Morocco in FebruaryThe Month the Almond Trees Flower
February is winter with the first hint of spring in it. The south turns white with almond blossom, the Atlas still holds its snow, and the desert gives its best days of the year: warm sun, cold air, no haze and no crowds.
What the weather actually does
| Region | Days | Nights | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 20 to 22°C | 7 to 9°C | Occasional showers |
| Sahara, Merzouga | 21 to 24°C | 3 to 6°C | Almost none |
| High Atlas, Imlil | 10 to 13°C | Around freezing | Snow above 1,800 m |
| Anti-Atlas, Tafraoute | 21 to 24°C | 6 to 8°C | Dry and bright |
What February is good for
Two weeks of white valleys
From early February the Anti-Atlas around Tafraoute flowers, and the villages hold their almond blossom festival. The exact week moves with the winter, so we watch it and tell you when to come.
Its best fortnight
Walking on dunes at midday is comfortable rather than punishing, and the light is clean. Nights are cold, so a camp with real bedding matters.
Ski above Marrakech
Oukaimeden sits at 2,600 m, an hour and a half from the city. It is small and it is not the Alps, but skiing in Africa in the morning and eating in a medina at night is a real thing you can do.
Where to go
The south, and then the south again. Tafraoute and the Ameln valley for the blossom, the Draa for palm groves without heat, Erg Chegaga for dunes without a single other vehicle. The southern routes are at their best precisely when the north is wet.
Leave the north coast for later. Tangier, Chefchaouen and the Rif are green and beautiful in February, and also the wettest part of the country. Go if you like rain on blue walls. Otherwise wait for April.
One thing to check before you book
Ramadan moves roughly eleven days earlier each year, so it now falls in late winter. Travelling during Ramadan is not a problem at all. Restaurants in tourist areas stay open, and the evening meal is one of the warmest experiences Morocco offers. But the rhythm of the day changes and some rural cafes close, so ask us for the dates in your travel year and we will plan around them.
Book the desert nights carefully in February. A camp with thick blankets, a wood stove and hot water is a different night altogether from a thin tent on cold sand. Ask what the camp has, not just what it looks like in the photographs.
So is February a good time to come?
For the south, it is one of the best months of the year, and still one of the cheapest. For the mountains it is a snow month, so walk low and leave the summits alone. For the north, come later. If you want the Sahara at its most comfortable and the blossom at its whitest, February is the answer.
Plan Your Morocco Trip
Tell us when you want to travel and we will design a private itinerary built around the best Morocco has to offer at that time of year.
Get Started Today