Planning a Family Trip to Morocco
Focus on a 10-day route that limits travel time between cities to under 4 hours per day. Prioritize riads with courtyards and pools for downtime, and hire private drivers for intercity travel to avoid the stress of navigating rural roads or crowded buses with children.
- Build a hub-and-spoke itinerary. Don't move hotels every night. Pick two main bases—Marrakech and Fes—and take day trips from there. This minimizes packing/unpacking and gives kids a consistent home base.
- Book a private driver. Avoid renting a car. Hire a driver for your intercity transfers. It costs roughly $150–$200 per day but allows you to stop whenever the kids need a break and removes the navigation stress in the medinas.
- Prioritize riads with pools. The medinas are loud, dusty, and intense. A riad (traditional house) with an interior courtyard or pool provides a silent, private oasis. This is non-negotiable for family sanity.
- Schedule morning-only activities. Plan your heavy sightseeing for 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Retreat to your hotel during the peak heat and energy-burn hours of the mid-afternoon, then head back out for early dinners.
- Is it safe to bring young children to Morocco?
- Yes. Moroccans are extremely family-oriented and generally very welcoming to children. Just be prepared for frequent attention from locals.
- Should I bring a stroller?
- No. The cobblestone, uneven, and narrow paths of the medinas will ruin a stroller in hours. Bring a high-quality baby carrier or hip seat.