Merzouga in July

October through April is your window for Merzouga. Summer temperatures hit 45°C during the day, and even locals avoid the desert then. December and January nights can drop to 5°C, so pack layers. The sweet spot is October-November and March-April when days are warm but not brutal, and nights stay comfortable. February works too, but expect chilly evenings. Ramadan affects meal times and some services, though desert camps usually accommodate tourists. Weekends and Moroccan holidays bring more domestic visitors, but Merzouga never feels truly crowded. The new moon offers the best stargazing — check lunar calendars when booking. Wind can be an issue any time of year, turning your romantic desert experience into a sandblasting session. But that's part of the deal when you're visiting one of the world's largest deserts.