Travelling to Morocco with a family? Here is all you need to know.
I often get asked if Morocco is easy to travel around with children - the answer is yes. I spent almost every summer in Morocco as a child, the place where I hold so many special memories. Now I have my daughter, Amboora, I try to give her the same.
Is it Easy to Travel Morocco with Kids?
Morocco is perfect for the reality of travelling with kids. Flights from Europe rarely exceed a few hours and yet the culture in Morocco is so different. It certainly provides an opportunity for your child to get inspired and learn about a society so different to their own. At the same time, a visit from Morocco won't leave you out of sync with your daily routines. It has the same time zone as the UK.
Where should I go?
Marrakech
Marrakech is a very family friendly city built for tourists. The main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, is packed with restaurants, stalls and attractions for visitors to enjoy, for example, tuk tuk travel and henna. A stones throw away are the souks, full of shops supplying authentic Moroccan products like leather, argan oil and cookware. The winding narrow streets offer your child a chance to explore freely. All the shopkeepers are very friendly and are so used to tourists of all ages.
Northern Morocco
Northern Morocco has Rabat, Fez, Meknes and Tangiers. These cities are known for their industry, offering rare artisan products such as Moroccan rugs. Fez is the historical and cultural capital of Morocco, so a great city for your child to learn more about Moroccan traditions. Similarly, Tangiers, the coastline city which boasts beautiful beaches and view of Gibraltar, is known for its fish-based cuisine and literary significance.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara desert offers an amazing adventure for children. You can ride camels and explore the corners of this ancient desert, a place so peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of normal life. After a camel ride, it is custom to taste authentic Moroccan teas with the group. This is a great way to meet and socialise with other tourists and locals, and their families.
Is Morocco catered towards Kids?
Family is so important in Morocco, so much so, the Moroccan people are all markedly aware of how to cater to kids and how to engage with them. If you've ever been to Morocco, you'll have seen locals smile at them, make goofy faces and sometimes even offer them free food or products they like.
In terms of food, Morocco offers subtle, aromatic spice blends rather than red hot spices. This means it is rare you'll come across anything your child can't eat. There are plenty of refreshing drinks to keep your child going on a hot summer's day. So many stalls and restaurants offer fresh fruit juices squeezed from any fruit you can think of. Most popular juices include orange, apple and pomegranate. If your child gets peckish in the middle of the day before dinner, don't be hesitant to let them taste all the street foods on offer. I would suggest snacks like roasted chickpeas, chips, or couscous pots. Something more substantial like grilled chicken or lamb is popular, and even more delicious when accompanied with a salad. Morocco's 7 vegetable salad is a classic.
I hope this information has helped you understand more about Morocco, and will also help put you at ease when thinking about taking your children away. Moroccan people will bend over backwards to make sure children are catered for, and most of all, leave their establishment with a smile on their face!
