Morocco is one of the world\u2019s most diverse countries, ranging from the Atlantic Coast to the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert. That means there are all kinds of weather and seasons throughout the year. So when is the best time to visit Morocco and the Sahara Desert? While spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) are hailed as the best times to visit due to the pleasant temperatures, every season offers something different. To help you decide when to travel to Morocco and the Sahara Desert, read our month-by-month guide to discover the weather and the best events throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Morocco<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While Morocco and the Sahara Desert are known for their scorching temperatures, it actually gets quite cold in winter. January falls in the middle of winter, meaning icy temperatures and snowy mountains. If you\u2019re heading to the Sahara Desert, you\u2019ll get mild daytime temperatures, but the nights will be very cold, so bring your warmest clothes! In the cities, it will typically be sunny and cool, but there\u2019s also a good chance of rain. Since January is a shoulder season, it\u2019s a quieter time of year for tourism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Skiing<\/strong>. The best time for skiing in Morocco falls from mid-January to mid-February<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Year celebrations<\/strong>. Join the parties and festivities held by different hotels in the major cities of Morocco like Marrakesh, Casablanca and Fes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yennayer (Amazigh New Year)<\/strong>. Held from 12\u201313 January every year, Yennayer is the Amazigh (Berber) holiday that marks the start of the agricultural year. It\u2019s celebrated by Amazigh (Berber) people<\/a>, who mostly live in the Atlas mountains, and the festivities are incredible to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: Our guide to everything you need to know before travelling to Morocco<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Moroccan winter continues into February and although the weather gets a little warmer, it\u2019s still often cold, rainy and snowy. If you want to ski, head to Ifrane, a small resort town known as \u201clittle Switzerland\u201d due to its gorgeous mountain scenery. If you prefer to visit Morocco in a quieter season, you’ll find fewer crowds all over Morocco in February as it’s the shoulder season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Almond Blossom Festival in Tafraoute<\/strong>. Usually held in the second week of February, this gorgeous festival is held to celebrate the annual blooming of the almond tree flowers in Tafraoute. You\u2019ll also witness many cultural traditions of the Amazigh (Berber) people who live here, plus you’ll get to taste the delicious products made with almonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 5 magical experiences to have in Morocco with Trafalgar<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n March heralds the start of spring in Morocco, with the weather warming up. You’ll likely find the sun shining and the flowers blooming when you visit Morocco in March. The temperatures generally range between 10\u00b0C and 20\u00b0C depending on the region, although it can get colder so it\u2019s best to come prepared for anything. If you head into the mountains, you\u2019re likely to see the snow melting and the wildflowers, cherry trees and almond trees blossoming. Be aware that spring sandstorms are common in the Sahara Desert during March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outdoor activities.<\/strong> Whether you want to go hiking, cycling, or quad biking, March is a great month to do it. The temperatures are warm but not sweltering, and the rain is easing off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n International Nomads Festival<\/strong>. This open-air festival celebrates Africa\u2019s diverse nomadic cultures. It\u2019s an incredible multicultural celebration of music, dance, food, cultural issues, and more. It\u2019s usually held in March in the Draa Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GET INSPIRED BY: Spain, Morocco and Portugal<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spring continues into April, with lovely temperatures ranging from 15\u00b0C to 27\u00b0C depending on the region. It\u2019s a great time for sightseeing and photography with blooming trees and lush green landscapes. It\u2019s also the best time to visit the Sahara Desert as the temperatures are mild – although the nights are still very cold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ramadan<\/strong>. The religious month of Ramadan<\/a> usually falls between April and May. While some travellers avoid travelling during Ramadan as some businesses shut down, it\u2019s a great time to visit if you\u2019re interested in different cultures and religions. It\u2019s also a special experience to witness the breaking of the fast at sundown each day. In 2022, Ramadan will begin April 2nd and ends May 1st. <\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: All the essentials to include on your Morocco packing list<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As the last month of spring, the weather starts getting warmer and sunnier in May. The average daily temperature in Marrakesh is around 28\u00b0C, but temperatures can range from 15\u00b0C and 35\u00b0C from the mountains to the desert. It\u2019s a great month for hiking in the mountains or sightseeing in the souks and medinas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gnaoua World Music Festival<\/strong>. Held in Essaouira, this incredible festival brings Gnaoua musicians from all over the world to celebrate their beautiful music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Festival of Roses.