Morocco is a very good family destination: children are welcomed everywhere, flights from Europe are short, and camels, dunes, kasbahs and souks hold kids' attention. Plan 7 to 10 days, travel in spring or autumn, keep drives under four or five hours a day, and use a private vehicle with a driver.
Why Morocco works for families
Moroccans are warm towards children. Expect waiters to bring extra bread, shopkeepers to offer a sweet, and strangers to smile at a toddler. Family life is central here, and travelling with kids often opens conversations.
The country also offers a lot of variety in a small radius. Within a few hours of Marrakech you have mountains, waterfalls, a stony desert and the Atlantic. Food is child-friendly too: grilled chicken skewers, bread, couscous, omelettes, chips, oranges and fresh juices are on almost every menu.
Best time to go with children
School holidays decide most family dates, so here is how each one works.
| Period | Conditions | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Easter and spring break | Cities 22 to 28 °C, green valleys | The best choice; book early |
| Summer holidays | Marrakech and the Sahara often above 40 °C | Choose the coast and the Atlas; skip the deep desert |
| October half term | Warm days, mild evenings | Excellent for a desert route |
| Christmas and New Year | Sunny days around 18 to 20 °C, cold nights | Fine with warm clothes; desert nights near 0 °C |
| February break | Cool, sometimes rainy in the north | Stick to Marrakech and the south |
Activities by age
Under 5
Keep it simple. A riad with a courtyard, the gardens of Marrakech, a horse-carriage ride around the walls, and a day at the beach in Essaouira are enough. Bring a carrier: medina lanes and cobbles are hard work with a pushchair.
Ages 5 to 11
This is the easiest age. Children love a camel ride, sandboarding on the dunes, a cooking class where they shape bread, watching craftsmen in the souks, the snake charmers and juice stalls of Jemaa el-Fna, and the boat ride at Ouzoud Waterfalls with monkeys in the trees.
Teenagers
Add more activity: a quad or buggy ride in the Agafay stony desert, a guided hike from Imlil in the High Atlas, a surf lesson on the Atlantic coast, and the film studios at Ouarzazate. Teens also enjoy bargaining once they learn the routine.
The Sahara with kids
A night in the desert is usually the highlight for children, but distance matters. The big dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga are about 560 km from Marrakech. Do not attempt that in fewer than three days, and four or five is better with children under ten.
The 5-day desert and kasbahs tour from Marrakech breaks the route into short stages with pool stops. If you have less time, the 2-day trip from Marrakech to Zagora reaches smaller dunes with about seven hours of driving each way. For very young children, the Agafay desert is only about 40 minutes from Marrakech. It is rocky hills, not sand, but it has camels, camps and big skies.
Camel rides suit most children from about four or five years old; smaller ones can share a saddle with a parent, and a 4x4 can take anyone who prefers not to ride. Our camel trekking in Merzouga guide explains what the ride involves.
A 7-day family itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech. Settle into the riad, evening walk to Jemaa el-Fna.
- Day 2: Morning palace visit and souks with a guide, afternoon by a pool or in a garden.
- Day 3: Drive over the Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, about 4 hours with stops.
- Day 4: Continue through the Draa Valley palm groves to the dunes, camel ride and night in camp.
- Day 5: Sunrise, then back to Ouarzazate for a hotel with a pool.
- Day 6: Return to Marrakech by early afternoon. Free time.
- Day 7: Essaouira or the Ourika Valley, or departure.
With younger children, replace days 3 to 6 with a night in Agafay and two or three day trips from Marrakech.
Getting around and where to stay
A private vehicle with a driver is the single biggest improvement to a family trip. You stop when someone needs the toilet, feels carsick or spots a herd of goats. Luggage stays in the car. The Tizi n'Tichka road has many bends, so sit queasy children in the front rows and plan a break at the pass.
Child seats are not standard in Moroccan taxis or tour vehicles. Request them when you book and state each child's age and weight, or bring a lightweight booster from home.
For accommodation, look for family suites or connecting rooms, or book a whole small riad. Check that pools and roof terraces are fenced. On the road, choose hotels with a pool so that children can swim after a drive.
Health, food and safety basics
- Give children bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth.
- Choose busy restaurants and freshly cooked food. Peel fruit yourself.
- Pack sun hats, high-factor sunscreen, rehydration sachets and any regular medicine.
- In medinas, hold young children's hands. Scooters and handcarts pass close in narrow lanes.
- Agree a meeting point in busy squares and put your phone number in a child's pocket.
- Animals with handlers on Jemaa el-Fna are best watched from a distance.
Ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations well before travel, and make sure your insurance covers the whole family. For a wider overview, read is Morocco safe for tourists.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best age to take children to Morocco?
Any age works with the right pace, but children from about five upwards get the most from the desert and remember it.
Is the drive to the Sahara too long for kids?
Not if you split it. Keep each day to four or five hours with stops every 90 minutes, and add an extra night on the way.
Will fussy eaters find food they like?
Usually yes. Bread, grilled chicken, plain couscous, eggs, pasta, chips and fruit are widely available, and riads will cook simple meals on request.
Can we use a pushchair in the medina?
Only a sturdy one, and with effort. A baby carrier is far more practical on uneven, crowded lanes.
Tell Discover Morocco Tour your children's ages and travel dates on the contact page for a free custom family quote within 24 hours.