What to pack for Morocco in spring: Marrakech to the Sahara

In spring, from March to May, Marrakech and Fez run from about 7 to 29 °C (45 to 84 °F), and Sahara nights drop to 8 to 15 °C (46 to 59 °F). Pack light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, a warm layer for the mountains and the desert nights, and a large scarf.

The story

In the Marrakech medina, the lanes are narrow, shaded and busy. It’s 26 °C in April, and you’re walking behind a donkey cart, past stalls of lanterns, leather and spices. Your shirt covers your shoulders and your trousers are long and loose; you’re not hot, and nobody gives you a second look. A shopkeeper invites you in for mint tea, and the price of the rug you liked starts high and comes down slowly. That’s how it works here.

The next morning, a minibus takes you over the High Atlas. At the Tizi n’Tichka pass, 2,260 metres up, you get out for a photo: it’s 9 °C, with a cold wind and snow on the peaks around you. Everyone on the bus is suddenly looking for a sweater.

Two days later you reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga. It’s 30 °C in the afternoon and the sand is orange and fine. You leave your suitcase in the vehicle and take only a small bag for the night. At sunset you ride a camel to the camp, with a scarf wrapped around your face against the blowing sand. After dinner the drums come out, the sky fills with stars and the temperature falls to 12 °C. You pull on a fleece and warm socks, and you’re glad you packed a headlamp for the walk to your tent.

The trip ends in Fez, in a medina so tangled that even the maps give up.

Morocco in spring is warm by day and cool at night, and cold in the mountains and the desert after dark. Light, loose clothes that cover you, one warm layer and a scarf handle almost everything.

What to pack for Morocco in spring

Pack light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, then add a warm layer for the mountains and the desert nights.

Clothes

Light, loose long trousers and long skirts, in linen or cotton.
T-shirts and shirts that cover the shoulders.
A fleece or warm sweater, and a light jacket for the Atlas passes.
Something warm to sleep in at the desert camp.
A large scarf: for the sun, for the sand, and to cover your hair if you wish.

Shoes

Comfortable closed shoes for the medinas’ uneven lanes.
Sandals you can shake the sand out of.
Warm socks for the desert night.

For the desert

A small bag for the night at the camp; big suitcases usually stay in the vehicle.
A headlamp or flashlight.
Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm.
Wet wipes and hand sanitizer.

Documents, money and tech

Passport.
Cash in small notes for the souks, taxis and tips.
A plug adapter: sockets are types C and E, at 220 V.
A power bank: charging at desert camps can be limited.

Good to know

Weather: from March to May, Marrakech and Fez run from about 7 to 29 °C (45 to 84 °F), by the 1991–2020 averages of Morocco’s weather service (DGM) for the Marrakech and Fez airports. In the Sahara, days reach 25 to 32 °C (77 to 90 °F) and nights drop to 8 to 15 °C (46 to 59 °F). The High Atlas passes can be cold, with snow on the peaks into spring.

Stop	Temperature	What changes in the bag
Marrakech	10 to 29 °C (50 to 84 °F)	Light, loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and a large scarf
High Atlas passes	Cold, with snow on the peaks	A fleece or warm sweater and a light jacket
Sahara (Erg Chebbi)	Days 25 to 32 °C (77 to 90 °F), nights 8 to 15 °C (46 to 59 °F)	A small bag for the night, warm socks, something warm to sleep in, a headlamp
Fez	7 to 26 °C (45 to 79 °F)	Cooler than Marrakech: keep the warm layer handy

Respect: clothes that cover your shoulders and knees are appreciated everywhere outside the resorts. Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims. Ask before photographing people.
Ramadan: its dates move about eleven days earlier every year and sometimes fall in spring; check this year’s dates. During that month, many cafés and restaurants outside the tourist areas close by day.
Plugs: types C and E, 220 V.
Money: Moroccan dirham (MAD). You’ll usually only get it in Morocco: change money or use an ATM when you arrive, and keep the receipts to change back what’s left before you leave.
Entry: many nationalities can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days; check the rules for your passport (checked September 30, 2026).
Similar trips: what to pack for Dubai in winter, with its own desert evening, and the Kenya and Tanzania safari packing list, June to October.

Questions

Does it get cold in Morocco in spring?

In the mountains and the desert after dark, yes. From March to May, Sahara days reach 25 to 32 °C (77 to 90 °F), but nights drop to 8 to 15 °C (46 to 59 °F), and the High Atlas passes can be cold, with snow on the peaks into spring.

What should I wear in Morocco in spring?

Light, loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees: long trousers or long skirts in linen or cotton, and shirts that cover the shoulders. Outside the resorts, covered shoulders and knees are appreciated everywhere, and a large scarf helps with the sun and the sand.

What should I bring for a night in the Sahara?

A small bag with a fleece or warm sweater, warm socks and something warm to sleep in, plus a headlamp or flashlight. Big suitcases usually stay in the vehicle, and charging at desert camps can be limited, so bring a power bank.

Do I need cash in Morocco?

Yes, in small notes for the souks, taxis and tips. You’ll usually only get dirhams in Morocco: change money or use an ATM when you arrive, and keep the receipts to change back what’s left before you leave.

Do I need a visa for Morocco?

It depends on your passport: many nationalities can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days. Check the rules for your passport before you go.