Morocco in August: How to Travel Well in the Summer Heat

How hot is it?

Inland cities such as Marrakech and Fez are hot in the afternoon in July and August, and the Sahara is hotter still. The Atlantic coast, with Essaouira, Rabat and Asilah, is much fresher because of the ocean wind, and the High Atlas villages such as Imlil are cool at night. I plan every summer trip around this difference.

How I plan a summer day

• We start early, often at 8:00, and visit the medinas and monuments before the heat.
• Long drives happen in an air conditioned vehicle, with water always on board.
• The middle of the day is for lunch and a rest at your riad, ideally one with a pool.
• Gardens, squares and dinners move to the evening, when the cities come alive.

Where to stay

In summer I give priority to riads and hotels with a swimming pool and good air conditioning. In the mountains I add two nights in the High Atlas, and I like to end the trip on the coast, where Essaouira is fresh even in August.

The Sahara in summer

You can still sleep in the desert. One night is enough in August. You arrive at Merzouga in the late afternoon, ride into the dunes at sunset, and leave after sunrise, before the heat. Some guests prefer a kasbah with a pool at the foot of the dunes instead of a tent, and I offer both. See the best time for the Sahara.

What to wear

Light, loose cotton or linen that covers the shoulders and knees is both cooler and more comfortable in the medinas. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and a light sweater for the desert night and the mountains. More advice is in dress and etiquette.

A sample summer route

• Start in the north: Tangier, Asilah and Chefchaouen are milder than the interior.
• Fez with early mornings and pool afternoons.
• The Middle Atlas, cool among the cedars of Ifrane and Azrou.
• One night in the Sahara, arriving for sunset.
• Two nights in the High Atlas around Imlil, where nights are fresh.
• Marrakech, then the sea breeze of Essaouira to finish.

Summer events

• The total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027 in Tangier and the north, see the eclipse guide.
• Weddings and family moussems, local festivals, in towns and villages all summer.
• Beach life on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, busy with Moroccan families.

The good side of summer

Summer is a season of weddings, music festivals and long evenings outside. Families from the cities go back to their villages, the markets are full of figs, grapes and melons, and the evening walk in every town is wonderful. If spring and autumn suit you better, read the best time to visit Morocco.