Morocco is a dreamy destination for those looking to learn about a mystical culture with a mythic history. From the endless alleyways of Marrakech’s medina, to the snow-capped Atlas mountains, and the majestic dunes of the Sahara Desert, a visit to this country is overwhelming…and unforgettable.
Morocco has an interesting and volatile history with homosexuality. At times it has been a haven for gay men and women, and at others has gone head-to-head with our community. At present both religion and law have hindered progress for LGBT Moroccans, and there are actually laws in place that prohibit homosexuality. Rest assured if you join an Out Adventures tour, we will ensure you experience the destination in a respectful manner and our local partners are more than welcoming.
Gay Activity: Illegal
Lesbian Activity: Illegal
Gay Marriage: Not Legal
Right to Change Gender: Illegal
Same-Sex Adoption: Illegal
LGBT Discrimination: No Protections
Equal Age of Consent: N/A
In terms of safety, we recommend gay travellers practice complete discretion in Morocco. While we’ve never experienced any issues on our gay tours, there have been reports of LGBT individuals being arrested. Lesbians should take extra precaution when travelling to Morocco as women are at an increased risk of harassment.
Unfortunately, there are no LGBT establishments or gay bars to visit in Morocco. However, the fab Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech is entirely dedicated to the very gay French designer who famously resided in the North African country.
Gay Villages
There are no gay villages in Morocco.
Pride Festivals
There are no Pride Festivals in Morocco.
Best Gay Bars
There are no gay bars in Morocco. According to our local Morroccan guide, gay men do host by-invite only parties in private residences. But said parties are few and far between, and even harder to attend as a foreigner.
Best Lesbian Bars
There are no lesbian bars in Morocco.
5. Casablanca
Made famous by Bogart and Bergman, this burgeoning city is the economic heart of Morocco. Appreciate the handsome Moorish architecture and be sure to visit Hassan II Mosque – the largest in Africa. Here’s looking at you, Kid!
4. Fès
Fès is a labyrinth like few others in the world. Its bazaars, souks and kasbahs are as dizzying as they are profound.
3. Chefchaouen (The Blue City)
So named for the fresh paint of blue that covers the entire city, this Instagrammable city is a popular spot among tourists and a cool contrast to red hot Morocco.
2. The Sahara Desert
No trip to Morocco would be complete without a camel ride into the Sahara where the dunes and desert palms are only paled by the sunsets that reach into eternity. Consider overnighting in a traditional Berber desert camp.
1. Marrakesh
No matter how much time you spend in this cultural city, it won’t feel like enough. Marble, mosaics and elaborate mosques are abound. Meanwhile, tagines, couscous and Ras El Hanout will delight your taste buds. Finally sights like Djemma el Fna, the Saadien Tombs and Majorelle Gardens are likely the entire reason your visiting Morocco. Exhausted by it all? Kick back in the city’s luxurious riads and hotels.
Best Time to Visit: Spring (March to May), and Fall (late September to October) are the best times to visit Morocco. By avoiding the Summer months, you are also avoiding blistering heat and clogged roads. Don’t let out a sigh of relief just yet, as even shoulder season can be hot with daytime highs in Marrakech and Casablanca reaching upwards of 33C/91F. The desert can be very hot during the day, and very cool at night, with temperatures dipping down to 13C/55F.
Time Zone: (GMT) Casablanca
Electricity: C- and E-type sockets. Vaccinations: Based on the entry requirements for Morocco, there are no vaccinations needed for entry. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic.
Visas: A visa is not typically required for American, Australian, British and Canadian citizens travelling to Morocco for fewer than 90 days. There may be exceptions, and all visas are the responsibility of the traveller.
Morocco has an interesting and volatile history with homosexuality. At times it has been a haven for gay men and women, and at others has gone head-to-head with our community. At present both religion and law have hindered progress for LGBT Moroccans, and there are actually laws in place that prohibit homosexuality. Rest assured if you join an Out Adventures tour, we will ensure you experience the destination in a respectful manner and our local partners are more than welcoming.
Gay Activity: Illegal
Lesbian Activity: Illegal
Gay Marriage: Not Legal
Right to Change Gender: Illegal
Same-Sex Adoption: Illegal
LGBT Discrimination: No Protections
Equal Age of Consent: N/A
In terms of safety, we recommend gay travellers practice complete discretion in Morocco. While we’ve never experienced any issues on our gay tours, there have been reports of LGBT individuals being arrested. Lesbians should take extra precaution when travelling to Morocco as women are at an increased risk of harassment.
