Visiting Morocco in August

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August is another searingly hot month in Morocco, and just as busy with both local school holidays and overseas visitors seizing the chance for family holidays in Morocco. By far the best option in Morocco in August is to head to the coast, with slightly cooler temperatures at locations like Casablanca, Tangier and Rabat, as well as the more popular beach resorts like Agadir or Essaouira. It’s the second-windiest month of the year in Essaouira, so even if you can find a quiet spot on the beach, you can expect to be sunbathing in a mini sandstorm. Swimming pools are in high demand, so you’ll need to book ahead if you want somewhere to chill out in the heat.

The inland cities, including Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Chefchaouen are unpleasantly hot for sightseeing except for early mornings and late afternoons, and it’s also too hot to do any serious hiking – shorter hikes in the Atlas Mountains might be an option again towards the end of the month, if you’re prepared to set off early but you’ll be limited as to how much walking is possible in the heat. The Sahara is still searingly hot at 40C and higher, with more insects and snakes in the desert, plus many camps are still closed until the cooler days of autumn.

Best for: Beach breaks