How do I plan a Morocco trip with kids?

The first thing I tell families is to plan for roughly two-thirds of the ground an adults-only trip would cover. Children don't do long mountain drives, packed museum days or back-to-back medina marathons with any joy, and a frazzled child frazzles everyone. The trips that work are the ones built around a relaxed rhythm: one main activity in the cooler morning, a long lunch, pool or downtime in the heat of the afternoon, and an early, easy evening. Build the itinerary around that shape and Morocco becomes wonderfully kid-friendly.

Accommodation does a lot of the heavy lifting. I steer families toward riads or hotels with a courtyard or, ideally, a pool, because a splash at the end of a hot day resets everyone's mood. A family room or adjoining rooms beats cramming everyone into a double, and a riad with a flat, contained courtyard means small children can run a little without you watching a busy street. In the desert, the camps are a genuine highlight for kids — sleeping under the stars, the camel ride, drumming around the fire — but choose a comfortable camp and a shorter desert route so the drive to reach it doesn't undo the magic.

Driving is where family trips live or die, so I keep transfers short and never schedule two long ones in a row. Break any unavoidable big drive with stops — a kasbah to clamber over, a café with mint tea and chips, an argan oil co-operative where kids can watch the work. Pack a generous supply of water, familiar snacks and a few small entertainments, because hangry, bored children turn a three-hour transfer into the longest day of the holiday. The Marrakech-based loops with a Zagora rather than Merzouga desert option are often the kindest on younger families because the driving is shorter.

On the practical side, Moroccans adore children and you'll feel it everywhere — kids are welcomed into restaurants, fussed over by staff, and often the icebreaker that opens doors for the whole family. Bring sun protection, hats, any usual medicines and rehydration sachets, and be relaxed but sensible about food and water. Plan in genuine nothing days, especially after the desert, and let the kids' energy set the tempo. Get the pacing right and the trip rewards children with some of the most vivid, story-worthy travel they'll ever have.