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Best time to visit Morocco

With the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean, working out the best time to visit Morocco isn’t always easy. There are a lot of big players here. Except that the seasons, and there are definitely four of those in Morocco, are very well defined. Winter brings serious snow in the High Atlas. Spring brings cooler times in the desert. Summer is impossible in the desert, but gorgeous in the mountains. And autumn brings lovely balmy beach life. But every season brings something sensational in Morocco.

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Best time to visit Morocco

temperature & rainfall

Regions: Marrakech | Essaouira | Ouarzazate

Morocco has four seasonal powers of seduction. With two climate zones, the country divided by the High Atlas, and the Sahara spreading out towards the coast, we are talking baking, breezy or even blizzards. However, each season has a claim on being the best time to visit Morocco. The Atlantic winds or elevation of the High Atlas cool you down in summer. Spring creates a cooler ambiance in the deserts and flora filled expeditions for hikers. The coasts are mild in winter if you need an elixir to get you through the dark, dismal months.

When to visit Morocco

month by month guide

The most popular time for hiking throughout the Atlas ranges is between March and November. However, as there is no snow in the Anti-Atlas, you can still enjoy mountain life during December, January and February, with sunny days but cold nights. If you can handle hiking in the heat, July and August are hot, but not off the scale desert madness like the rest of Morocco.
If sunning yourself is your sole purpose in life, the Atlantic coast sees plenty of rain in the winter months, especially around Casablanca. The further south you go, the safer the bet at this time of year, as the desert climate creeps in.
Desert dust storms are at their most frequent between February and April.
The desert is just too hot June - September, so if you want to explore it properly, best to visit outside these months. April and May are good desert choices.
Temperatures can drop by 20°C in the desert between night and day, so be wary of this and check temperatures in advance. And be prepared with a good sleeping bag if you are camping.
Temperatures in the Sahara are simply baking in August, so stay clear. However, they could be 15°C lower in Essaouira on the coast in July and August, for example.
Some people resist travelling during Ramadan, as a few businesses shut down. But in the main tourist spots, most stay open, the evenings come alive as people come out to eat en famille, and witnessing this important religious event feels like an honour for many non-Muslim visitors.
The Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech are a favourite retreat for visitors, except when there are hundreds of bus tours. So, head here early morning or late afternoon.
The best time to visit Todra Gorge is in the morning, as it is illuminated with the early sun. Then the crowds hit and the sun moves on, removing its natural glow physically and metaphorically.
If you want to ski, the season can be brief, the best time for pretty much guaranteed snow is mid-January to mid-February. Winter walking is a better option with a longer season.

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Best time to visit Morocco

responsibletravel.com recommends

Anthony Horrobin from our supplier, Encounters Travel: “For the best time to travel to Morocco generally, I would say that April and May or September and October. For the Atlas Mountains, I would say between April and September. The winter can get pretty snowy and dire up there to be honest.”

Simon Clifford is Morocco expert at our leading supplier, Exodus Travel Ltd: "March to June and September to November are the best times to visit Morocco. It’s not too hot at these times. The winter months can be surprisingly cold, especially in the mountains."

Rachel Blech is co-founder of our supplier, SheherazadVentures, gives her view on the best time to visit Morocco: “If you go in low season (early Dec to mid-Feb & July/Aug) you avoid the crowds and high prices, but risk unpredictable weather (Dec/Jan) when it can rain. In my view the best times to visit Morocco are late Feb/March/April – when the almond blossom is filling the valleys on the road to Mt. Toubkal National Park and Atlas Mountains. And also the Ounila Valley from Telouet to Ait Benhaddou which is totally unspoiled as yet – the valleys are an unreal emerald green and the road has little traffic.”

Festivals & events in Morocco

Our cultural pick from the morocco calendar

Did you know about...?

The Dades Valley of Roses, with its Rose Festival in El Kelaa M’Gouna, are famous in May as the fields are full of sweet smelling pink Damascus roses. Sweet tastes are to be had in October and November too in the Drâa Valley, as it’s date harvest time. Combine this with a trip into the Sahara, when temperatures have dipped.

Photo credits: [Temp chart: David Rosen] [Rt recommends: flikr] [Snowy mountains: Tadd and Debbie Ottman] [Roses: Scott Wylie]

Written by Catherine Mack

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