Marrakech in November: guide with itineraries, tips and the best of the city
Marrakech in November: guide with itineraries, tips and the best of the city
November is an ideal month to visit the Red City. As summer gives way to autumn, temperatures remain pleasant and skies stay clear – the ideal situation to explore Marrakech and its surroundings without too much heat or too many tourists.
Marrakech, Morocco. | ©Abdelhamid Azoui
Festivals such as Independence Day and the International Film Festival round off the agenda with dozens of celebrations. Read on to find out what to do in Marrakech in November.
Travelling to Marrakech in November is always a good idea. Between the desert and the Atlas Mountains, temperatures are still pleasant and it’s the ideal time for a trip to the desert.
1. Join the Independence Day Celebrations
On 18 November 1955, Morocco gained independence from Spain and France, which had maintained a protectorate over the territory since 1912. Every year the holiday is celebrated with festivals, parades and parties all over the country. Although the main celebrations are held in Rabat, the capital of the kingdom, all the major cities commemorate the declaration of Mohammed V, the king who initiated Morocco’s modern history.
In and around Jemaa el Fnaa Square you’ll find celebrations with traditional music and food, while all over the city, Moroccan flags fly in the streets.
2. Enjoy the last waves of the year in Essaouira
In Essaouira, the wind blows 365 days a year and winter is the best season for surfing. From November to March, this stretch of ocean is interested by blizzards from the west which guarantee constant waves. Well protected from the strongest currents, Essaouira beach is perfect for those who want to learn how to surf.
On the other hand, more experienced sportsmen and women can go to the nearby town of Sidi Kaouki, a real paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Its long, unspoilt beach is ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
In the Moroccan city, the maximum temperatures reach 20°C and drop to 12°C at nightfall. After a day of surfing, you can explore the Medina of Essaouira, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001.
Its well-preserved ramparts hide a labyrinth of narrow streets, traditional houses, the Sidi Youssef mosque and the old Jewish quarter (Mellah).
An episode of Game of Thrones was filmed in the Skala de la Kasba – a fort on the seashore – when the Khaleesi conquered Astapor and freed the slaves. If you want to visit this coastal city I recommend you to read the post Excursions to Essaouira from Marrakech.
3. Experience the atmosphere of the International Film Festival
The Marrakech International Film Festival was created in 2001 by King Mohammed VI to promote the arts and the film industry in the country. Despite its short history, the kermesse is an unmissable event for many Hollywood stars. Martin Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro, Keanu Reeves and Robert De Niro are just a few of the regulars at this great event. The event usually starts in the last week of November and ends in the first days of December.
The International Film Festival takes place in three venues: the Palais des Congrès, the Cinéma Le Colisée and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. If you can’t get into these venues, don’t worry. Every night, up to 12,000 spectators gather in the central Jemaa el Fna square to enjoy the free, open-air screenings.
4. Taste a traditional tea
Although we can taste traditional mint tea at any time of the year, when temperatures are not so high the experience is undoubtedly better.
The Red City is also known for its tea houses and one of the most famous is Café Des Épices. The two-storey café is known for its panoramic window overlooking the Rahba Lakdima, the Spice Square.
After an afternoon of shopping in the souk, you can treat yourself to a well-deserved break with a steaming cup in your hands. Here, mint tea is still prepared according to the traditional recipe and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. If you want to know more about the gastronomy of the Red City, I advise you to read the post Moroccan food: the dishes you can’t miss.
5. Explore the Atlas Mountains by mountain bike
Morocco is a paradise for outdoor sports and if you like mountain biking, there are several routes through the Atlas Mountains, the mountain range that separates the Mediterranean and the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. Its high peaks are a challenge for any cyclist and an hour and a half’s drive from Marrakech is enough to get there.
There are dozens of tours that organise transport there and back and provide participants with everything they need: bikes, helmets and an expert guide. There are many options available: you can choose from day trips or tours that can last a whole week.
Either way, you’ll see Berber villages, waterfalls, palm trees, green valleys and the arid landscapes of Moroccan geography. These routes touch on Ouarzazate, the walled city known as the “Gateway to the Desert”, Erg Chegaga and its great dunes, the Draa Valley and the Tichka Pass at 2,600 metres above sea level. November is a good month for cycling in Morocco. In the warmer months, cycling these same routes is undoubtedly more difficult.
6. Visit the El Badi Palace
Unlike the Bahia Palace, El Badi is largely in ruins, yet if you close your eyes you can imagine its splendour in centuries past. The building was erected by the Saadi Sultan Ahmad el Mansour at the end of the 16th century and its name could be translated as ‘the incomparable palace’. Indeed, the residence had 350 rooms, a swimming pool and a few courtyards with their luxuriant nature.
The El Badi Palace was built with no expense spar ed and the interior used gold from Sudan while the marble came directly from Italy. When the Saadi dynasty fell to the Alawites, their successors plundered its treasures. If you fancy a visit, I recommend climbing the ramparts.
From here, the view over Marrakech is simply breathtaking but be careful, storks often build their nests on these walls. If you feel like inserting this attraction into a route, I recommend you read the post Marrakech in four days: everything you need to know to get to know the city in depth.
7. Spend a night in the desert of Agafay
Close your eyes and imagine a desert. If you have thought of high sand dunes, erase this image from your mind. The Agafay is a rocky desert where the stone hills stretch down to the foot of the Atlas Mountains.
At the weekend, well-off Moroccans leave Marrakech and drive here to go horse riding, hiking or canoeing in the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir. Here, wild nature is the undisputed star and there are dozens of activities to keep travellers entertained, from Arabic calligraphy lessons to quad biking and camel trekking.
