Monthly travel guide
Early spring: the first wildflowers in the Atlas, comfortable sightseeing weather and shoulder-season prices, with snow still on the high peaks.
A village in the Imlil valley below the snow-covered High Atlas. Photograph: Erokhin, CC BY-SA 4.0
March is when Morocco comes out of winter. The Atlas foothills start to flower, the gardens of Marrakech bloom, and the longer days bring more life to the medinas and souks.
The first two weeks often combine spring weather with near-winter prices: low-season room rates, quiet sights, and temperatures warm enough to spend the whole day outdoors. Hiking in the Atlas is pleasant, the Sahara is still comfortable before the summer heat, and the gorges and valleys of the south look their best.
The variable is Ramadan, which moves every year and sometimes falls partly in March. With some respect and flexibility it is a good time to travel: after sunset the iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, brings the cities out to eat together.
Spring arrives at different speeds: the south warms quickly while the mountains hold on to winter.
| Region | Temperature | Rain | Our verdict | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic coastEssaouira, Agadir, El Jadida, Rabat | 17-21 °C | Moderate | Very good | Agadir can reach the low 20s on sunny days, and the first beach weather arrives there. Essaouira mixes calm days with windy ones. Rabat and Casablanca are mild with occasional showers. The sea, around 18 °C, is cool for swimming but fine for surfing in a wetsuit. |
| Interior citiesMarrakech, Fes, Meknes | 15-22 °C | Light | Excellent | Warm afternoons, warm enough to eat outside, and cool mornings around 10-12 °C. The Marrakech gardens come into flower. Rain is less frequent than in winter and usually brief. |
| SaharaMerzouga, M'Hamid, Zagora | 12-26 °C | Minimal | Excellent | Warm days, comfortable for camel treks, and milder nights than in winter, which makes camping easier. Spring winds can raise sandstorms, though they are not frequent. |
| Atlas MountainsImlil, Ouarzazate, Dades Valley | 0-12 °C | Rain below, snow above | Good | Snow lies above about 2,500 m, but the lower valleys round Imlil (1,740 m) and the Dades and Todra gorges are good for walking, and the first wildflowers appear on the lower slopes. Toubkal in March is a winter ascent that needs crampons and an ice axe. |
| Mediterranean coastTangier, Chefchaouen, Al Hoceima | 14-19 °C | Moderate | Good | Mild days around 19 °C in Tangier and Chefchaouen, with the Rif turning green. Rain is still likely, especially early in the month. Fewer visitors than in the south. |
Temperatures are typical daily ranges and vary from year to year. Our verdict is our own editorial judgement for travel that month.
Ramadan in some years, and the start of the wildflower season.
The month of fasting from dawn to dusk moves about 10 to 11 days earlier each year, so in some years it falls partly or wholly in March. Many local restaurants close in daylight (those aimed at visitors usually stay open), some sights shorten their hours, and days are slower. After sunset the iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, fills the streets. Travel during Ramadan takes some flexibility.
Wildflowers start in March and peak in April. The Atlas foothills, the Rif around Chefchaouen and the plains between cities fill with poppies, wild irises and lavender. The Ourika Valley, the Aït Bougmez valley and the hills round Ifrane are among the best places to see them.
Ramadan dates change each year. Check the dates for your year before you book.
Six places that are especially good this month.
Warm enough to explore all day, without summer's heat or peak-season crowds. Jardin Majorelle, the Menara and the Agdal gardens come into flower, rooftop restaurants open again, and the longer evenings bring Jemaa el-Fnaa to life. Riad prices rise from their winter lows but stay below April and May.
The lower valleys round Imlil, the Ourika Valley and the Aït Bougmez begin to flower, and the terraced fields round the Amazigh villages turn green. Day hikes and two-to-three-day valley treks are at their best, with the high peaks still under snow. Foreign hikers in Toubkal National Park, including Imlil and the Toubkal routes, must go with a licensed guide.
Good walking temperatures in the gorges, snowmelt in the streams, and the Dades road at its best in spring light. Todra's limestone walls are popular with climbers. The kasbahs along the way are quieter than in peak season.
The blue town against hills turning green, with quiet streets and day hikes up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint and beyond. Ras el-Maa runs full after the winter rains. Rooms are easy to find.
Warm enough to spend whole days in the medina, before the heat that makes its lanes airless in summer. The Qarawiyyin, the tanneries and the workshops are easy to visit, and cooking classes and guided walks have room.
More calm, sunny days between the windy ones, steady Atlantic swell for surfers, and the start of the spring bird migration. The medina's woodworkers and painters are at work before the busier months.
Layers for warm afternoons and cool mornings and evenings.
Layers
Hiking shoes
A light rain jacket
Sun protection
A wildflower guide
A daypack
March is shoulder season: below the April and May peak, above deep winter.
Go in the first half of the month
Book a few weeks ahead
Watch the last week
Agree prices first
Check the Ramadan dates
Where to see wildflowers
Go to the Sahara early in the month
Check the mountain forecast
Expect rain in the north
Use the early and late light
A spring week of cities, mountain walks, gorges and the Sahara.
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Questions
Mild spring weather. Typical ranges: the coast 17-21 °C, the interior cities 15-22 °C, the Sahara 12-26 °C and the Atlas 0-12 °C, with snow still on the high peaks. Days are warm and sunny and mornings cool; rain is possible in the north but becoming less frequent. It is one of the most comfortable months to travel.
Yes. It is warm enough for everything outdoors, the wildflowers begin, and prices are still below the April and May peak. The two things to check are Ramadan dates and the extra visitors at the end of the month. Early March is the best value.
Ramadan moves each year. When it falls in March, most restaurants that serve visitors stay open in the day, but some local places close until sunset, and sights may shorten their hours. The evening iftar is worth seeing. Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during fasting hours.
Layers for days that run from about 10 °C in the morning to over 20 °C in the afternoon: light long-sleeved shirts, a medium jacket, hiking shoes if you are trekking, a light rain jacket, SPF 30+ sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a daypack.
Yes, one of the best months. The lower Atlas trails are open, the wildflowers are out and the temperatures suit walking. Day hikes from Imlil, the Ourika Valley and the Dades and Todra gorges are all good. Toubkal still needs winter equipment, and foreign hikers in Toubkal National Park must go with a licensed guide.
March is shoulder season. As a rough guide, budget travellers spend about 500-700 MAD a day and mid-range travellers about 900-1,600 MAD. Prices are below the April and May peak but above deep winter, and they rise through the month.
Beach season proper starts in May and June, but Agadir can have beach weather in March, with days in the low 20s. The sea is around 18 °C: cold for most swimmers, fine for surfing in a wetsuit. Essaouira and the other coast towns are better for walks than sunbathing.