Best Time to Visit Morocco: Month-by-Month Weather Guide
Morocco has four climates at once, so “the best time” depends entirely on where you are going. Here is the month-by-month picture for Marrakech, the Sahara, the coast and the mountains.
Morocco is not one climate. In a single April day you can be at 28°C in Marrakech, 12°C in Imlil at 1,740 m, 19°C and windy in Essaouira, and 32°C in Merzouga. So the question is not really “when should I visit Morocco” but “when should I visit the part of Morocco I care about”. Here is both answers.
The short answer
- Best overall: April–May and September–October. Every region is comfortable at once.
- Best for the Sahara: October–April. Nights are cold but days are perfect.
- Best for trekking: April–June and September–October.
- Best for the coast: June–September, when the interior is too hot.
- Best value and fewest people: November and January–February.
- Hardest month: August, for heat inland and crowds at the coast.
Typical temperatures by region
Daytime highs, rounded, as a planning guide rather than a forecast.
| Month | Marrakech | Merzouga (Sahara) | Essaouira | Imlil (Atlas) |
|---|
| January | 18°C | 19°C | 18°C | 8°C |
| February | 20°C | 22°C | 18°C | 9°C |
| March | 23°C | 26°C | 19°C | 12°C |
| April | 26°C | 30°C | 20°C | 15°C |
| May | 30°C | 35°C | 21°C | 19°C |
| June | 34°C | 40°C | 22°C | 23°C |
| July | 38°C | 43°C | 23°C | 26°C |
| August | 38°C | 42°C | 24°C | 26°C |
| September | 33°C | 37°C | 24°C | 22°C |
| October | 28°C | 31°C | 23°C | 17°C |
| November | 22°C | 24°C | 21°C | 12°C |
| December | 19°C | 20°C | 19°C | 8°C |
Two things this table hides. First, desert nights: Merzouga in January can drop close to freezing after dark even with a 19°C afternoon. Second, Essaouira’s wind, which blows almost constantly and makes it feel cooler than the numbers suggest.
Month by month
January — cold nights, empty sites, good value
Pleasant days in Marrakech, genuinely cold in the mountains with snow on the High Atlas, and desert nights near freezing. Monuments are quiet, prices are low, and the Atlas looks spectacular from the city. Pack properly for the desert. Ski season at Oukaimeden.
February — almond blossom
Similar to January but warming. Almond blossom in the Atlas valleys and the Dades from mid-month is one of the prettiest and least-known sights in Morocco. Still cold at night in the desert.
March — shoulder season begins
Comfortable everywhere, green valleys, full rivers and waterfalls from snowmelt. Ourika and Setti Fatma are at their best. A very good month.
April — arguably the best month
Warm not hot, everything green, desert days ideal and nights merely cool. Easter brings a crowd spike and higher prices; the rest of the month is excellent. Trekking season opens in the Atlas.
May — roses and long days
Slightly hotter, still excellent. The Damascus rose harvest fills the Dades and the Valley of Roses, with a festival at Kelaa M’Gouna. Best month for the High Atlas.
June — the heat arrives
Marrakech in the mid-30s, the Sahara at 40°C, desert treks only at dawn and dusk. The coast and the mountains are lovely. The Gnaoua World Music Festival fills Essaouira, so book early if you are going, and avoid it if you are not.
July — coast or mountains only
Marrakech regularly at 38°C and above, the Sahara over 43°C. Perfectly possible with early starts, siestas and a pool, but the desert is hard work. Essaouira, Agadir, Taghazout and the Atlas are where Moroccans themselves go.
August — the hardest month
Same heat as July, plus the domestic holiday peak: the coast is full and prices are at their highest there, while inland cities are quiet because nobody wants to be in them. If you must come in August, plan a coast-and-mountains trip.
September — excellent, and underrated
The heat breaks mid-month. Warm sea at Essaouira, comfortable cities, good desert conditions by the end of the month. Fewer visitors than April.
October — the other best month
Warm, clear, dry, with ideal desert conditions and comfortable walking everywhere. Date harvest in the southern oases. Our favourite month for a first trip.
November — quiet and good value
Cooling, occasional rain in the north and on the coast, still very pleasant in the south. Desert days are perfect and nights are cold. Low prices and no queues.
December — cool, festive, variable
Cold nights, short days, rain possible in the north. Christmas and New Year bring a sharp price spike in Marrakech and Essaouira, either side of which December is quiet and cheap.
Planning around region, not month
- Sahara trip: October–April. Avoid June–August unless you accept dawn-and-dusk-only activity.
- Atlas trekking: April–June, September–October. Toubkal is a winter mountaineering route from November to April and needs crampons, an ice axe and a guide.
- Coast and surfing: Essaouira is windy year round and best for kitesurfing April–September. Taghazout has the best surf swell November–March.
- Cities: March–May and September–November. Fes in particular is airless in July and August.
- Chefchaouen and the Rif: April–June and September–October. Cold and wet in winter.
Ramadan
Ramadan moves roughly eleven days earlier each year and lasts a lunar month. Travel during it is entirely possible and in some ways lovely, but daytime cafés and restaurants outside tourist areas close, alcohol service is restricted, and the rhythm of the day changes. Read our Ramadan guide before deciding, and check the dates for your travel year.
Crowds and prices
- Peak: Easter, late April, October, Christmas and New Year.
- High but manageable: March, May, September, November.
- Low: January, February, early December.
- Domestic peak at the coast: July and August.
Whenever you come, the single most effective crowd tactic in Morocco has nothing to do with the month: see monuments at opening time. Bahia Palace, Jardin Majorelle, Todra Gorge and the Chefchaouen lanes are all transformed by arriving before 10:00.
Plan around your dates, not ours
Tell us when you can travel and we will tell you honestly what that season suits — including when the answer is to build the trip around the coast instead of the desert. Get in touch, or see our multi-day Morocco tours.
Tours related to this article
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Morocco?
April and October, with May and September close behind. In those months Marrakech is warm rather than hot, the Sahara is comfortable by day and merely cool at night, the mountains are walkable and the coast is pleasant. Easter and late October bring crowds and higher prices.
When should I avoid visiting Morocco?
July and August if you want the interior or the Sahara: Marrakech regularly passes 38 degrees and Merzouga 43. Those months are fine if you build the trip around Essaouira, Agadir and the Atlas instead, though the coast is at its busiest and most expensive then.
Is the Sahara too cold in winter?
Days are excellent, around 19 to 22 degrees, but nights can approach freezing in December and January. Camps supply heavy blankets and often heating, and you should pack a warm jacket, a hat and socks. Many people consider winter the best time for the desert.
When is the best time to trek in the Atlas Mountains?
April to June and September to October. Toubkal becomes a winter mountaineering route from roughly November to April, requiring crampons, an ice axe and a qualified guide, so plan a summit for the summer half of the year.
Is it worth visiting Morocco in winter?
Yes, and it is the best value season. Days in Marrakech and the south are pleasant, monuments are quiet, prices are low, and the snow-capped Atlas behind the city is spectacular. Expect cold nights, rain in the north, and a price spike over Christmas and New Year.
