What's the best Morocco itinerary for families with young kids?

The single biggest mistake families make is trying to do the same whirlwind grand tour that suits a couple, then wondering why everyone's frazzled. With young kids the golden rule is fewer bases, longer stays, and shorter driving days. Morocco's distances are real — the classic Marrakech-to-Sahara run is two long days each way — so for little ones I plan an itinerary that breaks every drive into digestible chunks and parks you somewhere with a pool for proper rest. Aim to change hotels half as often as you think you should.

My go-to family shape for 7 to 10 days starts with three nights in Marrakech. That gives you the square at dusk, the Majorelle and Menara gardens, a calèche ride, a short palmeraie camel ride and — crucially — pool afternoons to decompress between adventures. From Marrakech I'd slot a single day trip into the Atlas: the Ourika Valley for a gentle riverside walk, a mule ride and a paddle, or the Ouzoud waterfalls for the monkeys and swimming pools. Day trips beat constant relocation when kids are small.

If the desert is on your list with young children, I do it gently. Rather than two brutal driving days, I break the journey with an overnight near Aït Benhaddou (the kasbah kids love clambering around) and another in the Dades or Todra gorge, so no single drive is punishing. Then one or two nights in a comfortable desert camp near Merzouga or Zagora — choose a "luxury" camp with proper beds, private bathrooms and often a little pool, and arrange a 4x4 transfer with only a short camel moment for the under-fives. Stargazing, dune-rolling and drumming round the fire are pure magic for kids.

I almost always finish a family trip on the coast, because it's the perfect decompression after the inland intensity. Essaouira is breezy, walkable, low-hassle and has beach camel and horse rides plus a relaxed medina; Agadir is the classic family beach resort with calm swimming, wide sand and resort pools. A few nights here lets everyone unwind, and flying home from Agadir or Marrakech keeps the end simple. Throughout, base yourselves in riads or hotels with pools and family rooms — that single choice does more for a happy trip than any sightseeing.

My honest blueprint: 3 nights Marrakech, an Atlas or valley day trip, the desert done slowly over a couple of overnights (only if you have the days), and a coastal finish — with short drives, lots of pool time and plenty of unstructured fun. Our family designers tune the exact pace to your kids' ages and stamina; the worst itinerary for young children is an over-packed one, and the best is gloriously, deliberately relaxed.