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Family travel is always an adventure. But when you plan a trip with your entourage to Morocco, wondrous moments await in every corner of the country as well as the spaces in between — from the Mediterranean beaches of the north, easily reached via regular ferry crossings from Spain, to the desert dunes of the Sahara, remote Atlas Mountain villages, surf beaches along the Atlantic coastline, and cities like Marrakech and Fez that buzz with rituals both modern and ancient.

“Morocco is an excellent choice for a family vacation, thanks to its easy transport links and the adventure for children of all ages that can be found in bustling souks, ancient kasbahs, mountains and endless desert sand dunes,” said Suzanne McGrory, product manager for Morocco, Audley Travel.

Because the summer months across North Africa can be uncomfortably hot, McGrory recommends visitors plan any bleisure trips or vacations during the periods between March and May or September and November to enjoy the country at its most pleasant.

“It is worth it for families to book well in advance in the peak school vacation times to stay in their first choice of accommodation, as many properties only have one family suite,” she said. She pointed to a visit to an Amazigh (Berber) family in the Atlas Mountains to learn about their traditional lifestyle and a journey to the desert trading town of Rissani for camel rides and the option to stay overnight under a canopy of stars at a desert camp as just a few of the experiences Audley Travel can arrange as part of its 15-day Grand Tour of Morocco itinerary.

German guidebook author Astrid Daerr, who has a 4-year-old son and has visited Morocco with him on several occasions since he was a baby, said the friendliness of Moroccans makes traveling in the country particularly family-friendly.

“People will always give you a warm marhaba [welcome] if they see you with a child, which is the opposite of most places in Germany,” she said. “No matter where you go, there is always a helping hand when you need one, like for going up and down stairs with a stroller; especially in the countryside, people are very friendly and warmhearted with children.”

Daerr added Morocco proves ideal for exploring on your own as well as with a tour group. It’s easy to rent a car in Morocco for a road trip on an independent itinerary along the country’s excellent road network, she said, since it connects all the major cities as well as the desert and coastlines.

Morocco offers everything from skiing on the beginner slopes in Oukaimeden (about two hours south of Marrakech) during the winter months to horseback riding along the beach in Sidi Kaouki and learning to drum with Gnaoua musicians in El Khamlia, a small village near the desert outpost of Merzouga. These are just a few of the activities she suggests to include when planning a trip with family and friends.

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Make time to hike the palm groves around the Ourika Valley on a daytrip from Marrakech, let the kids get a henna tattoo, and sip on a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice amid the nightly celebrations at Marrakech’s legendary Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Then spend time at the end of your trip to slow down from all the sensory stimulation and heat while enjoying cooler temperatures beachside in the coastal town of Essaouira, added Daerr.

Audley Travel also suggests travelers spend a few days decompressing in Essaouira at the end of their trips, said McGrory.

“There are lots of art galleries and cafés, lines of stallholders grilling fish, and a wonderfully relaxed ambience as well as a medina that is small enough to [explore] independently,” she said. “Active families can take windsurfing lessons on the long, windy beach.”

For Kevin Wagar, a father of two who documents his family’s travels on his blog, Wandering Wagars, and also runs a Facebook group dedicated to adventure family travel, Morocco proved an ideal family travel destination.

“We love off-the-beaten-path adventures, and the country offers a safe, scenic and culturally immersive way for us to experience a new destination,” he said.

The Wagars used Sun Trails Morocco, which specializes in private tours throughout the country and unique local experiences, to plan their overall trip, and hired a wonderful guide from Badrane Tours in Fez, said Wagar. It helped them make the most of peeling back the layers of the city’s serpentine medina, home to tanneries, famous madrasas, souks and many other marvels of Islamic architecture and Moroccan daily life.

Highlights during their two-week adventure, said Wagar, included experiencing Morocco’s unique culture through a food tour in Fez, where the family got to try snails and other favorite street foods, and experiencing the local bathing culture in the public baths called hammams. They also enjoyed quad-biking together in the dunes of Erg Chebbi and taking a cooking class to learn to make traditional Moroccan dishes like chicken tagine and the disc-style Moroccan bread called khobz, sold everywhere.

But one of their most memorable experiences together took place surrounded by the undulating Sahara Desert dunes near the Eastern Moroccan village of Merzouga, where the family spent a night sleeping in a camel-skin tent with Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps.

They enjoyed a winding camel ride through dunes painted in rich colors as the sun set, followed by time around a blazing fire as darkness descended.

“The nighttime campfire was a wonderful way to connect with all of the fun crew who ran the camps,” Wagar said.

It’s just one of many unique moments you can expect to experience during a journey through magical Morocco.

LODGING
Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
In Fez’s Ville Nouvelle (new city) this Marriott offers a respite from the crowded medina and features a sprawling outdoor pool for cooling off after a hot day exploring.
8 Ave. Ahmed Chaouki, Fez
$$$$

La Mamounia
With a super-sized outdoor swimming pool; lush gardens; and even an on-site, boutique-sized movie theater, La Mamounia is Marrakech’s most celebrated grande dame hotel.
Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakech
$$$$$

Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
Ten luxury tents made of camel skin welcome visitors to this exquisite desert camp at the Erg Chebbi dunes where camel rides, dinner under the stars and a Berber breakfast are included.
merzougaluxurydesertcamps.com
$$$$$

DINING
Cafe Clock
Wonderful spot for all-day dining in the heart of Fez medina, offering specialties like lamb tagine and couscous as well as on-site cooking classes.
7 Derb el Magana, 252 Rue Talaaa Kbira, Fez
$$

Cafe Munich Marrakech
With a rooftop terrace, play room for kids complete with a slide down into it, and Moroccan salads and couscous dishes on the menu, this Marrakech restaurant is a family favorite.
Riad Zitoun Lakdim,
Derb Chaabane 10A, Marrakech
$$

Caravane Café
This quirky café in the coastal town of Essaouira, west of Marrakech, feels like a secret garden. French, Creole and seafood specialties are on the menu alongside a great rum punch.
2 Bis Rue Qadi Ayad Medina, Essaouira
$$

INFO TO GO
A number of international airports service Morocco, with Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport the most trafficked and Marrakech Menara Airport the country’s second- busiest. International flights also arrive at Fes Sais International Airport, Agadir Al Massira International Airport, Rabat- Salé International Airport and Tangier-Ibn Battuta Airport, among others. Casablanca is the hub for Royal Air Maroc, the country’s international carrier, with regularly scheduled flights arriving from across Africa, Europe and beyond on several other international carriers.