Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy.
Population: 30,122,350 (July 2000 est.)
Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Capital: Rabat
Major Cities: Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Duty Free: International
Links: CLIMATE, THINGS TO DO, COST, HOTELS, VISAS & INNCOCULATIONS, USEFUL PHRASES

Although it is only an hour to Spain by ferry, Morocco seems a world away from it’s European neighbour. Its closeness to Spain makes it an ideal starting place for the traveller to Africa.

You go there with the expectations of mosques, busy open air markets, kasbah’s and street traders, and for the majority of the time you will not be disappointed, it has all these things and more.

Casablanca, Marrakech and Tangiers, all names of places that can’t help but conjure up these images even if they do seem a magic carpet ride away.

Anyone who as ever seen Casablanca immortalised by Hollywood as the exotic destination for the story of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman to take place, will no doubt have pre-conceived ideas of what to expect on arrival. However, they may be disappointed. Casablanca isn’t the sleepy dive as seen in the films, but is Morocco’s largest city where designer suits and sunglasses are de rigueur and the more traditional dress seems strangely out of place.

The former capital Marrakech, is a lively place known for its festivals and markets. It isn’t out of the ordinary to see jugglers, snake charmers and acrobats whilst going about your daily business.

The heart of Marrakech is a huge square in the old city; the ‘Place Djemaa al-Fna’. Here the markets are some of the best in Morocco and the open air food stalls fill the air with aromas that would challenge even the moistest of mouths not to water.

Rabat is the capital of Morocco. It is a city that mixes the past with the very modern, influences from both Islam and Europe are evident. For every place of worship you may pass on your travels, you will also have seen at least three European style cafes.

The oldest, and the most ravishing and mystical city of Morocco is Fes, which has one of the largest medieval cities in the world, where the surrounding gates and walls only add to the magnificence of it all.

Tangier is probably the most popular entry port for tourists, an easy ferry ride from Spain and Gibraltar. Situated on the most Northern tip of Morocco it still remains strongly international, famous for its kasbahs. It can also boast some of the world’s finest hustlers!

The southern coast of Morocco stretches to the Western Sahara, and is as warm as would be expected.

The climate in the north and central areas are Mediterranean and so expect winter to be warm and wet while summer is hot and dry. The Mountains are hot in the day and cold at night, and in the higher regions winter can be very cold in deed.

The rainy season ranges from November to April and the rainfall can vary from 4-10 inches depending which region you are in.

The Banks in Morocco are open 8.30-11.30am and 2.30-4.30pm Monday to Friday (With a longer lunch break on Friday)

Shops are open 8-6 Monday to Friday, and some close for lunch.

Never been to a mosque before? After visiting Morocco you could almost call yourself an expert!

In Rabat there is the most famous site of Tour Hassan, the unfinished minaret of the great mosque, unfinished as an earthquake halted any further construction in 1755.

The Kasbah des Oudais houses the museum of traditional art, which used to be a former palace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Also there is Morocco’s best Archaeology Museum, in the ancient city of Sala (also known as Chella) just outside the city walls.

In Casablanca there is the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and definitely worth a look. Also in the ancient quarter is the Place Mohammed V, a square where you can find some of the most impressive Mauresque architecture in the country.

In Marrakesh there are the Koutoubia mosque, which is magnificent and the Palais Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts). Both of these sites are worth the visit in the ancient quarter, and are accessible by train or bus from both Casablanca and Rabat.

As well as housing some of the world’s finest hustlers, Tangier also houses great museums. The American Legation Museum reminds those who visit, often surprisingly so, that Morocco was the first country to recognise the Independence of America. Whereas the Dar el-Makhzen was formerly a 17^th century sultan’s palace and is now a good museum to visit.

However, it is the kasbah that the majority of visitors are interested in. In Petit Socco, the prove to be a great reminder of the days when Tangier was a playground for those with a taste for the seedier things in life!

Morocco is famous for it’s leather – said to be the softest in the world. It is plentiful in the markets throughout the country along with rugs, jewellery and woodwork. If you want to bring back more than just memories then a single trip to the kasbah will suffice!

Whatever it is you may be looking for in your holiday, there is a very good chance you’ll find it somewhere in Morocco. Whether it be visiting the ancient mosques or palaces, getting a henna tattoo in a market in Fes, shopping in the major cities or simply laying on a beach getting a tan. It is all possible here in Morocco.

Lonely Planet: Morocco – Frances Linzee Gordon, et al (Paperback – 6 January 1998)

Morocco Modern – Herbert Ypma (Paperback – 21 October 1996)

The Rough Guide to Morocco – Mark Ellingham, et al (Paperback – September 1998)

Footprint Morocco Handbook: The Travel Guide – Justin McGuinness (Paperback – May 1999)

Morocco is a place where orthodox religion and local custom have reached a compromise.

There are festivals that occur however Islam, like Christianity is made up of different sects, and many of the festivals don’t take place on any fixed dates.

At May time there is a chance to see the ‘moors of the Sahara’ (Mousseum of Sidi Mohammed M’a al-Anim) and the commercial gathering of the tribes.

There is a ten day event for tourists with dancers, entertainers and musicians from all over the country – The National Folklore Festival of Marrakech.

The Marrakech Popular Arts Festival is held every year (11-20 June 2001), making the already busy city even more so for the ten days it is on.

And in October Erfoud, a small northern town has a festival to honour the date (small dessert fruit not as in today’s…)

Morocco offers plenty of choice in terms of places to eat and drink, to suit all budgets.

You can expect to pay anything from around £5-10 to £15-20 for a meal, with the drinks costing in the region of £1-2 for soft drinks, the same for local beer, and around £5/6 for a bottle of wine.

Imported drinks are more expensive in general, and it is possible to pay a great deal more for the food if you wish to and budget is not an issue, cost often reflects the quality of the meal.

In the capital of Rabat the hotel prices range from £40 per night to £100 per night in hotels such as the Chellah, Kenzi Ourida or the Tour Hassan Meridian.

If you are staying in Marrakech however, the prices are similar costing around £70/80 per night in the Kenzi Semiramis for example, but is it still possible to pay £50/60 for rooms in the Kenza, Amine or Nassim hotels.

In Casablanca, hotels such as Kenzi Basma, El Kandara and the Hyatt Regency once again vary in price, costing from around £50/60 per night to around £80/90 per night.

As with most places it is possible for all travellers to find a hotel to suit their budget.

Visitors to Morocco need a passport valid for at least three months. Visas are not generally required, but please do check first.

Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid immunisation is recommended. Please seek professional advice, these are only guidelines.

The usual health advice applies as with most foreign countries. Don’t drink the tap water or consume ice in drinks. Drink bottled water or use purification tablets.

Take care against dehydration and over exposure to the sun, by drinking lots of (bottled) water and use high factor sun creams.

In both Arabic (phonetic) and French