6 Days in Morocco with Kids: Marrakech, Agafay Desert & Atlas Mountains

Kids ages: 10 & 8

Month of visit: November

Morocco was on our travel list for a long time. With a week off for the kids during Thanksgiving, we decided to go for it. After factoring in travel days and an overnight stay in London to break up the return flight, we had five nights and six days in lively Marrakech. From there, we planned to explore the "Red City," the nearby Atlas Mountains, and the Agafay desert. Our time in Morocco far surpassed our expectations (the weather and people were the standouts) and we left eager to return and explore more of the country.

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DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN MARRAKECH

After a connecting flight to London Heathrow, we flew into Marrakech Menara airport — we had opted for the Fast Track service through the hotel which made customs, passport control, and the overall arrival experience a breeze. Located just 15 minutes from the airport, our home base for the week was Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. This sprawling slice of paradise is easily one of the best Four Seasons properties we have stayed at: excellent service, great rooms for families, kid-friendly, complimentary kids club and Young Adult Center, multiple pools and dining outlets, and set in a lush compound with 40 acres of fragrant gardens.

*Suite Exterior, Four Seasons Resort Marrakech*

We stayed in a Premier One-Bedroom Patio Suite with a King bedroom and spacious bathroom (with shower and bathtub), a large living room with dining area, sofa bed, and rollaway bed, and a powder room with shower. The patio was our favorite feature of the room, with a verdant walled garden, private plunge pool with lounge chairs, and an outdoor dining area with seating for four people. During our stay, the weather was incredible, and we spent countless hours lounging outside.

*One of many playrooms at the Kids Kasbah, Four Seasons Resort Marrakech*

Highlights here included the excellent service experience, the biggest Kids For All Seasons kids club we have ever seen (called the Kids Kasbah, or “Palace”), the suite itself and thoughtful welcome amenities, lazy afternoons sipping Aperol Spritzes poolside at Azzerra taking advantage of the incredible weather, and the excursions.

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DAY 2 | MEDINA

One of our favorite experiences during this trip was a half-day guided tour of the Medina. The excursion included a private driver and a guide who took us on a bespoke tour of the city’s attractions. We opted for a tour of the Dar al Bacha Museum, a carriage ride circling the walled city before seeing the monkey trainers in the main square (no snake charmers the day of our visit), exploring and shopping around the Medina (Bazaar Menara was a highlight), and ending our day at the Secret Garden.

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DAY 3 | MARJORELLE GARDENS

We spent our third day at the Marjorelle Gardens, the stunning botanical garden that is one of Marrakech’s most popular tourist attractions. We bought tickets in advance, which came with a timed entry. The gardens were lovely and make for a nice 2-3 hour excursion.

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DAY 4 | AGAFAY DESERT

After a day with the kids at the kids club followed by mother-daughter pedicures at the resort spa, we embarked on a nighttime excursion to Agafay Desert. This was supposed to have been a dromedary ride in the desert followed by a private dinner at Inara Camp. However, unfortunately, one of the kiddos got sick so we arrived in Agafay too late to ride camels and had to leave before dinner. Note that the excursions to Agafay are partly offroading with up to 1.5h drive time each way from the resort to Inara Camp, which is one of the more remote camp locations.

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DAY 5 | ANIMA GARDENS & ATLAS MOUNTAINS

*Arabian camel (dromedary) ride, Atlas Mountains*

Our last full day in Morocco was spent on a private tour of the Atlas Mountains. We began at Anima Gardens, a lovely green area with fun outdoor art and plenty of shade (the girls enjoyed the hidden spots with hammocks). Next, we ventured out to the Atlas Mountains and had tea and snacks at a traditional Berber village home, hosted by a multi-generational family — the girls were fascinated by the way of life, including the two cows that lived inside the house. We finished the day with a dromedary (Arabian camel) ride through the mountains with the girls dressed up in traditional Moroccan clothing. The ride was their favorite part of the trip, despite being a bit bumpy.

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DAY 6 | LONDON

To break up our travel on the way home, we opted to stay in London for a night. We booked connecting rooms at the Rosewood London, which was fully bedecked in its festive season finest. Although we were only here for a late night and the morning before we flew home, the hotel delivered a solid experience and end to our stay (especially the children’s welcome amenities with the hidden bulldog plushes in each room).

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GOOD TO KNOW

*Four Seasons Resort Marrakech at night*

One of the most common questions we get about our trip to Marrakech is “Did we ever feel unsafe?” The answer is resoundingly no. The Medina is bustling and families will need to mind bringing small children there. That said, there are many family-friendly properties and activities in Marrakech. There is security throughout the property and a guarded, gated entrance. The airport was easy to navigate and Fast Track made the arrival and departure experience seamless, but it would have been easy to navigate the airport without Fast Track. Morocco is a great value-priced destination for United States travelers. Marrakech was well worth a visit and an easy week-long trip, even with long flights.