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Mild days, thin crowds, lower prices — and the Sahara at its absolute finest. Here is everything you need to plan a November trip to Morocco, city by city.
Amelia Hart· Itineraries & Trip Planning Editor
British writer who has built and road-tested Morocco itineraries for everyone from honeymooners to families. She covers multi-day routes, costs, the best time to visit and how to plan a first trip. Casablanca · 9+ years covering Morocco
Published 12 April 2025 Last updated 29 April 2026
November is the month that experienced Morocco travellers keep to themselves. The summer heat is long gone, the October half-term rush has cleared, and the medinas of Marrakech and Fes take on a more relaxed, lived-in quality — vendors haggle without pressure, riads drop their rates, and you can stand in front of the Chouara tanneries without elbowing for a view.
Weather-wise, the country divides neatly: the south stays warm and dry through the month, with daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid twenties; the northern Atlantic coast and the Rif Mountains are cooler and wetter, but dramatically beautiful for it. The Sahara, by most measures, is at its peak — cool enough for comfortable camping, clear enough for extraordinary stargazing.
If your schedule is flexible and you want Morocco without the performance of its peak season, November might simply be the right answer.
Four reasons November consistently outperforms the expectation of most travellers who arrive having worried about “off season.”
September–October and March–April are Morocco's busiest tourist months. By November the tour buses thin out, riad rates drop (often 20–35 % below peak), and the Jemaa el-Fna is yours in the early morning.
Daytime highs of 20–26 °C across the imperial cities mean you can explore medinas for hours without overheating. The South goes higher but the dry air keeps it pleasant.
The Sahara in November is arguably better than spring. Sand temperatures are comfortable for barefoot walks, cold nights give the Milky Way exceptional clarity, and a camel sunrise over Erg Chebbi at 7 °C is unforgettable.
Domestic flights, riads, and tour operators all charge less in November. A private 3-day Sahara tour that might cost 4,500–5,000 MAD per person in March can often be found from 3,200–3,800 MAD — indicative figures that vary by operator.
Morocco spans 2,000 km from Tangier to the Sahara, so “November weather” is not a single answer. Here is what to expect in the places most visitors actually go.
| City | Day high | Night low |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 22–26 °C | 10–14 °C |
| Fes | 20–23 °C | 9–12 °C |
| Chefchaouen | 17–20 °C | 7–10 °C |
| Merzouga / Sahara | 23–27 °C | 5–9 °C |
| Essaouira | 19–22 °C | 13–15 °C |
All temperatures indicative based on historical averages. Desert night temperatures vary; pack a warm layer for Merzouga regardless of the forecast.
The Sahara in November — cool nights, perfect visibility, very few other travellers
Each destination rewards a November visit differently. Here is where to go and the specific advantage the quiet season gives you.
The medina is at its most walkable. Menara Gardens, the Majorelle Garden, and the souks near Rahba Kedima feel spacious rather than shoulder-to-shoulder. Evenings cool fast — ideal for a hammam session.
November sits squarely in the Sahara's sweet spot. Days reach 24 °C and nights drop to 5–8 °C — cold enough to bundle up in camp but not so cold that tents feel miserable. Sunrises over the dunes are golden and unhurried.
The ancient medina is a labyrinth best explored slowly, and November gives you that luxury. The leather tanneries at Chouara are active and the dye vats hold their deepest colours after summer. Crowd pressure at the famous tannery overlook is minimal.
The Blue City trades summer's Instagram saturation for November's moody mountain light. Early morning mist rolls through the Rif Mountains, the blue-washed streets are almost empty by 8 am, and the surrounding hills are ideal for a short hike to the Spanish mosque.
The earthen ksar at Aït Benhaddou glows bronze in November's lower sun angle. Combine it with a drive through the Draa Valley date palms — harvest season runs October to November, and roadside stalls sell fresh Medjool varieties for around 20–40 MAD per kilo.
A few logistics that work differently in November versus the busy season.
