Flying to Morocco from the UK, Australia and New Zealand

Direct flights from London

London has flights to all six of Morocco’s main airports, and the flight takes about three and a half hours to Marrakech.

• Heathrow: Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca and British Airways to Marrakech.
• Gatwick: Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, British Airways, easyJet, TUI and Wizz Air to Marrakech, British Airways, easyJet and TUI to Agadir, and Air Arabia to Tangier.
• Stansted: Ryanair to Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Tangier and Rabat, and Jet2 to Marrakech and Agadir.
• Luton and Southend: easyJet to Marrakech, and to Agadir from Luton.

Fez is my home city, and the Ryanair flight from Stansted is the only direct link between the UK and Fez. For a trip that starts with the medina of Fez, the Middle Atlas and the Sahara, it is the best way in.

Direct flights from the rest of the UK

• Manchester: Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, easyJet, Jet2 and TUI to Marrakech, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and TUI to Agadir, and Ryanair to Tangier and Rabat.
• Birmingham: easyJet, Jet2 and TUI to Marrakech, and Jet2, Ryanair and TUI to Agadir.
• Bristol: easyJet to Marrakech and Agadir, and Jet2 to Agadir.
• Edinburgh and Glasgow: Ryanair and easyJet from Edinburgh, Jet2 and easyJet from Glasgow, to Marrakech and Agadir.
• Newcastle and Leeds Bradford: Jet2 to Marrakech and Agadir, and Ryanair to Marrakech from Newcastle.
• Liverpool: easyJet and Ryanair to Marrakech.
• Belfast, East Midlands and Bournemouth: seasonal flights to Marrakech or Agadir.

Many of these routes are busiest from October to April, when Morocco is warm and the UK is not.

And from Ireland

From Dublin, Ryanair flies to Marrakech, Agadir and Rabat, and Aer Lingus flies to Marrakech in season.

Flying from Australia and New Zealand

There are no direct flights between Morocco and Australia or New Zealand, but the trip is easier than many people think. The most practical routes have one stop:

• Emirates through Dubai to Casablanca, from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Auckland.
• Qatar Airways through Doha to Casablanca and Marrakech, from the main Australian cities.
• Etihad through Abu Dhabi to Casablanca, from Sydney and Melbourne.
• Turkish Airlines through Istanbul to Casablanca and Marrakech, from Sydney and Melbourne.

From Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc continues on the same ticket to Fez, Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir and Ouarzazate, or I can meet you at the airport and we drive straight to Rabat, Fez or Marrakech.

Many of my Australian and New Zealand guests prefer to break the journey with a few days in London, Paris, Madrid or Lisbon, and then take a short direct flight to Morocco. It turns a very long trip into two easy ones, and it often lets you land directly in Fez or Marrakech.

Beating the jet lag

From Australia or New Zealand the journey takes around a day door to door. I always plan a slow first day for these guests: a quiet riad, a walk in the evening, and the busy medina only the next morning. It makes a big difference to the rest of the trip.

Budget airline or full service?

easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and Wizz Air are often very cheap, but checked bags cost extra and schedules change from season to season. British Airways, TUI and Royal Air Maroc usually include more luggage, which helps if you plan to bring home a rug or ceramics. Compare the final price with bags before you decide.

Getting to the airport for your flight home

Plan to be at the airport three hours before an international flight. There is a security check at the terminal entrance, then check in, passport control and a second security check, and queues can be long in the busy months. Always confirm your flight times with the airline, because many routes are seasonal.