Start hereThe best time to visit Morocco: the short answer
For most travellers, the best months to visit Morocco are March to May and September to November. All six give you warm, mostly dry days in Marrakech and Fes, comfortable Sahara nights and open mountain roads — which is also why they are high season, so book early.
Winter is a real option for a city-led trip, as long as you accept cold nights and plan the High Atlas with a spare day. Summer is a coast-and-north season: Essaouira, Tangier, Chefchaouen and the mountains, not the dunes.
Figures below are long-term climate averages, not forecasts, from the official 1991–2020 weather-station normals for Marrakech (Menara airport) and Fes (Saïs airport); Sahara figures are modelled averages for Merzouga. The weather planner below adds every other region. Dates for Ramadan, festivals and flights are current as of September 2026 and can move.
If your dates are open, fly in during the second half of April or the first three weeks of October, give Morocco ten to thirteen days, and put the desert in the middle of the trip so the drive is broken up by the Dades and the Atlas. If summer is all you have, go north and to the Atlantic, and leave the dunes for another year.
Weather planner
Morocco's weather, region by region
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 43°F | 1.0″ | Good |
| Feb | 69°F | 46°F | 1.0″ | Best |
| Mar | 74°F | 51°F | 1.4″ | Best |
| Apr | 78°F | 54°F | 1.0″ | Best |
| May | 85°F | 59°F | 0.4″ | Best |
| Jun | 92°F | 64°F | 0.1″ | Good |
| Jul | 100°F | 69°F | 0.1″ | Hot |
| Aug | 99°F | 70°F | 0.2″ | Hot |
| Sep | 91°F | 65°F | 0.6″ | Best |
| Oct | 83°F | 60°F | 0.7″ | Best |
| Nov | 74°F | 51°F | 1.2″ | Best |
| Dec | 68°F | 45°F | 0.9″ | Best |
Marrakech: Marrakech–Menara airport weather station, 1991–2020 normals.
Month by monthMorocco weather by month: Marrakech and Fes
Almost every itinerary includes Marrakech and Fes. Marrakech is drier and a little warmer; Fes gets more winter rain. Highs and lows are long-term monthly averages, with Fahrenheit rounded. Riad rooms feel colder at night than the number suggests, because they are built to stay cool.
January: quiet medinas, cold nights
- Marrakech: average high 19.1°C (66°F), low 5.9°C (43°F)
- Fes: average high 16.0°C (61°F), low 3.7°C (39°F)
- What it is like: bright, crisp days and cold evenings; in winter we favour riads with good heating. Snow on the High Atlas can close the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Merzouga averages about 17°C (63°F) by day and 3.5°C (38°F) at night.
- Our take: good for a city-led trip with few crowds. Add the desert with winter layers and a buffer day.
February: Ramadan begins in 2027
- Marrakech: average high 20.7°C (69°F), low 7.6°C (46°F)
- Fes: average high 17.3°C (63°F), low 4.4°C (40°F)
- What it is like: warmer days, cold nights, desert nights of 2–8°C. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February.
- Our take: calm and quiet for Marrakech and the south, if you are happy with cool evenings and Ramadan's slower daytime rhythm.
March: an excellent start to the season
- Marrakech: average high 23.6°C (74°F), low 10.3°C (51°F)
- Fes: average high 19.9°C (68°F), low 6.6°C (44°F)
- What it is like: comfortable almost everywhere. Eid al-Fitr is expected around 9–10 March 2027. Ontario's March Break runs 15–19 March 2027 and Easter falls on 28 March, so late March fills with North American families. Short sandstorms in the Sahara are most common in March and April.
- Our take: one of our favourite months. If your dates touch March Break or Easter, confirm early.
April: the best single month for a first trip
- Marrakech: average high 25.7°C (78°F), low 12.4°C (54°F)
- Fes: average high 22.0°C (72°F), low 8.3°C (47°F)
- What it is like: green valleys, warm afternoons and pleasant camp nights. Essaouira's windier season begins.
- Our take: if you can choose only one month, choose April. It is high season, so book hotels several months ahead.
