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Morocco is one of the most exotic countries as the fusion of Africa and the Middle East. Blue-washed houses of Chefchaouen, leather tanneries of Fez, spice markets of Marrakech, riding a camel in the endless Atlas Desert, and the list goes on. After the initial wave of excitement, you face the question of what to pack for Morocco, which can be tricky. Because of its unpredictable weather conditions and Islamic traditions, preparing a Morocco packing list can be baffling. It is even more difficult to figure out what to wear in Morocco as a solo female traveler.
In this article, we want to give you a neat summary of all the essentials to pack for Morocco, from clothing to the type of power adaptor you need.
Morocco Packing List: Weather
Morocco has blended a bit of every climate. The coastal stretch experiences a mild Mediterranean climate that transitions to subtropical as you go south. You will see mild rainy winters and dry summers.
As you get closer to the Atlas Mountains and the desert, the arid climate replaces the Mediterranean breeze. The temperatures can reach extremes, such as below zero in winter and above 40 Celcius in summer. Not only that, but the temperature gap between day and night is also vast.
What To Pack
Clothing
Due to the diversity of the climate and the Islamic impact, we believe that packing the clothes to wear in Morocco is the trickiest part. For the question of Morocco’s what-to-wear, you have to consider not only the weather conditions for the time of the year you are visiting but also certain rules regarding Morocco’s dress code, especially the Moroccan attire for females.
It is especially essential to know what to wear in Morocco in October-November-December, which are the most popular months. Especially in cities like Marrakech, packing lists should be prepared considering that the New Year’s celebrations will be intensely crowded.
General Clothing Tips
The most logical thing to do is to bring layers of clothes for sudden shifts in weather.
A brimmed hat will be one of your best friends during this trip.
If you are visiting Morocco in winter, a windbreaker jacket is necessary as well as a wool cap to keep your head warm. It can get very cold at night in the Atlas Mountains.
Although Morocco is one of the safer countries in Africa, petty theft is still an issue. You can take precautions by buying a smart travel hoodie with several concealed pockets to hide your valuables. It will also keep you warm.
You can also bring a swimsuit and a bathing suit for hotels, hammams, and beaches.
For Women
Although Morocco is a lot more relaxed compared to other countries in North Africa and the Middle East, you should still avoid revealing clothes that will bring you unwanted attention. Such a wave of attention can get even more aggressive when you visit rural areas.
If you want to bring shorts and skirts along, you should make sure that they fully cover your knees. Instead of short skirts, you should prefer lightweight maxi skirts or loose-fitting pants.
For pants, the rule of thumb is to not tight-fitting or leather ones.
Besides your knees, you also need to cover your shoulders. We wouldn’t recommend strappy tops that reveal shoulders and cleavage.
You don’t need to cover your head all the time, but you do need that when visiting mosques. A scarf can do wonders in that regard. Not only you can use it inside the mosques, but it will also protect your head from sand and sunlight, especially in the Sahara region. So, don’t forget to add that to your desert trip packing list.
For Men
The dress code for men is even less strict, but there are still some essential rules to follow.
You should avoid wearing shorts when visiting religious sites. In Morocco, the western shorts worn by men are somehow considered or associated with underwear.
Avoid flamboyant t-shirts or shirts, especially if they have logos or words that might be offensive.
We would recommend that you bring a few collared shirts not only for religious sites but also for going out at night.
Shoes
There is a big variety of activities to do in Morocco, so you may need to bring different types of shoes depending on your plan. Here are some general tips;
A comfortable and closed-toe shoe is a must for long day-tours. The shoes must be comfortable and have a good grip on uneven surfaces.
You might need hiking boots or sneakers for visiting the Atlas Mountains.
You can bring a pair of sandals if you are visiting in the summer.
Flip-flops can be useful at traditional hammams, and hotels and guest houses.
Tech & Gear
Exploring the narrow streets of cities in Morocco can be challenging, but you can minimize the challenge with the right equipment and maximize your joy.
