October to April is the most pleasant time to visit. Spring and autumn bring warm days (20–30°C) and cool nights. Winter can be cold after dark — frost is not unknown in January — but days are sunny and clear. The date harvest in late October is a particularly good time, when the palm gardens are at their most active.
Summer (June to August) is extremely hot, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. It is not impossible to visit, but the heat confines activity to early morning and evening, and the oasis itself provides welcome shade. The only bus of the day from Bouarfa typically arrives in the early afternoon, which is the worst possible time to arrive in summer.