Visiting Morocco in June

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Summer has arrived and the temperatures start to spike across Morocco – they’ll rise further still, but you can already expect it to be above 30C in Marrakech and the royal cities of Fes and Meknes so it limits the amount of time you can spend exploring. Chefchaouen is slightly cooler but still in the high 20Cs, which doesn’t lend itself to ambling through those picturesque blue alleys. If you can tolerate the heat, you’ll find it quieter once again with summer’s scorching temperatures driving most of the visitors away.

Instead, the best place to visit in Morocco in June is the coast, with breezes keeping everyone cool in Essaouira and Agadir. The winds usually drop slightly in Essaouira this month, before the gusts of July and August, although you can still expect the Windy City of Africa to deserve its nickname. If you want a taste of Morocco’s cities, Taroudant is known as Petit Marrakech but is significantly cooler than its bigger sibling, with a feeling that you’ve stepped back inside as you wander within the walls.

If you’ve got your heart set on heading into the desert, a lot of camps are closed now until September, and the soaring temperatures make it harder to explore here and sites like Ait Benhaddou. The same goes for trekking in the High Atlas, with more challenging climbs like Mount Toubkal off the cards this month. If you’re looking for serious hiking, it’s much better to wait until autumn, although if you head out early, some of the shorter, easier trails in the Atlas Mountains may still be an option, especially earlier in the month, but the foothills and valleys are also getting unpleasantly hot for walking.

Festivals: The Gnaoua Festival of World Museum takes place in Essaouira during June, celebrating the traditions and history behind the genre, as well as performances by Gnaoua musicians, often fused with other modern music types including reggae, hip-hop, blues and jazz.

In Sefrou, the Cherry Festival has made the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, featuring elaborate floats and parades, with a pageant to select the year’s Cherry Queen.

Best for: Enjoying the coast, escaping the crowds off the beaten track