Health One of the big benefits of travelling in Morocco as a woman is that you will have the opportunity to interact with local women which male travellers won't. The country has an unfortunate reputation for hassle among foreign women, and although Moroccan men in popular tourist towns are now used to seeing female tourists, it's still a fact of travel in Morocco that women are likely to receive some unwanted attention.
Know, though, that the problem is not isolated to foreigners — local women receive hassle too. Before marriage, many Moroccan men have little opportunity to meet and get to know women outside their family — a major reason why Western women receive so much attention. This can come as something of a shock to first-time visitors, and some travellers find the constant attention extremely wearing. In September , the Hakkaoui law was passed in Morocco, promising tougher penalties for sexual harassment, including unsolicited acts and signals in public, and violence against women.
However, it's worth noting that unwanted attention towards foreign women rarely escalates beyond unprompted conversation and catcalling. Teenage boys are the worst offenders for unwanted physical contact, which in itself is also rare.
Two Scandinavian women were murdered in December while hiking unescorted in a remote area of the High Atlas Mountains, after being warned by local guides not to camp alone. It was an unprecedented act committed by extremists linked to the Islamic State, which sent shockwaves through the tourism industry.
Morocco is a safe country for female travellers, but always heed local advice. Dress The local custom is for women to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers shoulders, knees and chest. Dress equally modestly and you're more likely to be treated with respect by the locals. Women who look physically different to the Moroccan norm — for example, if you have tattoos, multiple piercings or dreadlocks — are likely to experience a much greater level of harassment and possibly be offered sex or drugs.
