Morocco and Nearby city

Morocco is located at the crossroads of the African, Mediterranean, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic worlds. From these varied influences, the country has forged a distinctive culture, apparent in its arts and architecture, language, cuisine, and outlook on the world.  The name “Morocco” in most other languages originates from the name of the former capital, Marrakesh.

The people of Morocco are mainly Arabs and Berbers or of mixed Arab and Berber ancestry. Arabic is the official language of the country, but many people speak Berber language, especially in rural areas. French is also spoken in the cities. Morocco’s economy is based largely on agriculture, but tourism contributes significantly.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with a king as supreme authority of the state, and a head of Government, who is democratically elected/nominated. Rabat is the capital of Morocco and Casablanca is the country’s largest city and amongst  the most important cities in the continent.

Visas are not needed for citizens of US, Canada, and European Union. For others, please check with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism website to see if you need a visa before arrival. Visas are not issued at the airport or any land border. The conference organizers cannot obtain a visa for you, but if contacted in enough time, we can provide a letter of acceptance in the conference for you to use in obtaining your visa from the Moroccan consulate closest to you. 

Morocco enjoys an excellent network of roads. There are direct flights to Casablanca from all over the world including North America (Montreal, New York and Washington DC ), Europe and Middle East.

Fez is served by an international airport (Fes-Saiss Airport), located about 10 km from the city, and with direct flights from major cities, including:

• JetAirFly flies from Brussels and Paris-Orly to Fez.
• Ryanair offers flights from Girona (Barcelona), Madrid, Seville, Alicante, Frankfurt (Hahn), Dusseldorf (Weeze), Milano (Bergamo), Pisa, Bologna, Rome (Ciampino), Brussels, Paris-Beauvais Marseille and London Stansted to Fez.
• Transavia flies from Paris-Orly to Fez.
• EasyJet flies from Paris-CDG  to Fez.
• Air Arabia flies from Montpellier to Fez.

The national air company, Royal Air Maroc, offers regular local flights from Casablanca to Fez.

By Car

For those participants who prefer to drive from Casablanca to Ifrane, you can take the Highway from Casablanca airport to Rabat (21 dirhams) and, once in Rabat, take the Highway direction Meknes/Fez. Then drive until you get to Meknes second exit (Meknes Est) where you will see indications for Ifrane. After paying the turnpike (36 dirhams), take the expressway that leads to the towns of Boufekrane and El Hajeb. Drive ahead on El Hajeb main street until you see indications for Ifrane. Follow these indications until you reach Ifrane and AUI.

Ifrane is about 3h 30min drive by car from Casablanca airport. The stretch of highway from Rabat to Ifrane is in superb condition.

By grand taxi
The easiest way to get into Ifrane is by grand taxi from FezorMeknes. Both cities are an hour away. Grand taxis in Fez leave near the Fez CTM station, they arrive in Ifrane at the grand taxi station, which is located less than one 3 km away from AUI.

By bus
CTM has an office at the Ifrane bus station. CTM buses are known to being clean, safe and on time.

Road Plan for Participants coming from Meknes-Elhajeb:

Road Plan for Participants coming from Fès:

Google maps link:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir//centre+de+conference++alakhawayn/

By Train

Please find below train hours for passengers coming from Mohamed V airport to Meknes Al Amir. The price is about 300 Dhs.

Please find below train hours for passengers coming from Casa Voyageurs to Meknes Al Amir.

 Train Schedule from CASA VOYAGEURS to MEKNES AL AMIR

Coming from Rabat Airport

Passengers coming from Rabat Airport to Ifrane can choose from the following options:

Option 1:

Take a taxi to Ifrane. The price ranges between 800 and 900 Dhs. Taxis are available at the main entrance of the airport. If we have more than two passengers, the price can be shared between the parties. We will arrange for this depending on the arrival time of the participants. We will eventually inform you of any updates about the arrival dates and time of participants to Rabat-Salé Airport.

Option 2:

Take the taxi (about 200 Dhs) from Rabat Airport to Rabat train station “Rabat Ville” (See the train time schedule below), then, take the train to Meknes Al Amir. Taxis will be available at the main entrance of the train station to head to Ifrane (300 Dhs).

Special service: the university can arrange a picked up by the University transportation from Meknes Al Amir (300 Dhs). This option is more convenient as the chauffeur will wait for you at the train station and will drop you in the Al Akhawayn Conference center.

 Train Schedule from Rabat to Meknes

3. Transportation: Special

The university may provide special transportation service.  (Fill attached form)

The Dirham (DH or MAD) is the Moroccan currency. Currently, the exchange rate is about 1 EURO =11 MAD and 1 USD= 9.7 

Please see (http://www.xe.com ) for the exact rate.

5. Nearby City

Fez, 65 kms, 1 hour drive from Ifrane. Bus and Taxis are available

Fez was founded in the late eighth-century and quickly became the country’s religious and cultural center, shaped by each of the great dynasties and by its population’s roots in Muslim Spain and the Arab east. The fertile countryside allowed the city to grow quickly, and nurture a reputation for culture and learning. Any Fassi will be quick to point out that the city created the world’s first university (Al Qarawiyine University), centuries before Oxford and Cambridge were a twinkle in anyone’s eye. With learning came Islamic orthodoxy. Green – the colour of Islam – is also the colour of Fès, endlessly repeated on its tiles and doors. The medina of Fès el-Bali (Old Fès) is the largest living Islamic medieval city in the world. Nothing quite prepares you for your first visit, which can truly be an assault on the senses.

Fez has the best-preserved old city in the Arab world, the sprawling, labyrinthine medina of Fes el-Bali, which is incidentally also the world’s largest car-free urban zone. Its narrow winding alleys and covered bazaars are crammed with shops, restaurants, workshops, mosques, medersas (theological colleges) and extensive dye pits and tanneries, a riot of sights, sounds and smells. Donkeys and mules remain the main mode of transport and, but for the mobile phones and satellite dishes on the skyline, you could be forgiven for wondering which century you’ve accidentally slipped into.

The variety of things for sale in Fez’ streets will surprise you. The Medina is huge, and each and every street is full of workshops and shops. They sell all kind of things.
Although some of them offer goods for the tourists, most of the shops’ clients are local people. Some of the monuments you should not miss in Fez are its mosques and medersas. Some of the most famous are: the Qaraouiyyine, a mosque and university founded by a Tunisian woman in the 9th century; the AttarinMedersa, great sample of local architecture with nice views from its roof; and last, but definitely no least, the MedersaBouInania, next to Bab Boujeloud Gate.