Morocco in November

November in Morocco: the underrated month

Ask experienced Morocco travellers what month they’d choose if returning, and November comes up more often than the calendar would suggest. It delivers the conditions most people seek in October — pleasant temperatures, comfortable desert, walkable medinas — with one critical difference: the crowds have thinned and the prices have dropped.

The October peak ends abruptly once European school half-terms close and the festival calendar quietens. Marrakech riads that were fully booked through October have room in November. Desert camps at Merzouga offer availability without the advance booking pressure that defines October weekends. The Sahara night temperature drops to 8–12°C — genuine cold that rewards preparation but makes the stargazing and morning light even more spectacular.

November also has its own distinct cultural offerings: the Marrakech International Film Festival (late November, typically the last week) brings international cinema, celebrity sightings in the medina’s restaurants, and an cultural energy that transforms the city briefly. The olive harvest across the Rif and Middle Atlas gives rural areas their own November character.

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Weather in November by region

Marrakech

Early November: 22–25°C days, 13–15°C evenings. Late November: 20–22°C days, 10–12°C evenings. The temperatures drop progressively through the month but remain well within comfortable walking territory for the entire month. November in Marrakech is medina weather — you can spend a full day in the souks and still want to sit on a rooftop at sunset. A light jacket replaces the summer question of shade-seeking.

Fes

Similar to Marrakech. 18–22°C early November, 15–18°C late November. Fes in November is quiet — the October festival and tour group traffic has ended, and the Christmas/New Year crowds haven’t arrived. November is one of the best months to experience Fes medina at its most local and least tourist-dense. Rain is more possible in November than in October; brief wet mornings followed by clear afternoons are the typical pattern.

Chefchaouen and the Rif

Chefchaouen in November is cool and quieter. 14–18°C days, 8–12°C evenings. The hillside colours are at their autumn peak in early November — the Rif olive groves and oak scrubland turn warm amber. Rain is increasingly likely through the month. The blue medina in misty November light has its own distinct atmosphere, though this is not the sun-drenched photogenic Chefchaouen of Instagram.

Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains in November are cooling toward winter mode. Trekking is still excellent in early to mid-November — the trails are clear, the autumn light is beautiful, and altitude temperatures are cold but manageable with layers. By late November, high-altitude routes above 3,000m may have early snow. The lower Imlil and Ourika valley areas remain accessible throughout November.

Sahara (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi)

November is one of the desert’s finest months. Daytime temperatures at Merzouga drop to 22–26°C — genuinely ideal for all-day dune activity without any heat management. Nights at 8–12°C are cold; bring a proper warm sleeping layer and confirm your camp provides adequate bedding. The desert in November has a clarity and stillness — cooler air, lower humidity, exceptional star visibility — that summer visitors never experience.

Atlantic Coast (Essaouira / Agadir)

The Atlantic swell is building toward its November–March peak. Essaouira at 18–20°C is cool for sunbathing but excellent for wind sports — the kitesurfing and windsurfing season enters prime territory. Agadir is warmer at 20–22°C and remains Morocco’s best winter coast destination. Water temperatures around 20°C are acceptable for wetsuits and committed swimmers.

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Crowds and prices in November

November is shoulder season with a distinct two-part character:

Early November (weeks 1–3): Very quiet. October’s peak has cleared. International tourist numbers drop significantly. Riads in Marrakech and Fes have plenty of availability at prices 20–35% below October. Desert camps at Merzouga can often be booked with shorter notice than in spring or October.

Late November (Marrakech Film Festival week): Marrakech specifically becomes busier during Film Festival week, with accommodation in and around the medina tightening. Prices for the Film Festival period rise briefly. The rest of Morocco is unaffected by this local event.

Budget opportunity: November represents the best combination of reasonable conditions and low prices in Morocco. If budget is a significant factor and you have date flexibility, November consistently outperforms other months on value.

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Key events and festivals in November

Marrakech International Film Festival (late November)

The Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) typically takes place in the final week of November. It’s one of Africa’s most significant film festivals, attracting directors and actors for a program combining international premieres, retrospectives, and tributes. Main screenings take place at the Palais des Congrès and various medina venues.

Free screenings of selected films happen in the Jemaa el-Fna square. Even without tickets, being in Marrakech during the festival — the medina’s restaurant terraces full of an international creative crowd, star encounters on the souks — is a distinctive experience.

Olive harvest in the Rif and Middle Atlas

November is harvest time for Morocco’s olive groves. The Rif Mountains north of Fes, the Middle Atlas, and the Souss plain south of Agadir all have active olive harvests through November. In rural Berber communities, olive harvest is a communal effort — extended families and neighbors gather to hand-pick the groves. This is visible rural life rather than a tourist event, but passing through the olive regions in November gives a genuine window into Morocco’s agricultural character.

