Family Holiday: Mountains, Marrakech & Camels

A family holiday in Morocco including some of the country's must-do highlights; A three day trek in the High Atlas Mountains, a stay in a traditional riad in Marrakech's medina & a camel trek followed by a night under the stars.

Your holiday begins in the stunning High Atlas Mountains, which you will explore in the best way possible: on foot. This three day trek has been selected because it exposes you to some of the areas most beautiful scenery in manageable distances. (An extra mule is also provided for children to ride if they get tired.) Trekking through lush valleys, sleepy Berber settlements and over passes with jaw-dropping views in the evenings you will be staying in basic village gites.

After the trek you will be transferred to Marrakech to stay in a traditional riad in the heart of the medina. During your stay in this chaotic, yet charismatic city, you will be free to explore the souks, visit ancient palaces and experience the entrancing atmosphere at the world famous Djemaa el Fna which comes alive at night with story tellers, snake charmers and acrobats.

Following your two days in Marrakech, you will be transferred to the Agafey desert, a rocky plateau 45 km outside of Marrakech. This is not a desert in the classic sense - there is no sand here - but the wide open spaces and lunar-esque landscape give you a sense of desert wilderness. You will meet with your camel and guide on the edge of the plain to head out on your trek. With the snowy peaks of the High Atlas Mountains providing a stunning backdrop, you will end your day's trekking at the Scarabeo desert camp. As the sun sets and the final call to prayer of the day wafts over the hills, silence descends and the worries of modern day life disappear; you’ll never want to leave.

This family activity holiday is a balance between trekking, relaxation and a smattering of culture. It is not a children's holiday, rather it has been designed for parents and children who want to have an active holiday to suit a mixture of tastes and interests.

This holiday has a minimum age of 8. The reason for this is that the accommodation we use is not considered appropriate for young children, as some have unattended plunge pools. Whilst in the pools, your children are your responsibility and they do need to be supervised for their safety and the comfort of others.. If you would prefer to stay somewhere that does not have a pool, please contact us.

For the trekking, you all need to be relatively fit. You will walk for about 4-5 hours a day, but as well as being accompanied by a guide and a mule to carry your bags, an additional mule will be provided in case one of the children needs to rest their weary legs.

The time in Marrakech is self-guided and the trekking will be just you.

Your camel trek in the Agafay desert can be a combination of riding on camels and walking, depending on your comfort. The camp is family friendly and the tents are pitched sufficiently far away from each other to allow you privacy and so you don't need to worry about noise.