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Guide · Best time
Best month for sandboarding in Morocco: heat, wind and rain
The best month for sandboarding in Morocco depends on which dunes you ride. On the coast near Agadir the sand is usable all year; in the Sahara the season is set by the heat. Here are the numbers.
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Editorial team, sandboardingmorocco.comUpdated October 26, 20266 min read18 sources
The quick answer
- 01Coast, all year
- Agadir highs stay between 21.2 °C and 27.0 °C.1
- 02Driest months
- June to September, under 4 mm of rain a month.2
- 03Windiest
- May and April, about 20 windy days each.3
- 04Sahara
- Spring and fall; July highs near 39.5 °C inland.4
- 05Longest light
- June, with 14.1 hours of daylight at mid-month.5
The short answer, coast and desert
If you are riding the dunes near Agadir, there is no bad month, only better and worse ones. The World Meteorological Organization normals for the Agadir Inezgane station put the mean daily high between 21.2 °C in January and 27.0 °C in August.1 That narrow range is what makes the Atlantic coast a year-round sandboarding area, while the Sahara has a real season.
For the coast, the sweet spots are summer and early fall: dry, warm and long-lit, past the windiest weeks of spring. For the Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi, aim for spring and fall and avoid high summer, when the nearest long-term station, Errachidia, averages 39.5 °C highs in July.4
The rest of this page sets out the three things that change through the year on a dune: rain, which firms up the sand; wind, which fills the air with it; and heat, which decides when you can climb. All coastal figures below come from the Agadir Inezgane station, about 15 km in a straight line from the beach at Sidi Toual, unless we say otherwise.6
Through the year
The sandboarding year on the Agadir coast
-
Jan to Feb
Mild and calmer
-
Mar to Apr
The wind builds
19.2 and 20.2 windy days a month.3
-
May to Jun
Windy and dry
The windiest month, May, with 20.5 days.3
-
Jul to Sep
Warm and dry
July rain averages 0.2 mm at the station, almost none.2
-
Oct to Dec
Rain returns
December is the wettest month, 49.0 mm.2
Rain: the months that firm up the sand
Rain is rare on this coast, and it comes in winter. Agadir's normal precipitation is 231.6 mm a year, with December the wettest month at 49.0 mm and July the driest at 0.2 mm; November brings 42.3 mm and January 32.0 mm.2 The station averages 20.8 days a year with at least 1 mm, from 3.6 in December to 0.1 in July.7
Wet sand changes the ride. Firm sand is the risk: at Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, the US Park Service records more injuries after rain has packed the surface, while loose, dry sand softens a fall.8 After a winter shower, the slip face can be hard and fast. Start on gentle slopes, ride seated, and wait for the sun to dry the surface if you can.
From June to September you can practically ignore rain: Agadir's monthly totals are 0.8 mm in June, 0.2 mm in July, 3.1 mm in August and 3.7 mm in September.2 Essaouira, further north, is wetter in winter, with 299.7 mm a year and 55.7 mm in December.9
Rain
Monthly rain at Agadir Inezgane
mm
Month by month
Temperatures, rain and daylight near Sidi Toual
| Month | Daylight (h) | Darkness (h) | High / low | Wet days | Wind on the coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10.4 | 13.6 | 21 / 8 °C | 3 | Calmer |
| Feb | 11.1 | 12.9 | 22 / 10 °C | 3 | Breezy |
| Mar | 11.9 | 12.1 | 23 / 12 °C | 3 | Windy |
| Apr | 12.9 | 11.1 | 23 / 14 °C | 2 | Windy |
| May | 13.7 | 10.3 | 24 / 16 °C | 1 | Windiest |
| Jun | 14.1 | 9.9 | 26 / 18 °C | 0 | Windy |
| Jul | 13.9 | 10.1 | 27 / 19 °C | 0 | Calmer |
| Aug | 13.3 | 10.7 | 27 / 20 °C | 0 | Calmer |
| Sep | 12.4 | 11.6 | 26 / 19 °C | 1 | Breezy |
| Oct | 11.5 | 12.5 | 26 / 17 °C | 2 | Breezy |
| Nov | 10.7 | 13.3 | 24 / 13 °C | 3 | Calmer |
| Dec | 10.2 | 13.8 | 22 / 10 °C | 4 | Calmest |
Agadir Inezgane station (WMO 60250), 1991 to 2020: the World Meteorological Organization's average maximum and minimum, plus how many days a month bring at least 1 mm of rain. Mid-month daylight is our own sum for Sidi Toual's latitude.5 Season according to the World Meteorological Organization wind counts.3
Three seasons
Spring, summer or winter on the dunes
Windiest
Driest
WettestDecision helper
When should you go?
