October to April is the best time to visit M'Hamid. The desert is genuinely hot in summer (June–August), with temperatures regularly exceeding 45°C. Desert excursions in this period are possible but exhausting, and the sanity of spending time outdoors in the middle of the day is questionable.
November through February is peak season, with pleasant daytime temperatures and cold nights — a blanket is essential in the dunes after dark. The Taragalte Festival, held near M'Hamid in November, is a celebration of nomadic culture, music, and heritage from across the Saharan region and is worth timing a visit around. Sandstorms are possible year-round but most frequent in spring.