Morocco is a family-friendly holiday destination that provides a true break from the norm. Whether you choose to stay in one of the old imperial cities, in a town on the edge of the desert or in one of the new holiday complexes on the coast, there is plenty to engage and entertain your family.
OUARZAZATE
You’ll have the opportunity to spend the night in a traditional Amazigh tent surrounded by massive sand dunes, ride camels on treks into the desert and see stunning gorges and imposing mountains just minutes outside the city. Touching the modern world, Ouarzazate is also movie backdrop central. Children and adults alike will love touring Atlas Film Studios and spotting the sets and props from such films and TV shows as Game of Thrones, Atlantis, Kingdom of Heaven and Asterix and Obelix.
TAMUDA BAY
One of Morocco’s newest holiday resorts, Tamuda Bay is an ideal destination for a family. It’s in a region with long, beautiful sandy beaches where you and your children can relax or play. There are also plenty of ways to take part in a wide range of water sports, whether you want to go surfing, scuba diving, kayaking or jet-skiing. When the sea gets a bit rough, or if you just fancy a change, visit the nearby water park with its large swimming pools and exhilarating range of waterslides.
MARRAKECH
Marrakech is a great destination to enjoy as a family. Children will love seeing the city from the top floor of the open-top buses that tour Marrakech, and they also act as a hop-on, hop-off service, saving little legs from too much walking. The Majorelle Gardens are great for all ages – adults will love to soak up the peaceful atmosphere in this visually stunning part of Marrakech, while children will enjoy exploring in the shade of the palm trees. And another great place to escape the heat is the Oasiria Water Park. This outdoor aqua-centre has two large pools, a wave machine, children’s pools, a lazy river and three great slides, more than enough to keep you all happy and occupied for the whole day.
AGADIR
Agadir is a great place for a family to get to know Morocco. This tourist friendly city is most welcoming and is packed with things for children to do. The obvious place to start is at the beach, the long strip of golden sand which is a favourite with tourists and locals alike.
Away from the seaside, Bird Valley awaits, a walk-through zoo full of exotic animals and which also has a play area where children can blow off steam. The Souss Massa National Park, an important conservation area and nature reserve, is a short drive south along the coast. When you explore you’ll be able to see threatened species such as the Scimitar Oryx and Dama Gazelle.
MERZUGA
Merzouga is a place that shows a different side to Morocco than the big cities. Visit this southern town and you and your family will be rewarded with moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.
Try a trek to the Sahara desert where your children can go fossil hunting or look for animals. You can sleep in traditional Amazigh tents, see a sky with a million bright stars and watch the sun come up over huge sand dunes. There’s also camel trekking, desert hiking, sand boarding, quad driving – all designed to give your family the holiday of a lifetime.