The Sahara is not a place with good weather and bad weather. It is a place with two comfortable seasons and two difficult ones, and the difference between them is large enough to change whether you enjoy the trip at all.
The short answer: March to May, and September to November. Here is what every part of the year is actually like.
The two good windows
Spring — March, April, May
The best months, and the reason is the nights. Days run pleasantly warm, the light is long and clear, and the evening in camp is comfortable rather than an endurance test. Spring also catches the valleys on the way — the Draa and Dades are green, and the almond and rose blossom in the Atlas is worth the detour on its own.
April is the single most popular month, so camps and vehicles book out further ahead than you would think. Plan earlier than feels necessary.
Autumn — September, October, November
The equal of spring, and often quieter. September still carries a lot of summer heat in the first half of the month; by October it has settled into the same easy warmth as April, with cooler nights. November is the last comfortable month and the light is superb — low, long and gold from mid-afternoon.
Summer — June, July, August
Daytime temperatures pass 45 °C.
This is the honest part. Summer in the Sahara is not warm, it is severe. The camel ride is unpleasant, the tents hold the day's heat well past midnight, and the drive is long with the sun on the windows for eight hours.
If summer is the only time you can come, it is still doable — but reshape the trip around the heat rather than pretending it is not there:
- Start very early, before six, and rest in the middle of the day.
- Choose a camp with proper ventilation or air conditioning.
- Take far more water than you think, and drink it before you feel thirsty.
- Consider a four-day trip rather than three, so no single day is a marathon.
- Consider going in the Agafay stone desert instead, an hour from Marrakech, and keeping the Sahara for another visit.
Winter — December, January, February
Beautiful days, genuinely cold nights.
Winter is underrated and often misunderstood. Days are clear, dry and around 18–20 °C — excellent walking weather, and the visibility is the best of the year.
The catch is after dark. Desert nights in winter fall close to freezing. Camps supply heavy blankets and you will use every one, but you need to arrive prepared: a fleece, a warm hat, long trousers and socks are not optional. People who bring them tend to love winter in the desert. People who packed for "the Sahara" and brought shorts have a long night.
There is also snow on the Tizi n'Tichka pass some winters, which can slow or occasionally close the route for a day. It is worth building a little slack into the itinerary in January and February.
Month by month
| Month | Days | Nights | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Clear, ~18 °C | Near freezing | Good, if you pack warm |
| February | Clear, ~20 °C | Very cold | Good, if you pack warm |
| March | Warm | Cool | Excellent |
| April | Warm | Mild | Excellent — book early |
| May | Hot | Mild | Excellent |
| June | Very hot | Warm | Difficult |
| July | 45 °C+ | Warm | Avoid if you can |
| August | 45 °C+ | Warm | Avoid if you can |
| September | Hot, easing | Mild | Very good after mid-month |
| October | Warm | Cool | Excellent |
| November | Warm | Cool | Excellent |
| December | Clear, ~18 °C | Cold | Good, if you pack warm |
What about the wind?
Spring brings occasional windy days, and a sandstorm — a sirocco — can blow up at any time of year and last from an hour to a couple of days. It is not dangerous in a camp, but it makes the dunes unpleasant and the photographs impossible.
There is no way to plan around it. A scarf covers most of the problem, and a camp with solid walls covers the rest.
Ramadan and holidays
Ramadan moves through the calendar each year, and travelling during it is completely normal — camps and drivers work as usual and visitors are not expected to fast. What changes is the rhythm of the day: restaurants along the route may be closed until sunset, and your driver may be fasting. Ask, be considerate about long stops, and plan lunch to be something you carry.
Read next
- How many days do you need in the Sahara?
- A night in a Sahara desert camp: what it's actually like
- The Morocco Sahara desert, from Marrakech — the full guide
Go in the right month, with your own driver
Tell us when you are here and we will tell you honestly what the desert will be like. Private vehicle, your own schedule, fixed price agreed before you go.
