The Merzouga desert with children
It is usually the part of the trip they remember most. Here is what to think about before you come.
From what age
There is no strict minimum, but the trip works from the age a child walks confidently and copes with a long day in a car. The tiring part of coming to the desert is not the desert: it is the road to get here.
It is possible with babies, though it is worth coming via Errachidia, about two hours away, rather than driving ten hours from Marrakech.
What they enjoy most
- Sliding down the dunes on a sandboard, by some distance.
- Riding the camels, always with an adult and always at a walking pace.
- The drums by the fire after dinner: they usually end up playing.
- The stars, if they stay awake. There are far more here than at home.
How to plan it well
- Come between October and April. In summer the midday heat is not for children.
- Book a family tent: up to five people, with its own bathroom and climate control.
- Tell us their ages and any allergies and we adapt the menus.
- Bring closed shoes: hot sand burns and flip-flops give no grip on the dunes.
- Sunscreen and a hat, in winter too.
The logistics, which is the part that worries people
What tires children most about coming to the desert is not the desert: it is the road to get here. Ten or twelve hours from Marrakech is hard at any age, and harder with small children.
If you can, fly to Errachidia. From there it is about two hours to the dunes and the journey stops being the problem. It is the difference between arriving keen and arriving wrecked.
At the camp, the family tent sleeps up to five and has the bathroom inside, with hot water, so nobody has to cross the sand at night. And there is heating, which in winter matters more with children than without.
Tell us their ages when you book. With that we prepare the menus, the vehicle and the right animals for the camel ride, and you avoid sorting it out on arrival.
If you are thinking of coming at the end of the year, the night of the 31st works well for families too: more in New Year’s Eve in the desert with children.
Common questions
When is the best time to come with children?
October to April. The days are mild and the nights, though cool, are fine with the tent’s heating. In summer the midday heat is not for children, and in July we close.
Are there children’s menus?
Yes. Tell us the ages and any allergies when you book and we adapt dinner. Moroccan cooking is spiced but not hot, so it usually goes down better than parents expect.
Is the camp safe for children?
Yes. The team is there all night, there are no roads or pools nearby and the dunes next to the camp are gentle. The only thing to watch is the sun during the day.
Do we have to do the camel ride?
No. If a child is nervous or you would rather not ride, we drive you out to the dunes by 4x4 and you see the sunset all the same.
Is there wifi for the children?
Coverage in the middle of the desert is limited. That is usually good news: it is the night they look up at the sky instead of at a screen.
What if it is cold at night?
The tent has heating and blankets. Even so, bring a warm layer for sitting outside by the fire.
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Keep reading
- Luxury desert camp in Merzouga: private tents in the Moroccan Sahara Tassili Luxury Desert Camp is a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, Morocco. Discover a quieter side of the Sahara, set away from the busy camp areas near Merzouga.
- Merzouga guide The questions we get on WhatsApp every week, answered properly. Written by people who live here, not copied from another website.
- Family tent: the desert with children Up to five people in one tent, €425 a night. Private bathroom, climate control and menus adapted for children.
- Book your stay at the camp From €100 per tent per night. WhatsApp is the fastest way: you write, we reply, it is done. If you would rather take your time, use the form.