When you become parents and start thinking about your first trips as a trio, your thoughts immediately turn to the new "problems" you'll have to face: not just finding the best flight, the most comfortable accommodation, and the most efficient means of transportation to your destination, but also all the issues related to the new arrival in the family. How will we manage baby food while traveling? What about bedtime? What can we do to ensure your child's enjoyment? What if something happens now that they're so young? There are always many doubts, and they're usually resolved with experience and the advice of those who've been there. However, something often happens that few people anticipate: the real "problems" don't concern planning trips with newborns, but come later.
Children in their early years are, after all, very dependent on their parents' moods and hobbies. Things change as they grow, when they begin to develop their own interests and become increasingly bored if you don't do what their tastes and moods dictate: traveling with teenagers is a real challenge!
So, can we consider a trip to Morocco for families with kids? Absolutely!
Here are some general and more specific tips for organizing a teenager-friendly trip to Essaouira!
Family vacations with kids: two essential tips
The success of a trip with girls or boys depends above all on two important factors.
First, it's important to involve the kids in planning the trip itself, asking for recommendations on stops, times, breaks, and rest stops—anything that might interest them or meet their needs. Depending on their preferences, we can invite them to read a guidebook, consult websites with information about the destination, or even engage with social media.
Even if we're not used to using them, we can't ignore this aspect, which is so important for them: on Instagram and TikTok, there's a wealth of interesting content, even about family travel destinations. Maybe their favorite singer just traveled to Morocco and posted something about it, or offered tips on what to visit in the city. Instagram also offers the most "Instagrammable" places: including some of these stops in your trip planning can be fun for us too and a great way to encourage them to get involved.
The second factor never to be underestimated is paying attention to their passions and tastes. For example, if we love nature trips while they adore big cities, we can find a compromise, including at least one stop in the trip that allows them to have more fun, even with their "oldies" in tow. If they have a best friend and we feel comfortable bringing him or her along, it will certainly be a much-appreciated gift, which will alleviate moments of boredom or long journeys to our destination.
Family Trips to Morocco: What to Do in Essaouira
Once we've followed the more general advice, we've arrived in our magical Morocco. Here, the choice of activities to enjoy with the whole family is vast, and we've already discussed them in previous articles published on the Ranch de Diabat blog.
Today, we're focusing specifically on things to do in Essaouira with kids: a selection of activities and experiences designed for young people who want to have fun, get excited, and perhaps experience a small or large adventure that provides a bit of adrenaline in complete safety!
Ready to join us? Here are 5 ideas for a vacation with kids in Morocco.
Quad bike excursion in Essaouira
Imagine spending two hours up and down the dunes on the oceanfront, for an adrenaline-filled, fun experience that allows older children to try their hand at driving independently, supported by the Ranch de Diabat staff. This is one of the most popular activities among kids on holiday in Essaouira, so we can't recommend it enough!
Learn more: Quad 2h
Horseback riding in Essaouira
Another popular activity among families vacationing in Morocco is horseback riding on the beach, perhaps at sunset. Horses are a faster travel companion than camels and can provide thrills, a sense of freedom, and the feeling of literally holding the reins. Horses are the real stars at Ranch de Diabat, and several activities can also be booked online: horseback riding
Between sea and wind: surfing in Morocco
Essaouira is also famous for its beautiful spots where both beginners and experts can go surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing: its fame attracts champions from all over the world.
The 3 favourite spots for those who love wind and waves are Moulay Bouzerktoun (north of Essaouira), Sidi Kaouki (south of Essaouira) and the southern part of Kite Beach (in Essaouira).
A quieter spot for beginners is Taghazout, between Essaouira and Agadir. These activities can be organized through Ranch de Diabat, which collaborates with several local operators.
Camping in the desert without parents
If you're traveling with several families with teenagers, you can also plan for the boys and girls to spend a night in the bivouac on the beach: a wonderful tented camp where you can experience the thrill of living like a true Moroccan, with the security of having staff available (and no risk of alcoholic drinks being served ;-) ). To learn more: bivouac
Attend the most famous music festival in Morocco
If you're traveling to Morocco with kids at the end of June, you can attend the world-famous Gnaoua World Music Festival, which features mainly Gnaoua artists, but also jazz, rock, and contemporary music. The festival is particularly popular with young audiences, but people of all ages can attend. Admission is free and open to all. There are three stages, and fun is guaranteed for the whole family.
In 2024 the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary and the entire program is on the official website: gnawa festival
A tip for those traveling with family: accommodation in Essaouira is selling out fast during this time, so it's a good idea to rent a car and travel a few kilometers from the city, perhaps staying in a beautiful villa where you can all comfortably spend time together before heading out to sing and dance on stage.
So, what do you say? Are your boys and girls a little curious? We're sure Morocco will win them over.
Milena Marchioni
