Things to do in Morocco with children – on a private tour.
Over the last 6- 7 years, more and more families took on exploring Morocco with children on our private tours. They learn how to make a picnic salad, ride a donkey or a camel, surf down the dunes, bake bread in a village oven, pluck out fossils or shape clay into a tagine. And then, there’s the Sahara. It’s what they will remember most fondly.
It might be Nellie’s post from when she toured around Morocco with us back in 2017 that kickstarted it. Or maybe it was the Wandering Wagars that toured with us after the pandemic. What’s certain is that children, teenagers and adults are having a blast. And yes, these blog posts are amazingly well written and researched. Yet, we live here, in Morocco. And with 16 years of in- country residence and hundreds of happy families feedback, this is our ( updated) take on how to turn that Morocco holiday into memories to cherish for the years to come.
( Disclaimer: all the photos here are of actual families with children that were on our private Morocco tours recently)
One common feature with all enquiries is that parents are initially weary of the long – ish drives where their offsprings might get fractious, bored or overdose on mobile gadgets. And for good reason. To find that perfect balance between how much ground you cover daily and the pace of the tour, we aim for an average of 4- 5 hours daily, which might seem like a lot. But in the end even the more adamant parents relent and accept the idea that even on the longest drives days are teeming with regular stops where children will learn something new, from how to make a picnic salad, ride a donkey or a camel, surf down the dunes, bake bread in a village oven, pluck out fossils to shaping clay into a tagine. And that’s where the driver makes a difference.
It’s hard to think of a better place for kids to have their imagination and curiosity blossom than Morocco. They can explore the ancient medinas which look like something from a Harry Potter movie or the Arabian Nights. With all those alleys, souks and mysterious apothecary stalls they’ll be fascinated and have a lot of stories for friends back home.
ITINERARIES FOR A MOROCCO FAMILY PRIVATE TOUR
How many days should you fit for your family holidays in Morocco ? It depends. All our itineraries are suited for families wishing to explore Morocco with children. In general, we always advise adding one or two extra days to any of our private tours of Morocco when traveling with children. We ensure activities and sites are carefully curated to keep everyone’s interest awake. Yet, if we were to chose one, our Caravans Dust 5 day Morocco itinerary is a favorite with families all year round. Is it because it offers just the right balance of cultural sites and adventure ?
[ Read: Caravans Dust itinerary ]
It blends a couple of nights in Marrakech with 4- 5 nights on the way to the Sahara and back. Some prefer for it to end on the coast, for a swim in the Atlantic, a horse ride on the beach or the quaint UNESCO world sites of Essaouira and El Jadida. We’ve seen kids and teenagers learn how to start a fire without matches or lighters, how to make a salad for a picnic, ride a horse on a beach, clambering up into granary cells, snowboarding down the dunes, kneading a botbot pie or headwrapping a chech.
MOROCCO WITH CHILDREN IN SUMMER
[ Read: Marrakech, High Atlas and the coast itinerary ]
Whilst the summer may not be the best time to visit the Sahara, Morocco offers other sites that would be perfect for a family at that time of year. The cooler Atlas Mountains are ideal. Have you heard of the Valley of Hapiness ? Not making it to the desert dunes doesn’t mean you can’t sample the oases and palm groves. The palm grove of Skoura offers just that: at the foothills of the High Atlas, picnic by the river, trek past stuck- in- time villages, tour the palm grove and noble kasbahs, shape clay into pottery or have your kids learn all about the different herbs and vegetables sampled locally before making it onto your dish.
SAHARA WITH CHILDREN
PLACES TO STAY IN MOROCCO WITH KIDS
Most parents would like to have their offsprings splash around in a pool. After all, Morocco comes with more than 300 days of sun a year, so why not ? Booking a private Morocco tour with children or anywhere else for that matter , gets pretty intense at times – why not let them blow some steam off ? From March till November, it’s pretty safe to assume temperatures are right for it. Most of the properties listed below come with one. But that’s just one perk.
LMA LODGE, SKOURA – oasis inside the palm grove
The owners, Vanessa and Xavier, and their 2 teenage children, Charlie and Milo, make the place feel very much alive. And there’s quite a few things to keep everyone interested here, adults and children alike. Heated pool from April through October, different open air terraces spread around the huge gardens, petanque terrain, playground for children, a piano and a guitar.
