Imlil weather in May
May in Imlil: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#6 of 12 months in Imlil · #390 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 86/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 26°C
- Nights
- 13°C
- Wet days
- 2
- Sun
- 12.4 h
- Humidity
- 42%
- Daylight
- 14 h

Traveller notes on Imlil in May
Imlil-forum threads on early-May Toubkal climbs are direct that crampons and an ice axe should still be considered standard kit at the start of the month, older trip reports describing real lingering accumulation on the upper approach even as conditions in the village run comfortably warm. Regulars call May through September the genuinely reliable window overall, early May sitting right at the transition before the route becomes essentially straightforward scrambling later in the season. The standard itinerary spends a first night in Imlil to acclimatize, a second night at the refuge, then a pre-dawn push for the summit with a same-day descent. Posters call the temperature swing between the valley floor and the exposed ridge genuinely dramatic regardless of how mild Imlil itself feels. A qualified local guide is standing advice for anyone attempting an early-May summit. The record: 26.3C days feeling like 25C, 12.6C nights, a low 42 percent humidity and 11.2 hours of sun.
Other months in Imlil
Imlil-forum threads on a February visit describe snow as genuinely rarely settling below about twenty-five hundred meters, posters naming the Imlil road itself at seventeen hundred meters as usually staying clear despite winter. Regulars call summit wind chill genuinely brutal, several posters naming a range from negative four to negative ten degrees as standard near the top of Toubkal. Posters call crampons and ice axes genuinely necessary gear, several regulars naming these as available to hire directly in Imlil. Regulars call amateur winter summit attempts genuinely dangerous, several threads citing past serious incidents as the reason a guide is essentially required. Posters recommend real proper winter mountaineering preparation for a February attempt, several regulars calling this standard given how quickly conditions turn hazardous near the summit. The record: 17C days, 4.9C nights, 34.8mm across nearly 4 days and 48 percent humidity.
Imlil-forum threads on a June trek describe conditions as hot by this point, posters planning a five-day mountain trip while staying in Aremd before summiting Toubkal specifically flagging the heat as a real planning factor. Regulars recommend camping over shared refuge dorms for summer, several posters calling this a genuinely better option for actual sleep given how warm the huts can get. Regulars call a guide legally required for the Toubkal ascent regardless of season, government regulations cited repeatedly across planning threads. Posters recommend consulting Alan Palmer's trekking resources for route planning, his responses in the Imlil forum flagged by several regulars as genuinely authoritative. Posters recommend real sun protection and serious water intake regardless of a cooler-feeling morning start, June heat here considered a genuine factor once the day gets going. The record: 30.2C days feeling like 34C, 15.6C nights, 2mm across under 1 day and 24 percent humidity.
Imlil-forum threads on a January visit describe nights as genuinely cold, posters calling real accumulation likely around the village with stunning if chilly scenery as a result. Regulars recommend waiting until arrival in Morocco to check current conditions, forecasts here not always reliable far in advance. Posters recommend avoiding the full Toubkal circuit this month, snow on the higher passes making them considerably harder to cross safely. Regulars call Imlil itself a strong base regardless of circuit plans, Kasbah Toubkal and similar properties recommended repeatedly for their heating and mountain views. Posters recommend booking accommodation with reliable heating specifically, dawn and dusk from a warm room considered a real highlight of a January stay. Regulars call the scenery genuinely worth the cold, snow-capped peaks framing the valley unlike any other season. The record: 16.3C days feeling like 16C, 4C nights, 16.7mm across nearly 2 days and 48 percent humidity.
Imlil-forum threads on hiring a guide describe this as standard practice for any Toubkal attempt, posters calling official certified guides bookable directly in the village rather than through a Marrakech agency for a fairer price. Regulars call March a genuinely transitional month, lower trails clear and pleasant while the summit route still holds real snow and ice requiring crampons for anyone continuing past the refuge. Posters recommend real caution about underestimating the higher route based on how mild Imlil itself feels, the two conditions barely resembling each other. Regulars describe the walk up to the Kasbah du Toubkal as a comfortable half-day option for anyone not attempting the full summit. Posters call proper hiking boots and layers standard even for a shorter walk. Regulars recommend booking mules for luggage on the longer route. The record: 18.7C days feeling like 16C, 6.7C nights, 28.3mm across over 4 days and 52 percent humidity.
Add your own note from Imlil's card on the map.
Imlil climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Imlil in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsEid al-Adha (Eid Kbir), Fourth interim break (May) in Morocco, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Imlil's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherImlil's best weather comes in March, April and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Imlil in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Snowmelt
1 Apr – 15 Jun · usuallyHigh waterRiskThe streams come up with the melt, the irrigation channels run full and the fords above Aroumd need care. It is also when the waterfalls in the next valleys are worth the walk.
- Opening
Toubkal trekking season
20 Apr – 31 Oct · usuallyTrail seasonBook earlyThe snow-free window on the standard route, when the walk up is a long slog rather than a mountaineering day. Mules, guides and refuge beds are all arranged from the village. Source ↗
- Holiday
Eid al-Adha (Eid Kbir)
1 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook earlyEid al-Adha is Morocco's biggest family holiday. In the days before, sheep markets appear and buses, trains and grands taxis are packed with people going home; afterwards many shops, souks and restaurants close for several days. The date moves about 11 days earlier each year. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Imlil — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Imlil?
Imlil in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Imlil?
- May in Imlil: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Imlil on SeasonMap's comfort score (86/100).
- What is the weather like in Imlil in May?
- In May, Imlil averages a daily high of 26.3°C and a low of 12.6°C, with about 9.1 mm of rain over roughly 1.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Imlil in May?
- Imlil has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 57 in May.
Within 300 km: Marrakesh's Rose harvest in the Dades valley around 20 Apr – 31 May, and Ouarzazate's Rose festival at Kelaat M'Gouna on 6–9 May.