The first time I visited Morocco in 2014, it was as a solo female traveller. I remember venturing out into the streets of Marrakech on my first day and being shocked by the remarks directed at me from the mouths of local men. I felt incredibly uncomfortable but after 10 years of travelling all over the globe, it wasn’t an entirely new experience.
A few days later, I travelled to Essaouira and the heckling from men was non-existent. This was also true when I arrived in Taghazout. Here, the local men were so used to seeing female travellers in swimsuits at the beach that they didn’t blink an eye. But in speaking to other females travelling solo around Morocco, I understood that the behaviour of local men was a problem, particularly in certain destinations.
Solo female travel in Morocco
Since meeting my husband and travelling together around Morocco, I haven’t been subjected to catcalling from men. But I understand that it is still an issue for many women exploring the country independently. At the same time, I want to stress that there are lots of local men who find this behaviour from their countrymen abhorrent and are calling them out in situations where they are making female travellers feel uncomfortable.
When I think back to Australia 20 years ago, women used to have all manner of perverse comments shouted at them when walking past construction sites. Today, this type of behaviour has almost been eradicated as it has become culturally unacceptable. That being said, Australia has atrocious levels of violence against women - statistically, one woman is killed in the country every week by her partner or former partner!
When it comes to the harassment of female travellers, I think Morocco is on the path to stamping out this type of behaviour, it’s just not there yet.
It’s important to remember that, in most cases, this catcalling has no malicious intent - its purpose is usually to impress other men or give the aggressor some kind of warped sense of confidence. That being said, nobody should ever feel uncomfortable or threatened by the behaviour of others, even if the “bark is worse than the bite”.
While the onus should be on men to change their behaviour (not women), there are things that you can do to dampen its impact on you as a solo female traveller in Morocco. With that in mind, I thought I’d share with you some tricks that I have found useful when navigating the streets of Morocco on my own.
I want to stress that this unacceptable behaviour is from a few “bad apples “and there are lots of Moroccan men who have been kind and helpful to me when I have been alone, without knowing that I am married to a local.
So if you asked me: “Is it safe to travel in Morocco as a solo female?” I would say a resounding “yes”. But....it’s good to come prepared.
For more travel safety advice, check out my article Is Morocco Safe to Visit?
Is Morocco safe for solo female travellers?
Take dress codes from local women
In an ideal world, women should be able to wear whatever they want, without drawing unwanted attention from men. But when travelling through countries with relatively conservative cultures, such as Morocco, it’s highly recommended that you dress in a way that is respectful to the locals.
For women, this means not exposing a lot of skin and avoiding tight-fitting clothing - loose and lightweight fabrics are much more suitable for the Moroccan climate anyway. A shawl draped around your shoulders offers extra coverage around your chest, as well as doubling as a head scarf if you want to visit a mosque or sacred site.
The more time I spent in Morocco, the more I wanted to dress like the local women. I felt there was power in concealing parts of my body and a sense of camaraderie in following the lead of my Moroccan sisters. As local women will tell you, “covering up” doesn’t mean that you will be immune from harassment. But, for me, it felt like a simple way to retain ownership over my body, which isn't for the gaze of men.
Be aware of your own headspace
I know from experience that on days when I am sleep deprived from long-haul flights or back-to-back days of travelling, I’m not well equipped to handle any negativity that is thrown my way. My response to catcalling at times like these differed dramatically than on days when I was well-rested and could simply ignore it or brush it off.
Travel can be exhausting and being aware of your own headspace can help you navigate your reactions to all manner of difficult situations. Haggling at a market can seem tedious when you’re tired and haven’t eaten in hours. But on the flip side, it can be a fun cultural experience when you’ve had a great sleep and your belly is full.
This speaks to the powerful influence our internal state and emotional energy can have when responding to the external world around us. Travelling can be an intense and unpredictable experience that tends to magnify these dynamics. So while the unwanted attention from men in Morocco may challenge your ability to remain composed, check in with how you are feeling and be gentle on yourself, no matter how you end up responding.
