About Visiting Morocco With Kids…

When I talk to people about traveling to Morocco, I always get a variety of reactions. Some are intrigued by what they image as this exotic, North African location. Some have visited Morocco before, and have had the most amazing adventures there! Others are a little more apprehensive, and worry about whether it’s a safe place for a holiday – particularly visiting with kids.

If, like me, you’re looking for something a bit different for your family, a vacation that will be more of a memorable experience, not just a typical sun holiday by the pool, then Morocco is the perfect destination! It has a uniquely different culture, is only about 3 hours on a plane from most European countries and, believe it or not, is one of the safest places I have visited!

Morocco has a very family-friendly culture, and children are pretty much welcomed wherever you might venture to! Because of the warm climate, Moroccans tend to spend family time together in the evenings, so walking around the Medina after sunset you will find lots of Moroccan families with children in restaurants, cafes, exploring the souks, and enjoying the entertainment in the squares.

About When To Go With Kids…

A lot of family holidays with kids happen during the summer months of July and August when the schools are out, and many tourists do visit Morocco with their families during this period. It can get quite hot in the summer, though – up to 55 degrees! A road trip to the Atlantic Coast or locations up north at this time can be a good option, as they are a bit cooler!

Essaouira is a popular seaside destination whether you are visiting in the summer or another time, and there are many activites for kids to do here! They can try camel riding along the beach, swimming, surfing, kite-surfing, horse riding, quad biking – the list goes on! The souks here are calmer and more relaxed than the ones in Marrakech, for example, and easier to navigate (especially with younger children).

April and May are good months from a temperature point of view to visit. Ramadan sometimes falls around this time, so it’s a good idea to check this before booking. Many tourists do visit during Ramadan, but some things might be closed so just be aware of this.

September through November are also popular times to travel to Morocco, as it is not usually too hot during this time. The spring and the autumn/winter are peak tourist times, so it will be busier. It’s a bit of a trade-off, then, between the quieter summer heat, and the busier but cooler spring/autumn! If you have school-going kids, the Easter break or the Halloween break times are perfect!

About Where To Stay With Kids…

A traditional form of accommodation to stay in when visiting Morocco is a riad. This is like a guest house or hotel that is built around a central courtyard. There is often a fountain, and sometimes a pool, in the center of the courtyard, and the rooms usually face onto it. Riads are magical places to stay, and I would recommend staying in one when visiting Morocco with your family.

Any city that you’re staying in will have a wide range of riads, varying from very affordable in price to more expensive and luxurious. The rooms can be on the smaller side, however. If you have younger children, or children that are a little ‘boisterous’, be aware that noise travels because of the way the rooms are set up!

In this case, staying for a couple of nights for the experience is recommended, but you might prefer a hotel for some of the time also as, for some, they might seem more family-friendly. Your kids can enjoy the pool, and many hotels also have activities for kids and kids clubs. Most will provide shuttle buses into the Medina, too.

When we visited Morocco as a family, we stayed in a riad in Marrakech for four nights, took a road trip to the Sahara Desert for three nights, and then stayed in an all-inclusive (which was not too expensive!) for the last five nights of our Moroccan trip. This way we got to experience tradition, adventure, and some r&r all in the same holiday!

About Marrakesh With Kids…

Marrakech is a bustling city, and there are definitely lots of family-friendly activities to do here! From cultural sights like the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Toombes to wander around, to parks and gardens like the Jardin Majorelle, there are a variety of outdoor experiences for you and your kids to enjoy together.

One of the best known tourist destinations in Marrakesh are the souks – covered markets that sell everything from jewelry, spices, carpets, clothes, shoes, leather goods, and anything else you can think of really! They can be a little bit crowded and chaotic and, particularly in Marrakesh, the vendors can be quite ‘forward’ with their sales pitches!

I would recommend not bringing a buggy/stroller, but using a baby sling for an infant or toddler if you can (the streets are narrow, and the cobble stones are bumpy!). There are also lots of motor bikes, bicycles, scooters and carts busily making their way through the pedestrian walk-ways. Dress your little ones in bright colours and hold hands when walking around. They’ll love the colourful sights, lights, and finding new things here!

The central square, Djemaa El Fna, comes to life and is full of activity in the evening time when it’s nice and cool. There are musicians, snake-charmers, henna artists, food stalls, and lots of families with kids strolling around soaking in the atmosphere.

While it’s relatively safe (compared with other cities I’ve traveled to!), you do need to be mindful of pick pockets and scams, as you would in any busy place. The animal handlers and henna ladies can be a bit ‘assertive’, so you’ll need to be, too! Visiting Djemaa El Fna with your kids is an experience you’ll always remember!

About A Sahara Desert Trip With Kids…

A road trip to the Sahara Desert is one of the most amazing adventures you can take your kids on while visiting Morocco! This journey will take your family through the High Atlas Mountains, Berber villages, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and into a remote part of the desert where you’ll camel trek to a nomad campsite to spend the night glamping under the stars!

It’s a long road trip, though – it takes 9/10 hours driving from Marrakesh, if that’s your starting point! When I went with my kids, we did it over three days. We stopped in Dades Gorges for the first night, spent the second night in the Sahara, and drove back to Marrakech on day three.

My advice in hindsight would be to make the trip with your family over four or five days, as it means less extended periods on the road. There are so many family-friendly activities on this excursion that, in my opinion, a family holiday to Morocco with kids would not be complete without a trip to the desert.

There’s the stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, where Gladiator and parts of Game of Thrones were filmed, the movie studios in Ouarzazate, hiking in the Dades Valley, and exploring the Todgha Gorges. That’s not including all of once in a lifetime activities your kids will get to do in the Sahara, like camel riding, sand boarding, and quad biking! Not to mention sleeping in a nomad camp and making music with the locals.

Final Thoughts…

Some final tips on traveling to Morocco with kids:

• When you’re in Marrakesh or any of the other cities, food options for picky eaters will not be a problem! However, if you’re doing a guided trip to the desert, for example, you will be stopping in places with more limited menus. They usally will offer some kind of pasta dish and some kind of pizza, but you might need to be prepared with some road trip snacks, drinks, and water – just in case!
• Bring lots of layers! Usually the weather is hot during the day, but it can get a bit cooler at night, depending on the time of year you’re traveling at. Also, you might be moving from air-conditioned vehicles into the sunshine and back again! Sunscreen and hats are a must!
• Ten days or two weeks is a good amount of time to spend on a trip to Morocco with kids. It’s enough time that you won’t feel too rushed trying to get everything in, and you can enjoy your family adventure to the max!
• You can make your way around Morocco by bus or train, or renting your own vehicle. I would recommend an organised guided tour to the desert, however, as it’s a long trip. This way you can relax and enjoy it, and you can let your driver know when you need to stop with your little ones.
• While there aren’t any particular health concerns when traveling to Morocco (no more than traveling to any other country!), I would recommend purchasing health insurance if you are traveling with kids – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Morocco is a great family travel destination, and is undoubtedly the most adventurous location to visit with kids for a trip that they will never forget!