Spectacularly diverse, Morocco combines deserts, mountains, seas, sun and snow.  Morocco is only 14 km away from Spain, across the strait of Gibraltar.  The Atlas mountain range splits the country in half, separating the fertile plains from the beaches of the Atlantic coast.  The middle atlas range reaches an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level, and oak and cedar forests, grasslands and small lakes surround it.  The Rif Mountains stretch along the north coast.  In the south, bordering the Anti-Atlas, the gorges have rivers that flow until they drain into the endless sands of the enormous Sahara.

In Morocco, various climates exist within a few hours travel from each other: from the snow-capped Atlas to the desert to the beach.  The average annual daylight hours are over eight hours a day in Agadir, Fez, Marrakech and Ouarzazate, with an average temperature of 21 º Celsius.

Whether planning to go to the beach or to the mountains, it is important to know the temperatures and weather conditions in Morocco each season.  Such data can be found at http://www.marocmeteo.com/

Arabic is the official language and French is co-official language.  The everyday language spoken in the streets are the Arabic and Berber dialects.  A lot of Moroccans also speak Spanish and/or English.

The Moroccan currency is the Dirham (DH), composed of 100 cents.  There are 10, 50, 100 and 200 DHs paper notes denominations and 1, 5 and 10 DHs coin denominations as well as 5, 10, 20 and 50-cent coin denominations.

Exchanging money on the street is illegal.  For your own interest, you should only exchange money in banks or official establishments (recognizable by their gold emblems).

Credit cards are widely accepted in big hotels, boutiques and restaurants and sometimes even in the souks.

You can check currency exchange rates at this website:
http://www.xe.com/ucc

Outlets have an electrical voltage of 220 Volts and use European style plugs.

• Riads: These are traditional Moroccan houses usually made up of two or three floors and a courtyard.  Riads are private homes that began being restored in the 70s.  Many of these old houses have been completely renovated and converted into guesthouses full of character and charm, offering exceptional service in fantastically re-decorated buildings rebuilt in a traditional way.
• Hotels: Since Morocco is a popular destination for many people; the country offers countless hotel options for your stay – from luxurious 5-star hotels to alternative, more economical ones.  The range of prices, services and locations is extensive.  Most hotels offer a wide range of facilities including swimming pools, bar & restaurants, spas, hammams & massage parlors, and, most commonly, room service, internet access, telephone and fax, among other amenities.
• Kasbahs: These are fortified buildings, made of adobe, decorated with traditional Moroccan art, typical of Berber architecture.  Staying in Kasbahs will give you a glimpse of how Morocco used to be in older times.  Inside the Kasbahs, there is luxury and tradition aplenty.
• Aubergues: Here you can experience Moroccan hospitality in the warm contact that tourists get in these shelters.  This type of accommodation allows you to discover the local way of life in a much deeper sense.  The hostels or guesthouses offer authenticity while maintaining austere comfort.

Moroccan cuisine combines vegetables & fruits steeped in the sun, extraordinary & fragrant spices and delicate fish and flavorful meat, all in a refined way.

Here are some of the main Moroccan dishes, the ones that shouldn’t be missed:
•    Brochette
•    Couscous: you could taste thousands of different couscous, as they vary by region and according to chef creativity.
•    Méchúí: roasted lamb cooked on a grill or in an oven.
•    Pastilla:  a thin, puffy pastry stuffed with pigeon and almonds.
•    Harira: a soup with meat, lentils and chickpeas.
•    Beghrir: small honeycomb cakes served with melted butter and honey.
•    Shebbakia: cakes fried in oil and coated with honey.
•    Tajine: terra cotta platter decorated with typical conical lids, usually consisting of: meat ragut, chicken, fish and stewed vegetables.
•    Tea with Mint: useful to relax, revive and tone. It is usually served during the morning and after meals while it can always be served at any time.
•    Pastries: cakes, honey, grain gazelle, feqqas with almonds, raisins, ghoriba with almonds, sesame...

Morocco is, without a doubt, a shopper’s paradise.  In all cities, towns and villages, one can always find something that captivates their interest: be it carpets, ceramics, embroidery, marquetry, fossils, handmade jewelry, among many other products.

International traffic regulations are in effect in Morocco.  Drive on the right side of the road.  A green card is required as well as current registration papers of the vehicle.  If you plan to travel with your own car, all the paperwork needs to be current, and if traveling with a borrowed car, a document signed by the owner stating that you are authorized to drive it is needed. This is important because the Moroccan authorities will not allow you to enter the car into the country without the necessary paperwork.

Nuestros choferes-guía son gente del país, que forman parte de nuestro equipo durante todo el año. Son gente sencilla, amable, que les harán de traductores, les acompañarán y guiarán durante su viaje.

En las medinas las visitas se realizarán con guías locales.

Many airlines offer flights to various airports in Morocco.  Traveling by sea is an alternative that, while slower, is more romantic.
To organize your trip, we offer a variety of different travel options, catering to the details of your trip (i.e. duration, budget, etc.)
Once you are in Morocco, all our logistics will be at your disposal so you can move around the country.  Whether you bring your own vehicle, want to rent a car (with or without a driver), come with your motorbike, rent a quad bike, horse, mule, or camel, or even travel by foot ... we have you covered!

Before strating the trip, XalucaTours will give you all the contact numbers in case you need it.