The question I get asked most often: Is Morocco safe for solo female travellers?

My answer is always - Yes, of course. With the same mindfulness and precautions as travelling to any country as solo female traveller.

I write this article as a woman who has travelled extensively through Morocco over the last 8 years both solo and with others, then moved and set up a home here in Marrakech on my own.

I'm a big advocate for travelling solo - it broadens your world perspective, pushes you out of your comfort zone and introduces you to so many new people that you wouldn't have otherwise met if travelling with a partner or a friend.

I hope my tips from my own experiences will inspire and give you the confidence to book your solo trip to Morocco too!

1. Join classes and day trips

A great way to spend your days or evenings if travelling solo is to book in for short group tours or classes. I'm personally not usually a tour group type of traveller myself - I've always travelled independently. But I do love the odd day trip or short guided walking tour in a new city.

Cooking classes, artisan visits and shopping tours, street food tours, hiking day trips, bike riding tours and hiring local city guides are all a great way to get around to areas you wouldn't find on your own, without having to book onto a longer group tour.

Your accomodation can usually recommend the best local providers they like to use.

Guides and tour companies in Morocco are tightly regulated and must have tour guide licenses that have an intensive process to obtain. So you can be sure that your tour guide experience should be top notch and reliable.

You can ask to see their license, references and recommendations to be sure - which a good guide will gladly show you. If they don't have these, give them a miss and go with someone reputable.

And while mostly male tour guides are the norm in Morocco - there's a growing number of local female guides around too.

2. Catching public transport between cities

Travelling by train and bus on your own is totally safe, easy and reliable in Morocco if you're wanting to visit the major cities. You can easily navigate between the popular major destinations of Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, Tangier, Essaouira and Agadir to get to Taghazout without a worry with regular buses and comfortable trains.

There are internal flights between all the big cities too - but why fly when you can go by train! It's a much lighter way to travel and a more relaxing experience too.

Getting to and from airports is relatively easier now than it used to be - with taxi counters set up at Marrakech airport to pre-pay for your taxi trip into the centre of the city or direct to your accomodation for around 200DH ($20 USD)

With the World Cup coming to Morocco in 2030 there's big plans for more improved trains and public transport services too - so they'll only continue to improve over the next few years!

3. Join a small group tour to see further afield

Joining a hosted group trip or small group tour in Morocco will get you further out into the villages for a taste of local life, and help you confidently travel further afield than if you would try to navigate it on your own. 

Particularly if you're planning on travelling to the south of Morocco - the kasbahs of Zagora, the Atlas Mountains, Merzouga and the Sahara, and the more remote beaches down south where it's best to drive between locations.

There's so many options now for small group travel for women travellers going alone. From surf trips along the coast, to boutique artisan retreats in the mountains, and yoga and meditation camps in the desert. There's honestly something for everyone.

If the thought of spending your whole trip with a group of strangers is too much - I'd suggest just booking smaller 3-5 day tours to the more remote locations to break up your trip with time to explore alone in the bigger cities in between. 

Do your research on the tour providers to make sure they prioritise working with and supporting local business.

4. Navigating the busy medinas with confidence

The old walled medinas of Morocco are the ancient old towns. The more local areas are full of family homes, local shops, fresh food markets and small businesses. They're fabulous for wandering around during the day to get a glimpse into daily life and the old architecture.

The further into the tourist areas you get they are increasingly full of guest houses, souks and tourist restaurants, and in the more upmarket areas you'll find the luxury riads, hotels and boutiques. And obviously more tourist crowds.

Depending on your own preferences and what you want out of your trip - staying in the local areas will give you a more authentic local experience with less crowds. But they come with the challenges of navigating small winding and sometimes very dark back streets for getting home at night, which can lead to sticky situations if you get lost.

Occasionally curious kids and young men may attempt to lead you the wrong way then demand a generous tip to get you home. (There is much less of this these days than there used to be - but it is still sometimes an issue unfortunately)

The busier tourist areas while might not feel as authentically local, have much better access to taxi points, a shorter walk into the main shopping areas and plenty of people around at all times of day and night incase you take a wrong turn on the way home.

