In short. Summer in Morocco runs from June to August. Days are hot: Marrakech often passes 40 degrees, and the Sahara often passes 40 degrees too. The coast is cooler, at 25 to 30 degrees. Summer is still a good time to visit if you plan around the heat. Walk early, rest at noon, and pick the coast or the mountains for the middle of the day.

Summer heat by place

Marrakech in summer is very hot. Day temperatures often reach 38 to 45 degrees, and the air is dry. The medina is hot at noon, and the stone streets hold the heat. Nights drop to 25 to 28 degrees, and the square comes alive after sunset. Plan your walks for the morning and the evening, and rest in the shade at noon.

Fes in summer is also hot, often 35 to 40 degrees. The medina has shade in the lanes, but the sun hits the open squares. Chefchaouen is cooler, at 30 to 35 degrees, because it sits in the mountains. Essaouira is the coolest city, at 25 to 30 degrees, with a sea wind in the afternoon. The desert is the hottest place, often over 40 degrees in the day.

The desert in summer

The Sahara in summer is very hot in the day, often 40 to 45 degrees on the dunes. The camel ride moves to late afternoon, when the sun is lower. The camp night is warm, around 25 to 30 degrees, and many people sleep outside the tent or on the roof terrace. The stars are clear, and the night is the best part of a summer desert trip.

If you go to the desert in summer, drink water often and wear a hat and sun cream. Rest in the shade at noon and do not climb a dune in the middle of the day. The sand is hot underfoot, so wear closed shoes. Children and older travellers should take extra care with water and sun. The camps are quiet in summer, and the dunes are empty.

How to plan your day

Plan your day around the sun. Start at 7 or 8 in the morning, when the air is cool. Walk the medina, visit a palace, or drive to the next town. At noon, go inside for lunch and rest. Use the hotel pool, a museum, or a shaded cafe. Start again at 5 pm, when the sun drops. Eat dinner late, after 8 pm, when the air cools.

This plan works in every city. In Marrakech, the Jardin Majorelle is best early in the morning. In Fes, the tanneries are best before noon. In the desert, the camel ride is best at sunset. Do not try to walk all day in the heat. A slow day in summer is a good day.

Where to escape the heat

The Atlas Mountains are the best escape from the heat. Imlil and the Ourika Valley are 1 to 2 hours from Marrakech, and the air is 10 degrees cooler. A day trip to the mountains gives you a walk, a river and a lunch in the shade. The valleys have trees and water, and the villages are cool.

The coast is the second escape. Essaouira is 3 hours from Marrakech and the sea wind keeps it cool. The beach is wide, and the town is calm. Agadir is further south and has a long beach and hotels with pools. If you have a week in summer, spend half of it on the coast and half in the cities.

What to pack for summer

Pack light cotton or linen clothes: T-shirts, long trousers and a light shirt. Long sleeves protect you from the sun better than a vest. Bring a wide hat, sunglasses and sun cream with SPF 50. Bring a refillable water bottle of at least one litre, and refill it often. Bring sandals for the hotel and closed shoes for the road.

Pack a light jacket for the desert night and for the mountains. The desert night in summer is warm, but the air conditioning in the car and the hotel is cold. Bring a power bank for your phone, because the heat drains batteries fast. Pack a small day bag with water, a hat and sun cream for every walk.

Prices and crowds in summer

Summer is low season for the desert and high season for the coast. Desert tours cost less in summer, and the camps have space. A shared 3-day desert tour from Marrakech often starts from around 120 euros per person, and summer prices are at the low end. Hotels in Marrakech cost less, while hotels in Essaouira cost more.

The cities are less crowded in summer, because many travellers avoid the heat. The medinas are easier to walk in the morning, and the sights have short lines. The coast is busy in August, when Moroccan families travel. If you want a quiet coast, go in June or September.

Is summer the right time for you?

Summer suits travellers who can handle heat, who like quiet cities, and who want lower prices for the desert. It suits people who plan their day around the sun and who like the coast. It does not suit travellers who want to walk all day, or who travel with small children in the desert.

If you go in summer, book a hotel with a pool and air conditioning. Pick a private tour so you can set the start time. Drink water all day, wear a hat, and rest at noon. Summer in Morocco is hot, but with a good plan it is a fine time to travel.

A summer packing checklist

Use this checklist for a summer trip to Morocco. Pack light cotton or linen clothes: T-shirts, long trousers and a light shirt with long sleeves, because long sleeves protect you from the sun better than a vest. Bring a wide hat, sunglasses and sun cream with SPF 50, and reapply the cream after lunch. Bring a refillable water bottle of at least one litre and refill it often. Bring sandals for the hotel and closed shoes for the road and the camel ride. Pack a light jacket for the desert night, for the mountains, and for the cold air conditioning in the car and the hotel.

Plan your day before you pack. Start at 7 or 8 in the morning, rest at noon, and start again at 5 pm. Book a hotel with a pool and air conditioning, and pick a private tour so you can set the start time. Drink water all day, even when you do not feel thirsty, and eat lunch in the shade. In the desert, do not climb a dune in the middle of the day, because the sand is hot and the sun is strong. Summer in Morocco is hot, but with a good plan, a hat and water, it is a fine time to travel.