Best Time to Visit Ouarzazate: Weather by Season

Ouarzazate sits at 1,119 metres on the southern side of the High Atlas, with a desert climate and very little rain. That altitude matters: days can be hot and nights surprisingly cold, sometimes within the same week. There is no bad month to visit, but each season changes what is comfortable, from a midday quad ride to a night in a desert camp.

Ouarzazate weather in a few figures

Altitude: 1,119 m.
Rain: little through the year.
Hottest month: July, around 38 °C.
Coolest month: January, with temperatures dropping to around 3 °C.

These are averages. The desert air loses heat quickly after sunset, and that is the single most important thing to plan for.

Spring: March to May

Spring is the season most travellers picture: mild days, clear air and green in the oases. It suits every activity we run.

Rides: comfortable at almost any hour, including the full day quad tour to Ait Ben Haddou, the film set and Fint.
Valleys: the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M’Gouna comes into flower. The Roses Festival usually takes place in the first week of May after the harvest, though the date varies from year to year. The Valley of Roses and Dades Gorges day trip passes through the town.
Desert: nights in camp are cool rather than cold.

Spring is also a busy period, so send your request early if your dates are fixed.

Summer: June to August

Summer is hot, with July around 38 °C on average. It remains a good time for early starts and for warm desert evenings, as long as you organise each day around the heat.

Book rides for early morning or late afternoon. The horse ride to Fint follows the river through palm shade, a better summer choice than open plateaus at noon.
Day trips by vehicle stay comfortable because you travel by car between stops; plan any walking for the start and end of the day.
Drink more water than you think you need and keep your head covered.

Autumn: September to November

Autumn brings the heat down and the warm, low light back over the kasbahs and palm groves. It is a very good season for long days in the saddle or at the wheel, such as the full day horse ride to the film set, Tifoultoute and Fint.

It is also date season. In the Draa Valley the harvest runs from August to October, and the Zagora and Draa Valley day trip follows a palm grove that stretches for more than 190 km. Desert nights start to cool from October, so pack a warm layer.

Winter: December to February

Winter days are often sunny and pleasant for riding, but mornings and nights are cold, with January temperatures dropping to around 3 °C. Snow is rare: in 2018 it fell on Ouarzazate and covered the palms of Fint oasis, and the photographs are a good reminder of how cold the region can get.

Rides work best from late morning to mid afternoon, when the sun has warmed the air.
For a desert night, think about comfort. On the three day Erg Chebbi tour a luxury camp is available and especially worth it in the cold winter months; hotels with a pool at the dune line are an option if you prefer not to camp.
On the Erg Chigaga loop, where there are no hotels in the dunes, a luxury tent can be requested at extra cost.

Which season for which activity

Quad and buggy

Spring and autumn are ideal. In summer choose early or late slots; in winter, the warm middle of the day.

Horse riding

Possible in every season with the right timing. Oasis routes with water and shade are the best choice in summer.

Day trips

All year. Come in May for the roses and from August to October for the dates.

Desert nights

Spring and autumn for mild nights; winter with warm clothing or a comfort camp; summer for warm evenings, with the hottest hours spent on the road.

Weekly rhythms worth knowing

Some timing details matter whatever the season, because they decide which day of the week works best for a visit.

Skoura souk: the weekly market in the Skoura oasis is held every Monday and draws people from villages far around, with produce you rarely find in Ouarzazate. Market days can change, so confirm locally.
Tamegroute library: the manuscript library visited on the Draa Valley day trip is closed on Saturdays, so choose another day if it matters to you.
Cinema Museum: it has opened Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday; Atlas Film Studios has opened every day.

Festivals

Beyond the Roses Festival in Kelaat M’Gouna, Ouarzazate hosts an annual festival of Ahwach, the traditional dance of the region, which some historians link to Telouet. Dates change from year to year, so check the current programme before planning a trip around it.

Light for photographers

The low sun of early morning and late afternoon brings out the colours of the earthen kasbahs and the rock around Fint. In summer those hours are also the most comfortable for riding, so one choice serves both.

Before you fix your dates

Religious holidays such as Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha follow the lunar calendar and move each year, so check them before you travel. Our plan your visit page lists Morocco’s public holidays, and the packing guide explains what to bring in each season. To see how a stay can be organised, read how many days to spend in Ouarzazate.