Morocco Weather in November 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

The weather in Morocco in November is mild to warm, making it a good time of year to visit, particularly to see the desert near Mergouza and the Rif Mountains, but also for lots of walking around and sightseeing.

Information below includes weather details for different cities with temperatures, rainfall, humidity, as well as other travel advice, which places to go to, travel tips, festivals, and what to wear.

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1. Morocco Weather in November : Overview

The Sahara Desert, Morocco

Averages:

• Temperature range: 11–21°C (51–70°F)
• Rainfall: 5 cm (2 inches)
• Rainy days: 9
• Sunshine hours/day: 6.5
• Ocean temperature: 16°C (61°F)
• Humidity: 53–84% (comfortable in the desert to much more humid on the coast)

November is the start of winter in Morocco, but it is not as cold as winter in many countries across Europe and North America, meaning you can still get a warm holiday during this month, with Marrakesh, as an example, still hitting a high of 23°C (74°F).

November sees a slight increase in chances of rain across Fez, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca, but most days still see plenty of sun, approximately 6.5 hours a day.

November Climate Comparison (Averages) for Morocco's Top Tourism Areas

2. The Best Places to Visit in Morocco in November

Those looking to visit Morocco in November will experience warm to mild temperatures (warmer towards the beginning of the month), making it a good time of year to visit.

With temperatures dropping slightly, November is not the best time of year to visit Morocco's beaches, but it is a great time of year to visit its desert, head into the mountains for hikes, and walk around to explore without feeling too hot and bothered.

For more information on where we recommend going in November in Morocco, read on.

1) Learn to Cook Moroccan Food in Marrakesh

Tagine, a north african dish

Your first stop in Morocco is likely Marrakesh, and for good reason, as there are some great things to see there, between the traditional old town, which has great examples of Moroccan architecture (medina), and the bustling markets.

Another popular activity in Marrakesh is to take a Moroccan cooking class, where you can learn how to make many things including the traditional Moroccan tagine. For these tours you often start with a trip to the market, the souk, to find your ingredients and learn about Moroccan herbs and spices.

1-Day Marrakesh Cuisine and Majorelle Garden

2) Go on a Desert Safari from Merzouga

Sunrise in Merzouga, Morocco

November is a great time of year to visit the desert of Morocco, with much lower daytime temperatures than during the very hot summer months. Near Merzouga, you will be able to go on a desert safari including a camel ride, sand-boarding, and/or even camping out in the desert at night.

Morocco has other spots from which to visit the desert, which are elaborated on in How to Plan a Desert Trip in Morocco.

Merzouga is also well-combined with other cities in Morocco, for example on this tour:

10-Day Heart of Morocco

3) Explore the Oldest University in the World at the Imperial City of Fez

Fez at night, Morocco

Fez is one of Morocco's four imperial cities (Fez, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakesh), making it an important city to visit during your time there.

Fez's University, Al-Quaraouiyine University is the oldest continuously operating and degree-granting university in the world, dating back to the 9th century. As a visitor you can wander around the outside of the university, which doubles as a mosque, and see the Andalusian-style art.

The city is also known for its leather workshops, and the Chouara Tannery is one of the main tourist attractions, as this is where leather has been dyed since the 11th century.

For more information about visiting Fez, as well as Meknes, which is only 60 km (40 miles) away, you can read the following pieces:

• Top 9 Things to See in Fez (Fes)
• Top 11 Things to See in Meknes

4) Browse and Buy Moroccan Handicrafts in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Chefchaouen, which is sometimes referred to as the Blue City, is a top tourist destination in Morocco, both for those who like to wander the alleys and for those who are looking for a city from which to set off on some more adventurous hikes in the nearby Rif Mountains.

There are lots of ways to stay busy while you are in Chefchaouen, including a visit to the Spanish Mosque or heading to the market to buy traditional handicrafts and herbs, which you can read more about here: Top 7 Things to See and Do in Chefchaouen.

Chefchaouen is well visited along with Tangier and Fez in the north of Morocco, for example like this:

5-Day North Morocco Discovery

3. Morocco Festivals in November: Green March Day and Independence Day

A town near the desert, Morocco

In November, you will find Green March Day celebrated on November 6 and Independence Day on November 18 (both are the same date every year). Both of these are public holidays for the entire country.

Green March Day on November 6 celebrates the anniversary of the march that began on this day in 1975 to liberate the southern provinces from the Spanish who had previously colonized this area. To this day it is a day to remember the struggle of the Moroccan people, and pay tribute to the people who helped liberate Morocco. If you want to get involved there is a gala football match on this day at the Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf Stadium every year.

On November 18, Independence Day celebrations take place across the country. You'll find street parades, vendors selling traditional foods, and a reception at the imperial palace (not open to the public, unfortunately). You can still travel to Morocco on this day, but we recommend not trying to move between cities as transport might be busy with people traveling.

4. Low Season: Less Crowdy and Less Costly

The Sahara Desert, Morocco

November is the start of the low season in Morocco, meaning you will find that Morocco is less busy with tourists, especially at the popular tourist destinations.

This also means that the prices for transportation and accommodation will drop slightly in November, especially when compared to September and October.

5. What to Wear in November

Fennec fox in Merzouga, Morocco

As temperatures start to drop slightly in November, we recommend wearing an additional layer, and bringing a light jacket to wear in the evenings. While cities like Marrakesh and Casablanca are still warm enough to wear just t-shirt and trousers during the day, the evenings are a little cooler.

If you are planning on going hiking or staying in a traditional guesthouse (riad), this becomes even more important as there is not always heating. Temperatures will drop in the evenings, so we recommend bringing warm pajamas and an extra jumper.

We also recommend wearing good footwear to ensure you can walk everywhere you want to during your time in Morocco, and bringing a headscarf or a shawl to cover your head for women wanting to visit the mosques.

Monthly Weather in Morocco

Recommended Tours for Morocco in November

November is a good time of year to visit Morocco, with most cities' weather being pleasant enough for a visit, even though it is technically the start of winter in Morocco. We've listed a few of our most popular itineraries below to help you get started on plotting your route for your holiday.

• Morocco and Tunisia Discovery Tour — 11-Day Private Tour: Casablanca–Meknes–Fez–Rabat–Marrakesh–Casablanca–Tunis–Kairouan–Hammamet – Sidi Bou Said – Tunis
• Zagora and Wild Chegaga Dunes — 3-Day Private Tour to the Erg Chegaga Sahara Wilds from Marrakesh
• Classic Morocco with Essaouira — 12-Day Private Tour: Casablanca–Rabat–Fez–Merzouga–Ouarzazate–Marrakesh–Essaouira
• Morocco and Spain Highlights Tour — 12-Day Private Tour: Madrid–Córdoba–Granada–Seville–Tarifa–Tangier–Chefchaouen–Fez–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakesh
• More Morocco Tours

For those who already know where they want to go in Morocco, or if you'd like to put together your own tailor-made itinerary to fit your needs, you can reach out to us at Global Highlights for some recommendations specific to you. Contact us to begin a tour inquiry.