The best time to visit Morocco largely depends on your goals and planned activities. Most experiences in Morocco, including camel trekking in the Sahara Desert, trekking in the Atlas Mountains, and exploring authentic Marrakech and Chefchaouen, are possible year-round due to the generally pleasant weather. However, the best time to visit Morocco can vary depending on your preferences and what you want to do.
Morocco: High Season The high season in Morocco falls between April and October. During this period, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are warm, the sun shines brightly, and the air temperature warms up to around 29°C (84°F). Around Christmas and New Year’s holidays, you can expect an influx of travelers, especially in Marrakech and the southern regions, where a festive atmosphere with entertainment and fireworks prevails.
Low Season The low season in Morocco starts in November and lasts until March. During this period, local residents go about their daily lives, and there are fewer tourists. This means you can experience the real Morocco without the crowds.
When to Go: The best time to visit Morocco primarily depends on what you want to do (desert, mountains, cities), your desire to avoid crowds, and your budget for accommodation and flights. Here are some general recommendations:
- For most travelers, a good time to visit is April, May, September, October, and November.
- Spring and autumn offer comfortable temperatures without the scorching summer heat, especially in the Sahara Desert.
- Spring is a great time to witness the awakening of nature, with lush greenery in the Atlas Mountains, blossoming trees, and fragrant flowers.
- Autumn offers vibrant yellow and orange foliage in the countryside, along with sunny and warm weather.
- However, these periods can be popular with tourists, so consider November to February if you prefer fewer crowds.
When It’s Beach Season: If you’re visiting Morocco for beach and sun activities and plan to swim in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea, focus on the summer months when school vacations are also in session. During this time, places like Essaouira and Agadir have comfortable water temperatures, typically around 20-22°C (68-72°F).
Ultimately, the best time to visit Morocco depends on your interests and preferences.
If you want to enjoy fewer crowds at the beaches and still have comfortable beach weather, consider visiting in May or September. During these months, the beaches are less crowded, and the temperature is still pleasant for beach activities. For example, in early autumn in Agadir, you can bask in the sun at around 26°C (79°F) and swim in water heated to about 22°C (72°F). In Essaouira during the same period, the ocean temperature is around 19°C (66°F), which can be refreshing after the summer heat. In May, the water cools down to around 17°C (63°F), which can be invigorating if you enjoy cooler temperatures.
When to Visit the Sahara Desert: The Sahara Desert is one of the main attractions in Morocco, drawing travelers from all over the world. Here, you can embark on a camel trek from Merzouga to a Berber camp in the desert, explore the sand dunes on jeeps, quad bikes, or buggies, and even go on multi-day retreat treks with camels.
The most comfortable times to experience the desert are during spring or autumn. However, please note that sandstorms can occur more frequently in April due to the Sirocco winds. For short excursions of a couple of hours, the risk is minimal, but for multi-day trips, it’s advisable to consult with your travel organizer regarding safety measures.
One of the benefits of visiting the Sahara in winter is the lower number of tourists and lower prices. During the day, the temperature is usually very pleasant, and you might even feel hot if you don’t remove your jacket. After sunset, it cools down quickly, but you can warm up nicely by the campfire, enjoying hot Moroccan tea and the starry sky above you. Typically, the desert camps provide beds with thick blankets, so even though it’s cold at night, you won’t freeze.
During the summer, the temperature in the desert can soar to around +40°C (104°F), and if your trip falls within this period but you still want to experience the Sahara, it’s recommended to avoid multi-day treks. Instead, consider opting for a short one-and-a-half-hour camel trek organized from Merzouga. Don’t worry, the camel guide (the person leading the camel caravan) will help you cover your head and face with a special headgear, which is worn by the Berbers.
When to Go Surfing: Morocco is a popular destination for surfers from around the world, and surfing can be an excellent addition to your trip. The surfing season, similar to kite surfing, runs from October to March. During this period, in the areas around Agadir, Essaouira, and Taghazout, the average air temperature is around +22°C (72°F), and the waves can be fantastic, reaching heights of up to 3 meters in some places! However, don’t worry if you’re a beginner; there are also excellent spots for newcomers. If you’re not looking for a full-fledged surf camp but want to try surfing for a day or two during your Morocco journey, consider looking into customized road trips that include surfing activities.
The best time to visit the cities: Summer is the perfect time for a beach vacation, but it can be excessively hot for exploring Morocco’s imperial cities. You probably won’t want to wander through the medinas and ancient labyrinthine streets, sweltering in 30-degree heat.
If your goal is to explore the cities, then we recommend visiting during cooler times like October-November or March-May. It will be ideal for strolling through the sky-blue streets of Chefchaouen, wandering through the bustling labyrinths with traders in Marrakech, exploring the beauty of Fez’s medina, visiting the eastern markets, and other popular cities often included in custom tours of Morocco offered on Escapewithpro.
