Are you in the process of planning a family vacation? Do you want to go to a place that your Mp3 listening, computer game playing teenager and your precocious 5 year old will both be happy? Look no further than Morocco. This North African country offers something for everyone in your family–from the historian to the outdoor adventurer! You can book a Moroccan vacation that the whole family will enjoy. On your holiday to Morocco, you can ride a camel, visit mosques, spy palaces and barter and wander through open-air markets.

Your Morocco Holiday History & Weather

• Weather is as varied as Morocco itself. Summer is the best time to visit the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast lines. Farther south, the seaport town of Essaouira is a good place to start or end any Morocco vacation.
• An old pirate’s den in its past life, Essaouira has a long and sandy beaches. The farther you go down, th e wider the beach becomes. If your teenager digs water sports, then she might like to try wind surfing or kite surfing. You can rent equipment right on the beach.
• Your Moroccan tour operator can make sure an outfitter will give lessons and see to safety. Your younger children will a romp on the beach. The older kids might like to do some beach casting or just kick back and read. Some of the sights your family may enjoy are the woodcarvers in the medina or fishermen unloading their catch at the port–there’s several seafood restaurants nearby.
• The spring and fall months are the best times to venture into the mountains or desert. Weather is more moderate than in the summer months. September and October boast almost no rain. Take your children on an  Atlas trek in Morocco and let them experience the Berber way of life.

Your Morocco Holiday: Things to Do & Learn

• Explore villages on foot while your younger ones enjoy hiking alongside or riding on the mule. You can all sleep in the fresh mountain air in a traditional Berber tent; in some areas you’ll sleep in gites and refuges.
• Visit the “Valley of the Kasbah” and explore the famous Ait Benhaddou. Or head to the Souss Valley and enjoy seeing a green valley full of almond trees. Let the family explore the old Kasbah in Ouled Berhil. What a great way to experience history. There are many places in the Atlas Mountains that are good to visit for older children. Customize your Moroccan adventure with ages in mind; your Morocco Tour Operator can help you with these small details.
• One activity that the whole family will enjoy is camel trekking. Take a camel ride on the beach during your Essaouira trip. Or you can go to the Erg Chigaga region of the Sahara Desert and visit the dunes of Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga. Your guide will take you on trek through the sands, you can spend the night on the dunes and view the stars at night. If four-wheeling is more your older child’s style, those trips are available, too.
• Maybe you would like your trip to be a learning adventure. Visiting Volubilis or Lixus can bring ancient history alive for you, no matter your age. Visiting the city of Fez, will give you a lesson on what living was like during Middle Ages in the Moslem world.
• Among other good choices for history lessons are Rabat and neighboring Sale along with Meknes. These latter three are not quite as big as Marrakech or Casablanca. Rabat is an especially good place for younger children. Pace of life is a bit slower than the bigger cities. Don’t forget to make a stop at the different museums that you find wherever you travel. They will provide insights into this magical land.

After the Sahara Desert

No trip to Morocco would be complete without a visit to Marrakech. Once inside the red walls of the city, you and your children will think you are in another world. Everyone in the family will find something to entertain them–from Henna art to bargaining for wares, Marrakech is as vibrant as it is entertaining.

The city has vibrant bazaars and a labyrinth of souks bursting with activity of exotic sights and sounds. Go to the square at the end of your day and enjoy snake charmers, acrobats, and the carnival like atmosphere. Everything around you will excite your senses and enthrall your young ‘uns.

Your Moroccan tour guide will help you to customize your Moroccan adventure for your whole family. You will find your visit exciting and informative. Morocco is filled with spectacular landscapes, busy cities and time-worn Berber villages.

by Carole Morris