Is Morocco Safe for Women Travelling Alone?
Your journey through morocco could be difficult, exhausting, frustrating, and discouraging, but it could also be filled with joy, wonder, and reward. Moroccans can be kind, welcoming, and helpful, but many say that the local men act in a way that will make your trip much less enjoyable, especially if you are a woman traveling alone. So here’s a roundup of the struggles and joys you might experience while traveling through morocco – as well as tips for women considering traveling there.
As a woman, you can travel to Morocco and enjoy a safe trip if you follow certain safety measures, but we always recommend traveling with either a male or female friend for more fun and safe trip.
Advice for women traveling alone to morocco
Use common sense:
- This goes for just about any country you visit, but even more so for a place like Morocco.
- Be smart, don’t drink too much alcohol, and behave as you would at home.
- Research unsafe neighborhoods in the cities and stay away from anything that is considered dangerous.
- Read reviews of hostels left by female travelers before booking them.
- Don’t walk alone in morocco at night: if you must, make sure you are in a group and listen to your instincts! If something doesn’t feel right, pay for a cab instead and get to your hotel or destination safely.
- Stay in hostels/hotels that have good reviews from women traveling alone:
Dealing with the local men:
- There’s not much you can do to avoid attention, but there are steps you can take to minimize it.
- It looks like you know where you’re going when you’re exploring because if you look scared, lost, and disoriented, you’ll also look like an easy target.
- When local men approach, keep your head down, avoid eye contact, and deliberately walk away. If they persist, firmly ask them to leave you alone. Ignore them if they become angry.
Cover up:
Wear long cotton pants down to your ankles, a high-neck t-shirt or long-sleeved cotton shirt, and a shawl, for example.
- And keep it loose and light so you don’t get too hot during the day.
- The girls who felt the most hassle were the ones walking around in shorts and a strappy top, but even those covered from head to toe were not left alone.
Avoid shared cabs:
Shared cabs are a cheap way to get from city to city if no buses are running. In cabs there are maybe four people in the back seat – and if you’re the only woman among them – it’s not going to be pleasant at all. Wait for a cab that you can share with women or take a bus instead.
Get travel insurance:
- Travel insurance is the most important travel essential, and if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.
- Avoid walking alone in back alleys: the key to staying safe in morocco is often not venturing too far from the crowds.
- Quiet alleys are often a favorite place for thieves.
- Remember that you don’t know the streets as well as the locals. You can easily take an alley that leads to a dead-end and put yourself in a risky situation. That being said, the most populated tourist areas are also where most thieves are found. They are looking for an easy opportunity, so keep your belongings in sight and be aware of your surroundings.
- Leave your valuables at the riad or hotel: morocco is not the place to flaunt your wealth. It will only attract more attention. Therefore, leave your flashy designer bags and jewelry at home. Also, remember to leave your passport in your hotel room safe (this goes for almost any travel destination!).
- Don’t look lost: no matter where you are in the world, you don’t want to look lost when exploring a city. Scammers will spot you from a mile away! If you have to look at your phone for directions, make sure the maps are preloaded and try to look at your device as inconspicuously as possible.
- Try to memorize it as much as possible, so you don’t have to look at it constantly.
- Always walk with purpose and keep your gaze fixed forward. This will prevent you from being noticed and looking like a damsel in distress.
- Get travel insurance for morocco. If your bag is stolen along with your new camera, you’ll want to have the peace of mind that it’s covered.