Best Times to Visit
Weather
Morocco enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate on the coast, whilst inland areas have a hotter, drier climate. There is a cooler climate in the mountains. Rain falls from November to March in coastal areas. (More details can be found in Climate in Morocco).
Visitors are advised to bring lightweight cottons and linens during summer, with warm medium-weights for the evenings during winter and in the mountains. It is a good idea to bring waterproofs from November to March, particularly on the coast and in the mountains.
Festivals
In May, the festival of Sid Mohammed Ma al-Ainin is a chance to see the blue-clad Tuareg nomads of the Sahara, along with other tribes. The National Folklore Festival of Marrakesh is a 10-day event in July attended by dancers, musicians and entertainers. The Tissa Horse Festival is held each year in October where hundreds of riders assemble wearing their finery to present their mounts.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Morocco:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 11 January | Manifesto of Independence |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 30 July | Feast of the Throne |
| 14 August | Oued Eddahab Allegiance Day |
| 20 August | The King and the People's Revolution Day |
| 21 August | King Mohammed's Birthday |
| 6 November | Marche Verte (Anniversary of the Green March) |
| 18 November | Independence Day |
| Variable* | Fatih Mouharram (Islamic New Year) |
| Variable* | Aïd al-Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday) |
| Variable* | Aïd al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| Variable* | Aïd al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
* Although Muslim holidays always fall on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date they are celebrated on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar whilst the Gregorian calendar is solar. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year. The method used to determine when each Islamic month begins also varies from country to country.
