What should I pack for Morocco in summer?

Summer in Morocco is hot — properly hot inland, where Marrakech and Fes routinely sit above 38°C in July and August — so everything I pack for clients revolves around staying cool and covered at the same time. The trick most first-timers miss is that bare skin is not the answer to heat here; loose, light-coloured cotton and linen that drapes off the body keeps you far more comfortable than shorts and a vest, and it spares you sunburn. I tell people to think flowing tunics, wide linen trousers, maxi dresses and loose long-sleeved shirts — the same logic Moroccans themselves have used for centuries.

Sun protection is non-negotiable in summer and it is the thing people consistently under-pack. A wide-brim hat, proper UV sunglasses and SPF 50 are essentials, not extras. I always pack one lightweight scarf — it doubles as shade for the back of your neck in the souks, a cover-up for a mosque courtyard or rural village, and a barrier against blowing dust on a windy afternoon. A small refillable water bottle matters more than people think; you will drink litres, and refilling from filtered sources at your riad beats buying plastic all day.

Footwear surprises people. Sandals are wonderful for rooftop dinners and the coast, but the medinas of Marrakech and Fes are cobbled, uneven and occasionally grubby, so a pair of closed, broken-in walking shoes saves your feet and your sandal straps. If your trip includes a summer desert overnight — and many do — pack closed shoes for that too, because sand gets scorching by midday and surprisingly cold underfoot at night. Speaking of which, even in July the Sahara and the High Atlas cool sharply after dark, so one warm layer earns its place in the bag.

A few details I have learned from sending hundreds of travellers out in the heat: choose light colours, because dark synthetics turn into a personal sauna; pack moisture-wicking underwear and a couple of quick-dry items so you can rinse and re-wear; and bring electrolyte sachets, which transform how you feel after a long day in 40-degree souks. The plug type here is C/E, so a single European adapter covers you. Finally, leave the heavy jeans and the chunky trainers at home — they sit unworn in the case while you live in the lightest things you brought.