Are you looking for inspiration for your next family holiday—something alternative yet memorable? Get ready to discover why you should start planning your Morocco family vacation right now!
We are a sporty family constantly searching for destinations that offer plenty of activities and water sports (we love wingfoil). We organize our trips independently and want to share all our tried-and-true tips with other active families who want to enjoy the great outdoors with their kids. All our itineraries are affordable, typically last around a week, and, most importantly, are planned without rushing to respect our kids’ time.
We just came back from one of the best family holidays we’ve had so far and are excited to share what we loved about our Morocco family vacation, along with tips on where to stay and how to enjoy it.
1. Morocco Family Vacation is Surprisingly Affordable
Marrakech Airport offers low-cost fares (from both Ryanair and easyJet) from many European cities. Beyond airfare, the local cost of living is genuinely low. For example, 6 Moroccan Dirhams -Dhr (about €0.60) bought us six loaves of Berber bread for the entire day. Even if you prefer eating out, restaurant costs are low; a delicious tajine in Essaouira costs on average 100 Dhr (about €10). Car rentals are also cheap, except for the deposit, which is pretty high compared to other countries. Accommodation prices are also very low.
Activity Costs & The Art of Haggling
Activity costs are low if you plan things independently rather than booking an organized tour. Haggling over the price is common practice, so be prepared! To give you an idea of the value: we paid 60 Dhr (about €6) for a half-hour camel ride and 120 Dhr (about €12) for a half-hour quad ride (one adult + one kid).
Surf rentals are also cheap (about €15 a day for a surfboard) and surf lessons are affordable compared to other mainstream surfing destinations (around €25 for one hour).
Our Wingfoil Gear Strategy
Equipment for sports like wingfoil or kitesurfing is naturally more expensive than surfing boards. That’s why we always carry our own wingfoil gear with us on the plane. Sport equipment luggage is usually around €60 per bag, which is often the equivalent of just one day’s wingfoil rental. That’s a lesson we’ve learned after many wingfoil holidays, and so far, we’ve always traveled safely with our equipment.
2. The Moroccan Coast Offers Kid-Friendly Beaches and Year-Round Warm Climate
Most people who travel to Morocco join organized bus tours that involve long hours and countless sights—something we know isn’t appropriate for families. Kids need time to enjoy activities, not just rush through cities. Morocco offers more than just the desert and cultural centers; it provides amazing beaches and plenty of kid-focused activities making it an ideal destination for family holidays.
The climate is good the entire year, making it an affordable and appealing alternative also for an active family Christmas holiday.
In about three hours driving from Marrakech, you reach Morocco’s ocean side, home to the main coastal cities: Essaouira and Agadir. Both are renowned surfing destinations and feature beautiful, ample beaches.
You might read somewhere that the water is dirty, but this is absolutely not true. It is ocean water, and the beach is sandy, so when the ocean is very active, the water can look sandy. Crucially, in Sidi Kaouki and most of the coastal villages we encountered a very shallow seabed at low tide, which practically creates a perfect, calm swimming pool for kids and is the absolute best place to teach them to surf. The water isn’t warm (it’s the Atlantic Ocean), but with a 4:3 wetsuit, you and your kids will enjoy long swims.
The fact that the beaches are super ample is another massive plus compared to most kid-friendly destinations. The beaches are so ample that this unlimited space allows for relaxed family play (sandcastles, running) and makes setting up bulky sports gear (kitesurf/wingfoil) easy and stress-free.
For families, we advise choosing smaller villages over large cities for a more relaxed, family-friendly, and safe vibe. We recommend Sidi Kaouki in the Essaouira region and Tamraght/Tagazought in the Agadir region.
3. Local Gems: The Unforgettable Adventures of Your Morocco Family Trip
Whether you choose the Essaouira or Agadir region, both offer adventurous trips. In Agadir, you can discover local oases, and in the Essaouira region (just 10 minutes from Sidi Kaouki), you can explore the Sidi M’barek cascades and desert.
Every region provides special discovery trips for the family. A short walk inside the riverbed, followed by jumping on the dunes in Sidi Mbarek, was certainly one of the most memorable moments of the entire vacation. The discovery of local markets, like the fish markets in Essaouira, and exploring the inside of the Medina, are also part of the adventure. Our children were simply staring at everything they saw; this is definitely a holiday that will open up your kids’ minds.
4. A Family Holiday in Morocco Offers Plenty of Activities for Kids and Adults Alike
Morocco coast offers a range of activities that truly please the whole family.
The Camel Ride is a must-try experience. The height of the ride and the sense of exploration are unique. If your child is small (ours is three), it’s better to ride together, as we wouldn’t let him ride alone due to the height.
The Quad Ride was what our son enjoyed the most with his father. I still remember his face, showing a mix of adrenaline, joy, and adventure, as he told us how special it was to ride on the dunes. Totally worth it!
Surfing is arguably the best activity for older kids. We witnessed some of the most caring and friendly kid instructors ever, and we promised ourselves we’d go back when our now three-year-old is older. The water’s mild depth and the small waves make it the perfect destination for children and beginner adults to learn.
