Visiting Morocco in January

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

January is the coolest and wettest month in Morocco, but it’s also by far the quietest, so you can enjoy having the sites to yourself and being able to browse the souks without the crowds, as well as getting a glimpse of daily life. Temperatures can still be as high as 20C in Marrakech, and only a few degrees colder in Fes and Meknes, although bear in mind it can drop down to around 5-6C at night, so either pack plenty of warm clothes or check if your accommodation has central heating. It’s not the best month for a holiday in Chefchaouen, where it’s cooler and can be cloudy, so those famous blue streets don’t pop quite as eye-catchingly.

There’s more sun at the coast, at Essaouira and Agadir, where it’s less chilly at night with temperatures only dropping to around 10C, although Essaouira’s nickname of the Windy City of Africa means it can feel cooler.

If you’re not a fan of heat, this can be a good month to head into the Sahara, which is enjoyably warm during the day but can be close to freezing during the night. You can also expect some sandstorms during January. The Agafay Desert is also pleasantly warm during the day, with mild temperatures between 15-20C but gets extremely cold at night if you’re planning to camp.

The winter rain is also great for wildflowers in the mountains, but you’re also likely to encounter snow, which means January is not the best time to visit Morocco if you’re hoping to go hiking, and anything more challenging such as climbing Mount Toubkal is not recommended at all.

Festivals: Amazigh New Year is celebrated on January 12 each year, known as Idh Yennayer (or simply Yennayer) by Berber communities in Morocco, with feasts, dancing and singing in the High Atlas, and ceremonies hoping for prosperity for the year ahead.

Best for: Sightseeing without the crowds, winter sun at the coast