Solo Female Travel In Morocco - 14 Important Safety Tips

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Believe it or not, both times that I have travelled through Morocco I have been by myself.

The first time I visited, I didn’t even read about Morocco before I went. Let alone what to expect with solo female travel in Morocco, so I’m really happy you’ve found this page to prepare you!

Now, I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that it’s an easy country to travel solo as a woman in. In fact, that would be far from the truth. But, what I will say is that, although it’s a challenge, it’s completely doable if you exercise caution and awareness like you would in any other country that you travel solo in.

Now, because you’ve found this page, I already know that you’re an awesome woman that wants to travel on her own to Morocco! But, there are some safety tips that I think every female traveller needs to be aware of before visiting.

I would say that I am now an experienced solo female traveller, having visited and lived in countries such as Turkey, Egypt, India, UAE, and Jordan by myself. So, I’m hardened as to what to expect in a predominantly Islamic or patriarchal society.

I’ve learned some hard lessons, but I feel that I am all the better for it and wouldn’t necessarily fear travelling to a country solo (unless declared unsafe, obv) as I trust my own instincts.

Morocco is a truly beautiful country that I would encourage any woman to visit. It’s so rich in culture, home to some of the most friendly and hospitable people and there’s a colourful adventure around every corner.

So, take the leap, book the trip and follow these 14 important tips for solo female travel in Morocco – you’ll be just fine!

1. Try to keep an open mind before you visit

It seems nowadays that every man and his dog seems to chime in when you’re travelling to a country that the media deem unsafe. You can’t mention that you’re travelling to Morocco without the “is it safe?” question.

There is so much negative press about Morocco that it’s a wonder that anyone actually visits the country if this is what we based all our opinions on!

And I know it’s not just press, it’s word of mouth too. Personally, I didn’t have many bad experiences with solo female travel in Morocco, and only one isolated situation that made me feel unsafe (more on that later).

Sure, I got ripped off a few times but did that pose a threat to my safety? No. Of course, everyone’s experience is different and what happened to one person, may not necessarily happen to you.

If Morocco is a country you really want to visit, you have to look beyond the negative press. Not every person in a country is bad and when do you ever hear much good in the news?

Try to keep a positive outlook and think of all the incredible places you’ll be visiting. It really won’t be much fun if you keep recounting all the bad stories you hear in your head.

what to wear as a woman in morocco outfit inspiration

2. Research Morocco and gain an understanding of the local culture & religion

Something I think that is important is to do a little research into Morocco. Remember, you’re not here to change a country, you’re here to embrace it!

Islam is the recognised religion in Morocco and accounts for almost 99% of people practicing it. This means that it is a conservative country and a predominantly patriarchal one.

Only this year, in 2018, did Morocco introduce a violence against women law. So, although there is progress, equal rights are not quite there yet.

On that subject, it is quite common for male intimidation and catcalling to occur but mostly it’s harmless if you let it pass over your head. I’m not saying that’s the right thing to do, but as it’s not your country, it’s best to try to ignore it and move on.

The local language is Arabic and learning a few phrases can go a long way;

Hello = Salaam Alikum / Mahabah
Thank you = Shukran
You’re welcome = Afwan
How are you = Kaeef halak
Yes/No = Neam Falen/La (or La Shukran an important one!)

things to know before travelling to morocco

3. Dress conservatively – think about appropriate outfits to pack

Islam is widely practiced in Morocco with men being able to wear pretty much what they like and women needing to cover up head to toe.

You will see many women wearing a traditional abaya, burka, or conservative clothes and a hijab (scarf) on their heads. Don’t panic though, that doesn’t mean that you have to dress that way!

Tourists are given a little leeway with how to dress as locals are well aware that many tourists who are visiting Morocco aren’t Muslim. But, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make an effort to dress conservatively.

Solo female travel in Morocco means covering up your shoulders and legs to an extent (the furthest I went was having a wide-sleeved jumpsuit that showed my arms and a medium-length playsuit that showed my ankles).

I did see girls who were wearing strappy tops and shorts but I personally didn’t feel comfortable going out like that. As I was travelling solo, the last thing I needed was to draw more attention.

