Why visit Marrakech in Autumn
The weather is gorgeous, the festival calendar is packed and the food is bursting with seasonal flavours. What’s not to love?
THE WEATHER
As other parts of the world start to cool, October is peak season here in Marrakech with the weather at around a pitch perfect 28C. There are also around eight hours of sunshine per day so it means you can soak up the rays poolside before having a long lunch in the sun. November averages 23C and December hits around 20C so it stays sunny throughout the whole of autumn. All in all, it means it’s the perfect time to top up your vitamin D and take a break from grey skies.
THE FESTIVALS
© Photography by Ben Hale for Here & Now
The fashion crowd will converge on Marrakech in late October for the latest edition of Fashion Trust Arabia. Or if dance music is more your thing, there’s a trio of events featuring artists such as Martin Solveig and Solomun this autumn. The gorgeous local Harvest Festival that celebrates Marrakech’s thriving local organic food scene is usually held in October. And if red carpet glamour, as well as film innovation, interest you then the 21st edition of the Marrakech Film Festival runs November 29th to December 7th. Last year’s Grand Prix winner Asmae El Moudir went on to also win a directing prize at Cannes for The Mother of All Lies.
THE FOOD
The growing seasons are long in Morocco thanks to the warm climate here so autumn is the perfect time to sample fresh local produce. Wild mushrooms and thyme from the Atlas Mountains, juicy figs and oysters cultivated in the mineral-rich lagoon in Oualidia are all on menus. But the king of the season? The mighty pomegranate. You’ll find stalls stacked high with them throughout the medina until late October. Pick up a freshly squeezed juice and flood your system with its antioxidant-rich benefits. The rooftop restaurant at El Fenn launches it’s new dinner menu in September – be sure to book your table ahead of your trip.
THE GARDENS
Marrakech remains green all year round and we love this time to experience some of our favourite gardens. Our top picks include two gardens meet art galleries: Anima, the magical outdoor space created by Austrian multimedia artist André Helle, and the sculpture-packed garden at Montresso Foundation. You can also walk to the stunning Secret Garden from El Fenn taking in some shops and cafes along the way. And of course there’s the famous Majorelle Garden restored by Yves Saint Laurent and bequeathed to his beloved Marrakech.
THE MOUNTAINS
The Atlas Mountains are stunning at any time of the year but autumn is a wonderful season to see its villages and hike some of the area’s stunning trails. We recommended getting a guide to take you – plus a donkey to carry little people if you’re travelling with children. Or just ask our concierge team to organize our Atlas Experience for you: walk in the mountains before experiencing Morocco’s legendary hospitality during lunch with a local Berber family.
