Take the Family holiday rating
| Capital City | Rabat |
|---|---|
| Flying Time | 3.75 hours  |
| Carbon Footprint | 1.80 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT |
| Local Currency | Moroccan Dirham |
The twisting alleys of an ancient medina (old Arab quarter), the imposing fortifications of a remote kasbah (fortress), a crowded souk (market) full of snake-charmers, colourful pottery and carpets… Morocco offers all this and more besides, making it a great destination for a family holiday that will take the kids (and perhaps you too) a little out of their comfort zone. From the stunning snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the family-friendly tourist resorts of the Atlantic coast, this long thin country tumbling down the western side of Africa offers plenty of scope for a family trip, whether you want to hit the beach or sign up for an exciting adventure trip.
Note that it is very helpful to know at least some French when visiting Morocco, even in the larger resort hotels.
Morocco is a year-round destination, but its climate is most pleasant in spring and autumn. Marrakech is generally warm in winter (20°C), with temperatures soaring in summer to highs of 38°. More moderate temperatures can be found on the coast, with hot days (low 30°Cs in summer) and cooler nights. In the mountains the weather is variable, with the ability to change from warm sunshine to snow in a matter of hours.
Wherever you stay remember to bring warm clothes for evenings, as nights can be cool, especially Nov-Feb.
If you are visiting during the holy month of Ramadan, the dates for which vary (in 2010 and 2011 it's Aug/Sept), remember that opening hours at sites and restaurants may be reduced, although this can also be an interesting time to visit Morocco, with the streets particularly lively at night.
Royal Air Maroc offers direct flights from London to key destinations in Morocco, including Agadir and Marrakech. A number of budget airlines, including Easyjet and Ryanair, also fly direct to Marrakech-Menera Airport and other destinations in Morocco from airports around the UK. See also our flight deals page.
The flight time is about three and a half hours direct, and there is no time difference from the UK (GMT).
A much longer but interesting journey would be to take the train down to southern Spain and then a ferry across to Morocco (the Algeciras–Tangier ferry takes 2hrs). There are also quite expensive ferries from southern France and Italy. For the full London-Morocco train/ferry itinerary (48hrs), which includes a day in Madrid and an overnight stay in Algeciras, see The Man in Seat 61.
Grands taxis (for up to six people) are a good way of getting to see the sights if you don't hire a car or take an escorted adventure tour (see below).
Morocco has a fantastic range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from five-star family resorts with childcare and activities to more humble but homely riads – traditional houses/palaces with interior gardens, offering B&B style accommodation, occasionally with pools. A good example of a riad popular with families is Le Jardin des Douars in Essaouira (see below), with just 14 rooms and two douaria (Moroccan houses), some of them housing families of up to 4 or even 6, plus a pool, a massage space and a restaurant.
For some of our recommendations, see the right-hand column of this page. The Riu Tikida Beach is particularly popular with young families, offering a spa, a pool and a children's pool, a kids' club, and plenty more besides.
On a escorted adventure holiday with our partners The Adventure Company, the accommodation includes hotels, guesthouses and even nomad tents (on Saharan adventures). The firm offers a range of family tours suitable for various ages, from infants to teens, including the Kids in the Kasbahs Family Holiday, the Atlas Trails Teenage Adventure, Camels and Kasbahs and the Active Morocco Teen Adventure.
Discover the former imperial city of Marrakech – kids delight in simply being in the old walled city, exploring the medina’s magical bazaars filled with exotic spices and treasures and getting lost in the many winding derbs (alleyways). Head to Jemma el Fna, the medina’s main square, at dusk to soak up the atmosphere and witness all manner of snake-charmers, storytellers and acrobats at work.
Marrakech is the starting point for many escorted family adventure trips (see above), which then take you to out-of-the way places that few tourists get to see, such as the remote villages of the Berbers, hidden away in the folds of the Atlas mountains. Most itineraries include a visit to the ruined kasbah of Telouet on the former route caravan route from the Sahara over the Atlas mountains, before moving on to the Atlantic coast to explore the old pirate hideout of Essaouira. This atmospheric fishing port boasts imposing ramparts, a laidback souk and a wide sandy beach.
Take a dip in the Atlantic – Morocco’s most-visited beaches and resorts are on the Atlantic coast not far from the cities. The north-east trade wind from March to mid-Sept makes this the best place for watersports, including surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Agadir offers good beaches and a great range of family-friendly accommodation (see above), but modern hotels and European cafés mean it’s not the place for those looking for the more authentic Moroccan experience.
On Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, meanwhile, a number of new hotels and apartment complexes are opening up the Tétouan area, near Tangier, to families. Intimate beaches and traditional fishing villages are the main attractions here.
Southern Morocco is mainly only visited by families on escorted adventure tours, which take you across the mighty Atlas mountains to the impressive Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a World Heritage site and the backdrop for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Living Daylights, The Mummy and Gladiator. Kids love exploring its maze of red towers and fortifications, and you can take walks through local villages and gain an insight into the lives of the Berber people. Camel rides are a big hit with little ones, while if you’re travelling with older children/teenager, a night spent bivouacking in the desert is must.
Morocco’s national dish is child-friendly couscous, but you can also feast on kebabs, salads, melons and other simple but delicious fare. Tasty meat, chicken and fish tagines (slow-cooked stews) accompanied by vegetables are another staple, and savoury pastries are also popular – try briouats containing chicken or beef. In the larger resorts, Western staples are easy to come by, if not always of a high quality.
For the sweet-toothed, Moroccan patisseries sell wonderful pancakes with honey and sesame seeds and cakes made with almonds or raisins, accompanied by traditional mint tea.
The dirham is the official currency but Euros and US dollars (both currently strong against the pound) are accepted in many places. Many places quote prices in Euros because of the preponderance of French visitors.
As elsewhere, five-star hotels are costly, but a suite for four people in a riad such as Le Jardin des Douars (see above), including breakfast, can be a bargain 130 Euros.
Package deals can be a bargain: winter deals start from as little as £180 for seven nights. Alternatively, you might get a budget flight for less than £100 return.
A flight-inclusive adventure holiday starts at £679 per adult for one week but prices vary according to the time of year.
Overall Rating
Hello, I booked an all inclusive holiday at Club Med Smir, Morocco. Club Med is a well renowed all inclusive providers, which owns resorts all over the world. I booked a 1 week stay at their Smir Resort, Morocco, for myself and 3 year old son. Our all inclusive package included: return tickets, airport transfers, accomadation on a full board basis, childcare and a spa package. We paid £ 1353 for the holiday. Unfortunately, on the evening of our arrival, my son injured his head by slipping in the shower cabinet. He violently hurt his head by falling on the tiles from the step. He had to be taken immediately to be treated at a clinic in the nearby town of Tetouan. Following the injury, he had to be closely monitored ( there are risks of complications within the next days ) and given a course of antibiotics for 10 days to prevent all risk of infection. The doctor also said he wasn\'t allowed to go into water, and we should avoid the sun because of the antibiotics treatment. As the result of the accident, my child was unable to be put into the childcare I pre-paid, and I couldn\'t benefit from the pre-paid spa package either. And we couldn\'t enjoy the swimming pool and the beach either. As it looked we would spend the rest of the stay in our air-conditionned room for the rest of the stay ( the heat is unbearable during the day ), I decided we should go back to the UK. However, the Club Med staff at the reception made it very difficult for us to organise our return. I was lied on several occasions by the staff: \" There are no flight until 1st of September, you must stay until the end of your stay. \" \" All reservation centre all closed in the evening because of the Ramadan. Take your ticket at the Tanger airport\". Thanks to the help of my familly, I was able to book flights for myself and my son on a Royal Air Maroc flight between Tanger and London half empty.. Also, their was a daily shuttle from the hotel to go the Tanger airport, and the reception manager initially refused we get on this shuttle ( I was kindly adviced to book a taxi at my own risks and cost ); I had to go and negotiate with the resort manager, for us to be put on this shuttle! On top of the worry to have an injured child, I felt I was stranded in the resort, which occured additional costs and much stress. In total, the all holiday costed me £2114. I hold Club Med responsible for the accident of my son: I think the shower cabinet lacks basic health and safety practices ( there\'s no plastic mat to prevent risk of falling, there are old tiles and sharp angles, etc... ), and the head injury could have been avoided. On top of that, I find the behaviour of the staff completely inacceptable: It was my right to decide to leave the resort; why should Club Med or some tour representative decide for me? I\'ve written to their customer services and headquarter in France, to ask for a reimbursment.
by Heidi Edsall
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Insider advice on what to do in Morocco, plus detailed maps.
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