Zbjoon I think I would have done the same thing, although this was probably a very nice and safe man I don't think I could have done it. I returned from Morocco the end of October, my husband and I had rented a car and drove over a good part of the country. Unfortunatley I found that some but not all Morrocan men had diffrent ideas about what was acceptable behavior towards women and for that reason alone I would not have done the tour solo. That said do try to make it to Morocco some day and make sure you see the desert in Merzouga!

Lea_lane - Thanks for the answer. Sorry I misspelled your name in the last post:( Coincidentally you misspelled my name as well but it is a made up name and far from my real name:) I will check out your book next time I am in the bookstore. Sounds interesting.

When we travel alone, we all face some lengths of time in a car with someone we do not know, like transfers from a major airport to our hotel or a small town two hours away. It is inevitable. I for one have a hard time to travel with one person alone (man or woman) regardless of the country I am in. I feel I am a very easy target. The only places I will feel safe with that scenario is in countries I am more familiar with and know the locals, and have a reference for that person. Or if I have good references from people or companies I trust. I am very interested to see the answers as well if any.

Trish - Thanks for the note. We both posted around the same time and I saw your post only after I posted mine.

I have to agree with you regarding some men. The behavior was too flirtatious for my taste. I noticed it in the short time I spent there. And I keep an extremely low profile when I travel.

I did not go through all the details of my experience but needless to say I went through a lot of aggravations. However, I will go back to Morocco with a travel companion and a tour company next time.

Dear Zbjoon,
Sorry for the misspelling. It's an interesting alias.
While I would travel with a bonded driver from a reputable company, I would almost never enter a car or private room of someone I just met. Even if they seemed "nice." It's just a rule I have.I think we are really pretty safe if we stay in public places. When we go into private spaces with people as we travel, all bets are off. Especially if they seem insistent or something seems a bit rushed or strange. Let's face it, by soloing we draw attention, both good and bad, and we know by now that not everyone is a Boy Scout. (Hey, I don't even trust them anymore.) I've been in a few suspicious situations where I bailed out by joining a group of strangers, or by walking in the middle of the street. I err on the side of caution in most situations, and so far, it's worked.
Lea

One of my fears about going on a tour with only a guide (like the one zbjoon bailed out of) is that the guide would take me to his favorite rug dealer, or jewelry maker where I would be coerced into buying things I really didn't want. I found the merchants in the markets in Morocco to be almost threateningly persistant without any special introduction from a guide. Has anyone ever experienced this? And what did you do to get out of the situation without giving in and buying something?

Hi Ms T,
Shopping pressure is a big problem in Morocco and other countries in that region, and not only for soloists. I am one tough cookie when it comes to hassling. I am not polite. I keep my eyes averted and I do not engage in banter. I dress down and look as dull and poor as possible.
We women especially tend to be kind and to chat. But this whole hassling thing is a rather difficult part of traveling. Best is to avoid shopping areas if you're not shopping. And I've actually paid a kid to run interference for me if it gets really awful. Also, I almost never buy things when a guide takes me. I tell him ahead of time that I have no money and no interest and he will be wasting his time. And I say it firmly! And even when I have been brought to stores, I simply stay outside. If you show even the slightest interest you are going to have a rough time getting out of a whole routine. So show absolutely none.
I often shop in government-sponsored shops, where the prices are fixed and the goods are quality. Too bad, because Morocco has great goods. Any other ideas?
Lea

Hi.
I am a woman thinking of going to Morocco on my own too. Having never travelled alone before, I thought I would start with a tour - you have to crawl before you walk! I am from the UK and I came across the Adventure Company. Has anyone heard of them? Are their tours any good?

I would appreciate any feedback and thanks in advance!

Interested to see this thread as I'm also considering a solo trip to Morocco. I wasn't posting here when this thread initially ran. I've done a lot of solo travel, but am considering a tour for part of my time in Morocco - the rest would be solo in places like Essaouira, Marrakesh and possibly Fes.

Right now my top candidate is Intrepid - I've done some tours with them in Asia - good itineraries, good prices, variable guides and accommodation. I too would prefer a group to a guide just for me. I tried that in Romania and it was a disaster, although I've done day tours elsewhere with just me and a guide with no problems. I think how I feel about this may vary by country.

Besides Intrepid I'll be looking at Adventures Abroad, and Explore! - I'm also considering Explore! for a tour of Sicily.

Thanks thursdaysd. I will look into it. So far, Intrepid looks the most interesting. Am thinking about taking their 21 day tour of Morocco. Has anyone done this or know anything about it?

I returned recently from Morocco with Imaginative Traveller on their 15-day Deserts & Kasbahs tour. It was superbly fun; we had 14 people in our group which was just right.

Everything was coordinated smoothly and we had time for independent activities too. So, that's another small-group tour company to consider?

I was comparing Intepid with Imaginative myself - I believe they're very similar in terms of style and itinerary. In the end I went with Imaginative because they were offering a special discount at that time.

A company called Country Walkers has a magnificent-looking women's only walking tour of certain places in Morocco. Do a google search, and you'll find it.

I was in Morocco last fall. I can't say much about traveling solo because I had a bit of a weird set-up. I had a chaperone and a driver just for me (long story, and not because I felt unsafe or anything).

For anyone considering a solo trip, I would recommend looking not into complete guided tours, but rather piecing together your trip and using guides only when you need them.

For example, it isn't at all necessary to have a guide or company in places like Marrakesh and Essaouira. Marrakesh is very touristy, and of all the cities in Morocco, the one where you find lots of women walking around by themselves. Essaouira is the same and it's easy enough to get between the two by bus, so you don't need anyone's help.

Fez is another matter entirely. I wouldn't have gotten nearly as much out of it without my guide. Look into getting a guide from the tourist office for your days in Fez and arranging for day trips to Volubilis. The same goes for the desert, which is hard to plan as a solo because most of the trips that take you out there are built around couples.

So, to sum up, if getting complete trips is difficult, just try to get a guide or a tour of Fez and the desert, because Morocco is perfectly manageble on your own.

bm

ttt

Hi all. This has been a great thread to read through. I've posted similar questions about traveling solo on Lonely Planet's message board, as it's been awhile since I've been out of the country. All but two responses from women said they felt very safe traveling alone.

I have the same idea as someone else's post I read: to hire guides when I feel the need. They've had special training and are licensed by the gov't, so they are safe.

I was also considering a customized tour with a driver & guide, but wasn't comfortable with that idea - it seems too isolating. I want to have a flexible schedule and be out among the local people whenever possible.

The more I read, the more comfortable I feel.

I'm also planning to include Spain before and/or after Morocco. It should be a great trip. I'm wondering how many tourists will be in Morocco during December. I don't like the cold weather, but it's the best time for me to take off work.

Thanks everyone. Enjoy!
Teri

I'm in my early 50s now and did Morrocco totally alone in 1981. I'm female and had no major problems. I'd do it alone again. Happy Travels!