How do I cope with the heat and avoid heatstroke in Morocco?

Morocco's heat is real and worth respecting, especially in high summer when Marrakech, the interior and the desert can soar past 40°C in the afternoon. But heatstroke is entirely avoidable with a sensible rhythm, and once you adopt the local pattern of the day, you stop fighting the sun and start working with it. The biggest mistake I see is travellers trying to sightsee flat-out through the midday hours — that's when you wilt.

My golden rule is to mirror how Moroccans live: be active in the cooler bookends of the day and rest in the middle. Start early, see the medina, the sites and the markets in the morning freshness, retreat to your riad or a shaded café for lunch and a proper rest through the fiercest hours (often 1–4pm), then come back out as it cools for the evening, which is when cities come alive anyway. This isn't lost time — it's the secret to enjoying summer Morocco rather than enduring it.

Hydration is non-negotiable and people consistently underestimate it. Drink water steadily all day, well before you feel thirsty, and far more than you would at home — I tell guests to always carry a bottle and refill it. Add electrolytes or rehydration salts on the hottest days, because you lose salts as well as fluid through sweat. Go easy on alcohol and excessive caffeine in extreme heat, as both dehydrate you further. Mint tea, oddly, is genuinely refreshing and helps you sweat-cool.

Dress for it the way locals do. Loose, light, breathable clothing in natural fabrics that covers your skin is cooler and more sun-protective than skimpy clothes — there's wisdom in the flowing robes. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen reapplied through the day are essential, and a light scarf doubles as sun cover and desert-dust protection. Comfortable shoes keep you out of the worst of the radiant heat from the ground.

Watch for warning signs and act fast: headache, dizziness, nausea, cramps, confusion or stopping sweating mean get into shade or air-conditioning immediately, cool down and rehydrate. Children and older travellers are more vulnerable, so watch them especially. A private, air-conditioned car between sights is a real comfort in summer, and choosing accommodation with a pool or strong cooling makes the midday rest a pleasure. Respect the heat and it never spoils the trip — but if you can choose, spring and autumn are blissfully kinder.