When To Go To Morocco?

The great interest of Morocco is precisely to be as varied geographically as in terms of climate ...
Morocco's climate varies enormously depending on the region and the altitude. The average annual sunshine is more than 8 hours per day, which will allow you to visit the country in any season.
However, we advise you to avoid the regions south of the High Atlas in the middle of summer, an often hot period.

Morocco's climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. However, it is very changeable depending on the different geographical areas of the country.

On the Atlantic coast, it is relatively temperate with mild winters and hot, sunny summers. The High Atlas, for its part, experiences a significant thermal amplitude between summer, very hot, and winter, very cold.

In Marrakech, the climate is pleasant all year round. In winter, however, temperatures can be very cool at night.

In the Rif, the climate is wetter than elsewhere with abundant rainfall.

Morocco has three distinct tourist seasons: A high season in spring and autumn, a period during which the temperatures are pleasant;

An intermediate season in April, May, September and October, a period during which temperatures are mild but rainfall is frequent in the North and sandstorms occur in the Sahara;

A low season from June to August, a period during which the temperatures are very hot, particularly in the south of the High Atlas.

The rainy season in Morocco is quite short and manifests itself mainly in the Rif. It runs from November to January.

You do not yet know when to go to Morocco? The country can be visited all year round as long as you avoid arid regions in midsummer.

To visit the Rif and the Middle Atlas, prefer summer, a period during which rainfall is rare. The Atlantic coast and Marrakech can be visited all year round.

Spring and autumn represent the best times to travel to Morocco and avoid the torrential rains of the wet season, the excessive heat of the summer and the freezing cold of the winter at altitude.

Winter in Morocco can also be an interesting season since it not only allows you to ski on the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas, but also to take advantage of the pleasant climate of the South. In the plains, temperatures often rise to 30 ° C during the day during this season.

All these nuances throughout the seasons offer the traveler the opportunity to visit this beautiful country at any time of the year. Each season will lend itself to the discovery of a facet of Morocco, through a circuit crossing one or more of its regions.

For architecture lovers, you cannot miss the imperial cities of Morocco, the ideal solution being the self-drive, and spring will be the most pleasant period to satisfy your curiosity. Indeed, the temperature will not be excessive; as for plants and trees, they will display their most beautiful colors.

A camel ride by the sea makes you dream? It would be better then to travel during July and head for Essaouira. The breeze blowing on the coast will prevent you from suffering from the heatwave.

For the trekker, also, according to the desires, the travel period will be different. Depending on whether he wishes to make a trek in the desert or in the Atlas, he will not leave for Morocco on the same dates. What can be noted is the great variety of difficulty in the routes.

Thus, whether you are a very experienced hiker or less experienced, everyone will find an itinerary corresponding to their wishes and abilities. The other interesting point is that a good part of the massif is still relatively uncrowded by tourists.

Do you dream of trekking in the desert? The period from October to April will be the most suitable, in particular, February will be the most suitable. This trek will be the opportunity to discover the famous camps, nomads or others, and to taste the magic of the place linked to the calm and the twilight colors above the dunes. You can admire the starry vault there, once night has fallen.

Are you interested in the Atlas trails and want to hike them? Rather, you will be advised to plan your stay between April and October, in order to avoid snow.

To know that it will be advisable to you to decide for one or more zones. Indeed, the Atlas includes the Anti Atlas, the Middle Atlas and the High Atlas, all of this covering an immense area. For information, it is in July and August that the High Atlas is the most frequented by tourists.

On the slopes of the Atlas, you will discover green terraced crops thanks to a very old and perfectly mastered irrigation system. Walnut trees, almond trees, apricot trees as well as vegetables and fruits such as potatoes, celery, carrots, turnips, carob, apple ... etc take place on this massif.

Higher, between 2400 and 3200m, you will only find bushes with curious shapes shaped by the elements.

In some areas, the lucky ones may spot mouflons, wild boars, gazelles or even Moorish geckos.
The bearded vulture or the golden eagle are also still present in the area.

Summer will lend itself to the ascent of summits, such as Toubkal or M’goun, but beware, during this same period, the cities of the interior and the great south have very high temperatures.

This is for any type of walker, knowing that it can be done in 2 days (only the ascent) as in 7 or 10 days. This ascent can even be done with the family.

For the most experienced and trained hikers, the ascent of Toubkal (Jbel Toubkal, highest point in North Africa with its 4167m) is done, by the classic route, in 2 days from Imlil (located 70km from Marrakech) .

For the "2 days" version, you must count 1500m of elevation gain on the first day for 12km, on a mule track. You can choose not to use porterage or, on the contrary, use the services of local muleteers. Very quickly, the scenery becomes arid and desert and will hardly change between 2000 and 4000m altitude.

1000m of ascent on the program the second day, to reach the summit. The passage to the Toubkal pass (3900m) will still require significant efforts. I There is then only a long ridge left to the top. The view is then exceptional.

The round trip is done in 3 days for experienced trekkers or in 5 days for average hikers.

The M'goun (4068m) looks like a long summit ridge. Its southern slope is gently sloping, accessible everywhere, it is accessed by Amesker (from El Kelaa des Mgouna). The northern slope, meanwhile, worked more by the elements, is steeper and steeper in places and access is via Azilal then Agouti. The Tarkeddit refuge can be found at 3000m.

For "average" walkers, bivouacs will be expected in order to take as much time as necessary during the ascent. An idea of a route can be to go up from the north and go down from the south, via the gorges of M'goun.

You will understand, this country is full of attractions, to savor without moderation, in any season!