Unfortunately, there are no LGBT establishments or gay bars to visit in Morocco. However, the fab Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech is entirely dedicated to the very gay French designer who famously resided in the North African country.
Gay Villages
There are no gay villages in Morocco.
Pride Festivals
There are no Pride Festivals in Morocco.
Best Gay Bars
There are no gay bars in Morocco. According to our local Morroccan guide, gay men do host by-invite only parties in private residences. But said parties are few and far between, and even harder to attend as a foreigner.
Best Lesbian Bars
There are no lesbian bars in Morocco.
5. Casablanca
Made famous by Bogart and Bergman, this burgeoning city is the economic heart of Morocco. Appreciate the handsome Moorish architecture and be sure to visit Hassan II Mosque – the largest in Africa. Here’s looking at you, Kid!
4. Fès
Fès is a labyrinth like few others in the world. Its bazaars, souks and kasbahs are as dizzying as they are profound.
3. Chefchaouen (The Blue City)
So named for the fresh paint of blue that covers the entire city, this Instagrammable city is a popular spot among tourists and a cool contrast to red hot Morocco.
2. The Sahara Desert
No trip to Morocco would be complete without a camel ride into the Sahara where the dunes and desert palms are only paled by the sunsets that reach into eternity. Consider overnighting in a traditional Berber desert camp.
1. Marrakesh
No matter how much time you spend in this cultural city, it won’t feel like enough. Marble, mosaics and elaborate mosques are abound. Meanwhile, tagines, couscous and Ras El Hanout will delight your taste buds. Finally sights like Djemma el Fna, the Saadien Tombs and Majorelle Gardens are likely the entire reason your visiting Morocco. Exhausted by it all? Kick back in the city’s luxurious riads and hotels.
Best Time to Visit: Spring (March to May), and Fall (late September to October) are the best times to visit Morocco. By avoiding the Summer months, you are also avoiding blistering heat and clogged roads. Don’t let out a sigh of relief just yet, as even shoulder season can be hot with daytime highs in Marrakech and Casablanca reaching upwards of 33C/91F. The desert can be very hot during the day, and very cool at night, with temperatures dipping down to 13C/55F.
Time Zone: (GMT) Casablanca
Electricity: C- and E-type sockets. Vaccinations: Based on the entry requirements for Morocco, there are no vaccinations needed for entry. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic.
Visas: A visa is not typically required for American, Australian, British and Canadian citizens travelling to Morocco for fewer than 90 days. There may be exceptions, and all visas are the responsibility of the traveller.
It was between the late 40s and early 50s when the gay literati of the time began flocking to Tangier, Morocco to escape the conservative landscape of America.
Read More10 things to know before considering gay travel in Morocco.
Read MoreFive highlights from Out Adventures’ gay tour of Marrakech.
Read MoreIn honour of Out Adventures’ annual gay tour of Morocco, here are five fast facts about camels.
Read MoreHaggling is intrinsically woven into the local culture in Morocco, and it’s a serious courtship: pay the first price, and you’ve offended the vendor by diminishing the value of their livelihood. But offer too little, and you’ll be shooed away for offending the vendor’s entire family.
Read MoreOut Adventures loves to bring you the most diverse gay tours on Earth, and we’ve done so for nearly ten years. But some journeys bring travellers to nations less gay-welcoming than others.
Read MoreOutstanding adventure, EXCELLENT tour guide. Morroco at it’s best.
I loved the gay Morocco trip. The group was a good size, and we really got a good feel for Morocco and saw just about everything. It was a beautiful country with such varied scenery.
Out Adventures’ gay Morocco tour was a rich experience of culture and history. Nice blend of city and rural. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There is a comfort level being with other gay men for one thing. Also, this kind of trip is not for the faint of heart and body, so it tends to attract interesting people. Me and my friends took an extra three days on our own, which I enjoyed…. because the 10 days are pretty much packed with interesting things to see and do. This country is so far from our experience at home that having a good guide is invaluable. Our guide was so incredibly knowledgeable and just plain fun to be around that it made it a special experience.
It was a great way to see a lot of Morocco in a short time, expose ourselves to places in the country we wouldn’t have gone on our own. Our guide provided insights and perspective that we wouldn’t have had access to if we were traveling solo.
Morocco delivered everything I hoped for and so much more! Excellent service from initial inquiry all the way through to the last day.