Fasten your seatbelt for I’m about to take you on a roller
coaster ride to the most magical place of all time, Morocco!
I’m writing this 3 weeks after my trip due to unforeseen circumstances yet I still can’t move on from the experience throughout my journey. Edit – after 6 months I can finally update this post.
The most cliché idea that is being planted in the mind of Malaysians or any other traveler about this place is, safety and/or security when visiting. Mind you my darling, Morocco is far safer than walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Paris or even Bangkok per se. I forgot when was the last time I was feeling secured and not having to constantly thinking about cross checking my handbag clasp and closure or feeling uncomfortable by the way I looked or dressed. Trust me, Morocco is safe.
Firstly, Morocco is situated in the Northern Africa and a stone throw’s away from Spain hence the cultural and the architectural influence aspects that can be witnessed from their lifestyle and aesthetics.
Thanks to the French colonization,
they revolutionized the French way of living and eating, so to speak or also
known as ‘le Francaise ‘where French is the second official language spoken.
Ooh la la ey?
Hence the cobblestone street, pedestrian paved bricks and pretty colored walls on buildings all came from the Andalusia and French DNAs.
This particular entry is about a guide or the first steps for any Malaysian traveler who wish to visit Morocco should take note on. I'm here to give you some tips and bits and bobs on the Moroccan advenchahhh...hehe. The following entry is where i would talk about my journey in detail. So, feel free to browse thru my blog ;)
This is the itinerary that i did for our 9 days trip (i wish we could stay longer ;( );
Let's talk about the first steps in planning your trip to this magical place, shall we?
Here goes nothing…..
Firstly, search for the best flight ticket.
Flight Ticket - Emirates
Visa Application
And the most crucial part of it all is…..Tourist Visa application. The Visa is valid for 3 months from the date you apply. They take 7 to 14 working days and sometimes it will take a month to be approved so make sure to do this 2 or 3 months before your travelling date (depending on how long you intend be in Morocco). This also means that you must not travel anywhere once you have applied until they approve it and return the passport.
I cannot stress this even more on how important it is for you to book your accommodation and flight ticket prior to this. You’d have to attach your travel itinerary including the proof of flight ticket and the hotel that you will be staying in (for a smooth application process).
Just fill up everything in the form except for the French because that is obviously for their office use. Feel free to ask them if you are not sure about anything because that was exactly what i did. I even text a stranger in FB messenger because i saw his comments about Morocco visa application just to find out about the process since there are so little info about them. So, dont be shy!
Thank you for visiting and see you on the next entry.
Feel free to comment and ask me anything about the trip.
I’m writing this 3 weeks after my trip due to unforeseen circumstances yet I still can’t move on from the experience throughout my journey. Edit – after 6 months I can finally update this post.
The most cliché idea that is being planted in the mind of Malaysians or any other traveler about this place is, safety and/or security when visiting. Mind you my darling, Morocco is far safer than walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Paris or even Bangkok per se. I forgot when was the last time I was feeling secured and not having to constantly thinking about cross checking my handbag clasp and closure or feeling uncomfortable by the way I looked or dressed. Trust me, Morocco is safe.
Firstly, Morocco is situated in the Northern Africa and a stone throw’s away from Spain hence the cultural and the architectural influence aspects that can be witnessed from their lifestyle and aesthetics.
Morocco and Spain across the sea
Hence the cobblestone street, pedestrian paved bricks and pretty colored walls on buildings all came from the Andalusia and French DNAs.
This particular entry is about a guide or the first steps for any Malaysian traveler who wish to visit Morocco should take note on. I'm here to give you some tips and bits and bobs on the Moroccan advenchahhh...hehe. The following entry is where i would talk about my journey in detail. So, feel free to browse thru my blog ;)
Day 1
Depart for
Casablanca
Day 2
Arrive
Casablanca - 1 night
·
Upon
arrival, check-in to Hotel Manzil
·
Visit
souks
·
Visit
Mosque of King Hassan II, surrounded with a unique beauty and mystic
Day 3
Casablanca to Fes 2hrs 45mins - 2 nights
Discover Fes
·
View the exterior
of the Royal Palace.
·
Visit Bou Inania Madrasa, also known as The
Mosque of Bouanania, the hallmark of Merenid architecture.
