1 Week in Morocco - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Family Trip to Morocco: Marrakesh, Imlil & Agafay

With a mix of city exploration and rural and desert experiences, this family trip is an excellent option for families visiting Morocco for the first time. The variety of engaging activities, including a food tour and cooking class in Marrakesh, lunch and animal interaction at a Berber family farm, and a camel ride and camping in the Agafay Desert, offer something for all ages.

Let the kids find their favorite Moroccan dishes on a Marrakesh food tour before settling into a riad (traditional guesthouse). Set off on a treasure hunt on Day 2—an engaging activity leading you through the souks and to significant sites, such as the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Then, if the kids have the energy to burn, let them frolic around ANIMA Gardens. Visit the Amal Center, a nonprofit organization that empowers disadvantaged women through restaurant training and job placement, and see which family members can identify spices correctly while blindfolded during an interactive culinary workshop.   

Create your own souvenirs at a pottery and mosaic lesson that can be adjusted for a range of ages; then, on Day 4, get a view of Marrakesh from above on a hot-air balloon ride before departing for Imlil. After the car journey, let the kids stretch their legs on a hike to Armed. Travel by mule to a Berber house where the kids can feed the farm animals, followed by a traditional lunch. Hit the road for Agafay, stopping en route to capture family photos and hike to the waterfalls in Ourika Valley. Kids of all ages can enjoy a sunset camel ride and camping in the Agafay Desert on your final night in Morocco. Learn more 

Itinerary #2: Souks & Sand in Morocco: Marrakesh & Essaouira

This itinerary is suited to families interested in combining urban exploration in Marrakesh with some beach days in Essaouira. Family-friendly activities for all ages include a food tour in Marrakesh, a treasure hunt in Essaouira, and hiking the dunes of Cap Sim. 

Introduce the kids to Marrakesh with a visit to Jemaa el-Fna, where you'll find live music, jugglers, and food carts. Challenge the family to a treasure hunt through the souks, then let the kids sample sweets and other local foods while learning about Moroccan cuisine on a food tour. Head to Essaouira with a stop at an argan oil cooperative—little ones can spot goats perched in the argan trees. At the same time, parents can observe the argan oil extraction process and sample the prized oil (used for cosmetic and culinary purposes). Play pirates at Skala de la Kasbah, Essaouira's 18th-century ramparts, then feast on a seafood dinner.

Embark on an engaging treasure hunt of Essaouira that will lead you around the city and deeper into history, with the guidance of riddles, a map, pirate tales, and young imaginations. Then pack a picnic and let the kids choose how to spend the afternoon: hiking the dunes of Cap Sim, exploring the ruins of Borj el Baroud castle, or relaxing on the beach. On your final full day, little ones will be thrilled to see Essaouira from another perspective—seated atop a camel. Take a camel ride along the beach (or opt for horseback if preferred), then recount your adventures over a Moroccan meal at a seaside restaurant. Learn more 

Itinerary #3: Family Discovery Tour: Agadir & Marrakesh

Art enthusiasts will appreciate the henna workshop and visit to ANIMA Garden on this Agadir and Marrakesh discovery tour. The child-friendly activities to engage young ones, including an easy hike to natural pools in Paradise Valley and a donkey ride in Tiout, make this trip especially suited to families with younger children. 

On arrival, take a stroll by the marina in Agadir, and let the kids choose a seaside restaurant for their first Moroccan meal. Head to Paradise Valley, a desert oasis where you can take a short, child-friendly hike to the natural pools for a dip, then return to Agadir for an afternoon at the beach. Next, it's off to Taroudant, nicknamed "Little Marrakesh" for its souks and ramparts, with a stop at a lookout point—a great place for a family photo and for spotting goats in the argan trees. Shop for souvenirs, then continue to Tiout, where you'll enjoy lunch with a Berber family, and the kids can take a donkey ride through the palm grove.   

Hit the road to Marrakesh, stopping to stretch your legs and snap family photos with the High Atlas mountains as your backdrop. Taste your way through the city on a gastronomy tour, and invite the kids to find their favorite Moroccan flavors. Then, embark on a sightseeing tour that includes games to keep your kids entertained while learning about the culture and history of the city. Crafty children will be delighted to try their hand at henna in a mehndi workshop. On your final full day, soar above the city in a hot-air balloon, then explore the colorful sculptures and green spaces at ANIMA Garden. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Northern Morocco: Tangier, Chefchaouen & Fes

Families set on visiting Chefchaouen, the "Blue Pearl" of Morocco, will enjoy this Northern Morocco itinerary. It's also a great choice for art and architecture enthusiasts who will appreciate a tour of the walled city of Asilah, a stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and a mosaic workshop in Fes. Activities that require a bit of patience and stamina—including the long drive to Fes, the option for a four-hour hike in the Rif Mountains, and the mosaic workshop—make this itinerary better suited to families with older children. 

On arrival in Tangier, stop by Petit Socco Square for lunch and some souvenir shopping, then take the kids on a camel ride along the beach. Head out on a day trip to Asilah and explore the Portuguese influence on this walled city; if little legs are weary, hop in a horse and carriage. Festival-loving families should plan a visit in the spring to experience moussems (seasonal or holiday celebrations). Then it's off to Chefchaouen, Morocco's famous "Blue City," where kids can safely explore the car-free Plaza Uta el-Hammam and its restored kasbah (fortress).

Families with older children (or those comfortable with a four-hour hike) can take a guided trek to Akchour Waterfall in the Rif Mountains. Travel to Fes, stopping at the Roman ruins of Volubilis en route. Children will be delighted to climb onto the rooftops in Fes and see the daily life during a city tour, then create their own keepsakes in a mosaic workshop. Spend your final full day visiting Ifrane National Park. In this protected area, your budding naturalists will enjoy searching for wild pigs, birds, and Barbary macaques before sitting down to a Moroccan meal with a local family back in Fes. Learn more

More Great 1-Week Morocco Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Morocco? Check out these other one-week Morocco itineraries, with family-friendly adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.