May: roses, festivals and excellent weather
- Marrakech: average high 29.4°C (85°F), low 15.2°C (59°F)
- Fes: average high 26.4°C (80°F), low 11.5°C (53°F)
- What it is like: the Rose Festival in Kelaat M'Gouna in early May, Eid al-Adha expected around 16 May 2027, and the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in late May or June.
- Our take: one of the best months of the year, and excellent for the Dades valley and the mountains. In the desert we plan camel rides for sunrise and sunset.
June: long, warm days
- Marrakech: average high 33.6°C (92°F), low 17.9°C (64°F)
- Fes: average high 31.2°C (88°F), low 14.9°C (59°F)
- What it is like: long days and warm afternoons inland, fresh at the coast and in the mountains. The Gnaoua Festival fills Essaouira on 24–26 June 2027. Summer travel by Moroccans living abroad starts to build (in 2026, Operation Marhaba opened on 10 June).
- Our take: a good month for a classic loop, with early starts and a pool in the afternoon. Later in June we add time on the coast, in the north or in the High Atlas.
July: the hottest, driest month
- Marrakech: average high 37.7°C (100°F), low 20.6°C (69°F)
- Fes: average high 35.1°C (95°F), low 17.9°C (64°F)
- What it is like: dry everywhere and very hot inland. Merzouga averages around 41°C (107°F) by day and 26°C (80°F) at night. It is also peak diaspora season, which in our experience tightens flights.
- Our take: coast and north, yes. The Sahara, no.
August: eclipse year, still hot
- Marrakech: average high 37.4°C (99°F), low 21.1°C (70°F)
- Fes: average high 35.1°C (95°F), low 18.3°C (65°F)
- What it is like: Essaouira stays mild at about 72°F by day and 65°F at night; Chefchaouen reaches about 90°F by day. The total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027 crosses northern Morocco.
- Our take: in 2027, worth it for the eclipse on a north-and-coast route. In other years, wait for September.
September: one of the best months
- Marrakech: average high 32.5°C (90°F), low 18.6°C (65°F)
- Fes: average high 30.3°C (87°F), low 15.6°C (60°F)
- What it is like: warm, settled days and clear skies; the summer crowds have gone. The Imilchil Marriage Festival takes place in the High Atlas. Operation Marhaba closed on 15 September in 2026, and flights ease after it.
- Our take: excellent from start to finish — one of our favourite months. It is high season, so book riads and camps early.
October: our favourite month
- Marrakech: average high 28.5°C (83°F), low 15.7°C (60°F)
- Fes: average high 26.1°C (79°F), low 12.6°C (55°F)
- What it is like: warm days, cool evenings and the best camp nights of the year begin. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on 11 October 2027. The Erfoud Date Festival runs in late October or early November.
- Our take: the month we would pick for ourselves. Good desert camps book first.
November: golden days in the south
- Marrakech: average high 23.1°C (74°F), low 10.7°C (51°F)
- Fes: average high 20.2°C (68°F), low 8.1°C (47°F)
- What it is like: the south is lovely, but the north turns wet, and November is the wettest month in Fes, with Chefchaouen just as wet into December. The Marrakech International Film Festival takes place in late November (20–28 November in 2026). US Thanksgiving falls on 25 November 2027.
- Our take: excellent for Marrakech, the kasbahs and the desert, with the softest light of the year; pack a rain layer if your route includes the north.
December: bright, cool, busy at the holidays
- Marrakech: average high 20.1°C (68°F), low 7.3°C (45°F)
- Fes: average high 17.2°C (63°F), low 5.2°C (41°F)
- What it is like: short days, cold nights, desert nights of 2–8°C. In our experience, Christmas and New Year are among the busiest weeks in Marrakech hotels.
- Our take: Christmas in Marrakech plus a night in the dunes works if you pack for it and book early.
Morocco, season by season
Spring
March, April, May
The season most first-timers should aim for. Marrakech runs 24–29°C (74–85°F) by day and Fes a little cooler, the Atlas valleys turn green, and desert nights are cool rather than cold. Early May brings the Rose Festival in Kelaat M’Gouna.
