Know the Moroccan Culture Before Traveling

As with travel to all locations in the world it is important to respect the social and cultural norms of Morocco. This will ensure that you are welcomed and get the best possible reaction from our hosts.

Morocco is mainly Muslim in its religious observation and as such many of its customs stem from Islamic beliefs. You will certainly notice the 'call to prayer' in Marrakech and up in the mountains at Imlil. The Moroccan staff will also disappear at various points during the day to pray. Here are a few cultural tips to keep in mind while preparing for your next Morocco cultural tours:

Greeting: The usual verbal greeting would be "Salam oo-alley koom" or just "Salam" and in most cases a handshake. The normal reply would be "Oo-alley koom salam". Sometimes people will touch their ear or kiss their hand directly after shaking your hand, as a mark of particular respect or affection. A lot of Moroccans, especially those who regularly deal with tourists will simple say "hello", "Bonjour" etc based on their assessment of where they think you are from!

Conduct: Try to conduct yourselves in a generally calm and reasonably quiet manner. As a guide simply observe the local Moroccans around you and try not to be significantly louder or more boisterous than them.

Affection: Public displays of affection between a male and a female, such as kissing, is not considered appropriate and should be avoided. You may notice Moroccan men walking or standing holding hands; this is normal between good friends and does not indicate anything beyond platonic friendship.

Food: It is common for food to be eaten with your hand from a communal tagine or dish. You may therefore be offered a bowl to wash your hands in before eating. In this situation you just hold your hands over the bowl and the host will pour water over them to allow you to wash.

Haggling: As with many nations, there is a culture of negotiating prices in Morocco. If there is a price marked on an object then it is almost certainly inappropriate to negotiate on the price unless perhaps you are buying many items at once. However, if the price is not marked then you may begin the fine art of haggling.

Taking Photos: When you’re walking through the markets, be careful about taking photos of people and shops. Unless you are purchasing something, they may get angry at you and even demand money for the photos.

By following these useful tips your Morocco vacation tour will be definitely a memorable one. Last but not the least; choose your Morocco tour package wisely.


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