Itineraries · By our family trip planners in Marrakech · 2 min read

10 Days in Morocco with Kids: Cities, Desert and Beach

How to spend 10 days in Morocco with kids: Marrakech, the Sahara, the Atlas and Essaouira beach, with the right pace for children.

Quick answer

Ten days allow Marrakech, the Atlas, the Sahara and either Fes or the coast, without rushing.
Route A: Marrakech – Atlas – Sahara – Fes (ending in Fes).
Route B: Marrakech – Atlas – Sahara – back to Marrakech – Essaouira beach.
Include at least one free day for rest, pool or beach.

Why 10 days work so well

Ten days is the sweet spot for many families. You can include the highlights and still have time for rest days, pool afternoons and the small surprises that make a trip special. Here are two routes we often plan for families.

Route A: Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara

Days 1–3: Marrakech, souks, gardens, cooking class, and a day trip to the Atlas Mountains
Day 4: Over the Atlas to Ait Benhaddou and the Dades Valley
Day 5: Todra Gorge and Merzouga, camel ride and camp
Day 6: A full day in the desert: nomads, sandboarding, music
Day 7: Through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forest (with monkeys) to Fes
Days 8–9: Fes medina with a family guide, tanneries, crafts; optional day to Chefchaouen
Day 10: Fly home from Fes

This route never drives the same road twice, and the cedar forest with its Barbary macaques is a favourite with children.

Route B: Desert and beach

Days 1–2: Marrakech
Days 3–6: Atlas, Ait Benhaddou, Dades, Sahara and back, with a night on each side
Day 7: Rest day in Marrakech
Days 8–10: Essaouira by the sea: beach, port, camel ride on the beach, relaxed medina

This route ends with calm beach days, perfect after the adventure of the desert.

Planning tips

Keep at least one free day. Change hotels as little as possible. Avoid driving more than 5 to 6 hours a day with children, and stop often. Choose riads and camps with family rooms.

Tip: Put the beach at the end of the trip, not the start. Children relax, and parents fly home rested.