Morocco Family Tours: Private Trips Built for Kids

Planning a family holiday abroad means juggling a lot: long journeys, picky eaters, nap times, safety, and finding things that interest a six year old and a teenager at the same time. Morocco handles this better than most people expect. Families are at the centre of Moroccan life, and children are greeted warmly in markets, restaurants and villages. Distances can be long, though, and the right planning makes the difference between a stressful trip and the best holiday your family has had.

This guide is written by our team in Marrakech, who plan private tours for families every month. It covers how to choose a route, how long to spend, which experiences children love, what to pack, how to handle food, health and safety, and what a family tour typically includes and costs.

Why Morocco works well for families

• Short flights from Europe. Marrakech is around three to four hours from much of Western Europe, which makes it realistic even with young children.
• A warm welcome for children. Moroccans are generally very kind to children, and families travelling together are respected.
• Adventure without extreme effort. A camel ride, a night in the dunes, monkeys in a cedar forest and a medina full of colour are thrilling but not physically demanding.
• Food children recognise. Bread, grilled chicken, omelettes, couscous, fresh orange juice and pancakes are everywhere. Spices are fragrant rather than hot.
• Variety in a small area. Mountains, desert, beaches and historic cities can all be combined in a week or ten days.
• Time zone. Morocco is close to UK and European time, so there is little jet lag from Europe.

Private or group tour for families?

For most families, private is the better choice, and it is often less expensive per person than parents expect. On a private tour the vehicle and driver cost the same whether two or six people travel, so the per person price drops as your family grows.

Group tours suit independent teenagers or older families on a tight budget. With children under twelve, the freedom to stop when someone needs the toilet, is car sick or simply needs to run around is worth a great deal.

How long should a family trip be?

With children, plan fewer places and more nights in each. Two nights in a place feels very different from one, because you unpack once and the next day starts slowly.

The best family itineraries

4 days: Marrakech and the Sahara at a family pace

The standard 3 day desert tour from Marrakech has a nine hour drive back on the last day, which is hard for young children. The 4 day version splits that drive and gives you a full day around the dunes.

• Day 1: Marrakech over the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley. Stops at mountain villages and the kasbah, where children enjoy climbing to the top.
• Day 2: Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge (a flat walk between huge rock walls, great for kids), then Merzouga and a sunset camel ride to camp.
• Day 3: A free day in the dunes. Sandboarding, a visit to a nomad family, music in Khamlia village, a second sunset and a second night at camp.
• Day 4: Return towards Marrakech, with a long lunch stop and a break at the Tizi n’Tichka pass.

Full details: 4 days desert tour from Marrakech.

7 days: the classic family loop from Marrakech

A week lets you add the Atlas Mountains and more time in Marrakech. A typical family plan:

• Day 1 and 2: Marrakech. A gentle guided walk through the medina, Majorelle Garden, and Jemaa el Fna square in the early evening.
• Day 3 to 6: The desert loop with nights in the Dades Valley, the dunes and Ait Ben Haddou or Ouarzazate.
• Day 7: Back in Marrakech, a pool afternoon and a final dinner.

See the 7 day tour from Marrakech.

10 days: Casablanca to Marrakech via Chefchaouen and the desert

For families flying in from North America, starting in Casablanca and finishing in Marrakech is common. The route covers the Hassan II Mosque, Rabat, the blue streets of Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the Fes medina, the desert and Marrakech. With children, we usually build in shorter driving days and two nights in Fes and Marrakech.

See the 10 day tour from Casablanca.

Short family breaks: 3 to 5 days

If you only have a long weekend or a short school holiday, these options work well.

• 3 days in Marrakech: gardens, the souks with a guide, a cooking class and an evening in the Agafay desert with camels and a sunset dinner, all without long drives.
• 4 days, Marrakech and the Atlas: two days in the city, a day in the Ourika Valley or Imlil with mule rides and river picnics, and a day trip to the Ouzoud waterfalls.
• 5 days, Marrakech and the Sahara: one day in Marrakech followed by our 4 day desert tour, the shortest way to give children a real Sahara night with sensible driving days.

