Information about morocco

some facts & figures	passport & visas
Dutyfree	Public holidays 1999
Health	Travel
Food & drinks	Shopping
Leisure activities	Casinos
Specialevents	Some social conventions

topSome facts & figures
Area: 710,850 sq km (274,461 sq miles)
Population: 26,069,000 (1993 estimate)
Population density: 36,7 per sq km
Capital: Rabat - population : 1,397,000 (1993 estimate)

Geography: Morocco is located on the western most tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the west. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountains range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. TheMiddle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3000 m (9850 ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains runalong the north coast. The ports of Ceuta and Melilla on the north coast are adminitered by Spain.

Language: the official language is Arabic, but Berber is spoken by a large minority. French is widely spoken throughout the country, while spanish is more predominant in the northern regions. English is also understood particularly in the north and around Agadir.

Religion: predominantly Muslim with Jewish and Christian minorities. Morocco's population and culture stems from a cross section of origins including Berbers, Arabs, Moors and Jews.

Time: GMT

Climate: The coast as a warm, Mediterranean climate tempered on the eastern coast by southwest trade winds. Inland areas have ahotter, drier, continental climate. In the South of the country, the weather is very hot and dry throughout most of the year, with the nights coolest in the months of December and January. Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas. Mostly dry with high temperatures in summer. Cooler climate in the mountains. Marrakech and Agadir enjoy anaverage temperature of 21 C the winter.

Currency: Moroccan Dirham (DH) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denomination of DH 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are indenomination of DHS 5 and 1 and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes.

Credit cards: Major credit cards areaccepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Eurocard, Amex, Diners Club...). Check with your creditcard company for details.

The import and export of local currency is prohibited.

Banking hours: Winter : 08H 15- 11H 15 and 14H 15-16H 15 Monday to Friday.These hours may varyduring Ramadan. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Summer : 08H 00-14H 30 Monday to Friday.


topPassport & Visas
A valid passport is required by all, except for:
Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) who travel as an organised group and enter with their national ID cards or other passport-replacing documents (all other EU nationals are required to have a valid passport)

Note : children 16 and under may travel on their parentspassport, but must have photographs included in these passports. Children over 16 must have their own passports.
A visa is required by all exceptfor: Nationals of countries shown in the chart, and nationals of EU countries (except for Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands who do need a visa), Nationals of Commonwealth countries Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile,Congo, Cote d' Ivoire, Guinea, Iceland, Indonesia, South Korea, Liberia, Lybia,Liechtenstein, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru,Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. As regulations may vary, please refer to the nearest Moroccan consulate or to : Ministry of communication :
GALILEO/WORLDSPAN : TI-DFT/RBA/VI
SABRE : TI-DFT/RBA/VI
topDutyfree

The following goods may be imported into Morocco without incurring customs duty : 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco; 1 litre of spirit and 1 litre of wine; 50 gr of perfume.
Restricted items : a special permit is required for sportingguns and ammunition which is obtainable upon arrival from the Police authorities for passenger holding a permit from their country of origin.
topPublic holidays 1999
Click here to see detail of1999's public holidays in Morocco
topHealth

A minimal malaria risk, exclusively in the benign vivax form,exists from May to October in rural areas of the following provinces : Beni Mellal,Chefchaouen, El Kelaa Sgharna, Larache, Khouribga, Khenifra, Khemisset, Settat, Taounate,Taza.
Bottled mineral water is available and advisable at least forthe first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may becontaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk should be boiled,except UHT milk.Powdered or tinned milk is available  but make sure it is reconstituted with purewater.
Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot.Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked or eaten onlyin safe places such as classified restaurants and hotels. Fruit should be peeled.
There are good medical facilities in all main cities,including emergency pharmacies (in the town hall at night) outside normal opening hours.Government hospitals provide free or minimal charge emergency treatment. Private clinicsoffer high level of equipment and trained staff. Its advisable to contract aninternational medical assistance valid in Morocco.
topTravel:How can I travel to and in Morocco ?

AIR: Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the national company provides manyinternational and domestic flights between cities in Morocco, using Boeing ,  ATR.and Airbus. A new private company, Regional Airlines (RAL)is also operating in Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Balearic Island with a Beechcraft fleet(19 seats per plane).
But for clients who wish to hire a private plane, there are private companieswith small planes and experienced pilots.
Unfortunately, there is no helicopter rental services for the moment.
Airlines serving Morocco include : Air France, BritishAirways, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Sabena, Iberia, KLM, Swissair, Tunis Air, Saudia Airlines,Aeroflot, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air... For more information: http://www.royalairmaroc.co.ma.
SEA: principal ports are Tangier, Casablanca andCeuta. Lines serving these ports are Comarit, Comanav, Trasmediterranea, Isnasa, Limadet.Car and passenger ferry links Tangier and Ceuta in the north of Morocco to Algeciras,Tariffa and Gibraltar in the South of Spain.
RAIL: the Moroccan rail system isall standard gauge and, though limited, provides regular and cheap services withfirst-class available. The network runs from Oujda in the northeast to Casablanca on thewest coast, Tangier on the north coast and Marrakech in the interior. The main routesinclude : Marrakech-Casablanca-Rabat-Meknes-Fes-Oujda, Marrakech-Casablanca-Rabat,Marrakech-Casablanca-Meknes-Fes and Casablanca-Rabat-Tangier. Fares are among the cheapestin the world.
LAND : Morocco has recently improved itsroad network by constructing some motorways.All the main cities will be connected by 2002by motorway. Otherwise good national roads allow you to go almost everywhere andcomfortably in Morocco, except in the deep south where you may need a 4X4 vehicle.
topWhatabout a food and drink

