Midelt
Visit an apple-growing city on Morocco’s high plateau, between the Middle and High Atlas ranges.
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Midelt is a city in central Morocco and the capital of Midelt Province. At about 1,508 meters above sea level, it is one of Morocco’s highest large towns. Apples are the best-known crop in the surrounding farmland, which also produces walnuts, apricots, plums, pomegranates, wheat, corn and vegetables. The town grew around a French administrative post established in the first half of the 20th century to support mining. It is newer than Morocco’s historic cities and lacks their traditional souqs and clearly defined old neighborhoods.
Midelt lies on the road linking Fes and Meknes to the north with Errachidia to the south. It is a practical base for trips into the Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Moulouya River valley. Cooperatives and merchants sell local handcrafts, including carpets and blankets made in a rough nomadic style. Midelt has cold nights, and winter can bring snow and sharp cold spells. Pack warm clothing even if you visit outside winter: daytime temperatures can be moderate, but evenings are cold. Most residents speak Central Atlas Tamazight and Moroccan Darija.
Midelt in five
- Break the Fes to Merzouga drive hereThe regional council places Midelt between the Middle and High Atlas, with cold air and wide skies. A night here turns one very long driving day into two manageable ones.Merzouga travel guide
- Pack a warm layer in every seasonThe regional council describes cold air and sharp winds at this altitude. Evenings are cool when the desert south is hot, so keep a jacket in your day bag.
- Ask locally about apple harvestThe council calls Midelt the apple capital and says harvest time smells of apples and cedar. Harvest dates move with the year, so ask your guesthouse rather than plan around a fixed week.
- Hike the nearby peaks with a guideThe council's trail list includes Jbel Ayachi, and the UK government advises researching Atlas trails, hiring a professional guide and confirming your insurance covers hiking.Travel insurance
- Fill the tank and withdraw cash hereFuel and cash machines get sparser south-east of town. Top up before the stretch toward Errachidia and Merzouga, and avoid driving it after dark.
Things to do in Midelt
See all attractions in Midelt
Need to know
- Airport
- No useful airport; Fes (FEZ) is the usual gateway
- Getting there
- Road from Fes, Meknes or Ifrane; Errachidia and Merzouga lie to the south-east
- Getting around
- A car or tour; local taxis for short trips
- Best base
- The town itself; check heating if you come in winter
- Time needed
- One night; two with a hike
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low3°Cold, snowJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryClear5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°ColdFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°CoolMarchClear
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Mild, goodAprilClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, good
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, goodMayClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°HotJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low21°HotJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°HotAugustClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Warm, goodSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 33 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, good
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Mild, goodOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, good
- NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°CoolNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low4°ColdDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
Average daily high and low in Midelt, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Sep Imilchil Moussem
Right now in Midelt
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 83%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 33%
Midelt
07:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today17°11°33%Tuesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Wed18°10°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu19°8°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri20°9°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat21°10°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun21°10°4%Sunday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 4%.
Updated 07:07 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.819 MAD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- SepImilchil MoussemMidelt
Day trips by train
- Merzougaa long drive south-eastThe dune end of the route; better as a two-night stop than a day trip from here.Read the guide
- Ifrane and the cedar forestsa long drive northCool lakes, macaques and cedar trails in the Middle Atlas.Read the guide
- Jbel Ayachia guided hike near townA peak on the regional council's list of trails; hire a guide and check conditions.
Before you go to Midelt
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Rules for Midelt, checked
- Jbel Ayachi and other peaks: the FCDO advises researching the trail, carrying water and sun protection, hiring a professional guide and insuring hiking.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Midelt
The Sahara dunes at the end of the road
Read the guideMiddle AtlasIfrane, cedar forests and lakes to the north
Read the guideMeknes travel guideAn imperial city on the way from the coast
Read the guideAll of MoroccoCities, desert, coast and entry basics
Read the guideGetting around MoroccoRail, coach and rental options
Read the guideBest time to visit MoroccoWhich months suit the Atlas and the desert
Read the guideFesMedina city at the start of the road south
Read the guideZiz Valley and the TafilaltRiver oases between Midelt and the dunes
Read the guideMidelt FAQ
Is Midelt worth a stop?
Yes if you are driving between Fes and Merzouga, because it breaks a very long day and gives you a cool mountain evening. It is not worth a trip on its own unless you want to hike or see apple country.
Where is Midelt on the Merzouga route?
It sits on the Atlas side, between the Middle and High Atlas, before the road drops toward Errachidia and the desert. Treat it as the overnight on a Fes to Merzouga trip.
Is Midelt cold?
At this altitude it is cooler than the cities and the desert, and the regional council describes cold air and sharp winds. Winters can bring snow, so check conditions and pack warm layers outside summer.
What is Midelt known for?
Apples, according to the regional council, which calls it the apple capital, plus mountain scenery and quiet villages. The tourist board also notes that caravans once left this area for Timbuktu.
Can you hike near Midelt?
Yes. The regional council lists Jbel Ayachi among its trails. The UK government advises researching the trail, carrying water and sun protection, hiring a professional guide and checking that insurance covers the activity.