Single parents and grandparents travelling with children

A private tour is especially helpful when one adult travels with children. Your driver helps with luggage at every stop, knows where the clean toilets and good cafés are, and can wait while you deal with a tired child. We book rooms that suit your family and keep driving days short. Many grandparents travel with grandchildren on our tours, sometimes as a special gift for a birthday or graduation.

Sustainable and respectful family travel

• Use refillable bottles and buy large water bottles to reduce plastic.
• Buy crafts directly from cooperatives and workshops, where the money reaches the makers.
• Do not feed the monkeys or other wildlife.
• Avoid street performances with chained animals.
• Teach children to ask before photographing people.
• Respect quiet hours at desert camps and in riads.

What children love most in Morocco

Camel rides and sleeping in the dunes

For most children, this is the highlight of the whole trip. Each camel is led on foot by a handler, and children usually ride with or next to a parent. The ride into camp is about an hour at sunset. Younger or nervous children can reach camp by 4×4 instead. At night there is a campfire, drumming, a huge starry sky and the excitement of sleeping in a tent in the Sahara. In the morning, children love sliding down the dunes on sandboards.

Monkeys in the cedar forest

On routes through the Middle Atlas, such as the Fes to Marrakech desert tour, you can see Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou. Children are thrilled to see wild monkeys close to the road. Teach them not to feed or touch the animals.

Kasbahs and film sets

Ait Ben Haddou looks like a sandcastle village from a story book, and older children enjoy hearing about the films and series made there. Climbing the lanes to the top is an adventure. The film studios in Ouarzazate are another stop many families enjoy.

Gorges and rivers

The Todra Gorge walk is flat and short, with towering rock walls and a shallow river where children can paddle in warm weather.

Markets and colour

The souks of Marrakech and Fes are a sensory feast: spice pyramids, lanterns, leather, slippers in every colour. A guide helps families navigate without getting lost and keeps the pace easy. Children often enjoy choosing a small souvenir and practising a few words of greeting.

Jemaa el Fna in Marrakech

The main square fills with musicians, storytellers and food stalls in the evening. It is lively and fun for children, but crowded, so keep little ones close and agree a meeting point. Avoid photographing performers with animals unless you are happy to pay, and we recommend not supporting animal performances at all.

Cooking classes and crafts

Many riads and cooking schools offer short classes where children help make bread or a simple tagine. Pottery and weaving workshops are also popular with older children.

The beach

Essaouira, about three hours from Marrakech, has a long beach, a walled old town and a fishing harbour with gulls and boats. It is a relaxing way to end a family trip.

Family friendly pace: our rules of thumb

• Keep driving days under about six hours where possible with young children. Split long legs with an extra night.
• Stop every 90 minutes to two hours for toilets, snacks and stretching.
• Start later on days after a late night in the desert.
• Book two nights in Marrakech and Fes so there is one day with no packing.
• Plan one big activity per day, not three.
• Use the pool. Many riads and hotels have pools, which make afternoons easy in warm months.

Food for children in Morocco

Moroccan food is flavourful but rarely spicy. Dishes children usually enjoy:

• Khobz, round Moroccan bread, served with every meal.
• Chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives, or with potatoes.
• Couscous, traditionally served on Fridays, with vegetables and meat.
• Brochettes, grilled skewers of chicken or beef.
• Kefta, spiced meatballs, often in a tomato sauce.
• Omelettes and eggs, easy to find for breakfast and lunch.
• Msemmen and baghrir, Moroccan pancakes with honey at breakfast.
• Fresh orange juice from the stalls in Jemaa el Fna.
• Pizza and pasta, widely available in the cities if children need something familiar.

Drink bottled water and use it for brushing teeth if your children have sensitive stomachs. Choose busy restaurants, peel fruit, and wash hands often. Tell us about allergies when you book, so hotels and camps can prepare.

