Morocco is a country filled with unforgotten sights, smells and sounds. It is one of those special places that has left a permanent mark on us. Our daughter still brings up the camels, the cats roaming the streets, the sand and the orange juice (it’s seriously the best!)
In this 10 day itinerary you’ll explore the best of Morocco including coastal cities of Casablanca and Essaouira, the ancient medina of Fes, the incredible colorful city of Chefchaouen, a 3-day desert tour with driving through the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, Todgha Gorge, Dades Valley, and ending in the magical city of Marrakech.
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In this Article:
Best Time to Travel to Morocco
What to Pack for Morocco
Is Morocco Kid Friendly?
Casablanca
Fes
Chefchaouen
Sahara Desert Tour
Essaouira/Marrakech
Marrakech
Marrakech/Casablanca
Head back home
The best time to travel to Morocco depends on what type of experience you want, but we find that Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November) is most ideal. Our particular trip was end of March through early April and we found it to be much less crowded then. Weather was also perfect, never too hot or too cold which made walking around and our time in the desert tolerable.
For a rich and unique experience, going during Ramadan might interest you. This is typically during May and early June. According to locals, summer is quite hot and it’s hard to do much. So this means end of June through August isn’t the best time to go. If you do happen to go during this time consider visiting the coastal cities instead. Moroccans usually flock to these areas for relief from the heat.
We like to travel as light as possible to avoid checking baggage, so we bought a backpack that is compact and can still fit a large amount of stuff. The Osprey Porter 30 is our go-to for traveling light, and this size is guaranteed to be accepted as a carry-on. It fit almost all of our clothes, aside from a few items. We love how it opens just like a suitcase, so there’s no inconvenience of trying to pry stuff from the bottom. There are also straps that snap around your waist for better support and it’s super comfortable to wear. I have back issues and still did ok with this. We used it along with our regular backpack for all three of us during this trip.
I switched between these the entire trip. Sandals are highly recommended for the desert if you want to avoid getting sand stuck in your shoes. I made this mistake and still have bits of the Sahara in my sneakers. These Superga sneakers are so comfy and I walked for hours in them. For sandals I always love my Birkenstocks.
The weather in Morocco fluctuates from morning to night. Depending on when you’re there, during the day can be hot, and then at night fairly chilly. So I made sure to pack layers of clothes like t-shirts and cardigans, along with a light jacket.
As I woman I wanted to be respectful of the culture, so I packed a scarf and kimono to cover my shoulders. It went perfectly with my attire and also fit in well with the vibe.
Meds are a must-have for those worst case scenarios. This includes Tylenol, cold medicine, cough drops and any stomach meds. I also pack activated charcoal in case of food sickness and electrolytes to help keep hydrated and healthy. As a fail-safe, I also bring a prescription of antibiotics just to have. If you’re traveling with kids, pack the same for them as well.
The sun gets quite strong at times, so having both of these will help with that.
During the desert tour you may be driving for long periods without stopping, so packing some snacks will help curb any hunger.
We didn’t find wifi to be available much in Morocco except for hotels and it was quite slow. We’re glad we rented a pocket wifi to help stay connected with our friends and family. We rented ours from Tep Wireless and had a great experience.
Is it safe to bring kids to Morocco? The answer is yes! We were pleasantly surprised by how kid-friendly Morocco is. There were always available food options anywhere we ate. The locals adored our daughter and she received gifts from some of the shop owners. We weren’t as pressured to buy stuff in the souks. She was showered with attention everywhere we went, I think she must have felt like a princess the whole time. Cats were everywhere roaming the streets, she was in heaven! And the best part is, these are memories she will never forget for years to come.
So if you’re wondering how to spend ten days in Morocco with kids, you’ve come to the right place! This itinerary was created DIY style to suit our taste and desire to see more of the country. There’s a mix of both economical and splurge options, however it can easily be altered to your budget and personal style as well.
Our flight had us arriving in Casablanca in the evening. Instead of siteseeing, we opted for just dinner and early sleep to get a great start the next day. If you arrive in the morning we recommend to check out the Hassan II Mosque, we did not see it this trip, but it was highly recommended by locals.
For lodging we kept it budget and simple since Casablanca was just a means to enter and exit Morocco. We stayed at Hotel Les Saisons. The room itself was very basic, but it provided what we needed for the night. The location was conveniently close to the Casa Port station which connects to Casa Voyageurs, the main hub to travel elsewhere in Morocco.
Nearby the hotel was Casa Jose, a lively and delicious option for dinner. We had the paella and a few tapas, all of which did not disappoint. Cost of dinner was around $50 for all 3 of us, including wine. There was music and a mix of locals and tourists, an overall nice and relaxing introduction to Morocco after a long flight.
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This itinerary sounds perfect. I've saved it to use when we eventually go there. So many amazing experiences to look forward to.
Thanks Wendy! It was one of our most memorable trips yet. Such a gorgeous country and perfect for families :)
Hi! Great details - Thanks for sharing! Traveling to Morocco in February 2021. Our son will be a few weeks shy of 4 years old. How old was your daughter on this trip? How did she do on the camel? Did she keep her turban on? What did you do about protecting her during sand storms? Thanks for your help :)
Thanks for stopping by :) Our daughter was only 3 when we went, and she had a blast. She was fine on the camel, she rode in front of one of us, although didn't keep on the turban. We used the turban like a scarf mask to cover her face and mouth during the storm. But she handled it like a champ. It was so much more of a family-friendly country than we expected, you'll love it! Hope you have an awesome time!
Wonderful! And thank you for the response. I have been in contact with Brahim from http://www.Marrakech-Camel-trips.com via email about our trip. Two questions - Did you wire/PayPal a deposit of 100 Euros to book? I have only seen one other review online that required the same deposit, so I'm just checking for my own safety :) Also, which hotel did you stay at/leave your luggage in Merzouga? Brahim offered "Riad nezha or *riad Madou or similar". We are going to stay an extra night before our departure to the desert and an extra night returning from the desert, so I wanted to check which accommodation you preferred.
Hi Stephanie! Yes we did pay a deposit of 100 Euros through Paypal, so that's legit. Then we paid the rest in cash in person. We had a wonderful experience with Brahim and our tour through them. And this post isn't sponsored or anything, just pure honesty :) We didn't stay overnight in Merzouga. We actually did the 3 day tour from Fez to Marrakech with a stop overnight in the desert. So I can't say much about hotels there. But I will say we enjoyed all the hotels we stayed at through this tour, so I think you'd be fine with any of their recommendations. We are dying to go back to Morocco again soon, hope you have a wonderful time. And feel free to ask any additional questions :)
Morocco is a great place for a family trip.
Yes it definitely was! Can't wait to go back :)