Morocco in winter

By Abdou, founder of Oasis Roads · Updated October 2026

Winter is one of the best-kept secrets of Morocco: sunny days, quiet roads, snow on the Atlas and the clearest desert skies of the year. Here is what to expect, from people who drive these roads all winter.

Is winter a good time to visit Morocco?

Yes, if you pack for cold nights. From December to February, most days in Marrakech are sunny and mild, around 18 to 20°C in the afternoon, while much of Europe is grey and wet. The Sahara is comfortable for walking and camel rides in the daytime, and the cities are calmer than in spring.

The trade-off is the evenings. Once the sun goes down, temperatures drop fast everywhere, and nights in the desert and the mountains can be close to or below freezing.

Weather month by month

• December: sunny days around 18 to 20°C in Marrakech, cold nights. Busy around Christmas and New Year.
• January: usually the coldest month. Clear skies, snow on the High Atlas, desert nights close to 0°C.
• February: days start to warm up, almond trees flower in the valleys by the end of the month.

The Sahara in winter

Winter is a good season for the desert. The heat of the day is gentle, the air is dry and clear, and the long nights are full of stars. Good desert camps give you heavy blankets, and many have heated tents. Dinner is by the fire, and the sunrise over the dunes is worth the cold morning.

If you want a quiet night with no other guests, our mobile camps are set up only for your group. Check the moon calendar on each desert tour to choose the darkest nights for stars.

Snow in the Atlas

The High Atlas usually gets snow in winter, and the views from the Tizi n'Tichka pass are spectacular. Sometimes the pass closes for a few hours after heavy snow. Your driver watches the weather every day and changes the timing or the road if needed, so it rarely changes the trip.

What to pack for a winter trip

• A warm jacket and a hat for the evenings and the desert night
• Layers you can take off in the sunny afternoons
• Sunglasses and sun cream, because the winter sun is still strong
• Comfortable shoes for the medinas and the gorges

Best winter routes

With 3 days, a desert trip from Marrakech to Merzouga gives you the Atlas, the Dades Valley and a night in the dunes. With a week, cross from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara. For the holidays, our New Year's Eve journey takes you to the dunes for the night of 31 December.