What do I do if I get sick or need a doctor in Morocco?

The most common thing we see is a mild stomach upset in the first days — your gut adjusting to new spices, water and richer food. For that and most minor ailments, head to a pharmacy. Moroccan pharmacies are everywhere, clearly marked with a green crescent, and the pharmacists are genuinely knowledgeable — they can recommend rehydration salts, an anti-diarrhoeal, or a remedy without a doctor's visit. In cities there is always a rotating pharmacie de garde open overnight; any pharmacy posts the nearest one in its window.

If you need an actual doctor, the private clinics in Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Agadir are good — clean, modern, and staffed by doctors who typically speak French and often English. You will usually be seen quickly. The key thing to understand is that you pay upfront — cash or card — and then claim it back through your travel insurance, so keep every receipt and report. This is exactly why travel insurance with medical cover is non-negotiable for Morocco.

A detail many guests do not realise: most good hotels and riads can call a doctor to come to you. A house-call doctor visiting your room is common and reasonably priced, and it saves you navigating a clinic when you feel rotten. Just ask reception — they do this regularly for guests and will handle the call in Arabic or French.

For anything serious — chest pain, a bad fall, severe dehydration, an allergic reaction — call 15 for an ambulance, or have someone drive you straight to a private clinic, which is often faster than waiting. When you travel with us, tell your designer about any medical condition or medication in advance; our drivers know exactly which clinic to head to in each city, and we will get you there and translate, so you are never deciphering a medical form alone.