·
Photo-stop at University of Quaraouiyine.
·
Visit The El-Attarine Madrasa and explore the medina and lose yourself in the old winding
streets filled with shops trading traditional Moroccan goods.
·
Check-in to Riad Mazar Fes in
Fes
·
Visit Souks (Henna Souk, Nouvelle Souk and Old Souk)
·
Visit Chouara Tanneries (leather making)
·
Spend the night in Fes
Day 4
Fes to Chefchaouen 3hrs 30mins
·
Chefchaouen
or Chaoun is a city in the Rif Mountains
of northwest Morocco also known as “The
Blue City”
·
In
the shady main square of Uta el Hammam is the red-walled casbah, a 15th-century
fortress and dungeon with ethnographic and art exhibits
·
Leave
Chefchaouen in the evening back to Fes
Day 5
Fes to Marrakech 6hrs 30 mins - 1 night
·
Visit
Jardin Majorelle, Rue Yves Saint Laurent
· Photo-stop at Ben Youssef Medersa, Marrakech Museum & Maison De La Photographie
·
Check in to Hotel Art Ryad Marrakech
Marrakech
Day 6 - 2 nights
·
Check-in
to Riad Viva in Marrakech
·
Visit Djemaa El Fna Square, a large public
square with abundant of merchants, hawkers and entertainers.
·
Photo-stop at Koutoubia Mosque, the largest
mosque in Morocco.
·
Visit the Old Saadian Tombs, which contains
the tombs of the Saadian family of rulers.
·
Visit Bahia Palace, a big old house
and a set of houses that were collected and converted into palace in the late nineteenth
century by the Moroccan architect El Mekki.
Day 7
Marrakech
·
2
Valleys day trip tour to Ourika
·
Start
the day by visiting the Berber Village
market
·
Followed
by a scenic drive through the Atlas
Mountain by 4x4 vehicle
·
Stop
by to ride camels
·
Visit
the Argan oil cooperative
factory/store
·
Visit
the traditional Berber Village home for home-cooked lunch
Let's talk about the first steps in planning your trip to this magical place, shall we?
Here goes nothing…..
Firstly, search for the best flight ticket.
Flight Ticket - Emirates
Please book your flight ticket in advance. We booked ours
7 months prior to the trip during the month of Matta Fair when most major airlines
do their sales. I chose to purchase the tickets in advance because this means legit to ensure the smooth Visa application process.
We chose to start from Casablanca hence the arrival
destination and work our way to Fes – Chefchaouen – Marrakech. We went there and landed in Casablanca and we came back from Marrakech. That is why we went for Emirates because they have multi-destination or city to choose from which made our life much easier.
Hotel Bookings
In Morocco we don’t do hotel. We do Riad which simply means
“house” or “bed & breakfast”. And by that, I mean really really pretty
awesome Riads. I booked thru Booking.com simply because of the free cancellation term. I could change or cancel my booking accordingly should there be any amendment occur. 1 night in Casablanca, 2 nights in Fes and 3 nights in Marrakech.
Kindly refer to my next entry on the accommodations recommendation.
Kindly refer to my next entry on the accommodations recommendation.
Hotel in Casablanca
Riad in Fes
Hotel in Marrakech
Riad in Marrakech
Visa Application
Embassy of The Kingdom of Morocco at Wisma Dredging, KL
And the most crucial part of it all is…..Tourist Visa application. The Visa is valid for 3 months from the date you apply. They take 7 to 14 working days and sometimes it will take a month to be approved so make sure to do this 2 or 3 months before your travelling date (depending on how long you intend be in Morocco). This also means that you must not travel anywhere once you have applied until they approve it and return the passport.
I cannot stress this even more on how important it is for you to book your accommodation and flight ticket prior to this. You’d have to attach your travel itinerary including the proof of flight ticket and the hotel that you will be staying in (for a smooth application process).
Just fill up everything in the form except for the French because that is obviously for their office use. Feel free to ask them if you are not sure about anything because that was exactly what i did. I even text a stranger in FB messenger because i saw his comments about Morocco visa application just to find out about the process since there are so little info about them. So, dont be shy!
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Approved Visa (yeayyyy!)