Health and safety for families

• Sun: the sun is strong, especially in the desert and mountains. Pack hats, high factor sunscreen and sunglasses for everyone.
• Heat: from June to August, the desert can pass 40°C. Travel early and late in the day, and keep children hydrated.
• Cold: desert nights from November to March can drop close to freezing. Pack warm sleepwear and layers.
• Travel sickness: mountain roads over the Atlas are winding. Bring children’s travel sickness remedies and sit them where they can see forward.
• Medical care: cities have good private clinics and pharmacies. In remote areas, care is basic, so bring a small first aid kit and children’s medicines.
• Insurance: take travel insurance that covers every family member.
• Crowds: in busy medinas, hold hands with young children and agree what to do if separated.

Ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations before travel. For general safety advice, read Is Morocco safe to visit right now?

Car seats, rooms and practical details

• Child seats: tell us the ages and weights of your children when you book and we will confirm what can be arranged for your vehicle. Many families also bring their own travel booster seat.
• Family rooms: we book family rooms or connecting rooms in advance wherever available. In desert camps, family tents or neighbouring tents are arranged.
• Riad stairs: riads often have steep stairs and no lift. If you travel with a pushchair or toddlers, ask for ground floor rooms.
• Pushchairs: medina lanes are narrow and uneven. A baby carrier is far more practical than a pushchair.
• Nappies and baby supplies: available in supermarkets in larger towns. Bring enough for remote stretches.
• Toilets: roadside toilets vary. Carry tissues and hand gel.

Best time to visit Morocco with children

Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Morocco.

The desert camp night with children

The night in the dunes is the moment most families remember for years, and a little preparation makes it easy.

• Arrival: you usually reach Merzouga in the late afternoon. Children ride camels with a handler leading, or travel by 4×4. Hand over large bags to stay in the vehicle and take one small family bag to camp.
• Before dinner: there is time to climb a dune and watch the sunset. Small children tire quickly in soft sand, so pick a nearby dune and take your time. Rolling down is half the fun.
• Dinner: soup, bread, salad and a tagine, usually served around 8 pm. Bring a snack in case children are hungry earlier.
• Campfire: most nights the camp staff play drums and sing. Children often join in.
• Night: the desert is very dark, with no light pollution. Head torches make trips to the bathroom easy and children love them. In winter, dress children in warm layers for bed.
• Sunrise: wake children about 30 minutes before sunrise and climb a dune together. It is cold at first, then the sun comes up and warms everything quickly.

For families, a luxury camp with a private bathroom makes the night much easier, especially in winter. Ask us for both standard and luxury prices.

Keeping children happy on driving days

• Give them a job: map reader, photographer or animal spotter. Count camels, goats, storks’ nests and kasbahs.
• Prepare the next stop: tell them what is coming, such as “In an hour we’ll see a castle from a film”.
• Snacks: buy fruit, nuts, biscuits and bread in Marrakech before leaving.
• Screens and books: download films, audiobooks and games before you go, as signal can be patchy in the mountains.
• Short walks: ask the driver to stop for 10 minute walks whenever children are restless.
• Seats: children prone to travel sickness should sit at the front of the rear seats with a view forward.

Riad, hotel or kasbah: where should families stay?

On our private tours we choose family friendly options at each stop and confirm room arrangements before you travel.

Learning about Morocco together

A trip to Morocco is a great chance for children to learn about another culture. A few topics they usually find fascinating:

• The Amazigh (Berber) people, the original inhabitants of North Africa, with their own language and alphabet, Tifinagh, which children can spot on road signs.
• The caravan routes that once crossed the Sahara carrying gold, salt and dates. Rissani was a major stop.
• Kasbahs and ksars, built from earth, straw and wood, and how they stay cool in summer.
• Dinosaurs and fossils. The area around Erfoud is famous for fossils, and children love seeing ancient sea creatures in polished stone.
• Languages. Many Moroccans speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Amazigh, French and some English. Learning a few words is fun: salam (hello), shukran (thank you), la shukran (no thank you).

Our guide to languages spoken in Morocco has more useful phrases.

