March
The country wakes up with the beginning of spring, when the mountains thaw and
wildflowers and almond and cherry trees blossom. Winds begin to disturb the desert
and Souss Valley, continuing through April.
ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
A very pretty festival held in the Anti Atlas in spring, when the Tafraoute area is awash with
blossoms. Traditionally celebrating the harvest in Morocco’s almond capital, the festival is now
also about local folklore, with singing, dancing, thea-tre and storytelling ( Click here ).
MARATHON DES SABLES
Starting and finishing in Morocco’s movie town, Ouarzazate, the Saharan ultramarathon is as
epic as films made in ‘Ouallywood’. The gruelling six-day challenge, held in March or April,
crosses 243km of desert. Water is provided ( Click here ).
April
Spring continues: the country is lush and green and temperatures are now reliably hot
nationwide. Tourist numbers are high, particularly around Easter, when prices jump.
FESTIVAL OF SUFI CULTURE
Fez’ four-year-old festival hosts events including films and lectures, and concerts with Sufi
musicians from around the world. The setting is the Andalusian-style garden of the Batha
Museum, which is housed in a 19th-century summer palace ( Click here ).
JARDIN’ART
Marrakesh celebrates its spring bloom with temporary gardens, garden-inspired art shows and
botanical talks. In addition to the usual picnicking families, canoodling couples and stately 19th-
century pavilion, you’ll see special displays in the Menara Gardens ( Click here ).
RIFFIAN TREKKING
Between the wet northern winter and fierce summer, spring is perfect for trekking trails in the
Rif Mountains. The best scenery is found in Talassemtane National Park, including the God’s
Bridge rock formation, and, closer to the Mediterranean, the National Park of Al-Hoceima (
Click here ).
May
Prices drop in hotels and souqs as the tourist season ends, although the heaviest
summer heat is yet to come; the average temperature in Marrakesh is about 28°C. Ideal
for mountain trekking.