Seasonal travel guide
March to May brings days of 20 to 28°C, wildflowers in the Atlas, the Rose Festival in May and the last comfortable weeks in the Sahara before summer.
Photograph: Erokhin, CC BY-SA 4.0
From March through May the Atlas flowers, the Dades Valley fills with Damask roses, and Fes and Marrakech are warm without the heat of summer.
Days run from 20 to 28°C and the nights are cool. It is the season for hiking the Atlas, for the Sahara before the heat, and for Chefchaouen's blue streets in the morning mist. Compared with the autumn peak, spring has similar weather with fewer crowds.
The weather
Warm days (20–28°C) without the summer heat, and cool evenings for sleeping.
Green landscapes
Wildflowers in the Atlas, a green Rif, and the Valley of the Roses in May.
Fewer crowds than autumn
Autumn is peak season. Spring has similar weather with fewer tourists and easier riad availability.
Festival season begins
The Rose Festival in May, then the Gnawa and Sacred Music festivals.
Trekking season
Snow melts on the high passes and trails open. Toubkal and Mgoun are at their best from mid-April.
The last of the Sahara
March and April are the final comfortable window before summer, with cool nights and warm days.
Average highs and lows, with rainy days per month. Real conditions vary from year to year, and mountain and desert temperatures change fast.
| Place | March | April | May | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 23°C / 11°CRain: 4 days | 26°C / 13°CRain: 3 days | 30°C / 16°CRain: 2 days | Warm and sunny. May gets hot by midday. |
| Fes | 19°C / 8°CRain: 6 days | 22°C / 10°CRain: 5 days | 27°C / 14°CRain: 3 days | Milder than Marrakech, with more rain and green hills around the city. April is ideal. |
| Chefchaouen | 17°C / 7°CRain: 7 days | 20°C / 9°CRain: 6 days | 24°C / 12°CRain: 4 days | Cooler mountain climate; the Rif turns green and morning mist sits in the blue streets. |
| Essaouira | 19°C / 12°CRain: 4 days | 20°C / 13°CRain: 3 days | 21°C / 15°CRain: 1 day | Mild and breezy; the Atlantic evens out the temperature. The wind picks up from April. |
| Sahara (Merzouga) | 26°C / 12°CRain: 1 day | 30°C / 16°CRain: 1 day | 35°C / 20°CRain: 0 days | March and April are the last comfortable months before the summer heat. |
| Atlas Mountains | 14°C / 2°CRain: 6 days | 18°C / 5°CRain: 5 days | 22°C / 9°CRain: 3 days | Snow melts through spring. Wildflowers from April; the best trekking from mid-April. |
Best: April and May
Snow melts on the peaks above 3,000 m, feeding waterfalls and turning the valleys green. Wildflowers fill the high meadows from April. The Toubkal circuit, the Mgoun traverse and the Aït Bouguemez valley are at their best.
Best: March to May
The Rif turns green, morning mist drifts through the blue streets and the air is fresh. Hiking in Talassemtane National Park is at its best, with wildflowers, waterfalls and the God's Bridge natural arch.
Best: March and early April
The last comfortable desert window before summer: days of 25–30°C and cool nights for camping. Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga are both good in spring light.
Best: April and May
The Dades Valley rose harvest peaks in May with the Rose Festival. Spring brings good light to the Todra Gorge and comfortable hiking temperatures, and fruit trees flower along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.
Best: April to June
Mild and breezy: good for the medina, beach walks and seafood. The trade winds from April bring the windsurfers, and the Gnawa music scene is a calm counterpoint to Marrakech.
Best: March to May
The Fes medina without peak-season crowds or summer heat. The countryside is green, day trips to Volubilis and Meknes are pleasant, and the Sacred Music Festival closes the season.
From the almond blossom in late winter to the music festivals that close the season. Dates change every year.
The best-known spring festival in Morocco celebrates the Damask rose harvest of the Dades Valley with parades, music, dancing and the crowning of a Rose Queen. Stalls sell rose water, rose oil, rose soap and rose sweets.
Tip: Book a room in Kelaat M'gouna or nearby Boumalne Dades at least two weeks ahead.
The almond groves around Tafraoute flower pink and white at the turn of the season. The Almond Blossom Festival brings Amazigh music and traditional food to the granite landscape of the Anti-Atlas.
Tip: The timing depends on the weather, so check locally before travelling. Tafraoute is a good base for the Painted Rocks and the Ameln Valley.
