Planning · By our family trip planners in Marrakech · 2 min read

Morocco in the School Holidays: Easter, Summer and October

Which Morocco trip for each school holiday: Easter, May half-term, summer, October and Christmas, with the right region for the weather.

Quick answer

Easter, May half-term, summer, October half-term and Christmas are all popular times for family trips to Morocco.
October and Easter are the best for the desert; summer is best for the coast and mountains.
Book 3 to 6 months ahead for school holidays, especially Christmas and Easter.
Short half-terms suit Marrakech, the Agafay desert and Essaouira.

Morocco in the school holidays

Morocco is close to Europe, with short flights and little or no jet lag, which makes it perfect for school holidays. Each holiday has its own best route.

February half-term

Sunny days, cold nights and snow on the Atlas. Marrakech is pleasant for walking, and the desert has cold nights but beautiful clear skies. A week of Marrakech, the mountains and a desert camp works well. Check the dates of Ramadan, which in some years falls around this time.

Easter holidays

One of the best times of the year: warm, green and comfortable. Ideal for the full Marrakech–Atlas–Sahara route. It is also very popular, so book early.

May half-term

Warm days, still comfortable in the desert, and long evenings. A great time for a 7-day trip with the Sahara.

Summer holidays

Very hot inland in July and August. Plan cooler places: the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira and the Atlantic coast, with short desert visits at sunset, pools every afternoon and early starts.

October half-term

Excellent for families: warm days, cooler nights, and perfect desert weather. Our favourite school holiday for a first trip with the Sahara.

Christmas and New Year

Sunny days and cold nights. Marrakech is festive and busy; the desert is cold at night but magical. Riads fill up early: book well in advance and pack warm clothes.

Tip: For short holidays, a Marrakech, Agafay and Essaouira plan avoids long drives and gives a taste of the city, the desert and the sea.