Wind Sports: Kitesurf and Wingfoil
Essaouira is the windiest part of Morocco, where you can enjoy kitesurfing, windsurfing, and even wingfoiling. Choose the Essaouira city beach spot for an easier, flat-water session, while heading to the Sidi Kaouki spot for a more expert and wave session. The shallow water is ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing, but it renders wingfoiling much more difficult, especially if you are not confident with the shorebreak entering technique.
Wind consistency varies a lot; we only had one wind day in 8 days, but this is always down to your wind luck. Generally, we have to say that for expert-level wingfoiling, the best spot is certainly Sidi Kaouki.
5. Your Active Family will Love Immersing in the Berber Vibe in a Morocco Family Holiday
For us, traveling also means learning and immersing ourselves in the culture. The more distant the culture is from ours, the more immersive the travel becomes.
The Cultural Contrast
Arriving in Marrakech can be a shocking cultural experience, with people riding donkeys, scooters, and carts on trafficked roads full of small, shack-style shops. You see small vans with coffee machines, trucks overflowing with hay, and scooters carrying four people.
However, as you approach the coast, the traffic gives way to the relaxed vibe of the Berber people. You’ll soon get to know their ritualistic cult of tea (and how they serve it to form foam, or “moussa”). You’ll get used to their chilled mood and will come to love their respectful and kind approach to life and people.
Tasting their typical food is part of the cultural immersion. Beyond the famous Tajine, our favorites are the Meloui (a flaky, round pancake, the round version of the Msemmen) with Amlou (a delicious spreadable cream with argan oil and almonds).
Safety and Trust
It might seem unreal, but the Moroccan coast is one of the places where we felt safest. People trust each other; when you rent a surfboard, they just ask for your name, with no documentation or deposit needed. If you are in trouble, people are always trying to help, even if they don’t know English. Our host even gave us shawls as a gift, a sign of our friendship at the end of the vacation.
Moroccan people are good people. If you try to immerse yourself in the Berber culture of the Free Man, you start realizing what matters most in your life; you become more connected with yourself and your family. We didn’t use phones; we didn’t post stories; we lived completely unbound. Morocco is definitely the place where we connected the most with each other and disconnected the most from the rest of the world. This creates the most everlasting memories ever.
Morocco Family Vacation: Where to Stay
We visited both the Agadir and Essaouira areas and preferred the latter—it’s less touristy and more relaxed. Our love for the wind was another good reason why we chose Essaouira over Agadir, but don’t worry about excessive wind; at least when we visited, we only had one day of strong wind.
We absolutely recommend the village of Sidi Kaouki for families. It’s not chaotic, it’s authentic, and you have plenty to explore around it with very small car rides.
For accommodation in Sidi Kaouki, we absolutely recommend Dar Mahjoubi House for families. It is super spacious inside and outside, beautifully decorated, and Said, the host, will fully immerse you in the local culture, offering typical breakfast and dinner. Furthermore, the kitchen is fully stocked, featuring tajine pots and everything you need to cook for the entire family. The sense of calm peace you experience there, looking at the beach and listening to the sound of the waves, is marvelous—plus, the prices are very affordable.
Inspirational Itinerary for your Morocco Family Vacation: Best Activities to do in Sidi Kaouki
We are not travelers who rush to see as many places as possible. Our concept of a holiday is about enjoying and getting to know the local favorites and off-the-beaten paths. We respect our kids’ time and typically plan one half-day special activity with a half-day of playing on the beach. So, take this itinerary as inspiration for your own active days.
1. Small walk to the southern part of Sidi Kaouki beach
If you are staying at Dar Mahjoubi House you can walk directly there. If starting from Sidi Kaouki Village center, walk until the southern part of the beach. Here, you’ll see one of the most loved spot for pro surfers, often with bigger waves. In addition, there is also a small lagoon, sometimes with wild camels exploring around, and local fishermen looking for crabs. The wide, dry expanse of the beach is perfect for drawing immense paintings and splashing in small tide pools.
For small walks, you can also explore the nearby Takouchet beach. We advise parking nearby and going on foot, as the forest road leading directly to the beach was too bumpy for our car.
2. Camel ride in Sidi Kaouki
Whether your kid prefers a camel, donkey, or horse, you have everything to choose from in Sidi Kaouki. Based on our experience, a camel ride is absolutely unique and worth it.
If your kid is little (ours is 3 years old), it’s better to ride a camel together with a parent, since it gets very high. You’ll have so many camels to choose from and can negotiate the best price. The good thing is that they never press you on the beach; they are just walking by, occasionally asking for a ride or simply a camel touch.
3. Quad ride in Sidi Kaouki
From the very first moment we hit Sidi Kaouki beach, our 3-year-old kept asking us to go for a quad ride, literally staring at them while they passed on the beach. Since we weren’t sure he would like it or if he would be afraid while driving, we asked for a 30-minute drive together with his father.
They drove to the very southern part of the beach, passing over small dunes, and it was absolutely worth it—he was happier than on a carousel!
4. Surf lessons/ sessions in Sidi Kaouki
This is absolutely a must-do activity in Sidi Kaouki that both kids and adults will love. Offering both small and big waves, this beach is simply the perfect spot for active families.
