Morocco with our five kids: the family film · Full film (14 min 32 sec)
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These are places and experiences from our Morocco travels, from the souks and blue lanes to the desert and Atlantic coast. The film above follows our trip with the five kids. Our couple photo and birthday-dinner memories below come from a separate Morocco visit.
The family film visits Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara and Essaouira, among other stops. The guide includes additional ideas and memories that are not all shown in this film. Past footage does not establish current access or filming permission, including inside Hassan II Mosque.
Ready to fall in love with your next destination? Morocco stands a good chance of stealing your travel-loving heart. From the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the barren Sahara desert, Morocco offers a landscape for everyone. Visit the grand mosque of Casablanca and include time for the gorgeous blue city of Chefchaouen elsewhere in your route.
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Where to even begin planning your trip to Morocco can be intimidating. What should you put on your list with so much to see and likely only a few days to do it? Here are my recommendations for what to experience in Morocco.
You’ll likely enter Morocco through Marrakech or Fez. Marrakech lands itself as one of the top cities to visit in the world. Lisbon was our home when I wrote these notes. Check current flight schedules and journey times for your dates.
Its bustling activity and intensity can leave you feeling overwhelmed, but shopping in the souks inside the medina (old city) is an experience you must try.
Note that the vendors border on harassment, which can be less with a guide. If you are worried, book a guided tour like this.
City tours aren’t just for daytime! Experience medina with a local and enjoy street foods with them. We shopped (significantly cheaper once we knew where to go!), explored, and munched the night away.
From pastries to the tender meat of tanjiri, your mouth will thank you!
I nearly skipped the Sahara because of the driving time, and I am glad we made room for it. The night sky and camel ride became highlights for me. Chris and I also experienced that desert landscape on his 40th-birthday trip, just the two of us. Our family film captures a separate desert outing with the kids, climbing a dune and riding camels. They are different visits, and both are part of our Morocco story.
Dunes and camels on our family Sahara outing · Scene from our film (24 sec)
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A trip to the Sahara will cost you some serious driving time but is well worth the effort.
When booking our trip, I almost skipped the Sahara due to our limited days and all the time it takes to get to the Sahara. However, I asked a fellow travel family mom, and she said it was the highlight of their trip! I would agree. Visiting and sleeping a night in the Sahara Desert will be your highlight also.
The stunning landscape, brilliant night skies, and fantastic luxury tents make this a winning adventure! We stayed with Roaming Camels Luxury Camp and thoroughly loved our camel ride and overnight experience. I would recommend staying with them as well.
Check out some of the night photography we were able to take.
Even if you’re in the middle of a desert, you can still get a good night’s sleep and find comfort in these other luxury camps as well:
If you’re hesitant to stay in a luxury tent, try one of these guesthouses near Merzouga:
If Morocco wasn’t already fantastic, did you know it’s stocked with fossils? You can see factories discovering these ancient fossils and shaping them into modern items like tables, sinks, and many more.
This site has been restored and used for many TV series and movies, an ancient fortress made with stone and packed mud.
From Gladiator to Game of Thrones, this gem has seen its fair share of A-List actors. However, the village still houses a few families full-time and will wow you with its culture and experience.
One of my favorite things in Aït Ben Haddou is watching traditional paintings with indigo, saffron, and sugared tea. With heat, the tea emerges into brown tones on the paper. To witness it is magical!
Goats in trees? Yep, it’s a real thing in Morocco! You can snap your selfie with these furry friends and explore the local area.
Fez is a place where I would plan to explore with a local guide. We walked a narrow lane together, with the kids beside us and textiles lining the walls. I would leave time for the tanneries and ceramics as well as the maze of streets, rather than making this only a quick pass through the medina. Check current visiting details before making plans around a particular workshop.
Exploring the Fez medina with the kids · Scene from our film (20 sec)
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Rich in culture and fantastic medinas, each imperial city is worth a visit. The King of Morocco has working palaces in these cities (and several others).