April is the busiest month of the year, so settle riads and camps early. The north can still be showery in March.
At its best now
Region by regionWhen to go to Morocco, region by region
The Sahara: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) and Erg Chigaga
The desert decides the calendar for most first trips. The best camp nights are October and November, then March and April. Avoid July and August, when days reach 42–45°C. According to climate-data.org's Merzouga averages, July runs around 41°C (107°F) by day and 26°C (80°F) at night, while January runs around 17°C (63°F) and 3.5°C (38°F).
Winter nights surprise most North Americans: from December to February, expect 2–8°C, a drop of 15–20°C after sunset. Camps we use, such as Madu Premium Camp at Erg Chebbi and Touareg Dream Chigaga Luxury Camp, have proper bedding, but bring a warm layer and a hat. Short sandstorms are most common in March and April; your driver simply adjusts timings. See our Sahara desert tours and our comparison of Merzouga and Erg Chigaga camps.
The High Atlas and the Tizi n'Tichka pass
The High Atlas is where our founder, Brahim Jounh, was born, in Agoudal in the Imilchil region. In summer the mountains are the cool escape from Marrakech; in spring the valleys turn green. In winter, the main road over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (the N9 between Marrakech and Ouarzazate) can close in snow. It was closed by snow twice in January 2026, on the 3rd and the 20th, and closures like that recur most winters.
That is not a reason to skip the mountains in winter. It is a reason to build in a buffer day, so a closed pass means a slow morning, not a missed flight.
The Atlantic coast and Essaouira
Essaouira is mild all year, averaging roughly 65°F by day and 52°F at night in January, and only about 72°F and 65°F in August. It is windy, especially from April to August, which keeps summer comfortable. We use it as the summer antidote to Marrakech: two or three nights at Dar L'Oussia or Heure Bleue Palais while the interior bakes.
The north: Chefchaouen, Tangier and the Rif
The north is much greener and much wetter than the south. Tangier receives around 740 mm of rain a year, most of it between October and April, against roughly 225 mm in Marrakech. November and December are the wettest months in Chefchaouen and Fes; July is the driest. Chefchaouen, at about 600 m, averages about 57°F by day and 43°F at night in January, and about 90°F and 68°F in August.
That makes the north a late-spring to early-fall region. A north-first trip through Tangier works well from May to early October, and suits the August 2027 eclipse.
Ramadan and holidaysRamadan and holidays in Morocco, 2027
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9–10 March 2027. Eid al-Adha is expected around 16 May 2027. For reference, Ramadan 2026 began on 19 February 2026. Islamic dates depend on the sighting of the new moon, and Morocco often starts a day after the Gulf states, so treat every date here as approximate until the announcement.
Travelling during Ramadan is entirely possible. In our experience, hotels and riads serve meals as usual, sights stay open, some local cafés close by day, and evenings come alive after sunset. We shorten long driving days. Eid is a family holiday: expect busy roads and some shops closed for a day or two.
FestivalsFestivals by month
- Early May: Rose Festival, Kelaat M'Gouna, in the valley between the Dades and Ouarzazate.
- Late May or June: Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.
- 24–26 June 2027: Gnaoua Festival, Essaouira.
- September: Imilchil Marriage Festival, High Atlas.
- Late October to early November: Erfoud Date Festival, on the road to Merzouga.
- Late November: Marrakech International Film Festival (20–28 November in 2026).
Check the programme before building a trip around a festival; organisers confirm dates and they can shift.
The North American angleTiming a Morocco trip from Canada and the US
Nonstop flights
As of 2026, Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop to Casablanca from New York JFK, Washington, Miami, Montreal and Toronto, and from Los Angeles since 7 June 2026 (announced here). Air Canada also flies Montreal–Casablanca nonstop, in about 7 hours 5 minutes, and Air Transat flies Montreal–Marrakech nonstop, with a schedule that varies by season. New York to Casablanca takes about 7 hours. From Vancouver, Calgary or the US interior you will connect. Our pages on Morocco tours from Canada and Morocco tours from the USA go through the routings city by city.
