What are packing hacks for Morocco?

Morocco asks your wardrobe to do several jobs at once — modest enough for medinas and mosques, cool enough for 40-degree afternoons, and warm enough for desert nights that drop near freezing — so the winning strategy is light, breathable layers rather than a few heavy pieces. Loose cotton and linen that cover the shoulders and reach the knee keep you comfortable, respectful and cool all at once. I tell clients to plan outfits they can build up and peel off through the day, because a single morning can take you from a chilly riad courtyard to a baking square to a breezy rooftop.

The most useful single item in a Morocco bag is a large lightweight scarf. It's sun protection on the dunes, a head and shoulder cover when you step into a holy site or a more conservative town, a wrap for cool evenings, and an emergency dust mask when the desert wind picks up. Pack two if you can. Pair it with truly broken-in walking shoes — the medina cobbles, palace steps and kasbah ramps are uneven and often slick, and a brand-new pair guarantees blisters by day two. This is not the trip for fashion footwear you haven't tested.

Do not underestimate the cold, even on a summer trip. The Sahara and the High Atlas both lose their heat the instant the sun drops, and a desert camp in winter can fall to near freezing overnight. A packable down jacket or a proper fleece weighs almost nothing and saves a miserable night shivering in a tent. The same layer covers chilly riad evenings and mountain passes, so it earns its place in the bag year-round — the people who regret packing it are far rarer than the ones who wish they had.

A few small things punch above their weight. A refillable water bottle (cities increasingly have safe refill points, and it cuts plastic waste), a compact daypack for day trips, a universal plug adapter, hand sanitiser and tissues for squat toilets, a basic first-aid and rehydration kit, and any prescription meds in their original packaging since pharmacies may not stock your brand. Finally, leave genuine empty space — or pack a foldable extra bag — because almost no one leaves Morocco without a rug, a lamp, spices or a tagine, and wrestling them into a full case is its own small ordeal.