We rented the surfboards at Surf Les Vagues, which we absolutely recommend for friendly staff and really good prices. Plus, in front of their shop, there is ample free parking (if you park further down the beach entrance, the parking is paid).
The waves are really constant and generally better in the morning than in the afternoon, at least when we visited. There is also consistency in terms of waves, often with a shorebreak.
More expert surfers will head to the southern part of Sidi Kaouki beach, where bigger waves are often found and where there are no surfing schools in the water. If you have more time and are looking for more surfing spots, head to the southern Imsouane spot.
5. Wing foil/ Kitesurfing/ Windsurfing in Sidi Kaouki
Wingfoiling was originally the reason we chose Sidi Kaouki in Morocco. We are always searching for new destinations to enjoy our wingfoil passion. During our stay, we were unlucky with the wind, and locals reported that wind was less consistent this past year compared to others. However, we did get one day with 20 knots and small waves, which Damiano enjoyed greatly. Sidi Kaouki is not the place to learn wingfoiling; you need to be confident with passing the shorebreak and already possess wave-riding skills.
The sandy backdrop is a plus, but the extended shallow water depth makes the entrance difficult for wingfoiling. We advise starting further south of the beach entrance to avoid the surf schools and surfers.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing are much easier here compared to wingfoiling due to the shallow water, but a good level of wave riding is still needed. For flat water and beginner-level conditions for all wind sports, choose Essaouira beach. For expert wave spots, the Moulay Bouzerktoun spot (north of Essaouira) is renowned for windsurfing, though we didn’t have enough wind days to personally try this location.
5. Excursion to the Sidi M’Barek cascades and desert
This is definitely one of the must-do things during your Morocco family vacation if you are in Sidi Kaouki.
Travel for about 10 minutes south until you reach a small village and park in front of the sign indicating the trail to the cascades. From there, start your 30-minute walk, which passes along the riverbed. You will probably be alone, as most tourists prefer to reach the beach in front of the cascades directly by car. But for us, it was totally worth it, with spectacular scenery of this oasis.
It has been five years since the last rain in Sidi Kaouki, so the river and cascades are now only a really little stream, but the green landscape surrounding it, in contrast with the surrounding desert scenery, is astonishing. With this small walk, you’ll reach the cascades, where an old Berber-style house also decorates the view.
Just a few meters more, and you reach a small desert overlooking the beautiful beach in front of the cascades. This was a super unexpected surprise and one of the most fun things for our kid. We ran down the dunes countless times, and being there alone, the three of us having fun while looking at the marvelous landscape around, was simply unforgettable.
We then returned to the car at sunset, walking the upper path starting from the dunes, stopping countless times to stare at the marvelous scenery and feeling that deep sense of family connection.
If you have more time, you can also consider visiting the nearby Iftane beach, which is absolutely marvelous according to Said (our host). We were having so much fun on the dunes that we ran out of time for other explorations that day.
6. Visit to Essaouira’s fish market and the Medina
We are not city lovers and rarely include a city tour in our holidays, but Essaouira is an exception. It’s more of a cultural immersion than a city tour. According to our experience, this cultural exploration is integral part for your Morocco family vacation.
The fish market has tons of different fishes, with cats and seagulls looking for food all around, and stalls that grill the fish you buy directly at the market.
The Medina, with all these small shops inside narrow alleys providing every kind of Berber food, clothes, and decorations, is also a cultural experience. We and our kid loved it, and it falls perfectly into the local gem discovery and Berber vibe exploration section.
At the end of the city exploration, you can relax on Essaouira beach by parking at the free lot in front of the Ocean Vagabond restaurant. Essaouira beach is perfect for surfing, kitesurfing, wingfoiling, and provides camel and horse riders and many small restaurants directly on the beach.
If you want an even more mystical and Berber exploration experience, visit the Had Draa market, which is 1 hour far from Sidi Kaouki.
Morocco Family Vacation FAQ
What should I absolutely bring with me for a Morocco Family Vacation? Your passport is the only mandatory thing. If you already have a wetsuit, bring it if you plan to enjoy watersports; if not, you can easily rent one there.
Does internet work on my phone in Morocco? It depends on your phone company, but generally, roaming costs for European companies are really high. If you are going to need an internet connection, we advise you to buy an eSIM. We didn’t buy anything and enjoyed being disconnected. We had Wi-Fi connection in our accommodation, and for navigation, we had already downloaded the maps offline in Google Maps. Some rental companies might tell you that Google Maps is not working in Morocco, but at least in the places we visited, it always worked perfectly.
Is Morocco a good destination for a family trip? According to our experience, if you are a family in search of adventure and active travel, Morocco is a perfect destination.
Which part of Morocco is best for families? The Atlantic coast (Essaouira/Agadir). Sidi Kaouki is our key recommendation.
Is Morocco safe to travel with kids? Yes, we never felt at risk of theft. The Moroccans are very respectful of tourists and love children.
If you have more questions or doubts while planning your Morocco family vacation, feel free to contact us for any additional tips!
Need more inspiration for affordable, active family destinations? Check out our dedicated wingfoil holiday section.