Recommended time for treks in the Atlas Mountains: A visit to Morocco would be incomplete without exploring the picturesque Atlas Mountains, which offer a wide range of options, from short half-day walks in the Todra and Dades gorges to multi-day treks, often included in hiking tours and trips in Morocco.
Saleh Budo, a Moroccan guide recommended by Lonely Planet and whose custom tours are available on Escapewithpro, suggests exploring Morocco’s natural world from April to June when the mountain landscape comes alive with greenery, which your Instagram followers will appreciate as well. Autumn is also great for trekking in the Atlas Mountains due to the comfortable temperatures.
You can still trek in the summer, but keep in mind that the air temperature can sometimes reach +30°C, making it more challenging to walk for extended periods in such heat. Thunderstorms are also a frequent occurrence in the late afternoon during the summer.
However, the summer months are ideal for another activity in the Atlas Mountains – rock climbing. Saleh recommends engaging in this extreme sport during the summer, as the routes are less dangerous during this time, and the weather is most conducive to conquering sheer cliffs.
When to Visit National Parks: When planning your trip to Morocco, pay attention to the national parks. Similar to trekking, we recommend visiting these natural reserves from April to June when nature is particularly picturesque.
During this time, in the Tazekka National Park with its mysterious Friouato Caverns, the slopes of the mountains are covered in lush greenery, and meadows are filled with blooming poppies.
Ifrane, with its unique Berber monkeys, resembles Switzerland the most during this period: alpine meadows take on vibrant green hues, waterfalls become fuller and more beautiful, snow still caps the mountain peaks, and the air is filled with purity and freshness.
In the Talassemtane National Park, blue lakes and the Akchour Waterfall become more abundant.
Sus-Massa in the spring is engulfed in camomile and other wildflowers. As you walk near the flower fields, you can observe seagulls, falcons, antelopes, ostriches, and even bald ibises, which are on the brink of extinction.
When to Attend Major Festivals in Morocco: In addition to deserts, mountains, picturesque coastlines, and vibrant cities, Morocco is also known for its festivals, which are celebrated with great pomp. So, if you want to participate in one of these festivals, plan your trip based on the event calendar. Festivals are held year-round.
Winter: This is the time for the International Film Festival, which is held annually in Marrakech, as well as the Blossoming Almond Festival, which takes place in Tafraoute throughout February. During this time, light pink almond flowers bloom on the bare almond tree branches, decorating the alleys, much like cherry blossoms in Japan.
Spring: With the awakening of nature, Damask roses bloom in the small town of El Kelaa M’Gouna, which is part of the Valley of Roses. This occasion calls for a festival dedicated to the harvest of these flowers, complete with fairs, folk concerts, and traditional rituals. If you want to be showered with fresh rose petals, visit in May.
For a lively experience of African drums, flutes, and a variety of other instruments, visit Fes. This is when the Gnaoua Music Festival takes place, combining modern and folk music.
Summer: It’s music season. After your beach vacation, you can dance to live music under the open sky with the locals at the Timitar Music Festival, held in Agadir in July.
Autumn: The most eventful time in terms of festivals. To immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, head to Tissa. In September or October, this quiet town comes alive with the Horse Festival, during which Moroccan men don traditional white attire, saddle up adorned horses, and showcase their equestrian skills.
In October, Erfoud also comes to life. This is when the Date Festival takes place, allowing you to taste dates collected from date palm trees and enjoy Moroccan music and traditional dances.
How Ramadan Affects Your Trip: Morocco observes the Holy Month of Ramadan, the most important 30-day period for Moroccans and a unique experience for travelers. It falls on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which doesn’t align with the Gregorian calendar, so make sure to check the dates of Ramadan. In 2020, it was from April 23rd to May 22nd. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and intimacy from sunset to sunrise.
During these 30 days, life in Morocco changes – there are fewer tourists and locals on the streets, shops and restaurants start operating a bit later, establishments for locals may be closed during the day, and there may be altered schedules in the service industry. Nevertheless, you’ll still be able to eat, order services, and buy goods much like during normal times.
At the same time, it’s a unique opportunity to witness the daily life of Moroccans during Ramadan and try special dishes they prepare for the occasion. After sunset, the streets of Moroccan cities come to life again.
Conclusion: So, the answer to the question of when to visit Morocco depends primarily on the purpose of your trip and your desired activities, whether you want to avoid crowds, and your budget considerations. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking in the Atlas Mountains, city strolls, desert camel treks, and exploring natural national parks. Summer is great for beach visits and surfing, while winter has fewer tourists but still offers comfortable warmth for road trips, Sahara experiences, and city exploration.
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