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If you’re wondering what to pack for Morocco, then it probably means you already understand this isn’t going to be like packing for your average trip. I stress about a lot of things but what to pack when I travel is not typically one of them.

At this point, I mostly wear the same clothes all the time (sue me) and I’ve traveled enough to know what I need to bring just about anywhere. But figuring out what to wear in Morocco and what else to bring was something new for me.

What to wear in Morocco

As a woman, there are lots of “rules” and expectations about how to dress in Morocco (and pretty much nothing that applies to men because of course). Not only that, but almost nothing in my closet fit the bill. I did have to buy some new things for this trip, but not everyone will.

Read on for everything I learned about what to pack for Morocco, what to wear in Morocco as a woman, and what you can leave behind. Then be sure to snag my complete printable Morocco packing checklist before you go!

Also read: The 10 Things I Learned in Morocco I Hope to Never Forget.

You don’t need to bring a Fez; they’ll give you one.

Morocco packing list: What to keep in mind

When deciding how to fill out your Morocco packing list, take these 3 things into consideration:

  • When you’ll be taking your trip to Morocco
  • Where all you will travel in Morocco
  • What activities you’ll be doing while you’re there

When you’ll visit Morocco and where you’ll go

Even though deserts may come to mind when you think of traveling to Morocco, there’s much more to consider here. Yes, it can get super hot in Morocco, but it can also get super cold too. And windy, and snowy, and dry, and everything in between.

You’ll experience the hottest temperatures in Morocco between late March and October mostly, but that also depends on where in Morocco you’ll be. Yes, there are deserts but there’s also the snow-covered Atlas Mountains and ski resorts. There’s also a noticeable difference between north and south Morocco.

huge snowy mountains at the end of a dirt road
Yes, this is Morocco too!

Your planned activities

While packing for trips is mostly basic stuff, Morocco holds a bunch of new and exciting activities you’ve probably never packed for before. Camel trekking and desert camping, for starters. Don’t forget to bring the things you’ll need specifically for those activities.

Where will you be heading in Morocco? Be sure to check out this list of the best cities to visit in Morocco for a trip you’ll never forget!

What to wear in Morocco as a woman

As a woman, I stressed out a lot about what to pack for Morocco. Morocco is a majority Muslim country with a government based on Islamic law and societal norms and expectations based on Islamic traditions and beliefs. And not being Muslim myself… umm, say what now?

What this means is that women in Morocco typically dress conservatively and wear some sort of head covering—a headscarf, a hijab, or even a niqab (with only the eyes showing).

Typical dress for Moroccan men and women

Regardless, as one of the more progressive Islamic countries out there, Morocco does not require nor expect female tourists visiting Morocco to follow the same norms, if you are not Muslim and/or will not be entering any religious sites. I repeat: If you are not Muslim, you are free to dress however you like as a woman in Morocco.

However (a very big however), despite what the official/unofficial Morocco dress code is, you should always learn about, consider, and do your best to respect the local culture of the place you’re visiting. This goes for Morocco and literally all other cultures everywhere on the planet.  

Always ask before taking someone’s photo here. The women of the Tawesna Tea House and I had the same scarves!

Woman should dress conservatively in Morocco

So, when figuring out what to wear in Morocco as a woman, always err on the side of conservative. You don’t need to worry about covering your hair, but you should follow these guidelines:

  • Keep your shoulders, knees, chest, and midriffs covered.
  • Keep your clothes loose and flowy; avoid tight-fitting tops and pants.
  • Avoid deep v-necks and cleavage, short shorts and skirts, spaghetti straps, etc.

These aren’t hard and fast rules, but they are the guidelines for visiting Morocco respectfully. This is also the best way to avoid standing out as a clueless tourist, attracting unwanted attention or harassment, and offending any locals.

My friend Kellie showing us how it’s done

In this post I’ll show you what I wore as a woman in Morocco and give you some concrete examples of what you can add to your own Morocco packing list.   

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter and you are not required to cover your head to do so. 

At the mosque in Casablanca

What to wear in Morocco in March

I visited Morocco in early March—that transitional period between cool weather and warm weather when packing is probably the hardest. Especially in a place like Morocco where we encountered both freezing cold days and blazing hot ones.

