When planning a trip to Morocco in winter, it may never cross your mind that it could be cold. I mean, after all, this is Africa we’re talking about, right!?
Wrong.. in fact, TOTALLY WRONG!
December in Morocco is literally freezing!
Coming up on December in Scotland, we were planning a trip to escape some of the cold weather. So naturally, we started looking south. We’d been to the south of Spain before, and had always wanted to visit Morocco, so Morocco it was. Nice, warm Africa was in our minds. We packed our bags without even thinking to bring our thick jackets, didn’t think twice about not bringing pants, and left with only sandals in our packs.
And while we managed to make it through three weeks in Morocco with only these things, we’ll be quite frank and tell you some of that time was spent in complete misery! It was freezing!
READ MORE | Find Your Perfect Morocco Itinerary 5 days to 2 weeks here
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Weather In Morocco In December
The weather in Morocco in December is rather nice during the days, but really cold at night. We’re talking about freezing temperatures in Morocco in December at night. And don’t get us started on spending time in the Sahara desert in the winter. Those temps were well below freezing, and even with four different really thick blankets and wearing all the clothes we had to bed, we had a sleepless night shivering until dawn was upon us.
READ MORE | Sleeping in the Desert, Our Camel Trek
On average, the weather in Morocco in December sits around a comfortable low 20’s (C), high 60’s (F), during the day. This is actually a really nice temperature, and with the sun beaming on most days, it could feel even warmer.
At night, the weather dips down below 10 (C), 40’s (F), though feels much colder. And it’s worth a mention that in the desert, you’ll experience below-freezing temperatures in the winter.
Luckily, the weather in Morocco in December is quite dry. During our two weeks in Morocco in winter, we didn’t have any rainy days at all. And with not many rainy days in the winter months in Morocco, you probably won’t have much either! We still recommend packing a rain jacket as it will protect you from the wind!
Check the current Morocco weather forecast here.
Now, there’s a positive side to every situation, and visiting Morocco in December holds true to that. Winter in Morocco is technically the “offseason”. Aside from the days right around Christmas and New Year, traveling through December in Morocco can be a real treat.
Just know before heading to Morocco thinking you’ll escape the winter temps, visiting the desert in December is anything but an escape!
The Good Things About December In Morocco
During The Winter In Morocco, Hotels + Hostels Aren’t Full
We pre-booked only our first couple nights in Marrakech since we were getting in really late and wanted to have somewhere to spend at least the first night, but other than that, we had nothing arranged more than a couple of days in advance.
This gave us the freedom of staying longer in some places, or leaving quickly when not being too keen in a different place! And, at most places we stayed, we were the only people there! Having entire “hotels” or B&Bs to yourself and having nobody else use the kitchens provided is so nice!
Traveler’s Tip… Check out this post to avoid some of the most common scams in Morocco.. specifically, number 11 when talking about accommodation!
December In Morocco Means Open Seats On Most Buses
Like hotels, we didn’t book buses in advance. When we knew we wanted to leave a place, we went to the bus station and bought tickets for the following day. We’ve got to say, this is only something that can be done in the offseason.
After talking with travelers that had been to Morocco before and attendants at the bus stations, we were told this is a very risky way to travel outside of the offseason as buses are fully booked days in advance!
While we’d argue you’ll never have an actual empty seat next to you on a bus, (they’re always filled with locals getting killer deals hopping on just to go a few minutes down the road), you’ll be sure to get a seat even when booking late!
Traveler’s Tip… CTM is the best company to go through as they accept credit cards, and you can book online!
Morocco In Winter = Freedom To Stay + Go As You Please
Fewer people means more flexibility! You not only get to arrange hotels day of or extend your stays last minute, but likewise, you can just jump on a bus last minute too! This is a massive plus when you really like a place and want to stay longer, or simply hate a place and want to move on! (Which will happen in Morocco… we can nearly promise you that!).
Slow And Steady Travel And Vibe
One of our all-time favorite travel experiences is our six months spent in South America. And a huge reason behind this is the slow and steady travel vibes. We came and went as we pleased, heading to places simply because another traveler recommended it, or because the person we met the night before was heading there too. And we can’t stress how carefree and exhilarating this way of travel is.
There’s something so special about just going with the flow, taking local’s advice on places to see and hearing stories from other travelers, then going to those places to create your own! Again, with the fewer tourists around, you don’t have to have an itinerary planned and booked ages in advance. You can simply go with the flow and book as you go! It’s fantastic!
Lower Prices On Everything In Morocco In Winter
Who knows if it’s supply and demand or what, but everything is cheaper in the winter in Morocco. Aside from desert trips over New Years or Christmas, you’ll find bargain prices you can’t find in the high season.
And, because there aren’t so many people that will just buy what you don’t, you can negotiate on everything, because your sale could be the only sale the person (whether it be a bus driver, hotel keeper, or shop owner) makes that day!