Solo female travel in Morocco
Exude confidence and walk with purpose
It might be easier said than done when you’re feeling tired and frustrated but venturing out into the streets with an air of confidence and purpose may impact the experience you have. Looking lost, frightened or disoriented can make you appear vulnerable and like an easy target for potential threats.
If you’re feeling as though the men in your vicinity aren’t going to treat you with respect, avoid making eye contact and walk purposefully in the direction you want to go, even if you're not entirely sure of your bearings. At the same time, you don’t want to ignore everyone around you or you might miss out on some wonderful cultural interactions.
Should men approach you or start making unwanted remarks, continue maintaining an assured, unbothered posture. Remember, you don’t owe them anything, including your time. Address them firmly, making it clear you wish to be left alone, and continue on your way. It's important not to engage further if they become agitated or aggressive in response.
Projecting confidence, even if you don't fully feel it, is an effective safety strategy for solo female travellers. It’s often the best way to diffuse uncomfortable situations and avoid any potential confrontation.
Opt for buses, trains and private transfers over grand taxis
In addition to bus and train services, Morocco has a third affordable means of transport - the grand taxi. This is effectively a shared taxi with set fares to get from A to B. They usually depart when full from designated taxi ranks and, in most cases, have frequent services throughout the day.
While these makeshift “carpools” are certainly a budget-friendly alternative to private taxis and transfers, the close confines and lack of personal space can be uncomfortable. This is particularly true if you’re a solo female traveller surrounded by men. Forget two in the back and one in the passenger seat. In most cases, it will be four people squished onto the back seat and two in the front, plus the driver.
There's an inherent vulnerability that comes with being the sole woman amidst a group of local male passengers, no matter how innocuous their intentions may be. The wisest course of action is often to hold out for a shared cab that includes at least one other female rider (and wedge yourself in next to her) or to forgo the shared experience altogether in favour of a local bus or train.
Is Morocco safe for solo female travellers?
Assert yourself with some Arabic
Most Moroccan men who hassle solo female travellers assume the woman knows nothing about the local culture, let alone speak Darija, the Moroccan form of Arabic. But just by confidently speaking a couple of words, you can assert yourself in aggressive or confrontational situations and let the man know that their behaviour is unacceptable.
My sisters told me that by simply shouting the word “la” (which means “no”) repeatedly can be an effective deterrent and alert onlookers to the fact that you aren’t okay with how you are being treated. They also taught me the word “hchouma”, which if translated literally means “shame”, although it has a heavier weight in Moroccan society. It suggests something that is almost taboo - it’s entrenched in society but not often discussed.
The shaming connotation of "hchouma" adds an element of social pressure and may potentially cause the aggressor to feel embarrassed. It also suggests you know more about Moroccan culture than they initially thought and may prompt them to back down.
Is it safe to travel Morocco as a solo female?
If you’ve read this far, you might be scared off visiting Morocco as a solo female traveller. But I urge you to reconsider. The negative experiences I had with men in the country have been far outweighed by the incredible hospitality and warmth of the Moroccan people in general, both men and women.
Countless people invited me into their homes to eat, wanting nothing in return, and I would often be gifted a free bunch of mint or coriander at the market from vendors I frequented. In Moroccan culture, there is a spirit of sharing what you have and looking after one another that I find truly admirable and I feel that I learned so much about what it is to be a “good person” while living here.
At the end of the day, I married a Moroccan and his respect for women, including myself, my friends and the women in his family is exceptional. In all countries there are good and bad people - unfortunately, the actions of the latter often get projected louder.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge that many women have not felt safe as a solo female traveller in Morocco and it's important that these experiences are shared. By understanding the uncomfortable situations we may find ourselves in, we can be better prepared to call men out for their bad behaviour and ensure it doesn’t detract from us having an incredible time in the country.
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