The dune-rippled Sahara, bulky Atlas Mountains and mazy Marrakech play host to this highlight-packed family adventure. Over the week, we journey deep into Morocco to enjoy never-forgotten experiences in a spectacular landscape: riding camels in the Sahara, sleeping under the desert skies and travelling by mule through rugged mountains. We also seek a little culture, enjoying lunch with a local Amazigh family, visiting a working film studio and navigating pulsating Marrakech on a thrilling horse-drawn carriage tour.

We have chosen a selection of comfortable family-friendly hotels with swimming pools. We also spend one night in the Sahara, a never-forgotten experience that will likely be discussed over family meals for many years to come.



Marrakech: Opera Plaza or Red Hotel (nights 1 and 7)







We begin and end our adventure in Marrakech, where we stay at either the four-star Opera Plaza Hotel or the Red Hotel. Both are in the same complex and there's plenty to keep the family entertained, including a swimming pool area and bowling lanes.



Ait Ben Haddou: Ksar Ljanoub (nights 2 and 3)







We stay for two nights at Ksar Ljanoub, winner of Tripadvisor’s Travellers' Choice Award in 2023. Enjoy the Atlas sunshine with a dip in the pool or relax under the shade of a parasol. You can also enjoy views of the mountains and desert from the rooms or the terraces, with a chance for a beautiful sunrise or sunset.



Sahara: Camp Chez Le Pacha (night 4)







The highlight for many is our night in the Sahara, where our camp is circled by bronze dunes you can climb to watch the sun set and rise. Our accommodation is a ring of traditional mud huts, though most prefer to take their beds outside to sleep under a blanket of stars – look out for the tell-tale streak of a shooting star. In the centre of the camp is a fire, which is lit at night and typically becomes the place to share stories and bond with our guide and hosts. Distractions are few here, which allows everyone to share, what is for many, a bucket-list experience.



Zagora: Chez Ali (night 5)







In Zagora, we stay in an auberge (inn) called Chez Ali with pretty floral gardens. After our night in the desert, many head straight to the pool for a refreshing swim or to relax with a book.



Ouarzazate: Club Hanane (night 6)







Before we head back to Marrakech, we stay at Club Hanane in Ouarzazate. Here you can sit by the pool at breakfast, while the hotel also has a lounge and outside seating area.



Worth knowing



The only night without a pool is when we are camping in the Sahara