accommodation on the outskirts
of Marrakesh.children, as it gives their store the image of having a
broad, family-friendly appeal. Letting your kids run
amok in carpet shops can also be an excellent
bargaining technique!
Adapting to Morocco
Morocco is a foreign environment and children will likely take a day or so to adapt, but it has
plenty of familiar and fun aspects that kids can relate to. British traveller Emma Catling says of
her five-year-old son Finlay’s first impressions of Marrakesh: ‘It was hectic at first: with bikes
and horses coming past you in narrow alleyways and different smells, it was beyond his normal
experience – but the snakes on the Djemaa el-Fan turned him around.’ In the countryside,
simple things like beehives and plants endlessly fascinate children.
Taking your Time
A key to successful family travel in Morocco is to factor in lots of time: to acclimatise at the
beginning, and just relax and muck about at the end. Trying to cram everything in, as you might
if you were by yourself, will lead to tired, cranky kids. Distances are deceptive due to factors
such as bad roads, and you need to build in contingency plans in case children get ill. However,
having to slow your pace to your kids – for example, having to stay put in the hottest hours
between noon and 4pm – is another way children draw you closer to the Moroccan landscape,
people and pace of life.
Eating Out
Tajines contain many familiar elements, such as potatoes and carrots. Although you may want
to encourage your child to try Moroccan food, you may struggle if they don’t like potatoes or
bread; in which case Western foods, such as pasta, pizza and fries, are available.
Be careful about choosing restaurants; steer clear of salads and stick to piping-hot tajines,
couscous, omelettes and soups such as harira (lentil soup). Markets sell delicious fruit and
vegies, but be sure to wash or peel them.
To avoid stomach upsets, stick to purified or bottled water. Milk is widely available – UHT,
pasteurised and powdered – but baked beans are not, and you should bring any special foods.
Children’s Highlights
Sights and activities appropriate for children are covered throughout this book, with dedicated
boxed texts under Marrakesh, Tangier, Casablanca and Rabat.
Animal Encounters
» » Travelling by road to a High Atlas trailhead such as Imlil, then taking a day walk in the
mountains with a guide and mule.
» » Camel or horse rides along the beaches around Essaouira or in the Sahara, with accessible
dunes in the Drâa Valley and Merzouga.
» » Calèche (horse-drawn carriage) rides around the ramparts of places like Marrakesh and
Taroudannt.
Splashing Around
» » Wind and water sports around Essaouira or Agadir’s beach for young children.
» » Oualidia lagoon, with safe, calm waters and a wide, sandy beach.