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Local Information
Currency: The Moroccan currency is the Dirham. It can only be purchased in Morocco and the southern coast of Spain. The rate is approximately 15.5DH to 16DH to £1 sterling. It can vary depending on the usual currency fluctuations.
Language: Moroccan Arabic is the official language with French as the 2nd language. In the North of Morocco Spanish is also commonplace. However English is also spoken and understood and there is usually no problem in the larger shops, cafes and restaurants.
Telephone: There are widespread teleboutiques and internet cafes where telephone calls, faxes and emails may be accessed. International dialing code: ++212
Airport: Tangier International airport (Boukhalef) is situated some 6 miles south of Tangier and about 20 miles north of Asilah.
Getting There: There are several schedule flights each week to Tangier from London Heathrow with Royal Air Maroc. There are also scheduled and charter flights to Malaga from most parts of the UK and a service between Malaga and Tangier by Regional Air has 3 or 4 flights each day. Gibraltar is almost within sight of Tangier and there are flights from London Gatwick, London Luton & Manchester each day. There is an infrequent ferry service from Gibraltar to Tangier but the neighbouring Spanish port of Algeciras has ferries every 2 hours & recently added fast ferries taking 1 hour for the trip.
Travel Documents: A valid passport with at least 3 months to expiry is the only travel document you will need to enter Morocco. Visas are not required for British or Irish citizens. A visitor to Morocco may stay for up to 90 days. If he/she wishes to extend their stay, permission must be obtained from the police within 10 days of arrival. Otherwise it is necessary to leave and re-enter Morocco. Most visitors either go to Spain for the day, or go to Ceuta (Spanish North Africa) which is about a 2 hour drive from Tangier.
Capital: Rabat
Banking Hours:
8.15 - 11.30am and 2.15 - 4.00pm Monday to Friday
8.00am - 3pm summer months
9.30 - 2.00pm during Ramadan
Bureaux de Change can be found at airports, most hotels and the main thoroughfares of large towns.
Electricity: 220 volts in modern buildings. 2 pin round plugs.
Time Zone: GMT
Prices: A three course meal with wine for two in one of the local restaurants will cost approximately 300DH (approximately £18).
A baguette is 11/2DH, milk 3DH for a pint, tomatoes approximately 4DH a kilo according to season.
A shared taxi (up to 5 passengers) from Asilah to Tangier is approximately 50DH each.
Places to visit:
Rabat, the capital of Morocco is about a three hour drive from Tangier (2 hours from Asilah).
Chefchaouen, high in the Rif mountains is about a 2 hour drive from both Tangier and Asilah.
There are also the remains of several Roman cities near Asilah including Lixus, about a 25 minute drive south from Asilah, near the town of Larache and Zelis which is situated a few miles inland from Asilah near the village of Had Gharbia.
Asilah: The most ancient port on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, was almost certainly founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century before Christ. Originally named Zili, the town was of sufficient importance in the second century B.C. to mint its own coins.
For opposing the Roman invasion of Mauritania, the Emperor Augustus deported the entire population of Asilah and resettled the city, renamed Julia Traducta, with Iberian colonists.
The city was self governing during the Roman period and continued to prosper as a port. Roman amphorae are still fished up in the nets of local trawlers.
During the early 20th century Asilah was the 'Capital' of Raisuni, a famous Riffian bandit (a film 'The Wind & the Lion' loosely based on his life, with Sean Connery as Raisuni, was released in the mid 1970s). Raisuni's Palace, built in 1909, is occasionally open for private visits. The circuit of walls and towers constructed by the Portuguese during the 16th century, are amongst the most complete in Morocco and have recently been restored.
Asilah remains one of the most perfectly preserved medieval walled towns in Morocco. It is widely held to be the most beautiful.
In a recent survey of Moroccan beaches, the beach at Asilah was declared the cleanest in the country. It is situated just north of the town and stretches northwards for 30 miles towards Tangier.
Tetouan: A lovely white Andalusian city set upon the Mediterranean Sea near Tangier, Tetouan traces its origins back to 3rd century B.C. Then it was a settlement called Tamouda, which existed until 42A.D. when it was destroyed by Roman armies.
When the Merinid Sultan Abu Thabit constructed a kasbah at Tetouan in 1307, the Muslim city began to find its form. However, as a refuge for Barbary pirates, Tetouan drew the wrath of the Castilian king Henry III whose forces overran the city and sacked it in 1399.
For a century thereafter Tetouan went into a period of decline until coming under the Andalucian influence of refugees from Granada. From 1484 the city took on some of the rich architectural and cultural character of Muslim Spain, traces of which can still be seen today.
In 1913 Tetouan became the capital of Spain's protectorate until independence in 1956.
Located in an agricultural area, modern Tetouan is a market centre for the surrounding area where grain, livestock, citrus fruit and handicrafts are traded.
In addition, a variety of goods are manufactured in and around the city, including tobacco, soap, matches, building materials and textiles. The town's principal industries are printing, cabinet making and fish canning.
Tangier: According to Greek mythology Tangier, or Tingi, was founded by the giant Anteus. Tingi is mentioned by Carthaginian traveller's as early as 500B.C. and is known to have been visited by Phoenician sailors earlier than that.
Tangier has been called the Gateway to Morocco and has been designated as the countries summer capital by King Hassan II.
Overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar with a view of Spain's southern coast, Tangier is set upon a spectacular bay and has been a magnet for traveller's for millennia. Tangier is less than 30 miles from Gibraltar. The town nestles on hillocks stretching down to beaches on to both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In the past it had a reputation for decadence and scandal, and was the happy hunting ground for spies and smugglers, writers and artists.
Tangier today retains its cosmopolitan air, providing a perfect opportunity to see the Moroccan way of life in the old town and Kasbah areas, whilst providing many up to date facilities of hotels, bars, restaurants and the recently opened five star casino.
The Royal Tangier Golf Club has had a complete renovation & remodelling & is now one of the finest International courses, hosting International tournaments.
Finished in 2002, The Tangier Cricket Club is an excellent ground and hosts the 'Tangier Cup' which is competed for by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa & other major cricketing nations
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Moroccan Properties
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Marrakech 40000
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