16 Days in Morocco with Kids: Balloon, Mules, Camels & Beach
Sixteen days made for children and parents: the desert is reached in short stages, each day has one big adventure, and there is pool time almost every afternoon.
See the day-by-day routeAbout this 16 days in Morocco with kids
Our 16 days in Morocco with kids trip cuts the long roads into short, easy stages. Every day has one big adventure, and most afternoons end at a pool.
First, the family explores Marrakech and flies in a hot air balloon at sunrise. Then you walk with a mule in the High Atlas and share lunch in a village. After that, you visit Aït Benhaddou, a film studio and the Todra Gorge. Next, you ride camels to a desert camp and try sandboarding. Finally, you relax on the beach in Essaouira. In short, these 16 days in Morocco with kids are private and planned around your children’s ages.
Highlights of this 16 days in Morocco with kids
- Hot air balloon at sunrise
- Mule walk in the Atlas
- Aït Benhaddou
- Film studio in Ouarzazate
- Todra Gorge paddling
- Camel ride & desert camp
- Sandboarding
- Beach and camel ride in Essaouira
16 days in Morocco with kids: day by day
- 1dayDay 1
Arrival in Marrakech
Check in to a riad with a pool and rest after the flight.
- 2dayDay 2
Marrakech for families
The Majorelle Garden, the souks and the storytellers and snake charmers of Jemaa el-Fna.
- 3dayDay 3
Hot air balloon
Fly over the palm grove at sunrise, have breakfast with a Berber family and rest in the afternoon.
- 4dayDay 4
Up to the mountains
Drive to Imlil and take a short walk with a mule carrying the little ones.
- 5dayDay 5
Mule walk & Berber lunch
An easy family walk between walnut trees and terraces, and lunch in a village home.
- 6dayDay 6
Over the pass to Aït Benhaddou
Cross the Tizi n’Tichka with picnic stops, and explore the ksar of Aït Benhaddou like a film set.
- 7dayDay 7
Film studio & the Skoura palm grove
A visit to a film studio in Ouarzazate, a stop in the Skoura oasis and on to the Dades Valley.
- 8dayDay 8
Todra Gorge to Merzouga
Paddle in the shallow river of the Todra Gorge, then drive to a riad with a pool in Merzouga.
- 9dayDay 9
Camels at sunset
Pool time in the morning, then a camel ride to the desert camp, dinner and stories under the stars.
- 10dayDay 10
Sandboarding & music
Sunrise, sandboarding on the dunes and drums in Khamlia, then an afternoon by the pool.
- 11dayDay 11
Back to the Dades Valley
A shorter drive west, with snack stops, to the Dades Valley.
- 12dayDay 12
Easy day to Ouarzazate
A short drive and a free afternoon at the pool.
- 13dayDay 13
Back to Marrakech
Over the High Atlas to Marrakech, with stops in the villages.
- 14dayDay 14
To the ocean
Drive to Essaouira, with goats in the argan trees on the way.
- 15dayDay 15
Beach day
A camel or horse ride on the beach, sandcastles and fresh fish at the port.
- 16dayDay 16
Back to Marrakech
Return to Marrakech for your flight home.
What’s included in this 16 days in Morocco with kids
Included
- 15 nights of accommodation as listed (riads, guesthouses and a desert camp)
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
- Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad, airport)
- Camel ride as described in the programme
- Mountain guide and mule for the luggage
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums
- Optional activities (for example quad, buggy or balloon) unless listed
- Travel insurance
- Tips for drivers and guides
Draft based on this programme – our team confirms the exact list with your quote.
Where you stay
- Night 1Riad in Marrakech
- Night 2Riad in Marrakech
- Night 3Riad in Marrakech
- Night 4Guesthouse in Imlil
- Night 5Guesthouse in Imlil
- Night 6Guesthouse in Aït Benhaddou
- Night 7Riad in Dades Valley
- Night 8Riad in Merzouga
- Night 9Desert camp
- Night 10Riad in Merzouga
- Night 11Riad in Dades Valley
- Night 12Riad in Ouarzazate
- Night 13Riad in Marrakech
- Night 14Riad in Essaouira
- Night 15Riad in Essaouira
Comfort level: Standard + – comfortable riads, guesthouses and a traditional desert camp, chosen by our team. Luxury camps and riads are possible on request.
Best time for this trip
The spring and autumn school holidays are ideal: warm days, pools open and mild nights in the camp. July and August are too hot for children in the desert, and the Christmas holidays bring cold desert nights.
- JanPossible
- FebGood
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGood
- JunPossible
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepPossible
- OctBest
- NovGood
- DecGood
What to bring for this trip
- Warm layers for the balloon and the desert night
- Sun hats and children’s sun cream
- Comfortable shoes for the mule walk
- Water shoes for the Todra river
- Swimsuits for the riad pools
- Warm pyjamas for the desert camp
- Torch for each child
- Snacks and games for the drives
- Scarf for dust and wind
- Refillable water bottles
Booking & payment
- How to book
- Send your request; we confirm the programme and the price in writing on WhatsApp or by email.
- Payment
- A deposit secures your booking and the balance is paid on arrival.
- Cancellation
- Our cancellation conditions are sent with your quote, before you pay anything.
- Weather & changes
- If the weather stops an activity, we adapt the day or replace the activity.
16 Days in Morocco with Kids: your questions
Is 16 days in Morocco with kids too long?
Not with this plan. The drives are cut into short stages, most riads have a pool, and every day has only one big activity, so children do not get tired.
What age is best for 16 days in Morocco with kids?
The trip suits children from about five or six. With younger children we shorten the walks and add more rest; tell us their ages and we adapt it.
Can young children do the hot air balloon?
Balloon operators set a minimum age. Tell us your children’s ages and we confirm the flight or plan another morning activity.
Are the camels safe for children?
Yes. Our camel men lead the camels on foot, and small children can ride with a parent. The ride to the camp is about one hour.
Where do we sleep on 16 days in Morocco with kids?
In family rooms in riads and guesthouses, and in a family tent in the desert camp. We choose places with a pool when we can.
What our travellers say
A holistic experience
Booking a trip with Moroccan active adventures gave us the most memorable new years celebration of our lived. Our guide Mouhssin was especially talented at turning down deserted mountain/desert roads and finding beautiful riads…
Activities on this trip
Read more about each experience – what to expect, who it is for and what to bring.
Optional activities
Add one or more of these to your 16-day trip. They are not included in the price – ask us and we add them to your programme.
Optional · extraQuad & buggy ridesQuad or buggy ride in the Erg Chebbi dunesSee the activity →
Optional · extra4x4 & off-road safaris4x4 tour around the dunes and nomad familiesSee the activity →
Optional · extraCycling & mountain bikingMountain biking on Atlas trailsSee the activity →
Optional · extraSurf & kitesurf experienceSurf lesson on the AtlanticSee the activity →Optional · extraKite surfing lift-offKitesurf lesson in windy EssaouiraSee the activity →
Optional · extraAuthentic culinary experiencesCooking class or food walk in the medinaSee the activity →Request this 16-day trip
Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the full programme and a clear price.
- No payment to send a request
- Private tour on your dates
- Or write to us: +212 600 643 098
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