Take some time to get lost in the maze-like workings of the medinas and take in the tastes, smells, and feelings of these ancient gathering places.
Each city will need a specific tour guide as guides must have a local license. We’d recommend these tours to explore:
Casablanca inspires magic from the movies, even if the famous movie of the same name wasn’t filmed here. Still, this metropolitan city will also amaze you with its grand mosque. Hassan II Mosque offers guided visitor tours, and we were thrilled to go inside!
Plan around the mosque foundation’s published guided-visit timetable and rules, rather than assuming visits run between every prayer. Friday, seasonal, and Ramadan schedules differ; confirm the time and ticket category, including children’s admission, for your date. Wear clothing covering shoulders and torso and extending below the knees, remove and carry your shoes, stay with the group, and respect barriers. The published visit rules prohibit video cameras inside; our past visit and photos do not establish permission for future filming.
End your day by visiting Rick’s Cafe, modeled after the famous film Casablanca.
Morocco gives Portugal some competition in the surf category with some fantastic surfing. The best months to surf are December through March. See beautiful coastlines and brush up on those surf skills in Taghazout.
After driving some barren landscape in the Atlas Mountains, this stunning oasis brings to life all the cartoons you saw as a kid. You are not hallucinating and can hike this beautiful area or enjoy the mountain streams.
Essaouira is the coastal stop I point families toward for a walk along the ramparts and a wander through the medina. There is more to look at than the ocean: our family film captures blue-shuttered storefronts, a walk through the lanes, and a pause by an inlaid wooden table. Those small details are a lovely reason to leave some wandering time in the day instead of rushing on to the next stop.
Our family walk through Essaouira · Scene from our film (27 sec)
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A more beautiful coastline is available in the port town of Essaouira. Kids will enjoy the cannons lining the sea ramparts, and the medina calls the adventurous to explore.
Be prepared to be wowed by the tanneries in Fez. While they may stink (due to the use of pigeon’s poop for treating the leathers), the process of leather working in Fez demands your visit.
Bring along your wallet to enjoy shopping the ample variety of leather goods for sale.
Additionally, you can visit a government-sponsored ceramic factory to see unique mosaics in the making.
Chefchaouen is still my favorite city in Morocco. I love giving ourselves time to wander the blue lanes, stop for fresh juice, browse the clothes and other small finds, and take a break for a meal before heading up toward the Spanish Mosque for sunset. On our family visit, we also came across peacocks along the way. The separate photo of Chris and me in Chefchaouen belongs to our couple trip; this walk with the kids is a different visit.
A family stop in Chefchaouen · Scene from our film (20 sec)
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The Blue City is our favorite city in Morocco which took my breath away in its beauty. Here you can explore the labyrinth of alleys and walkways, enjoy a nice meal, and hike to the Spanish Mosque for sunset.
We loved our stay at Dar Jasmine, which has a gorgeous view of the city day and night.
You can also try these highly recommended hotels in Chefchaouen:
While driving between Casablanca and Chefchaouen, our tour guide (Idir) treated us to a mouth-watering Moroccan BBQ.
Paired with the traditional tagine, these grilled lamb chops were one of our favorite meals.
This one almost goes without saying, as it is hard NOT to get lost in the old parts of the ancient cities.
However, it’s a pleasurable experience and can also be enjoyed with a guide. You’ll love the variety of goods for sale, the smells of local dishes, and the noise of happy people at work.
Water scarcity takes on new meaning as you cross the barren landscape of the desert.
Learn about ancient wells and irrigation systems called “khettara” and enter the dried-up wells to see the marvel firsthand.
I was rewarded through the countless hours of driving across this vast country by camels crossing the road! Watch shepherds herd their flocks of camels across the desert.
This happens near the Sahara, but wildlife occurs all around Morocco.
Undoubtedly you could spend several months in Morocco and not see all it offers. Have a favorite we didn’t mention? Leave in the comments below!
Xoxo,
Leslie
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