Most people might say ‘I do not want to travel to Morocco during Ramadan’. Would I feel comfortable eating my lunch at the beach, while others can’t eat yet at all? In this travel blog I write about what the pros and cons are of traveling to Morocco during Ramadan.
Beaches don’t change much during Ramadan, the surfspots are less crowded”
What is Ramadan and why is there Ramadan?
Most people will know that Ramadan exists, but what is Ramadan exactly? Ramadan is the 9th holy month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship and spending time with family and friends. It is a month where Islamics can get closer to Allah.
Ramadan occurs from the year A.D. 610. When the Angel Gabriel presented the Islamic holy book, the Quran, to prophet Mohammed for the first time. This ‘night of power’ as it is being named now, occurred in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast during the ramadan to recall and show respect to the revelation of the Quran.
The fasting during Ramadan is from sunrise to sunset. After the sunset you are allowed to eat and drink again. You will see that this will be done with much pleasure in great gatherings of friends and families. But, Ramadan is more than just fasting. Ramadan is a month of devotion, reflection and celebration. It is a month to be selfless and caring for others. By fasting, sharing and caring during Ramadan, you will get closer to Allah.
When does Ramadan start in 2024?
As mentioned before, Ramadan is held during the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Ok, Yes. But then still the question; When does Ramadan start?
Coming year (2024), the month of Ramadan is expected to start in Morocco on the 10th of March. Ramadans’ exact starting moment, is the start of the new moon. This means that the starting date of Ramdan might still vary one day.
Pros & Cons of traveling to Morocco during Ramadan
If you are planning your surf trip to Morocco during Ramadan, you might think about this travel date twice. That is why we write in this blog the pros and cons of traveling to Morocco during Ramadan.
The first time I (Nina) traveled to Morocco, was in 2015. This was as well during Ramadan. At first sight, you don’t feel any difference about the time you spend in Morocco during this holy month. But sometimes there are some cons.
Opening hours
If you like to go shopping or explore the Medina in the mornings, expect the shops and breakfast spots to be closed until 11am. Most probably you will find the tourist areas to be open from the morning, but local shops stay shut a little longer to have a good sleep-in. Luckily, if you are staying at Ilyana Surfhouse, breakfast will be prepared for you at your accommodation so no need to find food in the streets.
To find a good lunch in the city, there are plenty of restaurants in Rabat open during the day.
In the afternoon you can expect shops to be closed from around 4 to 8pm. This is the moment for people to start preparing food and enjoying their first meal of the day.
For dinner, all restaurants are open and will even serve a special Ramadan-menu. You enjoy first Harira-soup with dates and a boiled egg, followed by a main course and Moroccan tea as dessert.
From 9 or 10 pm shops start opening and the streets become busy and lively again. There are mostly good vibes as everyone has a full and happy tummy.
For visiting museums or other sights around the city, the opening hours might be unclear and also not communicated well via Google.
Respect for the locals
During your holiday, you do not need to join Ramadan. At the first moment you might feel a little bad eating your lunch outside, but this is all good. No worries about making people angry or upset. Everyone is used to fasting and nobody expects a ‘tourist’ to join Ramadan while enjoying a lovely holiday at the beach. All we (including myself as a non-muslim in Morocco) can do, is show respect for the ones who do Ramadan. So for example, we have our lunch outside and find a nice spot on the beach, instead of eating lunch in front of the surfschool.
Empty Surfspots
As said before, shops might be closed in the mornings. Luckily most of you will come to Ilyana Surfhouse to SURF! Here comes a fun pro of traveling to Morocco during Ramadan. Beaches don’t change much during Ramadan, only surfspots are less crowded! This means more waves for us! Especially during the morning people will still be sleeping. In the afternoons or after sunset, people will enjoy their meals at the beach and good evening vibes start.
Altogether, my opinion on traveling to Morocco during Ramadan, is that it all depends on your intentions of the trip. If you come to Morocco to visit museums and sights; I would not highly recommend it. When you book a surf trip at Ilyana Surfhouse and go to the nature, or spend most of your time at the beach; Why not travel during Ramadan!