Because the precise date of an Islamic holiday is in doubt until a few days before the start of that month, the dates below are
only approximate.
HOLIDAY 2011 2012 2013 2014
Moulid an-Nabi 16 Feb 5 Feb 25 Jan 14 Jan
Ramadan begins 1 Aug 21 Jul 10 Jul 29 Jun
Eid al-Fitr 30 Aug 19 Aug 8 Aug 28 Jul
Eid al-Adha 6 Nov 26 Oct 15 Oct 4 Oct
New Year begins (year)27 Nov (1433)16 Nov (1434)5 Nov (1435)25 Oct (1436)Safe Travel
Morocco is one of the safest African countries for travellers. The great majority of Moroccans
are friendly and honest, but there are traps for the unwary.
Drugs
» » Morocco’s era as a hippie paradise, riding the Marrakesh Express and all that, has been
consigned to history.
» » Plenty of fine dope (known as kif) may be grown in the Rif Mountains, but drug busts are
common and you wouldn’t want to investigate Moroccan prison conditions from the inside.
» » Always bear in mind that it’s illegal to buy, sell or consume hashish in Morocco.
» » If caught, you may be looking at a fine and, in the worst case, a prison sentence. See Click
here for more information.
» » Hashish is sometimes referred to as ‘chocolate’, the Spanish slang, or more often just as
‘something special’ or ‘shit’, which you will definitely be in if you get caught.
» » Although locals continue to smoke as a recreational pastime, as a tourist you’re more
vulnerable.
SCAMS & HASSLE
The vast majority of Moroccan stories of extortion and rip-offs are drug-related. Recent
legislation and a hard government line may have forced dealers to give up their more
aggressive tactics, but the hassle has not dis-appeared.
A common ploy is to get you stoned, force you to buy a piece of hash the size of a brick and
then turn you over to the police (or at least threaten to). Once you’ve purchased hash, or even
just smoked some, you’re unlikely to call the cops, and the hustlers know it.
HOT SPOTS
Associating with Tangier’s lowlife is for the initiated only.
New arrivals should ignore late-night offers of hashish and grass. These dealers have a sixth
sense for greenness, and won’t miss an opportunity to squeeze ridiculous amounts of money
out of frightened people.
Watch out for similar scams in Tetouan, Assilah, Casablanca and Marrakesh.
Issaguen and the Rif Mountains are Morocco’s kif-growing heartland.
Issaguen in particular can be a bag-load of trouble, and is best avoided unless you’re