8 Days Family Morocco & Sahara Adventure

This 8-day private tour is for families with children who want to see the Sahara without long, tiring days in the car. We split the route into shorter stages, choose accommodation with family rooms and pools where possible, and plan activities that keep kids curious rather than bored.

Built around children's energy

The trip starts with two nights in Marrakech, so everyone can settle in. A local guide walks you through the medina in the morning, and the afternoon is free for a pool, a garden such as Le Jardin Secret or the evening buzz of Jemaa el-Fna. From there we break the road south into chunks of three to four hours, with stops for snacks, photos and leg-stretching whenever you need them.

Kasbahs, film sets and gorges

After crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass, you spend a night right beside Ait Benhaddou, which children often recognise from films and series. In Ouarzazate we visit Atlas Studios, where film sets from desert epics are open to walk through. The Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge follow, where kids enjoy paddling in the shallow stream when the water is low.

The desert, made for families

In Merzouga, the camel ride to our camp is kept to about an hour, and our handlers walk beside the camels the whole way. Children usually ride comfortably from about four years old, sharing a camel with a parent if needed. Family tents have several beds and a private bathroom. The next day is for playing: sandboarding on the dunes, a 4x4 drive to Khamlia where musicians often invite kids to try the drums, and an afternoon by the pool at a desert-edge hotel.

Safety and practical details

We can provide child seats if you tell us ages in advance, and we carry plenty of water and shade on every stop. From June to August, desert afternoons exceed 40°C, so for families we recommend October to April, or the Easter holidays. The return is split with a night in Ouarzazate, so no day is longer than about six hours. Travelling with teenagers or a school group instead? Our 4-day student and group trip to Morocco is designed for larger groups on a tighter budget.