Yes. Winter, from December through February, is one of the best times to visit Morocco. Marrakech averages daytime highs of 64 to 68°F with about seven hours of sunshine a day, the medinas are at their quietest outside the holiday weeks, and the High Atlas wears snow on its peaks. Desert and mountain nights turn cold, so how the trip is planned matters more than the season itself. Magical Private Travel has planned private journeys in Morocco since 2002, nearly 17,000 travelers have explored Spain, Portugal and Morocco with us, and winter is the season we most often suggest Morocco to American travelers.
Thinking about Morocco this winter or next? Share your dates and our team will tell you what is open. Start planning your journey
What is the weather like in Morocco in winter?
Winter days are sunny and mild almost everywhere, with a wide swing between day and night inland.
| Place | Typical winter day | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 64 to 68°F, about 7 hours of sun | Warm sun at lunch, a jacket after dark, with nights in the 40s |
| Fez | About 61°F in December | Crisp days for the medina, cozy evenings in a riad |
| Essaouira and the Atlantic coast | About 66°F in December | Mild and breezy |
| The Sahara at Erg Chebbi | Low 60s | Clear, starry nights in the high 30s to low 40s |
| The High Atlas | Cooler than Marrakech | Snow on the peaks, bright sun in the valleys |
Pack as you would for a sunny late-fall week in Southern California, plus a warm coat for desert and mountain evenings.
Where should you go in Morocco in winter?
All of Morocco works in winter. What changes is how each day is shaped.
- Marrakech and the Agafay. Marrakech is the warmest of the imperial cities in winter, ideal for gardens, palaces and the souks. An hour away, the Agafay Desert offers an optional sunset camel ride and dinner under canvas with musicians and dancers, with the snowy High Atlas behind the camp. Our guide to choosing between the Sahara and the Agafay explains which suits your trip.
- The High Atlas. Winter brings clear skies and snow-capped peaks. Many of our travelers ask for light hiking, and the Atlas foothills have some of the most beautiful easy trails we know, with the option of a lunch hosted by a Berber family near Imlil and a stay at Kasbah Tamadot.
- Fez. One of the world’s oldest living medinas, Fes el-Bali is a pleasure to explore on crisp, bright days. Where available, you can visit the workshop of Omar, a master leather artisan in Fez who works with traditional vegetable-tanned leather.
- The Sahara. Days in the low 60s are comfortable for 4×4 trips and camel rides across the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and the winter night sky is remarkable. Nights are cold, and the desert camps we use prepare for them.
- The Atlantic coast. Essaouira and Oualidia stay mild all winter, a gentle way to end a journey.
Is Morocco crowded over Christmas and New Year?
The weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the winter. Travelers from across Europe arrive for the sunshine, and the most sought-after riads, palace hotels and desert camps fill early. Hotels price rooms the way airlines price seats, so these weeks cost more, and they are still a wonderful time to travel.
From mid-January through February, the medinas are at their quietest. Instead of joining the crowds in Jemaa el-Fna at its busiest hour, you explore with a licensed guide who times each visit to see it at its calmest.
Does Ramadan affect a winter trip to Morocco?
Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year. In 2027 it is forecast to begin around February 8, and in 2028 it begins around late January. It changes the daily rhythm, not the possibility of travel. Monuments and hotels stay open, often with shorter hours, and the evenings come alive after sunset. Your planner shapes each day around it.
How does MPT plan a private winter journey in Morocco?
- Days set by daylight. Winter days are shorter, so we plan road time in daylight and keep the longest drives early. Your private driver and our team watch conditions on the High Atlas passes and adjust the route if snow arrives.
- Fewer hotel changes. We keep several nights in each base, such as three nights in Fez and three in Marrakech on our 10-day journey, so you unpack once and settle in.
- Warm comforts. A hammam afternoon in Marrakech or Fez is an option, and our planners suggest hotels with the cozy rooms and fireside evenings winter calls for.
- People who make it personal. MPT selects top guides for their experience, knowledge and engaging personalities. Amine and Youssef are among the licensed guides we work with across Morocco, although a specific guide is never guaranteed. In Marrakech, you can visit the workshop of Jamal, a ceramic artisan, where available.
- One team, start to finish. Your private WhatsApp group with our 24/7 team and Rachel, Inés, Sofia or Dan keeps everyone in the loop.
See how a winter journey comes together on our 10-Day Private Morocco Tour: Fez, Two Nights in the Sahara and Marrakech, or stay close to Marrakech on our 7-Day Private Morocco Tour: Marrakech, the High Atlas, Essaouira and the Agafay, where the longest drive is about three hours. With a week and the dunes in mind, our 7-Day Morocco Sahara Tour from Marrakech spends two nights in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, with crisp winter evenings by the fire. Our note on flying into Casablanca or Marrakech covers the arrival airports.
Can you combine Morocco with Spain in winter?
Yes, and it is one of our favorite winter journeys. Madrid’s museums and Andalusia’s palaces are at their quietest in winter, and Marrakech is a short flight away. Our Madrid to Marrakech journey pairs them. For travelers who value their time most, we have arranged private jet flights, such as one from Granada to Marrakech for two couples after the Alhambra, the Alcázar of Seville and the Mezquita of Córdoba. Our 9-Day Ultra Luxe Morocco Tour links Fez, Marrakech and the High Atlas by private charter.
When should you book a winter trip to Morocco?
About a year ahead. The Christmas and New Year weeks fill first, at palace hotels such as Royal Mansour Marrakech, at the best desert camps and with the guides our clients request most. Planning winter 2027/28 now gives your planner first choice of all three. If you are thinking of this winter, contact us anyway and we will tell you honestly what remains open.
Why plan Morocco with Magical Private Travel?
We are an American-owned company that has planned private journeys in Morocco since 2002, with a local team in Marrakech and a network of guides, artisans and hosts we treat as partners. That is American precision with local expertise. MPT maintains excellent ratings on Trustpilot and Google’s independent review platforms. You can read more about how it works or browse our frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions about Morocco in winter
Is winter a good time to visit Morocco?
Yes. From December through February, Marrakech averages daytime highs of 64 to 68°F with about seven hours of sunshine a day, and the medinas are at their quietest outside the Christmas and New Year weeks. Desert and mountain nights are cold, so a private journey plans each day around them.
How cold is the Sahara in Morocco in winter?
At Erg Chebbi, winter days reach the low 60s and nights fall to the high 30s or low 40s. The days are comfortable for camel rides and 4×4 trips, and the desert camps we use prepare for the cold nights.
Is Morocco busy over Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The holiday weeks are the busiest of the winter, and hotels raise rates with demand. From mid-January through February, the medinas are at their quietest.
When is Ramadan in Morocco in 2027?
Ramadan is forecast to begin around February 8, 2027, and it moves about 11 days earlier each year. It changes the daily rhythm, not the possibility of travel, and your planner shapes each day around it.
How far ahead should I book a winter trip to Morocco?
About a year ahead, especially for the Christmas and New Year weeks, when palace hotels, the best desert camps and the most requested guides fill first. If your dates are sooner, contact us and we will tell you honestly what remains open.
Travel planning is complicated. We make it easy. Tell us when you would like to travel, and a planner will reply with what is open and a first itinerary built around you. Plan my private journey
Dan O’Beirne, founder of Magical Private Travel, in Europe since 1998.
