9-Day Morocco Family Tour — Kasbah Nights & Wild Desert Camp
A 9-day family adventure with nights in real mud-brick kasbahs, two wild desert camp nights in the Sahara, camel trekking, pottery and Marrakech riads — built for kids 5+ and parents of all fitness levels.
Local guide
Small groups
Private available
Family Friendly
9 days / 8 nights
Private — family
English / French
About Us
- ›This 9-day family tour is built for parents and children alike.
- ›You start in Marrakech with two nights in a traditional riad in the old medina, a half-day walking tour with a local guide and time at the riad's splash pool.
- ›Then we cross the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n'Tichka pass to the famous mud-brick kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site used as a set for Gladiator, Prince of Persia and Lawrence of Arabia, where you sleep inside a real kasbah.
- ›The road south leads through Ouarzazate and the long, green Draa Valley, with mosques, gardens of henna and wheat and many red kasbahs along the river.
- ›We stop at Tamegroute for the famous green-glazed Berber pottery (kids can paint their own piece) and the old Koranic library with 14th-century manuscripts, before reaching the small palm oasis of Ouled Driss near M'Hamid.
- ›From there we trek by camel into the wild dunes for two unforgettable nights of true Sahara nomad life.
- ›The guides set up a simple camp with two-person igloo tents, prepare dinner over the fire and teach the kids old Sahrawi songs on the darbouka drum.
- ›There are millions of stars overhead. (A more comfortable bivouac or a luxury tent camp is also possible.) On the way back we can stop at the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate before crossing the High Atlas again to Marrakech.
Experience Itinerary
-
1
Day 1 — Arrival in Marrakech
- ›Pickup at Marrakech airport and transfer to a traditional riad in the old medina.
- ›The rest of the day is free to settle in or to enjoy the splash pool, the rooftop terrace, the board games and the kids' books at the riad.
- ›You can also take a short walk in the narrow lanes of the medina, where each street is given to a different craft, food or trade.
- ›Welcome dinner served at the riad.
-
2
Day 2 — Marrakech guided walking tour
- ›Half-day walking tour with an English-speaking local guide.
- ›We walk through the souks of the medieval medina to meet artisans, bakers, carpenters, spice merchants and old herbal pharmacies.
- ›We see the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque, and end at the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
- ›Free afternoon for a horse-drawn carriage ride around the ramparts or a visit to the Majorelle Gardens, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
- ›In the evening you can try the outdoor food stalls on Jemaa el-Fnaa, with grilled meats, fried fish, snails, harira soup and spiced ginger tea.
-
3
Day 3 — Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou kasbah
- ›We leave Marrakech in a private 4x4 and climb into the High Atlas Mountains, past small mud-built villages clinging to the slopes, with pine and juniper forests, oleander, prickly pear, almond and cherry orchards.
- ›We cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m, then descend through valleys of olive green, burnt sienna and ochre.
- ›We reach the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified hilltop village that once controlled the caravans from Sub-Saharan Africa, also used in Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Jewel in the Nile and Lawrence of Arabia.
- ›Lunch facing the kasbah, then a walking tour through its narrow alleys and a mint tea in a local home.
- ›Overnight in a restored kasbah guesthouse.
-
4
Day 4 — Ait Ben Haddou to M'Hamid via the Draa Valley
- ›We drive south through rocky country where the Anti-Atlas and the Jbel Saghro meet, with high passes and deep ravines.
- ›We reach Agdz, the capital of dates in the Draa Valley oasis.
- ›The road down the Draa is one of the most beautiful in Morocco, with palm trees, henna gardens, vegetable plots, red mud kasbahs, village mosques and scenes of farming life unchanged for centuries.
- ›We also drive off-road along the river banks.
- ›Lunch in Zagora, known as the gate of the Sahara.
- ›At Tamegroute we visit the famous green-glazed Berber pottery (children can paint and decorate their own piece using natural henna dye) and the Koranic library with hand-drawn manuscripts going back to the 14th century.
- ›Overnight in a kasbah-style hotel in the palm oasis of Ouled Driss, just before M'Hamid.
-
5
Day 5 — M'Hamid wild Sahara desert camp
- ›Free morning at the hotel — time to relax, charge cameras and enjoy the gardens and pool.
- ›Early afternoon we leave by camel with just an overnight bag (your big luggage stays safely in the 4x4) and trek about 3 hours into the wilderness, past tamarisk trees, cactus and small desert plants.
- ›The guides set up a simple camp and prepare a hearty dinner with hot tea and biscuits.
- ›Children can help to pitch the tents, gather firewood, build the fire and tie up the camels for the night.
- ›The Sahrawi 'Blue Men' nomads will teach some old songs around the darbouka drum.
- ›You can sleep under millions of stars or in a two-person igloo tent. (A more comfortable bivouac with showers and toilets or even a luxury tent camp is also possible.)
-
6
Day 6 — Second night in the wild Sahara
- ›Another full day in the deep desert.
- ›We can ride further on the camels, walk in the dunes, learn to bake bread under the hot sand or rest at camp.
- ›The guides find a new pretty spot for the night and again prepare dinner, tea and biscuits over the fire.
- ›More darbouka music under the stars.
- ›If there is a sandstorm, we move to a fixed camp.
- ›Comfort and luxury camp options are also available for families who do not want full wild camping.
-
7
Day 7 — Back to Marrakech via Ouarzazate
- ›Morning departure from the kasbah and 2-hour drive through the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate.
- ›Optional visit of the Atlas Film Studios for a family tour of sets from blockbuster films like The Mummy, Gladiator, Kundun and The Last Temptation of Christ.
- ›Lunch near the studios or in town.
- ›We then drive back over the Tizi n'Tichka pass with the High Atlas all around, with many photo stops, and reach Marrakech at sunset, around 6 pm.
- ›Dinner at the riad.
-
8
Day 8 — Free day in Marrakech
- ›A full free day in Marrakech to explore on your own, shop, swim at the riad pool or join family-friendly activities such as a cooking class, a horse-drawn carriage ride, the Majorelle Gardens, or a hammam treatment.
- ›Free choice of lunch and dinner.
-
9
Day 9 — Departure
- ›Transfer to Marrakech airport in time for your departure flight.
- ›End of the family tour.
- ›You can also extend your trip with one of our other adventure tours, for example the Atlantic coast, the imperial cities or the south.
What's Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, licensed and insured for tourism
- Professional dedicated driver throughout the tour
- English- or French-speaking guide/escort
- Licensed local guides in Marrakech and Ait Ben Haddou
- Camel trek and two nights of wild desert camping in the Sahara
- Selected riads, kasbah-guesthouses and 3-4 star or boutique hotels with breakfast
- Meals as listed in the program (mostly half board, full board in the desert)
- Pickup and drop-off at hotel, riad or airport
- 24-hour English-speaking customer hotline during the tour
- Local tourist taxes
Not Included
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and historic sites
- Lunches and some evening meals
- Drinks with meals and mineral water
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
- Mandatory travel and medical insurance
- International flights
Know Before You Go
| Duration | 9 days / 8 nights |
| Languages | English / French |
| Level | Easy — family friendly |
| Dietary | Vegetarian meals on request |
| Group type | Private — family |