Morocco Family Tours with Desert Camp Stay

The Desert Camp Night with Kids: What to Expect

For most families, the night in the Sahara is the highlight of the whole trip. Here is how it usually unfolds on our family tours to the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, and what parents should know at each step. Families with older children who are comfortable with longer drives can also book the private 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour.

Arriving at the edge of the dunes

You’ll reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, after a day of driving broken up with stops. Your driver-guide hands you over to the camel team at the edge of the dunes. Your main luggage stays safely in the vehicle, so pack a small overnight bag for each person with pyjamas, a warm layer, toothbrushes and anything your children need for the night.

The camel ride

Camels are calm, slow animals, and each one is led on foot by an experienced camel handler, so you never steer them yourself. The ride into camp usually takes around an hour, timed so that you watch the sun set over the dunes. The trickiest moments are when the camel stands up and sits down, lurching forward and back; hold on to the handle and lean back, and children usually find it hilarious. Most children love the ride. Very young children can ride with a parent, and anyone who prefers not to ride can walk alongside or reach camp by 4×4 instead. Just tell us in advance.

Playing in the dunes

Before dinner there is usually time to climb a dune, roll down it, dig in the sand or try sandboarding. The sand is soft and forgiving, and the dunes become an enormous natural playground. Climbing a tall dune is harder than it looks, so pace little legs and bring water.

Dinner and music around the fire

Dinner in camp is typically a hearty Moroccan meal of soup, salads, tagine and fruit. Afterwards, the camp team often plays traditional Berber drums around the fire, and children are usually invited to join in. Then step away from the camp lights: on a clear night the Milky Way stretches across the whole sky, an unforgettable sight for children who live under city lights.

Sleeping in the desert

Desert camps vary. Our family tours use camps with proper beds and blankets, and we’ll explain the options for your dates, including comfort tents with private bathrooms, which most parents prefer. Let us know if you’d like a family tent or neighbouring tents so everyone is close. Nights can be cold from late autumn to early spring, so warm pyjamas, socks and a fleece are essential even if the day was hot.

Sunrise

Set an alarm for sunrise. Climbing a dune in the cool early light and watching the sun lift over the desert is a moment many families say was the best of the trip. Then it’s breakfast in camp and the ride or drive back to your vehicle.

Is a desert camp safe for children?

Desert camps are staffed throughout the night, and camel rides are led on foot by experienced handlers. The main things to watch are sun and heat during the day, cold at night, and keeping children close after dark, when the dunes all look the same. Use the head torches, agree a “stay near the tents” rule, and you’ll have a relaxed and magical night.

If you’d like more background, our guides to what to expect at an Erg Chebbi desert camp and desert camping and stargazing go into more detail.

What Children Love Most in Morocco

Ask families what their children remembered most, and the same highlights come up again and again. These are easy to build into any of our family tours:

Camels and dunes

Riding a camel into the Sahara at sunset is the moment most children look forward to, and it rarely disappoints. Rolling down a dune comes a close second.

Sandboarding

Like sledging, but on sand. Boards are available at most desert camps, and older children can easily spend an hour climbing up and sliding down.

Jemaa el-Fna at dusk

Marrakech’s great square turns into an open-air theatre in the evening, with musicians, storytellers, acrobats and food stalls. Hold hands, keep an eye on pockets, and let the children soak up the spectacle.

Stepping stones at Ait Ben Haddou

Crossing the river on stepping stones and climbing to the top of the ancient ksar feels like a real adventure, especially when children learn that films were shot here.

Paddling in the Todra Gorge

A shallow, clear stream runs along the bottom of the gorge between towering rock walls, perfect for paddling on a warm day.

Monkeys in the cedar forest

On the road between the desert and Fes, Barbary macaques are often seen in the cedar forests near Azrou, always a favourite stop. Watch them from a respectful distance and don’t feed them.

Donkeys in the Fes medina

In Fes el-Bali, goods are still carried through the lanes by donkey and mule, and the colourful dye pits of the tannery look like a giant paint box from above.

Baking bread and pouring tea

In a mountain village or a riad kitchen, children can help shape bread, watch it baked in a clay oven, and learn to pour mint tea from a height without spilling (much).

The beach at Essaouira

The wide sandy beach, the fishing harbour full of blue boats, and the seagulls over the ramparts make Essaouira a relaxed finale for families.

Waterfalls in the Ourika Valley

An easy day trip from Marrakech, with river-side cafés and a scramble to the waterfalls at Setti Fatma for older children.

Why Choose a Private Family Tour Instead of a Group Tour?

Shared group tours to the desert are cheaper, but they’re built around a fixed timetable and a full minibus, which rarely works with children. On a private family tour:

• You stop when someone needs a toilet, a snack or a run-around.
• You set the start time, so there’s no early group pickup.
• Rooms and camp tents are chosen for families, not for capacity.
• Your driver-guide adapts every day to how the children are feeling.
• For families of four or more, the price difference is often smaller than expected.

For an honest side-by-side comparison, read private driver vs group tour in Morocco.

Cultural Tips for Families

• Dress: light, loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees is respectful and practical in the sun, especially for teenagers and adults.
• Photos: ask before photographing people; your driver-guide can help.
• Greetings: teaching children “salam” (hello) and “shukran” (thank you) earns big smiles everywhere.
• Bargaining: turn it into a game in the souks, with a guide nearby to help with fair prices.
• Ramadan: tours run as normal; some restaurants close during the day outside cities, and we plan meals around it.

