Why magical Marrakech is the perfect family holiday destination.
If you’re thinking of planning your next family holiday, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the choices. There are thousands of beautiful places around the world worthy of your visit. For those who want something closer to home, we think that Marrakech is a great option. Located in central Morocco, Marrakech one of the most well-loved cities in the country.
The perfect location
As it’s only a 3.5 hour flight from Dublin, it is the perfect choice for a short break and will transport you and your family into a completely different world. Prepare for a veritable attack on the senses, with incredible food and pretty much guaranteed sunshine. It offers a welcome opportunity to break away from the norm. Staying in one of our partner properties in or around the medina means that many of the city’s main sights are within walking distance including the bustling souks, a favourite with children.
Education at every turn
In Marrakech, traditions remain strong and so when you visit with your children, they’ll be getting an education without trying too hard! Stroll through the city’s souks, a wonderful and colourful way to learn about bartering systems, handmade crafts and gastronomic traditions. Sample some of the delicious street food, from the delicious briouats to the sweet, nutty baklava. By exploring the medina and the streets of Marrakech, your family can discover the unique Arabic architecture.
Fun ways to teach children about unique traditions
Children love to learn things with a hands-on approach, making them the perfect candidates for a culinary class. Fun for the whole family, experience a cookery class in one of the culinary capitals of the world. One of our favourite dishes to learn is an Arabic classic, the tagine. Accompany the chef to the souk and pick up ingredients and spices for your cookery class. Then arrive in a classic Arabic kitchen and learn the traditional methods of how to create the perfectly balanced tagine before baking bread in a 500-year-old oven. At the end of the class, sit down together and enjoy the meal as a family.
Tried and tested family-friendly day trips from the city
Cities are a great place to visit, keeping the family busy exploring and embarking on excursions. However, it is also lovely to experience traditional country living. The Atlas Mountains are in such close proximity that families can immerse themselves in the culture of ancient Berber villages. A wonderful way to show the younger ones different ways of life, families will immerse themselves into activities of daily life. Milk the goats, fetch water from the well and make mint tea in the afternoon!
Activities for the whole family
The Palmeraie, north of the medina, is a great location for embarking on adventure excursions from the city. Camel riding is a classic, exhilarating and exciting day of fun for the whole family. Smaller children can still experience the fun by riding the camel with their parents. For teens, enjoy a quad biking adventure. Experience quadding through the ever-changing landscape, between desert plains, valleys and palm trees.
OROKO recommended family friendly hotels
We have excellent partnerships with some of the best family-friendly hotels in Marrakech. Four Seasons Resort Marrakech caters for everyone, boasting some spectacular facilities including a kid’s club, dedicated children’s pool and young adult centre. Another family-friendly option is to stay at the elegant riad property of the Royal Mansour. The beautiful Jardin de Lila is a dedicated space for 4 to 10-year olds. Here, education is the focus and children can partake in many creative and educational classes, even beginners’ Arabic!
