Month by month, massif by massif. Including the months we'd tell you to wait.
| Massif | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toubkal | Toubkal · January Possible with care Full winter conditions on the summit: snow and ice from the refuge up, crampons and ice axe required, technical guiding essential. | Toubkal · February Possible with care Deep winter: the heaviest snowpack of the year and avalanche risk in the Toubkal couloirs. For walkers with alpine experience only. | Toubkal · March Possible with care Still deep snow up high, but longer and milder days. A fine mountaineering season — not yet a walk. | Toubkal · April Good Snow retreats above 3,500 m and the valleys turn green. The summit stays cold and can be icy early in the morning. | Toubkal · May Prime Valleys in flower, easy residual snow patches and ideal temperatures for the climb. One of the two best months. | Toubkal · June Prime Settled weather and almost no snow left. Hot in Imlil in the afternoon, perfect above 2,500 m. | Toubkal · July Good Easy summit conditions, but real heat in the valley and late-afternoon storms. Start very early. | Toubkal · August Good Busiest month, refuges full. Fine weather, but plan around the heat and the crowds. | Toubkal · September Prime The air cools, storms thin out and visibility is at its best. The finest month of the year. | Toubkal · October Prime Crystal skies, cold nights and quiet trails after high season. Excellent right up to the first snows. | Toubkal · November Good First snows possible on the summit and short days, but the valleys stay beautiful and mild. | Toubkal · December Possible with care Winter sets in: a snow-covered summit and biting cold at altitude. Valley trekking is still on. |
| M'Goun | M'Goun · January We would tell you to wait Passes and plateaus under snow, hard access to the Happy Valley villages and extreme cold at night. | M'Goun · February We would tell you to wait Peak snow cover across the massif and high routes closed. We would tell you to wait for spring. | ||||||||||
| Sahara | Sahara · January Good Mild, luminous days, but nights near freezing under canvas. Bring a proper sleeping bag. | Sahara · February Prime Ideal daytime temperatures, cool but manageable nights, and empty dunes. | ||||||||||
| Anti-Atlas | Anti-Atlas · January Prime Morocco’s winter refuge: sunshine, dry trails and pink stone villages. Cool nights, nothing worse. | Anti-Atlas · February Prime Almond blossom around Tafraoute — one of the loveliest moments in the Moroccan year. | ||||||||||
| Rif | Rif · January Possible with care The wettest month: rain, fog and muddy forest trails. Beautiful but slippery. | Rif · February Possible with care Still very wet, with snow possible on the Talassemtane ridges. | ||||||||||
| Summit seasonTechnical Toubkal ascent — snow, ice, refuge access. | Summit season · January Possible with care Winter mountaineering only: snow, ice and technical gear. Not a high-altitude walk. | Summit season · February Possible with care The snowpack is at its deepest. Superb for anyone at home with crampons and ice axe. | ||||||||||
| Family treksChildren and moderate fitness — heat, walking hours, altitude. | Family treks · January Good Excellent in the Anti-Atlas and the desert, best avoided high up. The choice of massif is everything. | Family treks · February Good Winter holidays work well if you stay south: almond blossom and reliable sun. |
That the month is doable, but not by default: winter gear when there is snow, a mandatory guide on technical ground, and real experience at altitude. It is not a blanket warning — each cell tells you precisely what it would take.
M'Goun · March Possible with care Snowmelt begins: high, cold river crossings and muddy trails. Beautiful but demanding. |
M'Goun · April Possible with care Snowmelt at its peak: the M’Goun gorges can be impassable. Confirm with the agency the day before. |
M'Goun · May Good Crossings become passable again and the Happy Valley is green and in flower. Still snow above 3,500 m. |
M'Goun · June Prime The main season opens: clear plateaus, shepherds at summer pasture and passable gorges. |
M'Goun · July Prime The classic M’Goun month. Hot in the gorges, pleasant on the high plateaus. |
M'Goun · August Prime Full traverse possible and mild nights for bivouac. Walk early to dodge the heat in the gorges. |
M'Goun · September Prime End of the grazing season, superb light and perfect temperatures. Our favourite month on this massif. |
M'Goun · October Good Days still fine but nights already cold up high. The shepherds are coming back down. |
M'Goun · November Possible with care First snows on the passes, severe night cold and villages closing in for winter. |
M'Goun · December We would tell you to wait The massif is locked in winter and access is uncertain. We would point you to the Anti-Atlas or the desert. |
Sahara · March
Prime
The year’s best balance: gentle warmth, kind nights and very clear skies.