<\/strong> Kelaat-M’Gouna, known as the valley of roses, hosts this annual festival every year in May. You\u2019ll witness the harvesting of millions of roses and there are plenty of special events to keep you entertained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer arrives in June – and so does the heat. It\u2019s also the start of the lower season, so if you\u2019re looking for a quieter experience, this is the month to do it. It\u2019s the last month to visit the Sahara Desert before the sweltering heat of July and August arrives. And if you\u2019re looking for some cooler areas, head to the coastal cities of Essaouira and Tangier or the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fes Festival of World Sacred Music<\/strong>. Held in Fes, this incredible festival celebrates spirituality, dance and music. It attracts local and international acts from all kinds of genres and the performances take place anywhere from the alleyways of the Fes Medina to stages around historical landmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mawazine Festival.<\/strong> This is another amazing music festival, but this one is held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. It lasts for five days and you\u2019ll see both local and international acts performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: All the different types of music you can look forward to on your next trip to Morocco<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer is in full swing come June and it\u2019s one of the hottest months of the year to visit Morocco. While it\u2019s considered the low season, it does coincide with school holidays in the UK, so it can be a popular time for family holidays. With daytime temperatures rising to 45\u00b0C, it\u2019s best to go exploring in the mornings and evenings and spend the midday soaking in a pool. The hot summer nights are especially magical with lively markets and events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re after water sports, surfing, beaches and seafood, head to Essaouira. If it gets too hot, you can always retreat to the Atlas Mountains which are a bit cooler than the cities at around 30\u00b0C. It\u2019s not a great time to visit the Sahara Desert due to the scorching temperatures and influx of snakes and insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timitar Music Festival.<\/strong> Held in the coastal city of Agadir every July, this festival draws artists from all over the world to celebrate Amazigh and Berber culture and music. You\u2019ll experience shows, workshops, conferences and more throughout the festival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jazzablanca<\/strong>. If you\u2019re a jazz fan, you can\u2019t miss this international jazz festival. Held every year (usually July) in Casablanca, it attracts the best jazz musicians from across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n August is another scorching month with daytime temperatures reaching the mid-40\u00b0Cs. It\u2019s best to head to the coastal cities like Tangier or Essaouira during this month.. And if you\u2019re heading to the inland cities like Marrakesh, be sure to book a hotel with a swimming pool! It\u2019s also best to stay clear of the Sahara Desert in August as it\u2019s simply too hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moussem Moulay Abdellah Amghar<\/strong>. This incredible festival is held every year in El Jadida and draws hundreds of thousands of people. You\u2019ll get a real Moroccan experience here with folklore art and music, traditional horse riding performances, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: The dream bucket list destinations that are open to travellers for 2022 trips<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n September is one of the best times to visit Morocco as the weather starts to cool down, the skies are blue, and the summer holiday crowds tend to leave. The temperatures can still reach up to 33\u00b0C so it\u2019s still a great time to go to the beach. And as autumn rolls in, the Sahara Desert also becomes much more manageable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Festivals<\/strong>. From the Oasis Music Festival in Marrakesh to the Marriage Festival in Imilchil, or the L\u2019Boulevard Festival of Casablanca to TANJazz in Tangier, you\u2019re sure to find a festival to suit you during September in Morocco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The weather continues to cool down in October, making this month a popular time for tourists. It\u2019s mild enough to go sightseeing around the cities and warm enough to visit the Atlantic coast. You can also go exploring in the Sahara Desert or the mountains, although the rain is beginning to increase in the northern mountain ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Erfoud Dates Festival<\/strong>. Got a sweet tooth? You can\u2019t miss this incredible Dates Festival held in the oasis of Erfoud near Ouarzazate. The area alone has nearly one million date palms and you\u2019ll find some of Morocco\u2019s finest date products here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RELATED CONTENT: 12 quarantine-free travel experiences to try in 2021<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nJanuary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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