Morocco is a country full of surprises, ideal for family travel! Discover its incredible range of hikes adapted to any level of experience and cross the Atlas Mountains, Atlantic coast and Moroccan desert’s most jaw dropping landscapes. Sublime visits await, and they are sure to please parents and children alike…
Set off for Fes and Meknes, to the kingdom of snake charmers, storytellers and dancers…In the heart of the medina, dive into a universe of lively souks! At the imperial city of Rabat, don’t miss the kasbah of the oudayas’ opulent palaces and Andalusian gardens, a magical place!
When travelling to Marrakech, tour the city ramparts in a horse drawn carriage, a tranquil visit in the shade of the palm and olive trees. Then, explore the surrounding region…from a hot air balloon! From the sky you can see the entire area around Marrakech, all the way to the Atlas foothills: a sensational experience for both children and parents!
When in Ouarzazate, don’t miss the movie studios of the Atlas Corporation, a truly fascinating visit. The site is easy to spot, seven huge Egyptian statues guard the entrance!
When visiting Morocco’s Atlantic coast, stop by the beaches of Temara only 5 km south of Rabat. Extending over 25 km of shoreline, these golden beaches are magnificent! Then, continue down the coastal road to El Jadida and Safi to take advantage of the invigorating beaches of Sidi Bouzid and de Lalla Fatna. Finally, visit Dakla and take a boat out to sea to meet dolphins and sea turtles!
Go for a camel safari starting in the Draa Valley, Tazzarine or Merzouga and explore Southern Morocco the nomad way! From sandy dunes to rocky deserts along gueltas and oases, many marvellous adventures await!
If you want to organize Morocco’s family vacation, your children are welcome in Morocco! There are no particular illness problems, and a hospital or health centre is never far. Doctors have training equivalent to the French level. You can discover Morocco on a self-drive tour and in the summer, your kids will love the hotel pools.
You could also choose to go on a leisurely trek or tour on camel back in the Sahara or on Mule back in the Atlas.
At the edge of the sea, many activities will spice up your stay: surfing, kite surfing, but also horseback riding or fishing on the open sea. In any case, you’ll feel worlds away from home. Children won’t be bored. In Morocco, children are king and tolerance is high for our little devils. In more well-visited site, activities just for them are easy to find: water parks with enormous slides and wave pools in Marrakech or treetop adventures and zip wires at the feet of the Atlas.
Morocco is a safe country. Tourism is an activity essential to the country and its economy and foreigners are more than welcome. The roads are in good condition but drivers must always stay vigilant because of traffic and the weather.
Day by day follow the usual foreign hygiene procedure: wash your hands frequently, eat things hot and cooked, bottle the caps intact. Do not swim in lakes or rivers that you are unsure about.
When it comes to snake bites and scorpion stings, they represent a largely inexistent risk in the winter in the Moroccan Sahara.
Discover our sample itineraries that will allow you to explore Morocco on a unique trip, depending on the time you have available…
You will benefit from any discounts for children practiced by the accommodations in which you are staying. For our adventure trip we will do all we can to reduce prices for families.
You can swim in the Atlantic comfortably from June to October, even though the ambiance is often more activity driven than relaxation focused. The water temperature is good (20°- 25°) and the beaches are huge and wild, even more so as you get further south. Be vigilant as currents can be strong and catch swimmers unaware if they don’t know to look out for them.
From Essaouira to Dakhla, the coast is a paradise for board sports and surfers flock here in droves. Some beautiful more intimate creeks will serve as a more private setting for a day and sun soaking and swimming around Mirleft.
SOn the coast, the famous summer mist and fog is not present every day nor all day. The entire coast is dotted with charming accommodations near the beach and we can organize your transfers from the closest airport.
Morocco is a land of festivals and every region plans its own! Something take into consideration when planning a family trip… Among the most important are:
> Chefchaouen: Andalusian Music Festival sometime in July.
> Essaouira: World Music Festival from the 24th to the 27th of June.
> Fes: Festival of World Sacred Music from the 3rd to the 11th of June.
> Marrakech:
– Festival of Art, Song and Traditional Dance from the 2nd to the 7th of July.
– International Film Festival from the 5th to the 15th of December
– Tangier :Jazz Festival from the 21st to the 25th of September.
Besides these festivals, many “moussems” are organized in every region. These celebrations involve dances, fantasias and chants. Women and men wear their best dress for these annual festivals often linked to the harvest or local legend:
> In May: Moussem of Roses in Kelaa M’Gouna in the Dades Valley, the appropriately named Valley of Roses. It celebrates Morocco’s famous and very fragrant little rose. On the agenda: folklore, artisanal exhibits, and the election of that year’s “Miss Rose”.
> In June: Cherry Moussem at Sefrou: for the three days the festival lasts, sports tournaments, a fantasia, a night-time lantern procession and, of course, the election of “Miss Cerisette”.
> In October: The Date Moussem at Erfoud. The date harvest is an occasion to celebrate with friends and family and many colours!
> In September: Engagement Moussem at Imilchil: This little High Atlas village north west of Errachidia retains an ancestral tradition: the region’s young couples get married every year during the moussem. This custom is born of legend: a romantic saga between two Berbers Issli and Tisslit from different warring tribes. For three days young women looking for husbands dance for hours wearing their best accessories. Quite an impressive and fascinating show!
This is a trip taken on the back of a camel, and it is ideal for a relaxed first encounter with the desert as a family. Everyone has their own saddled camel independent of the camels that carry the luggage, equipment and food. You sit in front of the camel’s hump. Our camel’s are well-trained and the saddle is equipped with a sort of metallic pommel that you can hold on to; a reassuring tool for beginners and children. Your guide will teach you the basics for how how to ride and lead the camel, and, if you pick it up quickly, you will be able to be detached from the rest of the group.
Camel drivers generally walk along on foot. A camel safari does not entail riding your camel from the first thing in the morning to the end of the day, but, on the contrary, to alternate hiking, leading the camel on foot and riding. Generally during caravans men are walking.
For Morocco’s family vacationI in the mountain, on the beach or, and especially, in the desert, the most important thing is to protect children from sun exposure. UV rays reach the earth a bit more vertically than in northern latitudes under a usually cloudless sky, that hits very hard even in moderate temperatures, making it easy to get sunburns if you’re not careful.
For children and adults, long pants and shirts with long sleeves that cover your hands are ideal for tours on camels or mules or walking, even if it is hot. You’ll get back in your shorts and tee-shirt in the afternoon when you get to your bivouac site.
Don’t forget a wide brimmed hat that will cover your entire face and sunglasses. During childhood, the crystallin in the eye is very clear and young corneas can get burnt very quickly
Of course, bring sunscreen with a high SPF and maybe even a protective chap stick as well. If all this doesn’t do the trick and someone still gets burned, bring a soothing cream (Biafine) to apply on the affected area.
Finally, equip children with a canteen with a cord to go around their necks so that they can be somewhat independent when it comes to water.
Continue your discovery of our country and the preparation of your trip by exploring other articles in our travel guide dedicated to Morocco!