Morocco' s traditional haute cuisine dishes are excellent andgood value for money. They are often exceedingly elaborate. Typical specialities include :harira, a rich soup, bastella, a pastry stuffed withpigeon and almonds, couscous, a complete dish with semola, meat andvegetables, a range variety of tagine, meat, fish or poultry combinedwith vegetables and other flavours, stewed in a terracotta on a charcoal fire, mechouiis a whole piece of lamb roasted, pastries are delicious : kab el ghzal,briouats, beghrir, with almonds and honey.
Restaurants - traditional, French or other europeanspecialities, offer a good quality at good rates. The national drink is mint tea. Coffeeis prepared very strong. Laws on alcohol are fairly liberal for non-Muslim visitors andbars in most tourist areas stay open late.
topWhat about shopping?

The cooperative shops of Moroccan craftsmen, Coopartim, operate understate control selling local handicraft at fixed prices and issue an authenticity receiptor a certificate of origin for customs when exporting. Souks are worthwhile places tovisit for local products. Special buys are leather, tanned and dyed in Fez or Marrakesh,copperware, silver, silk or cotton garments, wool, cotton and silk rugs, carpets andblankets, wooden articles, embroidery, silver and gold jewells. Bargaining is essential.In traditional medinas, some shops may close on Friday (religious holiday of the week) andstay open on Saturday and Sunday.
For more informations consult : maghrebnet.net.na/artisanat.
topWhat about leisure and sport activities?

Watersports : swimming in the Atlantic or theMediterranean sea or in swimming pools, Windsurf in Essaouira or Oualidia.
Fishing (permits are sometimes necessary)
Hunting in the region of Arbaoua (permits necessary) are some ofthe main pleasure Morocco may offer you.
Golf : there are marvellous golf courses (18 holes, 9 holes) atRabat, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Marrakech, El Jadida, Agadir, Tangier, Tetuan.
Wintersports : Ifrane in the Middle Atlas and Oukaimeden in theHigh Atlas offer skiing facilities.
Horse-riding : there are horseriding clubs in all major towns,notably Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fes and Agadir.
topCasinos

Le Grand Casino La Mamounia in Marrakech
Avenue Bab Jdid - Marrakech. Tel (04) 44 45 70 - Fax (04) 44 41 32
A worldwide renowned casino, next to La Mamounia hotel. (no jeans and baskets)
Opened 7/7 from 21h00. English roulette, black-jack, Carribean stud poker,mini-punto-banco.
Slot machines, from 17h00 during the week and 15h00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Le Casino at Es Saadi Hotel in Marrakech
Avenue Qadissiya - Marrakech. Tel.: (04) 44 88 11 / 47 20 42 - Fax: (04) 44 76  44
Closed on Wednesday. Opened from 20h00 to 23h00. Slot machines only.
Shem's Casino in Agadir
Bd Mohamed V, next to Sheraton - Agadir - Tel.: (08) 82 11 11 / 82 79 23 - Fax(08) 82 79 25.
Brand new casino in Agadir, opened every day from 17h00 to 06h00.
Roulette, black jack, poker, punto banco, chemin de fer, slot machines.
Le Mirage Casino in Agadir
Village club Valtur, parcelle 31 Secteur touristique et balnéaire - Agadir
Tel.: (08) 84 87 77 / 78 - Fax: (08) 84 87 74>BR> Opened from 17h00 to 04h00 for slot machines and 21h00 to 04h00 for other games.
Slot machines, pocker, English roulette, black jack.
topSpecialevents

Most festivals and Moussems take place in the summer time. The Folklore festival of Marrakesh, the Cherry Moussem of Sefrou, the Imilchil Moussem... Contact the Moroccan Tourist Board for further information. Click here to see detail of 1999's festivals & moussems in Morocco
topSome social conventions

Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Many of themanners and social customs emulate French manners particularly amongst the middle class.The visitor may find in some situations that patience and firmness will pay dividends.Often visitors may find themselves the centre of unsolicited attention. In towns, youngboys after money will be eager to point out the way, sell goods or simply charge for aphotograph, while unofficial guides will allways be offering services or advice. Thevisitor should be courteous but wary of the latter.
Normal social courtesy should be observed in someone' s home.Casual wear is widely acceptable, although swimsuits and shorts should be confined to thebeach or poolside.
Tipping : it is customary to tip waiter, hairdressers, cinemausherettes and taxi drivers between 1-2 dhs or 5 % of the bill.