Planning a day trip with children
Outings in the city, from the gardens to carriage rides, are covered in our guide to Marrakech with kids. This one only covers trips outside the city, which take a little more organising.
- Transport: with children, a private driver for the day is the most flexible option. You leave when it suits you, stop whenever a child needs to and head back early if tiredness wins. Petits taxis and shared grands taxis generally have no child seat: ask for one when you book the driver, or bring a light booster seat. Group tours cost less but impose the timing and programme of the whole minibus. Our guide to getting around Marrakech compares the options.
- Mountain roads: towards Ourika, Oukaimeden or Ouzoud, the road twists a lot. If a child suffers from motion sickness, seat them in the front when their age allows, plan stops and a light snack, and talk to your doctor before you leave.
- Heat and water: take more bottled water than you think you need, hats and sunscreen. In summer, leave early and fit outdoor activities in before 11am or after 4pm.
- Toilets: on the road, they are mostly in cafés and restaurants. Carry tissues, hand gel and a few coins as a thank-you.
- Season: from March to May and from October to November, almost every trip is pleasant; our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech covers the climate.
On the edge of Marrakech: half-day outings
Oasiria water park
At kilometre 4 on the Amizmiz road, just south-west of the city, Oasiria is the easiest outing with children of any age: slides, a wave pool, a lazy river on rubber rings, shallow pools and play areas for little ones, in a park of about ten hectares planted with gardens. The 2026 season runs from 4 April to 1 November, daily from 10am to 6pm; the rides close at 5.30pm. Entry costs MAD 300 for an adult or a child taller than 1.50 m and MAD 200 for a child under 1.50 m; it is free below 80 cm. A free shuttle links the park with the city centre: ask for the times when you book. Arrive at opening time in July and August, and pack water shoes, as the paving gets hot in the sun.
Lake Lalla Takerkoust
About forty kilometres south-west of the city, roughly 45 minutes along the Amizmiz road, Lake Lalla Takerkoust is a dam reservoir stretching for more than 7 km, with the Atlas as a backdrop. Leisure bases on the shore rent out kayaks, pedalos and paddleboards, and several restaurants have a waterside terrace, handy for a family lunch. Children mostly enjoy the pedalos; swimming in the lake, however, is forbidden, and on the water younger ones should wear a life jacket. For a swim, pick a lakeside restaurant with a pool. Quad bike rides leave from the surrounding area; they are not suitable for young children, and the minimum age depends on the operator. Our guide to quad bikes, buggies and dromedaries in Marrakech covers these activities in detail.
The Agafay Desert
About 40 km south-west, 45 minutes to an hour's drive away, the Agafay Desert is a plateau of stony hills, not a desert of dunes. For a family, it is the shortest way to enjoy a "desert" evening: a dromedary ride of 30 minutes to an hour at walking pace, the sunset, then dinner under a tent in a camp. Little ones ride with a parent or on an animal led on a rope. Allow MAD 100 to 300 for the dromedary ride and €45 to €130 per person for an organised outing with transfer; ask whether there is a child price and check what is included. Evenings are cool: pack a jumper and a jacket for each child. Agafay and Lake Lalla Takerkoust are neighbours and combine well in one afternoon.
The Ourika Valley and the High Atlas
Nectarome bio-aromatic garden
About 35 km from Marrakech on the Ourika road, the Nectarome bio-aromatic garden lies in Tnine Ourika, just past the bridge. This garden of aromatic and medicinal plants, which supplies a cosmetics brand, makes a good first stop before the valley. Self-guided entry costs MAD 35 for an adult and MAD 20 for a child under 12. What keeps children busy is the workshops, at reduced child prices: Moroccan tea (MAD 80, 30 minutes), foot bath and massage (MAD 70, 20 minutes), henna (MAD 80, 90 minutes) or bread-making (MAD 90, 60 minutes). The garden opens from 9am to 5pm from October to May and from 9am to 7pm in June, July and September; it closes for the whole of August, and a restaurant serves a set menu of the day using vegetables from the kitchen garden. Book workshops ahead.
The Ourika Valley
Further up, the road follows the river to Setti Fatma, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Marrakech. The Ourika Valley appeals to children for its riverside restaurants, some with tables right in the water, and for the climb to the first of the seven waterfalls, about thirty minutes' walk over rocks. With children under 6 or 7, stay by the river or use a baby carrier; skip the upper falls, which call for some agility. On Mondays, the Tnine Ourika souk livens up the morning. Stay away from the riverbed if a storm threatens: floods can be sudden.
Oukaimeden, snow in the Atlas
About 75 km south of Marrakech, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by mountain road, Oukaimeden is a ski resort set between 2,600 and more than 3,200 m above sea level. From December to March, depending on snowfall, it is the place to show children snow an hour and a half from the palm trees: sledges, snowsuits and ski equipment can be hired on site (the lifts are out of service during upgrade works), and donkey rides are offered at the foot of the slopes. Out of season, the plateau becomes a cool spot for walks and picnics, and older children can look for the Bronze Age rock engravings on red sandstone slabs near the resort. Pack warm layers, sunglasses and sunscreen: at this altitude the sun burns even in winter. Check road conditions after heavy snowfall, and bring cash, as not every business takes cards. Our guide to the High Atlas from Marrakech compares the valleys.
A long day: the Ouzoud Falls
About 150 km north-east of Marrakech, 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours' drive each way, the Ouzoud Falls drop about 110 m into a red rock gorge. For children, the site brings together three attractions: the Barbary macaques living in the olive trees, the colourful boats that take you close to the foot of the falls (around MAD 20 per person) and the walk down the steps to the pool. Do not let children touch or feed the monkeys. The steps are slippery near the water and the pools are not supervised: hold younger children by the hand. With 5 to 6 hours of driving there and back and 3 to 4 hours on site, the trip suits children from 6 or 7 best. Leave early, with a private driver so you can stop along the way, or stay overnight to break up the journey.
Comparison table of family day trips
| Trip | Distance and journey | Suggested age | Time needed | Best season | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oasiria | Km 4 on the Amizmiz road | All ages | Full day | April to October | MAD 200 under 1.50 m, free under 80 cm |
| Lake Lalla Takerkoust | 40 km, 45 min | From 3 | Half a day | Spring to autumn | No swimming in the lake |
| Agafay Desert | 40 km, 45 min to 1 hour | From 3 | Half a day or an evening | September to May | Cool evenings |
| Nectarome garden | 35 km | From 4 | 2 to 3 hours | All year except August | Child workshops MAD 70 to 90 |
| Ourika Valley | 1 hour 30 min to Setti Fatma | From 4 | Full day | Spring, summer, autumn | Slippery rocks towards the falls |
| Oukaimeden | 75 km, 1 hour 30 min to 2 hours | From 3 | Full day | December to March for snow | Winding road, sledge hire |
| Ouzoud Falls | 150 km, 2 hours 30 min to 3 hours | From 6 or 7 | Long day | Spring and autumn | Do not feed the monkeys |
Prices noted in October 2026; suggested ages are a guide only and driving times vary with traffic.
Further reading
To compare these outings with the trips aimed at adults, such as Essaouira or Ait Ben Haddou, see our guide to day trips from Marrakech. If you are travelling in July or August, our article on Marrakech in summer helps you plan your days around the heat, and the guide to Marrakech with kids completes this programme with gardens and activities in the city.