When you’re planning on what to wear, you should also consider the heat. Here are some recommendations that I have;

Jumpsuits – the perfect all-in-one cover-up! The great thing about these is that they come in all different patterns and are super cute as well as conservative.

Scarves/Pashminas – my ultimate weapon. A scarf is so useful in Islamic countries as not only does it cover up your shoulders but it saves you from having to borrow/buy one when entering a mosque. These can actually be bought really cheap from the souks.

Maxi dresses/skirts – These are also a great idea as you can dress them up or down how you like

Shawls – are the perfect addition to an outfit and they can keep you warm on chilly nights

Click here to read my women’s packing list for Morocco here!

travel guide fes morocco — *This cute boho playsuit was made of cotton so it was breathable, but also covered me up!*

4. Don’t be afraid to be rude

The Brit in me has definitely been kicked out in terms of politeness when I travel alone.

I no longer feel guilty about saying ‘No’. Most of the time, I walk around with a resting b**ch face as a means to protect myself. I have no qualms about being rude or strong when I need to be.

It’s not that I want to be rude, but if any men approach me in a way I deem inappropriate or try to harass me, I don’t take it lightly.

Believe me when I say that it’s better to be rude and shut whatever is happening down than for it to escalate to the point that it’s too late to leave the situation.

Trust your instincts, tell people when they make you feel uncomfortable, and don’t be afraid to cause a scene or leave the situation entirely if it escalates. Remember, you know your boundaries and you shouldn’t have to justify that to anyone, period.

5. You have a boyfriend (even if you don’t in real life!)

Isn’t it sad that your boyfriend couldn’t make it to Morocco with you this time? And, he was sick in the hotel room with food poisoning? Lol! Another one of my secret weapons.

I lost count of the number of times I was asked if I was single, married, or had a boyfriend as a solo female traveller in Morocco.

Of course every single time I told them that I had a bf/husband in the UK that couldn’t make it with me on the trip as he had to work.

If I had a pound for every time I had the same response of ‘If I was your boyfriend/husband, I wouldn’t let you go alone I would be rich. HA! If you were my boyfriend and you wouldn’t let me go alone; you wouldn’t be my boyfriend hun!

I even go as far as to screenshot a picture of me and a male friend to show them if they ask. Of course, it would be my biggest and a strongest-looking male friend to intimidate them into backing off ;).

Wear a ring, screenshot a picture of a hot guy on your phone, and lie through your teeth. You always have a boyfriend!

6. Try not to tread off the beaten path

The only time I had an incident happen was when I went somewhere alone that wasn’t on the beaten path. I actually found that, although they were chaotic, the souks were a lot safer than outside of the city walls.

The incident in question was on a walk up to the Merinid tombs in Fes. I had one guy follow me in a car up the road and beep and harass me to the point I had to cross the road to avoid him.

Another guy followed me all the way from the bus station. I never usually get spooked but as I couldn’t see anyone up at the tombs or around and I was alone, I started to panic.

Luckily, the police were up at the tombs (behind them shading from the sun) and I just burst into tears asking for help.

At once the police were like shining knights and mounted their horses to ask him why he was following me. Apparently, it was just to ask me if I wanted a tour guide but I think that’s total BS.

What I was happy about though is he didn’t come anywhere near me after that and the situation was dealt with pretty quickly.

The lesson? Always stay on the beaten track and make sure you have a means of transport available to you.

best two week itinerary morocco — *This view made it all worth it in the end!*

7. Avoid walking out alone late at night

An obvious tip but one that I feel should be said; avoid going out late at night.

Although I would go out at dinner times to grab something to eat, I would go straight back to my Riad after that. To avoid getting lost in the souks, I would set my google maps route to the restaurant and follow it straight back.

Another thing that I would do is to avoid drinking unless it’s in your Riad and it’s offered as a service. I had a drink on my last night at Riad Fes but it’s not a habit I take up much in Morocco.

As an Islamic country, they don’t have great views on the consumption of alcohol and it should be respected.

8. Rise above the staring and catcalling

Ugh, another unfortunate thing that happens in Morocco is staring and catcalling. Here are just some examples I had on a daily basis in the souks of Fes;

“Do you want a Moroccan husband?”
“Nice ass”
“Where you going beautiful girl? Look at my shop”
“Where are you from?”
“I love you”

These seem like quite harmless statements but I can tell you now they were not meant or said without harmful intent.

