Solo Female Travel in Morocco: A Detailed Guide

Morocco probably isn’t the first destination you’d think of when planning a solo trip, but if you look beyond the clickbait headlines and scaremongering anecdotes, there are certainly ways to explore this North African gem while traveling solo.

After visiting Morocco twice, solo for some of that time as well as traveling on a group tour, I’ve got loads of valuable tips and tricks to ensure your solo trip to Morocco is unforgettable in all the best ways:

Is Morocco Safe For Solo Female Travelers?

While there are definitely some considerations to make before heading to Morocco alone, solo female travelers can still have a safe and enjoyable trip. Here are some important safety-related things to know before your trip:

Common Scams in Morocco

The most common scams are seemingly nice locals showing you the way to your hotel or a shortcut through the souks before they demand an expensive tip at the end, henna artists drawing on you without you realising or doing a bigger henna piece than you asked for and then asking for payment, or taxi drivers refusing to use the meter and charging you loads.

The best way to avoid these scams is to keep your wits about you in busy places like the medina, don’t follow random people and pre-book tour guides and taxis through your hotel or a reputable online travel website. That being said, I haven’t personally experienced or witnessed any scamming in Morocco.

Taxis

Taxis can be an annoying and stressful part of any solo trip to Morocco, especially in Marrakech, where drivers are renowned for ripping off tourists.

The safest and easiest way to catch a cab in Morocco is to get your hotel to organize one for you, this way you’ll know it’s legitimate and they’re less likely to scam you as they’ll want the hotel to use them again.

Whether you order one from where you’re staying or you hail a cab on the street, before starting the trip you should make sure the taxi meter is on. If they refuse (many Marrakech drivers won’t switch on the meter even when asked) then you can negotiate the price up front to ensure you won’t be caught out. Try and keep some small change on you so you can pay taxi fares without requiring change, another common way to take advantage of tourists is by saying they have no coins or notes to give back to you.

In one of the petite taxis (a sedan-style car with space for three passengers) I took from my hotel to the medina, the driver stopped about half way to pick up a local couple who were hailing a cab from the side of the street. I was super uncomfortable with this, I didn’t want to be alone in a car with three people speaking a language I couldn’t understand, so I ended up paying for half the negotiated fare and walking the rest of the way. The driver was clearly annoyed at this and yelled at me as he drove off, but as a solo female traveller it’s so important to listen to your gut, and my gut was telling me to get out!

Unwanted attention

If you’re ever in a situation where you feel your safety is compromised, please get to somewhere you feel safe and seek help. In Morocco that might mean a shop or restaurant with lots of tourists, a reputable hotel, or a medical centre.

But in terms of the lighter end of unwanted attention, like men leering, trying to get your attention as you walk through the souks or taunting you, Morocco is notorious for its high level of street harassment. This sadly often comes down to a lack of respect for women and an unfortunate negative perception of Western women in particular.

While it can be incredibly uncomfortable to deal with, it is important to note that most of these disconcerting situations are unlikely to be malicious. Some ways to ignore their attempts to get your attention are:

• Avoid eye contact, wearing sunglasses can make this easier
• Wear headphones or Airpods to help you drown out anyone trying to talk to you
• Walk with purpose and act like you know where you’re going in the souks, even if you don’t. If you need to check a map then walk into a busy cafe or restaurant and check your directions in there so you don’t look like you need help in the middle of the streets.
• Don’t acknowledge them if you can help it
• If that doesn’t work, yell ‘hshouma’ loudly which means ‘shame’ and is likely to get them to back off to avoid embarrassment

Petty crime

Petty crime like pickpocketing and bag snatching are a problem in busy tourist areas, particularly in the bustling souks or on the beach where tourists tend to let their guard down and leave bags on the ground.

Keep your valuables out of sight if you can, use a cross-body bag with a zip, and leave expensive jewellery at home. If you have a fancy camera you might want to take a small sling bag or backpack to put your camera in rather than wear it around your neck.

What to Wear in Morocco

Figuring out what to wear in a conservative country is always a key aspect of solo female travel, and in Morocco your dress code really depends on where you’re going.

After spending two days in Marrakech it was clear to me that the city isn’t conservative as I expected. You’ll probably see young local women and tourists alike wearing shorts and singlets for example, but wearing modest clothing will help you blend into the crowd if you’re concerned about unwanted attention.

If you’re visiting smaller towns, rural areas or community-led projects like cooperatives or homestays then you’ll need to dress conservatively to be respectful, with your shoulders and knees covered, avoiding tight-fitting clothing or low cut tops.

Comfort is key in Morocco, especially in the warmer months from March to November, so loose-fighting, breathable clothing is best. I spent most of my time there in floaty pants, lightweight t-shirts or blouses and flowy dresses.