Choose the season by what matters most
December or July
Agadir counts 9.7 and 10.1 windy days in those months.3
June to September
Monthly rain stays under 4 mm at Agadir Inezgane.2
Spring or fall
Errachidia's mean highs: April 26.1 °C, October 26.8 °C.4
June
The sun is up 14.1 hours at mid-June near Sidi Toual.5
The coast
January highs average 21.2 °C at Agadir Inezgane.1
Injuries occur more commonly when sand is firm after rain or melting snow, while dry sand is soft, making for easier landings if you fall down.
Wind: when the sand flies
The coast is windy, and spring is its peak. Agadir Inezgane counts 174.6 days a year with wind of 10 m/s or more, with 20.5 in May, 20.2 in April and 19.2 in March, against 9.7 in December and 10.1 in July.3 Essaouira is windier still, with 186.3 such days, and its peak comes in July with 21.5.10
Wind matters on a dune because it moves sand quickly as it strengthens. Britannica gives the figures: 13 grams per hour at 10 km/h, 274 grams at 20 km/h and 1,179 grams at 30 km/h.11 On a windy day, sand streams off the crest into your face and the climbs feel longer. Goggles or sunglasses and a scarf turn a gritty session into a good one.
If wind bothers you, choose the calmer months: on Agadir's count, December, July, November and January have the fewest windy days.3 If you surf as well, the calmer months may also suit the sea. If you love a fresh breeze and fast-changing dunes, spring delivers.
Checklist
Pack for the season
01
Spring
- Goggles or sunglasses for the wind
- A scarf against blowing sand
02
Summer
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Extra water for the climbs
- Book late-afternoon sessions
03
Winter
- A warm layer for sunset and desert nights
- Check the forecast for rain
Cost calculator
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The real truth about Agadir weather
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Heat: when to climb
On the coast, heat is rarely a problem. Agadir Inezgane averages 30.3 days a year reaching 30 °C, 9.7 reaching 35 °C and 2.4 reaching 40 °C.121314 Its warmest month, August, averages a 27.0 °C high and a 19.5 °C low.115 Even so, a sunny dune face is hotter than the air, and summer sessions are best late in the day.
Inland it is a different story. Marrakech averages 22.3 days a year at 40 °C or more, 8.8 of them in July.16 At Errachidia, the nearest long-term station to Erg Chebbi, July's mean high is 39.5 °C, while January's mean low is 2.0 °C and 11.0 nights a year fall below 0 °C.41718
For a desert trip that means two seasons to avoid for different reasons. In summer, ride only around sunrise and sunset. In winter, the days are pleasant but the nights are cold: between November and February, the 3-day tour this site points to expects 0 °C to 5 °C after dark.
Daylight and the sunset session
Most dune trips are built around the sunset, which means daylight sets the timetable. On our own calculation for the latitude of Sidi Toual, the sun is above the horizon for 10.2 hours at mid-December and 14.1 hours at mid-June.5 A summer afternoon session can start later and still have hours of light.
The listings reflect this. A sunset camel and sandboarding outing in Merzouga notes that the sunset time changes by season. The Timlalin trips from the Agadir coast name the sunset among their activities and drive back after dark, which in winter can mean an early start and an early return.
