Hiking in Morocco in Winter: The Atlas near Marrakech, Nov

Yes, hiking in Morocco in winter works well, as long as you choose the right height. From November to February the low valleys of the High Atlas near Marrakech, like my Ourika Valley, stay open for walking: cold mornings, bright days and, most years, snow on the peaks above you. The high summits, Toubkal first, turn into real winter mountaineering.

Quick answer: Yes. On most winter days, low hikes below about 2,000 metres are fine with warm layers. The snowpack sits mostly above about 2,500 metres, lower after storms. Marrakech averages around 18–22°C by day and 6–10°C at night from November to February, the mountains are colder, and you get only about 10 to 11 hours of daylight.

I'm Khalid. I was born in the Ourika Valley, about an hour's drive from Marrakech. I'm Amazigh, the name we use for ourselves (outsiders often say Berber). I've seen a lot of winters here. This is what each month is really like.

Hiking in Morocco in winter: where it works near Marrakech and where it doesn't

My simple rule: the higher you go, the more winter you get.

Works well: village paths, dry hills, caves and lower waterfalls. My Villages, Caves & Waterfalls hike starts at roughly 1,400 metres.
Snow to play in: Oukaïmeden, a ski area from around 2,600 metres, when there is snow.
Mountaineering only: Toubkal (4,167 m) and the other high peaks.

Here is the winter at a glance. Marrakech numbers are long-term averages, not promises.

Month	Marrakech day / night	Rainy days	Daylight	Up on the peaks
November	around 22°C / 10°C	around 6	about 11 h, falling to 10 h 20	first snow possible
December	around 19°C / 6°C	around 6	about 10 h	snow on the high peaks most years
January	around 18°C / 6°C	around 6	about 10 h, rising to 10 h 40	coldest month, deep snow up high
February	around 20°C / 8°C	around 6	about 10 h 45, rising to 11 h 30	snowpack often biggest early in the month

Hiking in Morocco in November: first snow on the peaks, ideal valley walking

For Atlas mountains hiking, November is one of the best months. The summer heat is gone, the real cold has not arrived, and Marrakech still sees days around 22°C.

The days get shorter fast. Morocco went back to GMT on 20 September 2026, so older guides that use GMT+1 are now one hour off. The sun sets around 5:45 pm at the start of November and around 5:30 pm by the end. The first snow can dust the high peaks, but some years it comes much later. Down in the valley, saffron is picked from roughly late October to mid-November around Aboghlo, in the Ourika commune.

Hiking in Morocco in December: crisp mornings, clear views, holiday crowds

Hiking the Atlas mountains in December means cold starts and blue skies. Marrakech averages around 19°C by day and 6°C at night. Up here it's colder. A rough rule: every 1,000 metres up is about 6 degrees colder. So when Marrakech wakes up at 6°C, think close to freezing at the start of my cave loop.

Around the shortest day the sun rises at about 7:25 am and sets at about 5:35 pm, only about 10 hours of light, and in a deep valley the mountains take a little at both ends. After rain the air is often very clear, and the snowy peaks look close enough to touch.

Christmas and New Year are busy in Marrakech, and Setti Fatma gets crowded on holidays. Book early. The village and cave paths stay quiet.

Hiking in Morocco in January: the coldest month and the snowiest peaks

January is the coldest month, with Marrakech around 18°C by day and 6°C at night. In a cold spell the snow can come right down to the valley. At the end of January 2023, snow fell in the Setti Fatma area, with about 5°C by day and −5°C at night. In January 2026, bad weather closed the mountain roads to Setti Fatma, Oukaïmeden and the Tichka pass for a time. So in January, keep one spare day in your plan.

One nice thing: 14 January is Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year. Since 2024 it has been an official national holiday in Morocco.

Hiking in Morocco in February: longer days, early blossom and Ramadan

The light comes back. You get about 10 hours 45 minutes of daylight on 1 February and about 11 and a half hours by the end of the month. Marrakech averages around 20°C by day and 8°C at night.

Up high, winter is still strong. A study of snow in the High Atlas found the snowpack is, on average, biggest around early February. Lower down, the fruit trees start to wake up: almond blossom comes first, cherry later in spring, and the timing changes with the year and the height. Ask me on WhatsApp what is flowering on your dates.

Ramadan is expected to start around 8 or 9 February 2027, depending on the moon sighting. Older guides say Morocco changes its clocks for Ramadan. Since Morocco now stays on GMT all year, that should not happen any more, but check your times locally. In the villages people fast from dawn to sunset, so please eat and drink discreetly. Yes, I still guide during Ramadan. We agree the start time on WhatsApp.

Does it snow in the Atlas Mountains? Where the snow line sits

Yes, every winter. But how much, and how low, changes a lot from year to year.

High peaks: Toubkal, at 4,167 metres the highest mountain in North Africa, is under snow and ice for much of the winter.
Oukaïmeden: the snow mountain near Marrakech, about 70 km from the city up a side road from the Ourika Valley. Its ski area runs from about 2,600 to 3,260 metres. The ski season is short, often only a few weeks between mid-January and late February, and some winters have little snow, so check before you drive up.
Where the snow usually sits: a study of the High Atlas found the snowpack is mostly above about 2,500 metres.
Valley floors: the Setti Fatma area, at roughly 1,500 metres, gets snow only in some cold spells, like January 2023.

