VOYAGES 21

A licensed agency makes it easier to organise tours, desert excursions, flight tickets and pilgrimages (Hajj and Umrah, subject to specific accreditation). It provides contractual guarantees and on-site assistance, particularly useful for groups and complex itineraries.

Moroccan travel agencies must hold a licence issued by the Ministry of Tourism. The licence is usually displayed in the agency and mentioned on contractual documents. If in doubt, ask for the licence number before paying a deposit.

Agencies offer tours of the imperial cities, desert excursions (Merzouga, Zagora), Atlas mountain treks, seaside stays and day activities. Programmes can often be customised to budget and length of stay.