If you're traveling alone it's best to check with your accomodation before booking what the access is like at night, or reading other travellers reviews about the area the accomodation is in as it can make or break your experience.

(I've definitely stayed in areas that were way too deep into winding back streets to feel comfortable getting home at night on my own - so I learnt my lesson to always check)

5. Stay in highly rated riads and guest houses

If on a short trip on your own I always suggest to book a highly rated and well reviewed riad or guesthouse rather than private accomodation or an upmarket hotel - as you'll have the security of the night host, a lovely Moroccan breakfast to wake up to, friendly riad staff to chat to and ask for recommendations, and the opportunity to meet other travellers in the common areas.

Most riads have beautiful rooftops and lush courtyards to relax in away from the hustle if the busy-ness of the medina all gets a bit much. And there's an option at every end of the budget scale.

While I myself stay in the new city in Marrakech these days - I miss the days of staying in riads, hostels and guesthouses in the medina and meeting people from all over the world. I've met many a traveller this way, many who I've gone out for dinners and day trips with and have ended up being long time friends.

If you're planning on staying longer there are plenty of guesthouses that offer longer term stays on airbnb, or offer better rates if you contact them directly.

Oh - and avoid the romantic riads.... no one wants to get stuck in a hotel with the honeymooners if travelling solo!

6. Respecting the local culture

Morocco is built and governed on traditional Muslim values with society very much set up for male and female roles at work and in the home. New generations coming through are challenging this structure with a lot more women working in traditionally male roles and industries while remaining fiercely proud and protective of their Moroccan heritage and national identity.

In the major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca you'll find more of a global influence on people's lifestyles and values, while the rural areas and villages are very much lived in traditional ways with women at home looking after children and the family.

Visiting in Ramadan (The start date changes each year from March to April) Muslims will be fasting from sun-up to sun-down. So the flow of local life changes - cafes and restaurants may be closed and many people will be focused on prayer and charity, sharing Iftar dinners in the evenings with family and friends to break the fast. 

You wont be expected to fast as a non-muslim tourist, but it is respectful not to eat or drink in public, to wear modest clothing in public areas and to be mindful that your accomodation hosts, tour guides and restaurant workers will be fasting during the daylight hours.

Tourist restaurants will still be serving lunch during the day if they are out of the way of public view - but it is wise to check and book ahead. Booking Iftar dinners at local restaurants after sun down and observing the local prayers held outdoors at mosques is a great way to experience the spirit of Ramadan.

Alcohol in Morocco is scarcely found in the medinas and local villages. It is served in the new cities in restaurants, bars, nightclubs and international hotels, can be bought in international supermarkets and in a small number of local bottle shops. Only restaurants with the expensive liquor licences can serve alcohol, and it may be banned in private riads and guesthouses. So always check with your accomodation owner before bringing alcohol in.

In Morocco it is illegal for unmarried couples to stay together in hotels and airbnbs. This rule is relaxed for tourist couples visiting who do not follow the same local religious beliefs. But it is worth keeping this in mind as you may be asked for proof of marriage if travelling with a male friend or a Moroccan partner.

If you're spending time with male friends or acquaintances, don't be surprised if the tourist police stop your friend to ask if they have a tour guide licence. If they are suspected of trying to offer tourist services without a license, they are at risk of being fined by local police and detained for an over night stay in jail. A reality for local men hanging out with foreign women to be mindful of.

7. Avoiding scams and unwanted attention

I've always felt incredibly safe in Morocco travelling alone, although of course finding yourself in unfamiliar streets surrounded by unfamiliar crowds can always be a stressful situation anywhere in the world.

The souks in Marrakech have been like a second home to me where I've met and become close friends with countless wonderful male artisans, shop owners, business men, tour guides and restauranteurs who have welcomed me with a smile, a mint tea and a friendly chat.

