--- title: Best Time to Visit Merzouga & Erg Chebbi: Month by Month url: https://merzougaonlinetours.com/blog/best-time-to-visit-merzouga/ description: When to visit the Sahara in Merzouga: temperatures, crowds, stars and what each month is like in the Erg Chebbi dunes, from a local team that lives there. --- Planning # The best time to visit Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes, month by month There's no bad month to see the dunes, but each one is different. Here's what to expect all year round, from people who live at the foot of Erg Chebbi. By the Merzouga Online team · 18 October 2026 · 10 min read ## In this guide 1. In short 2. The desert climate in a few words 3. Merzouga month by month at a glance 4. Spring: March, April and May 5. Summer: June, July and August 6. Autumn: September, October and November 7. Winter: December, January and February 8. Crowds, prices and booking ahead 9. The best time for stars 10. Ramadan and holidays 11. So, when should you go? 12. Questions people ask ## In short - **Best overall:** October, November and March to May. Warm days, mild nights. - **Winter (December to February):** sunny days around 18 to 21 °C, cold nights near 3 to 5 °C. Beautiful light, fewer visitors. - **Summer (June to August):** very hot, 39 to 43 °C by day. Go out only at sunrise and sunset. - **Busiest:** Easter, autumn and Christmas to New Year. Book camp nights and luxury tents early. - **For stars:** choose dates near the new moon; March to October for the Milky Way core. ## The desert climate in a few words Merzouga sits at about 700 metres above sea level on the edge of the Sahara, and its climate is simple: dry, sunny and extreme. It rains on only a handful of days a year, the sky is clear most of the time, and the difference between day and night is large, often 15 degrees or more. A day that feels hot at three in the afternoon can feel cold at eleven at night. That swing is what shapes everything about a desert visit. In hot months we move with the sun, riding at dawn and dusk and resting at midday. In cold months we enjoy the sunny days and gather around the fire at night. In between, in spring and autumn, everything is easy. The typical temperatures below are averages for Merzouga. Real days can be a few degrees warmer or cooler, and the live forecast on our [home page](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/#plan) shows what's coming in the next five days. ## Merzouga month by month at a glance | Month | Day | Night | What it's like | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | January | 18 °C | 3 °C | Sunny, calm, cold nights, few visitors | | February | 21 °C | 5 °C | Warming days, beautiful light | | March | 25 °C | 9 °C | Ideal; almond blossom on the way | | April | 29 °C | 13 °C | Ideal; busy at Easter, some windy days | | May | 34 °C | 18 °C | Hot afternoons, pleasant evenings, roses | | June | 39 °C | 23 °C | Very hot; long warm evenings | | July | 43 °C | 27 °C | Hottest month; dawn and dusk only | | August | 41 °C | 26 °C | Very hot, chance of a summer storm | | September | 36 °C | 21 °C | Heat easing, date harvest | | October | 29 °C | 15 °C | Perfect desert weather | | November | 23 °C | 9 °C | Mild, golden, quieter | | December | 18 °C | 4 °C | Crisp days, cold nights, busy at Christmas | ## Spring: March, April and May Spring is one of the two best seasons in the desert. Days are warm, nights are mild enough to sit outside by the fire without a heavy coat, and the light is clear. On the drive from Marrakech, the almond trees are in blossom in the High Atlas in late February and March, the barley is green in the oases, and in late April and May the Valley of Roses near Kelaat M'Gouna is in bloom. April is the most popular month of spring, especially around Easter, when European families arrive. Book a few weeks ahead for camp nights and luxury tents. Spring is also the season of wind: a few days each month can be breezy, with sand in the air in the afternoon. A scarf wrapped around your face (the local chech) makes a big difference, and the wind usually drops at sunset. By late May the afternoons are hot, often above 30 °C, so camel rides start later in the day. ## Summer: June, July and August Summer in the Sahara is hot. Seriously hot: afternoons of 39 to 43 °C are normal in July, and the sand at midday is too hot to walk on barefoot. And yet many travelers visit in summer, because it fits their holidays, and they have a wonderful time, because they follow the desert's rhythm. - Get up early: sunrise rides and walks are cool and magical. - Rest from late morning to late afternoon, in the shade, in a pool or in an air-conditioned room. - Ride to camp in the late afternoon. Our summer camel treks leave around 18:00 and reach camp at dusk. - Enjoy the nights: summer evenings at camp are warm and long, perfect for eating outside and sleeping under the stars. - Drink much more water than you think, and wear a hat, sunglasses and loose, light clothes that cover your skin. Summer also brings occasional storms in August, short and dramatic, after which the dunes smell of wet sand and the air is clear. Families with young children should think carefully about the heat; older children usually cope well if the days are planned around it. ## Autumn: September, October and November If we had to choose one season, it would be autumn. September is still hot at first but cools through the month, and it's date harvest time in the palm groves of the Tafilalet. October brings what many locals consider perfect desert weather: warm, still days around 29 °C, comfortable nights and very clear skies. November is milder again, golden and quieter, and one of our favourite months. October and early November are busy, so book ahead if you have fixed dates, especially for luxury tents. The light in autumn is soft and warm, and the days are still long enough for a full programme: a 4x4 tour in the