What is the best time for a motorcycle tour in Morocco? The short answer: spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). The full answer depends on where you want to ride, how much heat you can take, and a factor many travellers discover too late: Ramadan. In this guide we go through Morocco month by month, with real climate data and the experience of our guides, who have been crossing the Strait with groups for years.
If you are also planning the logistics (documents, bike, insurance), you will find every detail in our guide to motorcycle travel in Morocco.
The short answer: spring and autumn
Morocco is a climate of extremes: summer scorches the interior (45-48 °C in the south) and winter brings snow to the Atlas. The two golden windows for a motorcycle trip are:
- March to May: 18-28 °C almost everywhere, green landscapes after the winter rains, spectacular light. This is our high season for departures.
- October to November: 20-27 °C, the desert becomes rideable again, fewer tourists than spring and slightly better hotel prices.
You can ride Morocco almost all year round if you choose the region wisely. What forgives nothing is high summer in the south and the desert.
Morocco by motorcycle, month by month
January and February: the north yes, the Atlas no
Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts at 16-20 °C, perfectly rideable. Marrakech pleasant by day (18-20 °C) and cold at night. The High Atlas passes can be closed by snow (the Tizi n’Tichka tops 2,200 m) and the Middle Atlas is freezing. The desert is cold at night (below 0 °C possible in Merzouga) but sunny by day. Good months for coastal routes, bad for crossing the mountains.
March and April: the season opens
Probably the two best months of the year. Temperatures of 20-26 °C, the Atlas passable again, the desert at its best (25-30 °C by day) and the southern valleys in bloom. Our spring departures of the Grand Morocco tour sell out before any other. One warning: check the Ramadan dates, which partially fall in this period over the coming years (details below).
May: the last mild window in the south
The whole country sits between 24 and 32 °C. The desert starts to bite at midday but remains viable with early starts. An excellent month for the full route: coast, imperial cities, Atlas and dunes.
June, July and August: north and coast only
The interior and the south go past 40 °C with peaks of 48 °C in the Draa valley. Crossing the desert on a motorcycle in full riding gear in these months is not uncomfortable: it is dangerous. What does work in summer: the Rif and the Mediterranean coast (Chefchaouen, Al Hoceima, 26-30 °C with a breeze) and the Atlantic coast (Essaouira is famous for its cool microclimate, 22-25 °C in the middle of August). Our Morocco Rif off-road tour keeps June and September departures precisely for this reason.
September: the transition
The heat gradually gives way. The first half is still tough in the south (35-38 °C), the second half allows full itineraries again. A good month for riders who want fewer tourists and can live with some residual heat.
October and November: the second golden season
Back to 20-27 °C across the country, the desert perfect (dry heat by day, cool nights for sleeping in a desert camp) and the most beautiful light of the year for photography. Our autumn departures of the Imperial Morocco and Grand Morocco tours concentrate their spots here.
December: viable with caveats
Similar to January: coast fine, Marrakech pleasant by day, Atlas with snow risk and the desert cold at night. The upside: almost no tourism and riads drop their prices. For a short 5-day escape through the north, it works.
Ramadan and your motorcycle trip
During the holy month of Ramadan, life in Morocco changes rhythm: many restaurants close during the day, business hours compress and cities feel subdued until sunset, when everything comes alive with iftar.
Expected Ramadan dates
- 2027: approximately 8 February to 9 March.
- 2028: approximately 28 January to 26 February.
Exact dates depend on the lunar calendar and can shift by a day or two.
Can you ride Morocco during Ramadan?
You can, and it even has its charm (the iftar gatherings in the squares are an experience). But for a motorcycle trip it brings real friction: finding hot food at midday is hard outside tourist areas, some rural fuel stations shorten their hours, and it is respectful to be discreet when eating or drinking in public. Our advice for a first trip: pick dates outside Ramadan. If you already know the country, travelling during the holy month shows you another face of Morocco worth seeing.
Best time by region
- High Atlas and mountain passes: May to October. The rest of the year brings snow and ice risk on the high passes.
- Desert and dunes (Merzouga, Erg Chebbi): October to April. Avoid June-September due to extreme heat.
- Imperial cities (Marrakech, Fez, Meknes): March-May and October-November. In summer, only with very early starts.
- Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Agadir): all year round. The mildest region in the country.
- Rif and Mediterranean coast: April to October. The best option for high summer.
Our Morocco departures by season
We designed our calendar around exactly this climate logic:
- Grand Morocco (11 days, €2,750): departures in March, April, May, October and November. It crosses the Atlas and the desert, so it only runs in the golden windows.
- Imperial Morocco (5 days, €1,890): departures March to May and October to December. It skips the deep desert, so its season is longer.
- Morocco Rif Off-Road (€1,790): departures also in June and September thanks to the mild northern climate.
- Málaga-Dakar (11 days, €4,990): departs in winter, when the Sahara is crossable.
Check the specific dates with available spots in our tour calendar.
FAQ
What is the single best month for a Morocco motorcycle tour?
April and October tie. Ideal temperatures across the country, accessible desert and spectacular light. April has the greener landscape; October, fewer tourists.
Can you ride the desert in summer?
Technically yes, sensibly no. At 45-48 °C, a breakdown or a fall far from help becomes a serious emergency. We do not take groups into the desert between June and mid-September.
Does it rain in Morocco?
In the north and the Atlas, yes, mostly from November to March. The south and the desert are arid nearly all year. Rain rarely ruins a trip, but in winter you want proper waterproof gear.
When are there fewest tourists?
December-January (except Christmas) and the second half of September. If you want the most authentic Morocco and can handle cold nights, winter in the imperial cities is very special.
Pick your window, we handle the rest
Morocco by motorcycle is spectacular ten months a year if you match the date to the region. Spring and autumn for the full route, summer for the Rif and the coast, winter for the imperial cities and the north. And if you would rather have us carry the logistics (bike, hotels, guide, support vehicle and customs paperwork included), pick a date in the calendar and we will see you in Málaga.