Highlights
- Discover Moroccan cuisine with a family cooking class
- Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride
- Ride a camel through the Agafay Desert
- Camp underneath the starry desert skies
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Marrakesh, Private Food Tour | Marrakesh |
| Day 2 | Explore Marrakesh, Anima Garden, Afternoon Tea at the Royal Mansour Hotel | Marrakesh |
| Day 3 | Family Cooking Class at Amal Nonprofit Center, Pottery & Mosaic Workshop | Marrakesh |
| Day 4 | Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Marrakesh, Transfer to Imlil | Imlil |
| Day 5 | Toubkal National Park & the Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages Mule Ride | Imlil |
| Day 6 | Transfer to the Agafay Desert, Berber Village Visit & Camel Ride | Agafay |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Marrakesh & Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Marrakesh, Private Food Tour
Welcome to Morocco! As-salaam alaykum (may peace be upon you). This north African country is a colorful blend of Arab, Jewish, and Berber influences, while its proximity to Spain and history of French colonization give it a distinctly European feel. It's also a very family-friendly country with its maze of bustling souks, kasbahs, dunes, deserts, and beaches, the perfect foil for inspiring curious minds of all ages.
Upon arrival, you'll be met by your private driver and transferred to your riad (traditional guesthouse) in Marrakesh's medina (old town), the city's historic area filled with winding alleyways and bustling markets. Settle in and explore your riad; these beautiful stately homes are built around a central, shaded open-air courtyard, with scalloped archways, fountains, and intricate architecture designed to protect against the heat of the desert, often featuring their own plunge pool.
There's no better way to explore all Marrakesh offers than with a guided private food tour. Spend the next few hours tasting traditional delicacies, ranging from Morocco's unique sweets to an authentic and savory tajine, as you and your family stroll through and get to know this captivating city. Open the kids' eyes to a whole new host of flavors and a unique sensory experience as you wander from one local foodie hot spot to the next. The rest of the afternoon is yours to wander the souks and squares at your leisure or simply relax with the kids at your riad.
Day 2: Explore Marrakesh, Anima Garden, Afternoon Tea at the Royal Mansour Hotel
Enjoy breakfast on your sun-filled terrace this morning before embarking on a day exploring the sights and sounds of Marrakesh with the kids. This morning's activity offers the perfect way for little ones to uncover the city's gems through a guided tour and interactive treasure hunt. Discover the beautiful architecture of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, stroll through the colorful souks, and hear about local traditions as the surroundings spark the little ones' imaginations and they discover this fascinating and welcoming city.
Find a cool, shady spot for lunch before leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh in favor of an extraordinary oasis that combines gardens, sculpture, and art. Your private driver will transfer you 18 miles (30 km) southwest to André Heller's famous ANIMA Gardens. Watch as the kids run around the generous gardens, filled with bamboo, palm trees, cacti, giant interactive sculptures, and works by Picasso and Keith Haring. Afterward, enjoy a delicious pastry at the garden's Café Paul Bowles and gaze at the spectacular mountain views from the rooftop tables.
Day 3: Family Cooking Class at Amal Nonprofit Center, Pottery & Mosaic Workshop
Enjoy a slow wake-up this morning but don't dally too long, as you have a full day of fun activities. First up is a visit to the Amal Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering disadvantaged women through restaurant training and job placement. Discover the distinctive flavors of Moroccan cuisine as you and the kids take part in a child-focused culinary workshop. Little ones will love challenging their parents to guess an array of spices while blindfolded!
If the delicious smells generate hunger pangs, the center's chefs will show you and the kids how to make a sumptuous traditional tajine with flatbreads. While the tajines are slowly cooking over the fire, hear about the NGO's work and success stories in empowering the women who train there, to go on and thrive in the workplace.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Marrakesh, Transfer to Imlil
It's a super early start today, but it will definitely be worth it. As you prepare to leave Marrakesh, take one last lingering look over the city with a hot air balloon ride. Gaze across the mountains as the sun rises slowly over the desert, and you pass over arid hills, quaint villages, and pockets of green. Relax with breakfast as the sun fills the sky, and enjoy a selection of delicious Moroccan pastries as you cruise through the air. If ever there was a moment for a family selfie, this is it.
Back on solid ground, check out of your riad, and take a private transfer to your accommodation in Imlil, in the High Atlas mountains. Task the kids with spotting the local wildlife (and maybe even a golden eagle) as you drive through meadows and valleys until you reach the city of Asni. Stop here for a stretch of the legs and a bite to eat before journeying between the hills of the Atlas mountains and the breathtaking Moulay Brahim Gorge. It's a particularly scenic stretch as you reach your destination, the village of Imlil in the heart of the Toubkal National Park.
Day 5: Toubkal National Park & the Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages Mule Ride
Spend today getting an authentic taste of Moroccan rural life as you journey through traditional Berber villages the old-fashioned way—by mule! Kids will love getting to know their patient, strong and sure-footed creatures as you savor the idyllic views of the peaks and surrounding desert. Stop for lunch in a Berber house with a local family, whose hospitality and welcoming of guests are renowned.
Spend time with your hosts as they show you their fields and farms. Discover the traditional Berber law of "the right of water," where every family in the village receives enough water to irrigate their land in exchange for helping to build the village's irrigation system and canals. Little ones will love helping to feed the goats, sheep, and cows and collect vegetables from the farm. Afterward, enjoy refreshments with your hosts before heading back to Imlil, where the rest of the evening is yours to spend as you wish.
Day 6: Transfer to the Agafay Desert, Berber Village Visit & Camel Ride
Bid farewell to Imlil today as you and your family transfer to the sweeping, majestic landscape of the Agafay Desert. Keep your camera close at hand during the two-hour drive as you travel through some of the country's most impressive scenery—your driver will make several stops throughout the journey so you can admire the views. If the kids are desperate for a run-around, stop at the Ourika Valley, where an experienced mountain guide will accompany you on an easy 90-minute hike to see the valley's famous waterfalls.
Hop back in the car, and as you approach Agafay, your driver will take you along a secluded mountain road and weave through traditional Berber villages, one of which will be your next stop. Yesterday's adventure in the Atlas mountains will have already given you a taste of the famous Berber hospitality, and today is no different. Lunch with your hosts and admire the stunning view over the Sidi Fares Valley as you hear how Berber women extract oil from the country's native argan fruit, which has become a much sought-after ingredient in the beauty industry.
As you descend into the Agafay Desert, pass through the Asni Valley, famous for its walnut, almond, and peach trees and the snowy summits of the beautiful Tahnaout Valley. Watch the glee on the kids' faces as you tell them you'll spend your last night in this fascinating country camping in the sands beneath the stars! Settle into your camp and enjoy a welcome tea before surprising the kids with one last treat—a camel ride across the desert. Stride across the arid plateau and watch the sun go down before returning just in time for dinner and a campfire beneath the stars.
Day 7: Transfer to Marrakesh & Depart
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