Sunset in Morocco falls between 5:30 and 6:00 pm in November. That is earlier than summer but still gives you a full day of sightseeing. Build your itinerary so you are in the desert or watching a sunset from the Majorelle rooftop, not stuck in a vehicle.
The gap between midday and midnight temperatures can be 15–18 °C in inland areas. Pack in layers: a light t-shirt for medina walking, a fleece or light jacket for evenings, and a warmer layer if you are heading to the Sahara or the Atlas. Most riads provide blankets; a camping sleeping bag is only necessary if you plan budget desert camping.
Availability is generally good in November and rates are lower, but do not assume you can simply walk in — particularly around the 11 November French public holiday weekend, which brings European visitors to Morocco in a short burst. Book key nights a few weeks ahead.
The ONCF trains (Casablanca–Rabat–Tangier, Casablanca–Fes) run year-round with no seasonal reduction. For routes that require driving — Marrakech to the Sahara, Fes to Chefchaouen — a private vehicle with a driver-guide remains the most efficient option, and November is when operators have the most availability and flexibility on departure times.
Yes — November is one of the most underrated months for Morocco travel. The summer heat has broken, the peak-season crowds of September and October have thinned, and riad prices typically drop 20–35 % compared to March. Daytime temperatures in Marrakech and Fes sit comfortably at 20–26 °C, making long medina walks genuinely enjoyable. The only trade-off is that Chefchaouen and the Atlantic coast can see occasional rain, but sunny windows dominate and the light is beautiful.
It varies by region. Marrakech and the south run warm and mostly dry — highs of 22–26 °C and just two or three rainy days across the month. Fes and the Middle Atlas are a few degrees cooler with slightly more chance of rain. Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains is cooler still (17–20 °C) and wetter. The Sahara is arguably the best it gets all year: clear skies, 23–27 °C days, and pleasantly cold nights around 5–8 °C that make stargazing and early morning camel treks feel magical.
Compared to peak seasons it is noticeably quieter. October is still busy with European half-term travellers and autumn festival-goers; by November the medinas breathe again. Popular sites like the Chouara tanneries in Fes and the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech still attract visitors, but queues and shoulder-to-shoulder conditions are rare. A private guided tour gives you the flexibility to hit the most photogenic spots at dawn, before even the reduced November crowds arrive.
Absolutely — and many experienced Morocco travellers would argue November is the best time for the desert. The intense heat that makes August dune-climbing unpleasant has gone entirely. Days at Erg Chebbi reach 24–27 °C, comfortable for a camel trek and sandboarding. Nights cool sharply to around 5–8 °C, which means a proper sleeping bag in camp, but also means the clearest skies and the most dramatic stargazing of the year. Expect early sunrises around 6:45 am — plan your camel departure accordingly.
Marrakech and the Sahara are the standout choices for weather. Fes runs a close second — the medina is magical in the low-crowd season and the tanneries are at their most vivid. Chefchaouen suits travellers who prefer dramatic mountain light over guaranteed sunshine; moody mist and empty blue alleyways are the reward for accepting the risk of a shower. The Draa Valley and Aït Benhaddou are worth combining into a southbound road trip, ideally as a multi-day private tour from Marrakech.
Nights cool to around 10–14 °C in Marrakech during November — not bitterly cold, but noticeably crisp after the day's warmth. A light jacket or fleece is sufficient for the evening. In the desert and at altitude (Chefchaouen, the Atlas passes), temperatures drop further — plan for 5–10 °C after dark. Riads in the medina often have thick blankets and some have fireplaces; if evening warmth matters to you, look for properties that mention heating or a salon with a fireplace.
As a rough guide, riad rates in Marrakech and Fes often run 20–35 % lower than the March and October peaks. Private guided tour prices can be similarly negotiable, particularly for multi-day itineraries. Indicatively, a 3-day private Sahara tour from Marrakech that might be quoted at 4,500–5,000 MAD per person in high season may come in at 3,200–3,800 MAD in November — though prices vary significantly between operators and change year to year. Always ask for a November-specific quote rather than assuming the website rack rate applies.
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