Morocco weather in March

It was overcast and chilly in places like Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Meknes, Rabat, and Fez. It was pretty cold (and super windy) overnight in the Sahara, but we never needed to turn the heat on in our tent. All of our Morocco hotel rooms and riads came with big heavy blankets to sleep under.

Average March temperatures in these cities hover around 55°F at night but barely flirt with 70°F during the day. It was here that I coined the terms “inside pants” and “outside pants” because I was indeed wearing two bottom layers most of the time. I’ll talk more about that in a minute.

At Aït Benhaddou

But it was warm in places like the Dades Valley, Merzouga, Aït Benhaddou, and most definitely in Marrakech where temps finally hit over 90°F. (This is my happy place. I only needed one pair of pants here, woohoo!)

Rain in Morocco in March

As far as precipitation, it rained just two days out of my two weeks in Morocco—in Casablanca and Chefchaouen. Even then, the sun came out for the second half of the day. The rest of the trip was almost all sun except for a couple of cloudy days at the beginning.

Everything I’m going to show you in this post as far as what to pack for Morocco can be worn in both the chilly temperatures of March and the hot blazing summer, with just a few adjustments.

Rainy and cold in Casablanca

Also read: 9 Random Things Under $15 That Make My Trips So Much Easier

What to pack for Morocco: clothing

The main things to remember when coming up with what clothes to pack for Morocco: keep it loose; keep it long. In other words, always cover your shoulders, knees, tummies, boobs.

Tops for Morocco

Here are the tops I packed for Morocco:

The majority of tops I own are either tank tops, crop tops, or tight tops. So for Morocco I had to make sure I had some that were long enough to cover my butt when I wanted to wear leggings, had sleeves to cover my shoulders, and enough material to obscure what my body actually looks like. We’re trying to leave as much to the imagination as possible here, people.

Covering my bum in Volubilis because we all know how modest the ancient Romans were

The key to packing for Morocco (especially in March) is layers. I brought a bunch of lightweight t-shirts that I could wear on their own and a couple of lightweight pullovers to wear over them when it was chilly. I also brought a leather jacket to wear over that for the really cold days.  

Bottoms for Morocco

Here are the bottoms I packed for Morocco:

When deciding what to pack for Morocco as far as bottoms are concerned, I was indeed concerned. All the pants I own are tight-fitting. For this, I had to make some purchases.

Turns out joggers are perfect since they’re not super flowy but they aren’t skin-tight either. I wore these with my standard-length t-shirts. These I got from Amazon are great quality and also lightweight so you can wear them in warmer weather. (I want them in every color!)

But because there were many cool days as well, I actually ended up wearing my thin workout leggings under my joggers so I could wear them more often. This is where we get “inside pants” and “outside pants.” As in, “It’s getting warm; time to take off my inside pants.”

I also packed some fleece-lined leggings for comfort on the cooler days but only wore these with my long t-shirts so my butt was covered. And simply because I didn’t want to look like I was on my way to the gym for my entire trip, I also brought along two pairs of “dressier” lightweight flowy pants. It’s called fashion, I think.

Amanda looking so cute in her dress

Dresses for Morocco

I didn’t pack any dresses for this trip, mainly because I knew it was going to be on the chilly side most of the time. If I were to visit in the summer, I would definitely pack some lightweight (but long) dresses (with sleeves) that can keep you cool and covered.

Outerwear for Morocco

Here are the pieces of outerwear I packed for Morocco:

  • Cropped leather jacket – You could substitute a light down jacket or a warmer fleece here if that’s more your style. Unless you’re traveling to the mountains in the dead of winter, you shouldn’t need anything heavier than that.
  • Light rain jacket – If there’s rain in your forecast, otherwise I would skip it to save space. (But I usually pack this for most trips!)
Staying dry while I *work*

Underwear for Morocco

Yup, bring underwear please. I always pack enough pairs for each day of my trip, but if you’re planning to do laundry while you’re there and/or wash them in the sink you can obviously bring fewer pairs. And don’t forget something up top—sports bras and/or regular bras.

And if you are planning to wash your own clothes, check out this post of how I do my laundry in the hotel sink – it’s the best method!