A UNESCO-recognised gathering of the nomadic peoples of the Sahara, with camel races, traditional music, poetry and trading.
Tip: Accommodation in Tan-Tan is basic. Many visitors base themselves in Guelmim and drive in.
Sacred music traditions, from Sufi chant to gospel to Hindustani classical, in venues including the Bab Makina palace grounds. Some outdoor fringe events are free.
Tip: Dates move from year to year; check the programme before you book.
Gnawa spiritual music and its fusions with jazz, blues and world music, with free open-air concerts in Essaouira's medina and on the beach.
Tip: Essaouira fills up during the festival. Book accommodation one to two months ahead.
Riad prices are for mid-range rooms and rise around festivals and holidays.
| Month | Crowds | Pricing | Mid-range riad | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | Low to moderate | Shoulder-season rates | From 500 MAD/night | Almond blossom, green landscapes, occasional rain, possible Ramadan overlap. |
| April | Moderate | Shoulder to peak rates | From 600 MAD/night | Wildflower peak, ideal Atlas hiking, Easter crowds, warm and pleasant. |
| May | Moderate to high | Approaching peak rates | From 650 MAD/night | Rose Festival, the last Sahara month, warm cities, good coast weather. |
Ramadan follows the lunar calendar and sometimes falls in spring.
Budgets are per person, with mid-range accommodation, shared transport and meals in local restaurants. Festivals and peak periods cost more.
Marrakech, Atlas, Dades Valley, Sahara, Fes · From 8,000 MAD per person
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Marrakech. Jemaa el-Fna and the souks in the spring afternoon. |
| Day 2 | Day trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls (full spring flow) or the Marrakech gardens. |
| Day 3 | Over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka to Aït Benhaddou, then on to the Dades Valley. |
| Day 4 | Morning hike in the Todra Gorge. Drive to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride into Erg Chebbi. |
| Day 5 | Sahara sunrise. Drive to Fes via Midelt and the cedar forests. |
| Day 6 | A full day in the Fes medina: tanneries, Bou Inania madrasa, Al-Attarine. |
| Day 7 | Jardin Jnan Sbil. Depart, or continue to Chefchaouen. |
Fes, Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Dades Valley, Marrakech · From 12,000 MAD per person
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Fes. Evening walk in the medina. |
| Day 2 | Day trip to Volubilis (wildflowers among the Roman columns) and Meknes. |
| Day 3 | Drive to Chefchaouen. The blue medina and the Ras el-Maa waterfall. |
| Day 4 | Hike to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint and into Talassemtane National Park. |
| Day 5 | Travel to Essaouira. Sunset on the ramparts. |
| Day 6 | Essaouira: medina, port, beach, Gnawa music, an argan cooperative. |
| Day 7 | Drive to the Dades Valley, the Valley of the Roses (the Rose Festival in May). |
| Day 8 | Todra Gorge hike; kasbahs along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. |
| Day 9 | Drive to Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou. Evening on Jemaa el-Fna. |
| Day 10 | Jardin Majorelle, Bahia Palace, the souks. A last dinner on a roof terrace. |
Spring weather varies a lot across the country, so pack layers.
Spring (March to May) is widely considered the best time to visit. Temperatures are warm but not extreme, wildflowers bloom across the countryside, Atlas hiking conditions are ideal, and crowds are smaller than in autumn. The main thing to check is Ramadan, which may affect dining options.
Marrakech averages 20-28 degrees Celsius, coastal cities like Essaouira 16-22 degrees, and the Atlas Mountains 10-20 degrees. Rainfall decreases from March to May. Evenings are cool, especially in the mountains and desert, so pack layers.
Key festivals include the Rose Festival in Kelaat M'gouna (May), the Almond Blossom Festival in Tafraoute (February-March), and, at the end of spring, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (late May or June) and the Gnawa World Music Festival in Essaouira (June). Exact dates vary each year.
Ramadan dates shift every year. When it falls in spring, some restaurants close during the day and public life slows, but tourist areas remain open, and hotel restaurants serve guests throughout the day. An iftar dinner after sunset is worth experiencing.
Pack layers: lightweight clothing for warm days, a warm jacket for evenings and the mountains, comfortable walking shoes, SPF 50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a light rain jacket for March and April. Bring modest clothing for mosques and rural areas.
Both are good. March has lower prices and fewer crowds but more rain. April is drier and warmer, with wildflowers in full bloom and ideal hiking. Easter can bring temporary crowds. For budget, choose March; for nature and hiking, choose April.