Haggling in the souks is a national pass time and should be a fun and mutually beneficial experience between the seller and customer, rather than a stressful one where either party feels ripped off.

I've also always had great experiences with male tour guides, drivers and accommodation providers throughout Morocco who have been nothing but helpful and respectful.

This is of course from my own experience, although I know many women have reported feeling unsafe within the souks from unwanted male attention and pushy sellers.

But I can honestly say the stories I've heard of this actually happening to people I know are so few and far between - and the majority of women travellers I've met have had wonderful safe experiences.

I'm a firm believer that the energy you put out into the world is the energy that you receive back - so if walking around looking nervous, protective and automatically on the defence expecting the worst of people, you will attract unwanted offers and negative attention. As will wearing overly revealing clothing without respecting local culture.

If you feel a seller is being too pushy or a man on the street in giving unwanted attention, you can just walk away from any interaction that makes you feel uncomfortable at any time, and know that the locals around you will look out for you if you need some help. 

If you're lost - don't accept help from young men on the street that are telling you you're walking in the wrong direction, or that a road is closed so they'll help you for a tip - just walk away and find a shop owner to ask for directions instead.

Much like in any city, in any country world wide - the need to make smart choices while travelling as a solo female is not isolated to Morocco. Actually I would say that my feeling of safety as a female traveller is higher in Morocco than it is sometimes walking the streets of major cities in Europe, in London or my home town of Melbourne at night.

8. Wear appropriate clothing by taking cues from women around you

Moroccan women wear a range of clothing from religious hijabs (Muslim headscarves) and traditional Moroccan djellebas (long dress like robes) while others dress in denim by day and party outfits by night.

While the types of international visitors and expected dress code for tourists has relaxed a lot more in recent years, taking your cues about what to wear from the Moroccan women around you is important.

In the more touristic and modern areas bare shoulders and shorts are fine. But if visiting local neighbourhoods of the medinas or travelling through rural areas then wearing long dresses, long loose fitting pants and layered clothing is respectful and responsible.

My advice is to bring a range of dresses and pants that cover your knees, tops that cover your shoulders and cleavage and to always keep a scarf in your bag incase you wander into a local area or religious site to be able to cover up more if needed.

Bikinis and beach wear are fine within your hotels and swimming pools, but avoid at public beaches that aren't set up for tourists like the popular surf beaches are. It just attracts the wrong type of attention.

With the increasing number of cheap package tour flights arriving into Morocco these days I'm frequently shocked to see how many mindless tourists and social media influencers are wandering around with tiny short shorts and crop tops on that haven't bothered to do the research on local culture. This is wild to me....

You'll usually see my getting around in my denim overalls and a t-shirt or light jumper in the Winter months (which is relatively mild) or a long floaty dress in Summer when the temperatures can get up around 45 degrees!

9. Hang with your fellow females

The sisterhood community in Morocco is strong. The local female friends I've met over the years have been a huge cross section of women from all walks of life - Women artisans, gallery owners, tour guides, house keepers, cooks, accountants, mothers and sisters of friends and who have so kindly welcomed me into their homes.

The international friends I've met have been overwhelmingly female, solo and travelling alone. Many who have found a strong sense of community here too, so have decided to stay and build a life.

Marrakech in particular especially attracts a certain type of female traveller - the curious independents and the creatives. It's the allure of the architecture, the landscapes, the entrepreneurial community, the artisan crafts, the textiles, the creativity, the dreamy sunsets and the sunny weather.

But what keeps them (and me!) coming back again and again is the welcoming Moroccan people above all else.

If you ever have any questions about travelling solo in Morocco do let me know!

I'm always happy to help a fellow traveller on their way.

Note: My tips are of course based on my own personal experiences as a white, western, english speaking female, so I recognise that not all women have the same experiences as I have had. I encourage you to seek your information and perspectives from a wide range of women from different nationalities, colours, identities, ages and backgrounds to get a well rounded view before deciding if Morocco is right for your solo adventure.