Do not forget your passport and check its validity. If your stay was organized by a travel agency, an indentity card can be enough (plane + 3 nights of minimum hotel). Certain nationalities require a visa but United States citizens do not require one. The stay for tourism is limited to 3 months.

If your pet accompanies you, you must provide a certificate of good health going back to no less than 10 days, as well as an anti-rabic certificate.

You should have no problems bringing into Morocco most of the things that a tourist normally bring. If you have any questions, please contact your travel agent or your nearest Moroccan consulate.

There are regulations on:
- alcohol (1 wine bottle and 1 alcohol bottle or 2 wine bottles by adult) and the tobacco (200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 G of tobacco per adult).
- weapons and the ammunition is prohibited.
- It is illegal to import or to export dirhams.

No vaccination certificate is required for visitors coming from Europe or America. An anti cholera vaccination certificate may be required from visitors coming from areas where this disease is prevalent. Anti-malarial treatment is not necessary.

Morocco is a healthy country, however a certain number of minimal precautions should be taken, particularly in the south:
Avoid water from wadis and itinerant water sellers. Refresh yourself with the excellent bottle spring water : Sidi Harazem, Imouzzer and Sidi Ali are still waters, while Oulmes is sparkling. If you are prone to intestinal problems, take an appropriate medicine with you. Make enquiries before swimming in a wadi or a lake.

Take precautions against insect bites and sunburn. If necessary, tourist offices and major hotels can put you in touch with doctors who speak English, French or other languages.

Apart from classical Arabic, the language of education, the Civil Service and the media, the everyday language in Morocco is a dialectal Arabic, as well as Tamazight (Berber) spoken in the Rif, the Atlas and the Souss and which varies according to region.
Most Moroccans speak French and many also speak Spanish and English.

Islam is the official religion in Morocco, but it exists in co-existence with the other religions Freedom to practice other religions of revelation is guaranteed by the constitution. The day is marked by five calls to prayer. The muezzin announces them from the top of his minaret. During the month of Ramadan, the Moroccans fast, refraining from eating and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

Obviously this disturbs daily life. Most Civil Service and public offices, monuments and shops alter their opening hours. However, non Muslims will always find something to eat in certain restaurants, particularly in hotels. The days may seem long, but the nights are wonderful!

NOTE FROM AMERICAN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP: As guests of the Kingdom of Morocco it is very important for us Christians to be a good witness and not leave a bad impression when we leave. Both men and women should dress very conservatively. Shorts are frowned upon for both men and women and dresses are better than slacks if possible. Sholders should be covered at all times. Also, please refrain from the distribution of literature or any overt acts of evangelism. If somebody asks you about your faith of course you are free to share but please no distribition of literature or preaching of any kind. Thanks for your understanding in this.

A respect of local customs is a fundamental act of courtesy in a welcoming country. To avoid embarrassing situations and miss-understandings, comply with common practise. Here are a few essential rules to follow: In Morocco, access to mosques and holy places is forbidden to non Muslims. A few exceptions are the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat, the Moulay Ismail mausoleum at Meknes and the Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum at Rissani.

Avoid provocative clothing.
Accept mint tea when offered, a sign of hospitality. If you are invited to share in a family meal, you should symbolically use the ewer to wash your hands. The meal begins after the master of the house has said the "bismillah" in praise of God. Use your right hand to eat, taste everything, but don't think you have to finish everything in your plate, which is usually impossible!
Avoid drinking, eating and smoking in public in daytime during the period of Ramadan. If you want to photograph somebody, don't forget to ask for permission.

Morocco has been inhabited since very early prehistoric times as the many prehistoric remains show. Then came the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Berbers, Byzantines, Romans and Vandals before the Arab invasion which took place in the 8th century.
Morocco as an independent state has been in existence since 788 AD, when Idris I was proclaimed King at Volubilis (by way of comparison, it was nearly 100 years later that King Alfred the Great became King of Wessex).
Today, Morocco is a constitutional government and King Mohammed VI came to the throne in 1999, A descendant of the Prophet, he is also the Commander of the Believers, or in other words, Morocco's religious leader.

Annual sunshine levels are more than 8 hours a day at Agadir, Fez, Marrakesh and Ouarzazate with average temperatures in may above 75 °F. But if you feel too hot or too cold you only have to travel a few kilometres. You can go from the snow of the Atlas to the Saharan desert in one single day !

The Moroccan currency is dirham (Dh) divided into 100 centimes. There are tickets of 10,20, 50, 100 and 200 Dh, parts of 1, 5 and 10 Dh and of 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes.

You will be able to get dirhams only in Morocco. Do not change money in the streets, it is illegal. You may find it very beneficial to pass by the approved banks or establishments (equipped with a gilded sign). They do not take commission and deliver a form which will be essential for you, at the end of your stay, to reconvert your remainder of dirhams in currency of origin. You will be able to withdraw money in the banks with a credit card, or directly from a distributor in some large cities. The credit cards are generally accepted in the large hotels, shops and restaurants, and even sometimes in the souks!

US $ 1 worth approximatively Dh 8.50.

More info : www.tourisme-marocain.com