Arrival in Morocco

For those arriving at Mohammed V Airport (Casablanca)

The M5 Int’l Airport is by far the easiest way to come to Morocco from abroad. The flights to/from Casablanca are the most frequent and, for most participants, the cheapest. It is the region’s hub for West Africa and the main hub for flights from Northern Africa and western Asia.

Airport to Ifrane via AMICAL Bus (covered by AMICAL)

The cost of this option is included as part of conference registration. Participants arriving on 23 or 24 May will have the option of taking AMICAL buses three times throughout the day (specific timings will be announced once we have everyone’s travel schedules). These buses will take participants directly from the airport to the Al Akhawayn Conference Center in Ifrane (around 4.5 hours-5 hours bus ride on the autoroute).

Alternative Methods of Getting to Ifrane from Casablanca (not covered by AMICAL)

The cost of these options is not included with registration and is the responsibility of the attendee. For participants who arrive before 23 May or for those who do not wish to wait for AMICAL buses, there are a few different options.

• Train to Meknes + Taxi to Ifrane: Immediately below the airport (down the escalators) is the Airport’s train station. Participants can see train times (and purchase tickets in advance, if they wish) on the national rail’s website. Participants will want to purchase tickets to MEKNES station (not MEKNES EL AMIR) and from there take a taxi from outside the station up to Ifrane (1 hour, cost should be 300 MAD). Please ensure you have understood the price before taking the taxi.
• Taxi to Ifrane: A taxi from the Casablanca airport to Ifrane would cost somewhere around 1400 MAD one way. Participants traveling together could find this an economical way of traveling and could travel together in a “grand taxi” (always a white Dacia Lodgy minivan). These are regional taxis that are paid for by seat, so if you have 2-3 people and luggage, this could be a good option. The transit time in a taxi to Ifrane will be faster than a bus (about 4 hours). Please ensure you have understood the price before taking the taxi.
• Rental Car: The M5 Airport has several rental car agencies for participants wishing to rent a car. Rules for driving in Morocco with a foreign license can be found here.

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For those arriving at Fes International Airport

Fes International Airport is the closest to Ifrane (1 hour by car). It is a RyanAir, Transavia, and Air Arabia destination. For this reason, some participants from Europe or western Asia might want to explore this option first before Casablanca. There are direct flights, for example, to most European capitals and a handful to non-European destinations. There is also a direct flight to/from Casablanca, although the flight times for national flights can be at odd hours.

Airport to Ifrane via AMICAL van (covered by AMICAL)

The cost of this option is included as part of conference registration. AUI will arrange for vans to pick up groups of attendees arriving around the same time. Before the event, we will send a request for your arrival flight information in order to organize this group transportation.

Alternative Methods of Getting to Ifrane from Fes (not covered by AMICAL)

The cost of this option is not included with registration and is the responsibility of the attendee. Participants can hire a taxi from the Fes Airport (just outside the exit) to Ifrane for around 400 MAD per person. Taxis are white Dacia Lodgy minivans and can hold 4-5 people with luggage. Participants are encouraged to ensure they have understood the price before taking the taxi.

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For those arriving at Rabat International Airport

Rabat Int’l Airport is a convenient option for those traveling from Europe, other parts of North Africa, and for some participants traveling from western Asia.

No AMICAL-organized ground transport will be provided to those traveling through Rabat.

Rabat Airport to Ifrane

Participants can hire a taxi from the Rabat Airport (outside the departures exit) to Ifrane for around 600-700 MAD. Taxis are white Dacia Lodgy minivans and can hold 4-5 people with luggage. Participants are encouraged to ensure they have understood the price before taking the taxi. The travel time is around 2-2.5 hours via autoroute.

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Departure from Ifrane

The cost of the following ground transportation is included as part of conference registration: AUI-organized ground transportation on 27 May from Ifrane to either Fes or Casablanca.

If you decide to stay on in Morocco, you will need to organize your own transportation to the airport. There will be a sightseeing trip organized for 27–28 May to Fes. Only transport to Fes will be provided as part of this trip.

Ifrane to Casablanca and Fes airports (covered by AMICAL)

On 27 May, AMICAL will provide group transportation to the Casablanca airport and, separately, to the Fes airport. Before the event, we will send a request for your departure flight information in order to organize this group transportation. In booking your flight, keep in mind that the earliest departure time from Ifrane will be around 3 or 4 am, and it will take about 4.5-5 hours to get to Casablanca or 1 hour to Fes.

Alternative methods of getting to the airport (not covered by AMICAL)

See earlier sections for details about taxi costs to Casablanca, Fes or Rabat. Participants are encouraged to coordinate departures with the help of the conference center staff as a group, since the cost will be the same regardless of the number of passengers. While the taxi can hold up to 9 people, with baggage no more than 4-5 would want to share a taxi.

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Moving between Al Akhawayn Conference Center (ACC) and AUI campus

AMICAL Bus: On the mornings of the main conference days (25 and 26 May), attendees will have the option of taking the AMICAL bus to campus after breakfast. At the end of the day’s program, a return bus will be available at the bus stop beside the globe statue at the entrance to campus

Shuttle Bus: AUI will offer AMICAL participants a shuttle bus at set times throughout the day, with stops downtown and the ACC.

Taxis: Participants can also ask the conference center to call a local taxi (always dark green and clearly marked as a taxi) to take them to campus. The price is fixed at 15 MAD. Taxis can be taken back to the conference center from in front of the gate of the university, where they are often lined up. Taxis are not allowed on campus, so participants will be dropped at the gate if arriving by taxi.