Low winter hikes near Marrakech that stay open

These are the walks I'd pick in winter. For more ideas, see my list of hikes near Marrakech and my Ourika Valley hike routes.

The Berber villages of Ourika: paths between earth-and-stone houses, terraces and irrigation channels. Gentle, and people are around.
The cave loop: my 5-hour Villages, Caves & Waterfalls hike, moderate, private or shared. We start at the bridge near the Maison du Meunier Berbère, walk through a village, cross dry, desert-like hills, visit a cave, see the waterfalls and finish back at the Maison du Meunier Berbère. A recent group met goats, villagers, a bat and some very big beetles, and laughed most of the way. In winter, ask me on WhatsApp if it works for your date.
The lower Setti Fatma falls: the first waterfall is a steep walk of about 20 minutes. Honestly, on a dry day you don't need a guide for it. In winter the wet rocks are slippery, so go slowly. More in my Setti Fatma waterfalls guide.

Rocky cave entrance on a low Ourika Valley hike near Marrakech

Toubkal and the high summits in winter: crampons and a guide

Let me be honest: Toubkal in winter is not a hike. It's a mountain climb. There is snow and ice, there can be avalanches, and you need crampons and an ice axe. In strong wind it can feel like −20°C. Climbers usually sleep at the refuges at 3,207 metres before the summit.

The authorities require hikers on Toubkal to go with a guide, and there are checks on the trail. Rules can change, so ask before you go, and for winter choose a licensed mountain guide with real winter experience. None of my tours go up Toubkal. If you're not sure when you need a guide, read do you need a guide in Morocco.

When winter weather changes the plan

Rain: Marrakech sees rain on around 6 days a month in winter. After heavy rain the river rises and stepping stones get slippery. The big floods here came with summer storms (August 1995, August 2025), but a high river is dangerous in any season. I watch the forecast and change the route or the date when I need to.
Snow and storms: they can close mountain roads, like in January 2026.
Short days: start in the morning and finish well before dark. On a full day, bring a head torch just in case.

If the weather looks bad, message me on WhatsApp and we decide together what to do.

Planning an Ourika visit rather than a hike?

If you just want to see the valley, eat lunch by the river and look at the snow from below, read my guide to the best time to visit the Ourika Valley. It covers the valley's weather in every month, not only winter.

What to wear hiking in the Atlas in winter

Is it cold in the Atlas Mountains? In the morning and in the shade, yes. In the sun at midday you'll take layers off. Bring:

A warm base layer and a fleece or light down jacket
A windproof, ideally waterproof, outer jacket
Boots or trail shoes with good grip (wet rock and mud are the real danger)
Gloves and a warm hat (the goats have their own coats; you don't)
Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sun hat, because the winter sun is still strong
Snacks and lunch (I bring drinking water; everything else is on you)
Some cash
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees in the villages

Do my hikes run in winter?

Most of my hikes run in spring and autumn, the best seasons. In winter, ask me on WhatsApp: I may still guide, depending on the weather.

Winter weather here changes week to week, so the best plan is simple. Send me your dates on WhatsApp and I'll tell you what the mountains are doing. For a low hike that suits winter, look at Villages, Caves & Waterfalls: goats, a cave, waterfalls and no ice axe needed. You can also contact me here.

The price depends on how long we walk: a shared hike is 200–300 MAD per person (about €18–28), and a private hike is 400–600 MAD for your whole group (about €37–55). Groups are up to 7 people, and the price includes drinking water only. We agree it on WhatsApp before the day (see my prices). There is no hotel pickup. You make your own way to the meeting point, about an hour by car from Marrakech, and if you have no car or driver I can help you organise transport.

Sterre, one of my guests, wrote: "I felt really safe. Khalid helped me do a beautiful hike that I didn't think was possible with my fear of heights, haha!"

FAQ

Can you hike in Morocco in December?

Yes. Low valley hikes near Marrakech, like the Ourika villages, are good in December, with cold mornings and clear days. You get only about 10 hours of daylight, so start early. High peaks like Toubkal need winter gear and a guide.

Does it snow in the Atlas Mountains?

Yes, every winter. The snow sits mostly above about 2,500 metres, and Toubkal (4,167 m) is white for much of the season. In cold spells it can reach the valley villages around Setti Fatma, as it did in January 2023.

How cold are the Atlas Mountains in December?

Marrakech averages around 19°C by day and 6°C at night. Every 1,000 metres up is roughly 6 degrees colder, so valley mornings are near freezing. On the high peaks it is well below zero, and the wind makes it feel colder still.

Is there snow near Marrakech?

In most winters, yes. Oukaïmeden, about 70 km from Marrakech, has a ski area from around 2,600 metres. The snow is not reliable every year, so check before you go.

Can you climb Toubkal in winter?

Yes, but it's winter mountaineering, not a walk. You need crampons, an ice axe and the skills to use them, and at the time of writing the authorities require a guide on Toubkal. Choose a licensed mountain guide with winter experience.