Sahara · April Good Still very pleasant, though spring sandstorms can blow for several days at a stretch. |
Sahara · May Possible with care Heat settles in, above 40 °C in the afternoon. Walking only in the early morning and late in the day. |
Sahara · June We would tell you to wait Crushing heat, dangerous for walking in the dunes. We would tell you to wait for autumn. |
Sahara · July We would tell you to wait The hottest month, often past 45 °C. No comfortable bivouac is possible. |
Sahara · August We would tell you to wait Still excessive, with nights that no longer cool down. The desert is best avoided. |
Sahara · September Possible with care The heat slowly recedes; workable late in the month with short stages. |
Sahara · October Prime The season reopens: pleasant warmth, mild nights and the finest window for bivouac. |
Sahara · November Prime Perfect conditions day and night, with superb low light across the dunes. |
Sahara · December Good Mild, very bright days but genuinely cold nights. Excellent with the right kit. |
Anti-Atlas · March Prime Perfect temperatures, still-green vegetation and excellent visibility on Jebel Sirwa. |
Anti-Atlas · April Good Still very pleasant, with heat building at midday. An early start is enough. |
Anti-Atlas · May Possible with care The massif dries out and heats up fast, with water points scarcer. Short stages advised. |
Anti-Atlas · June We would tell you to wait Too hot and too dry, with little shade on the plateaus. We would tell you to aim for autumn. |
Anti-Atlas · July We would tell you to wait Extreme heat on the rock and no relief at night. A season to avoid. |
Anti-Atlas · August We would tell you to wait Persistent heatwave conditions. Toubkal or the Rif will be far more comfortable. |
Anti-Atlas · September Possible with care Still hot, especially in the first fortnight; the end of the month becomes workable again. |
Anti-Atlas · October Good The heat drops and the trails become comfortable again. Beautiful autumn light. |
Anti-Atlas · November Prime Ideal conditions and an almost empty massif. Our strong recommendation for this season. |
Anti-Atlas · December Prime Reliable sunshine while the High Atlas is under snow. The right answer for a December trek. |
Rif · March
Good
The rains ease off and the forest is brilliantly green. Still pack a shell.
Rif · April Prime Full bloom, waterfalls flowing and perfect temperatures. The high point of the Rif season. |
Rif · May Prime Deep green, long days, neither cold nor hot. Ideal for the Talassemtane trails. |
Rif · June Good Still very pleasant under the cedars; heat starts to show at lower altitudes. |
Rif · July Possible with care Hot and dry by day, though the high forest stays breathable. Walk in the morning. |
Rif · August Possible with care Hot and very busy in Chefchaouen. Fine up high, heavy going in the valleys. |
Rif · September Prime The heat drops, the light softens and the trails empty out. Excellent. |
Rif · October Good Fine days broken by the first autumn rains. Superb colours. |
Rif · November Possible with care Sustained rain and mist return and the trails turn greasy. Doable with the right kit. |
Rif · December Possible with care A wet winter with short days. The Rif stays lovely if you accept the rain. |
Summit season · March Possible with care Longer days with snow still abundant. The crossover from mountaineering to trekking. |
Summit season · April Good The peaks clear gradually; expect snow patches to cross and frozen mornings. |
Summit season · May Good A good opening window, with residual snow above 3,500 m. |
Summit season · June Prime The season properly opens: safe conditions and settled weather on the 4,000ers. |
Summit season · July Prime Full access to the summits. Dawn starts to beat the afternoon storms. |
Summit season · August Prime Peak conditions — and also peak refuge occupancy. |
Summit season · September Prime The best moment: clear air, rare storms and perfect temperatures at altitude. |
Summit season · October Good Still excellent until the first snowfalls, with nights already cold. |
Summit season · November Possible with care Winter conditions return unpredictably. Windows exist, but are never guaranteed. |
Summit season · December Possible with care The high mountains are in full winter mode. Guided technical outings only. |
Family treks · March Prime Mild temperatures everywhere except up high, nature waking up and days long enough. |
Family treks · April Prime The best window: green valleys, reasonable warmth and easy stages for children. |
Family treks · May Prime Flowers, flowing rivers and long days. Maximum comfort for walking as a family. |
Family treks · June Good Still very good in high valleys; the south now needs avoiding in the middle of the day. |
Family treks · July Possible with care Strong heat away from altitude, plus crowds. Workable if you stay above 2,000 m. |
Family treks · August Possible with care The hottest, busiest month. Short stages, very early starts and lodging booked well ahead. |
Family treks · September Prime The heat drops and the trails empty. An excellent alternative to summer. |
Family treks · October Prime Mild air, clear skies and the autumn half-term: our best autumn recommendation. |
Family treks · November Good Very pleasant in the south, with shorter days to factor into stage lengths. |
Family treks · December Good A good choice in the desert and Anti-Atlas over the holidays; expect cold nights. |