In practice, ask for the pickup time the day before and plan dinner around it. In December the return drive will be in darkness by early evening; in June you may still be on the sand at what feels like dinner time.
Timing a trip that covers coast and desert
A trip can combine both kinds of dune, but the seasons pull in different directions. The coast is comfortable all year, while the desert is pleasant only between the summer heat and the winter cold. That makes spring and fall the natural window for a trip that includes Erg Chebbi: at Errachidia the mean high is 26.8 °C in October, 26.1 °C in April and 22.1 °C in March.4
If you can only travel in summer, do the desert first thing in the morning and at sunset, and spend the hot middle of the trip on the coast, where Agadir's July high averages 26.7 °C.1 If you travel in winter, put the warm layers in your bag for the camp night and expect the coastal dunes to be at their quietest, with fewer windy days.3
Whatever the month, book flexible. The outings compared on this site list free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which lets you move a session when a windy or wet day comes through. Watch the forecast two days ahead and rebook rather than ride a soaked dune in a gale.
Month by month, in a sentence
January and February: mild days of about 21 to 22 °C on the coast, some rain and few windy days; good for the coast, cold nights in the desert.123 March and April: the wind builds and the rain fades, with highs around 23 °C; a fine time for both the coast and Erg Chebbi.13
May and June: the windiest weeks and the longest days, almost dry, with highs of 24.2 °C and 25.6 °C on the coast.135 July and August: the warmest and driest months on the coast, calmer in July, and far too hot at midday in the desert.124
September and October: warm, dry at first and still pleasant, with highs of 26.1 °C; October has the most days over 30 °C on the coast, 5.3 on average.112 November and December: the wet months on the coast and cold nights in the Sahara, but quieter dunes and fewer windy days.23
Your dune outing
Quad, board and tea in 4 hours.
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You ask,we answer.
What is the best month for sandboarding in Morocco?
Spring or fall, for both coast and desert. Coastal highs are warm all year; the Sahara is too hot in summer and cold at night in winter.1417
Can you sandboard near Agadir in winter?
Yes. Agadir's January mean high is 21.2 °C; just check for rain, which firms up the sand.18
Which month is the windiest on the coast?
May. In May, Agadir Inezgane logs 20.5 days on which the wind reaches 10 m/s or more.3
When does it rain most in Agadir?
December. December averages 49.0 mm of rain at Agadir Inezgane, July only 0.2 mm.2
Is the Sahara too hot for sandboarding in summer?
At midday, yes. Errachidia, the nearest long-term station to Erg Chebbi, averages 39.5 °C highs in July.4
How cold are Sahara nights in winter?
Around freezing. The 3-day tour we point to warns of 0 °C to 5 °C nights from November to February.
When are the days longest for a sunset session?
In June. At Sidi Toual's latitude the sun is up for 14.1 hours at mid-June.5
Sources
The sources for this guide
- 1World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 2World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 3World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 4World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: ERRACHIDIA, WMO 60210↩
- 5World Meteorological OrganizationWMO Climate Normals, Station Agadir Inezgane (WMO 60250), 1991 to 2020↩
- 6World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 7World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 8US National Park ServiceGreat Sand Dunes: Sandboarding and Sand Sledding↩
- 9World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: ESSAOUIRA, WMO 60220↩
- 10World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: ESSAOUIRA, WMO 60220↩
- 11Encyclopaedia BritannicaSand dune↩
- 12World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 13World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 14World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 15World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: AGADIR INEZGANNE, WMO 60250↩
- 16World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: MARRAKECH, WMO 60230↩
- 17World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: ERRACHIDIA, WMO 60210↩
- 18World Meteorological Organization (Climate Normals 1991-2020, archived by the US National Centers for Environmental Information)Single station data sheet: ERRACHIDIA, WMO 60210↩
