What is Morocco like in January?
Morocco in January is cool, clear and quiet. It is the coldest month of the year, with daytime highs of about 15-18°C in Marrakech, Fes and Casablanca, around 21°C in Agadir, and nights between 2°C and 9°C. The High Atlas and Middle Atlas are under snow, the Sahara has warm days and freezing nights, and the cities are at their emptiest, with low-season rates on riads and hotels.
We like January more than most people expect to. After the first week, when the New Year crowds have gone home, you get Marrakech with room to move, Fes without queues at the tanneries, and a desert sky that is as clear as it gets. The price is a cold evening and a short day.
January temperatures by city
Long-term averages, rounded. Treat them as a guide rather than a forecast.
| City | Average high | Average low | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 18°C | 6°C | Sunny most days, cold after dark |
| Fes | 15°C | 4°C | Cool, damp, a few wet spells |
| Casablanca | 17°C | 8°C | Mild, with Atlantic showers |
| Agadir | 21°C | 9°C | The warmest city in the country |
| Merzouga (Sahara) | 16°C | 2°C | Frost is common at night |
| Ifrane (Middle Atlas) | 7-9°C | -1 to 0°C | Snow on the ground much of the month |
Agadir stands out. If you want a warm week in January, the southern Atlantic coast is where you will find it.
Marrakech in January
Marrakech is the city most people build a January trip around, and it works. Afternoons are typically 17-19°C with clear skies, which is close to ideal for walking the medina, the Majorelle garden and the Bahia palace. The air is dry and the light is sharp; the snow on the High Atlas is in view from most rooftop terraces.
The flip side is the nights. Lows average 6°C and a cold snap can push that to 2-3°C. Riads were designed to shed heat, not keep it, so this is the month to ask about heating before you book. Rain is light, roughly 25-30 mm across the month, and most January weeks in Marrakech are dry.
From the city, the mountains are the obvious add-on. The Ourika valley and Imlil are both reachable on a day trip from Marrakech, and in January they are a genuine winter landscape within 90 minutes of the souks.
Skiing and snow in the Atlas
January is the heart of Morocco’s short ski season. Oukaimeden, about 75 km from Marrakech at roughly 2,600-3,200 m, is the main resort. Snow cover varies a lot from year to year, so we check conditions before we recommend a day there, but a good January gives you skiing in the morning and a mint tea in Marrakech by late afternoon.
Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas are a different experience: a small alpine-style town at about 1,650 m, often under snow, with Barbary macaques in the forest nearby. It sits on the road between Fes and the desert, so most of our tours from Fes pass through it.
Two practical notes. The Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) between Marrakech and Ouarzazate can close for a few hours after heavy snow; it is usually cleared the same day. And the Imlil valley below Toubkal (4,167 m) is fine for walking in January, but the summit is a winter mountaineering climb at this time of year, not a trek.
The Sahara desert in January
The desert in January is a study in contrast. Days at Merzouga reach about 16°C with strong sun; the dunes are comfortable in a fleece by 11 am. Nights average 2°C, and frost on the tents is not unusual. You will see your breath at sunrise on Erg Chebbi.
What makes it worth it is the sky. January has some of the clearest, driest air of the year in the south-east, so the stars from a dune camp are extraordinary, and the dawn light on the sand is cold and clean.
Our advice for a January desert night:
- Choose a camp with proper beds, thick blankets and a stove or heater in the dining tent.
- Pack a down jacket, hat, gloves and thermal base layer for the evening and the sunrise walk.
- Do the camel ride at sunset in layers you can shed; it is warm in the sun and cold within minutes of it setting.
The 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour is the shortest route to the big dunes, but in January the short days make the 4-day version more comfortable, with an overnight in the Dades or Todra valleys to break up the driving.
The coast: Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira and Agadir
The Atlantic coast is mild and a little wet. Casablanca averages 17°C by day and 8°C at night, with a handful of rainy days spread through the month and plenty of bright, windy ones in between. The Hassan II mosque and the Corniche are perfectly pleasant in a light jacket. Essaouira is similar but windier.
Agadir is the exception to the whole country. Sheltered by the Anti-Atlas and facing south-west, it averages 21°C in January with low rainfall. It is not swimming weather, the sea is around 17°C, but it is a reliable place for sun. Tangier and the north are the coldest and wettest part of the coast this month, though a clear January day on the Strait is a fine thing.
Rain and daylight in January
January is part of Morocco’s wet season, but that phrase means different things in different places. The Rif, the northern coast and the Middle Atlas get most of their annual rain between November and March. Marrakech and the pre-Saharan south get very little. The desert gets almost none.
Daylight is just over 10 hours: sunrise around 8:30 am and sunset a little before 6 pm in Marrakech at the start of the month, stretching by about half an hour by the end. For long-distance days, that means early starts and arriving at dusk. We plan January routes with that in mind.
Is January a good time to visit Morocco?
For cities, mountains and the desert, yes, with the caveat that you accept cold nights and short days. For the beach, no. The things that make January worthwhile:
- Low season rates on riads, hotels and desert camps after about 7 January
- Few crowds in Marrakech and Fes; you can walk the souks at your own pace
- Snow in the Atlas and a chance to ski
- Clear desert skies for stars and photography
- Cool, dry walking weather in the cities
The things to plan around:
- Nights of 2-6°C inland and in the desert
- Rain and wind on the north coast
- Around 10 hours of daylight
- Occasional snow closures on high passes
If you are comparing months, see best time to visit Morocco for the full year.
What to pack for Morocco in January
Pack as you would for a sunny late-autumn week in southern Europe, then add a proper winter layer for evenings and the desert.
- Warm, windproof jacket
- Fleece or wool jumper
- Thermal base layer if you are sleeping in the desert or the mountains
- Long trousers and closed shoes
- Hat, gloves and a scarf
- Light rain layer for the coast
- Sunscreen and sunglasses; the sun is low and strong
Our what to wear in Morocco in December guide applies almost unchanged to January.
Frequently asked questions
Is January the coldest month in Morocco?
Yes, by a small margin over December and February. Marrakech averages 18°C by day and 6°C at night, Fes about 15°C and 4°C, and Merzouga in the desert roughly 16°C and 2°C. The mountains are colder and usually under snow.
Is Marrakech warm in January?
Afternoons are mild and usually sunny, around 17-19°C, which is comfortable for sightseeing. Evenings and early mornings are cold, often 5-8°C, so you need a warm jacket from sunset. Riads vary in how well they are heated, so ask when booking.
Can you visit the Sahara in January?
Yes, and the skies are at their clearest. Days are warm, around 16°C in the sun, but nights average 2°C and frost is common, so choose a well-equipped camp and bring a down jacket, hat and gloves. Tours run normally throughout the month.
Can you ski in Morocco in January?
Usually. Oukaimeden in the High Atlas, about 75 km from Marrakech, is the main resort, and January is the most reliable month for snow. Cover varies from year to year, so check conditions a few days before you go.
Is January cheap in Morocco?
After the first week, yes. Riads, hotels and desert camps drop to low-season rates, and good driver-guides have availability. The exception is the first few days of the month, which are still part of the New Year peak.
How many hours of daylight are there?
A little over 10 hours. Sunrise is around 8:30 am and sunset a little before 6 pm in Marrakech, so long driving days such as Fes to Merzouga start before dawn and finish at dusk.
A private January itinerary needs a little more thought than a spring one: heated rooms, a well-chosen camp, and a driver-guide who knows which pass to take after a snowfall. That is what we do. See our tours from Marrakech and Morocco desert tours, or contact us with your dates.