What shoes to pack for Morocco

Shoes take up the most space in your luggage so only bring the pairs you can get the most use out of. If you can’t wear them more than a few times each, leave them behind. Shoe-related things to keep in mind when choosing what to pack for Morocco include:

  1. Moroccan cities are ancient (and so are the walking surfaces).
  2. You’ll be doing a lot of walking in Morocco.
  3. It may be hot and/or wet during your visit.
  4. You’re probably going to spend some time in the sandy Sahara.

Here are the shoes I packed for Morocco (and just about every other trip I take):

Sorel duck boots are perfect for all tougher activities and conditions: city sightseeing on ancient streets, rainy days, colder weather, and hiking. (I even added some memory foam liners to make them super cushy.) Teva sandals (and Chacos) are perfect for warmer weather, desert sand, and tough activities like hiking and camel trekking.

Don’t forget to pack the appropriate socks for each kind of shoe you plan to bring.

What to pack for Morocco: accessories

I rarely travel with a lot of “accessories,” but there are a few I always do. Here’s what I recommend adding to your Morocco packing list / the few accessories I packed for Morocco:

  • Large pashmina or scarf – To cover even more of myself up and to act as another warm layer.
  • Anti-theft purse – Because I never travel anywhere without one.
  • Sunglasses – Polarized or bust.
  • Headband to keep my ears warm
  • Smart watch + charger
  • 1x simple necklace and a pair of earrings
  • Baseball cap

Scarves and pashminas – Even though you can certainly buy these in Morocco, I went ahead and brought my own in case I didn’t like anything I found and because I didn’t know when I’d have the time to shop for one. I regret nothing. (I did leave Morocco with two additional scarves though; more on that below.)

Anti-theft purse – Literally, I never travel anywhere without my full travel safety kit, and anti-theft bags are a big part of that. I have bags from both Travelon and PacSafe and love them all. For Morocco, I brought along this Travelon Heritage Crossbody bag.

Sunglasses – If you’re looking for great quality sunglasses at Walmart prices, check out the brands Sojos and Carfia on Amazon. I’m a repeat customer of both. Pictured here: Carfia Retro Polarized Glasses in a transparent frame.

Hat for Morocco

I brought along a baseball cap to Morocco simply because I always have one in my carry-on to keep the air from blasting into my eyeballs on the airplane. But in Morocco I used it on one of our hiking excursions.

If you’ll be visiting Morocco in the summer, I would highly recommend bringing some kind of hat for sun protection.

close up of men working in colorful dye vats
Because you don’t want to smell like a tannery

What to pack for Morocco: toiletries

What toiletries you decide to add to your Morocco packing list is going to be wildly subjective. Having said that, I’m still going to tell you the baseline of what to pack for Morocco to remind you what kinds of things you might want to pack.

Consider these toiletry items for your Morocco packing list:

  • Hand sanitizer – You’ll use this so much.
  • Toothbrush / toothpaste / floss
  • Skin care routine – Whatever that means for you.
  • Shampoo / conditioner
  • Bar of soap + small loofah if you like (I do like.)
  • Deodorant
  • Sunscreen
  • Hair brush / hair ties
  • Hand / body lotion
  • Nail file and clippers
  • Shaving supplies
  • Contacts + solution
  • Q-tips
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Cosmetics + remover
  • Prescription meds
  • OTC medications / vitamins
  • First-aid kit
  • Lip balm / chapstick
  • Hydration packets
  • Small packet of tissues or toilet paper since many public toilets in Morocco don’t have any.
  • And this hanging toiletry bag that helps me stay organized on all my trips and keeps all my schtuff out of the way but provides easy access.
Don’t forget to floss!

Over-the-counter meds – Things to keep in mind here include Tylenol or whatever you use for pain relief; stomach meds like Imodium and/or Pepto or whatever else you prefer to bring along to countries where you’re not supposed to drink the water; and Dramamine for the long car/bus rides if you need it.

Fun fact: I no longer need it after curing my motion sickness completely! See how I did it in this post.

I also travel with Emergen-c (one packet for each day of my trip) and Liquid IV hydration packets to make sure I’m getting enough hydration. I drink tons of water at home but that’s not always easy when you’re traveling, especially in Morocco.

