My husband and I wanted an adventure with our four-year-old daughter that would spark cultural curiosity, stimulate the senses and pull us waaaaay out of our suburban routine.
Morocco delivered. From camel rides in the Sahara to exploring ancient souks to feasting on flavorful tagines, it was immersive, exciting—and very family-friendly.
Turns out we’re part of a growing trend: Morocco saw 17.4 million visitors in 2024—a 20 percent jump from the year before—with more families, like ours, seeking meaningful travel beyond the typical vacation.
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco with kids, these tips drawn from our family adventure will help you create a memorable journey.
Book early
We started planning a year ahead, and it paid off. Family-style rooms (think: multiple beds, connecting spaces or traditional Moroccan riads with room to breathe) are in short supply and high demand. Booking early gave us better options and peace of mind.
We also wanted an itinerary that fit our style: culturally rich, not too rushed and tailored for traveling Morocco with kids. After interviewing a few Morocco travel specialists—comparing their know-how, communication and pricing—we went with Abercrombie & Kent. They nailed it with an 11-day journey from Tangier to Marrakech that included Chefchaouen, Fes, Erfoud, a luxury Sahara desert camp and Skoura.
Let us inspire your travels! Sign up for our newsletter now.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Skip the airport stress — Lyft’s On-Time Pickup Promise guarantees your scheduled ride shows up within 10 minutes of your pickup time. If it doesn’t? You’ll get Lyft Cash. You can schedule up to 90 days in advance and even lock in your rate. Use code SBT25 to save 25% off ONE scheduled ride to the airport.
Know when to go
We chose spring, right after Ramadan and before Easter. Most locals and Morocco travel experts agree this is the best time to go for several reasons:
- Weather. Spring brings the most pleasant weather across the cities, desert and mountains. Summer temps in places such as Marrakech can soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter in the mountains and desert can dip below freezing. Nothing derails a day faster than a cranky kid who’s too hot or too cold.
- Cultural timing. As a Muslim country, Morocco observes Ramadan, which shifts each year. Traveling just after Ramadan means you’ll miss any fasting-related closures.
- Spring break. If the calendar aligns, you can plan around a school break. (We pulled our daughter out of pre-K for two weeks—totally worth it.)
Hire a local guide
Having a local guide (along with a private driver) with us the entire trip was one of the best decisions we made. I recommend it to any family exploring Morocco with kids. Here’s why:
- Language and cultural bridge. We speak neither Arabic nor French, Morocco’s two main languages. Our guide helped us navigate everything from menus to markets and smoothed over cultural moments that might’ve felt overwhelming on our own.
- Insider access. Our guide, Ghali—arranged through Abercrombie & Kent—met us at the airport and stayed with us for the entire journey. He opened doors to places and experiences we never would’ve found on our own.
- Stress-free travel. Morocco felt wonderfully welcoming and safe, but having a guide and a driver helped us avoid potentially uncomfortable situations—such as navigating foreign roads or being asked for bribes (something that actually happened to a relative of ours). With a local by our side, we could focus on our daughter and enjoy the journey without worry.
We specifically requested a guide who had experience working with families. As a father himself, Ghali intuitively understood the rhythms of traveling with a young child. When our daughter needed to run off energy at the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, he kept the tour going—sharing history with us while she joyfully ran circles around my husband.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re looking for a guide just for a day or two, choose someone licensed by Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism. Ask to see their license, agree on terms in advance and rely on word-of-mouth or well-reviewed services to ensure a smooth and safe experience.
Be realistic with your itinerary
Morocco is larger than many expect—roughly the size of California—and its landscapes are just as varied. You’re unlikely to see it all. Prioritize what feels most meaningful for your family and be honest about how your children handle time in transit.
Consider your kids’ travel style, too. Our daughter had a few international trips under her belt and handles long drives well (especially with some iPad time), so we felt comfortable covering more ground. But if your child thrives on routine or tires easily, it may be better to slow down and base yourselves in one place.
Remember: The smoothest trips often come from matching the pace to your child, not the guidebook.
Plan kid-friendly activities
We tailored activities to match our daughter’s interests and stamina. Abercrombie & Kent prearranged most of these kid-appropriate activities, some based on tips I gleaned from family travel forums about Morocco. Highlights included:
- Camel riding in the Sahara. We rode camels at sunset and again at sunrise while staying at a luxury desert camp in the Sahara. Our daughter rode with my husband, and from behind me, I could hear her giggling: “This is the best day ever!”
- Henna art in Marrakech. A local artist applied henna designs to our hands and arms while we sipped mint tea in a beautifully decorated riad. It was a huge hit with our little budding artist, who’s obsessed with face paint and temporary tattoos.
- Fossil hunting in Erfoud. Our dinosaur-loving daughter was thrilled to stop at a local fossil workshop in Erfoud. While she marveled at ancient marine fossils, we got an unexpected crash course in local geology. She left proudly clutching a shark tooth and a few small gems as souvenirs.
- Shopping the souks. Our daughter wandered wide-eyed through the souks of Fes and Marrakech with us. From towering spice pyramids to trotting donkeys and glittering kaftans, every corner offered a new sensory surprise. A standout moment: in Fes, the staff at a rug shop gave her a spontaneous “magic carpet ride,” gently swinging her inside an unfurled rug.
