Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
Getting to Morocco
Morocco is principally reached by plane from a number of international airports or by ferry from Europe. Ferries carry vehicles and foot passengers.
By air
Morocco’s main international airport is Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport. The airports of Marrakech Menara and Agadir Al Massira are well served by low-cost and charter flights. An increasing number of regional airports are securing direct flights to European hubs via low-cost and budget carriers.
Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), operates out of Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, with connecting flights to a number of regional hubs. RAM is the only carrier flying to the US (to 7 cities, including New York). In addition, RAM flies to Morocco from several European cities (such as London, Paris); Middle Eastern hubs (eg. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh); Canada (Montreal); Brazil (Sao Paulo), as well as around 28 African cities (eg. Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, Lagos, Freetown). RAM has also announced its intention to launch a direct flight to China in 2015.
The boom in visitor numbers to Morocco has been in great part down to the liberalisation of Moroccan airspace to welcome low-cost and budget airlines. Ryanair operates to no less than 8 Moroccan airports from various European cities, including Essaouira, Marrakech and Fes. EasyJet operates out of Agadir, Casablanca and Marrakech across Europe, and starts a link from London to Essaouira in May 2015. Spanish airline Vueling operates out of 5 Moroccan airports. Germanwings flies to 4 Moroccan destinations. Air Berlin flies from German cities to Agadir and Marrakech. Its charter wing, NIKI serves Agadir, Marrakech and Tangiers from Vienna. Air Arabia Maroc, as well as serving Istanbul, serves several European cities including flies to London (from Casablanca and Tangiers).
Most of the main European carriers offer direct flights to Moroccan destinations:
- Aer Lingus (operates Dublin - Agadir)
- Air France (including an incredible 4 flights per day between Paris and Casablanca)
- Alitalia (to Tangiers and Casablanca)
- British Airways (flying from London hubs to Marrakech and Casablanca)
- Brussels Airlines (Agadir and Marrakech)
- Iberia (several Moroccan destinations)
- Lufthansa (to Casablanca, Marrakech and Nador)
- Luxair (Agadir and Marrakech)
- TAP Portugal (Casablanca and Marrakech)
- Swissair (to Marrakech)
Direct connections are also available from Egypt (with Egypt Air); Turkey (with Air Arabia and Turkish Airlines) and Russia (with Aeroflot). Links to Casablanca from Qatar (with Qatar Airways) and Dubai (with Emirates) facilitate connections to Asia and Australasia.
British charter and holiday airlines Thomson and Monarch also offer seasonal flights from UK airports in Manchester and London.
By sea
Ferry links from France, Italy and Spain offer the option to bring your car or motorbike over from Europe. Ferries also take foot passengers. The shortest crossings are from Spain (Algeciras or Tarifa) to Tangiers. There are also options to travel from Spain to the Spanish enclaves of Melilla or Ceuta on Morocco’s Mediterranean Coast (meaning you cross a land border, rather than a sea border).
The principal ferry companies are:
- From France and Italy - Grandi Navi Veloci
- From Spain - Balearia, Grimaldi Lines, Inter Shipping, Trasmediterranea.
By land
Land borders with Morocco’s neighbours are volatile: a closed border with Algeria, and occasional unrest in the Southern Provinces bordering Mauretania make land crossings an impractical option.