It’s constant and it does get annoying, grinding even. Most days, I just laughed it off, played along, others I started to get annoyed.

But, that’s what they want, to get your attention and a rise out of you. So, best to just ignore it.

Looking for more amazing solo travel destinations in the Middle East? Check out this post by Jessie on a Journey! (external link)

9. Avoid giving out your social media details

So many people would ask me for my phone number, Whatsapp, a Facebook friend request, or Instagram ad.

At first, I had a hard time saying no and as I was posting stories from Morocco on my Instagram, I was bombarded with social media messages and marriage proposals lol.

Although it is nice to make friends when you travel, I would be selective on who you give your social media details.

Adding one person could mean they send your details to others and you have a whole load of new ‘friends’ that want to bug you all the time.

Save the hassle and just politely decline. Say that you don’t have a Facebook account and your phone is off/isn’t working.

Of course, they won’t believe you but it’s better to lie than to be harassed online.

10. Don’t be afraid to make a scene or alert the police if something happens

Like my situation at the Merenid tombs, don’t be afraid to alert tourist police, make a scene or ask for help if something happens to you!

If a situation makes you feel uncomfortable or scares you, it’s better to cause a scene than to suffer in silence. Nine times out of ten, this will scare the person and get them to back off.

11. Book in at a safe Riad/hotel

This is something that may be a little harder to ensure but it’s always worth checking into a safe Riad in a central location.

The next question you’ll probably ask is; how can you ensure that it’s safe?

Well, for me I always use Booking.com to book my hotels and what’s great is they have certain categories such as solo travellers. This means you can filter reviews from people and see whether, in their experience, they found it safe being there alone.

I also look at Tripadvisor and look for ‘themes’ in reviews. Is it 24-hour security? Does it feel safe? Is it in a safe location? Are the staff friendly? These things can make a big difference to your trip.

dar seffarine best raid fes — **Dar Seffarine** was a popular choice with Solo Travellers in Fes!

12. Look and act confident

Easier said than done but there’s a time-old saying that if you act like a victim you’ll most likely become one.

Look, act and walk with confidence. Try to look like you know where you’re going and hold your head up high.

Make sure you have data on your phone, so you can use Google maps and don’t have to ask for directions and end up on the wrong side of town.

To avoid being ripped off, act like you know (or research) the prices already, tell them you’ve been in Morocco a while or even better you live there (even if it’s your first day).

Confidence can go a long way in ensuring that you’re safe. Act like you know what you’re doing and people will think you know what you’re doing! I may sound crazy, but try it for yourself and see the difference it makes in how people treat you.

13. Don’t let any taxi drivers ‘bring a friend’

Something that really started to annoy me was the number of taxi drivers that would pick up their ‘friends’. Of course, I would be paying for their trip as I would see no money being paid to the cab driver as he came out.

One time, in Chefchaouen, we were even waiting outside someone’s house to pick up a kid for school – that’s when I lost it.

Why was I paying for people to be in my cab? Sorry, but I had no idea if it was a kid or someone else that wanted to harm me. So, I made him drive off. Not to mention I had a bus to catch that he was making me late for.

I didn’t know these people from Adam and it’s a lot harder to fight off two people than one. So, I just flat out refused if someone got in the cab after that. It may sound harsh, but you don’t know where they may take you or what could happen to you!

Don’t let ‘friends’ get in the cab if you’re alone. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

14. My biggest tip of all; embrace solo female travel in Morocco!

Some of the above tips and advice may be hard to hear but they are not meant to ward you off! I just wanted to ensure that you were prepared for some of the challenges that come with Solo female travel in Morocco.

The positives of this beautiful country far outweigh the negatives.

Morocco is incredibly diverse and is full of friendly faces, yummy food, beautiful cities, and gorgeous riads and it’s definitely an adventure you won’t forget in a hurry.

So, don’t miss out and end up regretting it. You are more powerful and stronger than you think. Go with confidence and surety that you can hold your head up high and travel safely and responsibly as a woman in Morocco.

You have got this girl – go for it!