What is the best month to visit Merzouga?

October and March are often considered the best months: warm days around 25 to 30 degrees, cool nights and comfortable camel rides. April and November are excellent too.

Is it too hot to visit Merzouga in summer?

It is very hot, often above 40 degrees in the afternoon, but a visit is possible if you ride at sunset and sunrise and rest in the middle of the day. Our tents are air conditioned.

How cold is the desert at night in winter?

From December to February, nights in Merzouga can drop close to 0 degrees. Our tents are heated and the beds have warm blankets, but bring a warm jacket for the evening outside.

Does it rain in Merzouga?

Rarely. Merzouga gets very little rain, mostly a few short showers in winter or spring. After a rare heavy rain, a seasonal lake can even appear near the dunes.

Best Time to Visit Merzouga: Weather Month by Month

Short answer: the best time to visit Merzouga is from October to April. Days are warm and sunny, nights are cool, and camel rides are comfortable at any hour. March, April, October and November are the sweet spot. Summer (June to August) is very hot, often above 40 °C, and winter nights (December to February) can drop close to freezing.

Merzouga weather month by month

Merzouga sits on the edge of the Sahara in south east Morocco, at around 700 metres of altitude. The air is dry, rain is rare, and the difference between day and night is large: it is common to lose 15 degrees after sunset.

Month	Day (approx.)	Night (approx.)	Our view
January	17 to 19 °C	2 to 4 °C	Sunny days, cold nights. Bring a warm jacket.
February	20 to 22 °C	4 to 6 °C	Pleasant, quiet season.
March	24 to 26 °C	8 to 10 °C	One of the best months. Some windy days.
April	28 to 30 °C	12 to 14 °C	Excellent. Easter is high season, book early.
May	32 to 35 °C	17 to 19 °C	Warm. Ride at sunrise and sunset.
June	37 to 40 °C	22 to 24 °C	Hot. Activities early and late.
July	40 to 44 °C	26 to 28 °C	Very hot. Air conditioned tents make the night easy.
August	39 to 42 °C	25 to 27 °C	Very hot, short desert activities only.
September	34 to 37 °C	20 to 22 °C	Warm, getting better every week.
October	28 to 30 °C	14 to 16 °C	One of the best months: golden light, mild nights.
November	22 to 24 °C	7 to 9 °C	Lovely and calm.
December	17 to 19 °C	3 to 5 °C	Cold nights, very clear skies. New Year is busy.

Approximate averages. Every year is a little different, and a cold wind or a heat wave can shift these numbers for a few days.

Spring (March to May): the classic season

Spring is when most travellers come, and for good reason. The days are warm without being hot, and you can ride a camel into the dunes in the afternoon without suffering. March and April can bring a few windy days with sand in the air; they rarely last long. Easter falls in this season and is very popular with European travellers, so ask for your dates early.

Summer (June to August): hot, but possible

Summer in the Sahara is serious heat, with afternoons above 40 °C. It is still possible to enjoy the desert if you plan it well: arrive at the camp in the late afternoon, ride at sunset, sleep in an air conditioned tent and watch the sunrise before the heat comes back. Drink a lot of water and avoid activities between noon and five o'clock.

Autumn (September to November): golden light

Our favourite season. The heat fades through September, and October and November bring warm days, soft golden light on the dunes and comfortable nights around the fire. It is also a great season for photography.

Winter (December to February): clear skies and cold nights

Winter days are sunny and pleasant, often around 18 °C, but the temperature drops fast after sunset and nights can approach zero. The upside: the clearest skies of the year for stargazing. Our tents are heated and the beds have thick blankets, so you sleep warm; just bring a good jacket for the evening around the fire and for the sunrise.

Campfire under the starry sky at the camp in winter — Winter nights are cold but the sky is at its clearest.

Sunrise and sunset times

Sunset in Merzouga goes from around 6 pm in winter to around 8 pm in summer, and sunrise from about 7:30 am in winter to about 6 am in summer. We plan the camel ride to reach the top of a dune for sunset, and wake you up in time for sunrise the next morning.

Coming from Marrakech or Fes?

Whatever the season, the road from Marrakech takes 9 to 10 hours, so most travellers come on a 3 day tour. Abdo also runs Nomade Life, which organises 3 day tours from Marrakech to Merzouga with the desert night at our camp. Read also our guide on how to get to Merzouga and what to pack for a night in the Sahara.

Best time to visit Merzouga