Eid al-Adha (date varies by Islamic calendar)

In some years, Eid al-Adha falls in November (it shifts through the Islamic calendar). When it does, the holiday brings a 3-day public celebration with widespread family gatherings. Transport and some services are reduced during Eid. Check whether Eid al-Adha falls during your November travel dates and plan transport bookings accordingly.

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Best things to do in Morocco in November

Quiet medina exploration in Marrakech

November is the month where Marrakech’s medina belongs more fully to itself. The ratio of locals to tourists shifts noticeably from October. Souk negotiations are more genuine. Artisan workshops — leather, copper, ceramics — are visible working without performing for visitors. A November morning in the Marrakech souk district, starting at the spice market and working through the leather dyers’ alley, is one of the most authentic medina experiences the city offers.

Marrakech Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, souk, and medina tour — a comprehensive introduction to the imperial-era medina.

Desert overnight at Merzouga

November desert conditions are exceptional. The cooler temperatures make daytime dune activities comfortable from morning to late afternoon (rather than just the heat-avoiding windows of summer). The nights are genuinely cold — bring proper layers — but the payoff is the clearest, most star-dense sky of the year over the Erg Chebbi. November desert camps are quieter than October; the experience is more private.

Merzouga overnight desert camp with camel ride — classic Erg Chebbi overnight in November’s ideal desert conditions.

Fes medina at its quietest

Fes in November (before the Film Festival traffic) is as quiet as it gets for a full-service tourist experience. Guided medina tours run without competing with other groups. The Chouara Tannery viewing terraces above the workshops are not crowded. Cooking classes in traditional riads have real intimacy. November Fes rewards explorers who don’t need peak-season energy.

Fes museum, Al-Attarine Madrasa, tannery, and medina tour — covers Fes’s finest cultural sites in a half-day.

Marrakech Film Festival experience

For the culturally curious, being in Marrakech during the Film Festival (late November) adds a dimension beyond the standard tourism experience. Free Jemaa el-Fna screenings, the festival atmosphere in the medina’s restaurants, and the opportunity to see international cinema in an extraordinary setting make this week distinctive.

Surfing at Essaouira and Taghazout

November is when Morocco’s Atlantic surf season genuinely begins. The big groundswells from North Atlantic storms arrive in November and continue through March. Essaouira surf conditions are improving week by week. Taghazout near Agadir starts to attract the winter surf crowd. For intermediate and experienced surfers, November is the beginning of the good season.

Essaouira surf lesson for all levels — as autumn swells build, this is an excellent November activity.

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What to pack for November in Morocco

November requires proper layering — the biggest temperature swings of the year occur this month:

• Light to medium jacket — essential for evenings in the cities; early November needs a mid-layer, late November needs a proper jacket
• Warm layers for the desert — Merzouga nights at 8–12°C require a decent fleece or light down jacket plus a warm hat
• Waterproof outer layer — rain is increasingly possible from November, particularly in Fes, Chefchaouen, and the Rif
• Versatile day clothes — T-shirts and light shirts for sunny Marrakech afternoons; the temperature range in a single day can be 15°C
• Comfortable walking shoes — closed-toe, ideally with some water resistance if you’re heading north
• Sunscreen SPF 30+ — UV intensity drops in November but direct midday sun still requires protection

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Ramadan in November

Ramadan does not fall in November in 2026 or 2027. November is entirely outside Ramadan for both years.

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Sample itineraries for November

7-day budget itinerary: Marrakech 2 nights (quiet medina, low prices), south to Aït Benhaddou and Merzouga for 2 desert nights, return. November pricing makes this the most affordable version of the classic itinerary. See the 7-day Morocco itinerary.

10-day value itinerary: Add Fes to the above — the Marrakech-Merzouga-Fes loop at November quiet-season prices with October-quality conditions. See the 10-day Morocco itinerary.

14-day full loop with Film Festival: Time the first week of the trip in Fes and Chefchaouen, then Marrakech for the Film Festival last week of November, with Essaouira as the coastal finale. See the 14-day Morocco itinerary.

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November in Morocco: who should go, who should reconsider

November is the insider’s choice for:

• Budget-conscious travellers wanting October conditions at lower prices
• Independent travellers who prefer less-crowded medinas
• Photography travellers — autumn light in November is exceptionally good
• Desert enthusiasts willing to pack for cold nights
• Film Festival attendees (late November, Marrakech)
• Surfers targeting the building Atlantic swell

November is harder for:

• Travellers who need beach swimming weather — the coast is cooler; only Agadir remains genuinely warm enough
• Those wanting the energy and buzz of peak season Morocco
• Chefchaouen visitors seeking sunshine — November in the Rif can be misty and rainy

For the complete seasonal picture, the best time to visit Morocco guide compares November directly against October and March. The Morocco budget guide quantifies November’s pricing advantage versus peak months.