What to Pack for Morocco: The Complete Backpacker Packing List

The short rule

Morocco rewards travellers who pack modest, layered and small. Medina streets are narrow, hostel dorms are tight, and the desert swings 20°C between midday and midnight.

Clothes (1 week's worth, wash as you go)

• 2 pairs of loose trousers or long skirts — knee-covering, quick-dry preferred
• 3–4 tops with covered shoulders (t-shirt or blouse)
• 1 light long-sleeve for mosques, buses, desert nights
• 1 light jacket or fleece (desert, Atlas, winter nights)
• 1 scarf / shemagh — sun, wind, modesty, makeshift towel
• Walking sandals and closed shoes (medina streets are uneven)
• Swimwear — for hostel pools and Atlantic beaches
• Sleepwear you wouldn’t mind being seen in (shared dorm bathrooms)

Electronics

• European plug adapter (Morocco uses Type C/E, 220V)
• Power bank ≥ 10,000 mAh — bus trips are long
• Unlocked phone (pick up an Orange/Inwi SIM for ~$5 with 20GB)
• Headphones (overnight buses, medina escape)

Health and toiletries

• Reusable water bottle with filter (saves money and plastic)
• Electrolyte sachets — desert dehydration is real
• Imodium and rehydration salts
• Basic first aid: plasters, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen
• Sunscreen SPF 50 (expensive locally)
• Hand sanitiser (medina bathrooms are hit and miss)

Money and documents

• Passport with 6+ months validity from entry date
• Two payment cards on different networks (Visa + Mastercard)
• ~$100 in small USD or EUR bills for emergencies (exchange in cities, not airport)
• A slim money belt or hidden pouch for night buses

The 8 things travellers most often forget

1. Padlock — hostel lockers rarely supply one
2. Earplugs + eye mask — medina nights and rooftop muezzins
3. Microfibre towel — cheaper hostels don’t provide
4. Toilet paper — public bathrooms often lack it
5. Plug adapter — airport kiosks mark it up 5×
6. Cash — many medina cafés and taxis don’t take cards
7. Offline Maps.me — Google Maps struggles in old medinas
8. Modest layers for women — shoulders and knees, it’s just easier

Aim for a 40L backpack. If it’s heavier than 10kg, you overpacked.