Getting Around Morocco As A Solo Traveler

For comfort and convenience, and if money isn’t a problem, hiring a private driver or booking private transfers between cities might be best for you. Expect to spend $150-200USD per day doing this, with the ability to negotiate a lower rate for a longer trip. You can also book private tour guides in any main city or tourist spots like Aït Benhaddou.

If you’re looking for cheap and cheerful, Morocco does have a decent public transport network that connects major cities. You can easily train between Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech, and there are buses that service hot spots in the east and south like Merzouga, Essaouira and Tangier.

Shared taxis (grands taxis) are another option that’s still affordable while being a bit more efficient, though solo female travelers should consider whether they’re keen for a multi-hour drive in a small car with six strangers. If you do opt for this way to get from A to B then you could pay for two places in order to ensure an empty seat next to you and avoid being cramped next to a random man.

But perhaps the best way for a solo female traveler to experience Morocco without having to worry about safety and comfort would be to book a group tour. On my most recent trip I had some solo time in Marrakech before joining a G Adventures tour that went to Todra Gorge, Aït Benhaddou, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira and Taghazout. We had a legendary local guide who gave us so much insight into local history and culture, got to experience some incredible highlights of Morocco and had ready-made travel buddies to explore with, it was absolutely ideal.

How to Stay Safe in Morocco as A Solo Female Traveler

To help you see the best of Morocco without experiencing the worst, here are some indispensable tips for planning your trip:

Read reviews before booking

Before booking your hotel or signing up for any tours, be sure to check reviews from recent travelers on Google, social media, TripAdvisor or booking.com. Pay special attention to comments or ratings about the location, staff and overall safety, those things are deal-breakers when you’re travelling by yourself.

In the tourist centres there are loads of stalls advertising day trips and activities like horse riding and quad biking etc., but make sure you Google the company before booking to make sure they have an online presence. Not only does this mean you can check reviews before committing to anything, it also means you can leave your own review if you have a bad experience to warn other solo female travelers.

Don’t tell people you’re solo

I personally don’t subscribe to the whole ‘wear a fake wedding ring’ idea to protect yourself as a solo female traveler, but I definitely make a conscious effort to keep my solo-ness under wraps unless talking to someone I trust. Taxi drivers, waitstaff and shopkeepers don’t need to know that I’m by myself, so I’ll often drop in a mention of my sick boyfriend at the hotel or my friends that I’m travelling with who are meeting me for lunch.

Ask other solo female travelers for recommendations

Facebook groups like Girls Love Travel, Gals Who Travel and the Solo Female Traveler Network are a goldmine for information. Use the search function to find posts on the places you’re visiting, or if you need any specific recommendations you can ask in the group and hopefully hear back from other solo girls who have visited Morocco recently.

Book transport in advance

No one wants to arrive in a new country and navigate a crowd of pushy taxi drivers straight after a long flight. I’d recommend pre-booking your airport transfer online or through your hotel, just to make sure your introduction to Morocco goes as smoothly as possible.

READ NEXT: 13 things to remember when you land in a new country

Get comprehensive travel insurance

Travel insurance won’t stop bad things from happening, but it can certainly lessen the hassle and stress of dealing with the fallout if something bad does happen. A good travel insurance policy will cover your personal belongings, medical emergencies and additional costs due to delays or cancellations in case your trip hits a speed bump. At BMTM, we recommend World Nomads, SafetyWing and Faye Travel Insurance.

Understand the difference between feeling unsafe and feeling uncomfortable

When we travel solo we’re bound to step outside of our comfort zone. In unfamiliar situations our fight or flight response is switched on, which in turn makes us ultra-aware of our surroundings and any potential risks.

It’s always important to trust your instincts, if something feels off you should leave if you can and seek help, but it’s important to distinguish between situations that are genuinely unsafe and those that are simply unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Your radar for danger is fine-tuned every time you travel solo so don’t expect to be able to perfectly read every suspicious scenario immediately, but a simple consideration of ‘am I in danger or just uncomfortable’ can help you navigate those solo travel moments with confidence.

This realization was a real game changer for me as a solo female traveler, so I hope it helps you too.

I hope this detailed guide to solo travel in Morocco has put your mind at ease about solo female travel safety, and given you some practical tips to protect yourself and ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.

In places like Morocco it can sometimes feel like there’s a thin line between an enriching travel experience and a risky situation, but with these guidelines you’re well on your way to planning a safe, comfortable and enjoyable trip. Safe travels!

About the author: Alexx is a Kiwi full-time solo female traveller and travel blogger, who shares all her adventures and misadventures at Finding Alexx. She lives on the road most of the year, searching for the most epic things to do and places to stay, and is on a mission to encourage and empower other women to travel without waiting for someone to go with.