The south around Ouarzazate is one of the most rewarding family travel regions we know — and one of the most underestimated. A real fortified city out of the movies, a desert you can sleep in under the stars, film sets you can walk through, and a culture that genuinely cherishes children combine to make it deeply memorable for kids who might be unmoved by another city break. It does require planning. Here is what we have learned from years of designing family itineraries.
Where in the south is best for families with children?
Ouarzazate town is the natural base for the first days — the Taourirt Kasbah reads as an ancient adventure, and Atlas Film Studios lets children walk through the sets of films they may know, from Egyptian temples to a Tibetan monastery. Keep these days gentle to shake off the journey over the Atlas.
Aït Ben Haddou is the trip's centrepiece, and most children find crossing the river and climbing the lanes of the ksar genuinely thrilling — especially once they learn which films were shot there. Pace it: go early and let them set the speed.
Fint Oasis and Skoura are the gentle counterpoints — paddling in an oasis river, walking among the date palms, meeting families who farm the land. They make perfect decompression days between the kasbahs and the desert.
The desert near Zagora or Merzouga is the highlight for most families — a 4×4 ride among the dunes, a camel at sunset, dinner lifted from the fire, and a night sky thick with stars from a family tent. Children who have done this tend to talk about it for years.
How should you pace a family itinerary in the south?
The single most common mistake is over-programming. The region involves a lot of driving on winding roads, plus heat at the kasbahs, and children need decompression. A family with younger children is well served by two nights in each main place, one active outing per day, and an unstructured pool or oasis afternoon every second day. Fint and Skoura are your natural rest stops.
For a relaxed week: two nights Ouarzazate (with the studios and Fint), two nights at or near Aït Ben Haddou, one or two nights in the desert near Zagora, and a gentle day in Skoura or the Dadès. This is a full but manageable circuit for children aged six and above. Younger children benefit from a slower version with more oasis and pool time.
What are the best places to stay with families?
In Ouarzazate, family or interconnecting rooms in a kasbah hotel with a pool work well. At Aït Ben Haddou, choose a guesthouse facing the ksar so children can watch it light up. In Skoura, the garden guesthouses are a delight for kids. In the desert, ask for a larger family tent and confirm heating for cold desert nights. We pre-inspect everywhere we recommend. See our destinations guide for our current shortlist.
What should children eat and drink in the south?
Southern food is broadly child-friendly. Bread, grilled chicken and brochette skewers, mild tagines, couscous, the Berber omelette and plenty of fruit are all approachable and made from fresh ingredients. Most restaurants will happily prepare simpler plates — grilled chicken, plain rice, eggs — for young children.
Water: drink bottled or filtered water. The tap water is treated, but the unfamiliar mineral balance can upset foreign tummies. Fresh orange juice and lightly sugared mint tea are safe, inexpensive and a hit with kids. Avoid ice in very casual places unless you're sure it's from treated water.
What practical tips make travelling with kids easier in the south?
- Book private transport throughout — buses are fine for adults but tiring with children and luggage on the winding mountain and desert routes.
- Carry child-specific SPF 50+ sunscreen and sun hats. Aït Ben Haddou and the desert are intensely sunny; spring and autumn are more forgiving than summer.
- Pack oral rehydration sachets as a precaution; Moroccan pharmacies stock them, but having your own is reassuring.
- Bring sturdy walking shoes for everyone — the kasbahs and gorge paths are uneven stone.
- Pack a warm layer and a hat for cold desert nights, and swimwear for the kasbah-hotel pools and the oasis rivers.
- Give older children small dirham notes to hand over at stalls — it gives them agency and makes the experience tangible.
Frequently asked
Is Ouarzazate safe for families with young children?
Yes — the south is a genuinely family-friendly region. Moroccan culture adores children, and families travelling with kids are met with real warmth. The main practical considerations are heat and sun (especially at Aït Ben Haddou and in the desert), the mountain switchbacks, and sticking to bottled or filtered water. A private driver removes the logistical stress of moving between the kasbahs and the desert with children and luggage.
What is the best age to take children to the south?
Children from about 5 or 6 get a great deal from the region — old enough to explore Aït Ben Haddou, walk a film set, ride a camel in the desert and splash in an oasis river. Younger children do fine with a relaxed pace and pool time. Teenagers often find the kasbahs, the film studios and a night in a desert camp one of the most exciting trips they've taken.
What should children eat around Ouarzazate?
Southern food is very family-friendly: bread, grilled chicken and brochette skewers, mild tagines, couscous, the Berber omelette and plenty of fruit are all approachable. Most restaurants happily prepare simpler plates for young children. Stick to bottled or filtered water and avoid undercooked roadside food; fresh orange juice and mint tea (lightly sugared) are safe treats.
Is Aït Ben Haddou manageable with children?
Yes, with planning. The river crossing and the lower lanes of the ksar are fine for most children; the climb to the granary at the top is steeper and exposed. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds, bring plenty of water and sun protection, and let kids set the pace. Don't try to combine it with too much else in one hot day with small children.
Can children ride camels around Ouarzazate?
Yes. Camel rides in the dunes near Zagora or Merzouga are a highlight for children from about 4 or 5. Camp guides seat young children safely, often in front of a parent, and short rides of 20–40 minutes to a sunset dune are comfortable. Choose an operator who keeps the animals in good condition. A 4×4 trip into the dunes is an easy alternative for those who prefer not to ride.
Do the kasbah hotels and desert camps have family rooms?
Yes. Kasbah hotels around Ouarzazate and at Aït Ben Haddou commonly offer family or interconnecting rooms, and many have pools the children will love. In the desert, many camps offer larger family tents; ask in advance, and check heating for cold desert nights. Cots and extra bedding are usually available on request.
Family itineraries
We design trips that children remember for life.
Private transport, family-inspected kasbah hotels, paced days and a desert overnight — tell us the ages and we will build the itinerary.
Plan our family trip