Recommendations for a southern Morocco road trip with kids

Hi there,

We’re heading out at the end of February for a road trip with our two kids, ages 3 and 7. Our itinerary includes Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi-n-Tichka, Sourate, Tinghir, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Ouzoud, and Essaouira. I’d love recommendations for accommodations, restaurants, and typical/spectacular spots to visit. We’d like to spend a night in the Zagora desert. We’re looking for authenticity and a friendly vibe—not tourist traps—for our trip. We’ll be there during Ramadan—any tips? Thanks in advance!

Your fellow globetrotter’s perspective is invaluable.

Traveling during Ramadan isn't a problem. Some restaurants stay open at lunchtime, especially in tourist areas, and if they don’t, you can always bring a picnic. When you're in the middle of nowhere, you’ll need to plan for a picnic. All grocery stores will be open. And in the evenings, all hostels offer half-board. I think you’ll be traveling by car, as a family with young kids—it’s the most practical option. In Morocco, it’s easy to find accommodation. But during school holidays and with children, it might be wise to book ahead. Make your choice by checking out other travelers' travel journals. You’ll find descriptions on booking sites to get an idea of the places. Maybe you’re looking for family rooms... That’s what we were searching for with our grandkids during our family trip. But they’re easy to find. Essaouira: Douar des Oliviers. Tineghir: Retour au Calme Skoura: Kasbah la Palmeraie Zagora: La Petite Kasbah. Ait Benhaddou: Chez Valentine or Chez Khadija Here are a few addresses. Happy searching!

In Ouzoud, we stayed as a family at the Hôtel de France. The rooms are nice, we ate well there, and the welcome was friendly, but when you arrive, the exterior looks a little neglected.

Hello,

In the itinerary you described, I don’t quite understand the sequence of towns. Also, I’m not sure where 'Sourate' is (did you mean Skoura?) Which city do you start your trip in, and where do you leave from at the end of your stay?

Zagora doesn’t have much tourist interest (except as a hub for "tourist traps," as you put it). It’s a town that grew very quickly as a gateway TO the sandy desert. You still have to drive another 100 km to reach Mahmid, and then more kilometers of dirt roads to get to the bivouac spots (though these roads may have been paved in recent years). Similarly, Ouarzazate developed rapidly as the first gateway to the desert (the first dunes are still several hundred kilometers away). Aside from the Taourirt Kasbah (there are more beautiful ones elsewhere) and the cinema museums, it’s not, in my opinion, a city of great tourist interest.

That said, Zagora and Ouarzazate are still ‘authentic,’ with their own histories and local dynamics. The idea of ‘authenticity’ is entirely relative, depending on culture and individual expectations...

You should also consider that the driving times shown on Google Maps for Morocco are almost always inaccurate. Realistically, you should aim for an average of about 60 km/h outside of highways (and that’s before accounting for photo stops, bathroom breaks, meals, etc.). This is especially important to keep in mind for a road trip, particularly with young children.

Here are a few thoughts to help refine your travel plans.

Murielle Murielle

When leaving Marrakech, you can head straight to Ouzoud to see the waterfalls, which should be really awesome this year since Morocco got a lot of rain. After that, you make your way back to Skoura via Route 307. That’s what we did—it’s gorgeous. And on your way back to Marrakech at the end of your trip, you’ll see Ait Benhaddou. This way, you don’t have to take the same road twice. And you save Essaouira for the end.

I thought the 307 was, like so often, a real "pothole racetrack"!!!!

It’s been redone—it leads straight to Skoura. A really beautiful road.

Thanks, and good news!! I’ll pick it up again soon. But I’ll wait a bit, because even when camping at lower altitudes right now, I’m freezing!!

Wow, I just saw that it's snowing in Morocco... and not just on the peaks! It's incredible! But let's hope it doesn't last. The earthen houses wouldn't handle it well.

Hi Sylvaine, If you want to avoid tourist traps, don’t go to Ait Benhaddou. We were there in October, and that’s where we were surprised to see so many people from all nationalities arriving by the busload. Though it might depend on the season... On the other hand, if Ouarzazate isn’t very interesting, there’s a lovely spot nearby: the Fint Oasis, where we had couscous at a local’s home. Merzouga is also a very touristy destination, but it’s beautiful... We did a road trip with our camper van in September and October. You can check it out in my travel journal on this forum or on our personal site: "unendroitoualler.fr"

Thanks for these invaluable tips!

Hi there, if you follow the replies, you won’t see any of the places you were planning to visit! That’d be a shame! Don’t skip anything. My advice: go to Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Zagora, etc. All these places are worth discovering. And yes, Morocco is a veeeery touristy country! For the rest, follow Jean’s suggestions.

Since you're taking the 307 (it can be a bit rough at the end of February if the weather keeps up like it has been lately), it’d be a shame to skip Megdaz... There’s been major renovation work on this road. I’m not sure where they’re at with it right now.

Megdaz is well-known but still feels authentic, and you might run into one or two tourists, but not many people go there anyway. Since a hostel opened, that might change... The road is paved to get there.

In Ait Ben Haddou, at the end of February, between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM, the lighting is great for photos, and it helps you avoid the 10 AM–3 PM window when all the tour buses unload the crowds. If you're coming from Marrakech, taking a detour through Telouet and the Ounila Valley is a beautiful discovery... as long as the snow doesn’t block the road to Telouet.

Magdaz is indeed an interesting Berber village to see when taking Route 307. Check out this discussion on the forum for more details. Great stops and sites discovered in Morocco in March

Hi there, Opinions vary as much as travel experiences do. We just got back from 3 weeks in the south, and we really enjoyed places like Zagora (which someone here is criticizing, go figure...). In Zagora, stay at Omar’s place, 'Riad Dar Zaouia'—you won’t be disappointed! And Omar is quite a character!! In Ouarzazate, stay at 'Dyafat Abla'. It’s a bit pricier (45 € per night), but it’s totally worth it, and you’ll be welcomed by absolutely charming people! We were there off-season, and it was amazing. True, during peak tourist times, there might be some spots to avoid, but the hospitality of Moroccans makes up for everything. Have a great trip! !