Academy / When to ride Morocco
Guide · Morocco
When to ride Morocco and the desert
Morocco is a year-round country, but the desert is not. Here is what the weather does month by month in Merzouga and Erg Chebbi, and what that means on a motorcycle.
1 · The short answer
March, April, October and November
For riding in the Sahara, spring and autumn are the sweet spot. Days are warm, nights are fresh, sand is firm in the morning and you can ride all day without fighting the heat.
Summer in the desert is a different story. With afternoon highs above 40 °C, riders and bikes overheat, hydration becomes a full-time job and soft sand gets even softer. That is why serious desert training, including ours, happens in spring.
2 · Month by month
Merzouga temperatures by month
Average daily low and high in Merzouga, on the edge of Erg Chebbi. Real days can be several degrees hotter or colder.
| Month | Low | High | On a motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4 °C | 18 °C | Cold mornings, short days. Fine with good layers. |
| February | 7 °C | 20 °C | Pleasant and quiet. Pack warm gear for the evenings. |
| March | 11 °C | 24 °C | Excellent. Our Morocco Rally Training runs in March. |
| April | 15 °C | 29 °C | One of the best months. Warm afternoons. |
| May | 20 °C | 34 °C | Getting hot. Start early, rest at midday. |
| June | 24 °C | 38 °C | Hot. Only for short, early rides. |
| July | 28 °C | 42 °C | Too hot for most riders. |
| August | 27 °C | 41 °C | Too hot for most riders. |
| September | 22 °C | 36 °C | Still hot, improving towards the end of the month. |
| October | 17 °C | 30 °C | Excellent. Second best season. |
| November | 10 °C | 23 °C | Very good. Shorter days. |
| December | 5 °C | 18 °C | Cool, clear, quiet. Cold nights. |
3 · Mountains
Do not forget the Atlas
On the way to the desert you cross the Middle or High Atlas. In winter and early spring passes above 2,000 m can be cold, wet or snowy, while Merzouga is warm and sunny. Plan one day of the trip as a mountain day and pack accordingly.
In practice: heated grips or good winter gloves for the passes, a thin down layer under the jacket, and lighter gear for the dunes.
4 · Wind
Wind and sand
Strong wind can lift sand and cut visibility in any season, most often in spring. On a windy day stay on known tracks, keep goggles clean and ride the dunes in the calmer morning hours. A buff over the face helps more than you would think.
5 · Light
Plan around daylight
In the desert, the best riding is in the first hours after sunrise and the last hours before sunset: firmer sand, softer light, cooler air. In March there are about 12 hours of daylight. Never plan to arrive at the bivouac after dark, because dunes and dry riverbeds look very different without shadows.
Merzouga · March 2027
Come in the best month
Our Morocco Rally Training is set for the time of year when the desert is at its best: cool mornings, warm afternoons and firm sand.