What should I pack for carry-on only in Morocco?

Travelling Morocco with carry-on only is very doable, and I help clients do it on trips up to two weeks — the key is a disciplined capsule wardrobe in a coordinated, neutral palette where every top works with every bottom. I pack around four or five breathable tops, two pairs of trousers, one dress or smart shirt, a fleece and a packable waterproof shell, all in colours that mix freely. That gives you well over a dozen outfit combinations from a tiny number of items, and because they layer, the same capsule covers hot cities and cold desert nights.

The classic carry-on move is to wear your bulkiest items on the plane: your walking shoes, your warmest layer and your jacket. That frees the case for everything else and keeps you comfortable in over-air-conditioned airports. Inside the bag, packing cubes are genuinely transformative — they compress soft clothes, keep things sorted by type, and make the most of limited space. Roll rather than fold to save room and reduce creasing, and choose quick-dry fabrics so you can rinse items overnight if needed.

Toiletries are where carry-on trips usually trip people up, so keep everything to travel sizes under 100ml in a single clear bag, or better still buy solids: a shampoo bar, solid sunscreen and a bar of soap dodge the liquids limit entirely and never leak. Decant your skincare into small bottles, pack a minimal makeup kit, and remember that Moroccan pharmacies and supermarkets sell most basics if you do run short. A type C/E adapter and a power bank within airline limits round out the tech.

Two habits make carry-on-only work over a longer Morocco trip. First, plan one laundry stop midway — riads and local laundrettes are quick and cheap, which means you only pack about a week of underwear and socks rather than a fortnight's worth. Second, deliberately leave a little space, because Morocco is a shopping country and you will want room for a scarf, some spices or a small ceramic; if you fall in love with a rug, post it home rather than wrestling it into the overhead bin. Keep the capsule tight, wear the bulk, plan a wash, and you can see the whole country from a single cabin bag.