Everyone’s idea of modest clothing is different so I’ve put together a mixture of photos of what tourists were wearing in Morocco. (I only thought to do this post when I got home and so didn’t head out to photograph tourist’s outfits on purpose). Hopefully this helps you relax and gives you an idea of what to expect.

You can also watch my video with other tips for solo female travellers in Morocco.

|Worrying Before My Trip

I felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety before travelling to Morocco and probably didn’t admit how much even to myself. I spent a lot of time focusing on what I would wear as this was something I could control and something I could do before the trip.

I watched countless videos on YouTube of different girls blogging in the streets of Moroccan cities and assessed what they were wearing and what passers-by had on. After obsessively watching videos and failing to find any dresses online that I liked and that would be modest, I gave up and packed the clothes in my drawer.

It was the best thing I could have done and here’s why.

On holiday you want to feel nice in your clothes, but if you’re going out of your comfort zone you also want clothes that you know are comfy and you feel like you in. I happen to wear A LOT of baggy clothes and found quite a lot that I could pack in my drawers.

|Not What I Expected

As I travelled around Morocco I found that many travellers dressed far less modestly than me, in dresses above the knee or in backless dresses. I even saw one girl in a bikini top walking through the markets (I would not advise this!).

It proved to me you can dress how you want, but if you are going to dress in shorter skirts or strappy tops you should be ready to deal with much more unwanted attention in a comparatively sexist society. Some people can brush it off, but most find it colours their trip.

Two girls I got to know both dressed much more casually than me. One would walk around the city in denim short shorts and a tight strappy top. The other would wear plunging necklines and go out to casinos at night in mini dresses. (I should point out that both these girls, were very confident, strong and not at all naive. They were both aware of the potential situations they were inviting and decided to enjoy themselves.)

Luckily, neither experienced any aggressive behaviour but the attention they got in the street didn’t seem worth the outfit to me. I think it’s also a matter of cultural respect, especially if you are visiting national monuments and religious buildings.

If you are worried about dealing with attention or pushy shopkeepers whilst in Morocco read my post for tips and tricks to deal with it.

|What To Pack

Loose Clothing

I packed three pairs of airy crepe trousers and 1 wrap-around skirt for my 2 week trip and this was perfect. The trousers and skirt kept me cool and could be paired with any of my tops.

Lots of Tops

I packed 4 t-shirts and soon found I needed a few more. Because it’s not humid in Morocco you don’t realise until you get changed how much you have sweat and that you will need more fresh tops.

A Scarf

My scarf was invaluable in Morocco. I wore it every day. Without realising it I think it became a kind of safety blanket for me. I could use it to cover my chest and camera if I felt exposed. I could wrap it around my shoulders to keep off the sun and the cool air-conditioning on buses. I could also use it as a shawl and hide my small backpack under it at night.

Comfy Trainers

I’m so glad I took my trainers to Morocco. I saw many people in sandals and can’t imagine how dirty their feet were by the end of the day. The streets in Morocco are not clean and you often feel little splashes jumping up at your ankles of unknown liquids. Trainers also protect your feet a little more in the busy streets with carts and mopeds passing. Also great if you go on a desert tour.