What to pack for Morocco, the complete list

A practical packing list, organized by category. Skip what doesn’t apply. The full list weighs about 8 kg / 18 lbs in a carry-on.

Clothing, the basics

Cover shoulders and knees in cities (full dress guide). Loose, breathable, modest fabrics. Light colors in summer, layers in winter.

Women

• 4–5 t-shirts or short-sleeve blouses
• 1–2 long-sleeve light shirts (sun protection, mosques, cool evenings)
• 2–3 pairs loose trousers (linen, light cotton)
• 1–2 long skirts or maxi dresses
• 1 cardigan or light jacket
• 1 scarf (multi-purpose, sun, mosques, hair-cover, modesty)
• Underwear for 7 days max (you can wash anywhere)
• 1 swimsuit (riad pools, coast)
• Pajamas (riads are cold at night in winter)

Men

• 4–5 t-shirts or polos
• 1 button-down for nicer dinners
• 2–3 pairs trousers / chinos
• 1 pair knee-length shorts (beach, riad pool, not for medinas)
• 1 light jacket or hoodie
• Underwear for 7 days
• 1 swimsuit
• Pajamas

Footwear (most important category)

• Comfortable walking shoes / trail runners, medinas are cobblestone, sometimes mud. You’ll walk 8–15 km/day.
• 1 pair sandals or flip-flops (riads, beach, shower)
• 1 pair nicer shoes if you have rooftop dinner plans (optional)

Skip: heels, brand-new shoes you haven’t broken in, white sneakers (will be brown by day 2).

Toiletries

Pack the essentials but don’t overpack, Moroccan pharmacies are excellent and have everything you’ll need.

• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shampoo/conditioner (mini sizes, riads usually provide)
• Sunscreen SPF 30+ (Moroccan pharmacies sell it but 2–3× European prices)
• Lip balm with SPF
• After-sun lotion (you’ll burn the first day)
• Hand sanitizer (small bottle)
• Wet wipes (small pack)
• Tissues / toilet paper (some public bathrooms don’t have any)
• Period products if needed (pads are everywhere, tampons rare outside city pharmacies, bring your supply)
• Any prescription medication in original packaging + a copy of the script

Health kit

A small zip pouch handles 95% of what comes up:

• Painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
• Imodium (you will use it)
• Oral rehydration salts (1–2 sachets, pharmacy carries more for 5 MAD each)
• Antihistamines (allergies, mosquito bites)
• Band-aids
• Antiseptic cream
• Motion sickness pills (winding mountain roads if you’re sensitive)

Electronics

• Phone + charger
• Power bank (10000 mAh, desert nights, long bus rides)
• EU plug adapter (Type C or E), see our power outlets guide
• Camera (or just your phone)
• Kindle / book
• Headphones
• Cable kit (USB-C / Lightning / Micro-USB as needed)

Don’t bring: US-spec hair dryers, expensive jewelry, a laptop unless you need to work.

Documents and money

• Passport (valid 6+ months from arrival date)
• 1–2 paper copies of passport (separate from the real one)
• Travel insurance details (printed)
• Riad reservation confirmation (printed)
• Two debit/credit cards (one stored separately), see our budget guide
• 100–200 € or USD cash as backup
• Driving license + International Driving Permit if renting a car

Bags

• 1 main bag (carry-on backpack or rolling case)
• 1 day bag (crossbody is better than backpack in medinas, pickpockets target backpacks)
• 1 packing cube or two (huge upgrade)
• 1 small dry bag if you’ll be at the coast or doing waterfalls
• Compression sack for laundry

Season-specific additions

Summer (June–August)

• Wide-brimmed hat
• Sunglasses (proper UV protection, not gas-station)
• Linen everything
• Cooling towel (sounds gimmicky, works in 40°C)
• Electrolyte powder/tablets
• An umbrella for sun (sounds odd, locals do it)

Winter (December–February)

• Fleece or warm jumper
• Beanie and gloves (yes, in Morocco, desert nights and Atlas Mountains)
• Warmer socks
• Hot-water bottle (riads have no heating)
• Pajamas warmer than you’d think

Atlas Mountains / trekking

• Hiking boots (broken in)
• Layering system (base, fleece, shell)
• Trekking poles (optional)
• Day pack with hydration bladder
• Headlamp + spare batteries
• Sun hat
• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm

Sahara desert trip

• Sandals AND closed shoes (sand everywhere)
• Lightweight scarf (chesh), wrap around face in sandstorms
• Warm fleece for night (desert can hit 5°C December–February)
• Headlamp
• Power bank (camp electricity is from a generator, 6 PM to midnight)
• Lots of water (camp provides but you’ll go through it)
• Wet wipes (no showers in basic camps)

Coast (Essaouira, Taghazout, Agadir)

• Windbreaker (Essaouira is notoriously windy)
• Light wetsuit if surfing (or rent locally)
• Reef-safe sunscreen

What NOT to pack

• Voltage converters for dual-voltage devices (waste of space)
• Lots of US dollars, exchange to dirham
• Drone (illegal without permit, will be confiscated at customs)
• Camo / military-pattern clothing (illegal in Morocco)
• Anything Israeli flagged (passports fine, just don’t display)
• Whiskey, wine in checked bags (more expensive than buying duty-free on arrival)
• Big jewelry, watches you’d hate to lose
• “Just in case” anything, you can buy it locally for less

What to buy locally instead of bringing

• Toiletries, pharmacies are everywhere
• Sun hat, get a local straw hat for 50 MAD
• Sandals, leather babouches, 80–150 MAD after bargaining
• A scarf (chesh), 30–80 MAD in any souk
• Snacks for long bus rides
• Cheap hair dryer if you really need one

Pro tips

• Pack 4 days of clothes, not 14. Laundry is everywhere, your riad will wash for 30–50 MAD per kg, 24 hours turnaround.
• A scarf is the single most useful item. Sun, dust, modesty, mosque entry, picnic blanket.
• Bring earplugs. Morning call to prayer is at 4–5 AM. Bonus: bus snorers, riad neighbors.
• Pack one “going-out” outfit. Rooftop bars in Marrakech are nicer than your hiking gear deserves.
• Don’t pack jeans. Heavy, hot, take forever to dry. Light trousers are better in every way.

Quick weekend bag (3–4 days)

If you’re doing a short Marrakech trip:

• 3 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 evening outfit
• Trail runners + sandals
• Tiny toiletries
• Phone + EU adapter + power bank
• Scarf, sunglasses, hat
• 1500 MAD cash + 1 card

Fits in a 20L daypack. You’ll wear half of what you packed.