Best time to visit for culture in Morocco

Northern Morocco sees plenty of rain between November and January, especially around Fez and Casablanca. Desert dust storms are at their most frequent between February and April. Temperatures can drop by 20°C in the desert between night and day, so you will often be told to pack a sleeping bag for camping out. Fez loves its festivals, with two contrasting prestigious ones to visit: the very cool World Music Festival in May and the Fez Festival of Sacred Music in June. The month of Ramadan is a lively time at night, but many businesses close during the day. For true cultural immersion, however, it is a fascinating time to visit. Ramadan falls February-March 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027. The Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech are a favourite cultural retreat except when there are hundreds of bus tours in peak months of July and August. So, head there early morning or late afternoon. The Dades Valley of Roses is famous in May as the fields are full of sweet smelling pink Damascus roses. It is celebrated with the Rose Festival in El Kelaa M’Gouna. Often promoted as a destination of winter sun, be aware that the temperatures actually average around 14°C in December and early January, which is wonderful for culture vultures but not if you are hoping to get bronzed in the process. Spring in the High Atlas is wonderful as the wild flowers, from poppies to wild orchids, blue gentian to blankets of pink and purple scabiousa, spring up like magic. Spring can start as early as February, depending on annual snowfall.