Snow Capped Atlas Mountains
You can see the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech, and boy oh boy are they pretty with the snow dusting over them. When in Marrakech in December, be sure to get on a rooftop during the day to see the gorgeous mountains in the distance!
The Negative Bits of Morocco In Winter
Heating Is a Luxury In Morocco In Winter
Yes, even though you’ll be experiencing decent temperatures during the day in Morocco, with the colder nights your accommodation will match the outside temps. Heating isn’t very common in Morocco, and even when you do get a place that has a space heater, typically there are gaps in the walls, and little or no insulation, so it’s still really cold!
Used And Reused Blankets For Warmth
Every place we stayed had layers and layers of thick blankets on the beds. When we were in the desert, we had over four thick blankets covering us. Unfortunately, if you can’t get warm before getting into bed, you’ll likely not be very warm all night.
We had to quickly get over the idea that these blankets are hardly, if ever, washed. We suggest packing a sleeping sack so you have a clean bed liner between you and the blankets!
You’ll Have To Pack Larger Luggage
We’re huge fans of carry-on only travel. And while it’s doable when visiting Morocco in December, you’ll have to be smart when packing… And, you’ll likely be that person on the budget airline that has a massive coat taking up the whole above storage compartment! ha.
What To Pack For December In Morocco
Layers Are A Must During December In Morocco
Layers are life in the cold! And we’re not talking just a jacket over your shirt. We mean a skin-tight long sleeve with a loose long sleeve over top, then a sweater, down jacket, and rain jacket to protect you from the wind! Trust us here, the more layers the better. Maybe even think about getting some thermal underwear or leggings for underneath your pants or long skirts!
Traveler’s Tip… Figure out what kind of layers work for you, keeping in mind that if you sweat, that will eventually be cold dampness that’s touching your body, making you colder than if you didn’t have so many layers on!
Buff + Beanie + Gloves
Covering all the bits and bobs of the body. Visiting Morocco in the winter is no joke, and it’s amazing how much warmth these three items can bring! So much heat escapes through your ears and head, so making sure both those bits are covered is a complete game-changer.
Try and find a thick double-lined beanie like this one. And we can’t tell you how nice it is to have a pair of gloves in the desert at night. Not really to sleep with, but for sitting around the fire or simply standing in awe of the sky above you!
As for the buff, we have knock-off buffs from South America that are just as nice as the actual “buff brand”, but just having something like a buff to cover your face and neck is perfect!
Hot Water Bottles To Keep Your Drinks Warm In December In Morocco
Drinking your weight in mint tea is an absolute must in Morocco, and drinking double your weight in tea is totally acceptable during December in Morocco! Having a water bottle like this one here, that can keep your tea hot for up to six hours makes for an easy way to warm up your body from the inside out!
It’s great for taking on hikes through places like the Todra Gorge, or just for a day wandering around Marrakech.
READ MORE | 15 Scams to Avoid in Marrakech
A Positive Attitude And Warm Mindset
I 100% believe that the cold was even colder for us because we didn’t expect the cold temperatures heading to Morocco. Again, we were thinking it was going to be a warm African vacation!!
I also 100% believe that if we went into the trip knowing that winter in Morocco is cold, we wouldn’t have felt so cold – not just because we would have packed differently, but because we would have been mentally prepared for the chilly weather. Prepare yourself mentally for a cold holiday, and we truly believe your December in Morocco will be much nicer!
Events + Festivals During Winter In Morocco
Marrakech International Film Festival
Every year, Marrakech holds an international film festival. The festival brings in people from all different countries to watch live screenings, partake in workshops, and go to award ceremonies. Learn more about the Marrakech International Film Festival here.
Christmas And New Years
It’s a mystery to us, but spending Christmas and New Years in Morocco is quite the popular thing. While prices are low and tourists are few in the winter in Morocco, this does not include Christmas and New Years.
Expect higher pricing and more people (not as much as the high season) over the week spanning Christmas and New Years Day.
The Cheapest Way To Get To Morocco
Looking at flights to Morocco can turn anyone away from visiting this north-African country. It’s insane how expensive flights to Morocco can be, but equally as surprising how cheap they can be as well.
When planning a trip to Morocco, the cheapest way to fly to Morocco is actually an indirect flight. We suggest booking round-trip tickets to a place like Lisbon, Portugal, or Madrid, Spain. Then, fly with budget airlines to and from Morocco back to the destination you bought your round trip to. Honestly, you can get really cheap tickets to Morocco on budget airlines from most places in Europe and the UK.
Besides the loads you’ll save on tickets, you’ll also save a ton of time. As you can tell by the Morocco itineraries in this post, the best way to see all of Morocco is by flying into one town and out of another. When booking with budget airlines, it’s much easier and cheaper to find separate flights in and out of different locations, as opposed to purchasing multi-destination tickets.
Don’t let the cold stop you from visiting Morocco in the winter. We had a blast during our three weeks in December in Morocco, even in the cold temperatures!
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