginia Maxwell, Lorna Parkes and Regis St Louis. This guidebook was produced by the following:
Destination Editor Helen Elfer
Product Editors Genna Patterson, Anne Mason
Senior Cartographer David Kemp
Book Designer Gwen Cotter
Assisting Editors Imogen Bannister, Andrea Dobbin, Victoria Harrison, Gabby Innes, Ilana Myers, Susan Paterson, Christopher Pitts
Assisting Cartographer Rachel Imeson
Cover Researcher Naomi Parker
Thanks to Ronan Abayawickrema, Heather Champion, Kate Chapman, Grace Dobell, Sandie Kestell, Ilana Myers, Claire Naylor, Karyn Noble, Lauren O'Connell, Kirsten Rawlings, Jessica Ryan, Ellie Simpson, Angela Tinson
Ebook thanks to Andrew Bigger, Ruth Cosgrove, Julie Dodkins, Blazej Hadzik, Craig Kilburn, Chris Love, Wayne Murphy, Jacqui Saunders, John Taufa, Glenn van der Knijff, Yanxiang Wang, Juan Winata.
Our Story
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies. Lonely Planet was born.
Today, Lonely Planet has offices in Franklin, London, Melbourne, Oakland, Beijing and Delhi, with more than 600 staff and writers. We share Tony’s belief that ‘a great guidebook should do three things: inform, educate and amuse’.
Our Writers
Jessica Lee
Marrakesh Jess high-tailed it for the road at the age of 18 and hasn't looked back since. In 2011 she swapped a career as an adventure-tour leader for travel writing and since then her travels for Lonely Planet have taken her across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She has lived in the Middle East since 2007 and tweets @jessofarabia.
Jess has contributed to Lonely Planet's Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, Marrakesh, Middle East, Europe, Africa, Cambodia, and Vietnam guidebooks and her travel writing has appeared in Wanderlust magazine, the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, BBC Travel and Lonelyplanet.com.
Brett Atkinson
Southern Morocco and Western Sahara For this new edition of Morocco, Brett travelled from his New Zealand home to explore the fascinating medinas of Taroudannt and Tiznit, the spectacular Atlantic coastline, and the compellingly wild desert vistas of the Sahara. An absolute highlight was the poignant and elegant Spanish Art Deco architecture of Sidi Ifni. Brett’s contributed to Lonely Planet guidebooks spanning Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and covered over 60 countries as a food and travel writer. See www.brett-atkinson.net for his latest adventures.
Paul Clammer
Mediterranean Coast and the Rif Paul Clammer has worked as a molecular biologist, tour leader and travel writer. Since 2003 he has worked as a guidebook author for Lonely Planet, contributing to over 25 LP titles, covering destinations including swathes of South and Central Asia, West and North Africa and the Caribbean. In recent years he's lived in Morocco, Jordan, Haiti and Fiji, as well as his native England. Find him online at paulclammer.com or on Twitter as @paulclammer.
Virginia Maxwell
Atlantic Coast Although based in Australia, Virginia spends at least half of her year updating Lonely Planet destination coverage in Europe and the Middle East. The Mediterranean is her favourite place to travel, and she has covered Spain, Italy, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Morocco for LP guidebooks – there are only eight more countries to go! Virginia also writes about Armenia, Iran and Australia. Follow her @maxwellvirginia on Instagram and Twitter.
Lorna Parkes
Fez, Meknès and the Middle Atlas Londoner by birth, Melburnian by palate and ex-Lonely Planet staffer in both cities, Lorna has spent more than 10 years exploring the globe in search of the perfect meal, the friendliest B&B, the best-value travel experience, and the most spectacular lookout point – both for her own pleasure and other people’s. She’s discovered she writes best on planes, and has contributed to numerous Lonely Planet books and magazines. Wineries and the tropics (not at the same time!) are her go-to happy places. Follow her @Lorna_Explorer.
Regis St Louis
Central Morocco Regis grew up in a small town in the American Midwest–the kind of place that fuels big dreams of travel–and he developed an early fascination with foreign dialects and world cultures. He spent his formative years learning Russian and a handful of Romance languages, which served him well on journeys across much of the globe. Regis has contributed to more than 50 Lonely Planet titles, covering destinations across six continents. His travels have taken him from the mountains of Kamchatka to remote island villages in Melanesia, and to many grand urban landscapes. When not on the road, he lives in New Orleans.
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Published by Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
ABN 36 005 607 983
12th edition - August 2017
ISBN 9781787010093
© Lonely Planet 2017 Photographs © as indicated 2017
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Lonely Planet Morocco Page 98