Every summer the news warns us how to protect ourselves from the so-called African heat: drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruit and light food, stay indoors during the hottest hours and slather on sunscreen. And yet some people actually go looking for that African heat in summer. Whether because they don’t mind the heat much or because summer is their only time off work, plenty of travelers head to Morocco in August.
In fact, what counts as high season in much of Europe is low season in Morocco, precisely because fewer tourists visit in the heat. And if you’re used to hot summers in southern Europe, you won’t notice much difference in the climate.
If you’ve landed on this page looking for tips on your next summer vacation, with an eye on Morocco, here’s a small spoiler that will probably ease many of your worries: yes, you can visit, and love, Morocco in summer too.
Morocco in August? Who says you can’t?
On the blog you’ll find my guide to the best time to visit Morocco, season by season, and you’ll see that there’s plenty to do in Morocco in summer too. You’ll enjoy a vacation away from the circuits overrun in high season, in perfect harmony with the spirit of relaxation and wonder that only the world’s most beautiful countries can offer.
In August, and in summer in general, you can discover Morocco in a much more relaxed, unhurried way, because the lines at the most iconic sights get much shorter and you’ll have more room to explore and unwind. Between an Arab garden with blossoming orange trees and a shady souk alley in the imperial cities, between a dip at the coast (Tangier, Agadir or Essaouira) and a swim in the clear water of the natural pools and waterfalls of the Tamraght river valley, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do in Morocco in summer, not forgetting the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, discovered as a guest in local homes or at one of the country’s many traditional restaurants.
My heartfelt advice is to plan well ahead if you want to book a trip to Morocco in August. If you can, and you know your vacation dates months in advance, book right away, so you don’t find prices too high or properties sold out, especially if you want to stay in a traditional riad, which has far fewer rooms than a big hotel.
Visiting Morocco in August: temperatures and tips
One of the very first questions travelers ask me about summer in Morocco is: “Will it be too hot?” I’d be lying if I said no: objectively, Moroccan summer temperatures are very high, with peaks that in July and until mid-August can reach 50°C (122°F) in the most arid areas far from the coast. But of course, none of my tours include stops in these areas, or visits to particularly sunny, desert or inland places during the hottest hours.
In any case, average summer temperatures range between 29 and 32°C (84–90°F), with a dry subtropical climate, which means the perceived temperature matches the real one and you won’t feel hotter than the forecast says. The second good news is that the peaks almost never last all day. In Morocco it’s very common to have 35°C (95°F) at noon and 25°C (77°F) at midnight, and this quick drop in temperature gives locals and tourists a pleasant break from the African heat.
I won’t take you to visit Marrakech and Fez during the most critical hours (you can still see them early in the morning or in the evening): in summer my tours are adapted to favor coastal cities, which are much cooler and more temperate thanks to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, or areas in the Atlas Mountains.
Another change you’ll find in summer if you book your trip with In Marocco con Lisa is that there are no group tours. Based on my experience, I’ve chosen to organize only private tours in Morocco in summer, so that travelers, who are usually families with kids, couples, honeymooners or groups of friends who already know each other, can manage every stage of the trip among themselves, from flights to transfers in air-conditioned cars to the stops to include so as not to suffer too much from the heat, meeting everyone’s preferences. It’s all easier and more pleasant to manage, for you and for me, since you already know each other and know what you need, what to do and what to skip.
As for nights in the desert, temperatures there generally stay high, so I advise against booking a camp stay in August: power comes from generators, and only a few tents can enjoy the luxury of air conditioning. It’s better to choose accommodation with air conditioning available at all times, ideally with a pool, so you can cool off whenever you like.
If the wind picks up, by the way, it can feel quite cool, so always bring a long-sleeved top to cope with temperature swings and to protect yourself from the sun.
Don’t be intimidated by the African sun: let Morocco win you over in summer too. Rest assured you’ll survive, so water bottle in hand, head covered, sunscreen on and… enjoy your trip!
Lisa
