Five Reasons Why Morocco is a Great Family Destination

It is so different

We all know that education is key, but the classroom can only teach you so much. In today’s increasingly globalised world, it’s important for our children to understand that other people live very differently to how they do. Morocco is a melting pot of cultures, a blend of Arab, Berber, African and European people, muddled together in a vibrant, loud, busy, chaotic way. People look different, they dress differently, they speak different languages. They don’t all believe in the same god, but somehow they exist together, a rich tapestry in which diversity is celebrated.

We talked to our children about being mindful about what they wear, introduced the idea that what might seem acceptable back home, might not be regarded in the same way in a country they were visiting. “We’re guests here,” I told them. Morocco is actually very relaxed, but the conversation inspired a deeper discussion around respect, and how different cultures view the world and the people in it.

People are so friendly

It can be intimidating, being surrounded by people who look and sound different to you, where the noises are louder and the smells more intense than anything you’ve experienced before. But the one thing that was not lost on our children was just how welcoming the Moroccans were. From the moment we landed and Aziz, our private Scott Dunn driver, beckoned us over, what impressed on us was how big the smiles were, how genuinely happy everyone was to have us in their country, and proud to show it off. There’s also immense kindness. While staying at La Sultana in Oualidia, we caught the boat over the lagoon to the Peninsula and were greeted by a dog and her two puppies. They followed us on our bike expedition and of course the children wanted to take them home. Because they were so friendly, so happy to be scratched and tickled, they must have experienced human kindness, I thought. And indeed they had. Our boat driver, when he came to pick us up, put out a water bowl for them and said that he comes every day to give them water and food. Happy dogs, they definitely were.

The food is out of this world

We tend to think of endless tagines, when we think of Morocco, but actually there’s so much more. Scott Dunn had arranged for my daughter, Iona, to spend an afternoon making Moroccan Pastries at La Sultana, pastries that we devoured at breakfast, a veritable feast of both familiar and unexpected deliciousness. We had never tasted oranges so sweet, nor avocados so creamy. Oualidia is one of the best places to try seafood, straight from the lagoon – from crab to clams, from lobster to samphire – you can taste the freshness. But it was the oysters that I’ve been dreaming of ever since, sweet, creamy, that unique flavour just perfect, slurped down on the sun-bleached wood terrace, overlooking the sea, washed down with a crisp, Moroccan white wine. It’s so easy for children to grow up wanting to eat the same thing, that familiar meal they know they’ll like. Travelling in Morocco gave us the opportunity to try new things, different flavours and also talk about the provenance of food, from the fish the seafood, to the fruit, salad and vegetables that grow so prolifically in its temperate climes, that they’re exported all over the world.

The beaches!

They’re not the calm yellow sands of the Mediterranean, or the azure coves of the Amalfi coast, but the wild Atlantic coast of Morocco has heart. At La Sultana, we relaxed at the vast infinity pool overlooking the lagoon, walked along its sandy beaches, the waves lapping gently at our feet, looking for shells and driftwood treasures. But then we took fat tyred bikes across the location for an adventure, cycling along cliffs against which the waves of the almighty Atlantic crash, wending our way down onto deserted beaches, where the tide had delivered all sorts of interesting things. You can surf there too apparently, although the waves that coincided with our stay were certainly for the less faint of heart. But we did take paddleboards and kayaks out, exploring the calm waters of the lagoon, trying to see if we could spot our supper.

It's an easy trip

For somewhere that is so vastly different to the UK, it’s extraordinary how close Morocco is. We flew from Heathrow and three and half hours later we’d landed in Marrakech. There is an element of chaos in Morocco and you see this at the airport, but Scott Dunn had organised a VIP airport transfer. We were met directly off the plane by a smiling airport official who fast tracked us through immigration, by passing all the queues. From the airport, Marrakech is 10-20 minutes, and the coast 2-3 hours. But from the moment you land, you’re in a different world, our children’s eyes were on stalks as our taxi driver expertly navigated the maze of roads that lead through the city, pointing out historical landmarks. There were no requests for screens – the world beyond the window had already transfixed our children.

Over the next days we explored the medina, haggling with persuasive stall owners over collars for our dogs, handwoven baskets with our names stitched on, for hats and bracelets and even a bridle for one of our horses. Scott Dunn arranged for us to have a private pottery lesson where we tried to master the art of creating a pot on a wheel powered by our feet. And when our legs became weary, we escaped to a rooftop café, an expert recommendation from Scott Dunn, where we drank smoothies and ate salads alongside local cognoscenti, before mustering up the energy to re-enter the word of the medina again.

About Marina Fogle

Marina Fogle is a writer, maternal health advocate, and founder of The Bump Class — a London-based antenatal education programme she co-founded with her sister, Dr. Chiara Hunt. She is also the host of The Parent Hood, a podcast that addresses pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood through expert-led conversations. Marina contributes regularly to national publications, including The Telegraph, The Times and The Daily Mail.