From the roof terrace there are 360 degree views of the surrounding palm trees, magnificent sunsets and in the distance, the beautiful Atlas Mountains with its snow capped peaks during the winter. The 3 suites are a double and 2 of them can comfortably sleep up to 5 people so ideal for families. And the little ones will loooove the speciality of the house dessert: lait citron. The restaurant also caters for vegetarians, food allergies and serves alcohol.
DOUAR SAMRA, IMLIL – for the trekking, the tree house and the views
For a Berber chalet look no further than Douar Samra. Douar Samra has been exquisitely restored by Jacqueline who aimed to recreate a Swiss chalet ambiance in the Atlas Mountains. There are lush gardens with cherry and nut trees and the chalet has log fires and quite a few breath- taking- view terraces. You’ll find a chilled out atmosphere in the village which kids will enjoy exploring. For small children the three dogs, Jules the donkey and the ducks will be a fascination and the colorful interior with splashes of pink and purple will brighten everyone’s day. For somewhere to relax the sunny terrace is the ideal place to curl up with a book and take in the vistas.
And as for the tree house and hammocks in the garden- kids will cavort and forget about their gadgets things in no time. Spending a few days here, you’d be a fool to miss out on the treks – adapted to everyone’s level and fitness. Our favorite must be the five hour waterfall trek which passes the village of Arm’ed before a fifteen minute walk to the cascade itself where a picnic lunch is waiting. Return to the chalet for a wood fire hammam in the afternoon.
RIAD CHERGUI, MARRAKECH – great size pool for a riad. And location.
Let’s not beat around the bush, here. The pool. It’s close to impossible finding one that size inside a riad in the medina. And it’s not going to break your bank account, either. One of our favorite riads in Marrakech since 2018, this guesthouse is a gem. Its junior suites can accommodate families of 3 ( for 2 teenagers and more we’d recommend the connecting rooms). You’re 3 minutes walk from a taxi drop off, 5 minutes from restaurants and Dar El Bacha and 15 from Jemaa El Fna. Nouredine, Abdel and the owner Emmanuelle all speak English.
DAR AL HOSSOUN, TAROUDANT – the gardens. And the gardens.
Can’t think of a more fitful lodge to end a family’s Morocco private tour than this one. A guesthouse which is the destination. The owner’s passion for exotic gardens resulted in a place that feels more like botanical gardens with rooms than a boutique hotel with gardens. Think about it: some rooms come with their own garden patio. And that’s where the shower is, too. The gardens are host to 900 species of different plants, some of them unique in Africa. Families with children in Morocco get to enjoy not one, but three pools, a hammam and massage area, a lounge with library, a restaurant mixing Moroccan and foreign recipes and plenty of places where you can just sit down, read a book or play Monopoly.
Even fractious kids won’t bother anyone: with acres and acres of gardens, there’s always somewhere where they can let out steam. The suites are huge ( up to 100 square meters) so even families of 5 or 6 can accommodate. The rooms are stylish but understated, the pise ( adobe) walls and surfaces finished in tadelakt of natural white or muted earthy browns. The whole place is simply but beautifully adorned with Mediterranean pottery and rare Middle Eastern carpets, as well as locally sourced furniture.
AZALAI BEACH CAMP, OUALIDIA – sand camping when the Sahara is too hot. By the Atlantic.
If you have a sense of adventure and want a holiday in a remote area, then why not take a look at a Moroccan luxury beach camp. These are located on the Atlantic coast by secluded beaches. The sand camp at Azalai Beach Cottage is such an example. Guests can enjoy night skies with thousands of stars, deserted beaches, and Morocco’s unspoiled coastline. The camp is an eco-friendly camp to minimize impact on the environment and is miles away from the crowded beaches of Oualidia or Essaouira. Guests will have golden sands to themselves and kilometers of beach to enjoy. This is a wild and remote coast, ideal for those who want to escape the holiday crowds common in other resorts.
There are some great activities for kids including beach walking and private surfing lessons. The camel trekking along the sand dunes will delight most children and adults. There are opportunities to catch fish for lunch and simply relax in a beautiful setting. There are comfortable beds with Egyptian cotton sheets at the campsite and ensuite bathrooms. Washing is done in the traditional hammam style. You’ll also find a kettle in your tent with water for washing and brushing teeth.
All of the above experiences and accommodations can be included on one of our private Morocco tours. But you know what ? You can actually design your own and we’ll assist you. To get the ball rolling, send us an enquiry here.