Holidays and festivals

Morocco’s calendar includes national and religious holidays that can affect opening hours and travel. During Ramadan, many restaurants close during the day outside tourist areas, and the atmosphere in the evenings is festive. Families are welcome to travel, but plan meals in advance. Around Eid, roads and transport are busy with families travelling home. Check our guide to public holidays in Morocco before choosing dates.

Ideas by age group

Toddlers and young children (under 6)

Keep days short and simple. Choose the 4 day desert tour rather than 3 days, stay two nights in each city, and use a baby carrier in the medinas. Many young children prefer reaching the desert camp by 4×4. Pools, gardens like Majorelle and Le Jardin Secret, and gentle camel rides with a parent are the highlights.

Children aged 6 to 12

The perfect age for Morocco. They can handle a little more walking, love the camels, sandboarding, monkeys and kasbahs, and are curious about everything. Give them a small budget to haggle for a souvenir with your help, or a notebook to record animals and places they see.

Teenagers

Teenagers often enjoy adventure and freedom. Consider quad bikes or buggies in the desert with a guide, a hike in the High Atlas from Imlil, surfing lessons near Essaouira or Taghazout, a cooking class, and evenings in Jemaa el Fna. Involve them in planning the route and they will be more invested in the trip.

Multi generation families

Grandparents, parents and children travelling together is common and works well on a private tour. Book a spacious vehicle, ground floor rooms for older travellers, and plan downtime. Our guide to Morocco tours for seniors has more tips on comfortable pacing.

A 7 day family itinerary in detail

Here is how a relaxed week from Marrakech can look for a family with children aged about 5 to 12. On a private tour every element can be changed.

Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech

Transfer from the airport to your riad or hotel. Rest, swim if there is a pool, and take a short evening stroll to see Jemaa el Fna come to life. Have an early dinner on a rooftop terrace overlooking the square.

Day 2: Marrakech at a gentle pace

Start in the morning, before the heat and crowds, with a guided walk through the medina: the spice market, the dyers’ souk and a traditional bakery where neighbours bring their bread to be baked. After lunch and a rest, visit the Majorelle Garden, where children enjoy the bright blue buildings, cactus garden and goldfish ponds.

Day 3: Over the Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou

A late morning start over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with stops at viewpoints and a mountain village. Arrive in Ait Ben Haddou in the afternoon and climb to the top of the old village. Stay the night nearby so the drive is short.

Day 4: Dades Valley and Todra Gorge

Drive through Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley, with lunch overlooking the gorge. Continue to Todra Gorge for an easy walk between the high canyon walls, with time to paddle in the river in warm weather. Night in a hotel near Tinghir or in the Dades Valley.

Day 5: Into the desert

A shorter drive to Merzouga, arriving early enough for children to rest before the sunset camel ride. Evening at the desert camp with dinner, a campfire and stars.

Day 6: A full day in the dunes

Sunrise from a dune, breakfast, then sandboarding, a visit to a nomad family for tea and Gnawa music in Khamlia village. Second night in the desert or in a nearby desert hotel with a pool.

Day 7: Back to Marrakech, or on to Fes

Return towards Marrakech with a night in Ouarzazate if you have more time, or continue north to Fes instead to avoid backtracking.

Based on our 7 day tour from Marrakech, adjusted for a family pace.

Marrakech with children

Marrakech can feel intense on the first evening, but it is full of things children enjoy once you know where to go.

• Majorelle Garden: colourful, shady and easy to walk. Go early to avoid queues.
• Le Jardin Secret: a peaceful restored garden in the medina with a tower to climb for views.
• Bahia Palace: courtyards, fountains and painted ceilings. Flat and easy for younger children.
• Jemaa el Fna: orange juice stalls by day, music and food stalls by night.
• Calèche ride: a horse drawn carriage around the city walls and gardens. Check the horses look well cared for before choosing one.
• Menara Gardens: olive groves and a large pool with the Atlas behind, good for a picnic.
• Cooking class: many riads offer short classes where children can shape bread or help with a tagine.
• Water parks: in summer, a water park on the edge of the city is a welcome break from sightseeing.

See our Marrakech tours and our guide to the best things to do in Marrakech.