morning, a rest, and a sunset camel trek in the afternoon. ## Winter: December, January and February Winter is the surprise season. Many people imagine the Sahara as always hot, and are amazed by sunny days of 18 to 21 °C, perfect for walking in the dunes, followed by cold, crystal-clear nights close to freezing. The air is at its cleanest, the light is low and golden all day, and outside the Christmas and New Year holidays, there are few other visitors. Come prepared for the nights. Pack a warm jacket, a hat, warm socks and something cosy to sleep in. At our camp every bed has thick blankets, and we add more when needed; luxury tents with a private bathroom make the cold mornings easier. The fire in the evening is the heart of camp life in winter. On the roads, the High Atlas and Middle Atlas passes can see snow after winter storms, sometimes closing for a few hours. We follow the forecast and adjust departure times. The Christmas to New Year period is the busiest of the whole year in Merzouga: book well ahead. ## Crowds, prices and booking ahead Merzouga is a small village, and when it's busy, it's busy. The peak periods are: - Easter and the spring school holidays in Europe - Mid-October to mid-November - Christmas to early January At those times, book camp nights a few weeks ahead, and luxury tents even earlier. Outside the peaks, a few days' notice is usually enough, and last-minute trips are often possible. Prices for tours vary a little with the season; we always quote one clear price for your dates, so you know exactly what you'll pay. ## The best time for stars The Sahara has some of the darkest skies you'll ever see, and the stars are one of the main reasons people come. Two things matter more than the season: the moon and the clouds. Clouds are rare in Merzouga. The moon is the real factor: around the full moon, the dunes are lit up beautifully, but the moonlight hides most of the faint stars and the Milky Way. Around the new moon, the sky is at its darkest. If you want to see the bright core of the Milky Way, come between about March and October, when it rises in the evening. In winter the sky is just as dark and very clear, with brilliant constellations like Orion, but the core of the Milky Way isn't visible at night. Whatever the month, walk a few steps away from the camp lights and give your eyes twenty minutes to adjust. ## Ramadan and holidays During Ramadan, which moves about eleven days earlier each year, many Moroccans fast from dawn to sunset. Tours run as normal and travelers are welcome; some restaurants in small towns may be closed during the day, and evenings are lively after sunset. It's a good time to be considerate: eat and drink discreetly in public during the day. Morocco's national and religious holidays can make roads and hotels busier. If your dates fall on a holiday, we'll tell you when you write. ## So, when should you go? If you can choose freely, come in October, November, March or April. If you love quiet and don't mind cold nights, come in January or February. If summer is the only time you can travel, come anyway, and plan your days around sunrise and sunset. Every season has its own beauty in the dunes, and the night sky is there all year. Have your dates? [Tell us](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/contact/) and we'll tell you honestly what the weather and the camp will be like for your trip, and which tour fits best: a [night at our camp](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunset-camel-trek-desert-camp/), a [luxury tent](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/luxury-desert-camp-night/) for cold winter nights, or [two nights in the Sahara](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/two-nights-in-the-sahara/) to enjoy the season slowly. ## Questions people ask ### What is the best month to visit Merzouga? October and November, and March to May. October is often called the perfect desert month. ### Is Merzouga too hot in summer? Days often reach 39 to 43 °C, but it's still possible if you go out at sunrise and sunset and rest at midday. Summer nights at camp are warm and pleasant. ### How cold does the desert get in winter? Days are sunny at about 18 °C, nights drop to around 3 to 4 °C. Bring warm clothes for the evening. ### When are the fewest tourists? January, February outside the school holidays, and the summer months. ### When is the best time to see the stars? Any clear night near the new moon; March to October for the Milky Way core. ## Tours mentioned in this guide 1 night (about 16 hours) ### [Sunset Camel Trek & Night in a Berber Camp](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/sunset-camel-trek-desert-camp/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours 1 night (about 16 hours) ### [Luxury Desert Camp Night](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/luxury-desert-camp-night/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours 2 nights, 3 days ### [Two Nights in the Sahara](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/tours/two-nights-in-the-sahara/) **Price on request** One clear quote, usually within hours ## More travel guides Getting there · 11 min read ### [How to get to Merzouga from Marrakech, Fes and beyond](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/blog/how-to-get-to-merzouga/) Merzouga is far from everywhere, and that's part of its magic. Here is every way to get there, with honest driving times, and how to choose. Compare · 9 min read ### [Merzouga or Zagora? Choosing your Sahara desert trip in Morocco](https://merzougaonlinetours.com/blog/merzouga-vs-zagora/) The two most popular desert trips in Morocco are very different. Here's an honest comparison, so you can choose the right one for your time and your expectations. ## Plan your Sahara trip with locals Tell us your dates and where you start. We reply within a few hours with an honest suggestion and one clear price.