Bring the tech from home, get the djellaba there

What to pack for Morocco: electronics

For better or for worse, we all need to travel with our fair share of electronics nowadays. I left my laptop at home this time, but here are the tech items I packed for Morocco:

Plug adapters – Thankfully, Morocco uses the same outlet configuration as Europe. I recommend picking up a 6-pack, trust me.

Phone lanyard – So you won’t drop your phone from way up on your camel. So you won’t lose your phone while taking videos out the window of the moving car. So no one can walk by and snatch your phone from your hand while you’re taking pictures.

The phone lanyard at work

Morocco travel must-haves

The following is a list of standard travel must-haves that should be applied to Morocco as well. Here’s everything else you should add to your Morocco packing list:

Refillable water bottle – You can’t drink the water in Morocco, so I highly recommend buying a large water jug to keep in your hotel room or vehicle and refilling from it each day. Buying bottles of water every single day is so wasteful in plastic, money, and time. Buy in bulk and carry a smaller portion with you on your adventures.

Pro tip: If your bottle doesn’t have a clip on it, get some small carabiners. I had my bottle clipped to my purse half the time, but the time I didn’t it fell off my camel. And that’s a long way down.

Quick-dry towel – Because hotels in Morocco provide just one towel per person. Call me a diva, but I need one for my body and one for my hair. These towels dry quickly, but also pack up thin and weigh very little.

Books – I love guidebooks and always recommend them for airplane reading and to get all that extra sightseeing info like restaurant recommendations, background info, and more. I also always get one of these pocket-sized customs and culture guides for every new country I visit. (Why? Find out in my Culture Smart review post.)

For after your trip, pick up Islam for Dummies. I had so many questions when I got back from Morocco. I’ve loved reading this.

Always with the emotional support water bottle

What to pack for Morocco: luggage essentials

Now that you know what to pack for Morocco, here’s what you need to pack it all. I packed all of this into a carry-on suitcase + backpack and sent some laundry out once in Fez. (Full disclosure: I did need to buy a second suitcase in Marrakech to bring back the many things I bought in Morocco, but that’s a different story.)

Here is how I packed for Morocco:

Just me rolling out of the Marrakech medina with a suitcase full of purchases

What I did NOT pack for Morocco

There is one thing you may be wondering about that I haven’t mentioned in this Morocco packing list yet—a bathing suit.

Even though you should dress modestly in Morocco, you can still pack a bathing suit to wear in the pools at your riad or resort. (Just don’t go strutting through the medina in your bikini or anything.) Even though there are pools everywhere in Morocco, I knew the temperatures would never be warm enough to swim, so a swimsuit didn’t make the cut.

If you’ll be visiting Morocco in the summer, definitely bring a bathing suit (and a cover-up). You’ll be glad you did.

Even the rest stops have pools

What I should have packed for Morocco

If there’s one thing I didn’t pack for Morocco that I wish I had—it’s a pair of slippers. Nothing fancy, even those free slippers they give out at hotels or on airplanes would have been perfect.

Most of the hotel room floors in Morocco are stone or tile; they’re cold; sometimes they’re wet; and they aren’t exactly squeaky clean. While my friend Amanda flaunted her slippers and clean feet all I could do was write down: “BRING SLIPPERS NEXT TIME UGH!” so I would never forget to pack these.

So many scarves

What you can leave behind

What you decide to leave behind largely depends on what you plan to buy in Morocco. For instance, I ended up buying a custom-made leather jacket in Fez. Had I known I was going to do that, I could have left the other one at home.

Another thing to leave behind is more than one scarf or pashmina. I’m so not a scarf person and I still left Morocco with two additional scarves I bought there. I ended up with 3 freaking scarves in my suitcase by the end of the trip.

Lastly, if you plan to buy jewelry in Morocco, then definitely don’t bring a bunch with you. You can get everything you could ever dream of in the souks of Fez, Chefchaouen, Marrakech, and even on the streets in just about any town.

Packing list for Morocco

Get this entire post in one concise printable packing checklist below:

I hope I’ve made your decision process for what to pack for Morocco a little simpler. As always, if you have any Morocco packing questions, leave them below in the comments!

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Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 40 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.