Best Time to Trek in Morocco: A Month-by-Month Guide

The best time to trek in Morocco’s High Atlas, including Mount Toubkal and the M’Goun massif, is from April to October, with May–June and September–October the most comfortable months. From October to April, while the high peaks are under snow, the volcanic Jbel Saghro and the Sahara come into their own. Jbel Siroua sits in between and is best in spring and autumn.

Key takeaways

• High Atlas and Toubkal: April to October for non-technical trekking; June and September are often the sweet spot.
• M’Goun and the Central High Atlas: May to October, when the 3,000–3,400 m passes are usually clear of snow.
• Jbel Saghro: October to April, with mild days of around 15–25°C and cold nights.
• Jbel Siroua: spring (March to June) and autumn (September to November).
• Sahara: October to April; in summer, daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C.

Why Morocco has two trekking seasons

Morocco’s trekking regions cover a huge range of altitudes. The High Atlas holds summits above 4,000 m that carry snow for several months a year, while ranges further south, such as Jbel Saghro, are lower and drier and sit at the edge of the Sahara. As a result, the country effectively has two trekking seasons: the mountain season from late spring to autumn, and the southern season from autumn to spring. Spring and autumn are the overlap, when almost everything is possible, including a mountain trek followed by a few nights in the desert.

Two rules of thumb help. First, temperature drops as you climb, so a scorching day in Marrakech can be pleasant walking weather at 2,500 m. Second, the further south and the lower you go, the hotter the summer and the milder the winter.

Month-by-month trekking calendar

Use this table as a starting point. Conditions vary from year to year, and your guide adapts the route to the weather on the ground.

Month	High Atlas (Toubkal)	M’Goun & Ait Bouguemez	Jbel Saghro	Jbel Siroua	Sahara
January	Winter: snow and ice, summit for experienced only	Valley visits; high passes snowbound	Ideal: mild days, cold nights	Cold; summit often snowy	Good: mild days, very cold nights
February	Winter conditions	Valley visits; passes snowbound	Ideal	Cold; snow possible	Good
March	Snow on upper slopes; village walks good	Valley in blossom; passes still snowy	Ideal	Good from mid-March	Very good
April	Good; snow patches possible	Valley lovely; high passes may hold snow	Very good, warming up	Very good	Very good; windy days possible
May	Very good	Good; passes opening	Possible; getting warm	Ideal	Warm to hot
June	Ideal	Ideal	Too hot	Good	Hot: not recommended
July	Good but busy; afternoon storms	Good; shepherds on high pastures	Too hot	Possible; hot in valleys	Very hot
August	Good but busy; afternoon storms	Good; afternoon storms	Too hot	Possible; hot in valleys	Very hot
September	Ideal	Ideal	Still hot	Very good	Hot, easing late in the month
October	Ideal; colder nights	Very good; early snow possible late	Very good; season starts	Ideal	Very good
November	Cold; first snows on the summit	Valleys good; high passes risky	Ideal	Good; cold nights	Ideal
December	Winter conditions	Valley visits; passes snowbound	Ideal; short days, cold nights	Cold; snow likely on the summit	Good; very cold nights

High Atlas and Toubkal: April to October

For the classic ascent of Toubkal (4,167 m) from Imlil, the season runs from April to October. Early spring often brings lingering snow above the refuge, so April trips need a gear check with your guide. June and September are frequently the best months: the trail is normally free of snow, days are long and the weather is fairly settled. July and August are perfectly good but busier, and afternoon thunderstorms can build over the peaks, which is one reason summit days start before dawn.

From roughly December to March, Toubkal becomes a winter mountain with snow and ice on its upper slopes. Experienced walkers can still climb it with crampons, an ice axe and the right guide, but for most visitors winter is the time for lower village walks around Imlil rather than the summit. A good first choice in season is the 2-day Mount Toubkal trek.

M’Goun and Ait Bouguemez: late spring to autumn

The Central High Atlas around Jbel M’Goun (4,068 m) has a slightly shorter high season, because its long approach routes cross passes of 3,000–3,400 m that can hold snow into late spring. From May to October the high plateaus are open, and in summer they fill with shepherds and their flocks, including semi-nomadic families who bring their animals up from the south. Ait Bouguemez, the green “Happy Valley” below, can be visited all year: spring brings blossom and bright fields, autumn the harvest, and winter a dusting of snow on the surrounding peaks.

If you travel in May, the nearby Valley of Roses is in bloom, and Kelaat M’Gouna celebrates its annual rose festival. The 8-day Toubkal and M’Goun trek runs best from May to October, while the 3-day Ait Bouguemez and red villages tour runs year-round.

Jbel Saghro and Jbel Siroua: winter and shoulder-season treks

Jbel Saghro: October to April

Jbel Saghro is Morocco’s classic winter trek. This volcanic range between the High Atlas and the Sahara stays dry and mild from October to April, with daytime temperatures usually between about 15 and 25°C, although nights can fall close to freezing in December and January. Clear skies and low sun make the dark rock and its pinnacles glow, and you share the trails with Ait Atta shepherds rather than with other trekkers. From June to August the heat can climb above 35°C, which turns walking into hard work. The 5-day Jebel Saghro trek is an ideal winter escape from Marrakech.

Jbel Siroua: spring and autumn

Jbel Siroua, an ancient volcano rising to 3,305 m between the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, is at its best in spring (March to June) and autumn (September to November). Its summit can be cold and snowy in winter and its lower valleys hot in high summer, so the shoulder seasons give the most comfortable mix. It is a good choice in April or October if you want a quieter alternative to Toubkal, for example on the 4-day Jbel Siroua summit trek.

Sahara: October to April

The desert season is the mirror image of the mountain season. From October to April, days in the Sahara are warm and pleasant, while nights can be very cold, especially from December to February, when a down jacket and a good sleeping bag are welcome around camp. Spring can bring windy days and the occasional sandstorm. From June to September daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C, which rules out walking treks and makes even camel rides tiring. For a real walking journey with camels, the 8-day nomadic crossing of the M’hamid ergs runs from October to April.

Other things to plan around

• Ramadan: the fasting month moves about 11 days earlier each year. Treks run as normal and your team still cooks for you, but village life is quieter by day and it is polite to eat and drink discreetly in public.
• Busy periods: Toubkal is at its busiest in July and August and around European school holidays, especially Easter. For quieter trails, aim for June, September or October.
• Daylight: winter days are noticeably shorter, so stages are planned to reach camp well before dark.
• Mountains plus desert: spring and autumn are the best seasons for a trip that links an Atlas trek with the Sahara, as the passes are mostly open and the desert is not too hot.
• Flexibility: mountain weather can change quickly in any month. A spare day in your plan, and a guide who knows the local signs, matter more than the calendar.

Not sure which month suits your trip? Tell us when you can travel and what you would like to see, on WhatsApp at +212 606 957 514 or via our contact page, and we will suggest the region and route that are at their best on your dates. You can also browse all our trekking routes and Sahara desert tours.

FAQ