Morocco Family Tours by Age: What Works Best

Every family is different, but children’s ages make a big difference to how we plan a Morocco family tour.

Babies and toddlers (0–3)

Very young children can absolutely enjoy Morocco, but the pace needs to be slow. We recommend at least four days for a desert trip, with no driving day longer than about four to five hours. A lightweight baby carrier is far more practical than a stroller in the medinas and the dunes. Tell us about cots, so we can request them at each property, and about child seats so we can confirm what can be arranged. Many parents of toddlers prefer to reach the desert camp by 4×4 and enjoy a short camel photo stop instead of the full ride.

Young children (4–8)

This is a magical age for Morocco. Camels, dunes, donkeys in the medina, storytellers and snake charmers in Jemaa el-Fna, stepping stones across the river at Ait Ben Haddou: children of this age are wide-eyed at everything. Keep driving days moderate, plan the pool into the afternoon, and you’ll have a wonderful trip.

Older children (9–12)

Children of this age can handle longer days and get more out of the history and culture: the film sets at Ait Ben Haddou, the tanneries of Fes, the Roman ruins at Volubilis. Sandboarding, hiking in the gorges and learning a few words of Darija all go down well.

Teenagers

Teens often love the adventure side of Morocco: climbing the big dunes at sunrise, sandboarding, bargaining in the souks, photography, and the freedom of a night in the desert. Involve them in planning; letting them choose one activity each day makes a big difference.

Multi-generational families

Travelling with grandparents is common and rewarding. A private tour lets us pace the trip for both the youngest and the oldest, with easier access at hotels, shorter walks and extra nights where needed. Our guide to family-friendly and senior tours in Morocco has more ideas, as does Morocco tours for seniors.

Driving Days with Children

Morocco’s highlights are spread out, so some driving is unavoidable. The key is how it’s planned. On our family tours, we:

• Keep most driving days to three to five hours, broken into short sections.
• Stop every hour or so for a viewpoint, a snack, a toilet break or a short walk.
• Avoid unnecessary night driving on mountain and rural roads.
• Plan lunch somewhere children can stretch their legs.
• Adapt the day if someone is tired, unwell or simply needs a rest.

Approximate driving times for the main family routes:

Car sickness: the Tizi n’Tichka pass and the gorge roads are winding. If your children are prone to car sickness, tell us in advance so your driver-guide can plan extra stops, and speak to your pharmacist or doctor before travelling about suitable remedies.

For a wider view of routes and timings, see our page on private Morocco tours with driver.

A Typical Day on a Family Tour

Parents often ask how the days actually feel. Here is a typical day on the road between the mountains and the desert:

• Breakfast: a relaxed start with pancakes, bread, eggs and fresh orange juice. There’s no group schedule, so you agree the departure time with your driver-guide the evening before.
• Morning: a drive of an hour or two, then the first stop: perhaps a viewpoint, a walk through a kasbah, or a village where children can see bread baked in a clay oven.
• Lunch: somewhere with shade and space for children to move around, chosen by your driver-guide.
• Afternoon: a shorter drive to your hotel, arriving in time for a swim, a game or a rest before dinner.
• Evening: an early, simple dinner at your accommodation, or in the desert, dinner and drumming around the fire.

The aim is that no one, adult or child, ends the day exhausted. If a day looks too long for your family, tell us and we’ll split it.

Making Long Journeys Fun for Children

A little preparation turns driving time into part of the adventure:

• Spotting games: camels, donkeys, storks’ nests on rooftops, kasbahs, snow on the Atlas peaks, palm trees. Make a list and tick them off.
• A travel journal: children can draw something from each day, collect ticket stubs and write new Arabic words.
• Audio stories and music: download them before you go, as mobile signal can drop in the mountains.
• Ask the guide: encourage children to ask your driver-guide questions; local stories about the places you pass make the road come alive.
• Snack stops: roadside stalls sell dates, almonds and fresh fruit, and choosing a treat becomes a ritual.

Where Families Stay

We choose family accommodation for space, safety and atmosphere, and we book family rooms or connecting rooms in advance wherever they are available.

• Riads in Marrakech and Fes: traditional courtyard houses, magical for children, though some have steep stairs and small plunge pools, so tell us about younger children and we’ll choose accordingly.
• Hotels with pools: outside the medina, larger hotels offer bigger rooms, gardens and swimming pools, a lifesaver on hot afternoons.
• Kasbah hotels in the south: earth-built hotels in the Dades Valley, Skoura and around Ait Ben Haddou, often with pools and views over palm groves.
• Desert camps: tents with proper beds, and comfort tents with private bathrooms on request.

Food for Children in Morocco

Moroccan food is flavourful rather than spicy, which suits most children. Favourites include chicken or meatball tagine, couscous, msemen (flaky pancakes) and harcha (semolina bread) at breakfast, grilled kefta skewers, fresh bread, omelettes, freshly squeezed orange juice, and an endless supply of dates, almonds and oranges. Hotels and riads can usually prepare simple dishes such as plain pasta, rice or grilled chicken if children are tired of tagine.

Tell us about allergies or dietary needs before you travel, and we’ll pass them on to each property and desert camp.