What should I pack for Morocco?

After hundreds of itineraries, the packing mistake I see most is people dressing for one Morocco when there are really several. You can be sweating through a Marrakech medina at noon and shivering in an Atlas guesthouse the same night, so my whole philosophy is layers you can add and shed. I tell every traveller to build their bag around breathable cottons and linens, a couple of long-sleeve shirts that double as sun cover, and one genuinely warm layer — a fleece or a packable down jacket — that earns its place even on a July trip.

Modesty is the other big one, and it's practical rather than preachy. Morocco is a Muslim country, and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees keeps you comfortable in conservative towns, lets you enter mosques' courtyards and certain sites, and frankly draws less attention in the souks. For women I suggest loose trousers, maxi skirts or dresses, and tops that aren't tight or low-cut; for men, lightweight trousers over shorts in cities. A large scarf is the single most useful item in any Morocco bag — sun shield, shoulder cover, dust mask on a windy desert road, and a wrap when riads get chilly at night.

Footwear deserves real thought because you walk far more than you expect on uneven, sometimes filthy medina cobbles — closed, broken-in walking shoes beat sandals nine days out of ten. Then it's sun protection that Morocco's intensity demands: a wide-brim hat, proper sunglasses, and SPF 30+ that you'll reapply (it's expensive and limited locally, so bring your own). Round it out with a refillable water bottle, hand sanitiser and tissues (many public toilets lack paper), a small first-aid kit with rehydration salts and anti-diarrhoeals, a Type C/E plug adapter, and a stash of cash for places cards don't reach.

A few trip-specific extras change the list. Desert nights are genuinely cold most of the year, so a warm layer, a beanie and socks come even in summer. Coastal Essaouira is windy and cooler — pack a windbreaker. If you're hiking the High Atlas, add proper boots and a daypack. And whatever you bring, leave room: you will buy a rug, a lantern, slippers or argan oil, and you'll want the space rather than a second bag bought in a panic.