Morocco Travel Guide

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TOP FIVE MARRAKESH ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

»   »   Magic-supply    shopping    in  Rahba   Kedima  Ringed  with    apothecaries    selling mysterious  roots,  vats    of  rosebuds    and jars

of  eerie   coloured    liquids,    this    square  is  where   Harry   and the Hogwarts    crew    would   surely  shop    for school  supplies    in

Marrakesh.  Few scooters    pass    through here,   so  kids    can stop,   gawk    and bargain at  will,   or  just    take    in  the view    with    orange

juice   at  Café    des Épices  (Click  here ).

»   »   Calèche rides   When    kids’   legs    and parents’    backs   start   to  give    out,    do  what    Marrakshi   parents do: hire    a   horse   carriage    in

the Djemaa  el-Fna  (Click  here ). Go  for a   short   ride    up  Derb    Debachi,    or  take    a   grand   tour    past    Bab Agnaou  to  the Saadian

Tombs   and back.

»   »   Playtime    at  Flower  Power   Café    Getting here    is  a   game    of  hide-and-seek:  head    out of  town,   turn    onto    the driveway

through an  olive   grove   and head    inside  an  organic plant   nursery,    and at  last    you’ll  find    this    organic juice   bar-cafe    and toddler

wonderland  of  Flower  Power   Café    (    0524   48  40  87; Pépiniére   Casa    Botanica,   Rte de  Sidi    Abdellah    Ghiat;  www.flower-

power-cafe.com;  10am-5.30pm    Wed-Sun)    ,   3.5km   past    Royal   Golf.   Squeals of  delight will    direct  you to  the rabbit  run,    pony

and donkey  paddock,    and a   playhouse   and play-   hanout  (neighbourhood  grocery)    where   kids    can pretend-haggle.

»   »   Palmeraie   dromedary   rides   Calèche circuits    of  the Palmeraie   usually stop    at  Café    le  Palmier d’Or    (Circuit    de  la

Palmeraie)  ,   which   has a   small   playground, Dh10    orange  juice,  and dromedaries in  the parking lot.    With    some    gentle

bargaining, Dh100   should  cover   a   15- to  30-minute   guided  ride,   which   is  usually enough  time    to  get the hang    of  the

dromedary’s rocking motion  and take    the obligatory  holiday-card    photo.

»   »   Take    a   dare    at  Terres  d’Amanar    For active  kids    not easily  impressed   (or worn    out)    by  pools,  a   day trip    to  the High    Atlas

nature  activity    park    Terres  d’Amanar    (    0524   43  81  03; www.terresdamanar.com)  ,   2km past    Tahanaoute  and 37km    from

Marrakesh,  should  do  the trick:  adventurous types   can learn   to  master  zip-lines,  river-rafting,  BMX cycling and donkey  polo,

while   creative    prodigies   take    hands-on    courses in  zellij  mosaic, baking, glass-painting, and leather craft.  Overnight

accommodation   is  available   in  a   mudbrick    lodge   or  tented  bungalow    (double including   breakfast   from    Dh1000, kids    under   11

free).

Activities

Cycling

Rent bikes from budget hotels around Djemaa el-Fna, and at hotels along Ave Mohammed
Abdelkrim el-Khattabi in the ville nouvelle for Dh70 to Dh120 per day. To escape city traffic,
head 5km northwest to the Palmeraie, where you’ll spot celebrity villas amid the palms.

Marrakech Roues

Offline map Google map ( 0663 06 18 92; Imm Roux, 3 Rue Bani Marine; www.marrakech-
roues.com; per hr/half-day/full-day Dh50/80/120) Bike rental in the medina.

Actions Sports Loisirs

Offline map Google  map(     0661   24  01  45; www.marrakechbikeaction.com;    Apt 4,  2nd fl, Blvd

Yacoub el-Mansour, Guéliz; 2hr Dh160, half-day Dh260-350, full-day Dh620-925) Organises
circuits of the Palmeraie and Marrakesh gardens (Dh260 per half-day, minimum four people).

D&O

( 0524 42 19 96) Full day excursions to Ouirgane from Marrakesh from Dh1250, including
lunch and lounging poolside.