November is the ideal month for a desert excursion because the temperatures are just right for a visit to the desert. As for accommodation, there are several options: you can spend the night in lodges (traditional houses) or in tents made of camel or goat hair, esparto grass or palm fronds – the homes of the nomads.
Despite their simplicity, many of the latter are equipped with every comfort, from bathrooms with hot water to wood-burning cookers to keep you warm at night.
Another option is glamping, a word derived from the contraction of the terms “glamorous” and “camping”. It is a global phenomenon that combines the experience of camping in the open air with the comforts of the best hotels. If you want to stay in this place about 40 km from the Red City, I recommend you read the post Excursions to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech.
8. Visit the Bahia Palace without stress
Winter is a good time to visit Marrakech: there are fewer tourists, accommodation is cheaper and temperatures are still pleasant. If you’re planning a trip to the Red City in November, you can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, especially at the most popular attractions in the Moroccan capital.
One of these is the Bahia Palace, a mansion and garden complex built by the vizier Ahmed ben Moussa in the late 19th century. The Palace consists of 150 rooms arranged on a single floor; its most famous rooms are the Courtyard of Honour (a large esplanade embellished with marble and mosaics), the Council Chamber with its painted ceiling and the Hall of Honour, the most elegant room in the entire residence.
After the death of the vizier in 1900, the sultan ordered the palace to be ransacked, but not even looting could tarnish the beauty of this place. The Italian marble and the floors of zellijes – an ornamental mosaic composed of tiles – testify to its past glory.
Today only a third of the Bahia Palace can be visited, the other parts being occupied by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture. The former residence of the vizier can be visited every day of the year, from 8.30am to 12 noon and from 2.30pm to 6pm.
9. Feel like “Aladdin” in the Erg Chebbi Dunes
During the summer months, entering the Merzouga desert is an activity for the brave. Between June and September it can reach 45 degrees Celsius, which is why it is best explored during the winter.
The area is about 600km from Marrakech and just a few kilometres from the Algerian border. To get there you have only two options: rent a private vehicle or choose one of the . link|text=Merzouga desert excursions in Morocco. |element=sc-192-2276.
Unlike the Agafay desert, the Merzouga desert is a sandy desert known for the high dunes of Erg Chebbi, a fascinating place that attracts thousands of tourists every year. According to legend, God himself transformed a flourishing jungle into the arid landscape we see today. When the locals refused to help a woman and her children arriving exhausted from the Sahara, the omnipotent one caused a violent sandstorm that buried an entire village.
The Merzouga desert is the starting point for many jeep, camel, buggy and quad excursions. Other places of interest in the surrounding area include Khamlia, a village of 400 inhabitants founded by the Gnawa, the descendants of slaves from sub-Saharan Africa.
The Gnawa are known for their eponymous musical style featuring the guembri, a three-stringed lute made from the intestines of goats. Another popular destination is the City of Orion, a Land Art monument designed by German artist Hannsjörg Voth.
10. See Marrakech from the heights
A hot-air balloon ride is a nice way to admire the Red City from a different perspective. Balloon flights usually depart from a location near Marrakesh, fly over Jemaa el-Fna Square and the old town and then land near the Marrakesh Palm Grove.
Departing very early (usually between 5:00 and 5:30), almost all excursions include a pick-up service from your hotel or riad, a traditional breakfast and a ‘flight certificate’, a small souvenir of the experience. All in all, the activity takes about 5 hours, while the balloon ride lasts about an hour.
The winter months are the best months for this activity. The hot air balloons fly thanks to the hot air they contain and the difference in temperature between the outside air and that which remains inside. In addition, the hot air from the burner works like a radiator and I assure you that you won’t get cold. Therefore, travelling in November is ideal.
Once you have ascended, you will enjoy the clear skies and beautiful scenery of the Red City. When you leave early, take a jacket, fleece and sunglasses for when the sun comes out.
Temperatures in Marrakech in November
November is a transitional month between autumn and winter. If in the morning it is cold and temperatures often drop below 15°C, during the day and in the evenings the weather is more pleasant. The distance from the sea causes significant temperature variations between night and day. In short, weather conditions in November are identical to those in March.
Rainfall is low (250 millimetres per year) and concentrated between October and May. Fortunately, they come in the form of downpours or thunderstorms and don’t usually last long. November is the rainiest month in Marrakech, but don’t worry. After a quick downpour, the sun shines back into the sky. For more information, I recommend you read the recommended winter activities in Marrakech.
Tourist flow in Marrakech in November
In Marrakech, the low season starts in November and ends in February (excluding the Christmas holidays). During this month, the weather is pleasant, without extreme heat. If you’re thinking of visiting the Red City at this time of year, don’t hesitate for a second. The main attractions are usually less crowded and you can visit places like the Bahia Palace or Jemaa el Fnaa without the crowds. If you are coming for a few days, I recommend you to read the post Marrakech in two days: what you need to know so you don’t miss anything.
Prices in Marrakech in November
November is the low season and therefore the prices are good. In this month you can find interesting offers and maybe you can opt for a superior accommodation. In any case, I advise you to book a room in a hotel or riad in advance. Once you’ve booked, get a head start on your homework and check out the best transfers between the airport and the city of Marrakech.
What to pack for a visit to Marrakech in November
In autumn the heat is bearable, the rains are more frequent and temperatures start to drop, especially at night. If you land in Marrakech in November, all you need to do is pack two types of clothing: something light to wear during the day to keep out of the heat, and sweatshirts, jumpers and coats if you plan to go out at night, when temperatures drop significantly.
During this month, thunderstorms are strong and intense, but fortunately they don’t last long. A rain jacket is enough to survive the rains in style. Note that in Morocco, it is best to avoid wearing clothes that are too flashy and fancy, as well as displaying valuables. For women, it’s best not to wear clothes that are too tight or provocative.