- Go to The Embassy of Morocco at Wisma Dredging KL (Opposite of the old Zouk)
- Get the Visa Application
Form from the kind lady at the counter (and ask anything you want to about
the application if you are still not sure about something because fret
not, they won’t bite hehe)
- Take a passport size photo with either a blue or white background (they only need 2 copies)
- Photocopy IC (2 copies)
- Photocopy of your first
page of your passport where all your details are (2 copies)
- Fill up the Visa
Application Form (mind you the applicant has to sign them but don’t need
to be present during submission)
- Print out the copies of
flight itinerary and the hotel booking
- Print out a copy of
itinerary of your activities (I just feel the need to give it so that they
have some ideas about our vacation)
- Your original passport
(this is important as you must not travel in between the application
timeline until it is approve)
- And Voila! Submit them
with a smile on your pretty face ;D In case you got some minor short term
memory loss, here you go again…………………………….
- Passport Photos (2
copies)
- Photocopy IC (2 copies)
- Photocopy Passport - 1st page (2
copies)
- Visa Application Form
- Flight Itinerary (showing the date of arrival into Morocco) &
hotel booking
- Itinerary (optional)
- Original Passport
Submission
Day: Monday to Friday
Submission Time: 10.00am - 2.00pm
Collection Time: 3.00pm - 4.30pm
And now pray for a miracle! ;p
Just wait for their call. It is normally a good news. Never
heard of Malaysian tourist not allowed to enter. I guess this is just a
formality in between 2 lovely countries to make sure we have the best time of
our life while vacationing there ;)
After you have been granted with the Golden Ticket, you may proceed with other reservation such as transportation etc.
Car Hire with a Chauffeur by Home James Morocco - for 4 days and transfer on the 5th day
Proforma Invoice - Deposit Paid via TT prior to the trip
My brother and the Vito en route to Chefchaouen
We hired Home James Morocco car hire service with a
chauffeur because we wanted to have the best and smooth journey throughout our
stay. We didn’t want any hassle or hiccups because I was travelling with my
parents and my younger brother. Our chauffeur was Mr. Fouad who was kinda
chirpy and friendly Moroccan who speaks Moroccan, French and English fluently!
You may learn a French or two from him since it is the second formal language
in Morocco. “C’est une belle vie” (I googled that). The total amount is 820 Euro for the 4 of us.
All in all, I am grateful
we hired them because we could unwind and just enjoy the view. The person to
contact is Angela +212 (0) 122 3567 or +212 (0) 6088 55144 whom was very helpful and so very kind to me from
the first day I made the inquiry up till the last day we were there. What a
sweet lady. Thank you Angela! We miss Morocco! (Insert sad emoji).
Private Tour by 4X4 Camel Moroccan Day Trips & Tours - Three Valleys Tour
We traveled with this 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser. Abdullah, our designated guide stopped by at the foot of the valley to take some photo.
The visit to the Northern Africa would not been complete
without a camel ride ain’t it? So ride we shall. They are the no.1 most
recommended excursion tour company on TripAdvisor and one can never resist to
book. No deposit. Just pay full when you got there. The total is 200 Euro for 4 person. Email Adil at adil.camel@gmail.com or Whatsapp him at +212 (0) 66122 6663 and his website is www.4x4camel.com and ask him about the tour as they have many depending on your
interests. I booked the 3 valleys tour where he took us to the Argan oil cooperative to lunch with a view of the Atlas Mountain. And boy have I not regret it because it
was the highlight of our tour. The view was insane!
Ohh ya, the official currency in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham and it is not available in Malaysia. Therefore please exchange your money to Euro or US dollar and exchange it to their currency at their airport, bank or money exchange. Most of the shops, hotel, riad and even the private tour companies except Euro so you could also use Euro. More money no problem. No money, then you got problem. :P
So there you have it, my take on the things to be done prior to the trip.
Ohh ya, the official currency in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham and it is not available in Malaysia. Therefore please exchange your money to Euro or US dollar and exchange it to their currency at their airport, bank or money exchange. Most of the shops, hotel, riad and even the private tour companies except Euro so you could also use Euro. More money no problem. No money, then you got problem. :P
So there you have it, my take on the things to be done prior to the trip.
Thank you for visiting and see you on the next entry.
Feel free to comment and ask me anything about the trip.
Comments
Post a Comment