March Break, Easter and Thanksgiving
North American school and public holidays line up well with Morocco's best weather. Ontario's March Break in 2027 is 15–19 March (other provinces set their own weeks), Easter is 28 March 2027, Canadian Thanksgiving is 11 October 2027, and US Thanksgiving is 25 November 2027. All four fall in or near the sweet spots, so those weeks book first.
Jet lag and the first day
Flights from North America are overnight and eastbound, so most people land tired. We keep day one short: a transfer, a walk, an early night. We never schedule a long drive or the Tichka pass on arrival day.
High season: when to book
High season in Morocco is March to May, September to November, and 15 December to 10 January. In those weeks the most beautiful riads, boutique hotels and desert camps sell out early, so we recommend booking several months ahead — for Easter, October and the Christmas–New Year fortnight, as early as you can. January, February and the summer months are quieter and easier to book at shorter notice.
Our travel styles start from USD $340 per person per day in Classic (two sharing), about $390 in Platinum, about $490 in Luxury and from $750 in Ultra-Luxury. Your exact figure is priced in your proposal. See sample pricing for Morocco tours for real trip examples.
Who should go whenBest time to visit Morocco by traveller type
- Seniors: April, October and early November, for comfortable medina walks. Our Morocco tours for seniors build in rest days and shorter drives.
- Families: March Break, Easter and Canadian Thanksgiving are ideal. In summer, go north and to the coast. Our Morocco family tours keep driving days short for children.
- Honeymooners: October or late April for Marrakech, the Atlas and a private desert night; December and January for a slow riad trip.
- Photographers: October and November for low light on dunes and kasbahs; spring for green valleys.
- Sahara first-timers: October or April, if you have the choice.
- Short trips: spring and fall let you fit Marrakech, the Atlas and the desert into a week; our 7-day Morocco itinerary shows how.
Honest adviceWhat we tell clients to avoid
We would rather lose a booking than send someone at the wrong time. These are the timing mistakes we steer people away from:
- July and August in the desert. Days of 42–45°C are a health risk, not an adventure. In summer we route through the north, the coast and the mountains.
- A winter High Atlas crossing without a buffer day. Tizi n'Tichka closes in snow. Build one flexible day into any December-to-February crossing, never the day before your flight.
- A north-heavy trip in November expecting dry weather. November and December are the wettest months in Fes and Chefchaouen. Keep the south in the plan.
- Essaouira as a calm beach week in spring or summer. Windy from April to August. Lovely town, poor sunbathing.
- Leaving Easter, October or Christmas to the last minute. The hotels most clients want go early in those weeks.
- A long drive on arrival day. After an overnight flight, keep day one short.
Our Morocco packing list and our weather guide to packing for every region cover desert-night layers and rain gear for the north.
Brahim Jounh
Founder · guiding since 1999
Your Morocco specialist
Not sure which month suits your trip?
Tell Brahim your dates and what matters most. Born in Agoudal in the High Atlas and guiding since 1999, he’ll tell you honestly whether the timing works — and what he would change.
“He was thorough, always available, and incredibly professional throughout the planning process.”
★ 4.9 on TripAdvisor · 300+ reviews · BC Consumer Protection Licence #80460
Quick answersBest time to visit Morocco: common questions
Where to startJourneys that fit spring and fall
These three private journeys all work best in spring and fall. From prices are per person in the Classic style with two travellers: Discover Morocco (13 days) from USD $4,420, Exotic Morocco (11 days) from $3,740 and Imperial Cities (9 days) from $3,060. Groups of four pay less per person.
Every trip is 100% private and moves to the dates that suit you. Send us your window through plan my trip and we will say which week we would pick. For the August 2027 eclipse, see our Morocco solar eclipse 2027 page.
Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly what that season looks like. Gateway2Morocco Travel since 2006 · BC licence #80460 · +1 (604) 338-9087.
Plan my trip“We took our adult kids and it was a perfect way to reconnect.”
