The best time to visit Morocco

By Abdou, founder of Oasis Roads · Updated October 2026

Morocco is a year-round country, but not every region is at its best at the same time. Here is how the year feels on the roads we drive every week.

The short answer

The best months for a full Morocco tour, with cities, mountains and the Sahara, are March to May and late September to November. Days are warm, nights in the desert are cool but comfortable, and the light is beautiful for photos.

That doesn't mean the rest of the year is bad. Winter is sunny and quiet, and summer is perfect on the coast. You just plan the route a little differently.

Spring: March to May

Spring is the favourite season for most of our travellers. The valleys are green, the almond and apple trees flower in the Atlas, and the roses bloom in the Dades Valley in late April and May.

Daytime temperatures in Marrakech and Fes sit around 22 to 30°C. In the Sahara, days are warm and evenings are pleasant around the camp fire. It's also the busiest season, so book riads and desert camps early, especially around Easter.

Summer: June to August

Summer is hot inland. Marrakech often reaches 37°C or more in July and August, and the desert can pass 40°C in the afternoon. It's still possible to visit the Sahara: we drive early in the morning, rest in the heat of the day, and ride the camels at sunset when the sand cools down.

Summer is the best time for the Atlantic coast. Essaouira stays fresh thanks to the trade winds, and the mountains around Imlil are a cool escape from the city.

Autumn: September to November

Autumn is as good as spring, and often quieter. The heat breaks in September, the dates are harvested in the oases of the Draa and Ziz valleys in October, and the desert nights are clear and starry.

By late November, mornings in the Atlas are cold and the first snow can fall on the high peaks.

Winter: December to February

Winter days are mostly sunny and mild in Marrakech, around 18 to 20°C, but nights are cold everywhere, close to freezing in the desert and below zero in the mountains. Desert camps provide heavy blankets and many have heated tents, so a night in the dunes is still magical.

Snow sometimes closes the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas for a few hours. We watch the weather and change the road if needed. Christmas and New Year are busy weeks in Marrakech and the desert, so book early.

Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, many Moroccans fast from sunrise to sunset. Tours run normally: restaurants for visitors stay open in the cities, riads serve breakfast and dinner as usual, and some small cafés close during the day. Evenings are lively, and breaking the fast at sunset is a special moment to share.

Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027 it is expected to begin around early February, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Which tour for which season

In spring and autumn, any route works. Our 7-day Marrakech to Fes tour and the 9-day Morocco tour are perfect. In summer, choose a route with nights on the coast or in the mountains, like the 9-day tour with Essaouira. In winter, a shorter desert trip from Marrakech gives you sun by day and a fire under the stars at night.