Travel insurance for Morocco

For a single person aged 30 years travelling to Morocco for two weeks, a comprehensive travel insurance policy could cost about AUD$100 to AUD$330*.

However, travel insurance for Morocco will vary from person to person since policies are dependent on numerous factors, including:

• Your age
• Destination
• Trip duration
• Level of cover
• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Any optional extras to your policy.

The cheapest type of travel insurance for Morocco will likely be a medical-only basic policy. These types of basic policies typically only cover you for medical expenses and personal liability costs.

While this type of policy may be enticing due to the cheaper cost, it may not be the most suitable option for your Moroccan adventure. Consider what you’ll really need to be covered for in case of an emergency: from medical expenses to emergency evacuation, lost luggage to trip cancellations, and even any add-ons you wish to purchase such as an adventure pack.

Morocco may be classed as a European destination by your travel insurance provider, despite being geographically in North Africa. This isn’t guaranteed, so be sure to check if your insurer defines “Europe” to include Morocco or not.

We all make mistakes, and unfortunately sometimes these occur while on holiday. As much as we try to be prepared, there might be instances where we find ourselves in trouble.  Here are some common mistakes travellers to Morocco are reporting online.

• Not carrying cash: Many of the ATMs throughout Morocco don’t work or don’t have any money in them, so carrying cash on you is essential.
• Drinking tap water: While it’s technically safe to drink, most people aren’t used to it and find themselves very sick.
• Souvenir scams: Many shop owners will try to sell you souvenirs at a much higher price, so you’ll find yourself bartering for a reasonable cost.
• Menu switching: Pay attention to the prices on menus when you’re in restaurants. A common scam is to switch these out once you’ve ordered for more expensive menus targeting tourists, where the real prices are much cheaper.
• Not having travel insurance: Having travel insurance can protect you if anything goes wrong, and travellers say not securing a policy was the biggest mistake they made.

The benefits included in your travel insurance cover for Morocco can vary depending on your provider and the level of cover you choose.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy may include some, or all, of the following:

24/7 emergency assistance

Accidents and emergencies can occur at any time of day, so it’s important to make sure your travel insurance provider has a 24/7 emergency helpline available to you. You should be able to find the contact details for your provider on their website or your policy documents.

Emergency medical expenses

Making sure your policy covers emergency medical expenses is essential, especially since Australia does not have reciprocal healthcare with Morocco. This means medical care can be costly – particularly if you require medical evacuation or repatriation to Australia.

Trip cancellations and delays

Depending on your level of cover, you may be covered for all kinds of cancellations including tour bookings and flight delays. On top of this, your insurer may cover expenses such as emergency accommodation and travel-related bookings you’ve already paid for but can no longer use or attend.

If you buy comprehensive travel insurance in advance, you can also be covered if an emergency causes you to need to cancel your trip before you leave Australia.

Stolen or lost luggage

Luggage cover in your policy doesn’t just refer to lost luggage; it should also cover you for valuables, credit cards, cash and travel documents. This is important since petty theft is common in Morocco, especially in tourist-heavy cities such as Marrakech and Essaouira or at souk markets and mosques.

Adventure activities

While some adventure activities are automatically included in a comprehensive travel insurance policy, not all are. For example, if you plan on trekking in the Atlas Mountains, you may need to lock in an additional adventure pack due to the elevation.

Other activities that may not be automatically covered include sandboarding in the Sahara Desert, quad biking and paragliding.

Many things may be excluded from your travel insurance policy for Morocco, and it’s important to consider these exclusions when buying travel insurance. Common exclusions include:

• Unattended luggage: If you leave your luggage somewhere, such as in a taxi or at a train station, you may not be covered for your belongings.
• Disregarding travel warnings: If you travel to regions that have government-issued travel warnings (as per Smartraveller), your claims will likely be rejected.
• Intoxication: Claims for incidents where you were intoxicated from drugs or alcohol may not be covered.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: If you don’t disclose your pre-existing conditions to your insurer, or if these conditions are excluded from coverage, you may not be covered for any loss or injuries relating to them.

Check the policy wording from your insurance provider to understand exactly what is and isn’t included by reading the PDS.

No, it’s not mandatory to get travel insurance for Morocco, but it is a good idea. There is always the chance something might go wrong on your trip, whether it be a simple stomach bug that requires medical care or something more severe that causes you to cancel your trip.

No, you won’t need a visa for Morocco if you’re an Australian citizen travelling as a tourist for 90 days or fewer.¹ However, visa measures can change so you should check Smartraveller or the Moroccan embassy for the latest information before you travel.

Morocco is mostly safe to visit, but it’s still a good idea to be cautious when travelling as all destinations come with a degree of risk. Pickpocketing, theft and occasional violent crime occur in Morocco, particularly in popular tourist areas such as Marrakech, Fez or Casablanca. It’s also a good idea to avoid walking at night or in isolated areas, particularly if you’re a solo traveller.

Smartraveller also has a ‘do not travel’ warning in place for anywhere within 30km of the west and north side of the Western Sahara sand wall landmine barrier (also known as the Berm) and all areas south and east of the Berm, as this is a militarised area. If you choose to travel here and suffer an injury or financial loss, your travel insurance plan may not cover you.

What’s the best way to compare travel insurance quotes online? The best way to compare travel insurance quotes online is to use a free comparison tool. By doing so, you’ll be able to find a range of different policies available to you and consider whether their price is within your budget. You will also be able to see what the policies include, and whether they offer the additional add-on packages that you may be considering.