If you plan to spend a lot of time walking around, you would need to bring a lightweight and foldable backpack. It helps a lot to bring one that has anti-theft zippers. Also, you can bring lockable cables for your luggage to keep them safe if you need to leave it in a luggage storage room.
Morocco uses the C and E plug types that have two circular prongs, just like the ones in Europe. The supply voltage is 220 V and 50 Hz.
Besides a regular charger, you can also bring a portable power bank to charge your electronics if you are away from any plug points.
A reusable water bottle with a filtration system will be useful to prevent an upset stomach.
You can bring a headlamp or torch for desert-stays.
Medication and Toiletries
With the coronavirus traveling the world faster than any Instagram influencer, it is only a matter of time before it creates an outbreak in Africa. Don’t worry, though, all you need is to give extra attention to personal hygiene by packing necessary toiletries.
Hand sanitizer is as important as your passport at this point. Some toilets in small cities may not have soap, in which case your hand sanitizer should compensate.
By the same logic, try to carry toilet papers or paper towels with you in case there is none in the toilets of the places you will visit.
Sun cream with 50 SPF will protect you from sunlight.
If you bring your own small towel, you will minimize your contact with other people’s germs when drying your hands and face.
Food poisoning can be inevitable in Africa, or your stomach may find spicy food difficult to handle. In any case, Imodium or activated charcoal will cleanse your stomach from germs and regulate the water & mineral levels in your body.
If you are flying overseas from the US or Australia, it might be helpful to bring natural Jet Lag Relief tablets to adjust faster.
Bring deodorants and wet wipes since you will be sweating a lot during long day tours.
Documents
Your passport should include at least one empty page for a stamp. Also, it should be valid for at least six more months after the end of your trip.
Morocco does not require a tourist visa for up to 90 days from many countries, such as the EU countries, the UK, and the US.
Luggage
The type of luggage you bring to Morocco also matters because you might need to carry it for long distances. For instance, cars cannot enter the medinas, so you would have to get to the riad on foot. Medinas in Marrakesh and Fez can contain many narrow and steep streets, with lots of garbage and horse dump. That’s why we would recommend that you bring luggage with two wheels. The best option would be a duffle style wheelie bag, which you can carry like a backpack or shoulder bag if need be.
Travel Insurance
If you want to get covered in an unfortunate case of injury, and stolen or lost items, you have to get travel insurance for the duration of your trip. World Nomads offers the most extensive travel insurance packages that will cover you and your essentials.
Morocco Packing List: What Not To Pack
Based on what we mentioned in the previous sections, here are some items that you should avoid packing for Morocco.
Tight jeans, or jeans tears and holes at the knee
Shorts above knee-level (for both men and women)
Short skirts
Revealing tank-tops, sleeves t-shirts
High heeled stilettos or boots
Fancy jewelry
Morocco Packing List: Other Packing Tips
Use packing cubes to fit more clothes without stuffing your luggage.
If you are going to camp in the Sahara Desert or the Atlas Mountains, you should bring your camping gear and sleeping bag.
Morocco Packing List: Conclusion
Morocco is a fairly safe country, and full of authentic sites. With sufficient preparation and precautions, there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy your trip to Morocco. We hope that you will find our article helpful.
Morocco Packing List: FAQ
In general, you should avoid any clothing that reveals shoulders, rear, and knees. You can be more flexible about what to wear in Marrakech because the big cities are less strict about the dress code, but you will attract a lot of unwanted attention and judging looks in rural areas with the wrong outfit.
Overall, the best strategy is to pack long pants, as well as loose-fitting, lightweight, and long-sleeved clothes.
Unlike some countries in the Middle East, women CAN wear bikinis at the beach, but they would have to go back to modest clothing the moment they leave the beach. 
It is legal to bring alcohol from outside up to 1 litre.
As we mentioned earlier, Morocco is much more tolerant compared to, say, Saudi Arabia. Neither tourists nor Moroccan women are required to cover their heads. If they do, that is purely based on their personal choice.