- A mountain meal with Berbers. High in the Atlas Mountains, we spent time in the home of a Berber woman who welcomed us into her kitchen for a memorable cultural exchange. She taught us how to make flatbread, mint tea and a traditional Berber omelet. Our daughter “helped” with the prep, tasted mint tea for the first time and laughed as we were dressed in traditional Berber clothing.
- Ceramics workshop in Fes. At Art D’Argile, we watched artisans mold clay, hand-chisel glazed terracotta, and paint intricate designs. They even invited our daughter to paint a tiny tagine alongside them—pure magic for our art-obsessed child.
- Visiting a local school. Our guide arranged for us to visit a school in Fes. Our daughter was invited to say “hello” to the class and meet the teacher—a simple, beautiful moment of connection.
- Drum-making workshop. A local artisan taught us how to hand-stretch goat hides to make drums. It was slimy, slippery and hilarious—my husband and I ended up doing most of the work while our daughter giggled. We each walked away with three handmade drums, now proudly displayed in our living room.
Prep kids before the trip
In the months leading up to our trip, we made Morocco part of everyday conversation to help our daughter feel excited and prepared.
We read age-appropriate books about Moroccan culture and landscapes; watched YouTube videos that featured kids exploring the country; and even practiced a few Arabic phrases together. “Shokran”—thank you—turned out to be especially handy and hearing it come from a child’s mouth never failed to inspire a smile from locals.
This exposure gave her a sense of familiarity once we were on the ground.
SheBuysTravel Tip: I worked with our local librarian to find books that helped my daughter learn about Morocco.
Try Moroccan food ahead of time
We made a few visits to a Moroccan restaurant in nearby Chicago, giving us all a chance to explore the flavors, textures and spices. It also helped us figure out which dishes our daughter genuinely enjoyed.
Her favorite? Chicken pastilla—a sweet-savory pie made with spiced meat (often chicken or pigeon), wrapped in layers of flaky pastry, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. It became her go-to dish throughout the trip.
That said, Morocco is surprisingly kid-friendly when it comes to food. Thanks to our guide’s insight, most restaurants we visited had children’s menus with familiar options such as chicken nuggets and fries.
SheBuysTravel Tip: We packed small peanut butter packets as a backup for snack emergencies—perfect for spreading on bread when nothing else hit the spot.
Pack strategically
When traveling with kids—especially in a foreign country like Morocco—being prepared can make all the difference. Items that kept our kiddo calm, comfortable and entertained included:
- A comfort item (think: stuffed animal or blanket)
- Lightweight layers for shifting temps and sun protection
- Modest clothing to help everyone blend in and feel at ease
- Compact stroller for long walks and airport dashes
- Sticker books, crayons and downloaded shows for downtime
- Snacks for hunger emergencies and long drives
- White noise machine for unfamiliar sleep settings
SheBuysTravel Tip: Learn about laundry options available at your accommodations ahead of time to avoid overpacking.
Consult your pediatrician
A quick check-in with our daughter’s pediatrician gave us peace of mind and helped us feel better prepared for potential health hiccups abroad. Here’s what we covered at our pre-trip appointment:
- Vaccinations. We made sure our daughter was up to date on routine vaccines and asked about any region-specific ones. (While Morocco doesn’t require special vaccinations, your doctor may recommend Hepatitis A or Typhoid depending on your itinerary.)
- Tummy troubles. Our pediatrician prescribed a child-safe antidiarrheal and rehydration solution—just in case. We were lucky not to need it, but it was reassuring to have.
- Food and water safety tips. We avoided ice and only drank bottled water—even using it to brush our teeth. Our doctor also reminded us to wash hands often and carry sanitizer for meals on the go.
- Sun protection. Morocco can be hot and sunny, even in winter. We packed a sunscreen our daughter’s skin tolerated well, along with a wide-brim hat and light layers.
SheBuysTravel Tip: We always buy travel insurance for international trips—mainly because most U.S. health plans don’t cover care abroad. We also added a Medjet policy for emergency transport. Thankfully, we didn’t need either, but having that protection gave us peace of mind.
Carry local cash
Morocco is largely a cash-based economy, especially outside major cities. While credit cards are accepted at higher-end hotels and restaurants, we relied on cash for most day-to-day purchases.
We arrived with some Moroccan dirhams already in hand—enough to cover meals and tips for our first day or two. (Morocco’s airports also have ATMs.) While in-country, we used only reputable ATMs inside banks or hotels to withdraw more as needed.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Be aware that ATM fees can add up, so check with your bank about international withdrawal charges and consider bringing a no-fee travel card to minimize costs and hassles on the ground.
Make tipping meaningful
In Morocco, tips are both appreciated and generally expected. We knew we’d be tipping our guide and driver—along with hotel staff, airport porters and others who helped us along the way.
To make the gesture more personal, we brought along custom “thank you” cards we’d made on Walgreens.com. It allowed us to tuck the Moroccan dirhams into something a little more heartfelt that said, “You helped make this trip unforgettable for our family.”
It was also a small but meaningful way to model gratitude for our daughter. After all, the people who support our travels often shape the memories we take home—and Morocco gave us some of the best.
Leave a Reply