December is winter with the sun still out — crisp sunny desert days, genuinely cold nights, festive medinas and, if you time it right, New Year under the stars in the dunes. It is a month of contrasts: shirtsleeves at noon in Marrakech, a heavy coat by dinner, and the year’s best desert light bracketed by its coldest nights. Come prepared and it is magical.
December weather, region by region
| Region | Day | Night | The feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 18–20°C | 6°C | Mild days, cold evenings |
| High Atlas | 5–10°C | -6°C | Snowy; a winter mountain |
| Sahara (Merzouga) | 18°C | 2°C | Glorious days, freezing nights |
| Coast (Essaouira) | 18°C | 10°C | Mild, breezy, quiet |
What is on
New Year is the big one — desert camps run special dinners and fill up weeks ahead for a night of drums, fire and a sky full of stars over the dunes. The cities take on a low-key festive glow for the international crowd, and the whole desert-edge feels quietly celebratory around the turn of the year.
Crowds and prices
A tale of two Decembers. Most of the month is off-season quiet with low prices — then the Christmas-to-New-Year window spikes hard, with desert camps and riads booking out and charging peak rates. Travel early December for the bargain; book months ahead if you want to be in the dunes for New Year’s Eve.
Who December suits
Travellers who want winter sun and empty medinas, desert lovers who will wrap up warm for an unforgettable clear-sky night, and anyone dreaming of New Year on the dunes. Not for beach swimmers, and not for anyone who packs light and hates the cold — December nights are the real thing.
Pack the warm layer first — the packing guide has the desert-night list — and see where December sits in best time to visit Morocco.
Can you spend New Year in the Sahara?
Yes, and it is unforgettable — camps lay on special dinners, music and fire under a huge desert sky. It is the busiest desert night of the year, so book weeks or months ahead and expect peak prices.
How cold is Morocco in December?
Mild by day (around 18–20°C in Marrakech and the desert) but cold at night — near freezing in the Sahara and below it in the Atlas. It is a warm-days, cold-nights month; layers are essential.
Is December a good time to visit Morocco?
For winter sun, clear desert light and quiet medinas, yes — as long as you pack for cold nights. Early December is also excellent value, before the New Year prices kick in.
For how December stacks up against the other eleven, see Morocco month by month.