Day trips from Marrakech for families

Fes and Chefchaouen with children

If your route includes the north, Chefchaouen is often the favourite stop for children. The blue painted streets are quiet, mostly car free and safe to explore, and there is a short walk to the Spanish Mosque on the hill for sunset views over the town.

Fes is more demanding. The medina is huge and steep in places, and the tanneries have a strong smell. Hire a guide for a half day, carry small children in a carrier, and keep the visit short. Children often enjoy watching craftspeople at work: coppersmiths hammering trays, weavers at their looms and potters at the wheel.

Volubilis, the Roman ruins near Meknes, is open and easy to walk, with mosaics that are fun to spot. Bring hats, as there is little shade.

Example budget for a family of four

To give a sense of the total, here is how a week usually breaks down for two adults and two children on a private tour. Exact prices depend on dates, hotel level and camp choice, so ask us for a quote.

• The private tour: vehicle, driver, hotels and camp, breakfasts and dinners as listed. Because four people share the vehicle cost, the per person price is well below the price for a couple.
• Lunches: around 70 to 150 MAD per adult and less for children, per day.
• Drinks and snacks: water, juices and snacks add up in the heat. Budget a little each day.
• Entrances and guides: gardens, palaces and optional local guides.
• Activities: sandboarding is often free at camp; quad bikes and cooking classes are extra.
• Tips: for the driver, guides and camp staff, at your discretion.

What a family tour costs

Because the vehicle and driver are shared within your family, private tours become better value as group size grows. Our published starting prices per person are:

Ask us about prices for children, family rooms and luxury camps. Budget separately for lunches, drinks, tips and optional activities. Our desert tour cost guide and Morocco cost guide explain everyday prices.

Packing list for a family tour

• Sun hats, sunglasses and high factor sunscreen for everyone
• Warm layers for desert nights and mountain passes
• Light, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for older children and adults
• Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
• A small overnight bag for the desert camp
• Travel sickness remedies, children’s paracetamol, plasters, rehydration sachets
• Hand gel and tissues
• A baby carrier for toddlers
• Head torches, which children love at camp
• Downloaded films, books and games for the drives
• Reusable water bottles
• Copies of passports and insurance documents

See also what to wear in Morocco.

Travelling from your country

United States and Canada

Most North American families fly into Casablanca or Marrakech via Europe. Allow a rest day on arrival before any long drive. A 10 day private tour from Casablanca ending in Marrakech is the most popular option, as it avoids backtracking.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Direct flights to Marrakech, Fes and Agadir make short family breaks easy. Half term and Easter are popular. A 4 day desert trip plus a few days in Marrakech fits neatly into a school holiday.

Australia

Families often combine Morocco with Spain or Portugal. Crossing from Spain to Tangier by ferry is an adventure in itself and leads naturally into Chefchaouen, Fes and the desert.

Cultural tips for families

• Teach children to greet people with “salam” and say “shukran” for thank you.
• Use the right hand for eating and giving or receiving things.
• Ask before photographing people.
• During Ramadan, avoid eating and drinking in public during daylight out of respect, although tourists are not expected to fast.
• Children may be offered sweets or touched on the head affectionately. This is a friendly gesture.

A 10 day family route from Casablanca in detail

Families arriving from North America often land in Casablanca. This route links the imperial cities, Chefchaouen and the desert, finishing in Marrakech for the flight home. Compared with our standard 10 day tour from Casablanca, the family version usually adds a rest day and shortens the longest drives.

• Day 1, Casablanca: arrival and rest. If energy allows, an evening visit to the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean, and a walk along the Corniche.
• Day 2, Rabat to Chefchaouen: a short stop in Rabat at the Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower, then on to the Rif Mountains and the blue town of Chefchaouen.
• Day 3, Chefchaouen: a slow day exploring the blue lanes, the Ras el Maa spring where children can paddle, and the Spanish Mosque viewpoint at sunset.
• Day 4, Volubilis and Meknes to Fes: Roman mosaics at Volubilis, the great gate of Bab Mansour in Meknes, then Fes.
• Day 5, Fes: a half day guided visit to the medina with a carrier for small children, and a relaxed afternoon.
• Day 6, Fes to Merzouga: Ifrane, the cedar forest monkeys, the Ziz Valley, and a sunset camel ride into the dunes.
• Day 7, Merzouga: a full day in the desert with sandboarding and a nomad family visit. Second night in the dunes or a desert hotel with a pool.
• Day 8, Todra and Dades: the gorge walk and a night in the Dades Valley.
• Day 9, Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech: the kasbah, then over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
• Day 10, Marrakech: gardens, souks and a final dinner before your flight.

Adding a beach to the end of your trip

After a busy tour, many families like to finish with a few days by the sea.

• Essaouira: about three hours from Marrakech. A walled old town, a long sandy beach, a fishing port full of boats and gulls, and cooler air in summer. It can be windy, which is great for kite flying and less good for sunbathing.
• Agadir and Taghazout: further south, with a long sunny beach in Agadir and a relaxed surf village in Taghazout where older children can take surf lessons. See our Taghazout guide.

Read more in the best time to visit Morocco for beaches.

Family planning checklist

Three months or more before

• Choose your dates, ideally in spring or autumn.
• Check passports are valid for at least six months after your return date.
• Book flights, especially for school holidays.
• Send us your dates, route ideas and children’s ages for a tour proposal.

One to two months before

• Confirm your tour with the deposit.
• Arrange travel insurance for everyone.
• Ask your doctor about recommended vaccinations and travel medicines for children.
• Tell us about allergies, child seat needs and room preferences.

Two weeks before

• Pack using the list above, with a small separate bag for the desert night.
• Download films, games and offline maps.
• Order some euros, dollars or pounds in cash to change into dirhams on arrival.

On arrival

• Change money at the airport or a bank in the city and keep small notes for tips and snacks.
• Buy a local SIM card or eSIM if you want data on the road.
• Take it easy on day one.

Is a family tour of Morocco worth it?

For most families, yes. In one trip, children ride camels, sleep in the Sahara, see wild monkeys, walk through a canyon, explore castles made of earth and wander markets that look like something from a story. Parents get a holiday where the logistics are handled, the pace is right, and there is time to enjoy it together. The key is choosing a realistic route with enough rest, which is exactly what a private family tour allows.

Why families book with us

We are a small team based in Marrakech, led by Moha BN, a Moroccan guide with more than ten years of experience. We plan every family route ourselves, book family rooms in advance, and work with the same drivers, hotels and camps every season, so we can tell you exactly where you will sleep. You speak directly with us from your first message, and your driver is there for your family only.

Read reviews from our travellers on Tripadvisor.

Frequently asked questions

Is Morocco safe for families?

Morocco is a popular family destination and families travel there safely every day. Use normal precautions in crowded places, stay hydrated and choose a trusted operator for long drives.

What is the best age to take children to Morocco?

Any age works with the right pace. Children from about 6 to 12 often get the most out of camel rides, kasbahs and markets.

Can toddlers ride camels?

Many camps let small children ride with a parent on a calm camel led by a handler. If you prefer, the camp can be reached by 4×4 instead.

Is the desert camp safe for children?

Yes. Camps are staffed through the night. Keep children close in the dark and use head torches. In winter, pack warm sleepwear.

How long are the drives?

On the 4 day desert tour, most days are around five to six hours with stops. We can add nights to keep days shorter.

Do you provide child seats?

Tell us the children’s ages and weights when you book and we will confirm what is available. Many families bring a travel booster seat.

Can we customise the itinerary?

Yes. Every family tour is private and can be changed to suit your children’s ages and interests.

What about food for picky eaters?

Bread, grilled chicken, omelettes, couscous, pasta and pizza are easy to find. Tell us about any dietary needs in advance.

Is Morocco expensive for a family?

Morocco offers good value. A private tour becomes cheaper per person as your group grows. See our cost guide.

How far ahead should we book?

For school holidays, Easter, October half term and Christmas, book at least a few weeks ahead so family rooms and private vehicles are available.